CWCI statement about Vietnamese encroachments in Takeo province

Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom in

Unofficial translation from Khmer

Kristiansen, 30 May 2010

Statement

The government of Cambodia always denied and hid information on the loss of Cambodia territories stemming from the encroachments by neighboring countries, in particular by Vietnam which is considered the super friend and the benefactor of the current leaders of Cambodia, in spite of the fact that local people living in the areas involved have clearly indicated that their rice fields are lost due to the new border posts which are planted several hundred meters into Cambodia.

The case of border planting in Anh-chanh village, Borey Chulsa district, Takeo province, clearly reflects a new truth in which Cambodian territories are lost. The new border post is planted on rice fields that are located more than 100 meters away from the new canal dug in 1979 [note: Vietnam usually dig canals along the border to demarcate its territories.]

The 1979 canal became the new borderline unilaterally proclaimed by Vietnam, and Vietnam forced the then-Republic of Kampuchea to recognize the 1985 land border treaty with the aim of redrawing the historical border of Cambodia.

It should be noted that the border delineation in Takeo encroached into Cambodia by more than 1 kilometer (in certain zones) from the old border that was delimited by the French colonial regime in 1940, that border was the Vinh Te canal, known as Prek Krobao in Khmer. Chey Chauk commune in Takeo province borders with Motr Chrouk province (Chau Doc in Vietnamese) and the Vinh Te canal set the limit between the two countries. The Vinh Te Canal extends from the south of Borey Chulsa district, to Koh Andet and Kirivong districts in Takeo province all the way to Kampot province.

Furthermore, in the border delineation between Cambodia and Vietnam, we observed that the Cambodian side merely accepts the delineation decided by Vietnam because this delineation was set through the 1985 land border treaty when Vietnam occupied Cambodia, and also through the 2005 Supplemental border treaty. In addition, the border posts and the current border posts planting operation is under the financial charge of Vietnam, therefore, Cambodia is not delineating its border by itself, but it is merely told by Vietnam to accept such and such area as the border between the two countries.

The Cambodian people are puzzled as to what nationality the current leaders of Cambodia and their accomplices belong to? Because all that they do is to stand up, look and accept such encroachments of Cambodia’s territorial integrity by a foreign country. Even though the Cambodian government always claimed that this border delineation could affect the territorial integrity of both countries, we observed that only the Cambodian people are crying out about the loss of their lands to Vietnam. We have never heard Vietnamese people crying out about the loss of their rice fields to Cambodia at all.

We wonder if the border post planting – which Cambodian people and experts are not allowed to visit and learn about at all – can be claimed that it was done with government transparency or not? Does the government think about our national interest or not?

CWCI believes that Cambodia will not lose its territories only if the government respects the Constitution and only when it make uses of the 64 maps deposited at the UN to verify the border location right on the spot using GPS surverying.

CWCI

Men Nath
President