President Aquino (L) met Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sideline of the Asean Summit yesterday, Friday 7th May.By Aurea Calica
The Philippine Star
May 08, 2011
JAKARTA – The Philippines offered yesterday to help resolve the border row between Thailand and Cambodia during the meeting of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) here.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said President Aquino conveyed this in the plenary session and during his bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Aquino is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“The President expressed the desire of the Philippines to be of help in any way we can. And he has urged that the conflict be brought to a peaceful resolution in the spirit of ASEAN brotherhood and solidarity,” Del Rosario said.
The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, which started in June 2008, involved the area surrounding the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple located between the Choam Khsant district in the Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia and the Kantharalak district in the Sisaket province of northeastern Thailand.
Both states also have a dispute over two other ancient temples called Tao Moan and Ta Krabey.
Both countries lay claim on the temples.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is backing Myanmar’s chairmanship of the 2014 ASEAN summit.
“There was an agreement that Myanmar will be the chair of in 2014,” Del Rosario said.
Myanmar is supposed to assume chairmanship of the regional bloc in 2015 but was reported to have negotiated with Laos to change turns.
The ASEAN inter-parliamentary caucus for Myanmar (AIPMC), however, called on ASEAN leaders to turn down Myanmar’s proposition.
AIPMC believed that the Myanmar government is still authoritarian and is holding many public leaders of different political inclinations.
New York based Human Rights Watch said ASEAN member-states should reject Myanmar’s request to assume chairmanship in 2014 until it takes genuine steps toward improvement of human rights and release of more than 2,000 political prisoners.
The Philippines also backed the entry of East Timor into ASEAN as long as it could meet the requirements set by the regional grouping.?East Timor or Timor Leste which is an observer at the summit had since 2010 expressed its interest in joining ASEAN.
4 comments:
Annex I map will be of great interest
In its 1962 decision the ICJ relied in part on a colonial-era map (the 'Annex I' map) that was produced following the work of a joint French and Siam (Thai) boundary commission. Cambodia has asked the ICJ to interpret its judgment and clarify if the map used by the Court should be recognised as the legally valid depiction of the boundary around the Temple. Consequently, Cambodia suggests that Thailand should withdraw any personnel from areas around the Temple that are shown on the map to be Cambodian territory. Thailand refutes Cambodia's claim that the boundary depicted on the Annex I map is the binding depiction of the boundary and instead suggests that the boundary should be drawn much closer to the Temple complex itself.
Given that artillery exchange have broken out at two other temples along the border, the legal status of the Annex I map will be of great interest in defining other sections of the unmarked Cambodia-Thailand boundary. If the ICJ finds that the Annex I map does provide the legally valid depiction of the boundary around the Temple of Preah Vihear site, it is likely that the whole series of maps (of which the Annex I map is just one of eleven) could be considered to have gained similar legal validity along other boundary sections. As examined by the ICJ in the Temple of Preah Vihear case itself, the depiction of the boundary on maps can come into contention with the textual description of the line in relevant boundary treaties.
Cambodia filed an application simultaneously for the indication of provisional measures requesting the ICJ to demand that Thailand withdraw all its military forces from around the Temple of Preah Vihear and refrain from any acts in the area that might affect settlement of the dispute.
Source: International Court of Justice ‘Press Release: Cambodia files an Application requesting interpretation of the Judgment rendered by the Court on 15 June 1962 in the case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) and also asks for the urgent indication of provisional measures’ Press Release No. 2011/14, 2 May 2011.
Peace will be accomplished once Thai accepted the ruling handed down to both countries in 1962. Cambodia has accepted the ruling and Thai continue to live in denial. No other frame work will help solve this problem, ICJ must enforce the ruling firmly and mandate Thai to no other options.
Its the ruling it's the history. What more do they need. But yet they keep saleing us weapons. We Khmer accepting the ruling and we did not ask to take back surin and other province from thai. So what do the world want? The USA and ASEAN seems to care about Burma where there is no war!! Why?????????
Hello Mr. PM Hun Sen and Khmer brothers and sisters. I’m one of Khmers krom, but I’m not living in Cambodia either in Kampuchea krom. Actually, I came to the United States for thirty years ago. I’m writing this letter to you PM Hun Sen because I have been admiring and supporting you from the bottom of my heart. Compared to a several previous generation, you are a good leader. However, I’m sure that you might-have-been remembered what happened before 1970 when the King of Sihanouk was a chairman at the time. I didn’t mean to make him feel bad about what he did, but I just can’t keep it in my heart forever. Sihanouk mess up the country because he fed alligator (HoChiMinh); he himself also knew what he did. In the last few decades, Cambodia had lost so much land just because of the Khmer Empire. Thai, Vietnamese communist, and Lao tried to take advantage of Khmers King kindness, and stool our land. Now is the 21st Century, the young generation will not repeat the mistake that the old generation had made in the past. My understanding is, Cambodia government can allow to all foreigners who desire to live in Cambodia; otherwise, they must follow the rule of the Cambodia Government just like Khmer citizens. Here are several example rules that they must be following: 1) they must learn the language, 2) they must be able to fill out of the legal documents, 3) they must joint army and serve just like Khmer citizens do, 4) if they attempt to act against the government then they will sentence to prison for life or death penalty, 4) all of the government documents must be Khmer and English languages only.
I had proved and seen in my own eyes that Yuon Hanoi and Thieu’s regime alleged that they wanted Khmers krom to die, so they were always put Khmers krom in front-line just like Thai did to Khmers Surin. I felt sad and sick in my stomach when I saw Khmers died in irrational way. This is not funny to Cambodian people at all. This is a serious matter that Khmers leader should pay a closer attention. Khmers young generation can do better but depend on a leader. My understanding is the Education department of Cambodia must create the flyers and small books; the comment will be written a brief explanation about the history of Cambodian people and original Geography. It can help Khmers Phnom Penh, Khmers Surin, and Khmers Krom understand more about history of people and geography. On the other hand, the Cambodia Government must drop the flyers all over the provinces where the Khmers Surin and Khmers krom when we needed. Therefore, Cambodia Government must show them respect, welcome, and promise that we were born in the same blood and language. God of Buddhism will bless and bring all Khmers together in one Nation and united. I believe that Khmers must defeat the enemies because Khmers are tall, strong, brave, confident, trustful, and well trained. God knows Khmers can do it. So please, think about it twice. We come together, we will build a better Cambodia and live a better life. As a result, if you agree or disagree of my opinions, please email me at newpageofhistory@yahoo.com thanks! We are Khmers, we were born in the same blood and language. One more thing that I want to remind Khmers brothers and sisters. Don’t listen and believe to Vietnamese communist old school propaganda, and Don’t feed alligator (Vietnamese communist, HCM). I’m sure that the United States and China know who is an “ALLIGATOR” --->(Ho)---->Ho flip-flop!
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