Breaking News: Former Monk Tim Sakhorn finally home in Cambodia

05 April 2009
Source: Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community

Former Buddhist monk and abbot of Wat Phnom Den North Tim Sakhorn finally arrived home in Takeo province, Cambodia, on April 4, 2009 after spending more than one years in the Vietnamese communist prison.

Could one person really break the one-sided VN-Cambodia friendship?

Mr. Tim Sakhorn, center, guards by Vietnamese security personnel in the 2007 hearing that did not allow him to have any defense attorney or witnesses.
In a communist country, Vietnam, a person is guilty before proven innocent.

In a democratic country, a person is innocent before proven guilty.

More informations to be udpated when available.
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Asean Summit to discuss border clashes : Thai PM

April 6, 2009
The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday the problem of Thai and Cambodian military clashes in a disputed border area will be raised at this week's Asean Summit in Pattaya.

The two neighbouring countries agreed their commanders would strictly supervise their men to prevent another gunfight like last week when Thai and Cambodian soldiers were killed. They firmly agreed their troops must keep to their own territory.
Abhisit said in his weekly TV talkshow that the border friction around the Preah Vihear Temple had gone on for some years, but had become more worrisome since last July, after the ancient site was granted world heritage status by Unesco.

The latest incident last Friday saw troops tangling twice near the ancient temple. Two Thai and two Cambodian soldiers died in the exchange while nine Thai soldiers were wounded.

Abhisit expressed condolences to the families of the dead and wounded soldiers.

He said he had earlier discussed with his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen about settling the border dispute through the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee, which will meet in Phnom Penh today and tomorrow.

The session was planned before last week's escalation of tensions.

Both Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan have been in constant contact with Cambodian authorities to settle the "misunderstanding", Abhisit said, adding that he expects the situation has now eased.

Maj General Kanok Natrakawesana, commander of the Suranaree Task Force, said his urgent meeting with Cambodian Maj General Srey Doek at the Preah Vihear Temple in the morning was constructive.

Soldiers guarding the border would not be allowed to bring any alcoholic drinks into the area, he said.

"If any problem happens, commanders of both sides will immediately step in to prevent any fighting." Last week's violence was a misunderstanding and both countries have already discussed and cleared it up.

"We have agreed to cooperate more closely and such fighting won't happen again," he said.

Srey Doek told Khmer media that the meeting with the Thai military was held to normalise the situation and ensure there's no more gunfire.

"We have agreed to stay on our own sides of the border," he added.

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Bid to ease Thai feud

Preah Vihear, Cambodia
April 6, 2009
AFP

CAMBODIAN and Thai officials have held urgent talks to prevent fresh fighting on their border after months of tensions over disputed land near an ancient temple flared into deadly gun battles.

A third Thai soldier died in hospital following Friday's clashes, which plunged relations between the neighbours to a new low.

Military officials from both sides met over lunch in the disputed territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple yesterday, while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was set to meet Thai officials later in the capital Phnom Penh.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the issue would come up when he meets Mr Hun Sen at a summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and its regional partners in Thailand next week.

The Thai and Cambodian leaders sought to play down the latest crisis on Saturday, saying that it was the result of a misunderstanding and that the countries were not at war.

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Thailand, Cambodia to discuss border fight

BANGKOK, April 5 (UPI) -- Thailand's prime minster Sunday said he wants to move quickly to resolve a border conflict with Cambodia that claimed the lives of two Thai soldiers.

The soldiers died Friday in an exchange of gunfire between Thai and Cambodian troops along the shared border.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the border dispute would top his agenda when he meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three summit that starts Saturday in Thailand, China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported.

Abhisit said Thailand respects an International Court ruling that awarded the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but remains concerned about maintaining territorial rights to Thailand's northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, which borders Cambodia.

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Cambodia, Thailand agree to prevent new border clash

BANGKOK, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Sunday during an urgent meeting that their commanders would increase their supervising over their soldiers to prevent re-occurrence of the Friday's clash, in which two Thai soldiers were killed.
Maj Gen Kanok Natrakawesana, commander of Thailand's Suranaree Task Force, held the urgent meeting with Cambodian Maj Gen Srey Doek in Preah Vihear Temple on Sunday morning, the website by The Nation newspaper reported.

"If any problem happens, commanders of both sides would immediately step in to prevent any new fighting," Kanok said, describing the urgent meeting as constructive.

Meanwhile, Srey Doek told Khmer media that the meeting was held in order to make the situation return normal and to make sure there 's no more gunfire.

"We have agreed to stay on our own sides of the border," Srey Doek said.

Concerning last week's exchanges of gunfire, Kanok said it was a misunderstanding and both countries had already discussed and solved the misunderstanding.

"We have agreed that we will cooperate more and such fighting would not happen again," Kanok said.

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Thai, Cambodian field commanders agree to avoid clashes in future

General Srey Doek (R) shakes hand with Thai General Kanok Netrakavaesana (L) at the Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak pagoda, near Preah Vihear temple on 05 April 2009 (Photo: Savyouth, Radio Free Asia)

SI SA KET, April 5 (TNA) -- Two days after deadly clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers erupted near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, field commanders of the two neighbouring countries agreed Sunday to avoid future battle through talks.
Thailand’s Suranaree Task Force commander Maj-Gen. Kanok Netrakavaesana told a press conference that he had discussed with Cambodia’s local commander Lt-Gen. Srey Deok at a temple atop Preah Vihear earlier in the day, agreeing maintain tighter discipline over their field commanders to keep the peace in the temple vicinity.

If any problem arises in future, army commanders of both sides in the area will come to the negotiating table and find ways to solve the problem, Maj-Gen. Kanok said.

The latest clashes were purely “accidental” and both sides agreed to avoiding future clashes, he said.

The latest incident broke out last Friday when soldiers of the two countries clashed twice near the ancient temple. Two Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers died in the fighting while nine Thai soldiers were wounded.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear temple – called Khao Prah Viharn by Thais -- belongs to Cambodia, but the most practical entrance is from a mountain in Thailand, and both sides claim some of the same portions of surrounding territory.

On reports that Cambodian soldiers have moved six tanks to two villages near Preah Vihear which could be interpreted as reinforcing their troops in the area, Maj-Gen. Kanok said it was Cambodia’s concern, but the number of Thai troops in the area remained unchanged.

“Future problems can be settled through talks immediately,” he added, “because Thailand and Cambodia are friendly long time ago,” he added.

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preah vihear

File photo shows Cambodian soldiers walking at the Preah Vihear temple. Troops were on alert at the disputed Cambodian-Thai border Saturday, after heavy gunbattles left at least two soldiers dead a day earlier, Cambodian officials said.(AFP/File/Tang Chhin Sothy)
A Thai commander (2nd R) talks to a Cambodian commander (L) at the front line of their disputed border where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Thai soldiers stand guard at the front line of the border where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian soldiers look at anti-personnel mines which were confiscated when Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire on their disputed border near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Thai commander (C) talks to a Cambodian commander (L) at the front line of the border where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Cambodian soldier receives an intravenous drip at Egal field where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Cambodian soldier stands guard at the front line of the border where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh April 4, 2009. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Cambodian refugee girl is seen in a tent at Sra Em village April 4, 2009, after leaving an area where Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rifle and rocket fire near an ancient Hindu temple in Preah Vihear province, 543 km (337 miles) north of Phnom Penh. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Saturday a border clash with Thailand around a 900-year-old Hindu temple would not escalate into a more serious conflict. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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