Im Sokthy

The issue of Preah Vihear is strongly attracting attention among Cambodians. People are worrying about it when they heard that Thai troops are there and there are more and more troops, both Cambodian soldiers and Thai soldiers. Yesterday, the issue of Preah Vihear seemed to get worse tension according to a website.

From day to day, since Cambodians had knew that the Preah Vihear temple was listed into the World Heritage site, Cambodians had contributed their money, food and other materials to support those, especially military forces, at Preah Vihear. The big collection had been made during a big concert organized at Olympic Stadium chaired by H.E Sok An. Universities, government institutions, NGOs and private sectors are working to collect money, food and materials to support people in Preah Vihear, where road condition is not so good, people lack food and shelters.

I joint an event on 10 July at the Royal Academy of Cambodia which had organized an event to welcome the Preah Vihear listing. I contributed money for people in Preah Vihear. Yesterday, at Economics and Finance Institute of Ministry of Economy and Finance, where I am a lecturer, I also contributed money for the Preah Vihear.

Yesterday, I heard that NGO staff was calling those who are working in NGOs to contribute their generous support for the Preah Vihear. I see this is a good movement. The kind of activity would encourage people, especially the soldiers, to work for nation, the Preah Vihear temple and the Cambodians.

I would hope you all and others may contribute as well. You can contact people in Preah Vihear, CTN, Adhoc, and others you may know. Or if you contact me, I can help forward this to whom you can contact directly. Thanks.

I just got some pictures by email from my friend, Mr. Kin Phea, this morning. Here is some pictures I would like to share with you.

Everyday, this week I got sms from my friends asking me to update news regarding the Preah Vihear issues. I am not a journalist, but I always try to know more and more about it. The Preah Vihear temple becomes bigger issues and attract more attention among people of Cambodia and Thailand. I do not know how much it is attention in Thailand, but in Cambodia, people are keen to know about it. I see that the Cambodia’s government is clever and mature to solve this issue. Trying not to react, but the government is working among ministers to talk with Thailand.

I told my friend that the government will talk with Thailand and there is no fighting. He welcomed and said this sound better. People are trying to update news, not only to see how the government will react, but they may feel fear, afraid there is war between Cambodia and Thailand.

People are trying to update news on Preah Vihear in according to their purpose. Leaders of civil society organizations in Cambodia are expressing their ideas over the Preah Vihear and wished to see the government of Cambodia to file a lawsuit to UN (referring to UNESCO). A government institute, Institute of International Relations Cambodia, after getting the news also issue a press release.

H.E. Khiev Kanharidh called to journalists to be careful in disseminating information over the Preah Vihear issue, trying not to make trouble or misunderstanding.

It is bad news for Cambodians when they heard that Thai soldiers/troops are in or at the Preah Vihear temple. Some things are unclear with the dispute border at Preah Vihear temple, and the both sides, Cambodia and Thailand, claimed sovereignty. The listing of Preah Vihear temple has made the world know that the temple belongs to Cambodia.

Yesterday, I got two sms from my friends who relatives live in Preah Vihear province and has connection with Khmer soldiers at Preah Vihear temple. The first sms at 6:05pm read Bad news Thai black soldiers was fighting back and forced Khmer soldiers out from the Preah Vihear this noon. Our temple now is under their coverage, damn bloody Thai. I forwarded this sms to other friends of mine. Some of my friends who got my sms did not believe and questioned me that is that true?

At around 6:45pm, I got another sms from my friend reading that I just call to the soldier at the Thai border. He said there is not fighting yet, but situation is not well. Recently, authority has put additional soldiers to defend our temple. I also forwarded this sms to other friends. They all seem to believe this sms/new. They wish to see peace and nothing bad happen at the Preah Vihear temple.

This afternoon, I got a yahoo chat messenger from another friend with the url address of a website saying that Thai troops crossed into their country’s territory Wednesday in the second day of alleged incursions amid tensions over disputed border land near a historic temple. You can read the full text by click here.

Now, it is not the listing of Preah Vihear temple into the world heritage, but the border issue. You can see I predicted this will be happened as I wrote in my blog last week. Now, we can wait and see Cambodia will solve this border issue quickly. It can be done through government and government. The Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand shall meet as soon as possible and state a clear message to not doing something at the dispute borders. Let the government solve it. The military and citizens of both countries should be calm, quiet, silent.

PHNOM PENH - About 40 Thai soldiers Tuesday entered Cambodia in the latest flare-up of a territorial dispute over a 900-year-old Hindu temple, Cambodian officials at the border told AFP.

They crossed the border hours after three Thai protesters were arrested for jumping an immigration checkpoint in a bid to reach the ruins of the Preah Vihear temple, said Hang Soth, the Cambodian official who manages the site.

“At first about 20 troops entered a pagoda in Cambodian territory. Later they increased their numbers to about 40,” he said.

“We don’t understand yet why they came,” he added.

The Thai soldiers have positioned themselves at a Buddhist pagoda located on the slope of a mountain, underneath Preah Vihear temple, Hang Soth said, and the troops and Cambodian border authorities are in discussions.

“We are in negotiations with them so that there is no gunfire and to avoid serious future problems,” Hang Soth said.

The governor of the Thai province across from the temple, however, denied that the soldiers were on Cambodian soil.

“It’s a misunderstanding. There is no trespassing by our soldiers,” governor Seni Chittakasem told AFP.

Seni said he had led a delegation into Cambodia to secure the release of the three protesters, insisting that the soldiers had remained nearby but on Thai territory.

“All three detainees have been released and now are on the Thai side,” he added.

- AFP/ir

Extracted from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/360447/1/.html

Yesterday 14 July 2008, H.E. Sok An and his delegation, just arriving Cambodia from Canada, met and spoke to hundreds of Cambodians at Olympic stadium about the listing of Preah Vihear temple into the world heritage. He claimed that this is another big achievement of the Royal Government of Cambodia of this third mandate of the National Assembly among other achievements. It is under the ruling party, the Cambodian’ s People Party (CPP). While Cambodians are celebrating this important events showing their nationalism, it appears that political parties are doing their best to link it to their party efforts and strength.

At the Thailand side, we can also see this. Thai nationalists take this as a big issue and oppose the Thai government. Thai opposition group want the Preah Vihear temple back to Thailand or be co-managed by Cambodia and Thailand. Today, the five month government of Mr. Samak is facing difficulties and going to reshuffle its government after a few ministers had not been in the government positions any more.

In Cambodia and Thailand, there is a similar trend, taking the Preah Vihear temple as a tool to exploit benefits for their self interests. They all are nationalists. Simultaneously, taking for own benefits is another opportunity. Whatever they do, we need peace and stability. The Preah Vihear temple case has contributed to political instability in Thailand and economy is going down. Investment in Thailand is going down while inflation reduces consumer spending.

Decentralization taken in 2002 at commune levels has brought with hope of local democracy and development. Elected commune councilors between 5 to 11 members in all 1,621 communes shall have to work in old commune offices. The offices were not equipped with new materials and lack of tables, and chairs. The old offices had made difficulties for CCs to fulfill their works as mandated in the law on administration management of communes/sangkats.

Asian Development Bank and stakeholders worked together to build new Khmer-styled offices for CCs throughout Cambodia. However, not all communes get the new office building. Local voters can not see the offices at some other communes in Phnom Penh, cities and remote areas. The new offices were equipped with tables, chairs, meeting rooms, etc. CCs were proud with the building and could have proper place for working. Documentation and working environment are better. But, at the meantime, the old offices are still operating as normal. There is not yet evidence to show work efficiency gained from new office buildings.

To some degrees, I agree that the new office has motivated councilors and CC staff work or work harder. But I do not see there is much different from the old and the new office. It is mostly according to levels of commitment and capacity of councilors. I still see that some new commune offices still close door in afternoon, like the commune offices with old building. Some CCs still work hard though their offices are old. The CCs which were active and strong are still strong and active, though they get the new buildings.

Though I can not see the efficiency gained from the new building, I can assume that all CCs wish to get the new building and would confirm that the new building will make them work more efficient. In the future, all communes will get new building.

What is the real issue over Preah Vihear temple? Thailand was talking about the listing of Preah Vihear temple into world heritage. Then some Thai people make it into political competition. Now, the same Preah Vihear temple becomes another agenda, it is about the scope of territory the Thailand may wish to control. It is also the problem Cambodia will take it into serious account.

I think now the temple is becoming bigger agenda in the world. It is not only the temple itself. It has linked with border issues and disputes between Cambodia and Thailand. I wish to see the dispute being solved soon. I hope this is true and the government is doing this. But, the public shall make comments or talk some things about this, but not to make chaos or trouble to the government or hard dispute with Thailand.

Yesterday night, I got a SMS from my friend who is working in Phnom Penh and his parents and relatives are living in Preah Vihear province. The message says Dear all, I just got information from Preah Vihear province today, there are four people died by eating fruits from Thailand. Please be careful and keep informed your relatives and friends when they buy fruits. Take care na.

To some degree you believe this or not. That is just information and once we believe this, we should think carefully. Some people may be angry with Thai people and called for not to buy goods from Thailand. This reaction came while some Thais are protesting, doing demonstration against the Thai government over the Preah Vihear temple issue.

I think you all, especially Cambodians, may still remember the event on 29 January 2003. The rumor saying that Angkor wat belongs to Thailand. This rumor had made demonstration and destroyed buildings of Thai embassy and Thai companies. Then people stopped use Thai products.

To my understanding, people are very sensitive with the rumor. Thus, we have to make a clear judgment. Not to believe until you get full information, but be careful.

Fuel price does not discourage the demand of motorcycles in Cambodia. Theoretically, the higher the price, the lower the demand. But the demand for motorcycle does not depend on the higher price of fuel because it is an inelastic demand. In the short run, it is not expected that motorcycle consumers will reduce their demand. Until the long run, consumers may have other substitute products or the price of fuel may be lower. However, at this present time, I can see that there is high demand of motorcycle throughout Cambodia.

The demand is higher today, but lower than last three months. The price of motorcycle is lower. The lower price is due to the situation of today; rainy season and pre-election period. After that it is expected the price will be little bit higher, and the demand is higher.

Increasing population means increasing demand. Youths are living in modern society and they need motorcycles to go to school or go to work. Farmers are getting more income from the cash crops. Economic growth make people earn more. Land sales generate big revenue for people, especially those at provinces. People are aware of modern society and want to see it as they never see it many years in their lives.

Moreover, those who have cars may use motorcycles, instead of their cars. Today, you can see people have cars and motorcycles in their houses. Thus, more or less, I can see that motorcycle demand is still high. Higher inflation does not make it drop. Unlike in Vietnam, the demand has dropped 40% due to higher price of food and fuel and credit restriction.