Ministry tells Vietnam to back off in border dispute

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Chhay Channyda

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded Vietnam stop encroaching into disputed border regions, citing five “illegal” irrigation ponds in Ratanakkiri province “dug deep inside Cambodian territory”.

In a letter to the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh, the ministry urged Vietnam to cease working in Pak Nhay Commune, O Yadav district, an area recently highlighted by opposition lawmakers as an example of Vietnamese encroachment on the border.

“Pending the demarcation of the border...

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/ministry-tells-vietnam-back-border-dispute

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VN issued second border note

Mon, 15 June 2015

Meas Sokchea

The Cambodian government has sent a second diplomatic note in the space of three days to the Vietnamese embassy, demanding an end to encroachment across an as-yet-unmarked section of the shared border.

The second note – published yesterday by Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong on his Facebook page – followed the discovery of three more ponds apparently dug by Vietnamese nationals deep in the jungle of Rattanakkiri province, between 315 and 425 metres into Cambodian territory.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia demands the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to respect the borderline of the map Bonne 1/100,000”,

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vn-issued-second-border-note

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Opposition Compliments Gov’t on Reaction to Alleged Encroachment

Neou Vannarin, VOA Khmer

15 June 2015

PHNOM PENH—

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Monday extended a rare compliment to Cambodia’s foreign minister, who has sent two missives since Friday to Vietnam, accusing the government allowing encroachment in Ratanakkiri province.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong sent notes to the Vietnamese Embassy on Friday and Sunday, protesting the excavation of multiple ponds up to 500 meters inside Cambodian territory.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has long criticized the ruling Cambodian People’s Party for allowing border encroachment by the Vietnamese, but rarely is anything done about it in a public, diplomatic fashion.

Speaking to supporters in Preah Sihanouk province on Monday, Sam Rainsy expressed his support for the “good deed” and said it was a sign of improved relations between the Rescue Party and the CPP. The CPP no longer needs the support of Vietnam, he said.

Meanwhile, other relations have improved, and no matter the outcome of the next election, “Cambodia will be harmonized,” Sam Rainsy said.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan dismissed claims that a “culture of dialogue” with the Rescue Party made Hor Namhong’s notes possible. “The Cambodian People’s Party has been working on this issue [for a long time],” he said. “Since before the establishment of a culture of dialogue.”

http://www.voacambodia.com/content/opposition-compliments-govt-on-reaction-to-alleged-encroachment/2822319.html

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Border drama continues

Tue, 16 June 2015

Meas Sokchea and Phak Seangly

More than 200 villagers living near the Vietnamese border in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district have demanded that their local border police chief be sacked over his “carelessness” for allowing Vietnamese encroachment into Cambodian territory.

The demand by 274 ethnic Jarai villagers in Pak Nhai commune’s Lom village came as a ninth Vietnamese-built pond was discovered in the area, a hotspot of border tensions after human rights group Adhoc discovered five such ponds last month.

The ponds, publicised by the CNRP, prompted Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday to send two diplomatic notes demanding Vietnam stop building in the yet-to-be demarcated section of the border.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/border-drama-continues

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Cambodia-Vietnam Border Spat Reveals Shifting Alliances

Tuesday, 16 June 2015; News by Khmer Times/Va Sonyka and Donald Lee

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Monitors inspect trenches dug in the disputed boundary area alongside Vietnam in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district. Photo: Courtesy Adhoc

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – As tension rises along an undemarcated border section with Vietnam in Ratanakkiri province, analysts say the government’s newfound toughness against Hanoi reflects rising Chinese influence here.

They also say it shows that the ruling Cambodia People’s Party needs to win political points by responding to rising anger over perceived encroachment on Cambodian soil by Vietnam.

“The voice of the people who protest to the government to take care of the Vietnamese border issues seems to have resonated with the ruling party,” said Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum think tank.

read more: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/12349/cambodia-vietnam-border-spat-reveals-shifting-alliances/

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‘Press pause’ on border

Wed, 17 June 2015

Meas Sokchea and Phak Seangly

Opposition lawmakers said they will demand that Prime Minister Hun Sen halt ongoing efforts to demarcate Cambodia’s border with Vietnam until after the 2018 election to guarantee a consensus on the controversial boundary. This came as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday again moved to reinforce its stance against Vietnamese encroachment.

News of the request also came as authorities confirmed a local border police chief in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district had been removed for allowing the Vietnamese to build at least nine irrigation ponds inside the yet-to-be delineated “white” zone near Pak Nhai commune’s Lom village.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/press-pause-border