Week 510

Saturday, 2.6.2007: Web Site of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Says Cambodia Covers an Area of 181,000 Square Kilometers Only

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 510

“Phnom Penh: Kampuchea Thmey has just received information through the web site of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] that they say Cambodia covers an area of 181,000 sq km only [the site gives the size for all member countries in ‘thousand sq. km’ units, for all 12 member countries it is given in the same way]. According to the figure of this web site, Cambodia loses 35 sq km. Where is this taken from?

“The official web site of the Royal Government of Cambodia defines that Cambodia covers an area of 181,035 sq km. Cambodian citizens know well that the size of Cambodia is 181,035 sq km.

“Reacting to this issue, Mr. Monh Saphan, a parliamentarian from Funcinpec, said that if the ASEAN web site really says so, the Royal Government must react urgently, especially the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation must ask for the web site to be corrected, because it affects the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“Ms. Seng Theary, the Executive Director of the Center for Social Development, said ‘The state’s figure is more important and appropriate than figures of other organizations. Therefore, we should urge the government to check this issue. We also wonder from where ASEAN got this figure.’

“Ms. Seng Theary continued, ‘In general, information about the size of a county should be quoted from appropriate documents from a government.’

“Mr. Keo Remy, a parliamentarian from the Sam Rainsy Party, seriously blamed the web site of ASEAN for providing inappropriate information; if they do not know, they should not write, because what they write is launched to the whole world. Mr. Keo Remy said, ‘It is not known whether it is an unintentional mistake or something else. However, the government should take urgent action over this issue; especially the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications should close the web site. We known that Cambodia has border disputes with its neighbors, and Khmer citizens are paying attention on these issues. We cannot accept such incorrect points. The most important thing is that the government should close this web site.’

“Mr. Keo Remy stated, ‘The map of Cambodia is defined at a size of 181,035 sq km, and the international community also recognizes this figure.

“Ms. Pong Chiev Kek [Dr. Kek Galabru], the President of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, said that the wrong information about the size of Cambodia on the web site is really a mistake, so the government should pay attention and ask for the web site to be corrected. Ms. Pong Chiev Kek asked why ASEAN posted a wrong figure about the size of Cambodia on its web site like this.

“Ms. Pong Chiev Kek also suggested that the government should investigate this issue, otherwise a small problem might turn into a bigger issue. Mr. Va Kimhong, from the Committee for Solving Border disputes, did not make any comment over this issue. He told Kampuchea Thmey that he was busy with a meeting.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1355, 2.6.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 2 June 2007

Chakraval, Vol.15, #2685, 2.6.2007

  • Ministry of Interior Issues Statement Rejecting Report of Mr. Yash Ghai [Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia – report issued in March 2007, to be discussed on 12 June at the 5th meeting of the UN Human Rights Council meeting 11 – 18 June in Geneva, where a representative of the Cambodian government has the opportunity to publicly react in front of the international community]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1355, 2.6.2007

  • Web Site of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Says Cambodia Covers an Area of 181,000 Square Kilometers Only
  • Meeting between [Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior] Sar Kheng and [opposition party President] Sam Rainsy Postponed without New Date Set [because Sar Kheng is busy]
  • South Korean Man Arrested on Accusation of Using Fake Passport, after He Was Hiding in Cambodia for Four Years
  • Ten Thai Soldiers and Five Muslims Killed by Muslim Separatist Rebels in South

Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6055, 2-3.6.2007

  • International Labor Organization: Labor Conditions in Garment Factories [in Cambodia] Continue Progressing
  • NGOs Set Up Phone Network to Help Child Victims [of domestic violence, rights violations, trafficking, sex exploitation, and labor exploitation – no phone number is given]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3174, 2-3.6.2007

  • Mr. Sam Rainsy: Global Witness Shows Evidence of Corruption that Hun Sen Condones; Relatives and Partisans of Strongman Are Involved in Forest Crimes with Hun Sen as Their Protection [Seng Kheang Company of Seng Kheang, former wife of Hun Sen’s cousin Hun Chouch, she is also Bun Rany Hun Sen’s friend, conducts illegal logging in Kompong Thom with Khun Thong, younger brother-in-law of Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture – some military generals are also reported to be involved in forest crimes]
  • Because of Corruption of Customs Officers and Tax Officials, About $90 Million of Tax Revenue Lost Every Year [according to Yim Sovann, Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarian from Phnom Penh]
  • Mr. Yash Ghai Still Considers Cambodia Has Serious Human Rights Violations
  • Municipality Plans to Order Removal of Memorial of Grenade Attack Victims Opposite National Assembly

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4300, 2.6.2007

  • Prince Thomico: There is Only One Way Towards Amnesty for Samdech Krom Preah [to bring Prince Ranariddh back into Funcinpec]
  • International Monetary Fund Asks Government about Corruption, Oil, and Reforms
  • Big Shareholder [Shin Satellite PCL] of 011 Phone Company Announces Sale of Shares in Cambodia and Laos [at $200 million – reason not mentioned]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3051, 2.6.2007

  • Nhek Korsal Vithyea [Director of Camintel] Is Really Strong, He Commits Crimes, He Is Not Jailed, but He Even Frees His Subordinates [over alleged involvement in overseas phone gateway theft]

Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #416, 2.6.2007

  • Kampuchea Krom Khmers [in Cambodia] to Mark 58th Anniversary [4 June 1949 – 4 June 2007] When France Gave Kampuchea Krom Land to Yuon [Vietnam]

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