The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 497
“Phnom Penh: The Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet arrived in Cambodia in the morning of 27 February for his two-day official visit at the invitation of the Khmer King His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni.
“This visit is to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation between the two countries and also to cement the friendship between the two countries and nations.
“At the Phnom Penh international airport, the Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet was welcomed by Kong Som Ol, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers of the Royal Palace, as well as dignitaries from a number of national institutions.
“Students and common people were standing at the streets from the Intercontinental Hotel, where the Vietnamese President and top delegation stayed, to the Royal Palace, where he will have an audience with the Khmer King.
“In the afternoon, also in the Royal Palace, the Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet met with Samdech Chea Sim, the President of the Senate, Samdech Heng Samrin, the President of the National Assembly, and Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the evening, the Khmer King hosted a dinner for the high level Vietnamese delegation.
“According to the program, on the second day of the visit, the Vietnamese President would have an audience with Samdech Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, [of the Mohanikay Sect of Buddhism] in the Kingdom of Cambodia in Wat Ounalom, and then participate in a forum on trade, and meet with members of the Vietnamese Association in the Intercontinental Hotel.
“Separately, in Phnom Penh, in the morning of 27 February, some 50 Khmer Krom Monks were walking towards the Vietnamese Embassy, holding Pro-Khmer Krom banners to demand the Vietnamese Embassy that the Vietnamese authorities should stop mistreating and defrocking Khmer Krom monks.
“The protest coincided with the visit of the President of Vietnam who paid an official two-day visit in the Kingdom of Cambodia on 27 and 28 February 2007. But the Khmer Krom monks did not reach the Vietnamese Embassy because police from Phnom Penh city and from the Chamkarmon ward and other elements of the authorities blocked them from going to the Vietnamese Embassy. They stopped at the Bokor intersection, because their protest demonstration was not authorized by authorities in charge.
“Monk Suon Bora, residing at Wat Moni Sako Deum Ampil in Klaing, Kampuchea Krom, said that on 8 February approximately 200 monks gathered at Wat Moni Sako Deum Ampil to conduct a non-violent demonstration against the Vietnamese authorities that pressured Khmer Krom monks not to go to beg for food. Most importantly, any Khmer Krom monk who is sick is not allowed by the Vietnamese authorities to receive treatment in a hospital.
“The same monk added that having staged a demonstration at that day, nine of 200 monks were detained by the Vietnamese authorities in a police building, another nine were defrocked, and many more were continually threatened with arrest, forcing all of them to flee to Cambodia.
“Monk Suon Bora also added that the Khmer Krom monks that gathered to go to the Vietnamese Embassy in the morning of 27 February, yesterday, went with the intention of requesting that the Vietnamese leaders and authorities should stop mistreating and suppressing Khmer Krom monks, entitle them again to go to beg for food as usual, allow them to receive treatment in a hospital, and respect Khmer Krom people’s rights.
“The Khmer Krom monks’ protest coincided as the President of Vietnam came to pay a visit to Cambodia today. But it was not known whether the President of Vietnam did know the reason for the Khmer Krom protest or not.
“According to an unidentified official of the Phnom Penh municipal authorities, the Khmer Krom monks’ gathering at the Vietnamese Embassy in order to stage a protest was prohibited by the municipal authorities.
“Mr. Touch Naruth, the Chief Municipal Police Commissioner, led police forces to prevent Khmer Krom monks from gathering that morning, and requested them to return to their pagodas and submit a protest note for him, and then he would use his representative to bring their note to the Vietnamese Embassy in order to solve this problem. He made this request to avoid a demonstration that might cause a loss of order in Phnom Penh.
“Mr. Hou Van, a Phnom Penh representative of the Sam Rainsy Party, who was present there in the morning, said that he supported the Khmer Krom monks who protested, because the Vietnamese authorities violated and hindered their rights and their freedom, affecting the Buddhist religion.
“It was reported that Preah Khos Thom Sao Chanthul Preah Balat, the abbot of Wat Lanka, called all Khmer Krom monks who had gathered to protest, to go to Wat Botum Vatey in order to be punished by their superior monks.
“Yoeun Sin, the abbot of Samaki Raingsy and the president of the Khmer Krom Association, said that he came there to call Khmer Krom monks who gathered to protest to return to Wat Botum Vatey in order to seek solutions. Even when the monks’ officials told them to return, Khmer Krom monks did not agree to do so. Some 50 Khmer Krom monks agreed to return to their pagodas only after NOG officials ensured that they would take them by car to the places where they stay.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1278, 28.2.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday 28 February 2007
Areyathor, Vol., #121, 27.2.2007
- Do Not Take Lightly The Control Of Explosives [Chea Sophara, the former Phnom Penh governor, collected and destroyed guns, but until now there is trafficking of explosives in the city and the provinces]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1276, 28.2.2007
- Try Pheap Company Clears Almost 300 Hectares Of Land [in Sandan, but then stopped its activities after they had heard about the forest law and the environmental impact caused by their activities]
- A Retired Public Servant Sued The Director Of The Takeo Department Of Social Works Because Of A Deduction From The Pension Payments [10% was deducted from staff payments in 10 districts]
- The Documentation Center Of Cambodia Requests The Khmer Rouge Tribunal To Receive Complaints [from victims in the Khmer Rouge regime. Chhang Youk, the director of the center, said that information on how to lodge complaints has not yet been widely spread]
Khmer Mekong, Vol.5, #240, 24-27.2.2007
- Oknha Depo Spends US$46,000 Building Two Twelve-Room Schools In Svay Rieng
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #169, 28.2.2007
- The Ministry of the Royal Palace Identifies Four Websites That Were Set Up To Defame King Sihamoni [those websites are confused with the former King’s which is www.norodomsihanouk.info while the new King’s website is www.norodomsihamoni.org. These are the confusing ones: www.norodomsihamoni.info, www.sihamoni.net, www.sihamoni.com, www.sihamoni.gov.
- Five Right-Hand-Drive Pajero Cars, With Their Steering Wheels [illegally] Changed To The Left Sides, Were Imported By Dishonest Merchants Through Poipet [he cars were confiscated by customs officials. This is the first time ever, after the directive from Hun Sen had been issued. So far, at least 15 to 25 illegal cars have been brought into Cambodia by five different companies]
Rasmei Angkor, Vol.14, #1152, 27.2.2007
- Malaysian Company [CVI Resort] Plans To Invest US$100 Million On Entertainment At Svay Rieng Border [they plan to build a five-start hotel with 450 rooms, a golf court, an international trade exhibition ground, and a sports center. The Prime Minister welcomes the plan]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4223, 28.2.2007
- Her Excellency Bun Rany Hun Sen, The President Of The Cambodian Red Cross, Visits Troops At Anlong Veng
Samdech Hun Sen: “The Anti-Corruption Law Is In The Last Stage” [he said in a workshop on the governance action plan, held at Chatomuk Conference Hall] - Cambodia and Thailand Solve Problems In Peaceful Ways [Mr. Long Visalo, secretary of state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Mr. Tej Bunnag, an adviser to the Thai Kings, discussed and unanimously agreed to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries]
- Japan Continues Its Project To Help Train Cambodian Lawyers [the Project started since 2001]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #2978, 28.2.2007
- In Yuon [Vietnam], Khmer People Are Trying To Get The News About The Murder Of Khmer Singer Pov Panhapich, But Some Khmer TV Stations Do Not Dare To Broadcast Much Of This News
