Abhisit to jusitify his claim and threats WHC!

Today Associate Press published that Thailand is ready to reinforce troop at Cambodian border if needed. Read it here. And below is the excerpt from the AP:

Thailand’s army is prepared to defend its border with Cambodia if a territorial dispute heats up, the prime minister said Wednesday, as the two nations were set to tussle on the diplomatic front at a U.N. meeting in Brazil.

[…]

“The army is now ready to defend our sovereignty if breached,” said Abhisit after his weekly Cabinet meeting. He said he was appealing to members of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee “to remember the very purpose this committee was set up for. It should be a purveyor of peace and culture, not of tension and conflicts.”

NOTE: This act of troop reinforcement must be committed in order to justify his claim that, ” to remember the very purpose this committee was set up for. It should be a purveyor of peace and culture, not of tension and conflicts“, in the hope that UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) would prove Thailand right, then,  invalidate Prasat Preah Vihear listing and reject the Cambodia’s management plan and .

Therefore, in the case of Prasat Preah Vihear conflict to those who really love justice and peace would say that  Abhisit and his extremist PAD are the real mastermind of  peace and war. And hope that  WHC won’t let their decision subject to these irrational threat and illegitimate action of Abhisit and his extremist alliance- PAD.

WHC would also consider that if Abhisit/Thailand is really a good neighbor to Cambodia, Thailand should not view Cambodia’s management plan as a conflict, in stead, Thailand should view it as a positive sign, then cooperate with Cambodia, and willingly urge the Border Committees of the two countries to faster the  border demarcation in accordance with international recognized  map, treaty and verdict as fast as possible in order to bring about the economic development for both countries in the provinces around this Prasat Preah Vihear of the World Heritage Site.   Then we are all surely at PEACE.

Duch gets 35 years sentenced! But Who Care?

The Son Of the Khmer Empire

When we heard the plan of Khmer Rouge trial discussed in 1997, most of us were happy and wished all those criminals brought to face
justice for their crimes committed against humanity as soon as possible. But we are made to wait and then we are disappointed, may be forever.

On 26 July 2010, Duch one of the five members to be tried by the ECC, got his sentence of 35 years and its subsequent reduction to 19 years for his cooperation with the ECCC.  With this punishment, the world start to blow the horn, congratulate the trial, and laud the justice the Cambodians deserve. However, back to Cambodia, some say they are satisfied with the trial while many others say they are really disappointed with it.

So what about me? PERSONALLY, I NEVER SUPPORT THE ECCC’s STRUCTURE SINCE IT IS FORMED AND THE  KR TRIAL PROCESS. So Duch’s punishment is meaninggless. Why? The reasons are:

Extremist Thais protest against UNESCO temple listing

Hundreds of Thai nationalists led by a leader of the “yellow shirt” movement, Chamlong Srimuang (not pictured), gather outside the UNESCO office in Bangkok July 27, 2010, to voice opposition to Cambodia’s plan to administer Preah Vihear Temple, an ancient border temple and a World Heritage Site. Some Thais said the plan would compromise Thailand’s claim to land in a disputed border territory with Cambodia. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

NOTE: The shameless thieves now claim that they are robbed.

A Khmer Was Once the Premier of Thailand: The Traitorous Ahaiwongse family

Khmerization digged up an interesting historical piece on Khuang Aphaiwong (ควง อภัยวงศ์), the former three-time Khmer premier of Thailand. Though he wasn’t really someone we should be proud of, this article is still worth reading. Enjoy!

The Aphaiwong family has ruled Battambang province for over one hundred years from 1795-1907. The first member of the Aphaiwongs to rule Battambang was Chaufa Ben, a native of Takeo province, who was a powerful military commander under the reign of King Ang Eng. In 1795, with the aid of the Thai army with Chau Ponhea Bodin as a commander, Chaufa Ben declared himself the Lord Governor of Battambang and swore allegiance to the Thai kings. He pays homage to the Thai kings and since then Battambang was put under the suzerainty of Siam. As a reward, he was accorded the title of “Chau Ponhea Apheithipess” which in Thai it is called “Chao Phraya Aphaithebet” or “Aphai”. This title was later adopted as a family name of Ben’s descendants of Aphaiwong, when his descendants moved to live in Thailand, after Battambang was returned to Cambodia in 1907.

When Chau Ponhea Apheitipess Ben died in 1809, his son, Pen, ascended the Lordship of Battambang with the same title of Chau Ponhea Apheitipess. Chau Ponhea Pen ruled Battambang for only seven years and died at a young age and was then succeeded in 1816 by his son, Ros, who ruled Battambang for twenty years. When he died in 1835, Chau Ponhea Ros was succeeded by his son, Nong. There was no record of how long Chau Ponhea Nong ruled Battambang, but there was a record which shows that in 1856 he had ordered his official to buy a Tripitaka scripture from Siam to give to Wat Po Veal temple. When Apheitipess Nong died he was succeeded by his son, Year called Nhonh.

Lord Chhum, The Last Lord Governor of Battambang

Chau Ponhea Nhonh was very close with Chau Ponhea Bodin, the Thai military commander for Battambang. As such, he married his eldest daughter, Neak Mchas Klip, to Bodin’s son named Em Singhaseni. When Ponhea Nhon became old, Mrs. Klip took charge of the provincial affairs. The Thai king was so impressed of her managerial skills and so was preparing to appoint her husband, Em Singhaseni, to succeed Ponhea Nhonh. Chhum, the only son of Ponhea Nhonh, knew of the plan and became jealous and had Em Singhaseni assassinated. And when Ponhea Nhonh died in 1895, Chhum succeeded Ponhea Nhonh as the Lord Governor of Battambang. Chhum ruled Battambang for only 12 years when it was returned back to the control of Cambodia. He and most of his relatives, numbers in the thousands, moved to live in Prachinburi province in Thailand. He was, effectively, the last governor of Battambang.

According to eyewitnesses, when Lord Chhum moved to live in Thailand, he brought with him about 100 cartloads of gold and assets, taxed from Khmer farmers in Battambang.

Khuang Aphaiwong, a Khmer Becoming the Prime Minister of Thailand

Lord Chhum, the last governor of Battambang, had more than 40 wives. Among the 40 wives, he had one Thai wife named Rord who bore him a son named Khuang who took the surname of Aphaiwong when his family moved to live in Thailand after Battambang was returned to Cambodia in 1907.

Khuang Aphaiwong was born in Battambang on May 17, 1902 and died on March 15, 1968 in Bangkok, Thailand. He served three times as the prime minister of Thailand.

He attended the Debsirin school and the Assumption College in Bangkok, and studied engineering at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France. After his return to Thailand he worked in the telegraph department, finally becoming the director of the department.

Khuang was one of the most important leaders of the 1932 coup that reformed the Thai monarchy from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

Khuang received the title as a major, when he joined the guard of King Rama VII, King Prajadipok, in World War II. The Thai king also bestowed upon him the title of Luang Kovit Aphaiwong. He had served as a minister of subsequent Thai governments before elected as prime minister on August 1, 1944. On August 17, 1945, after public pressures, he resigned to make way for a new administration.

In 1946 he was one of the founders of the Democrat Party, and became its first leader. His Democrat Party won the fourth national elections on January 6, 1946, which gained him a second term as prime minister starting on January 31. Only 45 days later, on March 24, his government was censured by a motion in the parliament and he resigned.

On November 10, 1947, he became prime minister a third time following a coup d’état led by Phin Chunhawan. However, the coup leaders were not pleased with the performance of Khuang’s government and forced him to resign on April 8, 1948.

The Aphaiwong Legacy

The Aphaiwongs had ruled well and, at times, misruled Battambang, depending on who you talked to. The Aphaiwong family was both loved and hated by many Battambang natives due to their feudal and oppressive rules. Many people who benefited from their rules loved them and cried when the family moved to Thailand, after Battambang was returned to Cambodian control. Many of these people followed the Aphaiwongs to Thailand but were abandoned by them. Most became destitute and decided to moved back to Battambang. Others, those who were oppressed by their oppressive rules, were overjoyed of their departures.//
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References:
1. Tauch Chhuong, Battambang During The Time Of The Lord Governor
2. Wikipedia, Khuang Aphaiwong.
3. Brittanica, Khuang Aphaiwong.

Have Posted in here

Dance Troupe Prepares for Smithsonian Perfomance

Wednesday, 28 July 2010
By:Nuch Sarita
Source:VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

Madame Tes Sam Oeun, (left) along with her husband Tes Saroeum on ‘Hello VOA’ on

Photo: by Men Kemseng

Thursday July 22nd, 2010.

A US-Cambodian dance troupe under a renowned director is set to perform in Washington. The Dance Troupe of Cambodian American Heritage will perform classic stories of Hinduism and Buddhism Aug. 7 as part of the ongoing “Gods of Angkor” bronze exhibit at the Smithsonian’s Free and Sackler galleries.

The dance troupe will be guided by its director, Tes Sam Oeun, a National Endowment for the Arts heritage fellow.

“Under her direction, the dance troupe has performed in numerous venues, including events of the Smithsonian Institution, the White House, the Kennedy Center, the World Monument Fund, and numerous folk festivals,” Tes Saroeum, president of the Cambodian American Heritage, told “Hello VOA” Thursday.

Tes Saroeum, who is also Tes Sam Oeun’s husband, said the troupe will perform scenes from the mythical Vessantara Jataka, a Buddhist story.

“This story is very popular in Cambodia,” he said.

The story depicts the travails of a prince, Vessantara, who gives away his possessions and even his family in service to charity.

The troupe will also perform scenes from the Ramayana, Tes Saroeum said. All the performances will match the dual influences of both Buddhism and Hinduism in the “Gods of Angkor” exhibition.

Khmer classical dancing can be called Apsara dancing, he said, reflecting a belief that the style stems from the dance practiced in the courts of Angkorian kings.

“So when the Smithsonian asked us to perform something related to the ‘Gods of Angkor’…we decided to perform the story of Prince Vessantara, which is close to the exhibit’s crowned Buddha, and the story of Ramayana, which is related to the Hindu bronze sculptures.”

In Chicago, US-Cambodians Seek Political Voice

Wednesday, 28 July 2010
By: Men Kimseng
Source: VOA Khmer

Although they face a raft of problems from health to education, US-

Cambodians say they remain underrepresented by policy makers. A group of Cambodians met in Chicago over the weekend to discuss ways their community might receive more attention.

Participants told VOA Khmer they want better representation, but that requires a stronger, more unified voice within their communities.

“There are two reasons why Cambodian community don’t get much support and understanding,” said Van Sar, an organizer of the Chicago forum. “This is because, first, we don’t have representatives within the US leadership. Secondly, we don’t have a strong, joint voice from our civil society organizations to influence US policy.”

The forum, the first of its kind, was organized by the Cambodian Association in Illinois and the Khmer Alliance Foundation, in conjunction with the National Cambodian American Health Initiative.

A low percentage of Cambodians take advantage of opportunities in the US. Just more than 10 percent of Cambodian high schoolers graduate, according to statistics at the forum.

“Those who know the real need of our children’s education are we the parents,” said Boeuy Te, a member of the National Education Association.

Of the Cambodians who do graduate with advanced degrees, he said, few work in government institutions where they might push to improve the lives of fellow Cambodians.

Low political participation in general was also discussed at the forum.

“Essentially, Cambodians should register to vote and go vote, all the time, from local to presidential elections,” Siv Sichan, a former US ambassador to the UN, said. “Here if we want our voice heard, we have to be active. And if we just stay home, our voice won’t be heard.”

There are approximately 270,000 Cambodians living in the US. Only 60,000 have become full US citizens. That means a wide majority do not have the right to vote, an important part of gaining political attention.

That said, the Chicago forum did draw Mike Quigley, a Democrat for Illinois in the US House of Representatives.

“It’s not one act,” he told VOA Khmer. “I think it’s a relationship that builds from here. We’ve been in DC for a year now. We’ve learned a little bit about how to get things done. So I think working with my district office here and in Washington, DC, we’ll sit down as often as we need to to work out individual cases and broader issues. It’s not one thing; it’s a series of things.”

Thai army to reinforce Cambodian border if needed

By KINAN SUCHAOVANICH
Source: AP

BANGKOK — Thailand’s army is prepared to defend its border with Cambodia if a territorial dispute heats up, the prime minister said Wednesday, as the two nations were set to tussle on the diplomatic front at a U.N. meeting in Brazil.

Deadly clashes have flared in the past over the Preah Vihear temple, which the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization named a World Heritage site in 2008, over Thailand’s objections.

Two Thai soldiers were killed and 12 wounded in April 2009 after troops exchanged fire with assault rifles and rocket launchers along Cambodia’s northern border near the temple, one of several clashes in recent years.

Cambodia will present a management plan in Brazil on the disputed territory at a UNESCO meeting this week.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled the 10th-century border temple belongs to Cambodia, rejecting Thai claims. Cambodia’s World Heritage bid reignited Thai resentment over the ruling, and there have been small armed clashes in the area during the past few years.

Thailand claims the management plan would infringe on a small area of undemarcated territory around the temple, of which both sides stake a claim. It has called on UNESCO to reject the plan, and said it will walk out of the meeting if it is accepted. It also said it would consider withdrawing from UNESCO’s membership if Cambodia’s plan is accepted.

Leaders of both countries have used the issue to stir up nationalist sentiment and shore up domestic political support.

Abhisit met Wednesday with Defense Minister Pravit Wongsuwan, who told him that, pending Cabinet approval, the army is ready to deploy more troops to the already heavily defended border if Cambodian forces intrude into Thai territory.

“The army is now ready to defend our sovereignty if breached,” said Abhisit after his weekly Cabinet meeting. He said he was appealing to members of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee “to remember the very purpose this committee was set up for. It should be a purveyor of peace and culture, not of tension and conflicts.”

A Thai delegation, led by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti, is in Brasilia to attend the UNESCO meeting.

“We must make it clear that Thailand cannot and will not accept the proposal,” said Abhisit. “And if the committee will not listen to our objection, we will not take part in the voting process.”