The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has rejected Thai accusations that Cambodia used private citizens as human shields in Banteay Meanchey province’s ChokChey village, noting that the people involved in a recent confrontation with Thai soldiers were long-term local residents. The ministry explained that the showdown was unplanned. “On the contrary, it occurred when local people grew frustrated with Thai efforts to deny them access to their homes and rice fields through the installation of razor wire barricades,” explained ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry. On August 25, hundreds of villagers in Chok Chey village destroyed razor wire barricades that…
Author: Niem Chheng
The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) has called for their Swedish counterparts to oppose the sale of Swedish company Saab’s Gripen warplanes to Thailand. The same family of fighter jets were used for the first time ever in combat, when the Thai air force deployed them against Cambodia during the July 24-28 border clashes. In an August 28 letter to Fredrik Malmberg, director of the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, CHRC president Keo Remy shared his appreciation for Sweden’s support for Cambodia in past decades, and noted that he regarded Sweden as a champion of human rights, democracy and peace.…
Prominent analyst Kin Phea has shared his belief that the US is still keeping a close eye on the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire, noting that President Trump has backed it since it was first mooted. Trump sent an August 20 letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to thank him for nominating him [Trump] for the Nobel Peace Prize. “It was a great honour to speak with you to help end the fighting with Thailand. Cambodia has a long and storied history and culture. I can tell that you are a strong leader who values human life and appreciates peace,” said the…
The Ministry of National Defence has expressed condolences regarding an August 27 landmine explosion that resulted in injuries to a Thai soldier at the Cambodia-Thailand Border area. The ministry also reminded Thailand and the international community that Cambodian territory along the border is still scattered with landmines left over from past wars. The ministry statement came after the Thailand Second Army Region reported the incident, which took place near Ta Krabey temple, and again pointed the finger at Cambodia, accusing its forces of laying new mines. “The defence ministry of Cambodia reaffirms that it has not used or placed any…
Cambodia sent a “strong” protest letter to Thailand, regarding their actions of August 25, which Cambodia said violated the current ceasefire by encroaching on Cambodia’s sovereign territory. While addressing an August 26 afternoon press briefing, Chum Sounry, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, noted that even after the ceasefire came into effect, Thai forces continue to carry out various activities on Cambodia soil. “This is the third time we have sent a letter of protest. The two previous letters were delivered on August 14 and 19. Our latest letter states that on August 25 at 2.20pm,…
Swedish company Saab’s sale of additional Gripen fighter jets to Thaiand has received a backlash from the Cambodian public. Thailand’s existing Gripens carried out air strikes on Cambodian soil during the July 24-28 border clashes, with some striking civilian infrastructure. The Swedish government’s decision to approve the half a billion-dollar bid has raised eyebrows in Cambodia, particularly when set against Sweden’s claims of being human right champions. A sale agreement for four jets was signed on August 25 by Thai Royal Air Force Commander-in-Chief Punpakdee Pattanakul, director-general of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration Mikael Granholm, and Micael Johansson, president and…
Banteay Meanchey governor Oum Reatrey has sent a formal letter to Parinya Phothisat, governor of Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, protesting the planned issuance of land ownership certificates to Thai citizens. The August 25 letter clarifies that land ownership certificates for land in the geographical area of Chok Chey village, O’Beichoan commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, cannot be issued to Thai citizens as it is Cambodian territory. Reatrey stated that a promise to issue certificates to Thai citizens was published in an August 24 article in The Nation Thailand. “The Banteay Meanchey provincial administration expresses concern over information published on…
Cambodia is intensifying its efforts to investigate and examine evidence related to online fraud and identify the shadowy figures behind these operations, according to the Ad hoc commission to combat online scams which launched a major campaign to suppress these crimes in late June. The commission secretariat stated over the weekend that, in collaboration with China’s Ministry of Public Security, they are actively investigating the evidence seized from perpetrators during recent crackdown operations. Over the past 60 days, under the secretariat’s guidance, authorities have confiscated thousands of pieces of evidence, including mobile phones, computers, passports and various electronic devices. It…
An Australian member of parliament has called for a “principled and engaged” international response to the ongoing border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, which forced hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes. Mark Dreyfus MP, Member for Isaacs, Victoria, addressed the Australian parliament earlier today. He explained that since his 2007 election, he has built strong relationships with members of the Cambodian Australian community. He noted that many members of the community in his electorate have contacted him with great concerns about the recent outbreak of violence in the Cambodia-Thailand border area. Dreyfus highlighted their fears for their…
The Cambodian National Assembly (NA) today approved a draft amendment to the Kingdom’s Citizenship Law, with a unanimous vote by 120 lawmakers. The new legislation will allow the revocation of Cambodian citizenship from individuals who “collaborate with foreigners to commit acts of treason against the Khmer nation”. According to an NA press release, the law aims to “purify the patriotic spirit of Cambodian citizens toward their homeland and people, with the goal of promoting national ideals, patriotism and sincere loyalty to the motherland in all circumstances”. The statement noted that approximately 150 countries worldwide, including France, the UK, the US,…