Siem Reap Adventure Packages, Cambodia Vacation To Siem Reap, Siem Reap Holidays

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Siem Reap is a holly-land of Indochina, that's why if you take a Cambodia adventure packages, This vacation is the best choice. just contact us to get enough information : thugiang@vietlongtravel.com and phone: +084 946872007

May 13, 2011 – SIEM REAP CAMPING TOUR

Day 1: SIEM REAP CAMPING TOURS: BENG MEALEA - KOH KER SIGHTSEEING TRIP (-/L/D) Siem Reap Camping tours: Koh Ker

Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60 km from Siem Reap)

There is a lot to see in the approximately 2½ hours drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th century), strangled by the jungle

Depart for Koh Ker. A 10th century capital abandoned in the remote north of Cambodia for more than a thousand years .

Our team set up camp while we enjoy a visit to the pyramid temple of Prasat Thom. Continue to explore the many temples at this incredible site, including the beautiful Prasat Krahom covered by jungle

Camp overnight within the temple area.

Day 2: SIEM REAP CAMPING TOURS: KOH KER - CAMPING IN PHNOM KULEN (B/L/D)

Transfer to Phnom Kulen and join the pilgrim path to walk up this sacred mountain of the Khmers. Swimming in the waterfall, then we carry on to the summit of the mountain to a pagoda for the overnight camp.

Camp overnight on the mountain.

2h trekking with a average level of 300 m.

OPTION: no trekking available by vehicle transfer to the camp

Day 3: SIEM REAP CAMPING TOURS: PHNOM KULEN - KBAL SPEAN - BANTEY SREI - SIEM REAP (B/L/-) Siem Reap camping tours: Phnom Kulen

At early morning we plunge into a colourful surrounding such as high grass meadow, limestone clearing and deep jungle, to discover the exceptional site of Srah Dumrei, immense monolith sandstone of the Xth century representing elephants and lions, lost in the deep jungle. We leave the summit of the mountain with a vehicle for Kbal Spean, the sculptured river of the "thousand lingas". Visit of the site on walking. We carry on by vehicle up to the temple and village of Banteay Srei. Visit of this temple and returning to Siem Reap before nightfall. Finish your day by an aromatherapy or reflexology massage at Frangipani SPA.

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Few Equate Climate Change With Its Causes: Study

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 12 May 2011

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Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE - In this July 19, 2007 file photo, an iceberg is seen melting off the coast of Ammasalik, Greenland. A new assessment of climate change in the Arctic shows the ice in the region is melting faster than previously thought and sharply raises projections of global sea level rise this century.

“The stage is now set to guarantee that all Cambodians have access to reliable information about climate change.”

The majority of Cambodians have little understanding of the causes of climate change, due to a lack of information, a new poll has found.

In a survey by the BBC World Service Trust of 2,401 Cambodians from all walks of life, about 85 percent said they had heard of climate change, although they associated it with disease, farming troubles and drought.

Very few respondents connected climate change or global warming with industry or vehicle use, according to the report, “Understanding Public Perception of Climate Change in Cambodia.”

More understanding could come from clear explanations, Charles Hamilton, country director for the World Service Trust, said in announcing the survey results in Phnom Penh this week.

“We need to keep the language straight forward and simple and not complex; like talking about the mitigation, adaption, what does that mean to a farmer or a fisherman?” he said. “They should be our main audience in Cambodia: these people with limited education who need to have clear information about what it means to their lives. It needs to be relevant.”

Environment Minister Mok Mareth said the report provided necessary information that would be helpful to the government and other institutions wanting to raise public awareness of climate change and its impacts.

“The stage is now set to guarantee that all Cambodians have access to reliable information about climate change,” he said. “ And we know the information to be conveyed needs to be understandable and relevant.”

Brian Lund, East Asia director for Oxfam America, said education and accurate, simple information play a crucial role in empowering people to adapt to and recover from the effects of climate change.

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'Khmer Cambodian troop withdrawal' not included : source

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By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on May 12, 2011

Thailand not breaching TOR, but stands by its stance, says Kasit

The withdrawal of Cambodian troops from Preah Vihear Temple and its vicinity - a condition that Thailand has set before it accepts Indonesia's team of observers to be stationed in the disputed area - was not mentioned in the Jakarta-brokered peace package, a diplomatic source said.

The three-step package agreed upon by the Cambodian, Indonesian and Thai foreign ministers on Monday only set a timeline for the deployment of the team of observers and the meetings of Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and General Border Committee (GBC), the minutes of the meeting showed.

In a Twitter message yesterday, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya explained that the basic principle of the deal was still that Cambodian troops need to be withdrawn from Preah Vihear, Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara and adjoining areas before Indonesian observers will be allowed in the area.

"Thailand has never breached the terms of reference for the team of observers are we are being accused of," he said.

The new peace package, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation, comprises three steps for the deployment of Indonesian observers to areas near Preah Vihear where military clashes broke out in February. They are:

Step 1

lExchanging formal letters on the terms of reference for the observers;

lAnnouncing the GBC/JBC meeting.

Step 2 (five days after Step 1 is implemented)

lDispatching an initial survey team;

lHolding a meeting of the GBC/JBC.

Step 3 (ten days after Step 1)

lFully assigning the team of observers;

lFollowing up on the results of the GBC/JBC meeting.

Kasit said he would submit the peace package to the Cabinet next week, and it might want to adjust some details.

Though Thailand and Cambodia have already agreed upon the text of the terms of reference, Thailand will only send its formal acceptance to Jakarta if Cambodia agrees to withdraw its troops from Preah Vihear and its vicinity. Phnom Penh has rejected the condition and things are at a deadlock.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa called a tripartite meeting with Kasit and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Jakarta on Monday. The meeting came up with a package that stops both sides from setting conditions before any steps can be taken.

A Thai official anticipates that the condition of Cambodia's troop withdrawal, even though it is not mentioned in the package, would be discussed during the GBC meeting, which is co-chaired by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, or by the JBC, which takes care of boundary demarcation.

Indeed, the withdrawal or repositioning of troops in the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple is one of the major topics to be discussed by the JBC in relation to the boundary demarcation.

The last JBC meeting was held in Bogor, Indonesia, in the first week of April but no significant progress was made. Clashes broke out later in April near Ta Mouan Thom and Ta Kwai temple in Surin about 150km west of Preah Vihear.

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Thailand and Cambodia agree to roadmap for troop withdrawal

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May 11, 2011

Boris Sullivan

Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and Mr. Hor Nam Hong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, agreed to propose to their respective governments a “roadmap” in the form of “a package proposal” on how to move forward.

The agreement was reached during their meeting on 9 May 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Mr. Marty Natalegawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, in his capacity as the current Chair of ASEAN, attending and facilitating said meeting.

The roadmap encompasses the issues of the exchange of notes between Thailand and Indonesia and between Cambodia and Indonesia regarding the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Indonesian Observers Team, the convening of a meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC), and the withdrawal of Cambodian troops from the Temple of Phra Viharn, Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda and the surrounding areas, namely, the local community and market, before the Indonesian observers can be deployed. The roadmap must be approved by both the Thai and Cambodian governments before further action.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed that a roadmap will be drawn up for the two countries to withdraw their troops from the areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple and the adjoining community, according to Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Thani Thongphakdi

Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Director-General of the Department of Information and the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson reiterated Thailand’s position that Cambodia must withdraw all of its troops from the specified areas before the Indonesian observer teams can be dispatched. Both sides agreed to take the agreed roadmap to the respective governments for consideration, the implementation of which would be as a package. It is thus mutually understood that Cambodia must withdraw its troops from the specified locations before the Indonesian observers are sent in.

In response to the question about a time-frame for considering the proposed roadmap, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that this would depend on when it would be included on the Cabinet’s agenda. He noted that all concerned would like to see progress on this matter at the earliest possible but that it has to proceed in accordance with domestic processes of the respective countries.

Regarding the question on whether the proposed roadmap also calls for a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities in the border area, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson stated that this issue should be discussed in detail within the GBC framework, which Thailand has called for since the beginning. Agreement in this connection would be considered as part of the package. Be that as it may, military units on both sides have been in contact and so far no recent clashes took place, which is a positive sign.

In response to a reporter’s question on Indonesia’s view on the matter, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson stated that Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, saying in a press interview that it was “better than expected.” Thus, media reports suggesting that Indonesia was not satisfied with Thailand’s position are inaccurate.

As for the view of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Malaysia, which was reported in several media outlet, criticizing Thailand as the instigator of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that it was most likely due to his misunderstanding or a mistake made in the news report.

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ASEAN Summit Highlights Economic Gains, Political Growing Pains

Brian Padden, VOA
Jakarta Tuesday, 10 May 2011

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Photo: AP

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivers his speech during the opening ceremony of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, May 7, 2011.

"At the moment we have meetings and meeting of officials and have firmed up the defense side by moving it from informal to formal, but there has been no [not] anything done jointly by ASEAN..."

Leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations began a two day summit in Jakarta Saturday. The organization has made progress in creating an economic trading block, but still faces great challenges in finding common ground on political and security matters.

All the ASEAN heads of state, with the exception of Singapore, are participating in the Jakarta summit. Singapore's prime minister stayed at home to await the results of the election there.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the summit and endorsed ASEAN's recent efforts to mediate peace between two member states, Thailand and Cambodia, that have been fighting since February.

The two countries moved closer to ending an ongoing border conflict Friday, when both sides agreed in principle to accept 15 Indonesian observers in the conflict zone. Thai and Cambodia troops have been exchanging gun and artillery fire in a dispute over an area surrounding an ancient Hindu Khmer Temple that both countries claim.

President Yudhoyono also cited the challenges the region faces, such as soaring food and energy prices, the threat of terrorism and natural disasters that frequently strike in southeast Asia. He said ASEAN needs to become a more coherent and effective force to respond to these threats and maintain peace and stability in the region

The goal of the summit is to continue progress in making ASEAN an effective regional community with binding rules governing economic trade and political and security cooperation.

There has been strong support by all the leaders to create a unified economic trading block. Since 2010, ASEAN members have adhered to a free trade agreement with China, even though there have been some calls to modify the agreement to protect local industries from cheap Chinese imports.

But ASEAN members have been reluctant to enforce its own charter on issues of democracy development, protecting human rights and maintaining regional peace and security.

Carl Thayer is a southeast Asia political analyst with the University of New South Wales in Australia. While he credits Indonesia for its mediation efforts in the Thai-Cambodia conflict, he says ASEAN's inability to impose sanctions on member states that violate the organization's charter continues to limit its effectiveness.

And he says when it comes to mutual security issues, it is hard to see progress other than talk about humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and improving border protection.

"At the moment we have meetings and meeting of officials and have firmed up the defense side by moving it from informal to formal, but there has been no [not] anything done jointly by ASEAN in the defense and security spheres. It is all bilateral, trilateral," said Thayer.

He says while ASEAN's plan for economic integration is on track, when it comes to political and defense issues, the organization is still in the talking stage.

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The Continuing Impotence of ASEAN

ASEAN leaders walk after they held a retreat at the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta May 8, 2011. (Supri Supri/Courtesy Reuters)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011
By Joshua Kurlantzick
Council on Foreign Relations

This past week’s ASEAN Summit in Jakarta only further highlighted the organization’s continuing impotence at a time when the United States is reengaging with ASEAN and, Indonesia, returning to its role as regional power, is trying to make ASEAN work more effectively. The first U.S. ambassador to ASEAN has arrived, and Indonesian officials have become more involved in everything from Myanmar to the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Yet the organization itself still lacks coherence, strong leadership, and speed, and it increasingly appears likely that it will never have these characteristics. Despite Indonesia’s best intentions, ASEAN mediation has produced few results in the Thai-Cambodian dispute, and the organization has not been able to resolve another lingering problem: Myanmar is in line to host the 2014 ASEAN summit, which would almost surely mean the U.S. president will not attend any meetings with ASEAN that year, since he or she will not want to appear to support Myanmar. Some of the more democratic members of ASEAN, including the Philippines and Indonesia, wanted Myanmar to relinquish this right, as it had in the past, but as usual with ASEAN, the organization could reach no consensus–ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan just endorsed Myanmar’s right to host –and so the likely result will be some kind of muddle.

ASEAN’s leadership abilities are only going to get weaker. Though Singapore’s recent election was a step forward for open politics in the city state, it did result in the loss of a seat for longtime foreign minister George Yeo, who has been a driving force for stronger ASEAN leadership and action. Moreover, in the next few years the organization will absorb Timor Leste as its eleventh member, a correct decision, given Timor’s tough history, but one that will only slow down policymaking even more.

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Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy met with French MP Michel Issindou in Paris

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Today, opposition leader Sam Rainsy meet with Michel Issindou, French MP from Isere Province, at the French National Assembly in Paris, France.

France's National Assembly in Paris

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and French MP Michel Issindou

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Cambodian Monks Fight to Protect Forests

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By Ramon Ho on Mon, 05/09/2011

In Northern Cambodia, a group of Buddhist monks have made plans to protect their forest home, Sorng Rukavorn, from illegal loggers and profiteers by registering it as an international ecological asset. By listing it as a bank of carbon credits, the monks hope to protect the land so that the public can continue to use its resources, and to sustain their own lifestyles.

This is done through the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program, an international tool of climate mitigation. Through REDD, companies and governments of industrialized nations can make payments to developing countries to reduce carbon emissions by not cutting trees. A quarter of greenhouse gas emissions produced by humans is released through deforestation, which takes away trees and plants that help balance the levels of the atmosphere by absorbing the gas produced by natural and man-made processes like burning fossil fuels for factories and cars.

Currently, the monks bid for their forest needs to be jointly validated the Verified Carbon Standard and the Climate Community and Biodiversity Standard, who are third party auditors, and also needs to attract a buyer.

The forest’s importance to the monks stems not only from its resources in medicinal herbs and food for the locals and their livestock, but also from their religious beliefs. Forests are an important symbol to Buddhist monks, who believe that Buddha was born, meditated, reached enlightenment, and died underneath a tree.

Over the past two decades, Cambodia’s forests have declined over 22%, according to the UN. It could have been much worse, as at point there was 40% of Cambodia’s land signed over over to loggers, but was later cancelled by the government.

Photo Credit: state.gov/cms_images/cambodia_temple_2006_06_08.jpg

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Asean still has to prove that it is really unified [-The Nation needs to check its facts before writing such outrageous article]

May 10, 2011
The Nation

Despite the sterling efforts of Indonesia as the current chair, the regional grouping must show the world it can act in true solidarity

Thanks to the effectiveness and non-partisan outlook of the current chair, Indonesia, the 18th Asean Summit last weekend concluded on a high note. With the Thai-Cambodian conflict still simmering and overshadowing the summit, it took the calmness of the chair to steer the summit toward a successful conclusion.

If it hadn't been for Indonesia's cool-headed approach, the summit could have turned out differently. For the first time in the history of the regional grouping, an intra-Asean conflict featured prominently during the plenary sessions at the ministerial and summit levels, much to the chagrin of the more conservative members and delegates.

Cambodia's unilateral decision to seek international assistance has pushed the other Asean members to support the ongoing efforts of Thailand to settle the border dispute through a bilateral mechanism, as reflected in the chairman's statement.

The aggressive approach and the lack of consistency by the Cambodian side also helped to strengthen Indonesia's facilitating role and the "fullest utilisation " of the bilateral efforts. It remains to be seen how Indonesia will further engage both sides as the Asean leaders sent a clear signal to the two protagonists not to split Asean with this conflict and thus delay the realisation of an integrated Asean Community by 2015.

Apart from the hullabaloo surrounding the Hun Sen-Hor Nam Hong dramatics, Indonesia managed to push forward processes within the grouping to ensure that the prospect of achieving the Asean Community for 2015 and beyond will be a strong one.

The statement on "the Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations" is a good testimony to Indonesia's current leadership. The Asean leaders agreed that the regional grouping needs to move forward with a shared vision and coordinated action on global issues of common interest. Without these commonalities, Asean will remain weak and lack bargaining power in the globalised world. Toward these objectives, Asean has to do a lot more, as its members are still basically unwilling to think "collectively" for the good of the whole organisation and its 600 million people.

Indonesia has done an excellent job in encouraging the dialogue between the Asean leaders and the civil society organisations. However, Burma has not taken part in the interface. The chair has shown initiative and demonstrated that such dialogues are useful and can be carried out without any politicisation. Vietnam chose not to do so last year.

Somehow, this dialogue process must be institutionalised further. Otherwise there is no guarantee that there will be this type of positive gathering when Cambodia is chair, given past negative responses from Phnom Penh. Without the dialogue process, it is hard to convince the world that Asean is moving toward a people-oriented economic community.

As expected, the controversial issues relating to Burma's request to chair Asean in 2014, as well as the proposed membership of East Timor [Timor Leste], were further deferred. Asean will dispatch fact-finding teams to both countries to assess the situation on the ground and come back with a set of recommendations for the next summit. However, there is nothing given on both cases.

Several Asean members have strong views on the 2014 Asean chairmanship for Burma, as well as the grouping's enlargement. As a rules-based organisation, Asean is getting tough on its members about strictly adhering to rules and regulations.

Indonesia's chairmanship will remain pivotal for the reduction of Thai-Cambodian border tensions in the months to come. Further progress is crucial if so-called Asean solidarity is to become a reality. The whole world is watching.

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PMs' face-to-face meet fails to resolve conflict

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By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Jakarta
Published on May 9, 2011

PM Abhisit proposed discussing the troop withdrawal in a military-run General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, but Cambodia's Hun Sen disagreed, saying the GBC meet would not be convened before a Thai letter accepting the Indonesian observers' terms of reference had been submitted.

A tripartite meeting called by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to setฌtle the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia yesterday made no progress as the conflicting countries remained extremely indifฌferent.

Indonesia's plan to dispatch its observers to the borderdisputed area adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple has not materialised as Thailand insists it would not sign a letter of acceptance to the Indonesian observers' term of reference (TOR) unless Cambodia withdrew its troops from the Hindu temple and its vicinฌity.

Cambodia rejected the condition- saying it would not withdraw troops from its own territory.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed to discuss the troop withฌdrawal in a militaryrun General Border Committee (GBC) meeting - but his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen disagreed, saying the GBC meetฌing would not be convened before the Thai letter of acceptance to the TOR was formally submitted to Indonesia.

"Once Thailand has signed the TOR, the meeting of the GBC could start immediately," Hun Sen told a press conference on the sideline of the Asean summit.

Seeking a solution

As the issue came into deadlock, Indonesian President Yudhoyono, who is facilitating the peace process, recommended foreign ministers of the two nations stay one more day in Jakarta to work with Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa and seek a solution. The ministers are in Indonesia for an Asean summit meeting which ended yesterday.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia came to the attention of Asean following a major clash in February at the Preah Vihear temple. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as requested by Phnom Penh, entrusted Asean to implement a permanent ceasefire.

The armed conflict extended to other areas near Ta Mouan Thom and Ta Kwai temple in Surin in late April. The latest clash which caused more casualties prompted Cambodia's move to have the International Court of Justice (ICJ) interpret the scope and meaning of the 1962 ruling on the Preah Vihear case.

Prime Minister Abhisit charged Cambodia with igniting the military conflict to internationalise the issue, although the two countries already had many bilateral mechanisms, including the GBC, to settle the conflict.

Abhisit rejected Cambodian preฌmier Hun Sen's accusation of being an obstacle to a peaceful solution, saying it was the government in Phnom Penh that had made the issue more complicated, calling for differฌent solutions to the problem.

Cambodia called for a third party from international organisations to intervene in the Preah Vihear case but was willing to settle the conflict in areas of Ta Mouan bilaterally.

'Two areas, two approaches'

"Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterฌated two areas needing different approaches which I find hard to understand as people along the borฌder areas need equal attention and long lasting solutions," Abhisit said in another press conference.

Thailand's position was consisฌtent in having a longlasting soluฌtion and prevent further conflict, he said.

Hun Sen defended his idea that a third party was needed for the Preah Vihear, as the issue had already been submitted to the UN and the Asean had a UN mandate to participate.

"We necessarily have to respect the role of Asean, we cannot talk together secretly or quietly, he said.

"The acceptance of Indonesian observers had been agreed in the meeting of Asean foreign ministers in February and the TOR has been modified seven times already - and there were no demands for troop withdrawal and no demands for a GBC meeting before the signing of the letter of acceptance," he said.

Abhisit argued that the message of troop withdrawal had been conฌveyed to Indonesia at the beginning, not a new condition, since the presฌence of troops at the temple and in its vicinity is against the spirit of the Hague convention and world herฌitage guidelines.

"Cambodia cannot deny this conฌdition as its request to ICJ also wantฌed to have the withdrawal of Thai troops from the temple. So I find it hard to understand why Cambodia cannot accept there is a need for disฌcussion for both sides to talk about troop withdrawal from sensitive areas," Abhisit said.

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Thai, Cambodia Leaders Disagree on Border Claims

VOA News
May 08, 2011

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Photo: AP

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, left, shakes hands with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva before their trilateral meeting with Cambodia in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 8, 2011

A meeting Sunday in Indonesia between the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on the sidelines of a southeast Asia regional summit has not produced an agreement to end the two countries' ongoing border dispute.

The talk was mediated by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the final day of a two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Repeated outbreaks of fighting along the Cambodia and Thailand border have claimed more than 20 lives this year. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes on both sides of the border.

The dispute centers around control of ancient temples claimed by both nations.

On Friday, Indonesia's foreign minister, Marty Natalegwa, announced Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to accept Indonesian monitors on the border to help prevent further military clashes. However, Cambodia harshly criticized a request by Thailand to first remove troops from Cambodia's side of the border.

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At Asean, no solution

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Published: 8/05/2011 at 03:31 PM

Online news:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Sunday failed to resolve a bitter border row between Thailand and Cambodia which hijacked the agenda of an annual summit in Indonesia.

Workers move the flags of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta. Southeast Asian leaders met Sunday for the final day of an annual summit that has been hijacked by a bitter feud between Thailand and Cambodia over a tiny patch of disputed borderland.

Asean leaders said the dispute was threatening regional unity and overshadowing the 10-nation group's strategic message of economic integration, but were unable to wring any compromises from the feuding neighbours.

The bloc's weakness in conflict resolution was thrown into stark relief when the leaders' final statement merely said the dispute "should be amicably resolved in the spirit of Asean solidarity".

It also welcomed an in-principle agreement to allow Indonesian military observers on the disputed border and called on Jakarta, the current chair of Asean, to continue its mediation efforts.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted an unscheduled meeting with the Thai and Cambodian leaders on Sunday morning but failed to achieve a breakthrough in negotiations.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen admitted after the meeting that the row was "spoiling" the summit, which was supposed to focus on long-term plans to create a harmonised economic community by 2015.

"Everyone knows that the problem of the Thai-Cambodia border has been spoiling the atmosphere and also creates a challenge for Asean," he told reporters.

Eighteen people have been killed and 85,000 temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th-century Khmer temple. The temple itself belongs to Cambodia.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at Asean meetings, Hun Sen on Saturday accused Thailand of invading Cambodia and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring Asean members".

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dismissed the accusation and warned that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the summit, threatened to undermine Asean's broad strategic vision.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of Asean. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," he said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between Asean member states can undermine Asean?s community-building efforts."

Other issues on the table at the summit included food and energy security, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the scourge of human trafficking and East Timor's membership bid.

Burma stole the headlines on Friday when Asean officials announced that the military-led country -- which is under Western sanctions for serial human rights abuses -- had asked to chair the group in 2014.

US-based Human Rights Watch said Asean would become the "laughing stock of intergovernmental forums" if it granted the request.

The Asean chairman's statement at the end of the meeting said only that the request had been "considered", meaning the leaders deferred a decision to a later date.

Yudhoyono said Burma, which held elections last year that were derided as as a farce by critics, would have to "continue the process of democratisation" so that its leadership of Asean would not be "viewed negatively".

The Asean leaders also emphasised the "need for a breakthrough" in talks with Beijing about a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a strategic maritime route where China and several Asean states have rival territorial claims.

Indonesia has been trying to find a solution to the Thai-Cambodia conflict on behalf of Asean, but so far it has achieved little except the in-principle agreement to accept a small team of military observers on the border.

Officials said Hun Sen and Abhisit agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again in Jakarta on Monday to discuss the conflict further.

Putting a brave face on the episode, Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign."

But other Asean leaders were not so sanguine.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters late Saturday, said that Asean unity was at stake and expressed concern that the conflict could worsen.

"How can we have one Asean, one family if we have two major components who cannot solve their problems?" he said.

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ASEAN integration message lost on Thai-Cambodia border

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08 May 2011

JAKARTA: Southeast Asian leaders met Sunday for the final day of an annual summit that has been hijacked by a bitter feud between Thailand and Cambodia over a tiny patch of disputed borderland.

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed frustration that the dispute had not been resolved and the 10-nation group's strategic message of regional economic integration was being lost.

In an effort to bring the warring neighbours together, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted an unscheduled meeting with the Thai and Cambodian leaders on Sunday morning.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sat down with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a day after the former had set the tone of the summit by launching a surprise verbal attack on Abhisit during the opening session.

In a highly critical tone not usually heard at ASEAN meetings, the Cambodian leader accused Thailand of invading its neighbour and seeking to prolong the conflict "in order to violate weaker neighbouring ASEAN members".

"The invasion of the Thai troops of Cambodia's territory resulted in a series of clashes and eventually a large-scale war from the 4th to the 7th of February, 2011," Hun Sen said.

Eighteen people have been killed and 85,000 temporarily displaced in weeks of clashes over ownership of a small patch of territory surrounding an 11th century Khmer temple, which belongs to Cambodia.

Indonesia has been trying to mediate a solution to the conflict on behalf of ASEAN but so far it has achieved little except an in-principle agreement from both sides to accept a small team of military observers to the border.

Abhisit responded to Hun Sen's criticism by saying he was ready for dialogue and insisting the matter be resolved bilaterally, instead of under UN auspices as Cambodia wants.

"Thailand has no intention whatsoever to have conflicts. I am therefore disappointed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has stated otherwise regarding Thailand's intentions," he told the leaders.

He agreed that the dispute, which was not on the formal agenda of the ASEAN summit, threatened to undermine the block's fragile credibility as it pursues ambitions to create an integrated economic zone by 2015.

"I accept that the issue could affect the credibility of ASEAN. We must therefore make sure that any problem should be solved, locally, bilaterally and if needed with the facilitation of the region," Abhisit said.

"Thailand recognises full well that any conflict between ASEAN member states can undermine ASEAN's community-building efforts."

Officials said the two leaders agreed to have their foreign ministers meet again later Sunday to discuss the conflict further.

Putting a brave face on the episode, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said: "The fact that they are meeting is a good sign".

But other ASEAN leaders were not so sanguine.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino, speaking to reporters late Saturday, said ASEAN unity was at stake and expressed concern that the conflict could worsen.

"How can we have one ASEAN, one family if we have two major components who cannot solve their problems?" he asked.

"It is important that ASEAN is united so that when we talk with other groups we tell them you talk to us as one whole unit.

"If we are disunited they can easily push us around... so it is in the interest of ASEAN that Thailand and Cambodia should resolve the issue."

Aquino said he had asked Hun Sen whether there was anything the Philippines could do to help, but the Cambodian leader "just smiled" in response.

In addition to strategic integration, other issues at the summit include food and energy security, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the scourge of human trafficking and East Timor's membership bid.

Myanmar stole the headlines on Friday when ASEAN officials announced that the military-led country -- which is under Western sanctions for serial human rights abuses -- had asked to chair the group in 2014.

US-based Human Rights Watch said ASEAN, already struggling for credibility, would become the "laughing stock of intergovernmental forums" if it granted the request.

- AFP/cc

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Thai, Cambodian PMs confer on border conflict

http://www.mcot.net/

via CAAI

JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 8 -- Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen discussed the border conflict between their countries Sunday in the Indonesian capital with the former insisting that Phnom Penh troops must first be withdrawn from the disputed border area before negotiations could commence.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the two-day 18th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which opened yesterday. It was also attended by Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers Kasit Piromya and Hor Namhong respectively, as well as Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in his capacity as chairman of ASEAN.

The meeting, which lasted about one hour, ended with little progress, as Mr Hun Sen demanded the Thai government leader follow an earlier agreement that Indonesian observers be dispatched to the disputed border area and insisting that Cambodian troops would not withdraw from that area.

As no sign of concrete conclusion, especially on the dispatch Indonesian observers in to the disputed border, was reached, it was agreed that Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers would meet on Monday in Jakarta to discuss the issue again.

Despite no progress in Sunday’s meeting, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying “the fact that they are meeting is a good sign.”

Renewed fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops broke out on April 22 in the Thai border province of Surin, forcing tens of thousands of Thai villagers to flee deeper into the Thai territory.

Mr Abhisit is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indonesian and Laos leaders separately this afternoon.

ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (MCOT online news)

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Thai, Cambodian PMs fail to end border dispute

http://www.ajc.com/

via CAAI

By NINIEK KARMINI

The Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Southeast Asian leaders made little headway Sunday in helping Thailand and Cambodia end a deadly border dispute that could undermine peace and stability in the region as it pushes for economic integration.

Armed police officers gear up prior to deployment to secure the venue of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, May 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)

Indonesian military personnel man the entrance to the venue of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, May 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)

The prime ministers of the two feuding nations held talks Sunday — mediated by Indonesia's president — as part of efforts to hammer out a lasting cease-fire.

But neither seemed in any mood to back down.

"There's no conclusion," Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after the trilateral meeting, providing few details. "We'll need further talks after this."

Other topics discussed during the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit included Myanmar's successful bid to take over the rotating chair of the regional grouping in 2014 and concerns about spiraling food and energy prices and maritime security.

The 10 heads of state were especially nervous about the potentially oil-rich Spratly islands, claimed in whole or in part by China and four ASEAN members — Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam.

The smaller nations, together with the U.S., worry that China may use its military might to seize the area outright or assume de facto control with naval patrols.

That could threaten one of the world's busiest commercial sea lanes.

"We deemed the South China Sea issue, in all its various dimensions, as having the potential to undermine the stability of our region," according to the final communique released after the meeting.

Member countries agreed to work toward ending a nine-year disagreement with China that has blocked completion of guidelines for an accord aimed at preventing armed conflicts over the disputed islands.

As part of that deal, the claimant nations could pursue joint development projects to ease tensions in the South China Sea region.

The annual summit was supposed to focus on developing an integrated regional economic zone by 2015.

But Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the host, said in his opening statement that little can be accomplished without peace and stability among member countries.

To that end, he agreed to mediate the talks Sunday between the Cambodian and Thai prime ministers about repeated outbreaks of fighting that have killed nearly 20 people in the last two weeks. Another 100,000 fled their homes at the peak of the clashes.

The deadly spat — allegedly over control of ancient temples claimed by the two nations — has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides.

But analysts say domestic politics is fanning the fire, especially in Thailand, where the military that staged a coup in 2006 could be posturing ahead of elections expected as early as next month.

Neither side appeared ready to budge, however.

During the plenary session on Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called a demand by Thailand to withdraw troops from the area before it allows for the deployment of outside military observers both "irrational and unacceptable."

"It's Thailand that has to withdraw its troops from the vicinity," he said, reiterating his position to reporters following Sunday's three-way talks.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that while "differences remain," the two sides agreed, at least, that future talks about the disputed border should include the major sticking point about where troops from each country should be deployed.

"The ultimate objective must be to achieve lasting peace" not to score "political points," he said, agreeing with Hun Sen to allow their foreign ministers to continue the dialogue on Monday.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's president, Thein Sein, who heads the military-backed party that overwhelmingly won general elections late last year, won approval for his request to chair ASEAN in 2014 despite concerns about his country's human rights record.

The regional grouping chairmanship is supposed to rotate annually among its 10 member countries.

Myanmar was forced to skip its turn in 2005, however, after heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on human rights and other issues.

The final communique said Southeast Asian leaders "consented" to Thein Sein's proposal.

ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

___

Associated Press writers Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

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May 08, 2011

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AKP - The Agence Kampuchea Press

Cambodian PM Receives Philippines’ President

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011— Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia held talk here with H.E Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Philippines on the sideline of 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta today.

The talk was focused on bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism and agriculture. The Philippines planed to establish direct flight to Cambodia and export rise from the latter.

by Kimseng

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Several ASEAN Member Countries Advocate Peaceful Settlement of Cambodian-Thai Conflict

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011 — The first plenary session of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta saw interactive views and comments on the current conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.

According to an ASEAN official attending the session, a number of ASEAN member countries expressed sympathy with the two countries, especially Cambodia that preferred peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Philippines offered to play a role in the observation appointment to the ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand.

Laos and Singapore voiced full support to resolving the conflict with utmost restrain while Malaysia called for a roadmap for the settlement of the conflict within the framework of ASEAN.

By Kimseng

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Speech by Samdech Techo Hun Sen at 18th ASEAN Summit’s First Session

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011—Speech by Samdech Techo Hun Sen at 18th ASEAN Summit’s First Plenary Session.

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PM: ASEAN’s Credibility and Prestige Are at Risk If Ceasefire Not Materialized

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011 – Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia said a series of military fighting along the border between Cambodia and Thai may not only affect peace and security in the region, but also create serious challenges for ASEAN in the pursuit towards the ASEAN Community in 2015.

Speaking at the 1st plenary session of the 18th ASEAN Summit held here Saturday, the Cambodian prime minister recalled that the border demarcation between Cambodia and Thailand was based on treaties made between France and Siam of 1904 and 1907, and the maps prepared by the Franco-Siamese Mixed Commission for Bordering .

In his 6-page speech at the session, Samdech Techo Hun Sen spoke of the Memorandum of Understanding on Survey and Demarcation signed in 2002 between Cambodia and Thailand based on French-Siamese Treaties of 1893, 1904 and 1907.

He expressed satisfaction with some achievements made as a result of the implementation of the MOU until after the inscription of the Khmer sacred Preah Vihear Temple on the World Heritage List.

Since July 15, 2008, Thailand has launched war of aggression against Cambodia by sending troops to launch attacks at several points at Cambodia’s border areas with Thailand.

Indonesia has been internationally accepted to play the role of ceasefire observer, but the Thai side has never shown the intention to hold the truce.

“Thailand does not have the good will to accept the Indonesian observers and does not have the willingness to settle this border dispute in accordance with the international law and by peaceful means,” affirmed the Cambodian premier.

“I urge the ASEAN leaders to provide support and put forth necessary measures in order to make all parties concerned cooperate and accept the observers from Indonesia to monitor the ceasefire agreed upon at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in February 2011 and according to the mandate of the United Nations Security Council,” he stated.

The Cambodian premier warned that ASEAN’s prestige and credibility will be at risk if the efforts to establish a permanent ceasefire will not be materialized as planned.

By Kimseng

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Cambodian PM Concerned Over Unsettled Disputes Among ASEAN Member Countries

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011—Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padey Techo Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia expressed concern over the ongoing border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, which, he believes, may not only affect peace and security in the region and also create serious challenges for ASEAN in the pursuit towards the ASEAN Community in 2015.

The Cambodian premier made the remark in his speech at the first plenary session with the topic of Implementation of the ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for ASEAN Community of the 18th ASEAN Summit held here Saturday.

“I am very concerned about the unsettled bilateral disputes among ASEAN member countries such as the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand”, he said , expressing his belief that ASEAN should not ignore this serious issue.

The Cambodian Prime Minister laid stress that ASEAN must consider the dispute as the most important issue for the life of the community, in which ASEAN must establish a mediation mechanism for the effective settlement of the dispute.

In spite of the dispute, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his pleasure at the significant progress made in the 14 prioritized areas in pursuing the building of the ASEAN Political-Secuirty Community.

“We recognize that the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia (TAC), the South East Asian Nuclear-free-zone Treaty(SEANFWZ), the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism are becoming more useful instruments to ensure regional security,” the Cambodian premier noticed.

He urged the joint working group on the DOC to finalize the guideline for the implementation of DOC before 2012 in order to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the DOC. He also extend welcome to Canada’s proposal to be a member of the TAC and to East Timor’s application to join ASEAN as a member country.

By: Kimseng

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PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO WELCOMES ASEAN LEADERS AT JCCBy Media

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011 – They respectively were Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein, President of the Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III, Senior Minister of Singapore S. Jayakumar representing Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

After the welcoming ceremony, they proceeded to the Assembly Hall for a series of meetings.

The meetings include ASEAN Leaders Meeting with APA (ASEAN People’s Assembly) Representatives, ASEAN Leaders Informal Meeting with Youth Representatives and Leaders Informal Meeting with Civil Society’s Representatives.

In the evening, President Yudhoyono will host a banquet for the ASEAN member countries’ leaders.

Indonesia as this year’s ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) chair, is hosting the 18th ASEAN Summit being held in Jakarta, May 7-8, 2011.

The 18th ASEAN Summit’s theme is “Towards A Global Community of Nations.”

ASEAN was established in 1967 with five members Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995 and Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and finally Cambodia as the 10th member in 1999.

As Chair of ASEAN this year, Indonesia has three key priorities. The First is to ensure significant progress of achieving ASEAN Community by 2015; The second priority is to strengthen ASEAN cohesion to craft East Asia wide regionalism and architecture; and The third priority is to ensure that regional agreements and cooperation can contribute to global agreements and governance.

Eliswan/JC ASEANsummit.org

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18th ASEAN Summit Starts

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011—Top leaders of the ASEAN member countries were present at the opening ceremony of the 18th ASEAN Summit held here in the morning of May 7. The opening began with the welcoming remarks by ASEAN chair H.E. Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, followed by the photo session of ASEAN leaders.

By Kimseng

AKP Jakarta, May 7, 2011—Ten leaders of ASEAN member countries were present at the opening of the 18th ASEAN Summit held here in the morning of May 6. The opening began with welcome remark by ASEAN chair H.E Dr. Susilo Bambang Yuddhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia and was followed by the photo session of ASEAN leaders.

by: Kimseng

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ASEAN to focus on food and energy while facing Thai-Cambodia spat

http://thepoc.net/

via CAAI

Saturday, 07 May 2011

Indonesia called on the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to focus on the soaring food and energy prices that could push people in the region into poverty.

This is while the group is facing the feud between Cambodia and Thailand’s border conflict and Myanmar’s reported rights abuses.

This year’s ASEAN chairman, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said at the start of the 18th summit, “We must give serious attention and take concrete measures to address the soaring of food prices and world energy, which in turn will negatively affect the prosperity of our people.” He said the key is in averting poverty especially because “decreasing the poverty level is not an easy task.”

ASEAN is composed by disparate nations Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Nation feud

Besides inflation, human trafficking, territorial disputes and East Timor’s membership bid is expected to be discussed by the ten leaders including President Benigno Aquino III who arrived in Thailand Friday night.

Another issue is military-led Myanmar’s scheduled chairmanship in 2014 and its request to sponsor the summit in 2016.

Human rights and other international groups have been asking the ASEAN to reject the request because of Myanmar being a “pariah state in the democratic world and serial rights abuser” as mentioned in Inquirer.net.

In another report, the European Union mentioned plans of engaging in free trade agreements with ASEAN members, except Myanmar.

The tension between Thailand and Cambodia is also mounting with 18 dead and 85,000 people displaced in the past few months. The dispute began in 2008 wherein according to the United Nations, Thai soldiers moved into an area 300 meters from the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple. Thailand claimed that the demarcation has not been completed in the said parts which were supposedly judged by the International Court of Justice as Cambodian territory. Both countries accused each other of trying to seize ancient temples.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked for a ceasefire with the ASEAN as mediator. Both countries had agreed to accept Indonesian observers into the disputed area. However, Indonesia said they would have no power to police a ceasefire.

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