Combodia-Post

30 December 2009
By Botum Roth
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

An opposition MP indicated that, lately, following the National Assembly (NA) debate on the expropriation law yesterday, Japan decided to freeze its $74 million grant for the construction of a bridge crossing the Mekong river in Neak Loeung, along National Road No. 1.

The reason MP Ly Srey Vina raised this issue was because Cambodia declined to pay compensations to the families who live in the area where the bridge will be built.

Ms. Ly Srey Vina claimed during the NA debate that: “We went all the way to Japan, but Japan refused to release this grant, they told us to resolve the eviction by providing appropriate compensation, then Japan will provide the grant.”

Nevertheless, CPP MP Chheang Vun rejected this claim. He said that the Cambodian delegation to Japan did include SRP MP Ly Srey Vina, “they (the Cambodian delegation) met with the Japanese opposition committee in charge of Foreign Affairs, and the Japanese opposition committee surely does not support the Japanese government [decision].”

However, MP Ly Srey Vina said that the chairman of the Japanese Foreign Affairs committee [from the ruling party] “indicated that Japan will not support the development [project] as long as people are being affected. The Cambodian delegation requested [aid] for the construction on this bridge because it will be very useful, but Japan said that it will not provide any aid that will hurt people in any country.”

The term development should be viewed as progress, however, for the Cambodian people, this term is turned into concerns as developments bring on destruction of their houses, and they cannot receive proper market value compensation for their losses. This issue is a long and contentious case between the victimized people and the government,

However, following the ratification of the controversial expropriation law on 29 December, this law is providing the right to the government to confiscate houses and other properties from the people under the pretense of development and it will also likely cut down the number of future confrontations against the government. On the other hand, the suffering and pain inflicted on the people will likely be increased with the adoption of this law.

Translated from Khmer by Tola Ek

To Samdach Akkak Moha Thomok Pothisal Chea Sim, Senate President/ Samdach Akkak Moha Ponhea Chakrey Heng Samrin, National Assembly President/Samdach Akkak Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho Hun Sen, leader of the Royal Government of Cambodia

Highly regarded and beloved Samdach Akkak Moha Thomok Pothisal/Samdach Akkak Moha Ponhea Chakrey Heng Samrin/ Samdach Akkak Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho

I and Queen-Mother are very pleased to learn about the promotion of Samdach Akkak Moha Thomok Pothisal/ Samdach Akkak Moha Ponhea Chakrey/ Samdach Akkak Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho to the topmost rank of 5-star RCAF general from King Norodom Sihamoni.

I and Queen-Mother are warmly praising this promotion which is befitting your renown as you are a supreme nationalist, and an extremely good, clever and able leader who received major successes in every field for your participation in the edification of numerous buildings all over the kingdom of Cambodia, for the supreme interest of the population, the nation and the Cambodian people, as all as for raising the international prestige of our nation on the international level.

I am wishing with all the blessings, may you receive additional major successes forever, and may you be blessed with the four Buddhist blessings.

Please accept, Samdach Akkak Moha Thomok Pothisal/ Samdach Akkak Moha Ponhea Chakrey and the Chumteav Thom/ Samdach Akkak Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho and the Chunteav Thom, my highest regards and my deepest love, as well as those from Queen-Mother.

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk
Beijing 23 December 2009

Translated from French by Tola Ek

Recently, I received a letter from the US (the author of which does not bear an Anglo-Saxon name) criticizing me very violently about my Internet website (which includes daily: (a) vocabulary, (b) cooking (c) music and song, (d) the national edification of Cambodia under the Sangkum Reastr Niyum between 1955 and 1969).

I am telling all “concerned” individuals that nobody is obliged to learn about my daily Internet website. If they don’t like it, they should just stop reading it.

By virtue of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples have three options to choose for their right of self-determination or self-government as follows:

1. Free association with Viet Nam, the administering Power that means to self-govern in free association with Viet Nam and thus to become Vietnamese citizens;
2. Integration with Viet Nam, the administering Power that means to integrate into Viet Nam and thus to become also Vietnamese citizens; and
3. Independence that means want to become fully sovereign and fully independent people from Viet Nam.

And by virtue of article 3 of the United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples have the right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Now, Therefore the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples who are the legitimate and rightful owners of their ancestral homeland, Kampuchea Krom territory or southern Vietnam, formerly French Cochin China, have their full and legitimate right to freely choose one of the above forms or models of self-determination for their self-government in accordance with the international laws.

This petition will serve as taking a survey of all Khmer Krom people’s political status or models of self-determination or forms of self-government where all Khmer Krom people inside Kampuchea Krom territory, all overseas Khmer Krom people, all Khmer Krom people in Cambodia and everywhere around the world, and all Khmer people in general can vote for either option number 1, option number 2 or option number 3(independence) for their self-government in strict conformity with the above UN GA Resolution of 15 December 1960 and UN GA Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007. This petition-survey will be sent to the United Nations to urge them to honor the will of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples regarding their free choice for their self-government option in accordance with the international laws.

We urge all Khmer Krom people everywhere in the world to sign this petition-survey with their full name accompanied by either option number 1, option number 2 or option number 3 at their own freewill without external compulsion.

Made in Saint Paul, the Capital of the State of Minnesota this 28th day of October in the year of our Lord, two thousand nine.

Sincerely,