Monday, 22 September 2008

Border conflict: two NGO’s request the help of France

Moeung Sonn, President of the KCF

Cambodge Soir

21-09-2008

The Khmer Civilisation Foundation (KCF) and the NGO Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP) have requested the intervention of France concerning the border issue between Cambodia and Thailand, during a press conference in Phnom Penh on Friday 19 September.

According to the KCF and CDP, Cambodia needs the support of France in the border dispute with Thailand. “Until 1953, Cambodia remained under the French protectorate, meaning that France offered its collaboration regarding the delimitation of the Kingdom’s territory, stated Moeung Sonn, president of the KCF. It was also present during the signing of the Franco-Thai conventions in 1904 and 1907, as well as co-chairman of the Paris Agreements signed in October 1991. Moreover, France is in the possession of important documents concerning our country. If it accepted to offer us support and would bring the issue, along our side, before the UN Security Council, Cambodia could swiftly recuperate its territories.”

The KCF and CDP are welcoming the government’s initiative of filing a complaint before the international court, following the encroachment of the Thai soldiers upon Cambodian territory in the area of the Dangrek Mountain. Indeed, although Prime Minister Hun Sen still believes that negotiations are possible with the neighbouring Kingdom, he asserts that all contact came to a halt after the resignation of the former Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tej Bunnaj.

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