What is the catch?

Bangkokpost.Com

BREAKING NEWS >> Wednesday October 29, 2008 03:43

Parliament approves Cambodia border talks 

Lawmakers at the joint parliamentary session last night gave negotiators authority to hold talks with Cambodia to demarcate the land boundary in the disputed area between the two countries. 

The endorsement is needed under the constitution ahead of the proposed talks of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) with Cambodia on Nov 10. 

Any agreement emerging from the JBC's negotiations also needs parliamentary approval.

What is the catch?

By Pancha Seila

Reading news in Bangkokpost.com brought me to my years of high school when I read “Le Prince” by Macchiavelli. I wondered why Thais kept coming back again and again and hit Cambodians with tricks and deception.

They were shouting out loud to the world so that the world can hear them very well that Thai joint parliamentary session though after verbal brawl “gave negotiators authority to hold talks with Cambodia”, but “any agreement emerging from the JBC’s negotiations also needs parliamentary approval”, meaning that Cambodian and Thai negotiators can stamp their approval at the negotiation table, but Thai “constitutional democratic processes” allow Thai parliament to agree or not to agree.

The international public opinion must be SURPRISED at the naked reality of Thais’ arrogance with respect to Cambodians. It shows that Thai politicians are fond of Machiavelli. They are militarists because they are fond of the Nazis and the fascists who gave them the inspiration of DRAWING UNILATERAL MAP; they are militarists because the institution of the Thai armed forces is independent of the elected government. Whether it is a civilian or military government the institution of the armed forces can do things they wanted, for example make a coup d’etat and take the rein of the government or send troops to invade and occupy Cambodian territory.

Thailand can get away for so long with the “silky smiles” of the powerful Thai advertising program, but the past couple of years of Thai “bludgeoning, rather infantile” democracy” while Thailand enjoys peace and prosperity for many centuries past, have brought to light the NAKED REALITIES of Thailand behind those silky smiles. Thailand used cheap legal technicalities to show its ARROGANCE: TO SUBMIT CAMBODIA UNDER THAI “INSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES”.

The world can see that.

Cambodia to seek support until 2010 for land mine clearing

PHNOM PENH , Dec. 18 KYODO

Cambodia said Thursday it will seek international support to extend its land mine-clearing operations until 2020. In a roundtable discussion organized by the Club of Cambodian Journalists, Som Sotha, secretary general of the Mine Action Authority, said that due to the number of mined fields remaining in the country an extension is a must.

He said Cambodia began to clear landmines in 1992 and since then more than 800,000 land mines and 1.5 million pieces of unexploded ordnance strewn across 500 million square meters have been cleared. According to the Ottawa Convention, of which Cambodia is a signatory, Cambodia was supposed to clear its land mines and the unexploded ordnance by January 2010, 10 years after it signed the convention.

But with mines and other explosives still in more than 2,000 square kilometers, Cambodia will need at least until to 2020, he said. Millions of land mines have been planted in Cambodia since 1967 and accidents caused by land mines and unexploded ordnance are still common, killing or maiming about 400 people every year. Still, about 50 percent of the land covered by land mines and unexploded ordnance has been cleared and many Cambodians have become among of the world's most experienced demining experts.

KyodoDecember 18, 2008

Cambodia looks to Japan as its next market for garment exports

By Puy Kea
PHNOM PENH , Dec. 1 KYODO

Cambodia 's garment industry is now looking to Japan for its next targeted market after winning orders in the United States and European Union, a senior garment industry official said Monday. Van Sou Ieng, president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, told Kyodo News that Japan is the world's third largest garment importer. He said the United States, which buys about 70 percent of Cambodia's textile exports, has been hit by the economic slowdown and that has meant fewer purchase orders are coming to Cambodia. Data from the GMAC showed about 30 factories have been closed this year and some 20,000 workers have been laid off in Cambodia .

Still, at a summit of trade leaders from the world's poorest countries held in Cambodia 's northern province of Siem Reap on Nov. 21, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia 's garment sector has so far had no ''serious impact'' from the global financial crisis. But new markets are needed, and Van Sou Ieng led an industry delegation on a five-day visit to Japan through Sunday that resulted in a trade deal between the two countries. ''In a move to begin our trade exchanges with Japan , we will export 10,000 jackets and 100,000 pairs of shoes in early 2009,'' he said, adding, ''We hope Japan will make more purchase orders afterward.'' But, he said, it is clear Cambodia has to improve the quality of its products because Japan demands high quality in all imports. Cambodia 's industry, therefore, will dispatch garment entrepreneurs and union workers to Japan for study the quality needs firsthand.

According to government data, there are 319 garment factories employing 380,000 workers in Cambodia .

And garments are Cambodia 's biggest export earners, with exports last year worth $2.9 billion. According to Van Sou Ieng, Japan currently buys about 90 percent of its imported garments from China .

KyodoDecember 01, 2008