Cambodia’s map verification puts an end for CNRP’s unreasonable allegations

8/9/15
                                        Hong Sok Hour arrested by The Phnom Penh Post


Recently, the border issue between Cambodia and Vietnam has raised tensions when bad-intended elements like Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Khmer Kampuchea Krom (KKK), Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) and some opportunists tried to carry on their unreasonable allegations.
The CNRP, a merged political grouping that includes the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) in the Senate, has been engaged in a months-long dispute with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), which it accuses of ceding land to Vietnam at various spots along the 1,228-kilometer (763-mile) border. The CNRP has many times claimed that the Cambodian government had utilized a map made by Vietnam in the 1980s. 
A number of the CNRP members launched demonstrations gathering thousands of people in common border areas and even caused violent conflicts at border marker 203 in the Cambodian province of Svay Rieng on June 28, 2015.
Um Sam An, who has been traveling in the United States since May to raise funds, said he had copied the 26-piece map, published in 1951 by the Indochina Geographic Group, as well as a disk that contained a digital map.
So, a map verifications followed the CNRP’s recent accusation that the Cambodian government had been using a map of Cambodia that was not identical with the one preserved by the UN.
On Thursday after verifying the maps in Phnom Penh, Chairman of the Cambodian Border Affairs Committee Var Kim Hong released the confirmation that the map the Cambodian government is using to demarcate its border with Vietnam is identical with the one it has borrowed from France for comparison.
The verification event was held at the Peace Palace in the presence of representatives of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and the FUNCINPEC Party. It was also attended by those from the Senate, the National Assembly, the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, the Constitutional Council, the Royal Academy, UN officials, and Cambodian and foreign news agencies.
Prior to the verification, French Chargé d’Affaires to Cambodia Alan Fontang handed over a 26-piece 1/100,000-scale map preserved by France to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong.
The map was offered at Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s request. After the map presentation ceremony, Deputy PM Hor Nam Hong emphasized that it is the official map produced by France, and thus the result of the verification should end all improper demands regarding border demarcation with Vietnam.
After the verification that showed the two maps are identical with each other, the deputy premier ordered an end to opposition politicking on the Vietnam border issue
Spokesperson of the Cambodian government and Secretary of State Phay Siphan said the work’s result proved the transparency, rightness and correctness of the Cambodian government’s responsibility in border demarcation and marker planting with Vietnam. He underscored that the verification also helps prevent irresponsible forces from inciting extreme nationalism and sowing the division of national solidarity.
This was the second verification of maps being used by the Cambodian government to demarcate the eastern boundary with Vietnam. The first verification was made on August 20 based on a 1/100,000-ratio map of Cambodia that had been handed to Deputy PM Hor Nam Hong by acting President of the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library Mereani Keleti Vakasisikakala. The first check also showed that the map being used by the Cambodian government in demarcating its border with Vietnam is identical with the one borrowed from the UN.
“The matter of borders and maps should end at this point,” he added. “So, to the political parties, do not take these issues to campaign and incite people to act against the government.” Mr. Namhong concluded by attacking the CNRP lawmakers who accuse the government of using other maps.
“Do they have integrity and morality in politics? They like to cheat and do whatever to gain votes,” he said.
Last month, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered authorities to arrest anyone who accuses the government of using the wrong maps to demarcate the country’s border.
Outside the Peace Palace, Raol Marc Jennar, a Belgian political scientist who has advised the government on border issues since the 1990s, said he had only ever seen Cambodian and Vietnamese authorities using the French colonial maps when holding border demarcation talks.
“It’s impossible for me to find another legal basis for work on the border, and it’s crystal clear that in the ’80s and also for the 2005 treaty, the Cambodian authorities used the French map. That should be crystal clear for everybody,” Mr. Jennar said.
“It is pure polemic,” he added of the CNRP’s claims about separate Vietnamese maps. “They are the same maps. The maps printed by the Vietnamese are the same maps from the Indochinese Geographical Service, no matter who the printer was.”
He urged Cambodia’s politicians to “stop exploiting the border issue” for their own purposes and to “allow researchers to work on the case.”./.
 
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All comments [ 10 ]


Voice of people 8/9/15 21:20

Cambodian police arrested Senator of the opposition CNRP Party Hong Sok Hour for distorting a Cambodia-Vietnamese agreement on border affairs.

Me Too! 8/9/15 21:22

Each of the other 25 pieces were exact copies of the French colonial maps made using the Bonne projection.

yobro yobro 8/9/15 21:24

Mr. Kimhong demonstrated that each of the 26 map pieces held by Cambodia and France were identical.

John Smith 8/9/15 21:27

Hong Sok Hour, Chhea Tang Sorn they were charged on three counts of falsifying public documents, using fake documents and inciting chaos disrupting social security.

Gentle Moon 8/9/15 21:30

Now, the map is not a fake, ok CNRP? ok KKK?

For A Peace World 8/9/15 21:36

They should be arrested for "treason" by accusing of posting a fake document about the border with neighbouring Vietnam on social media.

Red Star 8/9/15 21:38

Um Sam An was accused of trying to destroy international relations and causing instability along the border, where local Cambodians and CNRP activists have recently clashed with Vietnamese villagers over disputed areas.

Socialist Society 8/9/15 21:41

Cambodia's opposition party has long been critical of Phnom Penh's cosy ties with Vietnam and routinely unreasonably accuses Vietnam of taking Cambodian territory.

LawrenceSamuels 8/9/15 21:42

Hope CNRP, KKK will end their unreasonable territorial claims.

Vietnam Love 8/9/15 21:44

After the verification that showed the two maps are identical with each other, both sides should put an end to opposition politicking on the Vietnam border issue

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