Gov’t Moves To Resolve Map Spat

Khmer Times
Tin Sokhavuth

Officials on the Border Committee display pieces of the map used for border demarcation during a press conference at the Council of Ministers yesterday. KT Photo: Fabien Mouret

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – The political spat over maps used in the process of demarcating the border with Vietnam continued yesterday, with the Border Committee president Va Kimhong displaying the maps used at a press conference in Phnom Penh.

Mr. Kimhong explained that 26 pieces were used because the map was very old and decaying. The map had been drafted by the French National Geographic Institute during the colonial era, he explained, adding that it was sent to the UN by King Sihanouk in 1964.

The maps are tangible proof of Cambodia’s territorial integrity, but because they are in very poor shape cooperation with Vietnamese officials is necessary, Mr. Kimhong said.

Opposition Maps

Last Saturday, Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, offered a new set of maps that he said were also drafted under French colonial rule. He said that they should be used for the border demarcation with Vietnam.

The next day, lawmakers from his party joined activists in a visit to the border in Svay Rieng province. It resulted in a clash with Vietnamese villagers.

Mr. Kimhong requested that CNRP lawmakers stop turning the border demarcation process into a stage for publicity stunts, calling on them to use the National Assembly to air any grievances.

CNRP lawmaker Real Camerin – who participated in last Sunday’s melee in Svay Rieng – said he was defending the nation and its people. It is unfair to accuse him of being an opportunist, he said.

Committee Welcomes Input

Mr. Kimhong said that the government welcomed the maps presented by the opposition party, which could help his committee compare them with other maps used to demarcate the border with Vietnam.

“If some Cambodian land was lost to Vietnam by mistake, we cannot bring it back unilaterally. We have to negotiate with Vietnam first because the process of demarcation is bilateral,” he explained.

“It’s up to villagers or local authorities to inform the Border Committee when land is lost to Vietnam due to technical errors, so that it can assist,” he said.

Bilateral Talks

Cambodia and Vietnam will hold border talks next week in Siem Reap. The Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Border Committee will hold talks from Monday to Wednesday.

Cambodian negotiators say they will discuss road building, pond digging and the construction of a military outpost by Vietnam in disputed areas.

Mr. Kimhong said the Cambodian side would press Hanoi to suspend all activities on disputed land until the demarcation of the border is completed. Any changes to the terrain could hamper the effort to accurately demarcate the border, he said.