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កម្ពុជា - អត្ថបទចុះ​ផ្សាយ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ សៅរ៍ 02 មេសា 2011 - ព័ត៌មានទើប​កែប្រើ​លើកចុងក្រោយ​ ថ្ងៃ សៅរ៍ 02 មេសា 2011

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ដូច​ការ​គ្រោងទុក ​គណបក្ស ​ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​បាន​បើក​អង្គ​សមាជ​របស់​ខ្លួន​នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍​ទី២​ខែ​មេសា​នេះ​ដើម្បី​ បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើសតាំង​មេដឹកនាំ​សម្រាប់​អាណត្តិ​ថ្មី ​និង​បាន​កែ​សម្រួល​រចនា​សម្ពន្ធ័​គណបក្ស​មួយចំនួន។ ​លោក ​ញ៉ឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ជ្រើសតាំង​ជា​ប្រធាន​ប្រតិបត្តិ​របស់​គណបក្ស។ ​ប្រធាន​ប្រតិបត្តិ​ដែល​ជា​អ្នក​ដឹកនាំ​សំខាន់​របស់​គណបក្ស។ ​រីឯ​លោក​ កែវ ពុធរស្មី ​អតីត​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ត្រូវ​បាន​ជ្រើស​រើស​ជា​មគ្គុទេសក៏ ​របស់​គណបក្ស​ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច។​ អង្គ​សមាជ​នេះ​ក៏បាន​សម្រេច​គាំទ្រ​សមាសភាព​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ជាតិ​ដែល​មាន​ សមាជិក​៣ពាន់​នាក់​និង​សមាជិក​គណៈនាយក​ចំនួន ​១២០​នាក់​ផង​ដែរ។ ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច​ដែលមានតែ២កៅអីក្នុង​រដ្ឋសភា​នៅតែ​ប្រកាស​ជំហរ​ធ្វើជា​ដៃគូ​ ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា។

សេចក្តីរាយការណ៍របស់​ ប៉ែន បូណា 02/04/2011 by ប៉ែន បូណា ស្តាប់ (02:24)

សកម្មជន ​ក្បាល​ម៉ាស៊ីន​គណបក្ស ​ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​ចំនួន​ប្រមាណ​ជា ​៣០០០​ នាក់​ដែល​បាន​ចូល​រួម​អង្គ​សមាជ​នៅ​ព្រឹក​មិញ​នេះ​បាន​បោះឆ្នោត​ជ្រើតាំង​ លោក ​ញ៉ឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ​អតីត​អគ្គលេខាធិការ​គណបក្ស​ឱ្យ​ធ្វើ​ជា​ប្រធាន​ប្រតិបត្តិ​គណបក្ស ​ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​សម្រាប់​អាណត្តិ​៥​ឆ្នាំ​ខាង​មុខ។ ប្រធាន​ប្រតិបត្តិ​គឺ​ជា​តំណែង​ដឹកនាំ​សំខាន់​ជាងគេ​នៅ​ក្នុង​គណបក្ស​នេះ។ ​ចំណែក​លោក​ កែវ ពុធរស្មី ​អតីត​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ជ្រើស​តាំង​ជា​មគ្គុទេសក៏​របស់​គណបក្ស​។
អង្គ​សមាជ​ដែល​បាន​ប្រារព្ធ​ធ្វើ​នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃទី២​មេសា​នេះ​នៅ​ឯ​ ទីស្នាក់ការ​ថ្មី​គណបក្ស ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​នៅ​ក្នុង​សង្កាត់​បាក់ខែង ​ខណ្ឌ​ឬស្សីកែវ ​ជាយ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ​ក៏​បាន​គាំទ្រ​សមាសភាព​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ជាតិ​របស់​គណបក្ស​សម្រាប់​អាណត្តិ​ ថ្មី​នេះ​ចំនួន​ ៣០០០ ​នាក់ ​និង​គាំទ្រ​សមាសភាព​សមាជិក​ពេញ​សិទ្ធិ​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​នាយក​ដែល​មាន​ចំនួន​ ១២០​នាក់ និង​សមាជិក​បម្រុង​៤៥​នាក់។
លោក​កែវ ពុធរស្មី ​បាន​ថ្លែង​បើក​អង្គសមាជ​ដោយ​អះអាង​ថា ​គណបក្ស ​ហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​នឹង​មិន​សាប​សូន្យ​ឡើយ​ដោយសារ​តែ​គណបក្ស​នេះ បាន​ចូលរួម​ក្នុងការ​រំដោះជាតិ និង​កសាង​ជាតិ​ក្នុង​រយៈពេល​ជិត​៣​ទសវត្សរ៍​ចុងក្រោយ​នេះ​។ ម្យ៉ាងទៀត ​បើ​យោង​តាម​លោក ​កែវ​ ពុធរស្មី​ហ្វ៊ុន​ស៊ិនប៉ិច នៅ​តែ​រក្សា​គោលការណ៍​របស់​ខ្លួន​គឺ​ ជា​គណបក្ស ​សីហនុ​និយម​។

លោក​ កែវ ពុធរស្មី ​បន្តថា ​គណបក្ស​ហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច​ ប្រកាន់​គោលការណ៍​ផ្សះផ្សា​បង្រួប​បង្រួម​ជាតិ ​និង​ចូល​រួម​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ក្នុង​ការ​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ បូរណភាព​ទឹកដី​ដែល​ទទួល​រង​ការ​ឈ្លានពាន​ពី​ប្រទេស​ជិត​ខាង​។ លោក​បាន​លើក​យក​ប្រសាសន៍​របស់​លោក នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុន សែន ​ដែល​អះអាង​ថា ​មាន​តែ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ​និង​ហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ដែល​រួម​គ្នា​កសាង​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ​និង​របប​រាជា​និយម​ទី​២​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​។

សូមបញ្ជាក់​ថា ​នៅក្នុង​សមាជ​នោះ ​ក៏​មានតំណាង​គណបក្ស នរោត្តម រណឬទ្ធិ ដែលជាបងប្អូន​គូសត្រូវ​ចូលរួមផង​ដែរ​។​ ព្រះអង្គម្ចាស់ នរោត្តម​ រណឬទ្ធិ ក៏​បាន​ផ្ញើ​សារអប​អរសាទរ​ចំពោះ​អង្គសមាជ​នេះ​និងផ្តល់​ក្តីសង្ឃឹម​លើ​ការ​ បង្រួប​បង្រួម​គ្នា​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ណាមួយ​។​ អង្គសមាជ​ថ្ងៃនេះ​​ក៏មាន​ការចូលរួម​ពី​មន្ត្រី​សំខាន់ៗ​របស់​ហ្វ៊ុនស៊ិនប៉ិច ​ដែល​ធ្លាប់​បែកបាក់​គ្នា​កន្លងទៅ ​មាន​ដូច​ជា​ លោក​ កែវ ពុធរស្មី ​លោក​ ញ៉ឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ ​លោក​ លឺ ឡាយស្រេង​ និង​ព្រះអង្គម្ចាស់​ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ​សិរីរត្ន័ ​ជាដើម។

អង្គសមាជ​ថ្ងៃនេះ​ក៏បាន​កើត​ឡើង​បន្ទាប់​ពី​មាន​កិច្ច​សម្រប​សម្រួល​ ផ្ទៃក្នុង​មួយ​រវាង​មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​ហ៊្វុនស៊ិនប៉ិច​ក្រោយ​ពី​ពួកគេ​បាន​ ខ្វែង​គំនិត​គ្នា​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំង​អំពី​កំណែ​ទម្រង់​ដែល​នាំ​ដល់​ការ​ផ្តល់​ អំណាច​សំខាន់​ឱ្យ​លោក ​ញ៉ឹក ប៊ុនឆៃ៕

Khmer School in Surin

ថ្នាក់រៀនភាសាខ្មែរវត្តគាប    

Website carrying ancient Cambodian manuscripts launched

By Monica Kotwani
Channel News Asia
Posted: 30 March 2011
http://www.khmermanuscripts.org/

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Embassy in Cambodia, together with UNESCO, has launched a website, carrying contents of ancient Cambodian manuscripts.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Embassy has been supporting UNESCO, through a fund, for the last two years in its work to digitise the manuscripts.

The manuscripts, written on latania leaves, faced extinction in the 1990s.

They are Cambodia’s only written heritage available, apart from stone inscriptions, and an information source for researchers on the country’s religious and cultural practices and customs.

The website was launched on Wednesday evening at the French Cultural Centre in Phnom Penh.

-CNA/wk

Former sex slave speaks

A person’s past does not necessarily determine their future, Cambodian human rights activist Somaly Mam said in a lecture Friday afternoon in the State Farm Room of the Business and Aerospace Building.

As the keynote speaker for the annual Global Discourses in Women’s and Gender Studies conference, Mam discussed how she spent much of her early life as a sex slave but has dedicated the rest of it to helping others escape the abuse and illness she grew up with.

 

Mam said she was sold in slavery when she was a young teenager by a man posing as her grandfather. Even today, she said she does not know exactly how old she is or who her parents were. She also does not know her real name.

 

Her owner forced her to live in a snake and scorpion infested brothel with other young slaves, she said.

 

Even though she was beaten and starved, Mam said she did not consider running away at first because, in the brothel, she at least had people surrounding her. Outside, she said, she had no one.

 

It was only after the owner killed her best friend in front of her that she escaped.

 

Since then, Mam has made it her life’s work to help other girls escape from slavery and learn to move on with their lives.

 

In 2007, she established the Somaly Mam Foundation, a worldwide organization that has thus far helped more than 7,000 girls break the bonds of slavery.

 

“I teach them forgiveness,” Mam said. “Not to forgive them, but yourself – so you can be happy.”

 

Tina Johnson, director of the university’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program, said sex trafficking is a “very important issue in women’s studies.” Though males are also often victims of slavery, women and girls are more vulnerable to sex slavery, she said.

 

“She did not stop to think about the girls she left behind,” Johnson said. “She is a tower of strength.”

 

Mam, who has no formal education, said she admires the girls she helps. One is now attending law school, she said.

 

“I just have a heart,” Mam said. “They have brains. They’re my heroes.”

 

Worldwide, sex slavery is an annually $32 billion industry, Johnson said, adding that it is estimated four to five million people are living as slaves and two million of those are children.

 

Extreme poverty is one of the main reasons children are sold as slaves, Mam said.

 

Cambodia is divided between the “very rich and the very poor,” she said.

 

Clare Bratten, a professor of electronic media production, said this divide is not only found in Cambodia. People from “poor countries are being sent to rich countries,” she said.

 

Mam said more research is needed to determine other causes of sex slavery and better ways to combat it in a global setting.

 

“Life is love,” she said. “Love costs you nothing.”

 

By Kelsey Wells
Staff Writer

http://www.mtsusidelines.com/news/former-sex-slave-speaks-1.2126477

Thai Soldiers Fire Machine Guns, Throw Grenades into Cambodia

PREAH VIHEAR, CAMBODIA, FEB 16, 2011-Thai armies on Tuesday night fired at Cambodian troops at Preah Vihear border despite the UN Security Council insisted the two neighboring practice permanent cease fire at the conflict border.

A military source at Preah Vihear temple of Cambodia confirmed that hundreds of grenades and artillery were fired and threw into Cambodia territory, starting from 6:52pm, on Tuesday evening to 5:00am on Wednesday morning around Phnom Troab, near Preah Vihear temple

The source added that Cambodian soldiers remained calm, citing that they would fight back if Thai soldier across to Cambodia’s.

The official also told Deum Ampil Media Center that around 8:00pm on February 15th, Thai military commander telephoned Cambodian army commanders and accused Cambodia soldier moving under a barb fences into their territory.

However, Cambodia soldier has rejected, adding that they stood only in Cambodian territory.

The action of Thai soldiers are violating UNSC’s declaration because Thai soldier wanted Cambodian soldiers to reduce patience and fight back but Cambodians did not.

Ajahn Brahm to give talks on Feb 16, 17 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The New Straits Times, Feb 8, 2011

Johor Baru, Malaysia -- BUDDHIST devotees should keep Feb 16 and 17 free as the Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera will be in Johor Baru.

<< Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera will teach meditation techniques on Feb 17

Ajahn, who was born Peter Betts in London, will be at the Grand Bluewave Hotel at 8pm on Feb 16 to give a talk entitled Dif - ficulties are Unavoidable but Misery is Optional.

All are welcome and admission is free, as all costs are borne by members of the Metta Lodge Buddhist Centre Johor Baru.

On Feb 17, Ajahn will teach meditation techniques at the Metta Lodge. This will be followed by a talk entitled How do I Get Enlightened in this Life? at 8pm.

Due to space constraints, Metta Lodge can only accommodate 40 par ticipants.

Ajahn, a Theravada monk, is also the abbot of the Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine, Western Australia.

Coming from a working-class background, Ajahn won a scholarship to study theoretical physics at Cambridge University in the late 1960s, graduating with first-class honours.

After Cambridge, he taught in a high school for one year before going to Thailand to become a monk and train under Ajahn Chah, a monk renowned for his strict monastic discipline, simplicity of life and the practice of forest tradition.

Forest tradition involves using the remote wilderness and forest dwellings as training grounds for spiritual practice.

Ajahn was ordained in Bangkok when he was 23 years old. He subsequently spent nine years studying the forest tradition.

He is a sought-after dhamma teacher.

Ajahn dedicates his time and attention to the sick, those in prisons and people wanting to learn medi t at i o n .

Ajahn has written two books entitled Opening the Door of Your Hear t (formerly published as Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?) and Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond: A Meditator’s Handbook.

Ajahn’s Dhamma talks are available for free download in both digital audio and video format.

For details, call 019-779 6007 or 016-761 1666.

Source: Buddhist Channel

Humans walked upright 3.2 million years ago

Thomas H. Maugh II (LA Times, Feb. 12, 2011)

The 3.2-million-year-old skeleton called Lucy, left, and a life-size model on display in 2007 in Houston's Museum of Natural Science. Lucy's feet were probably arched for walking, new evidence indicates (Michael Stravato/AP).

A foot bone from a species made famous by the 1974 discovery of the specimen called Lucy had arched feet like the feet of modern humans.

A fossilized foot bone from Ethiopia indicates that human ancestors had largely abandoned swinging from trees by 3.2 million years ago and were spending virtually all of their time walking upright, researchers said this week.

The metatarsal bone from Australopithecus afarensis -- the species made famous by the 1974 discovery of the specimen known as Lucy -- clearly shows that the species had stiff, arched feet just like modern humans. Such feet are stiff enough to push off from the ground when taking a step and flexible enough to absorb shock when the foot touches down. But they have lost the ability to grasp branches and other objects, a distinguishing characteristic of Lucy's predecessors, Ardipithecus ramidus. More>>

Wisdom Quarterly (COMMENTARY)

Evolution is partly right, and so is the "other" theory. It was not Natural Selection that originated the evolving human form. However, it seems clear that evolution continues by natural (i.e., impersonal) processes. Such mechanisms result in our physical form. Karma accounts for much else, but it is inextricably enmeshed with form. Genetic manipulation has taken place, is being conducted now, and our DNA origins in more primitive (less like devas) form is hardly in dispute. The real history of the planet is so convoluted that this could hardly surprise anyone. The many kinds of humans did not evolve from a single forbear.

Ancestors may have left Africa earlier than thought

Ancient winery found in Armenia

Modern humans wore clothing way back

Neanderthals liked their veggies, too

Source: Wisdom Quarterly

Cambodians, Thais point fingers over cross-border fight

Each side accused the other of starting the latest shelling. The dispute involves the location of a temple.

February 6, 2011

By SETH MYDANS

New York Times

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen asked the U.N. Security Council on Sunday to convene an urgent meeting to "stop Thailand's aggression" after a third day of cross-border shelling by both sides.

The Cambodian government said the shelling had damaged part of an 11th-century Hindu temple that is claimed by both nations and has been the focus of tension and periodic military clashes since 2008.

Each side accused the other of starting the latest fighting, which has claimed at least two lives and caused a number of injuries since it broke out Friday. No deaths were reported Sunday, but both sides said there were some injuries.

"Cambodians always open fire first," said Thai Army spokesman Col. Sansern Keowkamnderd. "We will cease fire when the Cambodians stop firing at us."

The Cambodian government also said Thai military aircraft had flown near the border, an escalation of previous encounters, but Sansern denied the report.

It was not clear how seriously the temple, Preah Vihear, had been damaged. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the temple was slightly damaged by shelling in the last serious clash a year ago.

"A wing of our Preah Vihear temple has collapsed as a direct result of the Thai artillery bombardment," a Cambodian military commander was quoted as saying in a press statement.

The statement also quoted the unidentified commander as saying the Thai side had used "gas shells" as it fired artillery rounds at Cambodian soldiers, but it did not elaborate.

The dispute involves conflicting century-old maps and a ruling in 1962 by the International Court of Justice awarding the temple to Cambodia. New tensions were set off in July 2008 when UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site and also placed it inside Cambodia.

Tensions along the border have become entwined in Thailand's political disputes, with the faction known as the yellow shirts accusing the government of failing to defend Thai sovereignty. The issue has become a rallying cry in recent weeks for the yellow shirts, who have begun a new sit-in near the prime minister's office, where they staged a blockade for more than six months in 2008.

Bora Touch counters the Thai Foreign Ministry's statement on border dispute

By Bora Touch
Lawyer at the Supreme Court of State of New South Wales, Australia
Member of the Cambodian Bar Association
A founder and Board director of the Legal Aid of Cambodia

Below is my response to: "Thailand's Foreign Ministry statement concerning the Cambodian flag over Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda" published by The Nations, February 1, 2011. My comments begin with "Bora Touch" and the Thai Foreign Ministry's statement begins with "Thai FM"

Thai FM: The Foreign Ministry's statement concerning the Cambodian flag over Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda:

"With reference to the declaration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia dated January 28, 2011 regarding the issue of the flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia that is flying over the "Keo Sikha Kiri Svara" Pagoda, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand wishes to state the following:

1. According to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary of 2000, the 1904 and 1907 Treaties and "other documents relating to the application" of both treaties are the relevant legal documents to determine the boundary line. Thailand therefore does not accept the assertion by Cambodia that the 1:200,000 map is the basis for determining the boundary.

BORA TOUCH: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 ruled that the 1:200,000 map, or the Dangrek Section or Annex I Map as known in the ICJ proceeding, (and all of the 1:200,000 maps) is valid and forms part of the 1904 and 1907 Siam - France (Cambodia) delimitation treaties. The Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary of 2000 stipulates:

Article 1: The survey and demarcation of the land boundary between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand shall be jointly conducted in accordance with the following documents:

a) ... The Convention between France [Cambodia] and Siam [Thailand] modifying the stipulations of the Treaty of 3 October 1893, regarding the Territorial Boundaries and Other Arrangements, signed at Paris, 13 February 1904.

b) ... The Treaty between the His Majesty the King of Siam and the President of the Republic of France, singed at Bangkok, 23 March 1907 ... and the Protocol Concerning the Delimitation of Boundaries and Annexed to the Treaty of 23 march 1907; and

c) Maps which are the results of the demarcation works of the Commissions of the Delimitation of the Boundary of the Indochina [Cambodia] and Siam ... set up under the Covnention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France [Cambodia] and Siam [Thailand] and other documents relating to the application of the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France[Cambodia] and Siam [Thaiand].

The Terms of Reference and Master Plan for the Joint Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary between Cambodia and Thailand (TOR) of 23 March 2003 stipulates:

1.1.3. Maps which are the results of the Demarcation Works of the Commissions of Delimitation of boundary between Indochina [Cambodia] and Siam [Thailand].. sep up under the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France [Cambodia] and Siam [Thailand] (theferafter referred to as "the maps of 1:200,000") and other documents relating to the application of the Convention of 1904 and the Treaty of 1907 between France [Cambodia] and Siam [Thailand].

Paragraph 10 of the Terms of Reference emphasises:

"This TOR is without prejudice to the legal value of the previous agreements between France and Siam concerning the delimitation of boundary, nor to the value of the Maps of the Commissions of the Delimitation of Boundary between Indochina [Cambodia] and Siam [Thailand] set up under the Convention of 13 February 1904 and the Treaty of 23 March 1907, reflecting the boundary line of Indochina and Siam"

Clearly the maps referred to are the 1:200,000 map(s) which, as mentioned above, the ICJ in 1962 ruled to be valid and forms part of the 1904 (and 1907) treaties. Thailand is therefore not in a position to assert that the 1:200,000 maps (one of which is known as Dangrek Section or Annex I map in which the PreahVihear Temple is situated) are not valid. There is no legal basis for such an assertion and to make such an assertion would amount to saying that, in contravention of the UN Charter, Thailand does not accept and will not enforce the Judgment of the ICJ.

Thai FM: 2. Cambodia also admitted in the aforementioned declaration that the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 1962 did not rule on the question of the boundary line between Thailand and Cambodia.

Bora Touch: Contrary to Thailand's assertion, in 1962 the ICJ ruled unambiguously that the 1:200,000 maps (the Dangrek Section or Annex I Map included) is valid and is a part of the 1904 and 1907 treaties. Since the ICJ accepted and ruled that the map(s), which is the result of the boundary demarcation of the French-Siamese Joint Commissions, is valid and a part the treaties, the ICJ decided that it was unnecessary to rule on the question of boundary because the matter was decided (the map was ruled to be valid). The question did not need an answer as it was determined by the map(s). As scholar Kieth Highet (1987) pointed out: "the Court held that since the location indicated in the map had been accepted, it was unncessary to examine the physical location of boundary as derived from the terms of the Treaty". The ICJ did rule on the boundary question by ruling that map was valid.

Thai FM: 3. Thailand maintains that the "Keo Sikha Kiri Svara" Pagoda is situated on Thai territory, and demands that Cambodia remove both the pagoda and the Cambodian flag flying over the pagoda. This is a reiteration of the many protests that Thailand has submitted to Cambodia regarding the activities carried out in the pagoda and the surrounding area, all of which constitute violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Bora Touch: According to the 1:200,000 map (or the Dangkrek Section or Annex I map), the Preah Vihear Temple and the 4.6 sq km parcel of land undisputedly are inside Cambodian territory. Thailand and Cambodia agree that the "Keo Sikha Kiri Svara" Pagoda is situated in the 4.6 sqkm parcel of land.

Thai FM: 4. The Ministry reaffirms Thailand's commitment to resolving all boundary issues with Cambodia in accordance with international law through peaceful means under the framework of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC). The determination of the boundary line in the area of the Temple of Phra Viharn [Preah Vihear Temple] is still subject to ongoing negotiation under the framework of the JBC."

Bora Touch: It is misleading for Thailand to say it applies international law in this regard. It obviously failed to perform the obligations as stipulated under the ICJ Judgment of 1962. It thus has violated article 94(1) of the UN Charter/. Cambodia complains to the UN Security Council for appropriate measures against Thailand: Art 94(2).

Original ពង្សសាវតាខ្មែរ (Pung Savada Khmer)

ឆាក​ប្រយុទ្ធលើកនេះ​គឺជាវិញ្ញាសា​ចុងក្រោយ​សម្រាប់​កម្ពុជា​

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Tensions Erupt on Thai-Cambodian Border

Dramatic footage from the front lines of battle that broke out along the Thai and Cambodian border.

Cambodian soldiers launched rocket-propelled grenades and artillery toward the Thais, and received a hailstorm of bullets in return.

Artillery shells fell on houses of an evacuated village on the Thai side, as residents scrambled to the safety of bomb shelters.

Fighting has been on and off for two days bringing the casualties to four – two Cambodian soldiers and one Thai soldier, as well as a Thai villager.

At the center of the dispute – the grounds surrounding a 900-year-old Hindu temple, which both sides claim is theirs. The temple sits on land awarded to Cambodia by an international court and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Thailand is unhappy with Cambodia's claim to the temple and the feud has become a wedge issue in both Thai and Cambodian politics.

Thai "yellow shirt" supporters called for the government to take stronger action against Cambodia.

While in Cambodia, people said their country should not let Thailand off so easily.

[Prum Sothea, Cambodian National]:  "Whenever they enter our land we must fight to stop them from being so aggressive. If we are quiet then they think that we do not have enough ammunition to fight them, but now we have plenty of ammunition."

Leaders from both countries met Friday for talks on a host of border issues, although no disputes were resolved.

Photos from casualties from armed clashes between Cambodian Thai troops

(All photos: CEN)

Click on Picture on the left to read.

By Khmerization
Source: CEN

Cambodian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement (pictured) claiming that Thai shells, fired during a three-hour armed clashes with Cambodian troops at 3 p.m Friday yesterday, had caused significant damages to the world heritage-listed Preah Vihear temple and also caused the deaths and injuries to 10 Cambodian soldiers.

The statement said that Thai troops had entered deep into Cambodian territories in 3 spots to attack Cambodian troops, namely in Khmum area (Sombok Khmum), which is located about 500 metres from the staircase of Preah Vihear temple, Veal Entry, which is situated 1,12o metres inside Cambodian territory and Phnom Trop, which is situated 1,600 metres inside Cambodian.

The statement had also accused Thai troops of firing many 130 milimetres and 155 milimetres artillery shells as deep as 20 kilometres inside Cambodian territory.

It said that Cambodian troops have no choice, but to use self-defence rights to protect Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Latest: One Cambodian soldier killed and 5 wounded, 7 Thai soldiers killed and many wounded in clashes near Preah Vihear temple

BM-21 rockets test fired in Kampong Chhnang on 4th March, 2010.

By Khmerization
Source: CEN

Latest report of casualties from armed clashes between Cambodian Thai troops at 3 p.m today has resulted in one Cambodian soldier killed and 5 wounded, one rock roller and an excavator had been destroyed.

Cambodian military sources said that Cambodian troops had fired 20 baskets of M-21 rockets. The same sources said that it is believed that 7 Thai soldiers, 4 at Phnom Trop battlefield and 3 at Sombok Khmum/Red House battlefield, had been killed as well as many more were wounded.

At the time of this article going to press, the flames are still burning from the Thai Red House used as a command base which was hit by Cambodian artillery shells. The fighting started at 3:10 p.m and stopped at 5:48 p.m Cambodian time.

The fighting stopped when the Thai side requested for a negotiation and Prime Minister Hun Sen gave permission the defence ministers of both countries to talk at the request of the Thai side.

​តុល្យការ​បណ្តោះអាសន្ន​ចុង​ក្រោយ​នៅ​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៤​កុម្ភៈ​ដែល​ទទួលបាន​ ពី​ប្រភព​យោធា​ឱ្យដឹងថា មាន​ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ម្នាក់​បាន​ស្លាប់ និង​៥​នាក់​រងរបួស​។ ក្រៅពីនោះ ក៏​មាន​ឆេះ​រ៉​ឡូ​កិន​ថ្ម មួយគ្រឿង និង​អេស្កាវ៉ាទ័រ​មួយ​គ្រឿង​របស់​កង​វិស្វកម្ម​ដែល​ធ្វើ​ផ្លូវ​ទៅ​កាន់​ ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះវិហារ​។

កម្ពុជា​បាន​ប្រើប្រាស់​អាវុធ​ធុន​ធ្ងន់ ប្រភេទ​កាំជ្រួច​ប្រតិកម្ម BM 21 អស់​២០​កញ្ច្រែង​។ ប្រភព​ដដែល​ឱ្យដឹងថា ទាហាន​ថៃ​ត្រូវ​គេ​ជឿ​ថា​ស្លាប់​៧​នាក់​ក្នុងនោះ​៤​នាក់​នៅ​ភ្នំ​ទ្រព្យ​និង ​៣​នាក់​នៅ​ក្បែរ​ផ្ទះ​ក្រហម និង​រងរបួស​មួយចំនួនទៀត​។
​
​មកទល់​នឹង​ ម៉ោង​នេះ គេ​នៅ​ឃើញ​មាន​ភ្លើង​ឆេះ​នៅក្បែរ​ផ្ទះ​ក្រហម​របស់​ថៃ​នៅឡើយ​។ អាវុធ បានចាប់ផ្តើម​ផ្ទុះ​នៅវេលា​ម៉ោង​៣​និង​១០​នាទី និង​ស្ងាត់​ទៅ​វិញ​នៅ​ម៉ោង​៥និង​៤៨​នាទី​។ ការ​ស្ងប់ស្ងាត់​បណ្តាលមកពី​ភាគី​ថៃ​ បាន​ស្នើសុំ​ចរចា ​ហើយ​សម្តចនាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុន សែន​ បាន​យល់ព្រម​ឱ្យ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការពារជាតិ​ទាំង​ពីរ​ជួបចរចា​គ្នា​តាម​ សំណើររបស់​ថៃ ៕

Some Temporary ordinations.

In Burma and in Thailand it is very common for a man, especially a young man, to ordain as a monk temporarily, often for just a few days. This constitutes a completely valid ordination, going through all the steps, including shaving the head and beginning to wear the robes. But in this case the intention is not to remain a monk for long. Almost all Burmese men are ordained temporarily at some point, and of course many permanently. I don’t think there is temporary ordination for women, since ordination for nuns is a different kind of thing (that is quickly changing in the West, and in Sri Lanka). 

Last weekend I participated in a temporary ordination, and next weekend I will participate in another. Next weekend will involve three novices (under 20 years old) and five full monks (bhikkhus), and apparently they will live here at the Vihara for about a week. Interestingly I will be the senior monk from July 26 on, and so I will be responsible for offering them some training, scheduling meditation, etc.  An ordination is an Sangha Action, that is it is actually offered by a group of ordained monks, a sangha, who thereby accept new members.  So when I say I participated, it was as an existing member of a sangha.

I learned a couple of interesting new customs at last week’s ordination ceremony, which I would like to describe here. One is boat ordination, and the other is maidens offering the use of their hair.

A complicated aspect of ordination is that it, as an Act of a Sangha, has to take place within a clearly marked territory, called a sima. This is necessary because all monks within the sima are asked to participate, and monks outside of the sima are presumed to belong to other sanghas. It is all very legalistic. A sima can be a given monastery, it can also be something like the City of Maplewood, with its established boundaries. An ordination requires at least five fully ordained monks, so we generally need to assemble the sangha from more than one monastery, at least in the USA. One way to easily define a sima is simply to have the ordination on a boat, and declare the boat the sima. The acting sangha then consists of any monks who are on the boat. That is what we did last weekend for the temporary ordination ceremony.

We filled a power boat on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes with monks, pushed away from shore and conducted the ordination in the boat. There is actually a part of an ordination ceremony  in which the ordainees and their teacher need to separate themselves from the existing sangha. This was accomplished by using a second boat, which is technically outside the sima of the first boat, but can be steered close enough for monks to hop from one boat to the other and back. Of course the whole scene was quite a curiosity for the other totally uninvolved people who had brought their boats to the lake to fish: a boat crowded with bald, burgundy-robed, chanting monks was more than they expected.

The second custom was enacted after the ordination, on shore. A lot of Burmese came to make offerings to the old and new monks. This takes the form of an alms round, with a long line of people offering various things like toothpaste, snacks, soap, flowers, finally culminating in a lunch lunch offered at a picnic table. The custom I had never seen before was enacted at the beginning of the alms round.

Three young women with long hair knelt, and leaning forward, their foreheads touching the grass, and their hair spread forward across the path the monks were about to walk on. The monks then began the alms round by walking on their hair!  I had to ask what this was about after the event.

Buddhist practice often involves many forms of ritual symbolic offerings. This is as true from my experience in Japanese Zen as in Burmese Theravada. A prime example is a food offering made to a Buddha statue. Such enactments in Buddhism, though symbolic, have a quite practical purpose: they bring forth positive states of mind which are reinforced through the mindfulness of ritual. So, for instance, although there is no Buddha actually there as a recipient to receive a food offering, the enactment of the donation creates merit for the donor. This means it actually helps the donors character develop karmically in a positive direction. This is the logic of symbolic offerings.

The maidens offering their hair in this way is apparently a reenactment of a Sir Walter Raleigh-like story of someone who did this with hair rather than with cloak, presumably for the Buddha so that he wouldn’t soil or dampen his feet. For the maidens it produces merit, as in a food offering. However in this case the offering is symbolic not because there are no recipients for the donation (we monks were the recipients), but rather because nothing was actually offered (our feet were in no real danger of becoming soiled for want of hair). Mostly the whole thing was fun. 

By Bhikkhucintita

Document Events of KC 50 in Khmer Kampuchea Krom by Thach Xe

Click on the cover to dowload PDF file.

Source The Prey Nokor News

UCC to celebrate centenary of Dhammaloka 'the Irish Buddhist'

<<< Dhammaloka in 1902 aged about 50 by OLIVIA KELLEHER

THE LIFE of one of the first Western Buddhist monks, an Irishman who adopted the name Dhammaloka, is to be marked by an international line-up of scholars at University College Cork later this month.

The centenary of Dhammaloka, tried for sedition on January 31st 1911, by a judge in colonial Rangoon, will be remembered at UCC on February 19th.

“Dhammaloka Day” also sees the Irish launch of the special issue of the journal Contemporary Buddhism, devoted to the Dublin-born migrant worker who crossed the world to become a pioneering European Buddhist monk in Asia.

Dhammaloka was born in 1856 in Dublin and was known by several names, including Laurence Carroll and William Colvin. Dhammaloka was his Buddhist name given at ordination. Many knew him simply as “the Irish Buddhist”.

The details of his Dublin family, his life as a hobo in the US and a beachcomber in Asia are as mysterious as his eventual disappearance or death and a fake obituary in 1912.

He lived according to the strict rules of the ancient Burmese Buddhist monastic order; yellow-robed, shaven-headed, walking barefoot and taking only one meal a day.

He travelled extensively between 1900 and 1914 in countries such as colonial Burma, Siam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaya, Japan, China and India.

Dhammaloka became known in many parts of southeast Asia in his time and drew large crowds when giving talks.

He was tried for sedition in Burma by Mr Justice Daniel Harold Ryan Twomey, a native of Carrigtwohill in Co Cork.

Dhammaloka Day will feature an international line-up of scholars of colonial-period and contemporary Buddhism including Burma expert Prof Alicia Turner, York University, Toronto; historian of American Buddhism Prof Thomas Tweed, University of North Carolina; historian of Irish Buddhism Dr Laurence Cox, NUI Maynooth; and scholar of Japanese religions Prof Brian Bocking, UCC.

Uncovering Dhammaloka’s story has involved research by Prof Bocking and his research colleagues Alicia Turner and Laurence Cox.

Source: The Irish Times