Sentencing me is not important, but giving land to foreigners is important: Sam Rainsy

(Photo: Free Press Magazine Online)

28 January 2010
By K. Nearadey
Free Press Magazine online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Through a video link from Paris, Cambodia’s opposition leader Sam Rainsy confirmed his stance during a press conference that took place a few minutes earlier, saying that sentencing him is not important, but what is important is the fact that the Cambodian government is giving away Cambodia’s territories to the foreigners.

Sam Rainsy told a group of national and international reporters that, according to modern measurements (using GPS measurement device), it can be seen that the installation of border posts led to the loss of Cambodian territories between 250 to 300 meters to the benefit of Vietnam. The opposition leader indicated that this was the finding when comparisons are made between the GPS measurements and the actual 1/100,000 scale map that was internationally recognized in 1952, as well as a map prepared by the US Army in 1966.

According to Sam Rainsy, his removal of the border stakes clearly shows that three other border posts – no. 184, 186 and 187 – are all encroached into Cambodian territories. Following his uprooting of the stakes at border post no. 185, the Vietnamese government came to uproot the [concrete] foundation for border posts no. 184, 186 and 187 also, and it transported them back to Vietnam. Sam Rainsy indicated that it clearly confirms that the Viet through the Phnom Penh regime recognizes that the planting of their border posts was done in encroachment into Cambodia.

Regarding the verdict handed down by the Svay Rieng court, sentencing him to 2 years of jail term on Wednesday 27 January, Sam Rainsy indicated that the court was merely following the order issued by the Hanoi regime. According to Sam Rainsy, “Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung ordered the Cambodian government to set Sam Rainsy as an example so that nobody follows his footstep, therefore, this is not important.” Sam Rainsy said that the case that led to him being sentenced to jail term is not a Cambodian internal affair, but that it is an international affair involving two different countries. Therefore, this problem should be resolved at the international level so that the world can see whether Vietnam really encroaches on Cambodian territories or not. He indicated that what he did with the Cambodian villagers who lost their lands in Koh Kban Kandal village, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, on 25 October 2009, was to show that Cambodian territories were robbed and to demand that this problem be resolved.