LES 6
COMMANDEMENTS |
PHN@M - P@NH - P@TINS
|
THE 6
COMMANDMENTS |
30 Years Later - Are US Marines returning to Cambodia? (2004-Nov-02)
www.cambodianonline.net : Although only recently coming out
of the ultra Maoist era of the Khmer Rouge and the legacy of the killing
fields, a growing body of evidence is suggesting that the U.S. will soon
permanently deploy large scale military forces to the port town of Sihanoukville
in the Kingdom of Cambodia in southeast Asia. Reasons leading to such a
deployment include the growing necessity to downscale
and reposition the US Asian military footprint in Japan and more specifically,
the US Marines in Okinawa. Additionally, with terrorism being the
ever present watchword, it has become apparent that a looming requirement
is building in which the shipping lanes and 3,000 plus oil producing
facilities along the eastern seaboard of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam's
South China Sea must be better secured; all potential targets in a world
where such facilities and shipping lanes have been and continue to be struck
by terrorist elements around the world.
It was nearly 30 years ago that the last battle of the Vietnam War was
fought and it began only a week after the fall of Saigon in an international
shipping lane 60 miles off the Cambodian coast and 8 miles off the island
of Poulo Wai (Kao Wai), an island then claimed by Cambodia, Thailand, and
Vietnam. The date was May 12, 1975 when Khmer Rouge forces (using former
US Navy PCF Swift gunboats, similar to ones recently made famous by Senator
John Kerry) stopped and seized the US flagged cargo ship, the S.S. Mayaguez,
while making a cargo run from Hong Kong to Sattahip, Thailand. The political
climate was ripe at the time for retribution and with a new and unproven
president at the helm in the White House by the name of Gerald Ford (who
had become president after the impending impeachment and subsequent resignation
of President Nixon on August 9, 1974), action had to be taken. Then Secretary
of State Henry Kissinger presented a powerful argument that "greater
issues were at stake than international piracy... and the seizure of the
Mayaguez raised questions of international perceptions of American power
and will."
A quickly devised plan was set in motion for what turned out to be a disastrous
military operation to retake the ship, eventually leading to the deaths
of 38 US military personnel along with 50 additional casualties as well
as the bombings of the airfield at Sihanoukville and the oil storage and
naval facilities at Ream Naval Base. This however is all ancient history
now and the events to most have been long forgotten. However, very recent
political changes within the Kingdom, including the abdication
of the anti-American Vietnam War era king Sihanouk and the appointment
and coronation of a new and the more neutral ballet dancer trained King
Norodom Sihamoni, have opened the door for Cambodia to join a different
world than the one it has belonged to. Additionally, for the past year
and half, Cambodia has been unable to function as no legitimate government
or coalition had been formed. It has only been in the past couple of months
that Prime Minister Hun Sen has consolidated
his power and legitimacy and a functioning and legal coalition government
has been formed. Obviously, this was a prerequisite for any foreign aid
agreements, loans or international treaties that might be under consideration.
Although appearing coincidental within weeks after all these events came
together, the Bangkok Post on October 26 screamed the headline "Cambodia
may be next 'terror haven'" while construction was moving forward in Phnom
Penh for one of the largest and most secure US Embassies in the world.
With over 180,000 square feet (or comparable in size to 90, 2 story, 3-bedroom
homes in a typical American suburb), this $40,000,000
monster dwarfs anything around its location of Wat Phnom and will probably
be one of the most secure embassies in the world. Coincidentally during
the same week as the Bangkok Post's bold headlines about Cambodian terrorism,
another article quotes Cambodian officials as saying that Cambodia would
not be able to participate in "Team Samurai"
due to its inability to put any seaworthy vessels to sea. This East Asian
naval war game was intended to practice and train Naval forces in the hypothetical
scenario of intercepting WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) on the high
seas. Obviously with no operational navy or air
force, Cambodian coasts, borders and airspace are open to anyone and everyone
that should choose to violate or operate from them. Obviously
an ideal situation for terrorists possibly wanting to use the Kingdom as
a staging ground for other regional or global terrorist activities.
Cambodia although geographical large by comparison to its regional neighbors
is a small country with regards to its population. Having only 13 million,
(of which 1.3 million live in the capital of Phnom Penh) the population
density, especially along its coasts and borders are significantly less
than its neighbors Thailand and Vietnam, which by comparison have 65 million
and 83 million respectively. One only has to move
along its nearly 500 kilometers of coast by boat, motorbike or foot to
see just how remote, isolated and unpopulated the coast and its many islands
are. During the same month of October, ChevronTexaco
also officially announced the discovery of up to 400 million barrels
of oil and 5 trillion cubic meters of gas 90 miles off the Cambodian coast.
This is a first for Cambodia even though for many months the sleepy little
port town's expatriates had whispered amongst themselves that there "was
gold out there in them there waters" and it had been discovered. As it
turned out, the rumors were true. It is also very interesting to note in
the announcement by Te Duong Tara, Director General of the Cambodian National
Petroleum Authority Exploration, that since Cambodia has no natural resources
to speak of, this find represents a huge potential to the people and government
of Cambodia. He also however raised the issue of security against terrorism
which was stated as necessary to sustain the exploration and exploitation.
With over 2,000 wells on the Thai side of the Gulf of Thailand and nearly
1,000 in Vietnam's portion of the South China Sea, security is not only
a concern for Cambodia but the United States and other regional powers.
Although seldom mentioned outside of Asia, piracy as well as terrorism
is a growing threat also. Besides the real and present danger of infrastructure
terrorism, high seas piracy in 2003 grew to 445 reported acts (recorded
by the International Maritime Bureau), which was almost double the number
from the previous year. Cambodia, and more specifically the area around
its southern port town of Sihanoukville and its quickly growing oil bunker
facilities, deep water piers and eventual offshore platforms, represent
important and growing strategic targets. Presently, they seem to the casual
observer to be non-secured and with continuing statements by Cambodian
officials indicating that they don't have the money or infrastructure necessary
to field proper border, air and naval security forces, it seems Chevron/Texaco
and by extension US officials, might be somewhat concerned about the situation.
It wasn't that long ago on October 12, 2000 that the US destroyer U.S.S.
Cole was attacked by a boat laden with explosives and was severely crippled,
along with 17 crew members being killed and another 39 injured in the blast
while refueling in the unsecured port of Aden, Yemen. Shortly after this
incident, the French super tanker Limburg was also attacked and severely
damaged, once again by a small suicide attack with a boat loaded with explosives.
There was an effort however to suppress the second attack and make it appear
as an accident knowing the repercussions to global shipping insurance prices
if the truth was known. It is apparent that terrorist groups realize the
weakness that independent vessels at sea pose (including warships) and
disrupting their free flowing moments can wreck severe havoc on both commercial
and military operations. Cambodia, with its strategic
position near the tip of the shipping channels to the far east from the
Gulf of Thailand is a vital component to maritime security in the region
and combined with 1,000's of offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf,
is of strategic importance for both the region and industrialized nations,
especially oil hungry nations such as Japan and Taiwan.
Terrorism has become the new "ism" for America and the free world. This
"ism", like communism before it, is a global fight although this battle
is mostly being fought in the shadows of lesser developed nations, from
Pakistan to Cambodia. Combined with the real and growing threat of nuclear
proliferation in rogue states such as North Korea and Iran and their proximity
to large pockets of US forces due to their development or acquisition of
long range, nuclear capable rocket forces, the redistribution of the US
"footprint" farther away from the threat, becomes even a greater necessity.
Additionally, nations who have been close allies with the United States
are now choosing courses that expose them less to a US military alliance.
Japan, although deeply divided on the continued US
"occupation" of Okinawa by over 40,000 US Marines is growing
wary of the continuing incidents between forces stationed there and their
civilian population. Even as recently as October 18, the Japanese Foreign
Minister Nobutaka Machimura gave assurances to Okinawan leaders that the
Japanese government is committed to reducing the U.S. military presence
on Okinawa. Recently the high profile crash of a Sea Stallion helicopter
into Okinawa International University on August 13th and yet another reported
rape, left citizens throughout Japan bitterly angry about American troops
on Japanese soil leading to massive demonstrations around Japan.
On October 30th, a decapitated Japanese man whose body was wrapped in an
American flag was also found in an insurgent-controlled section of Baghdad.
Japanese public opinion about America, its occupation of Okinawa and Japan's
participation in Iraq it seems will be one of continuing strong protests.
When (U.S. Secretary of Defense) Donald Rumsfeld visited Okinawa
last November, he was told by the island's governor, 'You people
are on the active volcano and when it explodes it is going to bring down
your entire strategy in Asia in much the way the fall of the Berlin Wall
did for the USSR.' Although coincidental once again, in the same
edition of the Bangkok Post announcing to the world that Cambodia is the
next terrorist haven, a small article appeared in which the US and Japan
announced in joint statements that they would hold talks on reducing the
controversial US troop presence on Okinawa Island. US Secretary of State
Colin Powell said in Tokyo after meetings with Japanese leaders
that the two allies would hold a "higher level of dialogue" in "the months
ahead" to deal with "reducing our presence in Okinawa
and other places."
Younger Koreans are also becoming increasing
angry about US policies and their participation in them. Recent events
including the beheading of a South Korean translator in Iraq and their
decision to send 3,000 troops there, have left Koreans very sour about
their involvement in a war faraway when they perceive their enemy to be
only minutes away in North Korea. It seems likely that US policy makers
are becoming increasingly aware that forces need to be moved for a variety
of reasons, but due to ongoing security concerns in strategic areas such
as Southeast Asia and the Far East, the question becomes where?
Sometimes the simplest answer can come from looking at a map. A
map easily shows why Afghanistan was and is so important if you need to
move the massive oil reserves in the eastern Caspian Sea and the steppes
of Kazakhstan to Far East Asian markets and a map will also quickly show
why Cambodia could very well figure into US security
plans in both the Far East and around the world. However what
a map won't show you is the fact that the Cambodian government is a new
government and one open and receptive to "deals".
Large Muslim populations don't exist in Cambodia by comparison to other
countries in the region such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Although Thailand does have ideal naval and aviation facilities on its
eastern oil rich gulf coast (Sattahip and Ao/U Tapao), given the continuing
high profile problems with Thailand's Muslim population, Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra would be committing political suicide by allowing
US troops to be temporarily or permanently deployed once again to Thai
soil (US forces were stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War), especially
after his recent orders to send another 7,000 Thai troops to the 3 southern
provinces where Muslim uprisings and killings have become an everyday occurrence.
Vietnam, although an ideal location
for a far east base as history has shown (i.e. Cam Ran Bay), having in
place existing deep water ports, facilities and an ideal location to support
the footprint redistribution, is politically out
of the question due to the remaining memories of the Vietnam War and the
political realities between the two nations. Taiwan is impossible
as well as mainland China views Taiwan as nothing more than a renegade
province and one which must be returned to the one "China". Any large scale
US military deployments to Taiwan would be perceived as a direct threat
to the mainland and its military.
Singapore might be considered but is most probably too close to large Muslim
populations and would be difficult to secure and deployments there would
be politically unacceptable. Indonesia and Malaysia have majority Muslim
populations as well and any US deployments there might meet the same type
of stiff resistance shown by elements of the Turkish government during
the second Gulf War when the US wanted to use Turkey as a base for the
war in Iraq. Australia and New Zealand are just too far away from the area
to be secured. Burma is on the wrong side of the Isthmus of Kra
and has gotten even more hard-line in recent weeks, including the sacking
of its intelligence chief and others in a move to crush any western leaning
tendencies and any moment towards human rights; which
leaves only Cambodia as a possible candidate.
Cambodia has the strategic location, a nominal Muslim population
and a new government and King. Additionally, it has an ideal deep-water
port and large, offshore islands capable of housing large troop deployments
and naval facilities, with no indigenous populations to contend with.
It also has no operational naval and air forces of its own and its new
government seems to be setting the tone that would allow outside "assistance"
due to a perceived threat of terrorism against its new found wealth in
offshore oil and gas. As everyone who is even vaguely familiar with Cambodia
knows, infrastructure at all levels is pitifully lacking and maintenance
and support for its military practically non-existent. This leaves a situation
where 443 kilometers of Cambodian coastline are completely unprotected,
as are its numerous islands and its' airspace. It would be a simple matter
to secure these areas in the quickest possible way (against terrorism)
with the deployment of US forces into the port area of Sihanoukville.
It is interesting to note as well that almost in conjunction with the King's
abdication, the consolidation and legitimacy of political power with Prime
Minister Hun Sen and the official announcement of the discovery of oil
and gas off the coast of Cambodia, that Japan announced a $39.2 million
loan to "expand the impoverished country's main sea port". The money will
be used to expand the 160-meter cargo container berth and upgrade cargo
handling equipment at the Sihanoukville port. The loan was the second for
the port project following the previous loan of about $40 million five
years ago. Combined with a new joint US/Cambodia
military arms depot being built somewhere in the area, could port development
be taking on an alternative use?
With IMF studies calculating a drop in Cambodian GDP and an 11.5% drop
in exports in 2005, (due to mainly WTO quotas and lack of competitiveness
on next year's textile manufacturing, Cambodia's number one export), one
has to question why such a loan for a port with dwindling products to ship?
Has someone cornered the market on Cambodian cashew nuts or fig oil instead?
Maybe an alternative explanation for the expansion, construction and deepening
of the port itself is for ships bringing cargo into Cambodia. But if that
is the case, what could that possibly be? Japan wants 40,000 US Marines,
their dependents and their equipment out of Okinawa yesterday and is most
likely going to have to foot the bill for their movement. Could
an alternative rational however for these heavy cranes (being financed
by Japan) be for far heavier items than standard Maersk shipping containers,
let's say instead for re-located US Marine equipment including 60 ton M-1A1
Main Battle Tanks?
It is also very interesting to note the amount of high end civilian construction
in the area including a new golf course along one of the most developed
and famous beaches on the coast, a new 5-star beach resort that has taken
the entire beach and valley it occupies, a new airfield with no obvious
airline or airplanes from which to operate in and out from it and new Monte
Carlo type casinos with heliports. The companies that have or are now building
these multi-million dollar projects are only a few and are tightly tied
together working under names such as Ariston, Naga and Soka. It seems almost
like the money boys know something, as Sihanoukville
is a sleepy little town on the best of days with tourism measured in dozens
per day, which doesn't seem to justify the spending of 10s of millions
of dollars for "tourism" infrastructure. Thousands of US military and civilian
personnel would however change all this.
The relocation of large numbers of US armed forces to the area could possibly
change this "sleepy little port" into something along the lines of the
old Subic Bay in the Philippines if they were placed ashore. It
would however leave these troops highly exposed under existing conditions
and unless the Cambodian government was willing and able to grant large
concessions of land, a base the size necessary for a large contingent of
US Marines and the security necessary for them on the mainland would be
politically and economically difficult. The problem could however be easily
solved if you found an island (maybe two?) off
the coast where both the islands and their occupants were literally out
of sight and out of mind to the mainland residents.
It would also be easier to secure. Combine that with a deep water harbor,
an airfield and a location on a strategic oil and sea lane, you might just
have the ideal facility to secure an unsecured coast as well as protect
strategic regional resources. It seems Sihanoukville might have just the
ticket in the form of the second largest island in Cambodian, Koh Rong
and its smaller sister island of Koh Rong Samloem. With no development
of any kind including villages, roads, etc. except for approximately 100
indigenous Khmer families, this huge island with 8-10 kilometer beaches
is ideally suited for a military base and combined with its sister island's
deep water harbor, you have established the perfect base location within
the region with no fuss and no muss.
Are the US Marines coming to Cambodia?
No one will confirm it but yet no one will deny it either. Rumors were
rampant for months about offshore oil and gas and they are rampant again
about 25,000 US Marines coming to Sihanoukville. Time will tell as
it always does but it appears from the outside looking in that Sihanoukville
could play a role once again in American and world history, and that role
might be sooner than later.
[Editorial
Opinion, 2 November 2004, by Charlie Jones, Copyright © 2004 Charles
B. Jones]
Ranariddh is being used by Hun Sen to fight rival faction within
the CPP (2004-Oct-30)
Samngatki : Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh made
on October 26 a surprising proposal that consists in removing the National
Police from under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior and
placing it under the direct control of Prime Minister Hun Sen (cf. The
Cambodia Daily, 27 October 2004). The implementation of such a proposal
would fulfill Hun Sen's objective to weaken Interior Minister
Sar Kheng, a still relatively powerful member of the pro-Chea Sim faction
within the ruling CPP.
|
Sihamoni Et Jayavarman VII
(2004-Oct-21)
Siha :
Salut, l'ancêtre! Quelques conseils avant que je ne commence?
Jaya :
Ouais? C'est peut-être une bonne chose qu'un roi khmer n'ait point
de concubines! Ces salopes veulent toutes que leur fils monte sur le trône!
C'est ces guerres familiales pour la couronne qui ont transformé
mon vaste royaume en peau de chagrin!
Siha :
Mais c'est une insulte à ma maman! Je m'en vais!
Jaya :
Attends! Dis à ton simulateur de père d'abandonner le sarcophage
royal! Quand on brûlait ton grand-père en 1961, ça
puait de Phnom Penh jusqu'au Bayon!
|
|
Phnom Den, Pranaing Ronors (2004-Oct-14)
Running of the bulls, Khmer style
VNS : The Khmer Community in the An Giang Province in South
Viet Nam will begin their traditional Donta
Festival on Wednesday. In the province's Bay Nui region this means the
start of the bull race. This race is held in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts,
and this year will take place at the Chua Ta Miet
racecourse on the Donta Festival's second day. As in the previous races,
the race will feature 38 pairs of bulls selected from the surrounding
communes. Unlike a horse or car race where all the competitors start at
the same time, a Bay Nui bull race features two pairs of bulls competing
directly with each other to see which pair can drag
a rake through the field the fastest. The course itself is nothing
more than a 100-150m-long wet field surrounded by boundaries to prevent
the bulls from running out and the audience from getting in.
The race has its roots in the local Khmer community's
centuries-old agriculture, when bulls would plough the fields during the
rainy season. With time, the race became a traditional event to see who
had the best bulls. Buddhist monks served as the organisers of the
event and prepared the prizes for the winners. Since 1992, the An Giang
provincial government has turned it into an official
festival with clear regulations to make sure it embodies healthy
competition. With assistance from the provincial government, the bull races
have attracted larger audiences. According to the locals, a bull that possesses
indigenous breed, good height, firm hoof tendons, small hooves and fitness
is the most suitable to become a racer. Finding such a bull is a difficult
process and many have spent months if not years wandering through many
villages and mountains just to find one.
Once the trainer does find one, the work is not over. The bull has to be
trained to become familiar with a racecourse atmosphere and a driver. Chau
Chiu is one of the most experienced drivers and has earned the name,
"King of the Bay Nui racing bulls." A native of Nui To commune in
Tri Ton, he has trained five pairs of racing bulls that have finished well
in past races. One finished first, two in second and two in third. According
to Chiu, the bulls must enjoy a spacious and clean environment free from
mosquitoes. Their food includes betel leaves, water mixed with bran and
thin congee at night. Sometimes the bull owners care for the animals better
more than they do for themselves. Just before the race, for example, Chiu
allows his bulls to sip soda with chicken eggs. To
succeed, the bull must have an experienced, brave and well trained-bull
driver, who knows how to pace the animal so that it does not wear itself
out. However, one thing that will not wear out is this tradition which
has already lasted for centuries. [soc.culture.cambodia]
[
VIETNAM IS ON THE LEFT , CAMBODIA THE RIGHT ]
George Moore : For new readers,
Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts in Vietnam are immediately across the border
from Cambodia at the end of Hwy 2. It is a simple three-hour share taxi
or motorcycle ride from Phnom Penh to Phnom Den,
at the end of Hwy 2. Just across the border is Tinh Bien. A picture of
this border crossing is on www.pbase.com /jamieashley /image .
This picture was taken from the top of Sam Mountion on the Vietnamese
side of the border. Hwy 2 is on the
right hand side of the picture. Phnom Den in Cambodia is at the foot of
the hills in the distance. More links from this area are on rectravel.com/kmt/
.
PEN Nearovi, Montréal, Québec, Canada
(nearovi@sympatico.ca)