Former King Sihanouk Corrects Border History

Former King Sihanouk Corrects Border History
Reaksmey Heng
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
16/11/2005

Former King Sihanouk immediately denied the claim made by a CPP senator
who had said Cambodia did not have a clear border since 1969. Former
King Sihanouk's reaction came out after CPP Senator Chea Cheth had told
the Cambodia Daily this week that Cambodia has never had a clear border
demarcation and now needs to have one.

The former king said it's scandalous to pretend that in 1969 Cambodia
did not have a clear border and that Cambodia now needs to have a clear
border demarcation.

The former monarch said that in 1969, Cambodia unmistakingly had very
clear borders. If it were to be otherwise, the United States would not
have officially declared and recognized Cambodia's borders (both land
and maritime) in 1969.

Former King Sihanouk was in power in Cambodia in 1969. He was toppled
by then Marshall Lon Nol in a coup d'etat in 1970.

The former king has been a firm defender of Cambodia's borders even
when Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to abolish the monarchy and turn
Cambodia into a republic.

Chea Chet has not yet reacted to the former King's comment. Neither did
he make any comment about the alleged quotes by the Cambodia Daily.

Contacted by VOA, Var Kim Hong, government's border committee
president, declined to comment on former King Sihanouk's reaction.

Prime Minister Hun Sen and his deputy prime minister Sok An have both
gone to the National Assembly to explain about the border issues.

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