Bridges go up along border

A Cambodian soldier speaks with Thai troops along the border close to Preah Vihear temple in 2008. Photo by: Heng Chivoan

via CAAI

Friday, 24 September 2010 15:02 Thet Sambath

THE Royal Cambodian Armed Forces are building 15 concrete bridges to connect roads between Preah Vihear temple and a nearby military base in an effort to facilitate the transport of ammunition and food to soldiers based near the border.

The bridges will connect roads between the Preah Vihear temple and Ta Thav, an area that military officials say will be used in the future as a border gate but is now used as a military compound. Ta Thav is located roughly 7 kilometres north of the temple.

Preah Vihear deputy provincial governor Sor Thavy said yesterday that the construction of the bridges was ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen and was being completed by the military’s engineering unit.

Sem Yo, commander of RCAF border battalion 404, said the bridges will make travelling between the two areas easier. Previously, any food and weaponry had to be transported back and forth by foot.

“When the bridges are built, this road will become strong and it is very useful for soldiers to move and transport food and weapons for soldiers standing at the border,” he said, and added that the roads would be paved once the bridges were completed.

Kvan Siem, commander of RCAF’s engineering unit, said yesterday that the unit also plans to build a road along the Thai-Cambodian border, connecting Poipet Town to Koh Kong province.

“This is the government’s plan, ordered by Prime Minister Hun Sen, to build roads along the border,” he said.

He adding that the construction of the bridges and roads should be completed “some time next year”.

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REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea : Frenchman Michel Roger Blanchard, 44 is escorted to a court in Preah Sihanouk Province

Frenchman Michel Roger Blanchard (R), 44, is escorted by a prison policeman to a court in Preah Sihanouk province, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh, September 20, 2010. Blanchard was on trial on Monday for sexually abusing underaged boys and the verdict is scheduled to be announced on October 4. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Frenchman Michel Roger Blanchard (C), 44, is escorted by prison policemen to a court in Preah Sihanouk province, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh, September 20 ,2010. Blanchard was on trial on Monday for sexually abusing underaged boys and the verdict is scheduled to be announced on October 4. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Frenchman Michel Roger Blanchard (R), 44, is escorted by a prison policeman to a court in Preah Sihanouk province, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh, September 20 ,2010. Blanchard was on trial on Monday for sexually abusing underaged boys and the verdict is scheduled to be announced on October 4. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Frenchman Michel Roger Blanchard (R), 44, is escorted by a prison policeman to a court in Preah Sihanouk province, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh, September 20 ,2010. Blanchard was on trial on Monday for sexually abusing underaged boys and the verdict is scheduled to be announced on October 4. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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Here come our ruski tanks and APCs to counter those dirty, rotten, East European tanks ordered by the Thais!

KI-Media Note: There must be a lot of East European arm dealers out there who are laughing all their way to the bank!

Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers (APC) are unloaded from a ship at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carrier (APC) is unloaded from a ship at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers (APC) are seen on a ship prior being unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Soviet-made T-55 tank is seen on a ship prior being unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T-55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A Soviet-made T-55 tank is unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T-55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers (APC) are seen on a ship prior to being unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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Russian-made BTR-60 armored personnel carriers arrived in Cambodia

Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers (APC) are unloaded from a ship at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

A Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carrier (APC) is unloaded from a ship at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west of Phnom Penh September20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers (APC) are seen on a ship prior being unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west ofPhnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Russian-made BTR-60 armoured personnel carriers (APC) are seen on a ship prior being unloaded at Preah Sihanouk port, about 230 km (142.9 miles) west ofPhnom Penh September 20, 2010. Cambodia has bought 44 APCs and 50 new T55 tanks as part of the country's effort to "strengthen sovereignty" following the tension with Thailand over the World Heritage listed Preah Vihear temple since 2008, the pro-government newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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Secret training video for Thai security force: How to recognize the MIB "Men In Black"

In case the Thai security force does not know what the MIB look like, here is a secret training video for them:

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Cambodia rejects Thai information on plan by Cambodian "MIB (Man In Black)" of Viet origin to assassinate Thai PM

Club of MIB (Men In Black)?

18 Sept 2010
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy

A high-ranking Cambodian official categorically denied information published by a group of Thai officials indicating that there are men in black trained in Cambodia to create turmoil in Bangkok. This alleged group of men is composed of Cambodians fighters of Vietnamese origin who are classified as “Dac Cong” or the group of cross border suicide attackers from Cambodia traveling to Bangkok to attempt to assassinate Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai PM.

On 17 September 2010, Tith Sothea, a government advisor and mouthpiece of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PQRU) of the Council of Ministers, considered this news as baseless fabrication which Thai officials use in an attempt to link unrest in Thailand to Cambodia.

Tith Sothea added that there is no reason for Cambodia to provide training ground to oppose other countries and Cambodia does not hide any force inside its territories with the aim of conducting assassination attempt on the Thai PM as claimed by this group of Thai officials. Furthermore, due to this baseless accusation leveled by the Thai officials, Cambodia must demand that the Thai government brings out an urgent correction to this issue because it could affect the planned meeting between the PMs from the two countries during the US-ASEAN meeting which will be held on 24 September 2010 in the US.

Nevertheless, Tith Sothea pointed out that Cambodia never authorized any foreign military presence on its territories, nor does it allow any Cambodian military bases overseas with the exception of peacekeeping missions requested by the UN. However, Cambodia still reserves the right to accept military aid and training in order to protect its territorial integrity.

Tith Sothea’s reaction came immediately Panitan Wattanayagorn, the deputy secretary of the Thai PM cabinet, said on Thursday that there is a group of men reportedly living in a building near Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house and who are being closely watched by the Thai police.

At the same time, Suthep Thaugsuban, the Thai deputy-PM, also said that these men could be linked to the “men in black” behind the April 10 clashes in Bangkok.

Click here to read The Nation’s report on this issue of “Men In Black”

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[Thai] Security tightened over rumours of assassination plots [on Abishit by assasins trained in Cambodia]

September 17, 2010
The Nation

A group of men, reportedly living in a condominium near the prime minister's home, are being watched closely, deputy secretarygeneral to the PM Panitan Wattanayagorn said yesterday. Meanwhile, Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, suggested that these men might be linked to the "men in black" behind the April 10 clashes.

Police are also keeping a close eye on a weapons expert from Cambodia, who might instigate violence during the redshirt rally on Sunday.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Santhan Chayanont had previously claimed that a group of "men in black", trained for combat in Cambodia, were staking out Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's residence from a condominium nearby. This has prompted the beefing up of security for the PM as well as 50 VIPs, as police monitor people coming in and out of highrises, he said.

While telling the public not to panic, Panitan said yesterday that the police had been watching the PM's house for a few months now and noticed dubious men taking turns entering a condominium nearby. However, the police have not taken any action because the men had not done anything wrong so far. Also, they have not checked the condominium because it is private property, he said.

Admitting that reports claim this group was comprised of "experts" reportedly preparing for something, he said whether or not they are successful would depend wholly on security measures taken. However, he wouldn't say if there were any plans to relocate Abhisit.

Meanwhile, Abhisit said yesterday that he was being careful but added he was not that worried about being "watched" by the so-called "men in black". He said such reports came up occasionally, but the police provided him with good security.

In related news, Suthep told the press yesterday that Bangkok police was ready for the red shirt rally from Friday to Sunday, adding protesters were not allowed to block roads or use amplifiers.

Asked whether VIPs, including Abhisit and Suthep himself, should be moving to safe houses amid rumours of assassination plans, the deputy PM said there was no need.

As for the "men in black", he said, they first emerged on the night of April 10 and became known as an armed group that killed the general public and officials. He said that though the media called this group that allegedly carried out terrorist attacks and plotted assassinations the "men in black", nobody knew what colour they were wearing this time.

He added that following claims of there being plots to assassinate the PM, he had told security officials to check the neighbourhood for spots where the attacks might be launched. However, he said the officials must have moved so loudly that the suspects have already fled.

Meanwhile, former deputy permanent secretary for Defence, Admiral Bannawit Kengrien said he too had heard about the so-called assassination plot and that a large number of Cambodian warriors of Vietnamese descent, who had undergone military training and were great snipers, had been brought in to do the job.

He said this was in line with news about the chaos that is expected to bubble up by the end of this month. However, Bannawit said he didn't think this rumour had anything to do with the socalled "men in black" renting a condominium near Abhisit's home because these imported warriors keep moving around to avoid detection.

"Although I often criticise this government, I must warn the premier about the reports of an assassination plot against him. If he were harmed, the country's image would be ruined," he said.

Bannawit also said he did not know if former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was linked to this plot and that it was the government's job to investigate.

Meanwhile, emergency police chief Pol Maj General Thanapol Sonthes said reports about "men in black" plotting the assassination of VIPs had been filed since April, when the red shirts were rallying at the Rajprasong intersection. He added that all VIPs, especially the premier, were being provided with maximum security. He said a "trainer" from Cambodia was keeping a low profile in Thailand but the police knew his name and whereabouts, and were keeping an eye on him.

A team of 450 police officers had been given the job of guarding the upcoming rally, and initial investigation has not revealed any signs of the protest being prolonged or becoming violent, Metropolitan Police Area 5 chief Pol MajGeneral Anuchai Lekbumrung said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul yesterday presided over the launch of the "citizens' watch for danger" campaign, which runs until Monday. The campaign urges Bangkok residents to keep an eye out for signs of crime, terrorism and other disasters, and is handing out handbooks at Pathum Wan intersection as well as at Siam and National Stadium Skytrain stations.

Theerachon said city officials were also working with police to guard 40 key locations, especially VIP residences as well as subway and Skytrain stations.

Corrections Department chief Chatchai Suthiklom said yesterday that he had notified the directors of some 100 prisons nationwide to be on alert because from 10am today, the red shirts were going to lay roses in front of prisons holding their comrades. "Though we believe that there will be no violence, we have to be prepared," he said.

Currently, 252 redshirt protesters are being detained in 17 prisons across the country, Chatchai said.

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Forum "From Victims to Witness'' Offers Opportunity to Cambodian-Americans in Lowell, Massachusetts

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[Khmer] Temples of delight in Thailand

Wat's up? ... Buddhist monks outside the main shrine at the Khmer temple at Phimai, Thailand. Photograph: Getty
Making a splash … Tok Haew Narok waterfall. Photograph: Alamy

There are no full moon parties in Isaan, perhaps Thailands' least touristy region. Instead you'll find sleepy villages, Khmer architecture, and a boutique hotel right on the Mekong

Saturday 18 September 2010
Chris Coplans
The Guardian (UK)

After hacking through undergrowth for a couple of hours, we emerged sweaty, muddy and bedraggled at the 25m-high Tok Haew Narok falls, which (please excuse yet another reference to The Beach in a Thailand article) are the ones Leonardo DiCaprio leapt from in the film. We scrambled down to swim in the turquoise pool below it.

My guide – called Apple – and I were following a challenging 8km trail through the Khao Yai national park, a huge tract of monsoon forest and a Unesco world heritage site two hours north of Bangkok. On the western edge of the Isaan region, it is home to tigers, bears, leopards, deer, gibbons, hornbills and elephants.

The Isaan region covers a huge swathe of north-east Thailand stretching to the Mekong river, Laos and Cambodia. It is the country's least visited area – as close to the "old Thailand" as you can get, and a welcome change from the tour group- and backpacker-choked northern destinations of Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle.

Boutique hotels are few and far between, a steaming broth of noodle soup replaces the banana pancake breakfast, and pedicabs rather than taxis or tuk-tuks are the main mode of transport. I encountered sleepy, small rural towns that depend on farming, not tourism, despite the fact that this area is not only a stunning natural wilderness, but also full of fantastic Khmer temples.

Just like those in Cambodia (including Angkor Wat), the 182 Khmer sites in Isaan were built by the God Kings of Angkor, who at the height of their supremacy, from the ninth to the 13th century, extended their empire into Burma. Many of the finest examples of Khmer architecture are to be found on Issan's Khorat Plateau, clustered around Buriram, Surin and Khorat provinces. I explored many of them and, more often than not, I had them pretty much to myself.

The jewel in the crown was undoubtedly Phimai, 60 miles north-east of Khorat, less than three hours from Bangkok. The temple complex is right in the heart of the otherwise humdrum little town of Phimai, and entering it is like walking into a secret, mythical garden. The whole complex is dominated by an exquisite prang (tower), the iconic corn-on-the-cob-like Khmer structure – in fact, some claim that Angkor Wat was modelled on Phimai.

Apple and I sat, cocooned in a soporific tropical haze, transfixed, as the sandstone of the temple absorbed the last rays of the weakening sun, and were joined by a group of novice monks in saffron robes, who imparted spiritual wisdom about Lampard and Rooney.

The next morning we were up at dawn for a two-hour drive east across the flat, dusty landscape of the Khorat Plateau to another great Thai Khmer monument, Phanom Rung. Although Isaan is a vast region, distances between the Khmer temples are short, and all the main sites can be seen in a couple of days.

Phanom Rung is perched atop an extinct volcano, with panoramic views of the surrounding plain, and I climbed up steps worn down by centuries of visiting Buddhist pilgrims to a promenade overlooking the exquisite sandstone tower of the main temple, with its labyrinth of hidden chambers.

A few miles on was the Meuang Tam complex, based on the design of Angkor Wat, but with four L-shaped ponds covered with colourful lotus flowers.

I ventured east next, towards the Mekong valley, into rural landscapes full of paddy fields broken up by palm trees – Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter and much of the crop is grown in Isaan.

Isaan hot is a different kettle of spice from regular Thai hot as I found out when I ordered larb moo (minced pork salad) in a small roadside restaurant.

Several hours later we had made it to Khong Jiam, a somnolent river town, beautifully located on a peninsula where the blue waters of the river Mun are overwhelmed by the bubbling chocolate that is the Mekong. After staying in many basic rural lodges during our journey, I was overjoyed to find a boutique hotel here, the Tohsang Khong Jiam, right on the bank of the Mekong, with enchanting views of the mountains of Laos on the other side.

Leaving Kong Jiam to head back to Bangkok, we stumbled upon Wat Tham Khuha Sawan, which overlooks the town and the river. In complete contrast to the bewitching Khmer temples, this modern temple, built in 1978, has a surreal theme park feel to it, with a mish-mash of flamboyant architectural styles. A huge elephant protects the Buddha images below, and the main stupa's golden spires wink conspiratorially in the dazzling light. There is a dreamlike bell tower, topped with fierce nagas (mythical serpent deities) and golden spires. In Isaan, always prepare for the unexpected.

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Thailand, Cambodia look beyond Thaksin

(Photo: Reuters)

Sep 18, 2010
By James O'Toole
Asia Times Online

PHNOM PENH - Former Thai premier and fugitive from justice Thaksin Shinawatra's arrival on his private jet in Phnom Penh last year was broadcast live on local television, the climax of weeks of diplomatic intrigue that brought relations between Thailand and Cambodia to their lowest point in years.

Arriving nominally as an economics adviser to the Cambodian government, the ousted leader served mainly as a pawn in a spat between Bangkok and Phnom Penh that saw the countries withdraw their respective ambassadors and engage in an unflattering war of words over the next several months.

The abrupt announcement of Thaksin's "resignation" from his post last month has been cause for rapprochement, with ambassadors returned to their posts and a meeting scheduled between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva in New York next week.

Yet for all the pomp attached to Thaksin's comings and goings, the current rapprochement between Thailand and Cambodia can only steal the spotlight for so long from their more fundamental disagreement over their shared border. Ironically, Thaksin's advisory appointment caused significant economic harm for Cambodia.

In retaliation, Bangkok tore up a 2001 memorandum of understanding on joint development of a 26,000 square kilometer area in the Gulf of Thailand thought to contain significant oil and gas reserves. Cambodia's exports to Thailand plunged 50% year-on-year in the first six months of 2010, while many Thai investors have likely been dissuaded from investing in Cambodia in view of the acrimony between the countries.

Politically, though, Thaksin provided Hun Sen with a chance to ratchet up tensions with a traditional enemy and intensify his border rhetoric to a rather outlandish extent. "Do you dare to swear on magic that could break your neck, on a plane crash or a dissolution of the countries, that your soldiers did not invade Cambodia's territory?" Hun Sen said in a speech last year, apparently addressing Abhisit.

Tension over the border erupted in 2008 after the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site for Cambodia, as both sides laid claim to a 4.6-square-kilometer patch of land adjacent to the temple. The issue flared up again last month after a meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage committee in which Cambodia submitted management plans for the temple.

The countries are in the process of demarcating their border, but talks have been stalled since last year pending approval of the latest round of negotiations in the Thai parliament. Abhisit and his Democrat party-led government are under intense pressure from hardline elements of the nationalist "yellow shirt" movement not to give any ground in the territorial dispute, and a vote in the Thai parliament to approve the latest negotiations was again postponed last month, to the ire of Cambodian leaders.

Cambodia has been pressing aggressively to bring attention to the dispute, appealing to both the United Nations and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for assistance. ASEAN assistance was required, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said, to help avoid "large-scale armed conflict" along a frontier in which at least seven soldiers have been killed in periodic skirmishes since 2008.

These appeals have irked Thai officials, who have repeatedly stated their opposition to border talks in any forum but a bilateral one. The move to cut ties with Thaksin may be the latest element of Cambodia's border strategy, said Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.

"It gives Cambodia the upper hand when the Thaksin issue has been played out," Ou Virak said, with the move allowing Phnom Penh to "separate the Preah Vihear conflict or tension from other kinds of issues".

Amid its diplomatic maneuvering, Cambodia is also bidding very publicly to upgrade its military capabilities at the border. This week, the government announced the purchase of dozens of T55 tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Meanwhile, in a bizarre bit of corporate charity that has drawn condemnation from rights groups, a local television station is collecting donations to help build reinforced concrete bunkers for combat troops at the border.

Carlyle Thayer, a professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy, said these efforts were largely "grandstanding" for the benefit of a domestic audience. "You can't take it at face value - there's no way that Cambodia is ever going to acquire the military power to take on Thailand in a conventional military conflict," Thayer said.

He said the militarization that Hun Sen has been pushing in relation to the border may be an effort to consolidate his support in the military, an institution that is the only conceivable counterweight to his near-absolute power. "It keeps the military on his side if you talk about an external threat or their importance," Thayer said.

For Thailand, the border dispute with Cambodia remains a key issue in a domestic political crisis that shows no sign of being resolved any time soon.

"The real reason that the border issue is a problem is not because Cambodia has these claims - the real reason the border issue is a problem is that the yellows accuse the reds [Thaksin supporters] of giving away a national asset," said Michael Montesano, a visiting fellow at Singapore's Institute for Southeast Asian Studies.
"The government doesn't want to have to deal with large-scale yellow-shirt demonstrations, and the lives of people in the government can be made very difficult and the lives of their families can be made very difficult if they are seen as somehow stepping back from the yellow cause."

Signs do, for the moment, point to a warming of relations. With the return of their ambassadors - absent for more than nine months - Cambodia and Thailand have now resumed full diplomatic ties, and Abhisit and Hun Sen are scheduled to meet again in October following their meeting in New York next week.

Montesano said Thaksin's "resignation" had in fact likely been brokered in secret talks between the two governments, with Bangkok perhaps hoping to get closer to apprehending red-shirt leaders known to be hiding out in Cambodia after the May 19 military crackdown on protests in Bangkok.

In a surprise move in early July, Cambodian authorities apprehended two Thais believed to be red-shirt supporters and suspected of involvement in a bomb attack on the headquarters of Bhum Jai Thai, the second-largest party in Abhisit's ruling coalition. Phnom Penh handed over the suspects to Thai authorities without a formal extradition request from Bangkok.

"This is to show the willingness of the government in fighting terrorism," Koy Kuong, Cambodia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said after their arrests.

At the very least, Thaksin's departure has given Hun Sen and Abhisit the political cover to hold talks on economic issues and other obvious common interests. The border dispute continues to loom large in their relationship, however, and for the moment, appears indifferent to external developments.

Just one day after Thaksin's resignation was announced, the Cambodian government's Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PQRU) issued a statement accusing Abhisit of becoming "an accomplice and a sponsor of criminal-prone activity" by the yellow shirts.

"Once again, the [PQRU] urges Thai political figures to put an end to the malicious campaign of innuendo, suggestion and speculation to fault Cambodia by raising the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear," the statement read.

James O'Toole is a Phnom Penh-based journalist.

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A touch of silk and French couture in Phnom Penh

via CAAI

By EILEEN PAAT
09/15/2010

Visitors to Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Penh, will notice an abundance of boutiques -- some quite high-end -- specializing in silk products these days. Many are found along the streets catering to expats and foreign tourists near the Sisowath Quay area, overlooking the Tonle Sap River.

At the time of my visit to Romyda Keth's Atelier Ambre in Phnom Penh, the famed designer was out on holiday in France. A young lady dressed in black greeted me at the door and escorted me up the winding spiral staircase into the second floor atelier. Ambre's boutique manager, a French-Vietnamese named Sybille, showed me around.

“This season, Romyda has a lot of this kind of design," she gestures towards a violet dress. It had straps of fabric on the bodice criss-crossing each other. “She produces several designs every month, which is why she chose Phnom Penh to be her base. Here, she can focus on her passion for the creative arts," said Sybille.

In Manila, Romyda Keth has a boutique at G/F Vernida 1 Bldg., Amorsolo St. in Makati. The label is also marketed in Tokyo, Singapore, Mexico, and Chile.

The display area of Atelier Ambre is divided into several rooms, with a very high ceiling supported by large beams. Each room features dresses and accessories such as beaded necklaces and specially designed bags, shoes, and belts. The delicate and intricate embroideries are done in-house.

For this season, which follows the spring-summer collection of 2010, the dominant colors are navy blue, violet, fuschia, red, and white. Accessories are also arranged according to the color theme of each room. But at the same time, Sybille says Romyda doesn't go by the season. She creates as many designs as she wants, no matter the season or trend.

As an avid buyer of silk shawls, bags, and all kinds of trinkets, I try to pick up at least one item of silk in every city or country I go to, and Phnom Penh is no exception. The quality of the silk here is as good as the silk cottage industries of Thailand, sometimes even better.

During my latest trip, I sought out how the local silk industry, particularly Cambodian designers, have fared in promoting their silk creations within the country and the rest of the world.

When a French couturier comes to town

Romyda Keth's Atelier Ambre in Phnom Penh

When the French-Cambodian designer Romyda Keth came into town in 1994, Phnom Penh was just beginning to open up to the outside world. She had lived in Paris for most of her adult life, and after her studies at the Paris School of Fine Arts, she joined her medical doctor-husband in Phnom Penh.

The backwater town was a strange base for starting a boutique specializing in Western design and fashion, but Romyda did the unthinkable -- set up shop in a traditional two-storey French colonial mansion in the heart of the upmarket district, Street 178, just a stone's throw away from the fashionable and exciting nightlife of Sisowath Quay.

My first acquaintance with Romyda's creations was in a three-storey boutique called Gaya in Saigon's District 1, the place where most hip and fashionable people usually go in Vietnam. Gaya sold the latest avant garde household and furniture products, but it also had a section featuring the works of Saigon's up-and-coming designers.

That was where I found Romyda's silk dress. It was made of Khmer silk – soft, slightly shiny, and smooth to the touch. Sparsely embroidered with multi-colored beads at the skirt's hem, it was a simple design with the right accents in the right place, but very chic! I vowed to someday find the designer's atelier.

Understated chic

The Red Room at Ambre Boutique.

At the time of my visit to Romyda Keth's Atelier Ambre in Phnom Penh, the famed designer was out on holiday in France. A young lady dressed in black greeted me at the door and escorted me up the winding spiral staircase into the second floor atelier. Ambre's boutique manager, a French-Vietnamese named Sybille, showed me around.

“This season, Romyda has a lot of this kind of design," she gestures towards a violet dress. It had straps of fabric on the bodice criss-crossing each other. “She produces several designs every month, which is why she chose Phnom Penh to be her base. Here, she can focus on her passion for the creative arts," said Sybille.

In Manila, Romyda Keth has a boutique at G/F Vernida 1 Bldg., Amorsolo St. in Makati. The label is also marketed in Tokyo, Singapore, Mexico, and Chile.

The display area of Atelier Ambre is divided into several rooms, with a very high ceiling supported by large beams. Each room features dresses and accessories such as beaded necklaces and specially designed bags, shoes, and belts. The delicate and intricate embroideries are done in-house.

For this season, which follows the spring-summer collection of 2010, the dominant colors are navy blue, violet, fuschia, red, and white. Accessories are also arranged according to the color theme of each room. But at the same time, Sybille says Romyda doesn't go by the season. She creates as many designs as she wants, no matter the season or trend.

Ambre's spring-summer collection of 2010 features royal blue dresses with matching beads.

While we chatted, several models were looking over the current collection and having a fitting. A mature large-framed foreigner also arrived for the first fitting of two brightly-colored dresses, which fit perfectly around her tall frame. This is the magic of Romyda's silk creations. Even with the straps across the bodice, and the sequins and embroideries, a perfectly tailored outfit makes you look svelte and feeling regal and confident as a queen!

Romyda's fashion creations are usually made for the active and curvy woman who is confident of herself and her femininity, says Sybille. Her designs are unique and fit all ages -- from a youthful 25-year old to a 65-year old lady.

Sybille ushers me into the Bridal Room, and explains that for the astounding dresses, silk is the fabric of choice. “We keep the samples of the bridal couture creations here," said Sybille. The cream-colored room was like a fairyland, with racks and racks of exquisite silk and tulle wedding dresses on display.

About 50% of the current collection uses Khmer silk, which is personally selected and sourced by Romyda and her staff from local silk manufacturers, says Sybille. Sourcing out the silk is not a problem, as Cambodia has a long tradition of silk-making, she adds. However, marketing is still a big question, as the country does not have the capacity to mass-produce high quality silk products for international consumption.

At the Bridal Room, astounding wedding dresses are made of exquisite silk.

Silk on Street 178

Still, I thought the quality of the silk products I saw in the little silk boutiques along Street 178 already shows a certain sophistication in design and the quality of silk.

For the budget-conscious, one of my favorite little stores is Ta Phrom, a hole-in-the wall boutique selling silk bags, shawls, fabrics, shoes, and other items. The owner, Sam Oeurn Ouk, worked with an NGO before he started his boutique in 2004. Prices are okay – from US$5 to $10 for silk scarves to only US$6 for a little violet bag.

One common characteristic of the small boutiques on what is known as the street of silk products is that most of the beautiful silk creations seem to come from only one source – or perhaps, from the same village. Even Kravan House, another silk boutique that churns out exquisite silk handbags and supplies small entrepreneurs in the Philippines, have pieces that are available in another boutique just a few buildings away.

So while I would agree with Sybille that Phnom Penh has its own silk heritage and produces some of the best silks in the Indochina region, it still has to get its act together to produce high quality and unique designs that are unparalleled in the region. – YA, GMANews.TV

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Protocol misstep or fervent display of subservience to Hanoi?

During the current visit of India's President Patibha Devisinh Patil to Cambodia, a large billboard in Phnom Penh proclaims the friendship between the two countries. As the protocol dictates, the sign bears the message in Khmer first, followed by the same message in another language below the Khmer message. Although, a Hindi message should be used, here, an English message is displayed instead.

HOWEVER...
What enrages Cambodians the most is the fact that, when Viet President Nguyen Minh Triet visited Cambodia earlier this year, the same billboard displayed the message in Vietnamese first above the Cambodian message. It is unclear if this was an honest mistake or a message of subservience to Hanoi, the benefactor of the CPP ruling party.

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Landless - A SBS Dateline program by David O'Shea

Part 1 of 2


Part 2 of 2

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Vietnam and Cambodia strengthen defence co-operation [-Another marching order from Hanoi?]

Vietcong general Nguyen Chi Vinh

09/13/2010
VOV News (Hanoi)

A delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence has paid a two day visit to Cambodia to discuss measures to boost bilateral security and defence co-operation.

The delegation led by its Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh also discussed preparations for the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting with its partners (ADMM+).

During their stay in Cambodia, the delegation held talks with General Neang Phat, Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Defence on September 13. Mr Phat praised Vietnam’s role as ASEAN president and affirmed that Cambodia will work closely with Vietnam to organise the ADMM+ in Hanoi on October 12.

Lieutenant general Vinh applauded Cambodia’s role at the ADMM+ and said the meeting was a measures to boost security and defence co-operation between the two countries. He also emphasised that ADMM-4 in May, 2010 completed a legal framework for ASEAN to expand security and defence co-operation.

On the same day, Mr Vinh met with Prime Minister Hun Sen and Minister of Defence, General Tea Banh.

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[Indian] President arrives in Phnom Penh

President Pratibha Patil being welcomed on her arrival at Phnom Penh airport in Cambodia on Monday. (PTI)

Phnom Penh, September 13, 2010
Parvathi Menon
The Hindu

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil arrived in Phnom Penh on Monday afternoon from Vientiane on a four day visit to Cambodia that will also include two days in Siem Reap where the historic Angkor Wat complex is situated. She was received by Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Kong Som Ol at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

During her stay in Phnom Penh, the President will meet the King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen, President of the Senate Chea Sim, and President of the National Assembly, Heng Samrin.

Two agreements are expected to be signed between the two countries, with ties in investment and business to be concretised at an India-Cambodia business meeting that the President will be addressing on 15 September.

Quite apart from the early historical ties between the two countries that pre-dates the Angkorian period, India has played an important part in Cambodia's recent history. In the 1950s India was associated with the International Control Commission on Indo-China. After the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, when Cambodia was isolated diplomatically, India was the first non-communist country to recognise the Heng Samrin government and to open a mission in Phnom Penh in 1980. India was also associated with the Paris Peace Accord that was finalised in 1991, and India provided military and non-military personnel for the conduct of the elections held in 1993 under the supervision of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. The Archaeological Survey of India has undertaken extensive conservation of the Angkor Wat complex between 1986 and 1993, and has been since 2004 engaged in restoration work on Ta Prohm, one of the major temples of the Angkor complex.

Cambodia is currently the country coordinator for India in the ASEAN. The main platform for cooperation between the two countries is the India-Cambodia Joint Commission of Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The total bilateral trade between India and Cambodia was US$ 49.61 million in 2008-09.

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Meetings to settle the Preah Vihear dispute seem to be going nowhere

Diplomacy runs into its critics

13/09/2010
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

Diplomacy and the minimising of conflicts is based on negotiation and recognised agreements, but recent gatherings have shown that this is not always apparent to those directly affected.

A case in point surrounds the ancient Hindu Khmer temple of Preah Vihear on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has been at pains to develop a better understanding of what the country is doing since the border conflict with Cambodia erupted two years ago as a result of the dispute over the overlapping area near Preah Vihear.

A series of meetings has been organised over the past year in provinces such as Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Surin and Si Sa Ket. The highlights have been the meetings in Si Sa Ket, which is the province affected most by the spat between the two countries.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry's Legal and Treaties Affairs and East Asia departments have held two forums in the province, one last year at Rajabhat University in Muang district and the second last Tuesday at the district hall in Kantharalak district.

Most of the participants at the first meeting were students and people hand-picked by provincial authorities, but the forum last week attracted about 500 people from a variety of groups including students, local people, business operators and government officers.

Ministry staff used the meeting to explain Thailand's efforts to resolve the dispute with Cambodia under a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in 2000.

The memo forms the main framework for negotiations. It calls for the two countries to jointly survey the area, prepare maps and negotiate the demarcation of all overlapping land areas. Other documents used for talks include the agreements Thailand signed with colonial-era France.

The ministry staff's efforts were greeted with the waving of banners in the meeting room reading "Boring" and "Don't understand".

The officials were berated by participants when the floor was opened for questions. Members of the public demanded the government scrap the memo, the Joint Boundary Commission and a controversial map with a 1:200,000 scale used for land demarcation on the grounds that these favoured Cambodia. Many local people said they considered the disputed area around the temple to be part of Thailand and wondered why they could not conduct business or stay there while the Cambodians had been granted access.

Developments in the area indicated that Thailand had ceded the territory to Cambodia, they said. They called on government forces to be more patriotic by forcing the Cambodians from the disputed area.

Thailand claims the disputed area of 4.6 square kilometres is part of Kantharalak district. Cambodia says it is in its Preah Vihear province.

A provincial official identified a problem which undermined the goal of the meeting. He said the ministry's explanations were too complicated for laymen to understand. There was too much legal jargon.

The meeting went on for more than two hours but the members of the public present wanted it extended so they had more time to ask questions.

East Asia Department deputy director-general Paskorn Siriyaphan said afterwards the forum was not a waste of time and money for the organisers.

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Garment factory workers strike on 13 Sept 2010

Cambodian garment workers participate in a strike to demand a raise in their monthly salary from US $61 to $93 in front of a factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
A Cambodian garment worker speaks on a loud speaker as she leads a strike in front of a factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. Hundreds of Cambodian garment workers Monday held a strike to demand their monthly salary raise to US 93 dollars from the current $61. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian garment workers hold a strike to demand a raise in their monthly salary from US $61 to $93, in front of a factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Chhun Vy stands next to her colleague during a strike at the Chinese-owned Pine Great Cambodia Garment Co. Ltd. in Phnom Penh September 13, 2010. Cambodian labour activist Moeun Tola blames the Gap Inc, Nike Inc and other big Western brands for sinking Cambodian workers in low wages. Moeun Tola and thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a five-day walkout on Monday to demand better wages and benefits, a sign recent labour unrest in China may be spreading to factories elsewhere in Asia that supply the world with low-cost goods. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Ath Thun, president of Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union, speaks near a sign that reads "Solidarity for our wages" during a strike at the Chinese-owned Chung Fai Knitwear Fty. Ltd. in Phnom Penh September 13, 2010. Cambodian labour activist Moeun Tola blames the Gap Inc, Nike Inc and other big Western brands for sinking Cambodian workers in low wages. Moeun Tola and thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a five-day walkout on Monday to demand better wages and benefits, a sign recent labour unrest in China may be spreading to factories elsewhere in Asia that supply the world with low-cost goods. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Workers listen to their leader speak during a strike at the Chinese-owned Pine Great Cambodia Garment Co. Ltd. in Phnom Penh September 13, 2010. Cambodian labour activist Moeun Tola blames the Gap Inc, Nike Inc and other big Western brands for sinking Cambodian workers in low wages. Moeun Tola and thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a five-day walkout on Monday to demand better wages and benefits, a sign recent labour unrest in China may be spreading to factories elsewhere in Asia that supply the world with low-cost goods. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Ean Vichara (R) stands with her colleagues Hun Try (C) and Pov Nub during a strike at the Chinese-owned Pine Great Cambodia Garment Co. Ltd. in Phnom Penh September 13, 2010. Cambodian labour activist Moeun Tola blames the Gap Inc, Nike Inc and other big Western brands for sinking Cambodian workers in low wages. Moeun Tola and thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a five-day walkout on Monday to demand better wages and benefits, a sign recent labour unrest in China may be spreading to factories elsewhere in Asia that supply the world with low-cost goods. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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Cambodia garment workers begin big strike over pay

Cambodian workers are seen on strike outside a garment factory in Phnom Penh

Monday, September 13, 2010
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Tens of thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a week-long strike Monday -- the latest mass walkout by employees in Asia who are demanding a bigger share of the region's economic success.

About 60,000 workers seeking higher wages joined the action at more than 40 factories, out of a total of about 470 across the country, said Ath Thun, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation.

"We will continue the strike until there is an appropriate negotiation," he told AFP.

From Bangladesh to China, workers in several Asian countries have staged walkouts in recent months as they seek better job conditions.

Cambodia's garment industry -- which produces items for renowned brands including Gap, Benetton, Adidas and Puma -- is a key source of foreign income for the country and employs about 345,000 workers.

The strike follows a deal between the government and industry that set the minimum wage for garment and footwear staff at 61 dollars a month.

Unions say the salary is not enough to cover food, housing and travel expenses, and want a base salary of 93 dollars.

They had hoped more than 80,000 workers would join the walkout. Ath Thun said threats by employers to fire strikers were partly to blame for the lower than expected participation.

Manufacturers have warned that the strike will result in a loss of production and a drop in orders from buyers, harming Cambodia's standing among investors.

"It will badly affect the reputation of the industry because the unions in question do not obey the law," Ken Loo, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers' Association in Cambodia (GMAC), told AFP last week.

Cambodia, where more than 30 percent of the country's 14 million people live on less than 50 US cents a day, relies on the garment industry as its largest source of income.

The industry was hit hard last year when the global economic crisis saw exports drop to 2.69 billion dollars, from 3.1 billion dollars in 2008.

But during the first seven months of this year, exports increased 13.4 percent to 1.63 billion dollars, according to Ministry of Commerce.

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A rare find [-Rare Khmer artefacts to return to Cambodia]

BODY OF WORK: Douglas Latchford, above, in his Bangkok apartment. Below, one of his rare Khmer items.


RED RAMPAGE: Tyres were set on fire right below Douglas Latchford’s Bangkok apartment.
PHOTOS: PORNPROM SATRABHAYA

He's a collector of ancient artefacts, and also has an interest in bodybuilding, but his passion is Khmer art

12/09/2010
Alan Parkhouse
Bangkok Post

Long-time Bangkok resident Douglas Latchford is already the biggest contributor to the National Museum of Cambodia, and now he's planning to donate more rare ancient Khmer artefacts. Mr Latchford has been collecting Khmer stone sculptures and works in bronze and gold for the past 54 years, and is not only one of the world's leading experts on Khmer artefacts, but also a generous donor to Cambodia's main museum.

He recently donated US$190,000 (about six million baht) to the museum to install new lighting.

"In June last year we had a presentation to the Phnom Penh museum and I collected $190,000 to change the lighting in the museum - it hadn't been changed since the 1940s," he said.

"There were wires hanging loose and there was no neon lighting. I collected the money from several donors and I gave some pieces to the museum, and deputy prime minister Sok An came and made a speech and gave me a Khmer title, Neak Okhna, a Royal title.

"The old lighting was just big florescent lights in the ceiling that didn't highlight any of the works there. Now there are spotlights and proper lighting so people can appreciate and see the finer features of the works on display."

Later this year, to coincide with a new book he is publishing on bronze Khmer sculptures, Mr Latchford plans to donate four more ancient pieces of Cambodia's history to the museum.

One of the items he plans to donate is extremely rare - a finely detailed boat prow made of bronze, which is the only one of its kind ever found.

"These things fitted over the pointed wooden bow of the boat, and this particular one is also depicted in the stone relief on the south wall of the Bayon temple," he said. "It's a beautiful piece and the only boat prow of its kind ever found. It will be among the items I hand over somewhere between October this year and January next year when my new book is finally ready to publish."

Mr Latchford's love affair with Khmer sculpture started 54 years ago, and it shows no sign of fading - in fact, it's as solid as some of the rare pieces in his extensive collection. During an interview in his lavishly decorated apartment in central Bangkok, the Thai and Khmer-speaking Englishman spoke of his long association with Asian art. However, his love affair with sculptures started far from Phnom Penh.

"I lived in south India from 1951 to 1954 and I had an affinity towards Indian sculpture. I was born in India and lived there until I was 12 and was sent to England to study. There, during the war, I was subjected to books like Jungle Book by Kipling, and I found deserted temples in the jungle fascinating.

"At that time I started to really admire Indian bronzes, particularly those from the Chola period - they range from the ninth to 13th century. I came to Thailand in 1955 and was introduced to a dealer here called Connie Mangskau, and she was probably the most reliable dealer in Southeast Asian art, particularly Khmer and Thai.

"And through Connie I met Jim Thompson, and we became quite friendly."

Jim Thompson is the legendary American resident of Thailand credited with starting the Thai silk industry. He went missing in 1967 in Malaysia, and his body was never found. His disappearance led to almost as many conspiracy theories as the JFK assassination. To this day, shops selling Thai silk bearing the Jim Thompson name are some of the must-visited tourist places in Thailand.

"Jim had been collecting primarily Thai art, and in the collection there were a few Khmer pieces. I asked him where they came from, and he said Korat, Ayutthaya and Lop Buri. He used to go around the shops in Bangkok in an area they then called Nakhon Kasem, or thieves market, in an old part of Bangkok near Yaowarat, and I started to go there and look.

"I became seriously interested in about 1957 when I met a Frenchman called Francois, who was an adviser to American heiress Doris Duke, and he showed me this female stone torso, minus head, arms and feet, about 24 inches high. It had an immediate effect on me that would change my life.

''I was smitten by it, and Francois told me about an identical one for sale in the thieves market, so I went around the next day and bought it. That was my first sculpture. That was in about 1957. I still have it, but it's at my place in london.

''These days I have about 50 to 60 pieces in total.''

For many, collecting ancient artifacts is a business, and at times a very profitable one, but not for Mr Latchford . He made his money many years ago working for an English firm's Bangkok branch.

''We sold pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, a bit of everything. I was the branch manager here in Bangkok, and that's what I started off doing. We were one of the first big foreign firms importing goods into this part of the world.

''The earliest big foreign companies here were Barrow Brown and the Borneo Company, then Anglo Thai started. I was sent here to be their assistant manager.

''The first place I lived in Bangkok was where the Australian Embassy now is. It was a three-storey apartment building belonging to a prince. I lived there for five years. There were two apartment buildings in Bangkok then _ the one I lived in where the Australian Embassy is now, and if you turned down Soi Suan Phlu there was another one just around the corner from Sathorn Road. The second one belonged to another prince.''

Mr Latchford now lives on Soi Chidlom in the heart of Bangkok on land he bought many years ago. ''When I first bought this block of land my Thai friends wanted to know why I bought property in a slum area,'' he said. ''They don't say that any more.''

The only drawback to living in the heart of the capital city happened earlier this year. ''The red shirts set up a big barricade of tyres on the bridge over the canal outside my place and parked a big truck in the middle of the road. They told my neighbours the truck was full of explosives.

''The day the army moved on them they set fire to the tyres and the truck, so my driver and chef grabbed a fire hose and went out and fought the fire. Then they came under fire from the red shirts, then the army troops started shooting back, so my guys had bullets going over their heads from in front of them and from behind them. They bravely stood their ground and put out the fires.''

Mr Latchford not only collects artworks, it seems he's also quite good at collecting passports.

''I took out Thai citizenship 36 years ago. My daughter and my bodybuilder chef talked to two priests some time back, independent of each other, and both of the priests indicated that in some previous life I was Khmer. It's strange _ one priest was in the south of Thailand and the other was in Surin, in the northeast.

''In June last year, before we had the presentation at the museum, I had some sweet people come up to my place and teach me Khmer for three months. This was so I could speak in Khmer at the ceremony. They came three times a week, and the speech was very good _ it lasted about five minutes and it was accepted by the minister of culture at the museum and by Sok An, the deputy prime minister.

''When I started speaking they looked kind of quizzical, but then they started nodding and laughing. After I gave the speech I said to Sok An that the two priests had said that I was previously Khmer, and I would like to be again. I told him I would like Khmer citizenship. And he's given it to me.

''After the speech Sok An got up out of his chair and came over, looked at me and shook hands, and said, 'you know, of course you can have Khmer citizenship'.''

Mr Latchford has been visiting Cambodia for many years, and has fond memories of his early journeys there.

''I went to Cambodia the first time in about 1961, to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and it was wonderful then. The Angkor complex then was completely void of tourists. We stayed at the Grand and Royal, but to get around the complex we had to take motorcycles. It was great fun and there were virtually no tourists at all.

''And in 1968 I went back with a group of two couples and we drove from Bangkok to Sisophon and then Siem Reap, and when we got there, there was a mix-up with the hotel and there was nowhere to stay. The Grand was not viable, but there was a little bungalow, or chalet, nearby that was owned by (King) Sihanouk.

''It was suggested that we go and ask if we could stay there as it was vacant, and we drove around there and there was just the guard, and we asked him if we could stay, and he said yes. So we ended up with three bedrooms and a swimming pool. That place has now been bought by the Amanpuri and it now has a new name and is $1,000 a day. The hotel there now is wonderful.''

When asked about the trade in stolen Khmer artefacts, Mr Latchford said the story had been blown out of proportion.

''Not true. As far as I know, going back before my time, some Khmer sculptures have come into Thailand, but that has nothing to do with the Khmer Rouge at all. The trade is not what the media has made it out to be. It is true that some pieces were stolen, but not necessarily from Angkor Wat.

''It is true that some of the temples there had pieces stolen, but it wasn't on a large scale.''

The Khmer Rouge had little time for or appreciation of art, according to Mr Latchford.

''During the Khmer Rouge days, I heard that the guy in charge of the museum just locked the doors and put sandbags in the doorway and left, and I don't believe it was touched. They emptied Phnom Penh in two days, so I guess there was hardly anybody there. ''There were reports that people had vandalised the museum from 1975-80, but when I went there after 1980 _ at the time the Vietnamese were controlling Phnom Penh _ and I went to the museum and everything was as it was. It was fine. I mean, it was a bit dusty and moldy, but nothing had been stolen and nothing had been damaged.''

One of the sprightly 80-something-year-old's biggest concerns these days is the amount of fake artefacts making their way on to markets. And as usual, he has done his research.

''There is a lot of fake stuff getting about. That's true. In fact, I inquired today where the fakes are being made in Cambodia. There are a lot of fakes coming through on a continual basis and I found out this morning that there are two main areas where pieces are being faked, around Siem Reap in umpur (district) Dong Bak and in Sisophon, in an area called umpur Sinopur.

''These are places where pieces are now being made in bronze and particularly stone. Only small amounts of bronzes, but the stone items are coming through in great quantity. You can see them in shops all around Bangkok. The quality of the workmanship is getting better.''

When asked if it's getting harder to pick the fakes, Mr Latchford replied with a smile: ''It depends on who is doing it. But they are getting better and nobody is infallible. To make stone appear to be old, they generally sand-blast it first to give it a weathered look. Then they will heat it _ I've seen this being done. They start a charcoal fire, then put the piece on a wire above the fire to dry it, to take all the moisture out if it.

''Then they immerse it in a bath of liquid, which contains chemicals, acid and colouring. The stone is dry so it will absorb the chemicals and colouring to give it that aged look. What you have to do is to take a very small chip of the stone from the base or somewhere it won't be noticed and test it, and if it contains chemicals and acid and colouring, it's a fake.''

The oldest Khmer piece Mr Latchford has is from the 7th century. ''I found it in New York in a private collection. I had been trying to get it for 20 years. They had it for six years before I got it. It is now in London.''

When asked where the piece originated from, Mr Latchford simply said: ''The ground. When I buy a piece, on principal I thoroughly research it. I have many reference books and I carefully search for any recorded photographs of a piece to see if has been displayed in a museum, a collection or recorded anywhere else. I certainly don't want to buy a piece that has been stolen or anything.

''Most of the pieces I have come across in the past years have been excavated, or dug up. You know, there is a farmer in the field who digs something up, and he probably thinks if I take it to Bangkok or Singapore or a middle man I can get $100 instead of getting $10.''

Although Bangkok has been his home for many years, the veteran of the art world is considering a move to Cambodia.

''You know, if I didn't live in Bangkok I would very much like to live in Cambodia. In fact, I thought of buying a piece of land in Siem Reap. A friend of mine has bought an old Khmer house in Siem Reap and done it up, and has now bought a second one. He visited me last month and I asked him if he'd consider selling me the first one. He said we can talk about it. They're all teak and very open, and beautiful. Phnom Penh is lovely too.''

Mr Latchford's big collection of artefacts is spread around several sites.

''I have some on loan to the Denver Museum and I have some in storage because there's nowhere to put it. I also have some in my London apartment, and I have some here, in Bangkok. But I collect not just Khmer, I collect Tibetan, Nepalese, Indian and Suvichai, which was a maritime state that existed in the 8th century, but there's no one capital of Suvichai as such.'' Suvichai art is found in Java and in Sumatra, Borneo, Cambodia and Thailand.

''They were a maritime state, so they just shipped from port to port. Some of their art is very beautiful.''

His dealings in the art world have led him to some interesting characters.

''I collect, but it's not a business. From time to time a better piece will become available, so I have to upgrade to get a better piece. (Tycoon John D.) Rockefeller did the same thing. I met him and I had a piece once that he'd seen a picture of and when I was in New York once he asked to see me.

''He asked me if I would consider an exchange, and I said 'no'. My piece was better.''

Mr Latchford now spends most of his time in Bangkok, but travels to London about three times every year. And he has a rather unusual interest for an art dealer. ''One of the things I do as a hobby is to help the Thai Bodybuilding Association. I've done that for about 5-6 years now.

''One of the Thais has been world champion three times now. We had the Asian Championships earlier this year in Iran and my chef, who looks after my diet, won the gold medal in his class.

''I was elected as president for Asia earlier this year. I am also the president of the Thai Bodybuilding Association.

''So now I run Southeast Asia and Asia. I'm a Thai citizen, so I am allowed by law to hold these positions.''

However, Mr Latchford is a heavyweight in his own right when it comes to Khmer art, and he's travelled the world to admire it.

''Khmer art is on display in many cities around the world _ in Australia, in Canberra, in England the British museum have maybe three or four pieces. The main collections are in New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles County and Pasadena. There is alot in America. And in France.''

And soon there will be more in the National Museum of Cambodia.

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