Recasting The Map Of Cambodia

62ENG-Refonte MAP-18 JUN-2010

COMMUNIQUE

RECASTING THE MAP OF CAMBODIA

(Paris June 18, 2010)

Modern definition​​​​ of the Khmer Nation is quite similar to that of the Khmer people, in accordance with the traditional definition in the international law, within the context of the international relations and for the purpose and the principles of the United Nations. Cambodia must:

• Be a sovereign country (or a sovereign State) that has a defined territory and borders distinctive from it neighboring countries;
• Have a permanent population composed of a majority of people of Khmer origin;
• Have a Government that administers its own people.

The sovereignty of a State is defined by the competence, independence and legal equality of States. An important component of sovereignty has always been an adequate display of the authority of states to act over their territory to the exclusion of other states. In 1949 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) observed that "between independent States, respect for territorial sovereignty is an essential foundation of international relations."

As evidenced from history, the borders of individual country may have evolved, however these border changes must be completely subjected to the sovereignty of each concerned country.

The United Nations recognizes Cambodia as a legitimate member state. Therefore, Cambodia is a sovereign country like other nations members of the United Nations (UN). The Khmer Nation is covered by the provisions enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter which emphasize that all nations have legal equality status and the rights to self-determination. By virtue of that right, Khmer people can freely determine the fate of his own country. The concept is normally used to encompass all matters in which each state is permitted by international law to decide and act without intrusions from other sovereign states.

The Khmer Nation by this definition must have a genuine Khmer Government who serves the interest of its own Khmer people and must enjoy adequate rights to determine the borders of his own country with neighboring countries in a sovereign manner. The Khmer Government must be able to freely and independently decide the fate of Cambodia to ensure development and happiness for the Khmer People.

It is worth noted that Cambodia which descended from the Great Khmer Empire has seen its territory being gradually diminished due to three main events:

1. For the period up to 1863, the Khmer people controlled the destiny of his country in full sovereignty. Therefore the lost of Cambodia's territory due to wars should be entirely attributed to the responsibility of the Khmer people itself.
2. For the period between 1863 and 1953, the lost of Cambodia's territory were committed entirely to the responsibility of the French Protectorate.

After receiving independence from France in 1953, the Khmer Nation had suffered a great deal in the lost of a huge surface of its territory. The Khmer people has lost "Kampuchea Krom" (which is currently South Vietnam) and "Koh Trall Islands" which historically belong to and were part of the Khmer Nation before French Protectorate took control and colonized Cambodia and Vietnam. The State of Cambodia has never ever recognized or accepted the map determined by the French Colony on the border lines between Cambodia and Vietnam as accurate and correct. All Cambodian governments, after the Independence, have fiercely insisted on the facts that "Kampuchea Krom" and "Koh Trall Islands" have always exclusively been the property of the Khmer people. Cambodia has acknowledged the fact that France had returned to the Khmer Nation, only the remainder (leftover) of Cambodia's entire territory without "Kampuchea Krom" and "Koh Trall Islands", all of which was under French sole occupation. This violation of Cambodia's Territorial Integrity is the accountability and responsibility of France. The map of this remainder territory of Cambodia, drawn after Cambodia Independence, was produced on a unilateral decision by the French Protectorate using the scale of 1/100.000, and since then a copy of it is kept at the Office of the United Nations.

Since the invasion of Cambodia by Vietnam from 07 January 1979 to the present time, Cambodia no longer has efficient sovereignty in mastering and self-determining the destiny of its own country. The deprivation of its sovereignty is due to Cambodia has been pressured to submit itself to Vietnam. Consequently, the borders between Cambodia and Vietnam have been arbitrarily determined by Vietnam. Moreover, these newly demarcated boundaries were imposed unilaterally by Vietnam without involvement of KHMER people or the consent of the real KHMER Nation, as defined in the United Nations (UN) Charter.

In this context, "Khmer M'Chas Srok" solemnly declares that "we will not recognize the borders or the maps made by any third country whatsoever, whatever procedure used, which was manipulated by Cambodian Government who does not represent the genuine choice of the KHMER People who supposed to be elected through a free and fair election in accordance with article 21-3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations of December 10, 1948". The determination of the Cambodia's borders with its neighboring countries is "the fundamental rights of the KHMER people" as defined within the context of the United Nations" which no one can deviate from nor manipulate it.

Paris, June 18, 2010
President of Khmer M'Chas Srok
Dr. Sakhonn CHAK