Posted on 2 June 2007.
The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 510
“Phnom Penh: Kampuchea Thmey has just received information through the web site of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] that they say Cambodia covers an area of 181,000 sq km only [the site gives the size for all member countries in ‘thousand sq. km’ units, for all 12 member countries it is given in the same way]. According to the figure of this web site, Cambodia loses 35 sq km. Where is this taken from?
“The official web site of the Royal Government of Cambodia defines that Cambodia covers an area of 181,035 sq km. Cambodian citizens know well that the size of Cambodia is 181,035 sq km.
“Reacting to this issue, Mr. Monh Saphan, a parliamentarian from Funcinpec, said that if the ASEAN web site really says so, the Royal Government must react urgently, especially the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation must ask for the web site to be corrected, because it affects the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
“Ms. Seng Theary, the Executive Director of the Center for Social Development, said ‘The state’s figure is more important and appropriate than figures of other organizations. Therefore, we should urge the government to check this issue. We also wonder from where ASEAN got this figure.’
“Ms. Seng Theary continued, ‘In general, information about the size of a county should be quoted from appropriate documents from a government.’
“Mr. Keo Remy, a parliamentarian from the Sam Rainsy Party, seriously blamed the web site of ASEAN for providing inappropriate information; if they do not know, they should not write, because what they write is launched to the whole world. Mr. Keo Remy said, ‘It is not known whether it is an unintentional mistake or something else. However, the government should take urgent action over this issue; especially the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications should close the web site. We known that Cambodia has border disputes with its neighbors, and Khmer citizens are paying attention on these issues. We cannot accept such incorrect points. The most important thing is that the government should close this web site.’
“Mr. Keo Remy stated, ‘The map of Cambodia is defined at a size of 181,035 sq km, and the international community also recognizes this figure.
“Ms. Pong Chiev Kek [Dr. Kek Galabru], the President of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, said that the wrong information about the size of Cambodia on the web site is really a mistake, so the government should pay attention and ask for the web site to be corrected. Ms. Pong Chiev Kek asked why ASEAN posted a wrong figure about the size of Cambodia on its web site like this.
“Ms. Pong Chiev Kek also suggested that the government should investigate this issue, otherwise a small problem might turn into a bigger issue. Mr. Va Kimhong, from the Committee for Solving Border disputes, did not make any comment over this issue. He told Kampuchea Thmey that he was busy with a meeting.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1355, 2.6.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 2 June 2007
Chakraval, Vol.15, #2685, 2.6.2007
Ministry of Interior Issues Statement Rejecting Report of Mr. Yash Ghai [Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia – report issued in March 2007, to be discussed on 12 June at the 5th meeting of the UN Human Rights Council meeting 11 - 18 June in Geneva, where a representative of the Cambodian government has the opportunity to publicly react in front of the international community]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1355, 2.6.2007
Web Site of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Says Cambodia Covers an Area of 181,000 Square Kilometers Only
Meeting between [Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior] Sar Kheng and [opposition party President] Sam Rainsy Postponed without New Date Set [because Sar Kheng is busy]
South Korean Man Arrested on Accusation of Using Fake Passport, after He Was Hiding in Cambodia for Four Years
Ten Thai Soldiers and Five Muslims Killed by Muslim Separatist Rebels in South
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6055, 2-3.6.2007
International Labor Organization: Labor Conditions in Garment Factories [in Cambodia] Continue Progressing
NGOs Set Up Phone Network to Help Child Victims [of domestic violence, rights violations, trafficking, sex exploitation, and labor exploitation – no phone number is given]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3174, 2-3.6.2007
Mr. Sam Rainsy: Global Witness Shows Evidence of Corruption that Hun Sen Condones; Relatives and Partisans of Strongman Are Involved in Forest Crimes with Hun Sen as Their Protection [Seng Kheang Company of Seng Kheang, former wife of Hun Sen’s cousin Hun Chouch, she is also Bun Rany Hun Sen’s friend, conducts illegal logging in Kompong Thom with Khun Thong, younger brother-in-law of Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture – some military generals are also reported to be involved in forest crimes]
Because of Corruption of Customs Officers and Tax Officials, About $90 Million of Tax Revenue Lost Every Year [according to Yim Sovann, Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarian from Phnom Penh]
Mr. Yash Ghai Still Considers Cambodia Has Serious Human Rights Violations
Municipality Plans to Order Removal of Memorial of Grenade Attack Victims Opposite National Assembly
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4300, 2.6.2007
Prince Thomico: There is Only One Way Towards Amnesty for Samdech Krom Preah [to bring Prince Ranariddh back into Funcinpec]
International Monetary Fund Asks Government about Corruption, Oil, and Reforms
Big Shareholder [Shin Satellite PCL] of 011 Phone Company Announces Sale of Shares in Cambodia and Laos [at $200 million – reason not mentioned]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #3051, 2.6.2007
Nhek Korsal Vithyea [Director of Camintel] Is Really Strong, He Commits Crimes, He Is Not Jailed, but He Even Frees His Subordinates [over alleged involvement in overseas phone gateway theft]
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #416, 2.6.2007
Kampuchea Krom Khmers [in Cambodia] to Mark 58th Anniversary [4 June 1949 – 4 June 2007] When France Gave Kampuchea Krom Land to Yuon [Vietnam]
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Thirty-five square kilometers, or 13.5135755 square miles, or 3,500 hectares or 8,648.68835 acres.

However you figure it, it's a sizeable chunk of land.

And it's missing from Cambodia on the website for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, a 10-member regional body of which Cambodia is a member.
In Cambodia ''(highlighted on map)'', border disputes are a sensitive topic. 
The apparent rounding down of Cambodia's territory, 181,035 square kilometers, on the ASEAN website, has some Cambodian lawmakers up in arms.

Parliamentarian Keo Remy, a member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, is calling for the ASEAN website to be blocked by Cambodia's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications if the number is not corrected.

"We know that Cambodia has border disputes with its neighbors, and Khmer citizens are paying attention on these issues. We cannot accept such incorrect points. The most important thing is that the government should close this web site," Keo was quoted as saying by the Khmer-language daily newspaper ''Kampuchea Thmey''.
 
Though Keo acknowledged the error could be an honest, if careless, mistake, he said it could mean something more sinister – that ASEAN is trying to undermine Cambodia's sovereignty, and that perhaps ASEAN is working for neighboring nations. It could even be treasonous, he said.

"If it was intentional and perpetrated by a Cambodian, this is treason. It is like not knowing your own parents," Keo was quoted as saying by Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

Other lawmakers also called on the Cambodian government to take action.

“The royal government must react urgently, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation," Monh Saphan, a Funcinpec parliamentarian was quoted as saying by ''Kampuchea Thmey''. "The website must be corrected, because it affects the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia."

And non-governmental organization leaders weighed in.

"The state’s figure is more important and appropriate than figures of other organizations. Therefore, we should urge the government to check this issue," Seng Theary, executive director of the Center for Social Development, told ''Kampucha Thmey''. "We also wonder where ASEAN got this figure."

Kek Galabru, president of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, said that incorrect figure is most likely a mistake, but said the government should investigate it. "Otherwise a small problem might turn into a bigger issue," she said. 

Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said he would investigate, and called for cooler heads in the meantime.

Border disputes are a hot-button political issue in Cambodia, which has some long-standing unresolved boundary conflicts with neighbors Thailand and Vietnam.

Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999, the last country to gain admittance  to the regional geo-political and economic body for Southeast Asia. It was founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Other members are Brunei, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.