Chinese reluctant to return

 
The vast majority of Chinese nationals who have fled to Cambodia from Vietnam since riots broke out in that country early last week are sticking it out here until it is safe to return, a Chinese Embassy official said yesterday, with immigration police estimating that at least 1,600 ethnic Chinese have now crossed the border.About 100 people fleeing the anti-China protests have returned to their home country on flights from Cambodia, Yang Qing Lian, head of the consular section at the embassy, said, though he added that figure was a rough estimate.

“Right now, I’ve got the information that some Chinese nationals, not too many, have returned to China already . . . but most Chinese people are staying in Cambodia to wait until the situation gets better in Vietnam. So most Chinese people will go back [to Vietnam],” he said.
Only 300 of those who fled to Cambodia have been in contact with the embassy, he continued, making it difficult for officials to keep track of the total group, most of whom are believed to be staying in Phnom Penh.Mam Yoy, deputy immigration police chief at the Bavet border checkpoint in Svay Rieng, said that more than 1,600 ethnic Chinese have crossed into Cambodia from Vietnam since Tuesday. Most are mainland Chinese, but about 100 are Taiwanese nationals, he said.
“But today, there were only about 30 Chinese coming across, so the situation has returned to normal,” Yoy said yesterday.

The government has welcomed the temporary guests, mostly businessmen worried for their safety, who began crossing the border after factories in Vietnam that rioters believed to be Chinese-owned were attacked last week.The riots were sparked by China’s decision to move an oil rig into an area of the South China Sea that both nations claim sovereignty over.On Friday, the Chinese Embassy sent a letter to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking the government to ensure the safety of those fleeing Vietnam.According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, more than 3,000 Chinese citizens had been evacuated from Vietnam as of Saturday. Two Chinese have been killed and more than 100 have been injured as a result of the protests, it reported.

Election sticks to script

 
Cambodia's subnational elections went off without a hitch yesterday, with the opposition’s improved performance in 2012’s commune elections translating into solid gains at the district, provincial and municipal levels – though a bit more modest than the party had predicted.
Yesterday’s vote was open only to the Kingdom’s roughly 11,000 commune councillors, and in spite of isolated cross-party voting, the results stuck closely to party lines, according to largely identical unofficial results released by the two parties.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party won a majority in two districts – one in Prey Veng and another in Kampong Cham province – and captured about 23 per cent of the seats up for grabs, a figure that represents significant gains on their previous position, and that was only a few points shy of the party’s share of seats at the commune level.
The CPP, however, maintained its grip on the lion’s share of positions, winning a total of 2,543 seats.
Though CNRP president Sam Rainsy had previously predicted his party would win in six districts, he nonetheless heralded yesterday’s results as a victory for “democratic forces”.
“It means that the democratic forces represented by [the CNRP] have our representatives in every district,” Rainsy said, trumpeting the unprecedented gain of council chief positions in two districts. “This is the first time that democracy has invaded into the structure of the state at the grassroots level, [and] that we have received the titles of district council presidents in a district in Prey Veng and a district in Kampong Cham province. It means that now the democratic forces can hold on against the ruling party.“[The CPP] cannot do whatever it wishes, and we will use our forces to bring democracy to the grassroots,” he added.Rainsy also mentioned taking steps to restart the stalled dialogue between his party and the CPP over the opposition’s ongoing boycott of parliament.
Longtime CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap confirmed yesterday that new discussions were in the works, but blamed the last breakdown in talks on a disagreement between Rainsy and CNRP Deputy President Kem Sokha, and suggested that the CNRP focus on internal unity before returning to the table.As for yesterday’s results, Yeap expressed little concern at the opposition’s gains.

Election officials supervise a woman as she votes yesterday at Yokunthor High School in Phnom Penh during the provincial elections. Heng Chivoan“We just received the general election results. Of the 197 districts and cities, the CPP has [won] 195. Two only [went] to the CNRP,” Yeap said.“I approve of this result,” he added.At Yokunthor High School in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district, the site of the largest polling station in the city, voting finished before 9am, and the counting – attended by a handful of observers and local councillors, most of them from the opposition – was a largely subdued affair. 

 

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said during a visit to the station that without universal suffrage, the election was “not important at all”, but nonetheless decried the government’s disruption of opposition campaign rallies in the lead-up and accused the CPP of trying to buy votes.
“Our members have been tried with phone calls for vote buying, but none of us have sold our conscience or fear any intimidation,” he said.The results at Yokunthor were mostly unsurprising.
At the district level, the vote split cleanly along party lines, with the CPP earning 75 votes to the CNRP’s 33. At the municipal level, however, the CNRP managed to pick up an extra vote, which became a cause for celebration among the opposition councillors still observing the proceedings.
Despite having still lost by 40 votes, one CNRP supporter crowed into a cellphone, “Thirty-four! Thirty-four!”

Iv Thavy, a CPP observer at the station, said he was untroubled by the lost vote.
“We lost one vote, but it’s a democratic election, and it’s the freedom of the voter,” he said. “We saw the counting and we cannot deny the result. I accept it.”The CNRP also won another symbolic victory yesterday in the form of a public defection by CPP Deputy District Governor Nhem En of Oddar Meanchey province’s Anlong Veng district.Known to most for his history as the official photographer at the Khmer Rouge’s infamous S-21 torture centre, En said yesterday that he had become disillusioned with the CPP after they failed to help his son, who En maintained was wrongfully convicted of the murder of his wife.

“Today, I handed my weapon to the district governor and officially resigned as deputy district governor in order to join the CNRP,” said En, who has held the post for almost 20 years, ever since Khmer Rouge forces reintegrated with the government in 1996.
“I served the CPP very long, but the party cannot help find justice for my family member,” he added.
En maintained that he would run as a parliamentarian in the next national election, but CNRP spokesmen could not be reached last night to confirm the assertion.

Protester injured at rally dies

 
Before dawn on Saturday, family members of Moun Sokmean found him distressed and incoherent.
Over the past several months, Sokmean, who was left blind in one eye after being beaten by authorities during a January 3 garment sector protest, had complained of headaches and other ailments. But this time was different.His father, Luch Pouy, and a cousin put the 29-year-old on a motorbike and rushed him to a doctor. When they arrived at Visal Sok clinic in the capital’s Chamkarmon district at 3:15am, it was too late, Pouy said. Sokmean had died on the way there.

“I took him by my motorbike to a private clinic, but when we reached the clinic, the doctor said he had already passed away,” Pouy said yesterday.Sokmean’s family say his death is the result of the vicious assault by authorities, though a lack of proper medical care in the aftermath may have also lessened his chances of survival.His father said Sokmean attended the January 3 protest on Veng Sreng Boulevard. Like many other protesters, he worked at a garment factory on Veng Sreng, one of several inside Canadia Industrial Park. The demonstration, part of a nationwide strike aimed at prodding the government to raise the minimum wage to $160, spiralled out of control.Workers hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails, and military police responded with beatings and gunfire, killing at least four people.

Twenty-three people were arrested on that day and on January 2. They are facing charges ranging from incitement to intentional violence.Pouy said that while his son attended the protest, he carried no weapons.Three days after Sokmean was beaten, family members took him to the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, said Naly Pilorge, director of rights group Licadho.After receiving treatment for a month, Sokmean returned home blind in his left eye and unable to work or care for his 3-year-old son due to frequent headaches and other effects from his injuries, Pouy said. His family could not afford brain scans or other procedures that might have identified the exact nature of his injuries.No answers are forthcoming. Immediately after his son’s death on Saturday, Pouy said, he took the body to a pagoda for cremation. No autopsy was performed and doctors at Visal Sok clinic did not release an official cause of death.

Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital director Ngy Meng yesterday declined to comment on Sokmean’s case or on how doctors there typically treat patients with severe head trauma. A neurologist at Royal Rattanak Hospital declined to comment on the proper course of treatment in similar cases.
Moeun Tola, head of the labour program at the Community Legal Education Center, said that if authorities had provided sufficient medical attention to those injured at the protest, “this guy would not have died”.“The government [should feel obligated] to pay compensation to the victims, and if the government is really responsible for its own people, it should not respond in that way.”
But government officials have publicly said they will not compensate any victims of the crackdown, said Dave Welsh, country manager for labour rights group Solidarity Center.
Victims, families and NGOs calling for medical aid will likely have to pin their hopes on international clothing brands who buy from factories where victims worked or on other independent groups, Welsh said.

“For families to get justice, it’s sadly going to go to other members of civil society,” he said. “The government is on record as providing no justice.”Military police spokesman Kheng Tito said yesterday that there will be an investigation into Sokmean’s death, though he did not provide more details.In time, Pouy will speak with rights workers to discuss the possibility of taking legal action against authorities, he said. But for the moment, he is more concerned with bringing Sokmean’s ashes to his home province of Kampong Speu for a memorial service on Friday.
“We don’t have money, so we will celebrate the seven days ceremony and 100 days ceremony at the same time,” Pouy said.

What is China violating in East Sea?

However, irrespective of its UNSC membership, China continues its assertiveness, flagrantly ignoring international law and carrying out aggressive acts in the East Sea.
As a result, tensions in the East Sea are continuing to escalate following China’s illegally stationing of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou- 981 and deployment of dozens of ships, including military vessels in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.Chinese ships have many times attacked Vietnamese law enforcement forces and the international community has voiced its concern and opposition of China for its serious violation of international law and high-level agreements reached by Vietnam and China, which are adversely affecting peace and security in the region.

Leading experts report that it is not hard to prove that China's actions have violated the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN Charter, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and other relevant documents as well as trying to mislead the media.
Drilling rig position and UNCLOS
The position China has installed it drilling rig Ocean-981, 120 nautical miles from Tri Ton island belonging to Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago shows that China has illegally occupied 17 nautical miles of Vietnam’s territorial waters.
According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh (Vice Dean of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam’s International Law Department), the above-mentioned location is within deep in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Article 57 of the UNCLOS-1982 stipulates that the width of the exclusive economic zone of a coastal state will not exceed 200 nautical miles, and Article 76 of the Convention says that one of the options to define the width of the continental shelf of a coastal state is a minimum of 200 nautical miles. Another way to define the width bigger than 200 nautical miles is that if the real continental shelf is larger than 200 nautical miles, the coastal states may extend their continental shelf up to 350 nautical miles or not exceeding 100 nautical miles since the from 2,500 m depth contour line.
Pursuant to the boundary of 200 nautical miles, the location of the Chinese drilling oil is within deep in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, Lan Anh said.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that this is China's Xisha waters and its placement of a drilling rig is a normal activity.

First of all, it is essential to clarify that China has used Xisha to name Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and Vietnam have sufficient legal evidence to affirm its sovereignty.
After the World War II, the UN Charter was issued with the aim of maintaining peace and stability in the world.  The Charter stipulates that peace and settlement of disputes is mandatory obligations for member state and member states are not allowed to threaten the use of force.
China has been a UN member but it has used force to illegally occupy Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands when the UN Charter was in effect. This is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter. Therefore, it is impossible to establish a Chinese sovereignty in the Paracel islands.
China should ask for Vietnam’s permission to put the rig
Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh affirmed that China has violated the fundamental principles, including Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction under Article 56 and Article 76 of the UNCLOS.
China’s illegal installment of a drilling rig aiming to explore and exploit natural resources associated with the seabed of the continental shelf lies entirely in natural resources area belonging to sovereign rights of a coastal state that is Vietnam.
National jurisdiction in these waters is the licensing right to allow other countries to install or build floating works at sea. China’s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou- 981 is a floating work that it has placed in Vietnam’s continental shelf without the country’s permission. This means that China has violated Vietnam’s jurisdiction.
"The UNCLOS also states that all drilling and exploration activities on the continental shelves must get permission from coastal states. Vietnam has not yet allowed China to conduct such activities", Dr. Lan Anh emphasized.
Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh reiterated that Vietnam has sufficient legal and historical foundations to affirm its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel), Truong Sa (Spratly) islands and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the UNCLOS.
Vietnam will take all appropriate measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests. At the same time, the country has always shown its goodwill and tenacity to satisfactorily resolve disputes through negotiations, dialogues and other peaceful means in line with the common perception of the two nations’ senior leaders and agreements on the fundamental principles on settlement of maritime issues in accordance with regulations and practices of international law, particularly the UNCLOS-1982 to avoid damaging political trust and cooperation between the two sides.

Vietnamese in Australia demonstrate against China

Protesters, including Vietnamese who have left the country for 35-40 years, young people who were born and grew up in Australia and Vietnamese students sang Vietnamese songs to show their patriotism and shouted slogans asking China to respect international law and to stop infringements of Vietnam’s sovereignty.
"Respecting the territorial sovereignty of other countries is the basic principle of international law, particularly for the big countries. China has violated these rules," said Mr. John Hamilton, a lecturer of the Victoria University who joined the demonstration.
At the demonstration, Joel Haire, a lecturer at the Swinsburne Economics University, showed his sympathy to the concerns and aspirations of the people of Vietnamese friends.
"China is creating a bad precedent in international relations and you are doing the best you can – joining peaceful demonstrations - to raise awareness for the Australian people and the world," said Joel, adding that the presence of the two Australian newspapers - ABC News and SBS – at the demonstration is the initial success.
"We are here to deliver a message to Vietnam that you are not alone," said Mr. Adan from the Swinburne University.
Mr. Phan Van Danh, a Vietnamese Australian entrepreneur said, besides the peaceful demonstrations, he and his friends would enlist all communication channels to help Australian friends understand China's expansionist intentions. China’s illegal acts in the East Sea is not only the story of Vietnam.
On Sunday, the Vietnamese community in Melbourne will also host a march from downtown to the Chinese Consulate, with the participation of about 1,000 people.
Previously, Vietnamese students pasted posters in some universities and public places to protest the actions of China in Vietnam’s waters.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Explosions in Kenya leave at least 10 dead, officials say

 

At least 10 people were killed in two explosions Friday in central Nairobi, the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre said via Twitter.As many as 76 people were wounded in the blasts at the Gikomba market and on a public minibus, the disaster agency said. Ambulances evacuated 43 injured males and 33 injured females, the Centre said via Twitter.

 

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the explosions, which were caused by grenades, according to Nairobi Police Commandant Benson Kibuye.There have been no claims of responsibility in the attack.Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed his sympathy to those affected by the blasts, the Interior Ministry said via Twitter.The explosions came after the United States, Australia and UK issued travel alerts for the African nation Thursday.Hundreds of vacationers were evacuated from Kenya the same day in response to the alerts, which warned of a "high threat" of terrorist attacks.

 

Kenyan authorities described the warnings as "unfriendly acts" and said security remains a top priority."Terrorism is not an evil that was born in Kenya, terrorism is a world wide phenomenon," the Kenyan President said in his state of the union address. As he delivered that speech Friday, the blasts rocked the central part of the capital.The Kenyan military crossed into Somalia in 2011 to battle the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, which it blamed for kidnapping tourists in the coastal region. In retaliation, the terrorist group has launched a spate of attacks, including targeting bustling bus stations with grenades.Last year, militants stormed the Westgate Mall in Nairobi and held shoppers under siege for days. At least 67 people were killed.