Cambodian clashes near Siem Reap<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (Agencies): Rival Cambodian forces clashed
\nyesterday as fighters loyal to ousted First Prime Minister Prince
\nNorodom Ranariddh pushed towards Siem Reap, near the famed Angkor
\nWat temple complex.<\/p>\n
Powerful Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, who toppled Ranariddh
\nat the weekend to seize control of the government, sent
\nreinforcements to the area west of Siem Reap, a tourist town 250
\nkilometers northwest of Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n
There had been intermittent clashes in the area over the last
\nfew days but more sustained fighting broke out at daybreak
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"This afternoon the government side sent troops and ammunition
\nfrom Kompong Cham to confront the other side,\" said a military
\nofficial loyal to Hun Sen. \"Now the other side is trying to move
\nforward into Siem Reap.\"<\/p>\n
Residents in Siem Reap said they could hear shelling. The
\ntown, which is under the control of Hun Sen's forces, was quiet
\nbut tense, they said.<\/p>\n
Cambodia's unwieldy coalition government collapsed in violence
\nSaturday when Hun Sen's forces moved in on Ranariddh's men in the
\ncapital. Ranariddh had left the country the previous day.<\/p>\n
Hun Sen declared Ranariddh's expulsion Sunday as his forces
\npushed Ranariddh's men from their bases in and around the city.<\/p>\n
Many members of Ranariddh's FUNCINPEC party have left the
\ncountry while others remain in hiding in the capital. But other
\nFUNCINPEC members began moves yesterday to find a replacement for
\nRanariddh as first prime minister.<\/p>\n
After claiming outright victory Hun Sen said he was not aiming
\nto take over the coalition government, but called for FUNCINPEC
\ncandidates to step forward for the post of first premier.<\/p>\n
Tea Chamrath and former resistance commander Toan Chhay, who
\nheads a FUNCINPEC splinter group, are the two favorites to
\nreplace Prince Ranariddh because of their military experience.<\/p>\n
\"I still respect Prince Ranariddh, he is my boss and I am not
\nbetraying him,\" Tea Chamrath said.<\/p>\n
The international community dealt Hun Sen his second serious
\ndiplomatic blow in two days when the United States yesterday
\nannounced a temporary halt in its US$35 million aid program to
\nCambodia.<\/p>\n
After a 30-day review, programs that support his regime
\ndirectly or indirectly will not be resumed.<\/p>\n
Japan and Germany have already cut aid. Foreign Minister
\nAlexander Downer of Australia said his country would consider
\ncuts to send Hun Sen a message to meet the terms of the Paris
\npeace process, which led to the 1993 elections and the coalition
\nhis coup shattered.<\/p>\n
In all, at least US$150 million worth of vital projects will
\nstop following the suspension of aid.<\/p>\n
In a show of bravado belying a desperate economic plight,
\nCambodian leaders dismissed the cutoffs.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, we were also subjected to an economic embargo,\"
\nsaid Khieu Kanharith, Hun Sen's secretary of state for
\ninformation. \"We will not die, and development will continue
\nthough it might be slow.\"<\/p>\n
Despite the tough talk, cutting aid to Cambodia will have a
\ncrippling effect on the country, which relies on foreign
\nassistance for more than half its national budget.<\/p>\n
Cooler heads were already tallying up the effects.
\nPublic Works Ministry spokesman Meas Samith said the government
\nand country could \"absolutely not\" survive serious aid cutoffs.<\/p>\n
\"We have been facing a lot of problems for a long time
\nalready, including financial constraints and a shortfall in
\npaying civil servants,\" Meas Samith said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN -- Page 5<\/p>\n
Exodus -- Page 6<\/p>\n
Photo -- Page 10<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cambodian-clashes-near-siem-reap-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }