Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers Mao Monivann and Son Chhay visited a disputed area on the border between Ratanakkiri’s O’Yadav district and Vietnam on Monday and urged the government to take action over several ponds allegedly dug by the Vietnamese in Cambodian territory.
Monivann said yesterday that the eight irrigation ponds in Ratanakkiri’s Paknhai commune have yet to be filled with earth as agreed upon by the two governments in June.
“If we keep allowing them to do this, it means that a country invades us, and we cannot let them look down on us . . . If Vietnam does not respect what we have suggested and what they have promised, the government should seek an international mechanism,” Monivann said.
Chhay, who met with the local ethnic Jarai communities, relayed their concern over loss of farmland to the Vietnamese due to government inaction.
Senior Minister for Border Affairs Var Kimhong said talks will resume later in December.
“There is no need for Son Chhay to go there; the government is working on it, but there is no result yet,” he said.
