KHMER & THAI PEOPLE RECONCILIATION

Committee Meeting in Watt Pasuonvang Arranh Prathet Sakeo Nigth 10 07 2010-2

The organizers of the Khmer-Thai Buddhist Exchange Visit or KTPR Event & other volunteers reviewed their strengths and improving opportunities of their work and have developed clear strategic framework for their interventional effort for improving relationship between Cambodia and Thailand, especially between the people and people.

As a follow up to the Khmer-Thai Buddhist Exchange Visit or KTPR Event: 25-28 June 2553/54 or 2010 in Siem Reap, Cambodia & Sisaket, Thailand; the organizers of the KTPR event and proposed members of a joint temporary committee consists of engaged Buddhist & religious organizations’ representatives, NGOs’ representatives, peace working group’s representative, representatives of media, educational institutions” representatives, youths’ representatives and communities’ representatives, from Cambodia and Thailand, met together from 10 to 11 July 2010 at Sakeo, Thailand, with the facilitation and support from BKSN and PEF. To see the detail, please read the draft note of the meeting below, and you are warmly welcomed for sincere comments for a better plan. Ubasak Sotha Ros

Note Mtg Follow up to KTPR Event 25-28 June 06 – 10 07 010 (1)

The event of the KTPR or the Khmer-Thai Buddhist Exchange visit, 25-26/06/2554/2553/2010, Siem Reap and Sisaket, was conducted with heartening and common several important results:

1) We have build better understanding about why we need to build closer relationship and harmony between Cambodians and Thais based on Bodhidharma and human history in the Sovann Phum. Many of the participants were tearing and feeling sorry about the past bad actions (sin actions) to one another due to Akosola politics mainly and looking forward to brother/sisterhood in the future and taking care one another;

Meditation practice PCPC

(Some of the participants joined meditation & spreading loving kindness ceremony in front of the Preah Ang Chek-Preah Angchorm in center of Siem Reap city.)

Tearing for past sin actions n we want better future

2) Some of the participants made friends during the workshop and integrated funny and friendship activities, especially between the youths and youths. Some of them received symbols of friendship and loving kindness like souvenir, green medicines, food, fruits, etc;

3) Have understood better about Khmer and Thai cultures and countries;

4) We have made a Joint Commitment and Appeal Letter with (160) signatures of the Khmer and Thai people’s leaders or representatives including NGO networks, community representatives, media, education institutions and  individuals including some governmental officials; and

Commitment S1

Please click http://ktpr.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/commitment-and-appeal-of-the- for more signature sheets.

Grp Photo-Cross hands for Solidarity 26 06

[All participants took a group photo with crossing hands to show their willingness and commitment to build closer relationship and loving kindness between the two people (Khmer people wear T-shirts with the smiling faces of Bayon Temple.)]

5) We have agreed to create an informal mixed committee to work on improving Khmer-Thai People Relationship that based on a principle of Brother and Sisterhood. The committee should have equal number of the members from both sides of Cambodia and Thailand and be needs based. The members of the committee should be coming from NGOs/NGO networks, peoples’ representatives, youths’ representatives, media, educational institutions and non-governmental technical institutions. The committee is open for the governmental employees who are interested in the common interest but as individuals. The committee should focus on several important areas as follow:

• Help to address/intervene social and economic problems along the border including environmental issue;
• Work on labor and human trafficking related to both countries (It including that Thai side will help to protect the poor workers from Cambodia to receive proper work conditions & opportunities & legal treatment);
• Play as a lobbying and mediation role as needed for both governments;
• Create opportunities where both Cambodians and Thais are met to interact and build closer and positive relationship;
• Possibly create a Sovann Phum Information Center to promote independent history for the young generation with careful, fair and professional efforts.

The co-organizer will meet in the mid July at the Poipet Khmer and Thai border in order to build on what we have agreed during the event to make a clear plan.

Please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/sotharos/sets/72157625449882031/ to see more photos of the event. In addition, you can click the below links to see the photos that posted by PEF in Thailand:

http://www.peoplesempowerment.org/news/khmer-thai-peoples-reconciliation-event-slideshow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46981312@N02/sets/72157624299653347/

Reported by Sotha Ros, Representative of the BKSN, on behalf of the co-organizers: BKSN/WGP and PEF/Sisaket Rajabhat University-Indo-China Study/Sarol Community

Cambodian team of Khmer Thai People Reconciliation group led by Ubasak Sotha Ros, Representative of the BKSN in collaborating with Ms. Prak Sokhany, Representative of the WGP; and the Thai team led by Ms. Chalida Tajaroensuk, Executive Director of PEF, in collaborating with Dr. Sawai Sedsai, Indo-China Study & Founder of the Si Saket Rajabhat University, successfully discussed about the plan of the reconciliation meeting according to their master plans (proposals). We have come up with a tentative schedule of the meeting and methods used during the meeting. Both parties agreed to conduct the meeting from 22 to 24 May 2010.  Please click http://ktpr.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/khmer-thai-agenda-for-distribution.pdf for the detail of the DRAFT schedule.

Besides from working on the plan, both teams have developed good understanding about each other, and commonly agreed that Cambodians and Thais are brothers and sisters. We need to come together and strengthen sincere closer relationship in a long term for a peaceful future under the common shade of ASEAN.

Joining Hands for a better future of closer relationship n peace between the peoples

The Cambodian team consisted of 7 people (including 2 monks) from BKSN and WGP (Ms. Prak Sokhany). The Thai team consisted of 5 people: 3 people from the PEF, and 2 senior people from the Si Saket University.

First, the Cambodia team was welcomed by the Vice President of the Si Saket University Ajan Pradit. Second, visited Sral village and home stay about 15 km from Preah Vihear temple. Third, talked to some community leaders including the elderly association and a committee of Preah Vihan temple about their feeling, interests and how to strengthen solidarity between the peoples.

Group photo: Leaders of BKSN, WGF, PEF n Si Saket Rajabhat University

Both peoples happily communicated physically and spiritually with hope for a better future for all. Please click http://www.flickr.com/photos/sotharos/sets/72157625578812296/ for more photos. Thanks

The BKSN senior leaders met on 21 February 2010 from 4-6pm at Venerable Yos Huth Khemacharo’s monastery in order to warm up themselves about the plan of the Khmer and Thai People Reconciliation Project.

See the photos of their meeting  http://ktpr.wordpress.com/photosvideo/