#Cambodia foreign minister Prak Sokhonn briefed diplomatic corps and journalists at the foreign ministry today on his second official trip to #Myanmar as #Asean special envoy. Here are some takeaways: ... 👇
1) Prak Sokhonn said despite requesting "again and again" to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her lawyer(s) as well as ex-first lady Daw Su Su Lwin, he couldn't get access to them with reasons cited by #Tatmadaw:
- Cases in court proceeding (ASSK/Lawyer).
- Health condition (SSL).
2) After meeting #Tatmadaw boss Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing and chief negotiator Lt Gen Yar Pyae, Prak Sokhonn said @NUGMyanmar's People's Defence Force appears to also have a "share of responsibility" on violence, vandalism, and murders of civil servants.
3) Prak Sokhonn urged #Tatmadaw-run State Administration Council, @NUGMyanmar, all political parties, and all ethnic armed organisations to uphold "utmost restraints and sincere wills" to negotiate for peace in #Myanmar.
4) Prak Sokhonn said "With only six months left as the special envoy, I should say I do not have any sacred medicine or magic to resolve #Myanmar problems", adding all #Asean can do is to help "coordinate a peace process and dialogue inclusive and acceptable to all stakeholders".
5) Prak Sokhonn said the questions of whether to hold a new general election, amending the 2008 constitutional, or legislating a new constitution "shall be directly decided by all stakeholders in #Myanmar". The outsiders can only consult and provide recommendations.
6) Prak Sokhonn said he told #Myanmar stakeholders that regarding each other as "terrorists" will not lead to "a peaceful, inclusive dialogue".
7) Prak Sokhonn on @UN Secretary-General's special envoy Noeleen Heyzer's status of future access to #Myanmar: "She's providing some documents to the SAC, and, if everything goes the right way, she'll be able to soon visit Myanmar".
8) In response to a question by @AusEmbPP ambassador Pablo Kang, Prak Sokhonn said there had been an "encouraging sign" from #Tatmadaw on advocacy calling for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi #Australian advisor @SeanTurnell from prison.
9) #Cambodia will keep the status quo of inviting #Myanmar junta to assign "non-political representatives" to attend 55th #Asean foreign ministers' meeting and other top regional diplomatic gatherings in Cambodia scheduled to be held from July 30 to August 06, Prak Sokhonn said.
10) Prak Sokhonn said #Cambodia PM Hun Sen's clemency request to #Tatmadaw to not execute convicted activist Ko Jimmy and ex-MP Phyo Zeya Thaw was met with the junta's indirect reply that, for decades, none of about 100 prisoners on death row in Myanmar has been executed. (END)
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
At the event launching the Chinese-backed project to upgrade the Ream Naval Base, Gen Chau Phirun, general director of DM's technical materials, said it will be undertaken by #China PLA experts and take 24 months while Beijing will grant two frigates to Cambodian navy ... (1) 👇
Gen Phirun said facilities to be built: two piers (one is 350m-by-30m and another is 270m-by-20m) a drydock (130m-by-30m), a slipway capable of moving ship with weight up to 1000 tonnes. He said the project would involve dredging the shallow shipping channels around the base. (2)
The renovated base will serve #Cambodia's current and future naval purposes and pose no security threat to the neighbouring countries or the region, Gen Phirun added, it will also serve the country's shipping and fishing industries regarding maintenance and reparation. (3)
#Cambodia's state-friendly Fresh News reports that defence minister Tea Banh and Chinese amb Wang Wentian will preside over a groundbreaking event of the modernisation project to upgrade the Ream Naval Base, revealing the following to-do list described as #China's grant ... 👇
1/ "Renovating the naval facilities at Ream base to realise actual control of the existing geographical position" -- involving constructions of new commanding centre as well as facilities serving the purpose of meeting, storage, entertainment, dining, sports, receptions etc.
2/ China will help repair old unusable vessels beyond Cambodian navy's reparability, including eight ships and two floating dock ships.