លោក សុខ ទូច ស្នើ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ផ្តល់​ផែនទី​ពីរ​ផ្ទាំង​ទៀត

School of Vice: For obvious reasons, any map related document emanating from government sources must be treated as 'non-authoritative' and thus non-binding in any boundary settlement with neighbouring countries. This should and or must remain so until such documents have been thoroughly crossed checked and validated or corroborated by those of independent non-government sources. It cannot be assumed that any missing map beyond government sphere can be supplanted with existing one within it [government possession] without credible cross-referencing or authentication by independent and credible third parties.

If the country and land-sea of Cambodia belongs to all Cambodians, then it is only just and logical that the delineation process be open to public verification and scrutiny. This includes disclosing of any secret boundary related deals and treaties and the terms therein to the public and media; access to border areas for purposes of inspection and field study by all interested political and civil parties without being obstructed by local armed militia from either side of the border; any border negotiation be conducted in a transparent manner and the negotiator/s as well as government leaders must be answerable before parliamentary questions and concerned public forums ...

Thus far, the accustomed practice by the government has been to monopolise and obfuscate the said procedure by opting to do the reverse of what is suggested above. The last time the Prime Minister took to the floor of the NA to elaborate on the same matter, he spent over five hours digesting and justifying his own position and understanding without answering specific questions previously raised or entertaining them from his NA peers during the entire session. This one-sided draconian, monopolized approach coupled with violence and threats of arrest on charges and allegations of "treason", misinformation etc. against critics/activists and opposition members on the ground with no heed paid to due legal diligence and fair exchange in debate or discussion serves only to strengthen the suspicion that something has been going awry at the heart of the regime; that it would require more than the on-going PR exercise [in map sharing/gathering] to negate the mounting public perception in that direction. 

As this is written, an opposition senator - Hong Sok Hour - is reported to be in hiding or on the run from government authorities. How is it possible to engage in a healthy and productive discussion over this nationally vital and sensitive border issue where airing information and one's opinion publicly stands the risk of being charged with 'treason' and certain imprisonment? Surely, if the disclosed piece of document or information is wrong or misleading, it is the wronged party's civilised response to correct that information with credible evidence or demand explanations from the person in question instead of resorting to the heavy handed method of arrest?