Cambodia King Sihamoni Wednesday (11-30) signed the controversial supplemental border treaty to the 1985 border treaty, which Prime Minister Hun Sen has signed with Vietnam on October 10.
The King co-signed it with high ranking officials to secure peace and security. In his message to his people, King Sihamoni said that he signed the decree announcing the law which will be in effect, on the implementation of the supplemental border treaty in order to keep peace and stability in the Khmer societies.
The Senate's president Chea Sim, National Assembly's president, Prince Norodom Ranaridh, Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Mr. Sok An, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and Deputy Prime Minister, co-signed this border treaty.
King Sihamoni revealed the reasons behind his decision saying that at the beginning of this month, Mr. Hun Sen, and Prince Ranaridh informed and assured him seperately of Cambodia's sovereignty in the country area measuring 181,035 square kilometers, in 1963-1969 and which the international community recognizes and which is intact.
He added that a number of royal family members, including Prince Norodom Sirivudh, co-Minister of Interior also endorsed this treaty. Opposition Sam Rainsy party's (SRP) legislator Eng Chhay Eang said that he did not oppose King Sihamoni's signing the treaty because he knows that the King is sad, and that the SRP does not recognize this treaty.
He said further that when the SRP wins the election in 2008 it will take up this issue for discussions again.