tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33447905197631093042024-03-14T03:06:41.291+07:00FREEDOMMonikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.comBlogger7496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-68945750491321131652013-09-09T14:36:00.002+07:002013-09-09T14:36:38.003+07:00Chinese Foreign Ministry provides office supplies to Cambodian counterpart Souce:Xinhua<br />
Publish By <a href="http://www.nzweek.com/author/ping/" rel="author" title="Posts by Thomas Whittle">Thomas Whittle</a><br />
09/09/2013<br />
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday donated 50 laptops and 100
cellphones in equivalent to 70, 000 US dollars to its Cambodian
counterpart to increase task efficiency.<br />
<br />
Speaking while handing over the supplies to Cambodian Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Chinese Ambassador to
Cambodia Bu Jianguo said the donation came as promised by Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his official visit to Cambodia last
month.<br />
<br />
“We hope that these materials will assist office staff at the
Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work fast and more
efficiently,” she said.<br />
<br />
Hor Namhong said the ministry was very happy to receive these modern
office supplies as they would relieve the difficulties of staff in their
work.<br />
<br />
He highly spoke of excellent friendship relations between Cambodia
and China in all fields and vowed to further enhance the ties in the
future.<br />
<br />
“The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to work closely
with the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia in order to further develop our
bilateral ties and cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two
countries and peoples,” he said. Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-65488847959934953692013-09-09T14:35:00.001+07:002013-09-09T14:35:36.517+07:00Cambodia’s ruling party confirmed election winnerSource: BBC Online <br />
Cambodia’s ruling People’s Party (CPP) has been confirmed the winner
of July’s general election which was marred by fraud allegations.<br />
<br />
The election commission said Prime Minister Hun Sen’s CPP won 68
seats, compared to 55 for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party
(CNRP).<br />
<br />
The televised announcement comes after thousands took part in a rally
in the capital Phnom Penh to protest against alleged electoral fraud.<br />
<br />
Hun Sen has run Cambodia for 28 years.<br />
<br />
The 61-year-old has vowed to stay in power until he is in his seventies.<br />
<br />
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy claimed there was widespread rigging in the election.<br />
The result confirmation means he will no longer be able to legally contest the vote.<br />
<br />
According to preliminary official figures, the CPP won 3.2 million votes, while Rainsy’s party obtained 2.9 million.<br />
<br />
The election commission is yet to officially confirm these numbers.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, huge crowds gathered in Phnom Penh’s Democracy Park in
what organisers described as a peaceful protest based on Buddhist
prayer.<br />
<br />
Many demonstrators brought lotus flowers symbolising peace.<br />
<br />
Rainsy told the crowd it was a “historic day”, saying that “those who steal our votes won’t live happily”.<br />
With all the institutions of state, including the election
commission, under the thumb of Hun Sen, this type of protest is the only
way for opposition supporters to challenge the result, says the BBC’s
Southeast Asia correspondent Jonathan Head.<br />
<br />
He adds that the CNRP has vowed to keep up its street protests against the result.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-66038516232064690002013-09-09T14:32:00.001+07:002013-09-09T14:34:19.149+07:00Cambodia's Khmer Rouge court hit by new resignationPHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodia's troubled Khmer Rouge war crimes court
suffered a new setback Monday with the resignation of a key prosecutor
-- the latest in a string of departures from the UN-backed tribunal.<br />
The
announcement came as a strike by court staff over unpaid wages entered a
second week, threatening to disrupt a high-profile trial of two former
top regime leaders from the "Killing Fields" era in the late 1970s.<br />
International co-prosecutor Andrew Cayley said in a statement that he was leaving for "personal reasons".<br />
Sept 9, 2013<br />
AFP<br />
<br />
It
follows the resignation of three international lawyers and two judges
over the past two years amid allegations of government meddling.<br />
<br />
Cayley, however, said his decision was unrelated to the court's woes.<br />
"It's
really personal circumstances. I am not leaving out of frustration with
the court at all," the British lawyer, who was appointed to the role in
December 2009, told AFP.<br />
<br />
At the same time he voiced concern about
the cash crunch at the tribunal, whose 250 Cambodian workers, including
judges and prosecutors, have not been paid since June.<br />
<br />
"Of course, the financial situation of the court is frustrating to all of us," Cayley said.<br />
<br />
Court
spokesman Neth Pheaktra said the UN, the Cambodian government, tribunal
officials and donors were working to resolve the budget crisis.<br />
<br />
"But so far, there is no solution yet," he said.<br />
<br />
UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned last month that the "very survival of the court is now in question".<br />
The
tribunal has been frequently short of cash since it was set up in 2006
to seek justice for the deaths of up to two million people under the
brutal communist Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-79.<br />
<br />
The UN pays for
the international workers while the salaries of the local staff are the
responsibility of the Cambodian government, with both sides relying on
international donors.<br />
<br />
Two defendants -- "Brother Number Two" Nuon
Chea, 87, and former head of state Khieu Samphan, 82, -- are on trial
for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.<br />
<br />
The court is currently in recess and preparing to hear closing statements in the first part of the trial in mid October.<br />
<br />
Led
by Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Khmer Rouge wiped out nearly a
quarter of Cambodia's population through starvation, overwork or
execution in a bid to create an agrarian utopia.<br />
<br />
So far the
UN-backed court has achieved one conviction, sentencing a former prison
chief to life in jail for overseeing the deaths of some 15,000 people.<br />
<br />
Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen -- himself a former Khmer Rouge cadre -- has
repeatedly voiced opposition to pursuing more suspects after the current
trial.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-46305999102496792582013-09-07T16:28:00.001+07:002013-09-07T16:28:11.342+07:00Cambodian opposition rally pushes for poll probe<div class="creditline_byline">
<span class="byline">By JUSTINE DRENNAN and SOPHENG CHEANG</span> <span class="creditline">— The Associated Press</span></div>
<div class="creditline_byline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9VXN1_us30WwWu9-iL2ByLyL-rRry_IgZ4zQaxB9nlCGgyKuAE_xDlffjUbbG-bZCHCopTQjfQWOx0ATRTZiosSsa3T0cG7lmIjxXgRn8quZFKNXY16mWGIDVt8Rqemsa0AkNOqgesQ/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9VXN1_us30WwWu9-iL2ByLyL-rRry_IgZ4zQaxB9nlCGgyKuAE_xDlffjUbbG-bZCHCopTQjfQWOx0ATRTZiosSsa3T0cG7lmIjxXgRn8quZFKNXY16mWGIDVt8Rqemsa0AkNOqgesQ/s400/IMG_0908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="creditline_byline">
<span class="creditline"> Kem Sokha speak to demonstrators in Sept 7, 2013. Photo: Quoc Viet/RFA</span></div>
<div class="creditline_byline">
<span class="creditline"> </span>
</div>
<div class="entry-content story_body">
<span class="dateline">PHNOM PENH, Cambodia</span> — Nearly
20,000 opposition supporters gathered Saturday in Cambodia's capital to
cheer their leaders' demands for an investigation into alleged election
irregularities, just a day before the victory of Prime Minister Hun
Sen's ruling party is to be ratified.<br />
<br />
Final results from the vote
six weeks ago gave 68 National Assembly seats to Hun Sen's Cambodian
People's Party and 55 to the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.
The opposition says it would have won the majority of seats had the
election been fair.<br />
<br />
The opposition says protests will continue
until an independent committee look into claims of voter
disenfranchisement and vote tampering in the July 28 election. However,
the government-appointed National Election Committee has rejected the
demand, and Hun Sen has made it clear he intends to take office and
continue his 28 years in power.<br />
<br />
The 55 seats won by the opposition
represent a sharp improvement on the 29 it held in the last assembly,
and its strong performance — also reflected in a close popular vote —
came as a surprise. The party has suggested its lawmakers may boycott
the assembly sessions in protest at the failure to investigate its
claims of unfairness.<br />
<br />
The new parliament is supposed to be seated
within 60 days of the election, and ruling party leaders say it can
convene without the opposition.<br />
</div>
Opposition leaders have emphasized non-violence, amid concerns about
violence raised by the government's deployment of troops and armored
vehicles to the capital days after the election. Hun Sen has a
reputation for dealing harshly with opponents.<br />
<br />
The government, through sympathetic media outlets, had played up fears of violence in an obvious effort to discourage protests.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYI_UV7C__TOLaxeqjid5OWlXRcOTCWv1AT65viy4tf2d9XYJ2XMAZD_trxN66Zg201ml6p_gRfsNDH4CoHeL-PDZBPKD41NAdlUypAFwPMl7ltpAvjCEXs5tRAsPvgP_cy9pX3MuqYA/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYI_UV7C__TOLaxeqjid5OWlXRcOTCWv1AT65viy4tf2d9XYJ2XMAZD_trxN66Zg201ml6p_gRfsNDH4CoHeL-PDZBPKD41NAdlUypAFwPMl7ltpAvjCEXs5tRAsPvgP_cy9pX3MuqYA/s400/IMG_0896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Monks and Cambodian people: "My Vote, My nation". Photo: Quoc Viet/RFA<br />
<br />
Saturday's
demonstration, however, was peaceful, with opposition supporters
holding up signs with messages such as "My Vote, My nation" and "There
is justice, there is peace."<br />
<br />
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy told the
crowd that the Cambodian people have suffered from a culture of
violence for 40 years, and that should end now.<br />
<br />
Cambodia plunged
into civil war in 1970, and experienced the holocaust of Khmer Rouge
rule in the late 1970s, when an estimated 1.7 million people died as a
result of their radical communist policies. Under Hun Sen, a culture of
violence and intimidation of the poor and powerless has been widespread.<br />
<br />
In
recent years, land grabbing by government cronies has led to forced
evictions, sometimes accompanied by deadly violence. The issue has
caused popular resentment, to the political benefit of the opposition.<br />
<br />
"Today,
Cambodia is opening a new page, the page of ending the culture of
violence," Sam Rainsy said, with the crowd echoing his words with a
cheer of "End violence."<br />
<br />
Several monks attended the demonstration,
despite a ban against doing so by Cambodia's top Buddhist authority.
One monk, Ngim Saossamkhan, said he was aware of the ban but believed he
had a right to attend. "As monks, we can't be part of any party, but I
support peace," he said.<br />
<br />
Demonstrators dispersed after several
hours, but opposition leaders say they will gather again tomorrow unless
the National Election Committee yields. They have asked that any
announcement of the results be postponed, and have called on Cambodia's
king, Norodom Sihamoni, to intervene.<br />
<br />
Observers do not expect
clashes between demonstrators and security forces, as occurred after
some past elections, but political analyst Kem Ley said the risk of
violence might grow if opposition protests continue for many days.<br />
<br />
Chan
Aunleng, a 24-year-old student demonstrator holding a Cambodian flag,
said she did not think the demonstrations would sway the National
Election Committee, but that she would join future protests "for real
democracy." <br />
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/09/07/2650239/cambodian-opposition-rally-pushes.html#storylink=cpy</div>
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-17167801993098447182013-09-05T15:50:00.001+07:002013-09-05T15:50:15.391+07:00 TAT hosts Amazing Thailand “ASEAN Media Fam Trip from Bangkok to Siem Riep” <div class="itemIntroText">
<span class="itemDateCreated">Thursday, 05 September 2013 </span>
<span class="itemAuthor"> </span><br />
<span class="itemAuthor">By
TAT </span><br />
<span class="itemAuthor"> </span><br />
TAT hosts Amazing Thailand “ASEAN Media Fam Trip from Bangkok to Siem Riep” on September 6 -11, 2013<br />
</div>
Bangkok – September 5, 2013: A total of 21 prominent online foreign
media from East and South Asia – Japan, China, Taiwan, India, and
Thailand – have been invited to join the Amazing Thailand “ASEAN Media
Fam Trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap” during September 6-11, 2013. The
international media joining will be top bloggers and online journalists
from Thailand’s main tourist markets in Asia. The Tourism Authority of
Thailand (TAT) is conducting this media trip to promote land and air
connectivity with neighbouring countries such as Cambodia in advance of
Thailand’s entry into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.<br />
Mr.Suraphon Svetasreni, TAT Governor, said “TAT is proud to present
this eastern route from Bangkok to Siem Reap via the diverse attractions
of Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, and Sa Kaeo. We feel there are many
unseen things in those provinces that tourists can enjoy before or after
a cross-border visit of the splendors of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. We
want to show that this route is not only a convenient passage to the
Greater Mekong Subregion, but is also a fabulously unique tourist region
in itself.<br />
<br />
The trip will take the media to explore another side of Bangkok at
Taling Chan Floating Market then change gears to the busy and
world-renowned Chatuchak Weekend Market.<br />
<br />
On the second day, the tour moves out from Bangkok to Nakhon Nayok
Province, the scenic Khun Dan Prakarnchon Dam, the largest and longest
roller compacted concrete dam in the world. Not far from the reservoir,
the group will pay a visit to the Bhumirak Dhamachart Project, which is a
multimedia museum displaying His Majesty’s concrete ideas and theories
for the development of agriculture.<br />
<br />
Next day, the group will visit a historical building as well as relax
with a traditional Thai massage at the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubate
Hospital. After that, moving on to Ban Dong Krathong Yam, the tour will
explore the local culture of the Thai Puan people. Then, one last stop
before crossing to Cambodia is the bustling Rong Kluea border market in
Aranyaprathet.<br />
<br />
The Cambodian portion of the trip will include visits to the majestic historical sites of<br />
Prasat Ta Phrom, Prasat Bayon and conclude at the World Heritage Site
of Angkor Wat. Mr. Tith Chantha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism
of Cambodia, hosts a dinner for the group in Siem Reap on September 10.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-66018661787576620892013-09-05T15:48:00.000+07:002013-09-05T15:48:10.330+07:00Garment workers in Cambodia hold protest over mass dismissal<span id="ctl00_body_spnDetail"></span><br />
<div id="divLead">
<span id="ctl00_body_spnDetail"><img alt="Garment workers sit beside police officers during a protest in front of a factory owned by Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment Manufacturing in Kampong Speu province, west of Phnom Penh. (File photo)" height="224" id="imgMain" src="http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20130905/rahimi20130905071751913.jpg" width="400" /><div id="divImageDesc">
Garment
workers sit beside police officers during a protest in front of a
factory owned by Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment Manufacturing in Kampong
Speu province, west of Phnom Penh. (File photo)</div>
</span> </div>
<div id="divLead">
Thousands of garment
workers in Cambodia have hold a demonstration after a factory supplying
global brands allegedly dismissed hundreds of their colleagues for
striking over conditions.
</div>
<br />
According to union leaders, the Singapore-owned SL Garment
Processing factory sacked more than 700 workers on Wednesday. Over 5,000
others were also suspended after a two-week-long strike.
<br />
<br />They had walked out claiming intimidation over regular factory inspections conducted by an official flanked by military police.
<br />
<br />On Thursday, nearly 4,000 workers marched from the factory to the
City Hall in the capital Phnom Penh to call on the government to
intervene in the dispute.
<br />
<blockquote>
“We want the factory to allow the workers to go back to
work,” said Ath Thorn, who is president of the Coalition of Cambodian
Apparel Workers Democratic Union.</blockquote>
“But if they want to close they factory they must pay compensation to workers according to the law,” he added.
<br />
<br />Cambodia frequently faces disputes over wages, safety and conditions in its multibillion-dollar garment industry.
<br />
<br />About 650,000 people are working in the lucrative industry, which is
a main source of foreign income for the Southeast Asian country.
<br />
<br />The International Labor Organization (ILO) in July accused Cambodia of failing to improve working conditions in the sector.
<br />
<br />In May, two workers were killed at a factory producing shoes for
Japanese sports brand Asics after a ceiling collapse. The fatal incident
led to intensification of concerns over worker safety in Cambodia.
<br />
<br />MR/HSN
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-63770181241880117812013-09-05T15:32:00.001+07:002013-09-05T15:32:45.144+07:00Statement His Excellency Mr. Kranh Tony Acting Director, Office of Administration of the ECCC05 September 2013<br />
<br />
On behalf of the national judicial officers and staff of the ECCC, I would like to acknowledge<br />
the efforts made by all involved stakeholders -- the Royal Government of Cambodia, the United<br />
Nations, and the donors -- to support the court to fulfill its mandate from the beginning until<br />
now.<br />
<br />
As at 31 August 2013, total cumulative funds provided by the donors countries to the ECCC<br />
National Component amount to US$46.7 million, including in-cash contributions of US$8.7<br />
million from the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). The latter has continuously increased<br />
its funding contributions on yearly basis from its US$0.6 million in 2006 to US$1.8 million in<br />
2013. In addition, the RGC has also provided in-kind contributions totalling US$9.5 million from<br />
2006 to 2012. In total, the contributions from the RGC are equivalent to 10% of the Court’s<br />
overall costs.<br />
<br />
Once again, the ECCC is facing the same crisis of lack of funding that has occurred every year,<br />
and which is seriously damaging to the morale of all the national judicial officers and staff, as<br />
well as to our international colleagues. Due to fact that this time the national judicial officers<br />
and staff have not received their salary for three months, it is hardly surprising that the Court is<br />
presently facing a high risk of disruption of its work.<br />
<br />
I wish to express our thanks to a number of donors who worked with the Royal Government of<br />
Cambodia and the United Nations to take new measures to address the previous funding crisis<br />
several months ago, and who are again at this crucial moment actively considering possible<br />
further measures. We remain hopeful that this present crisis will be resolved, preferably on a<br />
firm basis that prevents its recurrence, so that the ECCC can go on smoothly to discharge its<br />
historic mandate.<br />
<br />
I am also thankful to all the national judicial officers and staff who are at this moment calm and<br />
patient, and I hope that those who have suspended their work will be willing and able to return to<br />
active duty as soon as we receive positive news on resolving the current funding crisisis.<br />
In this regard, we appreciate the renewed commitment expressed in the statement made on 04<br />
September 2013 by Ambassador David Scheffer, the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Expert on<br />
United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials, as well as his efforts, together with<br />
Cambodian government representative, His Excellency Keo Remy, Secretary of State of the<br />
Office of the Council of Ministers, to seek further contributions, especially from new donors.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-67308928758603227382013-09-05T13:25:00.000+07:002013-09-05T13:25:17.193+07:00An audience with Queen For A Night? No, thanks! <a href="http://theadvisorcambodia.com/2013/09/05/"> Sep 05, 2013</a><br />
<div class="blog-author">
<span class="head">By :</span> <a href="http://theadvisorcambodia.com/byline/cassandra-naji/" rel="tag">Cassandra Naji</a></div>
<br />
There comes a time in the life of every feminist critic and writer
when, according to the law of sod, she happens across a press release
bearing the immortal first line: ‘Vincent Broustet invites us into the
passionate world of young Khmer women.’ To review or not to review, she
wonders. Don’t be ridiculous. Martha, fetch me my gun.<br />
<br />
My pen! I mean my pen! How Freudian, please excuse. Anyway, how kind
of Monsieur Broustet to invite us to his exhibition, let us proceed post
haste to see what we can see. The passionate world of young Khmer
women, otherwise known as Broustet’s solo show Queen For A Night, is
only on view in Siem Reap until October 31; what if you want to see it
twice?? We should hurry.<br />
<br />
Queen For A Night focuses on Khmer women’s “transformation from
everyday selves into unabashed beauties for Cambodian weddings and other
significant occasions”. Unabashed! Saucy minxes that they are. That may
sound like an excuse for us all to ogle women in various stages of
undress and picturesque disarray, hair all of a tumble, ballgown
slipping cheekily off one ‘unabashed’ shoulder, but undoubtedly the
exhibition’s iconographic subtext contains some contrapuntal critique.<br />
<br />
Assiduously, your feminist reviewer scans the aforementioned press
release for thoughtful comment on the egregious sins of the male gaze,
or a meaty gobbet of French philosophy at the very least. “The ritual of
preparing for special events takes hours of enthusiastic groundwork,
usually beginning with a visit to a favourite hair salon to have tresses
elaborately styled and curled.” Tonsorially accurate, no doubt, no
doubt, but few of us go to exhibitions to think about curling tongs, it
must be said.<br />
<br />
Ever investigative, your roving reporter buttonholed Robina Hanley,
manager of McDermott Gallery in Siem Reap, to explain further. “You are
unable to tell the difference in the girl who works in a factory from
the girl who comes straight from the countryside. Neither girl is chic
in her everyday life, but when she has a chance to dress for a ceremony
or party, she is usually unrecognisable, sometimes full of confidence,
sometimes a little embarrassed. Vincent sees this every day in Cambodia
and when you examine his paintings you can see tenderness and respect in
every brushstroke.”<br />
<br />
That brings us to the paintings themselves. Influenced by “Rembrandt,
Hugo Pratt and all the great artists in between,” Broustet positions
his work firmly in the Impressionist tradition, his paintings redolent
of Degas showing fleeting, flirting, fin de siecle ballet dancers.
Except with much manlier shoulders, it must be said. Suffused with slabs
of toothache-inducing satin, oddly proportioned women hover in a
perspectiveless world, largely bereft of distinctive facial features or
expression, but probably wishing they were somewhere else. So might you
be, dear viewer; so might you be.<br />
<br />
In a week when Miley Ray Cyrus has been much on everyone’s minds and
even more in our Facebook feeds, whether we like it or not, it’s
perspicacious to ask whether the kerfuffle over cultural appropriation
and neo-orientalism that resulted from Mi-Cy’s twerkathon has a wider
relevance. Broustet, who has lived and worked outside of his native
France for much of his life, says that his “sketches and paintings do
not engage in exoticism, but instead are transcriptions of moods and
atmospheres, the pursuit of what is and remains common to every human,
every landscape, every shadow”.<br />
<br />
That Broustet voluntarily exonerates himself from the charge of
exoticism before anyone has the chance to lay it at his door is
interesting. You might even say telling; I would not say that, of
course, but you might. Whether Broustet’s paintings themselves present a
postcolonial perspective of ‘the East’ – an East of sensuality, latent
sexuality and quantifiable stasis – is moot. As Broustet says, he
“doesn’t believe in exoticism; what is normal to one person can seem
exotic to another. Just because you haven’t experienced something
doesn’t make it exotic.”<br />
<br />
However, his works inarguably follow in the aesthetic tradition of
painters who essentialised non-Western places and people in this tidy
way. If you were one of the bajillion VMA viewers who was mild to
moderately offended by Miley Ray Cyrus smacking a lady-bear’s ‘juicy
butt’ before the 9pm watershed and making Willow Smith cry, you may also
be offended by other postcolonial, patriarchal narratives. So, you
know, buyer beware.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-32670235891270273572013-09-05T11:29:00.001+07:002013-09-05T11:29:27.778+07:00China's inland region key to growth<div class="byline-story1">
He Wei </div>
<div class="byline-story2">
China Daily</div>
<div class="pub_date">
Publication Date : 05-09-2013</div>
<div class="body1">
<br /></div>
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has identified China's inland areas as "the biggest space" for the nation's development.<br /><br />
Li made the remarks in a pavilion tour during the 10th China-Asean Expo
in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.<br /><br />
The city serves as a key gateway connecting China and its neighbours to the southeast.<br /><br />
The east-to-west shift is the trend for economic development, said the
premier, as China's opening up follows the path that extends from the
coast to the inland regions.<br /><br />
While maintaining the quality of growth in coastal areas, Li said much
attention should be paid to exploring the possibilities of development
in inland areas.<br /><br />
"It is therefore an inevitable choice to bolster the development of the
three emerging economic powerhouses: the old northeast industrial bases,
the middle and western regions adjacent to the Yangtze River and the
southern and middle-western hinterlands," Li said.<br /><br />
The premier voiced the hope that the northwest areas will also become new frontiers in the regional opening up.<br /><br />
He called for the creation of favourable conditions to promote synergy
among the eastern, middle and western parts of the country, so that
regions complement one another and build on their respective advantages.<br /><br />
Li said he placed high hopes on unlocking the potential of the middle
and western areas, which should play an active role in the westward
migration of industries, and pushing ahead the opening of domestic and
international markets.<br /><br />
Accompanied by local government authorities and residents, Li on Tuesday
began his first trip as premier to the 10th anniversary expo, which
attracted more than 2,300 companies from China and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations. The expo has become an important platform to
promote trade and relationships.<br /><br />
With Li at the wheel, a simulated transportation graphic portrayed a
dense network of cruise routes connecting Guangxi's Qinzhou port and 10
ports around Asean.<br /><br />
Better connectivity between China and Asean can only be achieved through
intensified infrastructure development, which removes the final barrier
to technology transfer and person-to-person contact, said Huang Hao,
sales director of Guangxi Sacred New Energy Co Ltd, who was present at
the event.<br /><br />
In light of the "diamond decade" that China and Asean are marking, Li
encouraged Guangxi to firmly grasp its opportunities by fully leveraging
its proximity to the sea and some 600 million people. Li urged Guangxi
to strive to become a strategic focal point of local development.<br /><br />
Talking to young performers wearing their national costumes, Li said
China and Asean members are like a big family with a common culture and
vision for development.<br /><br />
"Bilateral relations will have a splendid future, like a brocade you are embroidering," he said.<br /><br />
In a pavilion with the theme "International Economic Cooperation", Li
was introduced by some Chinese enterprises to their investment and
business performances in Asean.<br /><br />
To achieve a win-win outcome and mutual reciprocity, Li urged them to
abide by local laws and regulations, respect local customs, fulfill
their social responsibilities and bring benefits to local people.<br /><br />
The premier was shown the use of agricultural and information technology in Asean markets at several high-tech booths.<br /><br />
He stressed the importance of locating mutual demand as a driving force
to spark technological innovation and broaden the fields of cooperation.<br /><br />
Li also welcomed foreign businessmen to ride China's economic boom to
expand their business in China and make more Chinese friends.<br /><br />
Ty Channa, deputy director of the Cambodian Agricultural Research and
Development Institute, said that strengthened bilateral ties can aid
Asean, notably Cambodia, weather a slow global economy.<br /><br />
Huang Jincheng, assistant chief editor of the Malaysian newspaper
Oriental Daily, said Li's remarks show the Chinese government's
sincerity and its attention to Asean.<br /><br />
He added that it is quite necessary for China and Asean to develop close
ties and there is great potential for bilateral cooperation in
commerce, trade and culture.<br /><br />
To deepen pragmatic economic cooperation, Li proposed "an upgraded
version" of the China-Asean Free Trade Area, adding that the Chinese
side will strive to expand bilateral trade to US$1 trillion by 2020 and
increase bilateral investment by $150 billion during the next eight
years.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-12453822376831546862013-09-05T11:28:00.000+07:002013-09-05T11:28:13.046+07:00US embassy warns its citizens to avoid mass protest in CambodiaXinhua | 2013-9-5<br />
By Agencies<br />
<br />
The US embassy on Wednesday urged its citizens to keep away from a mass
demonstration staged by the Cambodian opposition on Sept. 7 against the
controversial poll result.<br /><br />"Although recent political gatherings
in Cambodia after the July 28 election have been largely nonviolent,
even demonstrations or events intended to be peaceful can turn
confrontational and possibly escalate into violence without warning,"
said a message posted on the website of the US Embassy in Cambodia.<br /><br />"The
US Embassy encourages you to avoid large crowds and immediately leave
any area where crowds are gathering," the message said. "You should
remain alert to local security developments by monitoring local news
reports, be vigilant regarding your personal security and preparedness."<br /><br />The
warning came after Sam Rainsy, President of the Cambodia National
Rescue Party (CNRP) announced last Thursday that the party would hold a
mass nonviolent demonstration on Sept. 7 against the initial election
result which delivered the ruling Cambodian People's Party a victory.<br /><br />The opposition said about 20,000 protesters would rally at the capital's Freedom Park on that day.<br /><br />The final result will be officially released on Sept. 8.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-71542441176532486062013-09-05T11:26:00.000+07:002013-09-05T11:26:02.568+07:00 Japanese Investor in Talks to Take Stake in TV3 <div class="postmeta" style="text-align: left !important;">
By <a href="http://www.cambodiadaily.com/author/hul-reaksmey/" rel="author" title="Posts by Hul Reaksmey">Hul Reaksmey</a> and <a href="http://www.cambodiadaily.com/author/wilwohl/" rel="author" title="Posts by Joshua Wilwohl">Joshua Wilwohl</a> </div>
<div class="postmeta" style="text-align: left !important;">
September 5, 2013 </div>
The Cambodia Daily<br />
<br />
<br />
Japan’s TriAsia Group is in talks to acquire a majority stake in
local television station TV3 and plans to broadcast Japanese-language
shows, the television channel’s owner confirmed Wednesday.<br />
According to TV3’s owner, Khampun Keomony, revenues at the channel
have been dropping, which prompted him to look for new investment.<br />
<span id="more-41707"></span><br />
“We perhaps keep 20 percent… and give them an 80 percent share,” Mr.
Keomony said. “We can say our income dropped by 80 percent…. If we don’t
beef up our capital, we will not move forward because there are so many
[TV] stations in our country now,” he added.<br />
<br />
The stake in TV3 would be TriAsia’s second investment in Cambodia.
Its first was the establishment of the Kiriya coffee shop chain in Phnom
Penh’s Boeng Keng Kang I commune last year.<br />
<br />
Officials at TriAsia said Wednesday the deal was not yet complete and declined to comment further.<br />
TriAsia CEO Yokoi Tomoyuki wrote on his personal blog on Friday that
the firm had signed a deal to obtain 80 percent of TV3. However, the
blog post was removed from the website after a reporter inquired about
the investment.<br />
<br />
“It was agreed to acquire from Khampun Keomony, the current owner of
[TV3], 80 percent of the outstanding shares,” Mr. Tomoyuki wrote.<br />
<br />
He also wrote that negotiations with Mr. Keomony started in May and
that the venture would be the first Japanese-backed television station
in Cambodia.<br />
<br />
But Mr. Tomoyuki wrote little about his company’s plans for TV3,
other than that the station would offer “excellent” Japanese content.<br />
<br />
When the deal will go through is currently up in the air because the
Phnom Penh Municipality owns part of the television channel and any
agreement to sell a majority stake would need approval from City Hall,
said its spokesman, Long Dimanche.<br />
<br />
Mr. Keomony dismissed City Hall’s involvement and claimed the city
had broken their contract with him when they forced him to move TV3’s
headquarters from Russian Boulevard in Phnom Penh’s Prampi Makara
district to Street 593 in Russei Keo district.<br />
<br />
“[The deal] is up to me,” he said.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-64597119853845105892013-09-05T11:20:00.004+07:002013-09-05T11:20:59.316+07:00Cambodia: Government Obstructs Khmer Rouge Court <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tribunal Staff Unpaid
Since May; End Hun Sen Delaying Tactics</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(New York, September
5, 2013) – The Cambodian government’s refusal to pay local staff at the Khmer
Rouge tribunal is the latest attempt to undermine efforts to bring former Khmer
Rouge leaders to justice, Human Rights Watch said today. <b><br />
<br />
</b>On September 2, 2013, more than half of the Cambodians working on the
government payroll at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of <a href="http://www.hrw.org/asia/cambodia" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">Cambodia</span></a> (ECCC), set up to try members of the Khmer
Rouge, went on strike to protest the government’s failure to pay their salaries
since May. The strike includes interpreters, translators, and various judicial
and technical staff. The failure to pay staff threatens efforts to finish the
first segment of the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu
Samphan. Closing statements in the case are scheduled for October and a verdict
is expected in the first half of 2014. <b><br />
<br />
</b>“Prime Minister Hun Sen has spent years obstructing the trials of former
Khmer Rouge leaders, but donors to the court have played along and continued to
subsidize a seriously compromised court,” said <a href="http://www.hrw.org/bios/brad-adams" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">Brad Adams</span></a>, Asia director at Human Rights
Watch. “Donors should finally call his bluff and withhold future contributions
until the Cambodian government pays its agreed share of the costs of holding
the Khmer Rouge accountable.” <b><br />
<br />
</b>Under the agreement with the United Nations establishing the ECCC, the UN
pays the salaries of UN-appointed staff, while the Cambodian government pays
the salaries of government-appointed staff. The government has regularly
demanded contributions from donors to pay the salaries of government-appointed
staff. The resulting withholding of salaries by the government has periodically
hobbled the court’s work. <b><br />
<br />
</b>International donors, led by Japan, have been the sole bankrollers of the
UN side of the ECCC. Some have also previously provided financial assistance to
pay some of the government’s agreed share, though donors have said they would
no longer do so. <b><br />
<br />
</b>The ECCC was set up in 2006 following an agreement with the United Nations
according to which it operates within the Cambodian judiciary but with UN
assistance. The tribunal has the mandate to try “senior leaders” and others
“most responsible” for Khmer Rouge crimes from 1975-1979. However, stalling
tactics and obstruction by Hun Sen and the Cambodian government mean that thus
far it has only convicted one person: Kaing Gech Eav, alias Duch, the chief of
the notorious Tuol Sleng prison and torture center. Duch confessed to his
crimes in case 001 and was ultimately sentenced to life in prison. <b><br />
<br />
</b>Two of the four “senior leaders” charged by the ECCC have either died or
been declared too ill to stand trial. The two “senior leaders” still on trial,
Nuon Chea, 87, and Khieu Samphan, 82, are charged with genocide, crimes against
humanity, and war crimes in case 002. Concern that they might also die before a
verdict led to a Trial Chamber decision to have a first trial segment trying
them only in connection with the Khmer Rouge relocation in 1975 of urban
Cambodians and others to rural areas previously under Khmer Rouge control. A
trial for other crimes for which they are indicted, including genocide, may
never happen. <b><br />
<br />
</b>Attempts by UN prosecutors and judges to investigate five additional Khmer
Rouge suspects – divided into cases 003 and 004 – have been publicly and
repeatedly opposed by Hun Sen. One died, and the health of several others is
precarious. A UN-nominated investigating judge is currently investigating cases
003 and 004, attempting to ascertain whether some or all of the four suspects
should be indicted for trial. But without government cooperation, trials will
be impossible. <b><br />
<br />
</b>While Hun Sen has blocked the tribunal from holding speedy trials and
limited the number of accused, many Cambodian staff have worked hard to bring
the alleged perpetrators of some of the world’s worst international crimes to
justice. However, many staffers are bitter at what they have described to Human
Rights Watch as government interference and corruption at the court, which has
contributed to the readiness of many to stop work in the face of government
nonpayment of their salaries. One told Human Rights Watch: “Why should we work
for free if the government doesn’t really care about who committed most of the
crimes or our standard of living?” <b><br />
<br />
</b>“Prime Minister Hun Sen has never been committed to prosecuting more than a
few Khmer Rouge leaders, apparently to protect members of his party and
government who were also in the Khmer Rouge,” Adams said. “The government has
demonstrated it has plenty of cash to pay a bloated army and buy elections,
making its refusal to put money into the Khmer Rouge tribunal a symbol of its
utter contempt for justice in Cambodia. Donors and the UN should insist that
the Cambodian government stop pretending to be too poor to provide
accountability to the millions of victims of the Khmer Rouge.”</span>Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-31272887048993084702013-09-03T13:51:00.000+07:002013-09-03T13:51:10.153+07:00Thai Central aims to invest up to $468 mln in Southeast Asia<div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1378191032463_1027">
BANGKOK, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Central Pattana Pcl,
Thailand's largest department store operator, plans to invest up
to 15 billion baht ($468 million) to open 2-3 new stores in
Southeast Asia in the next five years.</div>
Central aims to spend about 4-5 billion baht per a store and
planned to open its first foreign department store in Malaysia
in 2016, said Wallaya Chirathivat, the company's senior
executive vice president for business development.<br />
<br />
"We see growth opportunities to invest in Southeast Asia as
it will become a single market," he said in a statement.<br />
<br />
Central Pattana, part of unlisted retail conglomerate
Central Group, is majority owned by Thailand's Chirathivat
family, the country's second-richest group, according to Forbes
Magazine.<br />
($1 = 32.0700 Thai baht)<br />
<br />
<br />
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-34340642864804057142013-09-03T13:49:00.004+07:002013-09-03T13:49:56.847+07:00Cambodians block border bridge<div class="preParagraph">
Sept 3, 2013</div>
<div class="preParagraph">
Bangkok Post</div>
<div class="preParagraph">
<br /></div>
<div class="preParagraph">
Cambodian vendors have blockaded the
Thai-Cambodian Friendship bridge near the Aranyaprathet border
checkpoint in a protest against a crackdown on pirated goods by Thai
authorities.</div>
<div class="preParagraph">
<br /></div>
They used more than 10 two-wheeled pushcarts as a barrier to block
the bridge lane heading into Thailand on Monday. The protest paralysed
traffic between Sa Kaeo and Banteay Meanchey province in Cambodia.<br />
The vendors accused Thai officials of prohibiting them from selling
second-hand clothes at the Rong Kruea border market in Thailand. Thai
authorities denied the allegation during talks with the vendors.<br />
<br />
The officials admitted confiscating some goods, but said this applied
only to pirated goods, including bags and shoes, which were being
smuggled across the border hidden in other products.<br />
The vendors dispersed after the talks.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-48069075375238843362013-09-03T13:49:00.000+07:002013-09-03T13:49:02.596+07:00Cambodia: Can a Deadlock Be Broken?<span class="byline"><b>Tuesday, 3 September 2013</b><br />
<b>Press Release: <a href="http://info.scoop.co.nz/Asian_Human_Rights_Commission">Asian Human Rights Commission</a></b></span>
<br />
<strong>Cambodia: Can a Deadlock Be Broken?</strong><br />
There
is no problem that lacks a solution, though we may not like
our choices. Manmade problems are solvable through
imaginative, productive, creative thinking and carefully
thought-out action. Some predicaments are harder to deal
with than others. The pain from the loss of loved ones does
not heal overnight. Some learn to live and cope with loss,
some seek professional help, some never move on.<br />
There is
a Khmer saying that goes, <i>Choss toek kropeu, leung leu
khla </i>– there is crocodile in the river, there is tiger
on the bank. Yet, being imaginative and creative can help
beat such a circumstance. There are alternatives, and a
better alternative does come along.<br />
<br />
Lord Buddha says,
"Nothing is permanent." Life is a series of choices. There
is not a perfect world. One makes the choice one thinks
takes one closer to an ideal state.<br />
<br />
At present, Cambodians
have worked themselves into a political deadlock. There are
two rivals: The Cambodian People's Party that has ruled
Cambodia since January 1979 with Vietnamese help, and the
opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, a mid-2012 merger
of the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party, that
seeks to change the status quo.<br />
<br />
Right after the national
election on July 28, the CPP government-appointed National
Election Commission rushed to declare preliminary election
results that favored the CPP with 68 seats and CNRP, 55
seats. The CNRP objected, and declared it had been robbed of
its election victory through election irregularities and
flaws – a claim backed by many non-governmental
organizations. If the election had been free and fair, the
CNRP says, it would have won a majority with 63 seats –
leaving the CPP with 60 seats in a parliament of 123
members.<br />
<br />
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The CNRP demanded an investigation by an
independent joint committee, failing which street protests
and boycotting of the first session of the parliament would
take place.<br />
<br />
Taunting, rhetoric, threats spiraled and
augmented tension and news outlets reported the deployment
of government troops and armored vehicles.<br />
<br />
A few days
after the election, on August 2, in a speech to farmers in
Kandal province, Premier Hun Sen said that the
constitutional rule of 50 percent plus one majority makes a
CNRP boycott of the inauguration of a new parliament
immaterial, for it cannot prevent the formation of a new CPP
government: "We don't need to depend on or beg another
political party to attend a meeting." He warned the CPP
would take away the seats of CNRP legislators who are
no-shows.<br />
<br />
Hun Sen's interpretation of the constitution has
been questioned. Attorney Sok Sam Oeun, executive director
of the Cambodia Defenders, asserted that a quorum of 120 out
of 123 legislators is required to open a new national
assembly. Article 76 of Cambodia's 1993 Constitution
stipulates, "The National Assembly consists of at least 120
members."<br />
<br />
It may be the logic of CNRP leaders that without
the presence of CNRP legislators at the National Assembly,
there would not be the quorum required to open the Assembly;
that without an Assembly a new CPP government, which it must
approve, cannot come into being. Thus, a CNRP leader told
me, "Time is on our side and we are fully aware we hold the
key to a new Cambodia."<br />
<br />
Talks failed on forming the joint
committee requested by CNRP leaders to investigate alleged
election irregularities. Then talks restarted, and talks
failed again. The talks were doomed from the start, as
reports indicated that neither party entered negotiations in
a spirit of compromise, only with demands that the other
party yield. The CPP wanted a joint committee to include the
pro-government NEC. The CNRP objected. The CNRP, which first
wanted the United Nations to be a negotiator, softened its
stand and proposed observer status for a UN representative.
The CPP objected to any foreign involvement.<br />
<br />
But credit
must be given to the CNRP as it declared in its latest
statement on August 31: The CNRP wants a joint, independent,
investigating committee to resolve election irregularities.
"After this independent committee has been established and
carried out all of its duties, the CNRP will accept any
decisions made by this independent committee."<br />
<br />
If the CPP
is certain it has won fair and square, why not agree to a
joint committee?<br />
<br />
CNRP leaders have consistently vowed to
try all avenues to find a peaceful solution to the election
conflict and have promised that street protests would be a
last resort. CPP leaders have warned they will arrest those
responsible for any violence and destruction.<br />
<br />
The CNRP
filed its complaints at the Constitutional Council, another
CPP-controlled institution, which is required by law to
render a final verdict on election results by September 8
– a verdict CNRP leaders expect will repeat the NEC's
announcement favoring the CPP.<br />
<br />
The <i>Ramvong</i> circle
dance is what the words say, a dance in a circle according
to the drum beats, <i>thak-thong thak-thong.</i> Some
foreign participants joined the circle briefly and left
Cambodian circle dancers to perform their <i>chak
kbach.</i><br />
<br />
On August 20, US and Australian diplomats in
Phnom Penh renewed calls for an investigation of election
irregularities. A few days earlier, the European Union High
Commissioner's statement said, "Alleged irregularities will
have to be dealt with before the final result can be
announced" – i.e., on September 8.<br />
But one day after, on
August 21, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
congratulated and welcomed "the victory" of Premier Hun Sen
and the CPP. The Chinese urged "all (Cambodian) parties" to
hold talks peacefully and "to put in place quickly a new
National Assembly and a new government."<br />
<br />
Wang then warned
outsiders: China – whose government provided Phnom Penh
with 1,000 handguns and 50,000 rounds of ammunition for
Cambodia's National Police just two days after the election,
and has given more than 2.8 billion dollars in aid and loans
to Cambodia since 1992 – will not tolerate "outside"
interference in Cambodia's political process.<br />
<br />
CNRP leaders
have seemed to follow the late King Father's "popular
consultation" technique when he was a Prince and the
country's Chief of State. CNRP President Sam Rainsy and Vice
President Kem Sokha toured Cambodia's provinces to report
election-related developments to the electorate, to consult
the electorate on their thoughts about the next course of
action. On August 25, the CNRP held its public hearing,
"Voters Seek Truth and Justice" at Freedom Park. Authorities
said the number of participants would be limited to five or
six thousand; between 10,000 and 20,000 people showed
up.<br />
<br />
The impression I have formed from correspondence and
news reports is that the CNRP public hearing is reminiscent
of the late King Father's <i>Sakmach Cheat</i> or National
Congress. In the 1960s I attended a few congresses at Phnom
Penh's Veal Men, where citizens from different provinces
came to raise issues and present requests to those in
authority. Scholars and writers referred to the <i>Sakmach
Cheat</i> as a kind of town hall meeting under Prince
Sihanouk's chairmanship – a "direct democracy," some
called it.<br />
<br />
The CNRP public hearing "Voters Seek Truth and
Justice" brought mostly CNRP supporters and sympathizers and
interested citizens to Freedom Park, where both sides
exchanged views on how to seek "Truth," i.e., what really
happened at the July 28 election, and "Justice," i.e.,
remedies for the irregularities and flaws that prevented the
voters' true wishes from being implemented.<br />
<br />
The hearing
was reportedly lively. I enjoyed James Pringle's piece
(8/29) that described the event (good cheer, laughing
people, an old folk song sung by CNRP Mu Sochua, speeches,
applause, brave words from participants, among
others).<br />
<br />
"This is to fulfill our responsibility, to keep
the people engaged, and to take their complaints to His
Majesty (King Sihamoni) at some point," a CNRP leader told
me.<br />
<br />
A subsequent statement released by the CNRP called on
the CPP to hold talks to establish an independent
investigative committee to examine election irregularities.
The statement repeated the CNRP position that failure to
form such a committee would compel "the last resort . . . a
mass peaceful demonstration against the result of the
election. It will be held on September 7." The international
community would be urged not to recognize the election
results, nor any government created by those results.<br />
The
CPP responded it also wanted to talk.<br />
<br />
But these exchanges
were only the <i>chak kbach</i> movements by the <i>Ramvong
</i>circle dancers. There cannot be talks between two
non-talkers.<br />
<br />
On August 29, a CNRP training session
facilitated by an NGO was provided to CNRP working groups on
tactics for a nonviolent and peaceful mass protest on
September 7. Two protest rehearsals were planned for
September 1 and 5.<br />
<br />
Sam Rainsy took the time to clarify
that the purpose of the mass demonstration is to reinforce
the demand for creation of an independent investigative
committee.<br />
<br />
As the CNRP has its first rehearsal on
September 1, the Phnom Penh Municipality gave a special
training to 2,000 anti-riot police on how to handle the
September 7 mass protest.<br />
<br />
Last Friday, August 30, came a
royal letter from King Sihamoni, who is in Beijing for a
medical check-up. He called on Cambodians to respect the
Constitution, the supreme law of the land, and use it to
resolve their conflict. A day later, CNRP MP Mu Sochua
posted on her Website: "His Majesty has called for the
respect of the Constitution" and "The voters will use the
Constitution as the supreme law of the nation to call for
freedom, rights and justice."<br />
<br />
That brings me back to the
CNRP's mini-congress at Freedom Park on August 25 and on
what reminded me of the late King Father's legacy,
<i>Sakmach Cheat</i> or the National Congress.<br />
<br />
In light of
His Majesty King Sihamoni's call, would it not be in the
Cambodian people's interest to seek implementation of
Article 147 of Cambodia's 1993 Constitution (formerly
Article 128) on the National Congress?<br />
<br />
Article 147
stipulates, "The National Congress shall enable the people
to be directly informed on various matters of national
interests and <i>to raise issues and requests for the State
authority to solve."</i> (Italics mine)<br />
<br />
In the old days,
Cambodians from remote areas of the kingdom traveled to
Phnom Penh for a few days to participate in the <i>Sakmach
Cheat. </i>Of course, some government officials exploited
their ignorance and fear of authority, and manipulated
issues for the officials' own benefits. Yet, some folks had
the courage to speak their minds.<br />
<br />
Today, I am focusing on
Cambodia's supreme law of the land that provides an
opportunity for the people "to raise issues and requests for
the State authority to solve." I am also focusing on Article
149 (formerly Article 130) which stipulates, "The National
Congress shall adopt recommendations for consideration by
the State authorities, Senate and the Assembly."<br />
<br />
I see the
recent CNRP public hearing as a mini-<i>Sakmach</i> that
seized the spirit of Article 147. Why not take this CNRP
mini-<i>Sakmach</i> of supporters and sympathizers, and
concerned citizens, a step further and convene a <i>Sakmach
Cheat</i> with emphasis on <i>Cheat </i>on National/Nation
to include the Khmer people from anywhere in the country and
members and supporters of all political parties ready,
willing, and able to attend? Let the world observe how, when
an army and a police force do not engage in politics, but
remain neutral institutions, the people would be able to
come to a peaceful solution to the country's problems?<br />
The
July 28 election has shown us that the Cambodian people on
the whole have developed and matured in their thinking. They
may lack political sophistication, but they are no longer
seduced by the glitz of new construction in the capital.
They know they are hungry, that many have had their land
confiscated, that there are not health services, good
schools for their children, or the capacity have their basic
needs met. Their souls long for a higher level of
contentment. They may not understand what change entails,
but they know what they don't want. So they voted. And now
they question how it was possible for this election to have
been lost. What went wrong?<br />
<br />
I am conscious that in Article
148 (formerly Article 129), it's the Prime Minister who has
the responsibility to convene the National Congress that
shall proceed under the King's chairmanship. I don't expect
the CPP Prime Minister, to convene such a meeting, at which
he would be confronted by dissatisfied citizens; but let
there be an official request to the Prime Minister and the
King. The King's recent letter reminded Cambodians of
"responsible institutions" "tasked" by the Constitution to
resolve national issues. Is the National Congress not an
institution tasked by Article 147 and Article 149 to serve
the people? I expect many reasons to be given why the
<i>Sakmach Cheat</i> cannot be convened. Let the explanation
flow. And let the people express what they think on
September 7.<br />
<br />
But if the answer is a Yes to a <i>Sakmach
Cheat,</i> then let the Cambodian people come from across
the land on September 7 to gather in Phnom Penh "to raise
issues and requests for the State authority to solve," and
to "adopt recommendations for consideration by the State
authorities, Senate and the Assembly."<br />
I like to think
positively and take risks to reach an ideal.<br />
<br />
If my ideas
do not meet with your approval, you have only lost about 15
minutes of your time reading and you can toss this article
away. But what if an idea or a process suggested here
catalyzes productive change? I seek only to make Cambodia a
better place for its citizens. I thank my compatriots for
reading this article.<br />
.................<br />
<i>The AHRC is
not responsible for the views shared in this article, which
do not necessarily reflect its own.</i><br />
<strong><i>About
the Author:</i></strong><br />
Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth is retired
from the University of Guam, where he taught political
science for 13 years. He currently lives in the United
States.<br />
# # #<br />
<strong><i>About AHRC:</i></strong> <i>The
Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental
organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents
violations and advocates for justice and institutional
reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these
rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in
1984.</i><br />
<strong>ENDS</strong>
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-84112673800198499602013-09-03T13:47:00.000+07:002013-09-03T13:47:11.936+07:00PM Dung holds talks with Chinese, Cambodian counterparts<div class="article_content" id="content">
<strong>Timor-Leste PM visit to promote relations </strong><br />
Timor-Leste
(formerly East Timor) Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao will pay an official
visit to Viet Nam for three days from tomorrow, Sept 4, to promote
bilateral relations.<br />
<br />
The visit, made at the invitation of his
Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, will be the second one by
Gusmao. He first visited Viet Nam in 2005 as President of Timor-Leste.<br />
<br />
The
two nations established diplomatic ties on July 28, 2002, but relations
began in 1975 when Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for an Independent
Timor Leste) unilaterally declared independence. Viet Nam was one of the
first countries to recognise Timor-Leste's independence.<br />
<br />
<strong>Prime Minister holds talks with Chinese, Cambodian counterparts </strong><br />
Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has reiterated the Vietnamese Party and
State's long-lasting and consistent policy of consolidating and
strengthening neighbourliness and co-operation with China. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="image center" style="width: 400px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="Timor-Leste PM, China-ASEAN Expo, East Sea, Egypt" height="314" src="http://img.cdn2.vietnamnet.vn/Images/english/2013/09/03/10/20130903101900-ntd.jpg" title="Timor-Leste PM, China-ASEAN Expo, East Sea, Egypt" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="image_desc"><em>Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday (Sept 2) in Nanning City. </em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During
his talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Nanning City yesterday,
Sept 2, to mark the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 10th China-ASEAN
Business-Investment Summit, Dung spoke highly of China and the Guangxi
Zhuang Autonomous region's careful preparations.<br />
<br />
During the last
10 years, he said that CAEXPO has become one of the most prestigious and
influential expos in the region and a good chance for ASEAN and China
to strengthen their strategic partnership.<br />
<br />
Premier Li said the
delegation's participation in the expo and summit reflected Viet Nam's
appreciation of strengthening the relationship with China.<br />
<br />
He said
that the Chinese Party, State and people were willing to deepen the
comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two
countries.<br />
<br />
Viet Nam and China have agreed to increase
high-ranking visits and meetings, enhance co-operation for mutual
benefit in all fields in order to fulfill the target of raising
bilateral trade to $60 billion by 2015 and implement joint large-scale
economic projects, especially those in infrastructure while
strengthening people-to-people exchanges.<br />
<br />
Regarding sea-related
issues, the two sides held that both nations needed to together maintain
peace and stability in the East Sea, control the situation at sea and
resolve every matter via peaceful negotiations. <br />
PM Dung
emphasised that the two sides should strictly obey the agreement on
basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between
Viet Nam and China, settle disputes by peaceful means and on the basis
of international law.<br />
<br />
He suggested the two countries soon put
into operation and promote the efficiency of hotlines between the two
defence ministries and fishery agencies as agreed. He said this would
help promptly deal with arising problems, especially those relating to
fishing vessels and fishermen.<br />
<br />
Dung invited Premier Li to visit
Viet Nam at an early date and the latter accepted. Later, the Vietnamese
Government leader received Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
Region, Chen Wu, and Yunnan province's Governor, Ly Jiheng.<br />
<br />
The
same day, also in Nanning City, Dung met with his Cambodian counterpart,
Hun Sen, during which he congratulated Cambodia on its achievements in
national development and the success of the fifth general election.<br />
<br />
Prime
Minister Hun Sen thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their
support and assistance in the past and said that the Cambodian
Government would continue to make every effort to maintain stability in
the country, thus contributing to regional and international peace.<br />
<br />
The
China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 10th China-ASEAN Business-Investment
Summit (CABIS) have attracted the participation of more than 100
Vietnamese businesses from 17 provinces and cities. <br />
Last year, Vietnamese businesses signed deals worth more than $90 million with foreign partners at CAEXPO.<br />
<br />
<strong>Viet Nam, Nicaragua enhance friendship </strong><br />
Le
Hong Anh, politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party
of Viet Nam Central Committee, is leading a delegation to visit
Nicaragua from August 31, at the invitation of the Sandinista National
Liberation Front (FSLN).<br />
<br />
Anh congratulated Nicaragua on the
developments it has made under the leadership of the FSLN Party and
President Daniel Ortega in order to build a socialist, Catholic and
united country for social justice, national harmony and for the
happiness of the working class.<br />
<br />
Addressing the meetings, leaders
of local authorities praised Viet Nam's achievements in national
building, considering them an encouragement for Nicaraguans and people
all over the world.<br />
<br />
They expressed their wish that the
traditional relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples
will grow further, especially in trade and investment.<br />
<br />
<strong>Lao newspapers highlights Vietnam’s National Day</strong><br />
On
the occasion of Vietnam’s 68th National Day (September 2), Lao
newspapers ran the congratulations of the country’s leaders as well as
articles featuring Vietnam’s multifaceted achievements and the special
relations between the two nations.<br />
<br />
The first pages of such
newspapers as Pasason, Pathet Lao, KPL News, Vientiane Times and Lao
Phattahana published the congratulations of General Secretary of the Lao
People’s Revolutionary Party and President Chummaly Sayasone, Prime
Minister Thoongsinh Thammavong and National Assembly Chairwoman Pani
Dathotu.<br />
<br />
They asserted the firm development of the Vietnam-Laos
special relationship for the two peoples’ interests as well as regional
and global peace, development and cooperation.<br />
<br />
Pasason newspaper,
the official organ of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, recounted
the historic August Revolution and printed a photo of President Ho Chi
Minh reading the Declaration of Independence on September 2 to mark the
establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.<br />
<br />
The
newspapers reiterated that the two countries’ special friendship and
solidarity, which were formed by President Ho Chi Minh and his Lao
counterparts Kayson Phomvihane and Souphanuvong as well as fostered by
later leaders and the two peoples, have become a shared asset of the two
nations that needs to be preserved and promoted in the future.<br />
<br />
On
the occasion of the 68th National Day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow
offered incense and flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Monument in the square
of the same name.<br />
<br />
Earlier, the embassy also coordinated with the
Association of Vietnamese People in Russia in holding a sports exchange
among Vietnamese here.<br />
<br />
<strong>Egypt plays important role in Vietnam’s foreign policy</strong><br />
Egypt always plays an important role in Vietnam’s foreign policy, a senior Vietnamese diplomat has said. <br />
Vietnamese
Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung has made the affirmation in an
interview with the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents on the occasion
of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries
(September 1, 1963 - September 1, 2013).<br />
<br />
The ambassador reviewed
the development of the Vietnam-Egypt relations over the five decades. He
said that solidarity and traditional relations between the two
countries have been reinforced and attained many important achievements.<br />
<br />
Especially, since 1991, bilateral relations have entered a new
period and developed in various fields, from politics, economics,
socio-culture, scien-technology to education-training, tourism and
investment.<br />
<br />
The two sides have signed many cooperative agreements
and established an intergovernmental committee in order to boost
bilateral relations, Chung said.<br />
<br />
He added that economic
cooperation has also seen a strong development. Two-way trade between
the two sides reached more than 304 million USD in 2012, making Egypt
Vietnam’s second largest market in the Middle East-North Africa region.<br />
<br />
Under
the agreement on investment encouragement and protection, Egypt and
Vietnam have discussed measures to foster investment between the two
nations in the fields of oil and gas and telecommunications. The two
sides also reached agreements to boost cooperation in aquaculture, farm
processing, veterinary medicine and plant protection products
production.<br />
<br />
Chung also said he believes that potential for
cooperation between the two countries remains huge and that bilateral
relations will develop comprehensively and intensively.<br />
<br />
He also
expressed his hope that Egypt will soon overcome difficulties and
challenges, to carry out economic reforms and improve its people’s
living conditions.<br />
<br />
<strong>Viet Nam, Angola look to enhance bilateral co-operation </strong><br />
Angola
wants to further enhance co-operation with Viet Nam's Party and people
in all areas, especially in economics, trade and investment.<br />
<br />
Vice
President of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA)
Roberto Victor De Almeida made the remarks during talks on Thursday with
his Vietnamese guest, Le Hong Anh.<br />
<br />
Anh, who is Politburo member
and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central
Committee's Secretariat, has been in Luanda for a visit to Angola.<br />
<br />
De
Almeida expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's significant
achievements in its renewal process and national construction and
defence.<br />
<br />
He spoke of gratitude for the valuable support given by
the Vietnamese Party, State and people to Angola, particularly in
education, health care and agriculture.<br />
<br />
Anh then briefed De
Almeida about his talks with Secretary of the Central Committee for
External Affairs of the MPLA Afonso Van-Dunem.<br />
<br />
He affirmed that
Viet Nam will do its utmost to step up comprehensive co-operation with
the Party and people of Angola, particularly in the areas that suit each
side's strength, such as oil and gas, telecoms, agriculture, health
care, education and construction.<br />
<br />
He expressed his hope that the
Angolan Government would continue creating favourable conditions for the
Vietnamese community to settle down in the country.<br />
<br />
Later in the
day, the Vietnamese delegation met with Candida Teceira, member of the
MPLA Central Committee, Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman
of the Sub-committee of the Viet Nam-Angola Joint Committee.<br />
<br />
Earlier
on Wednesday, the Vietnamese Party official and his entourage visited
Bengo province where they were received by Joao Bernardo De Miranda,
Politburo member and First Secretary of the Bengo provincial Party's
Committee.<br />
<br />
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to boost
co-operation in agriculture, particularly in the production of rice and
coffee and the exchange of agricultural experts.<br />
<br />
The same day, Le
Hong Anh met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola and
representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country.<br />
<br />
Late
on Thursday, the Vietnamese delegation left Angola to continue with
their trip, which will take them to Nicaragua and Cuba.<br />
<br />
<strong>Authorities assess HCM City development</strong><br />
A
Government delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh
reviewed HCM City's socio-economic performance in the last three years
and discussed goals for the next two at a meeting in the city yesterday.<br />
<br />
Ninh,
who was apprised about the city's good economic performance, said
however that the administration had to be more pro-active to achieve the
targets set for the next two years.<br />
<br />
According to the municipal
People's Committee, averaged economic growth in the last three years had
been 9.5 percent, almost twice the country's averaged rate.<br />
<br />
Ninh
described HCM City as the economic driving force for not just the region
but the whole country, with revenues reaching VND624 trillion (US$29.7
billion), or 30 percent of the country's total amount.<br />
But it
needs to help businesses overcome their problems and speed up
restructure of State-owned enterprises in the city, he said.<br />
<br />
He wanted the city to work with the State Bank of Viet Nam to deal with bad debts and liquidate the property market inventory.<br />
<br />
He
told Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the People's Committee, and his deputy
Nguyen Thi Hong, that the Government approves the city's tax revenue
plans including breaks for companies that contribute to public welfare.<br />
<br />
Despite
the achievement of the last three years, the city leaders admitted that
the quality of growth had been modest and the economic potential had
not been optimally exploited.<br />
<br />
Ninh hailed the city government for
its successful efforts to stabilise the economy and ensure social
welfare in the last few years.<br />
<br />
Despite the challenges, the city had achieved impressive results, he added.<br />
<br />
HCM City has announced plans to achieve annual economic growth of 10-10.5 percent and per capita income of US$4,800 in 2015.<br />
<br />
HCM
City has seen good signs this year with stable socio-economic growth in
the first eight months of 2013, HCM City People's Committee Chairman Le
Hoang Quan said at a meeting on Thursday.<br />
<br />
According to the
municipal People's Committee, the city saw retail sales and services
turnover rising 12.9 per cent year-on-year to VND50,794 billion (nearly
US$2.4 billion) in August.<br />
<br />
Total retail sales and services
turnover in the first eight months of 2013 was VND389,377 billion
(nearly $18.4 billion), an increase of 12.2 per cent over the same
period in 2012.<br />
<br />
Industrial production grew 5.5 per cent in the first eight months, compared to 4.2 per cent during the same period in 2012.<br />
<br />
As
of 20 August of this year, HCM City had granted licenses to 260 new
foreign direct investment projects with a total capital of $587.7
million, up by 0.43 per cent compared with the same period last year.<br />
Quan
said that in the last four months of 2013, the city will step up
efforts to promote investment, trade, tourism and services; and
strengthen the campaign to increase production and consumption of Viet
Nam-made goods in the domestic market.<br />
<br />
The city will also enhance inspections and supervision to speed up major infrastructure development projects, he said.<br />
<br />
Quan
asked the city's departments and district authorities to take measures
to help businesses overcome difficulties and expand markets for Viet
Nam-made goods.<br />
<br />
He asked relevant agencies to improve budgetary
income management by combating revenue losses, collecting tax arrears
and ensuring strict and effective expenditure control.<br />
<br />
The city
will put more than 1,200 new classrooms into operation in the new school
year that will officially opens on September 5. As a result, all
school-age children, including children of parents with temporary
residence status, will be admitted into primary schools in the city.<br />
<br />
Quan
asked the Department of Education and Training to inspect schools and
ensure that they are not charging excessive tuition fees.<br />
<br />
Addressing
the issue of the managerial cadre rewarding themselves with high
salaries and bonuses at HCM City-based State-owned companies, Quan said
these wrongdoings are "unacceptable".<br />
<br />
Even if these companies were
making profits, the money must be reserved in investment and
development funds instead of being divided up by its leaders, he said.<br />
<br />
He
said the city will take disciplinary measures against these wrongdoings
to restore order and discipline among State-owned companies.<br />
<br />
<em>VNN/VNS/VNA</em></div>
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-53635505772293379732013-09-02T15:37:00.001+07:002013-09-02T15:37:31.301+07:00Nearly 200 staffers strike at Khmer Rouge tribunal<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">AP </span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: A court spokesman for Cambodia’s
U.N.-supported Khmer Rouge tribunal says nearly 200 of its staffers have
gone on strike to demand wages that are several months overdue. </span></span></h2>
Spokesman Neth Pheakra says the majority of the court’s Cambodian
employees, including interpreters and translators essential to the
court’s functions, did not come into work Monday because their wages
have not been paid since June. <br />
<br />
U.N. spokesman Lars Olsen says the international body is very concerned
about the strike’s potential to disrupt proceedings at the tribunal,
which has faced frequent budgetary shortfalls since it began in 2006. <br />
<br />
The court is tasked with seeking justice for atrocities committed by
the communist Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s, when an estimated 1.7
million Cambodians died due to forced labor, starvation, medical neglect
and execution. Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-62068703767732468752013-09-02T15:35:00.001+07:002013-09-02T15:35:29.667+07:00Immigration police keep close watch on Cambodian Muslims in Thailand <span class="itemDateCreated">Monday, 02 September 2013</span><br />
<span class="itemAuthor">By
<a href="http://www.pattayamail.com/news/author/mcot">MCOT</a></span><br />
<span class="itemAuthor">
</span><br />
<div class="itemIntroText">
<strong>SA KAEO, Sept 2 –</strong> Thai immigration police are
closely monitoring the movement of Cambodian Muslims who entered
Thailand through the eastern border to work illegally in the South.<br />
</div>
Benjapol Rodsawat, deputy immigration police chief of Sa Kaeo
province on the Thai-Cambodian border, said about 10,000 Cambodian
Muslims entered the kingdom through the eastern border and travelled to
Malaysia via the southern border checkpoint in Su-ngai Kolok, Narathiwat
province in the past year.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.pattayamail.com/images/news/2013-pic/Sep1/02N-Sep-02.jpg" width="400" /></div>
The migrants told Thai authorities at the southern border checkpoint
that they would visit their relatives in Malaysia but they re-entered
Thailand shortly after to work in the three Muslim-predominant border
provinces without work permits, he said.<br />
<br />
Nearly 10,000 Cambodian Muslims are arrested in Narathiwat each year
and charged with illegal entry after failing to produce legal documents,
he said.<br />
<br />
The illegal Cambodian migrants have become a burden for the Thai
authorities who have to send them back via the Aranyaprathet immigration
checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province, he said.<br />
<br />
Pol Lt Col Benjapol said police could not take legal action against
the illegal migrants due to an agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.<br />
<br />
“Many Cambodian Muslims migrated to work in the South without work
permits or legal documents. It’s the responsibility of Thai authorities
to send them back to their home country without them having to pay for
travel expenses,” he said.<br />
<br />
At the checkpoint in Aranyaprathet yesterday, 57 Cambodian Muslims
were stopped but later allowed to enter Thailand after producing legal
passports with tourist visas.<br />
<br />
They told immigration police that they intended to visit their
relatives in Malaysia and would travel South to the checkpoint at
Su-ngai Kolok.<br />
<br />
Aranprayaprathet police sent their records and photos to Su-ngai
Kolok checkpoint to keep a close watch on their re-entry, police said.<br />
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-71315525368488843842013-09-02T11:26:00.000+07:002013-09-02T11:26:00.408+07:00China seeks exchanges with Asean as agri cooperation takes root<div class="byline-story1">
Hu Yongqi </div>
<div class="byline-story2">
China Daily</div>
<div class="pub_date">
Publication Date : 02-09-2013</div>
<div class="body1">
<br /></div>
Agricultural cooperation between China and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expected to get more impetus
from the increased seed and technology exchanges between the two sides
in the next few years, experts said.<br /><br />
Long Jiang, director of the Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology
Department, said that the agriculture technology transfer agreement
signed between the two sides in 2002 would be the framework for future
agricultural cooperation and for development and exchange of new
technologies.<br /><br />
China has fostered nearly 10,000 new varieties of agricultural products
in the past 30 years, he said adding that the nation's 3 billion-yuan
(US$490 million) seed bank project, started in 1995, has helped increase
annual food production by 20 million tons.<br /><br />
Long said that the keenness of both sides to enhance agricultural
cooperation was evident at a recent meeting of more than 200
agricultural professionals from various Southeast Asian nations in
Kunming, capital of Yunnan province. In their meetings with their
Chinese counterparts, these professionals agreed to step up efforts to
develop and exchange new agricultural technologies.<br /><br />
In Yunnan, more than 300 agricultural researchers and enterprises from
all over China showcased their technologies and products, especially
seeds of new breeds at the China-Asean Technology Transfer Forum on New
Technologies and Varieties of Modern Agriculture in Yunnan. In addition,
16 companies from Yunnan signed contracts with partners from Asean
nations for technology demonstration parks in super soft rice, corn and
castor oil.<br /><br />
Long said that there have been increased efforts to cultivate
agricultural professionals, boost technology exchanges and promotions,
and foster agricultural trade between the two sides.<br /><br />
The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture, the
United Nations Development programme and the Food and Agriculture
Organisation have all been providing funds for agriculture technology
transfers between the two sides, along with some private companies such
as Sime Darby from Malaysia, according to Jin Ke, director of the
national cooperation division of the International Cooperation
Department of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.<br /><br />
As one of the three research institutions directly administered by the
Agriculture Ministry, the CAAS has signed cooperation agreements with
Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines to promote technical services,
postgraduate education, joint research projects and technology
transfers, Jin said.<br /><br />
The Gates Foundation has also teamed up with CAAS and provided $18
million for research and development of super rice that was subsequently
transferred to other Asean nations like Laos and Cambodia. The super
rice has increased rice yields by 25 to 30 per cent in these nations, he
said.<br /><br />
Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng called for the development of a pilot
research centre in Asean nations during his visit to CAAS earlier this
year. According to Jin, the first centre is expected to be established
in Myanmar next year.<br /><br />
"Agriculture is the fundamental industry for both China and Asean
nations. Both sides have strong competitiveness in their own fields of
research. For example, Asean nations have more advantages in research
into tropical plants and animals," Jin said.<br /><br />
The forum was also a platform for several participants to publicise new
technologies and breeds. Shanghai Lianye Agricultural Science and
Technology Co Ltd announced a new breakthrough in fertilising technology
by developing a technique to mix water with fertilisers based on the
plant's demand and the nutritional conditions of the land. The company
has a joint venture with an Israeli enterprise to build a factory in the
Inner Mongolia autonomous region and will soon venture into the Asean
markets.<br /><br />
"Our technology will reduce the consumption of water and fertilisers to
the lowest level, and allow the plant to grow as fast as it can," said
He Longhui, technical director of Lianye.<br /><br />
Seed trade is another crucial aspect for technology transfers, says Guo
Chunyu, deputy director of the Technology Transfer centre at CAAS. Yang
Bingpeng, researcher at the Institute of Tropical Bioscience and
Biotechnology based in Haikou, capital of Hainan province, says that a
newly developed sugar cane variety can increase the sugar yield to 90
tons a hectare from the current 60 tons. "The climate in Hainan is
extremely similar to most of the Asean countries and the high-yield
variety will be a bestseller in the region," he said.<br /><br />
Lu Yixuan, chairman of the board of directors of Yunnan Jinrui Seed
Industry Co Ltd, said the super soft rice bred in Yunnan, a plateau
province at a low latitude, is ideally suited to the climate in
Southeast Asia and can help raise the yield, he says. "The yields from
the new variety could be around 225 tons a hectare and we have already
received interest from farmers in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia,"
Lu said. "We have also sent technicians to instruct the Asean farmers
on how to grow the super soft rice."<br /><br />
Viraporn Mongkolchaisit, division director of the National Science and
Technology Development Agency of Thailand, says that her institute has
signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sichuan Academy of
Agricultural Sciences to jointly cultivate expertise. Each year, the
agency deputes three researchers to Sichuan and trains five Sichuan
scientists in modern breeding techniques, she says.<br /><br />
"We have been working on new breeds resistant to bacterial wilt such as
chili, cucumber and bitter gourd. The new varieties have higher yields
and better taste as we found the antibodies against disease can keep the
plant growing more safely," she said.<br /><br />
Lu Zhizhong, a technician from the international business department of
Hubei Seeds Group says his company has exported 5,000 tons of hybrid
rice seeds to countries in Southeast and South Asia, more than 30 times
the amount in 2002.<br /><br />
In 2002, the Hubei Seeds Group became the first company to obtain an
export certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture. "Seeds, unlike
food, are usually governed by customs," he said. "Our seeds are of
superb quality and have passed all the required inspection and
quarantine tests for exports to Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan and
Bangladesh."<br /><br />
Some countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan have huge demand for
high-yield seeds to feed their large population while their land is
limited, Lu said.<br /><br />
However, obstacles still remain. Lu says that though Thailand is well
known for its high-quality rice, it is reluctant to release its
germplasm resources, while the marketing system is not that efficient in
Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.<br /><br />
Jin Ke from the CAAS suggests that both sides step up bilateral
exchanges in agricultural professional training and degree courses. Some
joint laboratories and research centres can also be set up to further
explore the role of agricultural technology transfer, he said.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-81593036283789680892013-09-02T11:24:00.000+07:002013-09-02T11:24:08.927+07:00Network services provider OCK in expansion mode <div class="story" id="content_0_divSixColumn">
<div class="byline" id="content_0_TopHeadTextByLine">
<b>By NG BEI SHAN</b> <br /><a href="mailto:beishan@thestar.com.my">beishan@thestar.com.my</a></div>
<br />
PUCHONG: After setting
up a subsidiary in Myanmar in July, followed by the incorporation of a
unit in Cambodia last month, OCK Group Bhd is looking at Thailand and
Indonesia for more potential business opportunities.<br />
<br />
Managing director <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Sam Ooi</a></span>
said the telco network services provider has been studying and
researching about venturing into some of the South-East Asian markets
since the end of last year.<br />
<br />
“In this globalised era, there is no
business border and we see opportunities in our neighbouring countries
where there is a need for network improvement,” he told <i>StarBiz </i>in an interview.<br />
<br />
In Myanmar, it is submitting bids for projects alongside vendors to Norway-based telecommunication giant <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Telenor Group</a></span> and Qatar-based <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Qtel Group</a></span>, which had received the telco licence from the Myanmar Government.<br />
<br />
“The two telco operators will have a huge roll-out and they might plan for 4,000 to 5,000 sites within two years.<br />
<br />
“As we have already set up a company there, we will bid for the jobs,”
he said, adding that there could be a “substantial” source of income
should it successfully secure some of the contracts.<br />
<br />
About two weeks ago, it announced the establishment of its Cambodian unit, <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Phnom Penh Pte Ltd</a></span> under its wholly-owned subsidiary <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">OCK International Sdn Bhd</a></span>,
an investment holding company for its regional and international
businesses and subsidiaries and the provision of telecommunication
network services and trading of related products and materials.<br />
<br />
Due to the consolidation in the telco industry in Cambodia, particularly
when Axiata Group Bhd’s Hello merged with Smart, there will be some
consolidating work required.<br />
<br />
As OCK has worked with Axiata’s local arm, <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Celcom Axiata Bhd</a></span>, it stands a chance of winning contracts in Cambodia, he added.<br />
<br />
On top of that, it also sees some opportunities in building and maintaining towers in that country. <br />
Recently, it studied the feasibility of setting up a subsidiary in Bangkok for a potential green technology business.<br />
<br />
“It is not easy to set up a 100%-owned company in Thailand compared
with Myanmar, so we are still studying the process,” he said.<br />
<br />
At
the same time, the long-term evolution (LTE) roll-out in Indonesia has
also attracted Ooi’s attention as it meant a huge business opportunity
for OCK.<br />
<br />
“We have intentions of penetrating the market due to the attractive growth potential there,” he said. <br />
Back at home, he said the telco sector was still growing steadily as
the LTE roll-out in Malaysia was still at the initial stage.<br />
<br />
“I
believe LTE licence holders will continue to roll out 4G services more
aggressively next year,” he said, adding that telco players would have
to deploy twice the number of existing stations for full coverage
nationwide.<br />
<br />
This is due to the shorter distance of between towers are built to enable high frequency transmission. <br />
He said the LTE activities in the domestic telco industry would keep it busy for another three to four years. <br />
Some operators may also choose to lease towers from network facility
providers (NFP) like OCK, which owns about 60 towers currently, to
reduce their capital expenditure, he said.<br />
<br />
It aimed to increase the number to 300 sites by end-2014. <br />
The licence it obtained in July from the Malaysian Communication and <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Multimedia Commission</a></span> allowed it to lay fibre and lease it to operators, which is an additional scope for the services it provides.<br />
<br />
According to Ooi, it has also secured a 10 megawatt-solar farm contract
at a site in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang.<br />
<br />
In July, it acquired <span class="knx_highlight"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3344790519763109304" style="color: #107fc9; cursor: pointer;">Milab Marketing Sdn Bhd</a></span>,
which had received a development order for a solar farm project in
Kelantan that could generate power of one megawatt, he said.<br />
<br />
Going forward, it aims to grow the solar farm business, he added.<br />
<br />
Based on its expansion plan, he estimated recurring income from its
network facility provision and solar concession business to contribute
some 5% to 10% to its topline.<br />
<br />
Commenting on how the weaker
ringgit would impact its business, he said it would be felt within its
trading division which could see its profit dip by 2% to 3%.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, the segment only contributed 8% to its income for its financial year ended December 31, 2012.</div>
Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-21358861965916671702013-09-02T11:22:00.002+07:002013-09-02T11:22:42.361+07:00Cambodian PM to join ASEAN-China Expo in Nanning <em>2013-09-02</em><em><em></em></em><br />
<em><em>Xinhua</em> </em>
<em>
<em> </em></em><br />
<em><em>Web Editor: qindexing</em></em><br />
<br />
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, accompanied by a large group of
business people, left here Monday for Nanning of southwest China's
Guangxi Province to attend the 10th ASEAN-China Expo, which is set to be
held from September 3 to 6.<br />
<br />
The premier was accompanied by Cham Prasidh, Minister of Commerce,
Sok Chenda, President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia,
and other senior officials as well as business executives from 167
companies, Sry Thamarong, minister attached to Prime Minister Hun Sen,
told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport before departure.<br />
<br />
During the expo in Nanning, Hun Sen will hold a bilateral talk with
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and meet separately with Vietnamese Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Governor of China's Guangxi Chen Wu, and
Governor of China's Yunnan Province Li Jiheng, he said.<br />
<br />
The expo was initiated by former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during
the 7th ASEAN-China Summit and was firstly held in 2004. It is usually
held in Nanning City.<br />
<br />
"Since its <a class="binglink" href="http://cn.bing.com/dict/?q=inception" target="_blank">inception</a>
in 2004, the relations and cooperation in economics and trade between
Cambodia and China have rapidly developed," said Sry Thamarong.<br />
<br />
"We have attracted a lot of investments from Chinese private sector
in infrastructure, energy, information technologies and
telecommunication, banking and finance, agriculture and tourism."<br />
<br />
China is the top investor in Cambodia. According to figures from the
Council for Development of Cambodia, from 1994 to 2012, total Chinese
investment in Cambodia has reached 9.17 billion US dollars.<br />
<br />
On bilateral trade, China is also one of the leading trading partners
of Cambodia. Last year, the bilateral trade volume accounted for 2.9
billion US dollars and it was expected to reach 5 billion US dollars by
2017, he said.<br />
<br />
Hun Sen will return to Cambodia on Tuesday afternoon.<br />
<br />
The annual event of the ASEAN-China Expo is a very important platform
to further promote trading in goods and services, investment
cooperation, culture and tourism, particularly contributing to
strengthening and developing the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.<br />
<br />
During the expo, there will be an ASEAN-China Business and Investment
Summit, which is a key platform for leaders of China and ASEAN to
exchange opinions and enhance cooperation.<br />
<br />
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-42931310537992809582013-08-29T13:59:00.001+07:002013-08-29T13:59:19.976+07:00 ASEAN Ministers Wrap Up Summit in Brunei <div id="ctl00_ctl00_cpAB_cp1_cbcContentBreak">
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Aug 29, 2013</div>
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VOA</div>
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Southeast Asian defense ministers are expected to hold fresh talks on
territorial disputes as they meet with their counterparts from elsewhere
in Asia, as well as the United States on Thursday.<br /><br />The final day
of the two-day meeting is being held at a Brunei resort overlooking the
South China Sea, where several ASEAN member nations have tense
overlapping territorial claims with China.<br /><br />The ASEAN Defense
Ministers' Meeting-Plus, as the gathering is known, is bringing together
ministers from the 10 ASEAN nations, the United States, China, Japan,
South Korea and other regional powers.<br /><br />During Wednesday meetings
with ASEAN defense ministers, U.S. officials said Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel discussed the need to enhance cooperation and lower tensions
in the region. <br /><br />Analysts do not expect a breakthrough on the
disputes, as China has been reluctant to even discuss the issue at such
meetings. It instead prefers to deal with each rival claimant
separately, a position that gives it a much greater advantage.<br /><br />A Thursday editorial in the <i>Global Times</i>,
China's Communist Party's official mouthpiece, said the ASEAN meeting
is not the appropriate place to resolve maritime disputes.<br /><br />ASEAN
foreign ministers have been pushing for China to work towards signing a
binding Code of Conduct to help prevent conflict in the territorial
disputes. <br /><br />Brunei, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and
Malaysia are embroiled in territorial disputes with China over several
resource-rich islands in the South China Sea. Japan and China are
engaged in a separate dispute in the East China Sea.<br /><br />Many of the
nations accuse China of using its rapidly advancing military to more
aggressively defend what it views as its territory. Some of the nations
have expanded their defense cooperation with the United States, as a
result.<br /><br />The Association of Southeast Asian Nations consists of
Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, and Laos.<br /><br />The ADMM-Plus will help lay
the groundwork for October's East Asian Summit, which will be attended
by world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama. The meeting is
also expected to focus on other regional and international security and
trade issues.
</div>
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Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-71800170143697284132013-08-29T13:58:00.002+07:002013-08-29T13:58:24.193+07:00Thai village under siege from marauding monkeys<div class="first">
<cite class="byline vcard">By <span class="fn">by Apilaporn Vechakij</span> | <span class="provider org">Agence-France Presse</span></cite></div>
<div class="first">
<cite class="byline vcard"><span class="provider org"> </span></cite> </div>
<div class="first">
In a Thai village, homes are raided, property is
pinched and locals are attacked by dastardly gangs operating beyond the
law -- but the perpetrators are not men, but monkeys.</div>
<div class="first">
<br /></div>
"They creep into my house when they see me sleeping, they go into the
kitchen and take cooking oil, sugar and even the medicines that I hide
in a cabinet," said Chaluay Khamkajit, after years battling with pesky
primates who are thought to have been drawn into Khlong Charoen Wai
village by habitat loss.<br />
<br />
"They took my snacks, I can buy new ones, but the medicines are
important to me," the 72-year-old said, as she and her husband
demonstrated a variety of anti-monkey devices including a homemade lock
for the fridge and the more direct deterrent of a sling-shot.<br />
<br />
Around 150 households in the shrimp farming community in Chachoengsao
province on the east coast, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Bangkok, have
suffered raids by so-called "sea monkeys" -- long-tailed macaques --
for about a decade.<br />
<br />
An increasing number of shrimp farms, coupled with the associated
deforestation, is thought to be behind a surge in monkeys venturing into
built-up areas.<br />
<br />
"They could find food easily in the past but when there is less
forest, they have to find food in people's houses," said village headman
Chatree Kaencharoen, expressing frustration at some villagers who give
food to the incorrigible creatures.<br />
<br />
"Sometimes, a few hundred monkeys come at once -- especially at dawn
and dusk when it is cooler. They know it is time to be fed," he said.<br />
<br />
Conservation group WWF said people have encroached on the monkeys' habitat -- not the other way around.<br />
<br />
"People have moved closer to nature, that is why there is an
increased chance of interaction between human and animals," WWF Thailand
director Petch Manopawitr told AFP.<br />
<br />
"Macaques can adjust their behaviour quite well -- they learn in
similar ways as humans -- and when they know that they can find food in a
village, they come."<br />
<br />
The spread of villages into formerly dense jungle has caused other clashes between people and beasts in Thailand.<br />
<br />
"Wild pigs eat farm plants. But the villagers can also shoot the pigs
and eat them," said Petch, adding that elephants and tigers were a less
edible source of village disruption.<br />
And the WWF says the problem is accelerating.<br />
<br />
In a recent report, the conservation group said demand for farmland
could strip the Greater Mekong region -- Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar,
Laos and Vietnam -- of a third of its remaining forest cover over the
next two decades without swift government action.<br />
<br />
Between 1973 -- the first point of available data -- and 2009,
Thailand lost some 43 percent of its natural woodland, the WWF said,
although it praised the country for its network of national parks.<br />
<br />
Khlong Charoen Wai's monkeys spend their days hanging out on the
narrow bamboo bridges that meander across the coastal swampland at the
edge of the village.<br />
<br />
Mothers lounge with babies slung across their chests, while others leap between nearby mangrove trees.<br />
They tend to flee when approached. But when nobody seems to be
looking, they climb onto roofs, leaving trails of muddy footprints as
they stalk into homes through any openings they can find.<br />
<br />
Residents have been forced to seal their houses with nets, lock their
windows despite the tropical heat, and secure their property the best
they can.<br />
<br />
"They pushed over a 21-inch television, which fell and smashed. They
even stole a rice cooker, managed to open it and scooped out the rice to
eat," said Chatree.<br />
<br />
Local authorities tried to curb the monkey raids -- even attempting
to sterilise the intruders. But that effort was on too small a scale
according to deputy village head Tawin Songcharoen.<br />
"We cannot stop them," he told AFP.<br />
<br />
Long-tailed macaques sit on bamboo bridges in Chachoengsao province
on July 15, 2013. Marauding groups of the animals have been stealing and
attacking villagers in Khlong Charoen Wai.<br />
<br />
Graphic fact file on long-tailed macaques. For an AFP feature on a
Thai village where around 150 households have suffered food raids from
maurauding macaques that have become accustomed to scavenging from
humans.<br />
<br />
A long-tailed macaque strides past a village in Chachoengsao province
on July 15, 2013. The spread of villages into formely dense jungle has
caused clashes between humans and animals in Thailand.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-66215116279756067742013-08-29T13:56:00.003+07:002013-08-29T13:56:51.343+07:00Cambodian Court Acquits Two in Slaying of JournalistRFA<br />
<img alt="cambodia-oudom-suspects-sept-2012-1000.jpg" height="259" src="http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/acquits-08282013145944.html/cambodia-oudom-suspects-sept-2012-1000.jpg/@@images/344f6946-e4b2-4c7a-b747-3063107d83f6.jpeg" title="cambodia-oudom-suspects-sept-2012-1000.jpg" width="400" />
<span>Authorities bring military officer An Bunheng and his wife to court to face murder charges, Sept. 16, 2012.</span> RFA<br />
<br />
A Cambodian provincial court today dropped charges against a military
police officer and his wife accused of murdering a reporter
investigating the country’s illegal timber trade, drawing protests from
the journalist’s wife and from human rights and environmental advocacy
groups.<br /><br />Hang Serei Oudom, a reporter for the <i>Vorakchun Khmer</i>
newspaper, had been looking into claims of illegal logging and
extortion when he went missing on Sept. 10, 2012. His battered body was
found two days later in the trunk of his car.<br /><br />Military police
captain An Bunheng and his wife were taken into custody the next day
after police and a court prosecutor said they had found evidence linking
them to the crime at the couple’s restaurant in Cambodia’s northeastern
Ratanakiri province.<br />
After questioning three witnesses and reviewing written statements
from another seven, the Ratanakiri Provincial Court dropped all charges
against the pair, citing a lack of evidence sufficient to win a
conviction against them.<br />
Hang Serei Oudom’s last article before his death was published on
Sept. 6, 2012 and accused the son of a local military police commander
of involvement in illegal logging.<br />
Speaking to RFA’s Khmer Service today, Hang Serei Oudom’s wife Im
Chanthy protested the court’s ruling, calling it “very unjust.”<br /><br />“First
the court says it has evidence, and now they claim they don’t,” Im
Chanthy said. “Please help me. There is no law in Cambodia.”<br /><br />Defense
lawyer Heng Sotheara meanwhile applauded the verdict freeing his
clients, while deputy prosecutor Chea Sopheak said he had not yet
decided whether to appeal the court’s ruling.<br />
<b>'Influential people'</b><br /><br />Rights groups had called for a
thorough investigation into Hang Serei Oudom’s death, noting that the
journalist had written about influential people, including businessmen
and provincial officials involved in the trafficking of luxury wood.<br /><br />In
a statement Wednesday, the Club of Cambodian Journalists condemned the
court’s verdict and urged authorities to “reinvestigate the case in
order to provide justice to the victim and his family.”<br /><br />The
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) meanwhile noted that the
Ratanakiri court had refused in initial proceedings last year to examine
the link between Hang Serei Oudom’s death and his reporting on illegal
logging.<br /><br />And though the court’s investigation was reopened in
April after briefly being closed, “no further evidence was collected,”
CCHR said on Wednesday.<br /><br />“The Cambodian justice system has yet
again failed those who risk their lives to defend their rights and
protect the country’s rapidly vanishing forests,” the London-based
environmental advocacy group Global Witness said, calling the court’s
ruling an example of Cambodia’s “shocking culture of impunity.”<br /><br />Without
the support of Cambodian authorities and the courts, “environmental
defenders like Hang Serei Oudom will continue to be killed and some of
Asia’s last remaining intact forests will be gone,” Global Witness
said.Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3344790519763109304.post-69757720751881605442013-08-29T13:55:00.002+07:002013-08-29T13:55:23.269+07:00Hillary Clinton Pledges Aid for Cambodia's Unexploded Bomb Problem<span itemprop="articleBody"><span itemprop="dateline">Hanoi, Vietnam -- (<a href="http://www.sbwire.com/" id="sbwlink">SBWIRE</a>) -- 08/28/2013 -- </span>
During the Vietnamese war American forces dropped a staggering 2
million tons of ordnance on the Southeast Asia country of Laos. This
unbelievably, adds up to more than a ton for every man, woman and child
in the country. So complete was the devastating carpet bombing, that
today, almost 40 years after the end of the war, many people, especially
children, are still being maimed as they step on unexploded mines and
bombs. <br />
<br />
It is estimated that of the 270 million cluster bombs that landed on
Laotian soil, approximately 90 million failed to explode. Over the
decades that followed they have caused complete devastation to so many
people here in this beautiful, tranquil country. Last month Hillary
Clinton visited the country and met with the Foreign Minister Mr.
Thongloun Sisoulit and pledged that America would finally fulfil its
obligation and assist the country to get rid of the remaining lethal
weapons. <br />
<br />
The former First Lady was taking part in a weeklong <a class="extlink" href="http://laostourpackages.com/" target="_blank" title="tour of Southeast Asia">tour of Southeast Asia</a>
to promote diplomatic relations in the region. Threatened by China’s
dominance in the world, she was trying to improve America’s
international standing in the region and gain favour from some of the
fastest growing markets in the world.<br />
<br />
Speaking in typical US diplomatic speak she said, that together with
Laotian leaders, she had, "traced the arc of our relationship from
addressing the tragic legacies of the past to finding a way to being
partners of the future." No doubt with one eye on the general public’s
opinion of her countries military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, her
government is trying to change the perception of US actions in recent
years. <br />
<br />
The bombs have of course had a terrible financial effect in the country,
with huge swathes of good farming land lying fallow, as the threat from
unexploded bombs is far too great to go near. These and other economic
problems were on the agenda as the leaders also discussed environmental
concerns over the possibility of building a dam on the Mekong River.
The construction of a dam is an extremely sensitive issue. The Mekong
spends most of its 3000 miles in the country. Further down stream it
passes through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Any damming would have
consequences for those countries.<br />
<br />
Visiting a prosthetic center in Laos, which is funded by the US, she
said that America had to do more. The cleanup has been painfully slow,
with only an estimated one percent of the affected areas having been
declared safe. Although the US has provided approximately $47 million
since the end of the war, much more is needed. It has pledged a further
$9 million for this year and more will follow.<br />
<br />
This is the first visit by a United States Secretary of State for 58 years. This <a class="extlink" href="http://laostourpackages.com/laos-tours/" target="_blank" title="trip to Laos">trip to Laos</a>
by Hillary Clinton is seen as a very positive move as Laos, wary of
Chinese assistance, struggles to compete in the region of Indochina.
Providing assistance that would mean the dam not being built, would be a
major boost for the country’s neighbors as well of course to Laos.</span>Monikhemra Chaohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13791271806284495674noreply@blogger.com0