Roast pigs are on display for sell on the street in Phnom Penh April 30, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)Saturday, 2 May 2009
HEALTH officials said Thursday that there is no evidence of swine flu in Cambodia yet
Roast pigs are on display for sell on the street in Phnom Penh April 30, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)
Cambodian garment factory workers march on the street to mark May Day celebrations in Phnom Penh
Cambodian garment factory workers march on the street to mark May Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, May 1, 2009. Hundreds of Cambodian garment factory workers walk on the street in Phnom Penh to mark May Day celebrations, asking the government to enhance the minimum wage and their working condition.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith) 
Cambodian garment factory workers stand under banners while attending May Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, May 1, 2009. Hundreds of Cambodian garment factory workers walk on the street in Phnom Penh to mark May Day celebrations, asking the government to enhance the minimum wage and their working condition.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian garment factory workers hold banners while attending May Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, May 1, 2009. Hundreds of Cambodian garment factory workers walk on the street in Phnom Penh to mark May Day celebrations, asking the government to enhance the minimum wage and their working condition.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian garment workers hold banners as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)
Cambodian garment workers hold banners as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)
Cambodian family members watch from a window as garment factory workers march on the street to mark May Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, May 1, 2009. Hundreds of Cambodian garment factory workers walk on the street in Phnom Penh to mark May Day celebrations, asking the government to enhance the minimum wage and their working condition.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian garment factory workers hold banners while attending May Day celebrations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, May 1, 2009. Hundreds of Cambodian garment factory workers walk on the street in Phnom Penh to mark May Day celebrations, asking the government to enhance the minimum wage and their working condition.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian garment workers hold their national flags as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)
Cambodian garment workers hold banners as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)
Cambodian garment workers hold banners as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)
Cambodian garment workers hold banners as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT)
Cambodian garment workers hold banners as they march on the street to mark World Labor Day in Phnom Penh May 1, 2009.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA BUSINESS SOCIETY EMPLOYMENT) All eyes on registry-swapping ships
Working for Russia?: A Cambodian ship waits in Hanasaki port in Nemuro, Hokkaido, on March 16. KYODO PHOTOBy YOSHIAKI SAKAMOTO
Kyodo News
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/
KUSHIRO, Hokkaido (Kyodo) The past decade has seen a drastic reduction in Russian ships calling at ports in Hokkaido, where much of Russia's marine produce is imported, while ships registered to other countries, including Cambodia, have risen sharply.
In fact, three times as many Cambodian vessels are calling at some ports than Russian ships are, but many of their crewmen are thought to be Russian. Shipping sources said the reason behind the trend is Russian ship owners changing registries to avoid taxes.
According to Finance Ministry data, Hokkaido ports had 9,200 Russian ship calls in 1999, but only 1,400 in 2008. Ships with other registries rose about 1.6 times in the period, with Cambodian ships expanding 10-fold from 190 to about 1,900.
The decline is especially conspicuous in Wakkanai, where Russian ships have dropped from 3,700 to about 240 and Cambodian ships have risen from zero to 740.
There are also ships registered in Belize, Panama, Sierra Leone and Mongolia that are bringing in crabs and sea urchin from the four disputed islands seized by the former Soviet Union at the end of World War II.
The customs offices and the Japan Coast Guard are trying to track down Russian ships whose registries and names have changed. "These changes have become quite conspicuous in the last several years," said an official at the Nemuro office of the coast guard.
Maritime law experts said that, since the laws of a country where a ship is registered are basically applied to its ships, changing the registry to a country where regulations are lax can reduce registration fees and taxes. This has resulted in aged secondhand ships being used, as well as a drop in wages for crewmen who are increasingly being recruited from other countries.
"It is a situation in which anything can happen," one critical shipping official said.
Countries promoting ship registries, however, are gaining higher income from taxes and foreign currency earnings.
An official who registered a ship in Cambodia said the procedure is simple and everything can be completed if the required documents and money are sent to the registry office in the South Korean port of Busan.
But Nobuo Arai, a professor at the Slav Research Center at Hokkaido University, said one country's gain is another's loss. "A large problem for the Russian government is decreases in tax revenues," he said.
One factor contributing to the trend is the stronger regulations against poaching and smuggling in the Far East promoted by the administration of former Russian President Vladimir Putin to protect crab and sea urchin resources.
An official at the Hokkaido branch of the All Japan Seamen's Union said it is difficult for Russian authorities to clamp down on foreign-registered vessels.
In 2002, the Fisheries Agency also strengthened regulations on Russian ships to make it obligatory for them to present cargo customs clearance declaration cards when entering Japanese ports.
As a result, it is suspected that marine products are being transshipped from fishing vessels at sea to freighters not subject to control and brought into Japan.
To skirt such regulations, some Russian dealers are switching their export target from Hokkaido to Busan, fishing industry sources said.
Cambodia opens to foreigners
GroupWeb Media
http://www.emailwire.com
Foreigners may be able to purchase property in Cambodia for the first time following the proposal of new legislation by the country’s Government – but they will still be limited to apartments, houses and condominiums above the second floor…
(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 01, 2009 ) Cambodia - Foreigners may be able to purchase property in Cambodia for the first time following the proposal of new legislation by the country’s Government – but they will still be limited to apartments, houses and condominiums above the second floor…
Currently, international investors are not allowed to own land or homes in Cambodia – a limitation that is seen by some locals as a good thing, preventing speculation and price volatility.
Back in 2005, the Government amended an investment law to allow foreign ownership of buildings, but the Cambodian property market was then experiencing one of the biggest booms in Asia and, as a result, the law was never put into practice.
Between 2005 and 2007, the property markets in major hubs such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, skyrocketed, with prices rising by as much as 40 per cent.
But now, with the economy and property market suffering in the downturn, the foreign investment law has reared its head again.
If passed, it could pave the way for foreign ownership of houses, apartments and condominiums from the second floor up for resale. Foreigners would also be able to inherit property.
The Minister of land management, urban planning and construction Im Chhun Lim said, “We want this law to be passed as quickly as possible, but we need input from the private sector, so we have passed it on for feedback.
“The discussion with the private sector will focus on how many units and how much of the building can be bought, as well as which floors they can purchase,” he added.
The Cambodian Government is keen to pass the new law as they hope it will revitalize the country’s housing market and economy and prevent the market from sliding further.
It is also hoped that the laws will enhance foreign consumer confidence in the undeveloped property market.
As there is some local opposition to the ownership of land by foreigners, the Government is planning to specify a zone near international borders in which foreigners would not be able to buy property, which would prevent foreign ownership of property in disputed areas.
For more information on properties in Cambodia and the property market in general, please visit http://cambodia.themovechannel.com/
http://www.emailwire.com
Foreigners may be able to purchase property in Cambodia for the first time following the proposal of new legislation by the country’s Government – but they will still be limited to apartments, houses and condominiums above the second floor…
(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 01, 2009 ) Cambodia - Foreigners may be able to purchase property in Cambodia for the first time following the proposal of new legislation by the country’s Government – but they will still be limited to apartments, houses and condominiums above the second floor…
Currently, international investors are not allowed to own land or homes in Cambodia – a limitation that is seen by some locals as a good thing, preventing speculation and price volatility.
Back in 2005, the Government amended an investment law to allow foreign ownership of buildings, but the Cambodian property market was then experiencing one of the biggest booms in Asia and, as a result, the law was never put into practice.
Between 2005 and 2007, the property markets in major hubs such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, skyrocketed, with prices rising by as much as 40 per cent.
But now, with the economy and property market suffering in the downturn, the foreign investment law has reared its head again.
If passed, it could pave the way for foreign ownership of houses, apartments and condominiums from the second floor up for resale. Foreigners would also be able to inherit property.
The Minister of land management, urban planning and construction Im Chhun Lim said, “We want this law to be passed as quickly as possible, but we need input from the private sector, so we have passed it on for feedback.
“The discussion with the private sector will focus on how many units and how much of the building can be bought, as well as which floors they can purchase,” he added.
The Cambodian Government is keen to pass the new law as they hope it will revitalize the country’s housing market and economy and prevent the market from sliding further.
It is also hoped that the laws will enhance foreign consumer confidence in the undeveloped property market.
As there is some local opposition to the ownership of land by foreigners, the Government is planning to specify a zone near international borders in which foreigners would not be able to buy property, which would prevent foreign ownership of property in disputed areas.
For more information on properties in Cambodia and the property market in general, please visit http://cambodia.themovechannel.com/
May Day Demanding Better Working Conditions
BSN Stock PhotoBest Syndication
Submitted by Gian Brett
May 1, 2009
May Day is globally known as Labour Day or international worker’s day. In the labour movement the day is celebrated as achievements of social and economic. This day, in all over world workers and employees arrange various meetings and rally to remember glorious history of working class.
The holiday first popularized by Soviet Union as an international workers day. Eight hours in a day as working hours is the achievement of this day. The day shows the political right to spread worker’s voice.
On this day in Taipei, Taiwan thousands of workers rally together in liberty squire to show the dignity of labour. They celebrated the day as an internal Labour Day by their own culture for the working class achievements.
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia thousands of factory workers march on the street with demand of better working conditions and to enhance minimum wage by large posters.
In Kochi rally, large number of people participates with trade unions on the international worker’s day. On this occasion all the trade unions and independent parties remember the glory of the 1 May.
1 May is nothing but a history which tells the story of worker’s to fight for better working conditions. The day gives the voice to fight against unemployment, wage labour and worse working conditions.
1 May is the day of revolutionary act. Thousands of workers and trade unions across the world fought for the day. The fight had been started against long hours working, worse working conditions, child labour and exploitation of wage. All the fight lead to the better working conditions, 8 hours working days, 6 days working (some where 5 days working), minimum wage etc.
The glory of the day today working class, trade unions and independent parties are celebrating across the world to show the power of workers. In the capitalist-imperialist age to fight against unemployment and inferior working conditions it is necessary to show the power of working class to the imperialist world.
Gian Brett is an expert writer of various subjects. He has written many articles on Logical Concept of Employment also.
1,000 Cambodians rally
Chea Vichea said the government has to listen to their requests. --PHOTO: CAMBODIA.ORGTHE STRAITS TIMES
May 1, 2009
PHNOM PENH - MORE than 1,000 Cambodian workers on Friday marched through the capital to demand better wages and conditions and a halt to violence against unionists as they marked international labour day.
The group of mostly textile and hotel workers, carrying colourful banners and Cambodian flags, marched from a park near the royal palace to the parliament, where they handed a petition to political opposition leaders.
'The government has to listen to our requests,' said Chea Mony, head of Cambodia's largest workers' group, the Cambodian Free Trade Union.
'It has to take care of the workers because they help bring billions of dollars to the government,' he said.
The workers later marched to the place where Chea Vichea, who headed the country's largest labour union and was a vocal critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government, was gunned down in January 2004.
The daylight murder was condemned by rights groups as a brutal attempt to silence opposition-linked unions and two men jailed over the killing were later released and a retrial has not yet been scheduled.
Demonstrators shouted their demands through loudspeakers - the establishment of a labour court, a monthly 120-dollar minimum wage, fair treatment and a reduction in working hours from 48 hours to 44 hours per week.
Garment exports from the impoverished country have dropped sharply amid the global economic downturn and tens of thousands of workers have lost their jobs this year.
Hotel workers are also suffering from lower tourism revenues after foreign tourist arrivals in Cambodia dropped by 2.19 per cent in January compared with the same period last year. -- AFP
Workers March in May Day Demonstration
By Heng Reaksmey, VOA KhmerOriginal report from Phnom Penh
01 May 2009
Thousands of garment factory workers took to the streets in Phnom Penh Friday, marking May Day with a set of demands for better pay and conditions for the government.
Hundreds of police were deployed to maintain security, as workers marched with placards demanding higher wages, the establishment of a labor court and a halt to discrimination against free trade.
Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, said the goal of the march was to encourage the National Assembly to accept a petition with suggestions from improving conditions for laborers.
“I hope the Cambodian government will receive our petition of workers and consider our demands, because the garment sector is important in helping Cambodia’s economy,” he said.
Garment exports are one of Cambodia’s main earners, but the sector has been hit hard by the global financial crisis, as orders for goods from the US and other markets have slowed.
Tens of thousands of workers have been laid off since the onset of the crisis in September 2008, with some factories closing their doors or reducing their staff.
Art Thun, president of the Cambodian Laborer Confederation, said Friday the country needs to improve the conditions for workers, who are usually abused by garment factory owners.
Workers on Friday urged the government to “very quickly” put in place an arbitration court to handle labor conflicts. They also want the government to force garment factories to keep a deposit in the bank to prevent bankruptcy.
Cambodian Side of Tribunal Receives Funding
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
01 May 2009
The Japanese government on Thursday announced a funding infusion of $4.1 million to the beleaguered Cambodian side of the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, providing enough for staff salaries for the months of April and May as the court undertakes its first trial.
Many donors have proven reluctant to fund the Cambodian side of the court, which they say has not fully addressed allegations of corruption.
But the bilateral donation from Japan will ensure the tribunal can proceed with the trial of Duch, former chief of Tuol Sleng prison, who has been in court since March 30 facing atrocity crimes charges.
UN and Cambodian negotiators failed to reach an agreement in April on how allegations of kickbacks and other corruption should be handled, with the UN side maintaining the importance of anonymity in complaints.
The UNDP, which handles funding for the court, has refused to release money from donors until the allegations are dealt with.
That has led to a critical shortage in the Cambodian budget at the court, with Japan giving $200,000 in March to help pay staff salaries.
This week’s $4.1 million “will cover the shortfall of the Cambodian side of the ECCC’s operational costs,” the Japanese Embassy said in a statement, referring to the tribunal by its initials, for Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath declined to comment on the funding, but he confirmed that staff have been told their April and May salaries will be received in the third or fourth week of May.
Observers say that despite the corruption allegations, international donors are loath to see the special court fail, especially now that Duch is on trial.
Both France and Japan have praised the progress of the court and have urged the UN and Cambodia to reach agreement on handling corruption.
For now, the two sides are implementing a parallel structure, where complaints on the Cambodian side move through Cambodian channels, and the UN handles complaints made on its side.
Original report from Washington
01 May 2009
The Japanese government on Thursday announced a funding infusion of $4.1 million to the beleaguered Cambodian side of the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, providing enough for staff salaries for the months of April and May as the court undertakes its first trial.
Many donors have proven reluctant to fund the Cambodian side of the court, which they say has not fully addressed allegations of corruption.
But the bilateral donation from Japan will ensure the tribunal can proceed with the trial of Duch, former chief of Tuol Sleng prison, who has been in court since March 30 facing atrocity crimes charges.
UN and Cambodian negotiators failed to reach an agreement in April on how allegations of kickbacks and other corruption should be handled, with the UN side maintaining the importance of anonymity in complaints.
The UNDP, which handles funding for the court, has refused to release money from donors until the allegations are dealt with.
That has led to a critical shortage in the Cambodian budget at the court, with Japan giving $200,000 in March to help pay staff salaries.
This week’s $4.1 million “will cover the shortfall of the Cambodian side of the ECCC’s operational costs,” the Japanese Embassy said in a statement, referring to the tribunal by its initials, for Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath declined to comment on the funding, but he confirmed that staff have been told their April and May salaries will be received in the third or fourth week of May.
Observers say that despite the corruption allegations, international donors are loath to see the special court fail, especially now that Duch is on trial.
Both France and Japan have praised the progress of the court and have urged the UN and Cambodia to reach agreement on handling corruption.
For now, the two sides are implementing a parallel structure, where complaints on the Cambodian side move through Cambodian channels, and the UN handles complaints made on its side.
Villagers Near Preah Vihear Temple To Be Moved
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
01 May 2009
Authorities in Preah Vihear province are preparing to move more than 700 families away from the ancient Preah Vihear temple, the site of a continued border standoff between Cambodia and Thailand that has seen violence and the destruction of civilian property.
Officials said the move was to help conserve the area, where the temple has been named a Unesco World Heritage site, and to make way for the development of a resort there.
Areas within 20 kilometers of the 11th Century temple will be off limits to individuals, and those families now living near the site will be moved to a nearby area called Sros Kdol, in Chaom Khsan district.
Around 300 families live in a market area near the temple that was completely destroyed in mortar fire during a border clash between soldiers along the contested border. Another 400 families live in a small town at the base of the Preah Vihear temple escarpment.
The Sros Kdol area is clear of landmines and has sufficient water and agricultural land, where it is hoped people will live in more security than they currently have.
“We cannot allow people living in the Unesco conservative area of Preah Vihear temple, in order to maintain and protect the World Heritage and the natural environment around the temple,” Preah Vihear Governor Preab Tann told VOA Khmer Friday.
The operation is being undertaken via royal decree, which establishes zones for protection, including areas around the temple, the mountain and the surrounding landscape, he said.
Cambodia and Thailand remain at odds over a small stretch of land near the temple, with each side using a different map to demarcate the border. Troops have been stationed along the border since July 2008, when the temple’s World Heritage listing sparked nationalist fervor on each side.
No civilians have so far been killed or injured in the small skirmishes that have since erupted, and some villagers said this week they were reluctant to leave.
“I’m very sorry that authorities plan to move my house,” said On Narith, a 40-year-old from Kor Muy village. “We don’t agree to leave our home in the village because we have real farmland, a house and a business. In the new location, we’ll remove our house and we will lose our money, and it is difficult to find a new job as well.”
Fellow villager Horn Meng Chu, 45, said she would leave her house at Kor Muy if she is paid proper compensation, “because it is in the national interest.”
“We struggled to demine for an orchard of fruit trees until we had fruit to eat,” she said. “It is not an easy thing.”
She asked that Prime Minister Hun Sen help them succeed in the new place.
“If Hun Sen does not help us in Kor Muy village,” she said, “we will fail.”
Original report from Phnom Penh
01 May 2009
Authorities in Preah Vihear province are preparing to move more than 700 families away from the ancient Preah Vihear temple, the site of a continued border standoff between Cambodia and Thailand that has seen violence and the destruction of civilian property.
Officials said the move was to help conserve the area, where the temple has been named a Unesco World Heritage site, and to make way for the development of a resort there.
Areas within 20 kilometers of the 11th Century temple will be off limits to individuals, and those families now living near the site will be moved to a nearby area called Sros Kdol, in Chaom Khsan district.
Around 300 families live in a market area near the temple that was completely destroyed in mortar fire during a border clash between soldiers along the contested border. Another 400 families live in a small town at the base of the Preah Vihear temple escarpment.
The Sros Kdol area is clear of landmines and has sufficient water and agricultural land, where it is hoped people will live in more security than they currently have.
“We cannot allow people living in the Unesco conservative area of Preah Vihear temple, in order to maintain and protect the World Heritage and the natural environment around the temple,” Preah Vihear Governor Preab Tann told VOA Khmer Friday.
The operation is being undertaken via royal decree, which establishes zones for protection, including areas around the temple, the mountain and the surrounding landscape, he said.
Cambodia and Thailand remain at odds over a small stretch of land near the temple, with each side using a different map to demarcate the border. Troops have been stationed along the border since July 2008, when the temple’s World Heritage listing sparked nationalist fervor on each side.
No civilians have so far been killed or injured in the small skirmishes that have since erupted, and some villagers said this week they were reluctant to leave.
“I’m very sorry that authorities plan to move my house,” said On Narith, a 40-year-old from Kor Muy village. “We don’t agree to leave our home in the village because we have real farmland, a house and a business. In the new location, we’ll remove our house and we will lose our money, and it is difficult to find a new job as well.”
Fellow villager Horn Meng Chu, 45, said she would leave her house at Kor Muy if she is paid proper compensation, “because it is in the national interest.”
“We struggled to demine for an orchard of fruit trees until we had fruit to eat,” she said. “It is not an easy thing.”
She asked that Prime Minister Hun Sen help them succeed in the new place.
“If Hun Sen does not help us in Kor Muy village,” she said, “we will fail.”
Anti-Terrorism Efforts Lauded by US
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
01 May 2009
Cambodia had shown a commitment in fighting terrorism, but the country’s capacities need more improvement, according to an annual US State Department report.
The US cited the establishment of a national counterterrorism center in 2005, new laws to combat terror financing and the strict control of weapons, explosives and other materials in Cambodia as proof the government was serious in countering terrorism.
The new financing law establishes a financial intelligence unit under the National Bank, to monitor suspicious transactions and interface with the Ministry of Interior’s financial crimes unit. The law also provides for asset freezes of suspected terrorists.
“Cambodia’s political leadership demonstrated a strong commitment to aggressive legal action against terrorists and to increase its counterterrorism investigative capability, but its ability to investigate potential terrorist activities was limited by a lack of training and resources,” according to the report, obtained by VOA Khmer Thursday.
Cambodia remains a concern, however, with its porous borders, endemic corruption, poverty, high unemployment and poor education system.
Cambodia also has around 500,000 Cham Muslims, where “disaffected elements” could be exploited by terrorists, according to the report.
“Although the Cham were not generally politically active, the Cambodian government was aware of the possibility that foreign terrorists might use Cham areas as safe havens,” it said. “For example, Hambali, a senior Jemaah Islamiya and al-Qaida operative accused of involvement in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings, took refuge in a Muslim school in Cambodia in 2002-2003.”
Original report from Washington
01 May 2009
Cambodia had shown a commitment in fighting terrorism, but the country’s capacities need more improvement, according to an annual US State Department report.
The US cited the establishment of a national counterterrorism center in 2005, new laws to combat terror financing and the strict control of weapons, explosives and other materials in Cambodia as proof the government was serious in countering terrorism.
The new financing law establishes a financial intelligence unit under the National Bank, to monitor suspicious transactions and interface with the Ministry of Interior’s financial crimes unit. The law also provides for asset freezes of suspected terrorists.
“Cambodia’s political leadership demonstrated a strong commitment to aggressive legal action against terrorists and to increase its counterterrorism investigative capability, but its ability to investigate potential terrorist activities was limited by a lack of training and resources,” according to the report, obtained by VOA Khmer Thursday.
Cambodia remains a concern, however, with its porous borders, endemic corruption, poverty, high unemployment and poor education system.
Cambodia also has around 500,000 Cham Muslims, where “disaffected elements” could be exploited by terrorists, according to the report.
“Although the Cham were not generally politically active, the Cambodian government was aware of the possibility that foreign terrorists might use Cham areas as safe havens,” it said. “For example, Hambali, a senior Jemaah Islamiya and al-Qaida operative accused of involvement in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings, took refuge in a Muslim school in Cambodia in 2002-2003.”
Doctor Outlines Swine Flu Prevention
Dr. Sok Touch, director of the Ministry of Health's communicable disease control department. By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
01 May 2009
As cases of swine flu continued to emerge around the globe, a leading health official warned Cambodians to take everyday precautions against the disease.
Coughs and sneezes should be covered by the hand, and spitting in public should be avoided, said Dr. Sok Touch, director of the Ministry of Health’s communicable disease control department, as a guest Thursday on “Hello VOA.”
“People should wash their hands regularly to avoid the virus,” he said, adding that it was still considered safe to eat pork.
Sok Touch encouraged people to remain calm about the disease, which emerged in Mexico and has spread as far as Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand.
Cambodia is prepared for an outbreak, he said, because it has put structures in place since dealing with SARS and the bird flu in the past and has close cooperation with the World Health Organization.
Symptoms for swine flu, caused by the H1N1 virus, appear as normal flu, but attack the lungs. Patients can die within seven days of contracting the virus, he said.
The virus appears to spread easily from person to person, but Sok Touch said Thursday the virus could come from directly touching a sick pig.
Cambodians suspicious of an outbreak should call the government’s hotline, at 012 488 981 or 089 669 567.
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