via CAAI News Media
PM Hun Sen Opens South Korean Culture Center
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:39 DAP-NEWS
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday officially opened the South Korean Culture and Trade Center located near National Assembly.
“This center will guarantee more confidence for South Korean investors to invest here and it will help us tell about ancient Khmer and South Korean traditions and culture,” Hun Sen said at opening ceremony attended by governmental officials, businesspeople and the South Korean ambassador. “It will be a model and main gate to provide information on tourism, the climate of investment of Cambodia for South Korea businesspeople and cultural ties,” he added.
South Korea investors and tourists have played a key role for economic growth, he said, expressing hopes that from the center will urge more South Korean businesses to invest in Cambodia, and will help promote tourism.
The center, officially named the Phnom Penh-Daegu Gyeongbuk Culture, Tourism, and Trade Promotion Center, cost over US$8.7 million provided by South Korea, with the Phnom Penh authorities providing a plot of land. The center is said to be “in dedication to close friendship and solidarity between the South Korea and Cambodia.” The center was proposed when former South Korean president who here in 2006 and continued by current South Korean President Lee. Cambodia and South Korea have expanded their diplomatic ties over the past few years.
Last year, Cambodia signed the ASEAN trade agreement to expand trade and investment between the two partners.
Bun Rany Launches HIV Handbook
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:39 DAP-NEWS
First Lady and President of the Cambodian Red Cross Bun Rany Hun Sen will preside over the launch of the Parliamentary Handbook on HIV and AIDS, a press release from the UNDP said on Tuesday.
The event will be held at the National Assembly on January 29 with the attendance of Health Minister Mam Bun Heng.
The development of the Handbook has been a joint effort undertaken by UNDP’s Legal Assistance Project (LEAP) and UNAIDS in collaboration with the Parl-iament and the National AIDS Authority.
The Prasit Project funded by USAID has also provided additional technical support for the development of the Handbook. The Parliamentary Handbook is a user-friendly resource, presenting brief and concise information that Members of Parliament need to know about the epidemic, its causes, responses, as well as parliamentarians’ roles and responsibilities, enabling a more effective response across policy, advocacy, leadership and legislative areas. The First lady is also the National Champion for the Asia Pacific leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development (APLF).
UN Envoy Optimistic About Human Rights
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:37 DAP-NEWS
The United Nations Envoy on Human Rights in Cambodia on Tuesday said he is optimistic about the situation in Cambodia, but said there is much room for improvement.
Surya Subedi said at a press conference at United Nation Development Program main office in Phnom Penh that he had productive talks with Cam-bodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on January 19, 2010.
He said he was that the government said it will cooperate with NGOs and human rights bodies in Cambodia. However, he urged the government to pay more attention to human rights issues.
“I am very pleased with the meeting and the progress we have made this morning,” Subedi told reporters. “It was a meeting of substance; we discussed a wide range of issues, and we have made progress here for the betterment of the people of Cambodia.”
Om Yentieng, head of the government’s human rights committee, told reporters that Premier Hun Sen and Subedi agreed to cooperate. How long such cooperation lasts depends upon the UN human rights office in Cambodia, he said. Subedi spent two-weeks to assess if state institutions are properly addressing human rights violations. The issue of alleged forced land evictions was discussed with Hun Sen, he said.
Last October, Subedi told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that freedom of speech was deteriorating in Cambodia after several government critics were convicted of defamation.
Yash Ghai, the former UN envoy, repeatedly clashed with Hun Sen’s government over human rights. Ghai had reported that many Cambodians lived in constant fear of having their land stolen by real estate developers and had no recourse because of a corrupt judiciary.
Hun Sen once described Ghai as “unfit,” saying he was sent to Cambodia to “curse” his government and calling him a “long term tourist.” The Cambodian PM never met Ghai in person.
Rainsy Trial Begins Without Defendant
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:37 DAP-NEWS
Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy will not be present in his trial which begins on Wednesday at the Svay Rieng Provincial Court, according to Rainsy’s lawyer.
Sam Rainsy, leader of the eponymous political party and lawmaker for Kampong Cham province, was charged by the Svay Rieng Provincial Court over the pulling up of 6 Cambodia-Vietnam border markers on October 25, 2009.
Choung Chungi, Rainsy’s lawyer, said that he is ready to defend his client. “The trial will start at 8am. For me, I do not worry at all because I have got so much information from my client, Sam Rainisy. I have to full my duty … I have prepared already,” he said. According to the lawyer, 5 villagers arrested related to the case will also be tried the same day.
Svay Rieng Police Commissioner told DAP News Cambodia police will be deployed to keep the peace during the proceedings.
Tith Sothea, government advisor, said that Sam Rainsy could be charged with another offense related to the case.
He told DAP News Cambodia that the government is considering charging him with other offenses if he still insists on the correctness of the the legal 15-page document, including internationally recognized maps, he has uploaded on the internet.
“Sam Rainsy’s remarks were very incorrect and I can say that Sam Rainsy made like this is to instigate to hide his fault,” he claimed.
The SRP has urged reconciliation. Lawmaker Chea Poch made the appeal after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen insisted that he would not request the Cambodian King pardon Sam Rainsy if he is convicted. The premier said that he has already helped Raisny get a pardon several times.
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