DAP News ; Breaking News by Soy Sopheap

via CAAI News Media

Cambodian Army Exercise Declared a Success

Friday, 05 March 2010 03:01 DAP-NEWS

A Cambodian army exercise in Kampong Chhnang Province on Thursday that fired some 200 rockets from truck-mounted launchers was declared a success.

Et Sarat, the officer in charge, said that the four bursts of firing were carefully orchestrated, with comprehensive monitoring. “Of all the 200 rockets, no rockets were in the wrong direction.”

Defence Minister Tea Banh said that the test is to strengthen the armies’ capac- ity. The Minister confirmed that all soldiers are committed to protecting the nation.

According to Et Sarat, the BM 21 rockets are around 40 years old and come from the former Soviet Union, and have been in storage.

Cambodian defence ministry spoke-sman Chhum Socheat said that display was “not about flexing our muscles” against Thailand.

“The drill is not a threat or a show of force against neigboring countries or foreign countries,” Chhum Socheat said before the rockets were fired in front of assembled media and top brass.

Muffled thumps could be heard as salvos of rockets landed far from the launch site.

“It is about the strengthening of the abilities of our forces in order to fulfil the duties of national defence against invaders,” Chhum Socheat added.

Prime Minister Hun Sen declared again on Thursday in a speech that the exercise is not to show power to neighbouring countries instead of training the army.

The premier called on provincial citizens not to venture into firing areas.

Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in nationalist tensions and a tense military standoff at their disputed border since July 2008, when Cambodia’s 11th century Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

Four soldiers were killed in clashes in the temple area in 2008 and three more in a gunbattle last April. Smaller flare-ups continue to be reported between troops in the area.

The Thai-Cambodia border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia, which ended in 1998.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.

Relations plunged further in November after the premier Hun Sen appointed ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser and then refused to extradite him to Thailand, at which point he fled to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Thailand’s government downplayed the Cambodian rocket drill and said there had been no troop reinforcements on the disputed border.

“I don’t think Cambodia wants to intimidate us, as we have sent them a clear signal that we don’t want the dispute to go out of control and affect people in both countries,” deputy Thai prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post on Thursday.

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the drill was “nothing to do with us, they are not firing into our territory.”

PM Orders Gambling, Brothel, Karaoke Crackdown

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:59 DAP-NEWS

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday ordered all levels of authority crack down all illegal brothels, gambling establishments and Karaoke joints, saying these enterprises lead to trafficking of women and children.

The premier also warned he would remove from their posts any police commissioners and armed forces commanders who do not comply.

Speaking at an International Women’s Day ceremony at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), the premier urged the courts to convict all wrongdoers, including his sons, daughters and relatives.

PM also said he admired the US for their cooperation with Cambodian autho- rities to such illegalities.

Following the premier’s warning, Sok Sam Bat, Daun Penh District’s Governor led his subordinates to crack down some Karaoke palours in Phsa III, Daun Penh District, at Phsa Tapang market. Some 20 youths, both girls and boys, were detained. Karaoke equipment such as TV, Disc Players was confiscated, and the business owners were sent to the district office.

KOICA Has New Siem Reap Waste Project

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:58 DAP-NEWS

The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment to provide USD $ 250,000 for a Sanitary Waste Landfill (SWL) in Siem Reap province, a press release said on Thursday.

KOICA Representative for Cambodia Dr. Lohn Heal, Director General of the General Directorate of Technical Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Sang Riha, Siem Reap Deputy Governor, a KOICA delegation ad other government officials attended.

Korean agency KOICA recently promised US$9.2 million to renovate Angkor’s roads.

The aim of the new project is to improve the living conditions of the poor, contribute to mitigation of the environmental pollution of waste by constructing a sanitary waste landfill.

Project goals include an inventory survey on the sources, volume of generation, collection or treatment of household waste for the region, and completing a feasibility study for reach target implementation for waste.

The six-month project will begin in 2010 in Rom Chek commune, in the Banteay Srey district of Siem Reap.

Jewelry Robbery in Kandal

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:57 DAP-NEWS

After a lull following a police crackdown, a new jewelry robbery was committed in Kandal province, a local authority said on Wednesday.

Thoung Vutha, 37, a jewelry vendor in the Lavea Em district of Kandal prov- ince called the police after robbers left with about 15 ounces of gold, around 20 ounces of platinum, CR 6 million, US$ 800 and other property.

Local police quoted the victim as saying that four men came to his house with an AK47 assault rifle and destroyed a cabinet to loot money and gold.

Safeguard Culture, PM Appeals

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:56 DAP-NEWS

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday said that the culture of the country is under threat from foreign influence during the current era of globalization and modernization.

Cambodia must promote its culture and fine arts, especially traditional visual arts and arts performances on TV, he said at the Chaktomuk theatre hall on National Culture Day.

“Local people will know our culture and the promotion of the traditional visual arts on TV will help job creation for the artisans in country, and moreover, it helps contribute to culture research; our culture is alive—if not, our culture will die, especially old traditional songs, dramas, and performing arts,” he added.

He urged the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to promote more cultural events under the theme of “Cambodia, Kingdom of Culture”.

Cambodia is rich in ancient temples that help to attract foreign visitors, helping to sustain economic growth.

Hun Sen once again remarked that Cambodia still needs Ajhar “priests” or traditional spiritual teachers, for the countless traditional ceremonies across Cambodia.

He thanked some local TV stations that have been committed to helping the promotion of Khmer culture on their channels. After blasting TV for not broadcasting enough about the armed forces and events at the border last week, Hun Sen praised the station for its subsequent rapid change in schedule.

Gov’t Plans to Cut Smoking Toll

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:55 DAP-NEWS

The Cambodian government is trying to cut the death toll from tobacco usage, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

Dr. Oeung Phirun, Secretary of State of the MoH, said the government will urge cooperation against tobacco usage and tobacco trafficking. Propsed measure include no smoking areas, increased tax, a stop to tobacco advertising and warnings on cigarette packages.

Medicam Organization Executive Director Dr. Sin Somony many Cambo-dians underestimate the harmfulness of tobacco. Blood pressure, heart attack and cancer are all caused by tobacco, he added.

WHO councilor for Cambodia Sousean Mekado said, tobacco has at least 4,000 kinds of chemicals.

Court Subpoenas Rainsy

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:55 DAP-NEWS

Phnom Penh Municipal Court summoned Cambodian opposition party leader Sam Rainsy for March 9, 2010 over two more complaints filed by the government related to border matters.

“Sam Rainsy will decline to appear at the court on the day, but the party will send his lawyer, Choung Chugni, to appear before the court,” Kim Sourphea rin, Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) acting spokesman, told DAP News Cambodia on Wednesday.

Choung Chugni could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Two charges against Sam Rainsy were filed Friday morning at Phnom Penh Municipal Court by the government’s lawyer, Ky Tech.

Ky Tech told reporters that Sam Rainsy had falsified public documentation and had spread disinformation, still a criminal charge under Cambodian law.

Cambodia Needs US$800 M for Power Grid

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:54 DAP-NEWS

Cambodia needs US$800 million to establish an electricity grid, Secretary of State of Ministry for the Industry, Mines and Energy said on Wednesday.

Sat Samey said that Cambodia has reduced tax from 15 percent to zero on energy-relared items.

International investors from Japan, Korea, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore have invested in electricity in Cambodia, he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Keat Chhorn suggested generating power from natural sources or importing power to lower the price of power for the poor.

Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem said at least 70 percent of the population will be connected to the grid by 2020 to 2030.

Suy Sem said the government is investigating solar power and hydro-power.

Preah Vihear UN Security Council Documents Ready: PM

Friday, 05 March 2010 02:53 DAP-NEWS

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday stated that draft documents relating to the dispute over land around Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple has been prepared ready to send to the UN Security Council.

The premier said bilateral negotiations have yielded no improvement to the standoff. He called the current Thai government “a robber government” for their claim over an area of 4.6 square kilometers belonging to Cambodia.

“If it is still like this, we will send to UN Security Council as many documents were ready to send, but then we postponed, waiting for bilateral negotiation,” the premier said at Chaktomuk theatre hall.

The premier suggested the analogy of two women claiming to be the mother of a child. The real mother does not want to struggle as she is afraid of her child’s suffering, while liar struggles without caring.

The premier then referred to a firefight on April 3, 2009 when Thai gunfire and shrapnel damaged the ancient Khmer temple. “The temple does not belong to them so that they are not afraid of shooting at the temple.

But for us, we are so afraid of destroying the temple, including the trees surrounding it, as they belong to us.”