via CAAI News Media
Kampong Speu villagers To Be Released
Saturday, 27 March 2010 03:59 DAP-NEWS
Two villagers from Omlang Commune in Kampong Speu province are going to be released on Monday next week after intervention from Soy Sopheap, DAP News Cambodia General-Director.
Over 700 villagers gathered to block traffic on National Road 4 near Kampong Speu Town Hall causing traffic jams. The villagers dispersed as Soy Sopheap vowed to coordinate the release of two village representatives detained on March 24, 2010 for attempting to burn the company’s offices in connection with a land dispute.
After instructions from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Soy Sopheap promised villagers the two representatives would be freed on Monday next week.
It is still unclear how the land dispute itself will be resolved. Villagers have asked that an adequate response be forthcoming from the private company of Ly Yong Phat, a Cambodian senator from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
One protestor, Phal Vanntak, said he was happy Soy Sopheap was able to secure the release of the two villagers.
Kampong Speu Provincial General Secretary Van Sokha said that it is the protestors’ right to rally. He said the authorities would solve the dispute and not permit any company to encroach illegally on villagers’ land.
Cambodia to Send Troops to Lebanon
Saturday, 27 March 2010 03:58 DAP-NEWS
A source close to the Ministry of National Defence said on Friday that Cambodia plans to send 217 soldiers to Lebanon in the Middle East to join a humanitarian UN peacekeeping mission.
The source did not know when the troops will be sent to Lebanon but source said that the UN officials will come to inspect and orient the troops for Lebanon March 29-31, and that UN officials may help Cambodia with human resources training. The Cambodian troops need to have English-language proficiency.
Chum Socheat, Defence Ministry spokesman, told DAP News Cambodia that Cambodia and the UN signed an MoU on cooperation and UN peacekeeping framework. He said another 139 troops would will depart in April to work in humanitarian affairs in Chad and Central Africa, one group for engineering and another for demining.
Japan Provides US$180,000 to Local Authorities
Friday, 26 March 2010 02:58 DAP-NEWS
Under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, an economic cooperation framework, the Japanese government has agreed to provide a total of US$185,010 to three organizations in Cambodia, a press release from the Japanese embassy said on Thursday.
The grant contracts were signed today between Ambassador Extraord- inary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Cambodia Koroki Masafumi and representatives of the organizations.
A bridge in Teuk Phos District, Kam- pong Chhnang Province will receive US$84,336; the Cheap Commune Council in Teuk Phos District, Kampong Chhnang Province will construct a concrete bridge for the replacement of an old and rotten wooden bridge, which has been repaired several times by the commune council. The new concrete bridge will provide community access throughout the year and around 5,000 villagers are expected to benefit.
The second project to receive funds is Improving Mother and Child Health in Kampong Thom Referral Hospital, which will get US$23,426. The Provincial Health Department will use the money to improve mother and child health (MCH) facilities, and construct one post-delivery ward and roofs for the MCH Education space in Kampong Thom Referral Hospital. “This project will provide appropriate care after delivery to mothers and infants and MCH education to mothers and their families. Approximately 63,000 people in the region will be able to access and utilize public MCH service,” said the embassy statement.
A third Project to construct a Science and Mathematics Laboratory in Prey Veng Provincial Teacher Training Center is allocated US$77,248. The Prey Veng Provincial Teacher Training Center will construct a science and mathematics laboratory for 326 trainees, who will be primary school teachers in Prey Veng province. Approximately 180,000 students in Prey Veng province are expected to receive improved education from the teachers. In addition, the laboratory will be also used for lecturer training in JICA technical cooperation projects.
Japan’s Kusanone Grant Assistance started in Cambodia in 1991 in order to support Cambodia’s reconstruction and development efforts at the grassroots level. The assistance is aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals from such poverty and misfortunes that directly threaten their lives, livelihood and dignity, as well as at promoting self-reliance of local communities. Since 1991, the government of Japan has provided over US$44.7 million for local authorities and non-governmental orga -nizations to implement 439 projects throughout the country.
Rainsy: VN Border Markers Cost Cambodian Land
Friday, 26 March 2010 02:57 DAP-NEWS
Cambodian Opposition Party Leader Sam Rainsy on Thursday maintained that border markers around Kosh Kbal Kandal village, Samrong Commune, Chantrea District, Svay Rieng province is within the internationally recognized Cambodia -Vietnam border, a claim that suggests Cambodia has lost land to Vietnam.
Speaking via video link from France, he claimed that border markers 184, 185, 186, 187 and others are located between 300 to 500 meters in Cambodian territory.
The accusation was strongly rejected by Cambodian Government officials. Tith Sothea said that Sam Rainsy’s allegations are just an old, oft-repeated story, but said that the Cambodian Govern-ment will still take action against him.
“If Sam Rainsy have enough map documents, he should bring to the court in the upcoming days,” Tith Sothea told DAP News Cambodia. “All his words are useless.”
Var Kimhong, the head of the Cambodian Border Committee, could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Sam Rainsy yesterday called on the Cambodian Government to release two villagers imprisoned by the Svay Rieng Provincial Court for pulling out border markers with Rainsy on October 25, 2009. Sam Rainsy was sentenced to two years in jail and fined nearly 60 million riel in the same case.
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