via CAAI News Media

Wait For Election Victory to Amend Corruption Law: PM

Thursday, 11 March 2010 04:20 DAP-NEWS

Cambodian Prime Minster Hun Sen said on Wednesday that opposition parties’ and NGOs who want to amend the anti-corruption law should wait until they win an elections victory in 2013.

The premier’s confirmation was made as the National Assembly (NA) held a session to discuss the draft law for a whole day with 106 lawmakers from the Cambodian People’s Party (CCP) and Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), though Human Rights Party (HRP) lawmakers boycotted the session. The session took place as planned despite a request for a delay from NGOs and the opposition.

“I call on all worried persons to wait until following 2013 election victory. If you win, you can amend the law,” the premier said during a national conference on the new Penal Code at the InterContinental Hotel.

SRP lawmaker Kim Souphirin he asked to delay the session to let all have enough time check this important law.

Related to assets declarations, the PM said that not only government officials, but also opposition and NGOs officials must declare their assets, both in the country and overseas.

The NA adopted two chapters of the anti-draft law on Wednesday by 84/99 support. Another session will be held today.

NA passes anti-corruption law chapters

The Cambodian National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday finally began debat- ing the draft anti-corruption law. The law has been long awaited, and it is hoped the law will promote transparency and the rule of law, boosting economic growth.

The NA approved two of the nine chapters of the law in a single day, despite being asked to postpone by civil society and the political opposition because of an unclear definition of the word corruption and the process of the body set up to combat corruption.

The Cambodian parliament is dominated by lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which won a landslide election victory in July 2008 with 90 of 123 NA seats. To pass laws, a party needs 50 seats plus one.

Nigerians Nabbed with Cocaine

Thursday, 11 March 2010 04:19 DAP-NEWS

Two Nigerian men were detained on Wednesday in the Mondial Business Center in Phnom Penh, and another arrested the same day, said police. The men are suspected of drugs offenses.

Dangkor district police told DAP News Cambodia that a four-strong gang trafficked narcotics, but only two are foreigners.

The district police said the Nigerian men traveled from the Poipet Cambodia -Thai border crossing but had no passports. The two suspects were detained while riding moto-taxi. Six packages of cocaine and a small amount of other narcotics were confiscated.

The same day, two Cambodian women were arrested with two packages of cocaine.

The women were detained behind the Phnom Penh Hotel in Daun Penh district, a Daun Penh official told DAP News Cambodia. The six suspects were sent to court by police.

The law has nine chapters with 57 articles and according to this law, civil servants, judges, members of the military, and legislators would need to disclose their wealth. Bribery and corruption can be punished by prison terms ranging from seven days to 15 years.

HKL Profits Fall in 2009

Thursday, 11 March 2010 04:18 DAP-NEWS

HKL, a private Cambodian Micro-Finance Institution (MFI) with 510 employees, earned US$1.2 million in 2009, a drop of 15 percent compared with 2008, said HKL’s director in a seminar on Wednesday.

Hourt Eangkok said in the seminar there were about 47,835 depositors, and 41,110 borrowers in the period.

HKL has foreign backers including Oiko credit, the CD Organization, Norfund Triple Jump, Cordaid and other local MFIs.

Germany Inks €19 M Grant

Thursday, 11 March 2010 04:14 DAP-NEWS

Dirk Niebel, German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Keat Chhon, Cambodian Minister of Economy and Finance, have signed an €19 million grant agreement, a German embassy statement said on Wednesday.

Dirk Niebel arrived in Phnom Penh for his first visit to Asia yesterday. The two legged trip includes a visit to neighboring Vietnam.

During his three days in Cambodia, Niebel will discuss the political and social economic development with senior government officials, the statement said. In his first meeting with Keat Chhon, Niebel underlined that Germany remains a reliable partner for Cambodia and will continue to support efforts to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGS).

German development cooperation will be geared at alleviating the consequences of the global economic crisis which are particularly affecting the poor segments of the population, the statement said .

Minister Niebel, together with German Ambassador Frank M. Mann and Keat Chhon signed an agreement on financial cooperation 2009, with a grant of €19 million will be made available and used for projects concerning the health sector, regional economic development and rural infrastructure. At the signing ceremony, Niebel stressed the importance of the German assistances in both sectors for reaching the MDGs. He pointed out that good governance, respect of human rights and rule of law and rights of opposition parties are essential for the cooperation between Cambodia and Germany. “These are basic requirements for the sustainable development and an effective development cooperation. Therefore, Germany shall continue to cooperate with our Cambodian partners to improve the governance track record,” he said. He also highlighted that continued commitment to implement reforms in the land sector is essential for the sustainable development of Cambodia.

The agreement on financial cooperation contains an additional allocation €1.6 million allocation for the to further improve the quality and accessibility of public and private heath services for the poor population in five provinces. Long term goals are the establishment of a social heath insurance scheme, including fee exemptions, health equity funding, community health insurance and social health insurance.