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Another Cambodian is killed by bird flu virus still a threat to Cambodians

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 05:28 DAP

Correspondent .PHNOM PENH, April 21 (DAP) – Another Cambodian man was killed by bird flu virus still a threat to this impoverished Southeast Asian nation, the World Health Organization and Cambodian health minister warned on Wednesday.

A 27-year-old Cambodian, from the eastern province of Prey Veng, died on April 17 as a result of respiratory complications after contracting bird flu virus H5N1, said a joint statement was seen by DAP.

The government urged the locals to report the suspicious deaths poultry to the assigned contact persons so that the experts could take an initial preventative action before escalating.

“Avian influenza H5N1 is still a threat to the health of Cambodians. I urge communities to be on the look-out for sick poultry and to report poultry die-offs to the ministry of health and agriculture hotlines so that they can be investigated before people start to get sick,” said health minister Mam Bun Heng in a joint statement with World Health Organization.

The latest death brought the country’s death toll from the deadly virus rose to 8 out of the 10 confirmed cases of H5N1, said the release.

The ministry of health’s officials are now sending experts to the affected area to conduct filed investigation to the identify man’s close contacts and to initiate preventative treatment as required, it said.

“Health officials are also coordinating with the ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries teams who are investigating possible poultry deaths in the area,” said the press release.

Globally since 2003, there have been 494 laboratory confirmed cases of avian influenza with 293 related deaths, it said.

The virus does not spread easily between humans, although the virus H5N1 spreads between sick poultry and sometimes spread from poultry to humans.

But experts fear in the past that the constantly mutating H5N1 virus could change into a form easily transmitted from person to person and potentially kill millions worldwide.

 

Cambodian Tourism Disturbed by Icelandic Volcano’s Eruption: Official Said

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 04:24 DAP-NEWS/ Tep Piseth

PHNOM PENH, April 21-Cambodian Tourist Travel agency announced on Wednesday that Cambodian tourism sector really was disturbed from Eyjafjallajokull volcano’s eruption in Iceland last Thursday but it could not estimate about the impact from this flight delay and tourist travelers.

The volcano eruption in Iceland disturbed our tourist travelers and those tourists lost the money and time after their flight was cancelled due to volcano eruprion,” Ang Kimeang, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agency (CATA) said by phone.

So far we have not had real figure about cost of losing airline and tourism industry in the country, he added. Most tourists lost their money because they booked the hotels and flights to Cambodia and their flight can not travel from volcano’s eruption, he said. But now the flights resumed their work, he added.

When the tourists could not travel, it lost money from buyers in some parts, and it also impacted to local people and travel agency, and income of the government, he said. All flights from European countries could not travel to here, he added.

Keo Savorn, director of the flight services of air civil authority could not reach comment about impact of numbers of flight delay. Tourism Minister Thong Khon could not reach for immediate comment.

Pum, a Cambodian student learning in Norway said that he could not go on his class in Norway after his flight delayed since Thursday last week. I am trying to check my flight with Air Company. But they told me it could not process yet. I decided to delay next week to wait every thing to process smoothly from the flight.

Volcano ashes could damage plane engines, therefore Air Company decided to delay their flights.

According to the data from the international air association, altogether, the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano has cost the airline industry more than $1 billion in lost revenue since it spewed ash into the atmosphere last Thursday. In Europe, it lost about 200 million US from flight delay, and Qatar said it lost about 1 million US dollar for one day.

Terrorist Shelters Not Allowed in Cambodia- PM

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 04:45 DAP-NEWS/ Ek Madra

PHNOM PENH, April 21 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen promised on Wednesday that Cambodia will never allow any terrorist who could consider this impoverished Southeast Asian nation as their terrorist bases.

Speaking at the opening of the newly built secretariat for the National Committee of Anti-terrorism, Hun Sen said the kingdom must take a preventive measure although Cambodia is not a goal of destructions by terrorists.

“Cambodia is not a target for terrorist attacks, but if we are careless there could be a group of terrorist to use this land as shelters to operate their activities,” Hun Sen warned.

“We have to take preventative measures,” said Hun Sen.

“The best way is to prevent it (terrorism acts) from taking place,” he told the crowd.

He said the harmonization of different ethnicity and race live together in society is also a key factor contributes to social security.

“I call on the all levels of forces and peoples to join hands to prevent any attempts (from assembling the terrorism activities),” he said.

A $USD 1.6 million worth construction of building complex were contributed by numerous donors, said Hun Sen who is also the head of the National Committee of Anti-terrorism.

He also called donors especially China, the Cambodian best friend country and also the biggest donor, to provide some trucks to support the anti-terrorist committee.

“China please donates us some vehicles for transportation of our forces.”

Cambodia, which emerged from 30 years of civil war, never received any terrorist threats, but has been concerned by international community that it could be a breeding ground for terrorists for which Cambodian Prime Minister denied.

Indonesian born Hambali, who was held in U.S. custody since his capture in

Thailand in 2003, spent his time hiding in Cambodia, the officials has said.

Others foreigners were arrested in Phnom Penh including Thais and charged with the international terrorism activities which linked to the network of Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

The United States and some Asian countries said the JI group has ties with the Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network who was blamed for the attack in the U.S. on September 11, 2001.

Cambodia, East Timor Strengthen Economic and Political Affairs

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 12:15 DAP NEWS / Tep Piseth

PHNOM PENH, April 21-Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday discussed with East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta about strengthening bilateral bonds between the two Southeast Asia countries.

Both sides have discussed on expanding the cooperation on the economic, agricultural, political issues for mutual benefits of the two countries,” Mr Eang Sophalet, assistant to Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters after the two leaders’ talk at the Cambodian National Assembly.

Cambodia side will send a delegation of trade unit to East Timor to study potential issues for exporting Cambodian agricultural products to there, Mr. Eang noted. Mr. Horta also invited Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen to visit East Timor and Samdech will visit there in an appropriate time, Eang said.

Mr. Horta also asked Samdech to support East Timor as a new member of ASEAN in 2012 and Cambodian side will support the membership and urged East Timor to lobby other countries in ASEAN, Mr. Eang said.

ASEAN composed Brunei, Cambodian, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Philippines, and Laos.

Mr. Horta said today with Cambodian students in Phnom Penh downtown that his country will join ASEAN in 2012 if the political stability and economic growth of his country performed well in next few years.

We hope that Cambodia and other ASEAN countries will support us as a new and youngest membership of ASEAN.

Mr Horta arrived here to deliver his speech about building culture of peace under the organizing of international peace foundation.

East Timor Will Join ASEAN in 2012 Need Support from Cambodia: President Jose Ramos-Horta

Wednesday, 21 April 2010 12:38 DAP NEWS / Tep Piseth

PHNOM PENH, April 21-East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta announced on Wednesday that his country will join ASEAN in 2012 if the political stability and economic growth performed well in next few years.

We hope that Cambodia and other ASEAN countries will support us as a new and youngest membership of ASEAN in 2012, he told hundreds of Cambodian students in Phnom Penh downtown.

He told the audience that to build peace, we need to build at home first, our children are not afraid of their home. After they leave school for home, they feel that their home are safe for them.

He visited here this morning under the bridge program for building culture of peace which organized by the international Peace Foundation. He met with Cambodian students in few hours ago and this afternoon also met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for bilateral talks and the result of the meeting is not announced yet. His term will end in 2012 too.