via CAAI News Media
Thursday, 03 June 2010 15:00 Jeremy Mullins
ASEAN officials pledged closer cooperation with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including boosting investment in ASEAN’s agriculture sector, at a conference that ended Tuesday. “Competent authorities … discussed ways and mechanisms appropriate for the development of programmes, projects and joint investments in agricultural production,” Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said. A possible free trade agreement was not discussed at the two-day conference in Singapore, co-chaired by Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, though the Kingdom remains open to international investment, particularly in agriculture, he said. “In general, Cambodia welcomes foreign investment in food production because we have lots of fertile land.” Qatar commercial counselor Krissanet Sripresert confirmed Persian Gulf businesses were weighing investing in Cambodian agriculture. “Qatar looks to Cambodia for agricultural production, and as a market for our products, as well as a potential supply of labour,” he said. Cambodia has previously sought investment in agriculture from several GCC members.
Border Spat: SRP to defy govt order in Takeo trip
Thursday, 03 June 2010 15:01 Meas Sokchea
Border Spat
Lawmakers from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party said Wednesday that they would defy a government order and travel today to Takeo province’s Borei Cholsa district to investigate encroachment allegations against Vietnam. On Tuesday, National Assembly President Heng Samrin said the group would not be permitted to travel to the area while demarcation was in process. But party spokesman Yim Sovann said at least 16 lawmakers would make the trip to border post No 270, which villagers claim has been planted in Cambodian territory. “No people’s representative who goes to help people must ask permission,” he said at a press conference Wednesday. “We must visit [to see] whether [demarcation] affects people’s land or not.” Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said defiance on the part of the SRP would be illegal as well as inconsistent with democratic procedure. “The authorities will take legal action if they would go because the authorities respect the law,” he said. He added that the SRP should take the issue of border demarcation up with the government.
Land Fight: Russey Keo villagers ‘threatened’
Thursday, 03 June 2010 15:02 Chhay Channyda
Land Fight
Around 35 families who were instructed to vacate their homes in Russey Keo district’s Boeung Chhouk village by May 25 have accused the chief of nearby Tuol Kork village of threatening them with arrest if they continue to resist eviction, villagers said Wednesday. Seng Sna, a representative of the residents, said that Tuol Kork village Chief Pol Dim warned them on Sunday that “the district will take action soon”, and that “anyone found to be a ringleader will be jailed”. “I am afraid of prison,” said Seng Sna. “I told him that prison is for only those who violate people.” The families, who say they live in Kilometre 6 commune, were given an eviction notice last month by officials from Tuol Sangke commune. The notice accused them of living illegally on land that belongs to a woman named Lao Tong Ngy. Nuth Puthdara, the deputy governor of Russey Keo district, said he did not know when the eviction would take place, but that the issue was a “commune matter” and thus should not be handled at the district level. Pol Dim could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
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