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Cambodia Protests Against Thai High Ranking Officials
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- The spokesperson of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia has issued a press release to protest against Thai high ranking officials who had conducted campaign of intoxication to fault Cambodia.
The full press release dated Sept. 20 reads as follows:
“The spokesperson of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PRU) of the Office of the Council of Ministers (OCM) of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) expresses his strongest protest against the renewal of the campaign of intoxication conducted by Thai high ranking officials to fault Cambodia and to hold Cambodia hostage to Thai internal political crisis, in time when the relations between Cambodia and Thailand began to improve and there is also a strong prospect that the two Prime Ministers will meet next week to discuss bilateral relations, in New York, USA.
This renewal of the campaign of intoxication has been carried out by The Nation, on 16 September 2010 in an article, “Security tightened over rumors of assassination plots”, the Nation Channel, Matichon Online, and Manager Online, on the same date, and on the same topic.
The Nation reported that:
1- ‘Metropolitan Police Commissioner Santhan Chayanont had previously claimed that a group of ‘men in black’, trained for combat in Cambodia, were staking out Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s residence from a condominium nearby.’
2- ‘Secretary General to the PM Panitan Wattanayagorn said a group of men, reportedly living in a condominium near the prime minister’s home, are being watched closely.’
3- ‘Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thougsaban said as for the men in black, they first emerged on the night of April 10 and became known as an armed group that killed the general public and officials.’
4- ‘Former deputy permanent secretary for Defence, Admiral Bannawit Kengrien said he too had heard about the so-called assassination plot and that a large number of Cambodian warriors of Vietnamese descent, who had undergone military training and were great snipers, had been brought in to do the job.’
5- ‘Emergency police chief Pol MajGeneral Thanapol Sonthes said reports about ‘men in black’ plotting the assassination of VIPs had been filed since April, when the red shirts were rallying at the Rajprasong intersection. He added that all VIPs, especially the premier, were being provided with maximum security. He said a ‘trainer’ from Cambodia was keeping a low profile in Thailand but the police knew his name and whereabouts, and were keeping an eye on him.’
The Nation Channel echoed The Nation about the statement made by Former deputy permanent secretary of Defence, Bannawit Kengrien and the Matichon and The Manager Online echoed the Nation about the statement made by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Santhan Chayanont.
Reading through all the above statements, the Spokesperson of the PRU wishes to reiterate that:
1- ‘men in black’ is an old story, resurrected for the sole purpose of faulting Cambodia;
2- The dissemination of the news about the activities of ‘men in black’ has lost its operational values in terms of intelligence and security, which is in complete contradiction with the high reputation of Thailand intelligence apparatus operating inside Thailand, and
3- the only plausible underlying reason is that Thai high ranking officials within the government, the Thai extremist groups have been taking Cambodia hostage, and they have kept inventing innuendos, off-base suggestions and wild speculations to shift the attention of Thai people from Thai homegrown and unsolvable problems to Cambodia.
The spokesperson of the PRU is dismayed by the malicious campaign of intoxication by Thai high ranking officials in the Thai government for their ill-intention to fault the Kingdom of Cambodia and to mislead the national and international public opinion by:
· Attempting to link Thai unending internal squabbles to Cambodia;
· Making Cambodia hostage of the Thai deep social division; and
· Fanning acts of hostility towards the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The spokesperson of the PRU vehemently protests against allegations of ‘Cambodian warriors of Vietnamese descent, who had undergone military training and were great snipers, had been brought in to do the job,’ as stated in the Nation and other Thai media outlets, based on the facts that the Cambodian Constitution and as a matter of the Cambodian national policy practices, Cambodia does not interfere in the internal affairs of foreign countries by any means and especially of neighboring countries, and Cambodia will not allow foreigners to set up training camps nor military bases on Cambodian territory.” --AKP
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Cambodian Premier Urges for More Investment of Private Sector in the Form of BOT
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- Prime Minister Samdech Akka Mona Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen urged private sector to take part in more investments in the development of infrastructure in the form of BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer).
Samdech Techo Hun Sen presided over an inauguration of a new bridge across Tonle Sap River at Prek Phnov in Russey Keo district, Phnom Penh city on Sept. 20, considered the private sector not only as a locomotive to push the economic growth, but also the role in being completed additionally to the public investment of the royal government, mainly that of infrastructure to solve the problem faced annually of the population growth and the vehicle increase.
He appreciated LYP Group of H.E. Ly Yong Phat, as a local private company for its investment in the development of infrastructure in Cambodia.
The Cambodian prime minister attributed the investment of the private sector in the infrastructural development to a factor of peace in the country, mainly the private sector’s confidence in the leadership of the royal government.
On the occasion of Bonn Kan Bin and Bonn Pchum Ben, a festival held for the commemoration of the spirit of ancestors, relatives and friends who have passed away, Samdech Techo Hun Sen asked the company not to collect a toll for passengers who use the bridge.
The toll-paid bridge with almost one kilometer long is constructed with an investment of nearly US$43 million provided by LYP Group.
The far end of bridge to the east is linked with a two-way concrete road with a narrow strip in the middle to a segment of National Road A6, while to the west with a concrete road to Kop Srov area, on which there are two toll booths and eclectic lamp posts planting on both sides of the road. --AKP
(By THOU Peou)
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PM Hun Sen Wants Opposition Party Not to Be So Stupid
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has said that he does not want the opposition party in Cambodia to be so stupid that they look down on their own country.
Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen made the criticism Monday while presiding over the inauguration ceremony of a new toll Prek Phnov Bridge and linking road invested by LYP Group Company.
He further said he wanted them to be more intelligent and he felt ashamed that they were so stupid.
In mid-August Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen spoke of a 555 meter-high construction project or equivalent to a 90-floor skyscraper in Koh Pich (Diamond Island) to be invested by Oknha Pong Khieu Se, Director General of Canadia Bank. However, the Members of Parliament of the opposition party claimed that it was not the time to use the money to construct such a building, but it was time to promote agriculture and build houses for the farmers.
“I do not understand. They are just the MPs from the opposition party but they dare even to command the money of the private company,” he said, clarifying, “I agree with them if it is the State money, I will transfer it from building a 90-floor skyscraper to constructing roads, bridges, canals...which is already the policy of Hun Sen.”
“In the theory of free market economy, the State has no right to force the private sector to use their capital on any sector wanted by the State,” Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen noted, adding, “The dictatorship is coming if the opposition party comes to power.”
In general, he underlined, the opposition party is always walking in opposite direction against the government, but this is just a political suicide. --AKP
(By Ravuth M.)
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National Conference on Accounting Held
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- Hundreds of accountants in Cambodia gathered here yesterday in the National Conference on Accounting “Accountants for Business: Changing Roles for Accountants” under the presidency of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister H.E. Keat Chhon.
This conference is aimed at discussing the development of the fields of accounting and auditing in Cambodia as well as in the world, said Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance H.E. Ngy Tayi.
It is a good opportunity for the participants to share information, experiences and knowledge with the speakers, especially about the changing roles for accountants, he said.
In Cambodia, accountants are playing more and more important role when securities and exchange markets will be opened in the near future, he added.
According to the Cambodian secretary of state, at present, 31 accounting and auditing firms are operating and practicing their service in the country. --AKP
(By OU Sokha)
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Tanks, APCs Arrive at Preah Sihanouk Seaport
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- Nearly 100 tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) Cambodia bought from an Eastern European country arrived on Monday at Preah Sihanouk Autonomous Seaport in Preah Sihanouk province.
The military equipment including 50 T-55 tanks, 44 APCs, two tanks carrier trucks, two trailers and two containers were shipped on BBC Pacific freighter.
Deputy Commander-In-Chief Gen. Chea Dara said that the military equipment had been ordered before the current border issue between Cambodia and Thailand took place.
For his part, H.E. Kuy Kong, undersecretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said like other countries in the world, Cambodia bought modern military equipment in order to upgrade its military capacity and to protect its own sovereignty, territorial integrity and people. --AKP
(By Théng)
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Cambodia, ADB Sign Agreement on Poverty Reduction Project in Tonle Sap Region
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- The Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed here on Monday a US$5.75-million grant agreement to support the poverty reduction project in Tonle Sap region.
The grant, provided by the government of Finland, is a part of the US$55.3-million grant and concession credit funded by ADB (US$30.7 million), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) (US$13.38 million), and the Royal Government of Cambodia (US$5.45 million) to support the project of poverty reduction and small-scale agricultural development in Tonle Sap region.
The project will help the royal government in rural infrastructure development so as to increase agricultural productivity, facilitate the transport of products to the markets and to improve the people’s living condition in Tonle Sap region including the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom and Siem Reap. --AKP
(By LIM Nary)
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Cambodia Awarded MDG Prize for AIDS Response Excellence
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- Cambodia has been presented with a Millennium Development Goals Awards for its national leadership, commitment and progress towards achievement of Goal 6 – Combating HIV, malaria and other diseases, Chinese News Agency Xinhua quoted a press release from UN Office in Cambodia as saying on Monday.
Cambodia has been honored within the ‘Government’ category of the annual Awards initiative, presented at a high-profile event in New York City, the United States, it said.
Cambodia is recognized for efforts on HIV that have contributed to a decline in HIV prevalence from an estimated 2 percent (among adults aged 15-49) in 1998 to a projected 0.7 percent in 2010.
Cambodia has also achieved the universal access target for treatment, with over 90 percent of adults and children in need receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), due to the expansion of the Continuum of Care program established in 2003. Survival of PLHIV on ART after 12 months is estimated to be 87.4 percent in total (86.7 percent of adults and 93.9 percent of children).
“The Royal Government of Cambodia’s response to HIV and AIDS has successfully scaled up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for people living with HIV in Cambodia and generated benefits at the individual, community and health center level due to a high level of collaboration among all stakeholders, including UN agencies, civil society and development partners,” said Teng Kunthy, Secretary General of the Cambodia National AIDS Authority.
Selecting Cambodia for the Award, the MDG Awards Committee was particularly impressed with the Government’s successful scale-up of programs grounded in strong national leadership on HIV/AIDS, the solid National Strategic Plan (NSP) and collaborative partnerships, adhering closely to the ‘Three Ones’ principles – one national coordinating body, one national multi-sectoral strategic plan, one single monitoring and evaluation system, the release said.
Innovative prevention programming in Cambodia over the last 10 years has included the introduction of the 100 percent Condom Use Policy which showed successes in preventing new infections. Progress has also led to impacts on the other health-related MDGs of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.
Successful scale-up of HIV services has contributed to a nearly 50 percent decrease in HIV prevalence among pregnant women at antenatal clinics, and in 2009 more than 32 percent of HIV-infected pregnant women received treatment to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, an increase from 11.2 percent in 2007.
The nomination of Cambodia for the MDG Award was a joint initiative by the UN system in Cambodia.
“We congratulate Cambodia on receiving the MDG Award. This experience shows if all the ingredients for success are in place that Millennium Development Goals are achievable strong leadership and commitment from the highest level, a sound policy framework backed up by the adequate level of resources and implementation capacity, and coordination and collaboration among all partners,” said Douglas Broderick, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia. “The lessons learned here can be applied to accelerating the progress of those Goals still facing challenges, to ensure their achievement by 2015,” he added.
However, “HIV is still a very real challenge in this country, and stigma and discrimination remain high, which creates a barrier to accessing services for prevention, care, support and treatment,” said Douglas Broderick. --AKP
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7th International Music Festival To Begin on Thursday
Phnom Penh, September 21, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian and foreign musicians will gather here from Sept. 23 to 27 in the 7th International Music Festival.
The five-day music festival is aimed at sharing knowledge and experiences between Cambodian and Western artists, said Sam Sam Ang, professor of music and adviser to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, adding that artists from Malaysia will also participate in the event.
The 7th International Music Festival in jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Royal University of Fine Arts, the Embassy of Germany, Goethe Institute, Meta House and Intercontinental Hotel, he said at a recent press conference. --AKP
(By KOM Heng)
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