Somaly Mam, activist against human sex trafficking, visits Stanford

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

By Marianne LeVine

via CAAI

On Wednesday, Somaly Mam, one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, spoke out at the Women’s Community Center against human sex trafficking, drawing on personal experience as well as a lifetime spent combating the practice’s spread.

At a young age, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by a man pretending to be her grandfather. After witnessing the murder of her best friend, Mam escaped the brothel. In 1996, she established the Cambodian non-profit organization Agir Pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire (AFESIP), dedicated to saving young girls sold into sexual slavery. The victims range in age from 4 to 12, and the organization has rescued more than 6,000 young women since its founding.

In 2007, the Somaly Mam Foundation was established by two Americans to advocate for the victims of sexual trafficking and allow their voices to be heard in the world community.

Viviana Arcia ’13, the chair of women’s issues for ASSU and one of the event’s organizers, says Mam understands the importance of the survivor’s perspective.

Somaly Mam, former child sex slave and human rights advocate, speaks to the audience at the WCC Wednesday night. (FRANCISCA GILMORE/The Stanford Daily)

“She’s a representative of victim-centered activism…that is, letting survivors choose their own path and method of healing, which sadly many activists working with abused women do not do,” Arcia said. “They [the survivors] are the experts, they are the only ones that truly understand their situation and Mam is conscious of the fact that these girls need to be viewed and treated as autonomous people who have agency.”

The event began with the performance of the traditional Cambodian blessing dance. The five dancers were victims of sex trafficking, and began to cry as they recounted their difficult pasts.

“I am happy to meet you all. I never thought today was possible,” said one performer through a translator. “I look at you like brothers and sisters that care about me. I have a father that is despicable and I was sold by my own sister so I never felt love.”

Sex trafficking is not limited to Cambodia. Bill Livermore, the CEO and the executive director of the Somaly Mam Foundation, spoke on the global nature of the problem.

“The UN estimates 12.5 million slaves in the world today,” he said, adding that 17,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. every year.

“This is a problem of historical proportions,” he said. “It’s devastating. $32 billion is made in slavery. It is the second most profitable crime after drugs.”

Livermore described the two main functions of the Somaly Mam Foundation: empowering survivors and ensuring that a strict rule of law is enforced.

The Somaly Mam Foundation helps to fund shelters throughout Cambodia and encourages victim rehabilitation through dance therapy.

The Voices for Change program, one program of the Foundation in which survivors help counsel recent victims, has also been successful. According to Livermore, the program has encouraged more women in brothels to seek assistance. Intake rates at Cambodian shelters have increased from 60 percent to 90 percent within the past two years. Mam said the victims gain a sense of solidarity that helps them recover.

“What I needed when I was young was a mother,” Mam said. “But I didn’t have a mother. My life started bad. It’s like all of their lives. We had been born without parents, without love. We were born in very bad luck.”

The Somaly Mam Foundation encourages its members to voice their opinions about the center.

“I always believe the idea comes from the center,” Mam said. “Every year we have the girls get together. They tell us what they want the center to do. They are not soft at all. Empower the survivor. Don’t start tomorrow. Start now.”

Contact Marianne LeVine at mlevine2@stanford.edu.

America's Most Wanted Goes Undercover In Cambodia

http://www.cinemablend.com

via CAAI

2010-11-11

In what sounds like a relatively horrifying episode, this Saturday America’s Most Wanted will feature host John Walsh as he goes undercover in Cambodia to expose international sex trafficking.

It's an unfortunate reality that sex-related crimes are a global epidemic and this Saturday, America's Most Wanted will be visiting Cambodia to investigate pedophilia crimes taking place at a notorious bar. Fox released some information on the special today, revealing that in addition to Walsh’s undercover venture in Southeast Asia, the episode will also include information on American sex predators that are still at large. The episode will air on Saturday, Nov. 13 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Below is the full description for the episode as provided by Fox.

AMERICA’S MOST WANTED cameras go undercover in Cambodia, a nation targeted by pedophiles because the abject poverty there has made it distressingly easy to “buy” underage children. Working with international law enforcement agencies, Walsh investigates a notorious Phnom Penh bar to see firsthand how young girls are offered to foreign visitors and visits a Cambodian prison to confront jailed Westerners accused of preying upon children.

Walsh also talks to Somaly Mam, a tireless advocate who has dedicated her life to rescuing Cambodia’s children from the sex trade. A sex-crime victim as a child, Mam operates a center for other victimized children, offering them hope for the future.

In the episode, Walsh will ask viewers to get involved in the fight against predators by helping him track down several American pedophiles profiled during the broadcast.

GE Commissions Two New Hospitals in Cambodia Under Developing Health Globally™ Program

via CAAI

NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Fairfield, CT, United States, 11/11/2010 - GE, in partnership with the Cambodian Ministry of Health, this week announces the official commissioning of medical equipment at two public hospitals in Cambodia, as part of its Developing Health Globally™ program (NYSE: GE).

Aligned with GE’s healthymagination initiative, this GE corporate citizenship program aims to improve access to quality healthcare in the developing world by addressing critical gaps in existing government healthcare facilities.

GE will sponsor commissioning events at Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital on Wednesday, October 27, at 9:30 a.m. and National Pediatric Hospital on Wednesday, October 27, at 2:30 p.m. Ceremonies will take place at both hospitals at the respective times. Each commissioning marks the completion of the product installation and training, and provides each hospital the opportunity to share the news of the upgraded facility with the community. GE’s donation is comprised of equipment to better many areas of the hospital including Radiology, Operating theaters, Labor and Delivery, and the Maternity and Infant care wards.

National Pediatric Hospital Commissioning_2

“As the Developing Health Globally program expands to two more hospitals in Cambodia, new equipment and training will better help clinicians care for members in the community,” said Bob Corcoran, vice president of corporate citizenship at GE Corporation. “GE strives to build the capacities of these hospitals to improve access to quality care, enabling these hospitals to save lives.”

GE leaders attending the commissioning include Bob Corcoran, vice president of GE corporate citizenship; Stuart Dean, president of GE ASEAN; Mylan Nguyen, national executive of Vietnam & Cambodia; David Utama, president and CEO of GEHC ASEAN; Krista Bauer, director of global programs at GE; Ivan Cayabyab and Vasanthe Sekhar, the GE ambassadors to the newly commissioned hospitals. In addition to attendees from GE, H.E. Carol Rodley, the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Mam Bunheng, the Cambodian Minister of Health; will be in attendance.

“The Government of Cambodia, through the Ministry of Health, thanks GE for its continued support of our hospitals,” said H.E. Mam Bunheng, the Cambodian Minister of Health. “The investment in two additional hospitals will broaden care and access in Cambodia.”

Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hsopital Commissioning

In 2009, Phnom Penh Municipal Referral Hospital, Kossamak National Hospital, Kampong Speu Referral Hospital, Sihanoukville Referral Hospital, Kampot Referral Hospital and Takeo Referral Hospital were commissioned. The additional two hospitals mark the completion of eight Cambodian sites.

About Developing Health Globally

Launched in 2004 targeting sub-Saharan Africa , Developing Health Globally now extends across the developing world to 13 countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. The program aims to improve access to quality healthcare for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Developing Health Globally uses GE core competencies including technology, process expertise and employee engagement to offer sustainable “enterprise solutions” to address some of the critical gaps that exist in developing-world healthcare facilities.

About GE

GE (ge.com) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide.

Contacts

Frank Mantero, Director, Corporate Citizenship Programs, GE Corporation

P: +12033733534 / E: frank.mantero[.]ge.com.

Dararith Lim, Market Development Manager/ Cambodia Country Representative, GE Corporation

P: + 855 23 217 226 / E: dararith.lim[.]ge.com.

Press Contact

Frank Mantero, GE

P: +1 203 373 3534 / E: frank.mantero[.]ge.com.

Cambodia's UN-backed genocide tribunal should press on with new cases against former Khmer Rouge leaders or risk a "legacy of impunity," says a trial-monitoring group.

via CAAI

 Published on : 11 November 2010
By Thijs Bouwknegt (RNW)

"High-level war crimes cases should be tried by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), rather than transferred to local courts." The report by the US based Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), released on Wednesday, says that ordinary Cambodian courts cannot guarantee international fair trial standards, given intense political interference of Cambodian leaders.

"If any of these cases are dismissed, transferred, or otherwise handled in a manner that does not evince independent decision making consistent with international standards, the court will be left with a legacy of impunity rather than justice in spite of its accomplishments in other cases," the report reads.

The ECCC - staffed by a mixture of Cambodian and international staff and judges - prosecutes senior Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for the deaths of up to 2 million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979. Ever since the UN-backed court was set up in 2003, it has been dogged by allegations of political interference while Cambodian and international prosecutors openly disagree on whether the court should pursue more suspects.

Last month, Cambodian Prime Minister - himself once a mid-level Khmer Rouge member - told visiting United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon that a third case was "not allowed" because it could plunge the country back into civil war.

Following Hun Sen's statement, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said it would be up to the ECCC to decide whether or not to start a third trial.

In its statement Wednesday, the OSJI warns that the court "risks the appearance that it is dumping the cases because it is unwilling or unable to deal with the political interference that has come to haunt the ECCC."

"Cambodia's government has made clear its determination to abort any cases it finds politically inconvenient," said James A. Goldston, executive director of the OSJI. "The United Nations and international donors must ensure that any completion plan for the court guarantees fair trials and appeals in all remaining cases on its docket." Goldston added that the best way to achieve this is through the existing hybrid tribunal.

Four cases, involving a total of ten accused persons, are currently pending before the tribunal in Phnom Penh. The court completed its first case in July, sentencing former Toul Sleng prison chief 'Duch' to 35 years in jail for overseeing the deaths of more than 12,000 people. The case, dubbed "case 001", is now under appeal.

In September, the ECCC indicted four top regime leaders genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity for their role in the deaths of up to two million people in Cambodia's "Killing Fields". Ieng Sery, Ieng Thirith, Nuon Chea, and Khieu Samphan are set to go to trial together in mid-2011.

Cases 003/004, involving five senior Khmer Rouge leaders whose names remain, are currently under investigation, but Cambodian leaders have repeatedly sought to block their progress.

"Such blatant political interference in the court's work is of course contrary to basic fair trial standards," said the report. But Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan called the document "an insult to the government."

Cambodia and the UN had not yet reached "an agreement" on cases three and four, he said, adding that funding was a key concern. "We are worried about the budget," Phay Siphan said.

Cambodian Deminers Headed to Lebanon

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer, Washington, DC
Thursday, 11 November 2010

via CAAI

Photo: AP
It is estimated that about 670 square kilometers of the country's land are still cover by landmine and would take several years to be removed.

"The 219 soldiers will be sent off after a ceremony Nov. 17."

Cambodia will send more than 200 deminers as UN peacekeepers to Lebanon next week, Defense Minister Tea Banh said.

The 219 soldiers will be sent off after a ceremony Nov. 17, the defense minister said.

The Lebanon mission will add to Cambodia's record of demining. The country was riddled with mines and ordinance after decades of civil war, and now its experts have served tours in Sudan and other countries.

One team is continuing demining in Sudan, said Chhum Socheat, a defense spokesman.

Youth See Volunteerism As a Means to a Jobs

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 11 November 2010

via CAAI

Photo: AP
Cambodian students raise their hands while being addressed by U.N.-backed genocide tribunal officers at Bak Touk High School, in Phnom Penh.

“If they don't do volunteer work with an institution or community, they will probably be unable to find employment opportunities.”

With unemployment still high among Cambodian youth, some have begun to seek volunteer opportunities as a bridge to decent jobs in the future.

More and more graduates have shown an interest in volunteer work, which helps them gain experience and expand their networks, said Som Monorom, a project officer at Cambodian Volunteers for Society.

“If they don't do volunteer work with an institution or community, they will probably be unable to find employment opportunities,” he said, adding that most volunteers came from poor or middle-class families.

“There are hardly any youths from well-off families who want to volunteer, because most of them have a lot of money, so they do not care much about job opportunity,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

Cambodia has the highest per capita population of youth in the region: those between 10 to 24 years old make up 35 percent of the populace.

But with an estimated 250,000 youths entering the employment market each year, and the main industry, garments, only supplying a total 300,000 jobs, work opportunities are scant.

That means greater competition for the jobs that do exist.

“Today, getting a job requires work experience,” said Pen Sophal, youth media officer for UN Volunteers. “Even though you graduate from a university, you'll find it hard to get a job without work experience.”

Local Courts Not Prepared for Tribunal Cases: Group

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 11 November 2010

via CAAI

Photo: AP

Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, (ECCC).

“In light of relentless Cambodian political interference, the best way to achieve this is through the existing hybrid tribunal.”

A US-based legal group says the Khmer Rouge tribunal should not transfer any high-level wars crimes cases to Cambodia's national courts when it leaves the country.

The UN-backed court is in the midst of preparing a so-called completion strategy, to determine what the tribunal might leave for the national judiciary.

The New York-based Open Society Justice Initiative said in a report Wednesday that high-level crimes must be properly adjudicated.

“In light of relentless Cambodian political interference, the best way to achieve this is through the existing hybrid tribunal,” OSJI's executive director, James Goldston, said. “The United Nations and international donors must ensure that any completion plan for the court guarantees fair trials and appeals in all remaining cases on its docket.”

The question of political interference centers around whether the court should pursue more indictments. Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned that further arrests could lead to instability, an opinion echoed by Cambodian tribunal judges.

In a Nov. 10 statement, the tribunal's outgoing defense administrator, Richard Rogers, said political interference had made his job difficult.

The institutions of justice and respect for law are still developing in Cambodia, he said, and “the threat of political interference...may undermine the independence of the court.”

Political interference had become a “fair trial concern,” he said.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan denied the courts were facing such interference. He also said the mandate of the court means it should not prosecute beyond the five suspects now in custody without a renegotiation.

Meanwhile, the tribunal continues to face funding woes, as donors wait for a completion strategy before deciding how much more they want to put into the court.

Regional Rights Groups Disappointed in Asean Commission

Im Sothearith, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 11 November 2010

via CAAI

Photo: AP

Cambodia joined ASEAN in April 30th, 1999.

“Free expression remains a dirty word, press freedom remains a dirty word, access to information remains a dirty word.”

Civil society leaders from six Asean countries say they are disappointed in a new commission meant to monitor human rights in the 10-member bloc.

In a forum to discuss the newly established Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, or AICHR, in Washington, various groups said the body could do more to ensure the mitigation of rights abuses in member countries.

“We are very disappointed that for the whole year the commission has not been engaging civil society organizations as well as national human rights institutions in the region,” said panelist Yap Swee Seng, who is the executive director of the Thai-based Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development.

Human rights abuses remain a problem across Southeast Asia, particularly Burma. The AICHR was meant to be a major step toward strengthening rights in member countries. However, activists at the forum said by not allowing civil society to engage, the commission could not address abuses.

Irene Fonacier-Fellizar, a child rights activist for Solidarity for Asian People's Task Force, based in the Philippines, said the AICHR faced a “daunting task” in engaging with rights groups and protecting children. That's because the gulf between civic groups and governments in the region remains wide, she said.

Some were upset by the lack of provisions within Asean and its commission on key rights freedoms.

“Free expression remains a dirty word, press freedom remains a dirty word, access to information remains a dirty word,” said Roby Alampay, the editor of an online portal for TV5 in the Philippines. “And you will literally not see any of these, either in the charter of Asean or in terms of reference of Asean's Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.”

The forum did provide an opportunity for different groups to come together from across the region to share their areas of expertise, said Andy Lim, a student at American University, where the event was held.

“They have the best experience and the best knowledge available to us,” he said. “Some of the knowledge I have about Asean comes especially from Western experts, people we know, and professors we have. Today we have points of view of the people from the region.”

Survey Finds Transparency Deficiency in Budgeting

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 11 November 2010

via CAAI

Photo: AP

Cambodian national assembly.

“These are the countries that will need to quickly improve their transparency level to march with neighboring countries.”

Cambodia has nudged up slightly in its budget transparency, but it remains one of the lowest ranked countries in the region.

The Washington-based International Budget Partnership's annual budget survey found Cambodia's budget slightly more open than in 2008, and a more open than that of Vietnam.

On a scale between one and 100, Cambodia ranks 15 this year, up from 11 in 2008.

“Cambodia's score compared to regional countries has a very low rank, but it is higher than Vietnam,” said Chea King Song, a development manager for NGO Forum.

The average score for Southeast Asian countries was 36. Thailand scored 41, while the Philippines scored 55.

“In Cambodia and Vietnam scant information is provided,” according to the budget survey. “These are the countries that will need to quickly improve their transparency level to march with neighboring countries.”

The survey also found a weak legislative arm without enough power to amend budget proposals made by the executive branch or to hold public hearings on budget issues.

Cheam Yiep, head of the National Assembly's finance committee, called the report unfair.

“We work based on laws,” he said. “We do not keep information under the table. Cambodia works hard for transparency, public participation, effectiveness and good governance for the budget.”

Leah April, a public sector specialist for the World Bank's office in Cambodia, said Cambodia has made efforts to improve transparency in its public finances and is working to develop an information system to provide more timely information.

Bulgaria to close 7 of its embassies abroad due to lack of money

via CAAI

By The Associated Press (CP)

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria's foreign minister says his office plans to close seven of its embassies because of a lack of funds.

Nikolay Mladenov said Thursday he would make a proposal to the government to shut down the embassies in Sudan, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico and Tunisia.

The proposal, which would see a total of 101 Bulgarian embassy employees in those missions return home, is expected to be approved.

Mladenov said the closures should not be considered to be "a negative evaluation of the mutual relations between Bulgaria and those nations."

Currently, Bulgaria has 83 embassies, six permanent representations, 20 consular offices, and two diplomatic bureaus abroad.

Cambodia receives 40 mln USD from WB for Typhoon Ketsana recovery

via CAAI

November 11, 2010

The Cambodian government received Thursday 40 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank for restoring the losses and damage caused by Typhoon Ketsana that hit the country last year.

Speaking at the signing ceremony to receive the assistance from World Bank, Keat Chhon, deputy prime minister and minister of finance and economy said the assistance is classified into two forms, one of which is 20 million U.S. dollars as in grant and another 20 million U.S. dollars as in credit.

The assistance will target specifically to the poor under the World Bank's form of the Ketsana Emergency Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project (KERRP) which aims to restore transportation and water and sanitation services to the affected people who are mostly poor and live in the rural areas, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the government in disaster preparedness and management.

"Typhoon Ketsana devastated the lives and livelihood of tens of thousands of Cambodian people, particularly the poor," said the World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia, Qimiao Fan.

"This project will help to restore the damaged infrastructure such as rural roads and provide basic services such as water and sanitation facilities, to the affected people in mostly rural areas," he said.

This four-year rehabilitation project will focus on four main components such as the rehabilitation, reconstruction and improvement of 920 km of existing rural roads, including bridges, culverts and drainage facilities.

The World Bank's program in Cambodia is designed to provide support to the poorest segments of the population, within the overarching goal to improve governance.

Keat Chhon said that including the 40 million U.S. dollars aid, World Bank has financed a total of 1,099 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia since 1993, of which 733.5 million U.S. dollars is credit and 365.5 million U.S. dollars is grant.

Source: Xinhua

AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

Vietnamese PM To Visit Cambodia Soon

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2010 AKP -- Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia on Nov. 15 at the invitation of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sèn, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Vietnamese premier will also attend the 6th CLV Summit and the 5th CLMV Summit on Nov. 16-17, according to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung will be received in a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

Besides, the Vietnamese prime minister will pay courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim and National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin. He will also hold an official talk with Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

During the visit, both sides will sign the Payment Agreement between the National Bank of Cambodia and the State Bank of Vietnam, the press release said. --AKP

-------------------

DPM Men Sam An Receives Vietnamese Minister of Labor

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2010 AKP -- Cambodian Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Men Sam An met here on Nov. 10 with a visiting delegation of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs of Vietnam, headed by its Minister Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

In the meeting, the Cambodian deputy prime minister informed her guest of Cambodia’s rapid development under the wise leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

She also expressed her satisfaction with the good cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam in all domains, especially the close friendship between the peoples and the leaders of the two neighboring countries.

For her part, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan thanked the Cambodian side for their warm welcome to her delegation. She pledged to further promote the training of youth and war invalids of the two countries.

During its stay in Cambodia, the delegation of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs of Vietnam was also received by National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. --AKP

(By CHEA Vannak)

-------------------

Cambodian Officer Back from Informal ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2010 AKP -- A delegation of the Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance led by its Secretary of State H.E. Kong Vibol returned home recently from Informal ASEAN Finance Ministerial Meeting and ASEAN-U.S. Finance Ministers’ Meeting held from Nov. 5 to 7 in Tokyo, Japan.

According to a pres release of the said ministry, in the Informal ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting, all ASEAN financial leaders discussed three important topics such as the establishment of the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund (AIF), ASEAN’s views on G20’s financial issues and the preparation of the 7th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Investment Promotion Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the end of this month.

In the ASEAN-U.S. Finance Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN and U.S. financial leaders discussed about economic perspective and financial policy between ASEAN and the U.S. for the economic growth, the press release said. --AKP

(By KHAN Sophirom)

-------------------

Germany Praises Development of Cambodia

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2010 AKP -- Ms. Sun Saphoeun, secretary of state of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received here on Monday Martin Kremer, chief in charge of regional affairs of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, Mr. Martin Kremer praised Cambodia for its rapid development and informed Ms. Sun Saphoeun that Germany wanted to know about Cambodia’s economic and political situations, as well as the democratization process and the progress of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

For her part, Ms. Sun Saphoeun expressed profound thanks to Germany for having helped Cambodia and provided scholarships to Cambodian students to study in Germany.

Meanwhile, Ms. Sun Saphoeun asked Germany to continue training Cambodian human resources. --AKP

(By Ou Sokha)

-------------------

10th Anniversary of Sin Chew Daily Celebrated

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2010 AKP -- The Chinese language newspaper “Sin Chew Daily” celebrated its 10th anniversary at Naga World Hotel in Phnom Penh on Nov. 8 under the presidency of Minister of Information H.E. Khieu Kanharith.

Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Khieu Kanharith praised the Sin Chew Daily for its news publications on the real situation in Cambodia, which has built confidence among foreign investors on the economic and political situation of Cambodia.

The minister also thanked Sin Chew Daily for its donation to poor Cambodian students in rural areas. --AKP

(By Théng)

------------------

Cambodian Blue-Beret Troops Leaves for Lebanon

Phnom Penh, November 11, 2010 AKP-- A 21-member blue beret advance team of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces left here recently for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Speaking at Phnom Penh International Airport before the departure of the troops, Gen. Sem Sovanny, director general of the National Management Center for Peacekeeping Forces and ERW (Explosive Remnant of War) Clearance said that the advance team is part of the 218-member engineering contingent Nº513 for the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

This was the sixth time that Cambodia dispatched its military abroad for the UN peacekeeping mission after five successful missions in Sudan. --AKP

(By LIM Nary)