AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

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PM Receives Chinese Company’s President

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received here yesterday Mr. Lu Wen Jun, president of the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation, in charge of the construction of Stung Tatai Hydropower Dam in Koh Kong province.

During the meeting, Mr. Lu Wen Jun told Samdech Techo Hun Sen that this hydropower project will be completed by the end of 2013. He also informed the Cambodian premier of the power distribution project around Phnom Penh city and he is committed to accelerate this work.

In reply, the Cambodian prime minister praised for the Chinese company’s efforts. Regarding the power distribution network, he recommended Mr. Lu Wen Jun to work with the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also reiterated the support of the royal government to the contribution of private companies in establishing power distribution network.

The construction of Stung Tatai Hydropower Dam, in Thmar Baing district, Koh Kong province, begun Wednesday in a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

China National Heavy Machinery was granted with a 42-year investment concession with five years projected for the construction of 246-megawatt Stung Tatai Hydropower Dam at the estimated cost of US$540 million, and the rest 37 years for business operation. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHIM Nary

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

Cambodia, Vietnam To Spend US$1.5 Million for Topographic Border Map

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – The Cambodian and Vietnamese governments have agreed to spend some US$1,528,333 for a Danish company to produce both countries’ Topographic Border Map.

The contract for the production of the map was signed here yesterday by H.E. Var Kimhong, Cambodian senior minister in charge of border affairs and chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam joint border committee; Mr. Ho Xuan Son, Vietnamese deputy foreign minister and chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia joint border committee; and Mr. Claus Poetzsch, Director International Business at BlomInfo A/S, a land surveying company from Denmark.

The mapping process will conclude in July 2012, said H.E. Var Kimhong, adding that the new maps will help the two countries to have a clear border with friendship and development.

Cambodia and Vietnam share the common border of 1,270 kilometers with 375 border markers. –AKP

By KHAN Sophirom

Two Arrested Thais Released on Bail

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – Two of the seven Thais arrested near the border on Dec. 29, 2010 were released on bail on Jan. 13 by Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Thai Democratic Party lawmaker Panich Vikisreth and house keeper Naruemol Chitwaratana were released temporary, but they are not allowed to go outside Cambodia while under investigation.

The seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian border protection army at the border pole No. 46 in Chok Chey village, O Beichuan commune, O Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. They were charged on Dec. 30, 2010 for illegal entry into Cambodia and bandit deed to enter military base.

Of the five Thais remaining in custody awaiting trial, Veera Somkwamkid, a core member of Thailand Patriot Network, and Ratree Taiputana Taiboon, known as Veera’s woman secretary, faced additional charge of an attempt in “collecting information which might damage Cambodia’s national security”. –AKP

By SOKMOM Nimul

TVK To Product Documentary Film on Dancing Across Borders

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – The National Television of Cambodia (TVK) is planning to produce a documentary film on Dancing Across Borders to broadcast on TVK’s screen.

TVK will cooperate with Mrs. Anne Bass, director/producer of art documentary films and Silapak Khmer Amatak (Cambodian Living Arts) Organization to produce this documentary film, TVK Director General H.E. Kim Kunnawadh told reporters upon the meeting between Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith and Mrs. Anne Bass here on Jan. 12.

Cambodian Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith expressed his support to this documentary film making project, stressing that it will show Cambodia’s image not only in terms of intangible heritage such as ancient temples, but also in other fields, H.E. Kim Kunnawadh said.

During the meeting, he added, Mr. Hoeun Prin, assistant to Mrs. Anne Bass and managing director of Silapak Khmer Amatak Organization, said he is seeking partners to organize a festival between April and May 2013 in New York, Paris and Tokyo to show Cambodian culture, arts and the firmness of Cambodia’s field of arts.

The event will also include film projection and a conference on Cambodian tangible and intangible arts, Mr. Hoeun Prin indicated. –AKP

Article in Khmer by HUN Yuth Kun

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

CRC Gives Donation to Poor People in Banteay Meanchey

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) President Mrs. Bun Rany Hun Sen paid a visit on Thursday to 2,052 families of HIV/AIDS patients, orphans, disabled and elderly people in Banteay Meanchey province.

On the occasion, the CRC president also gave donation to those families coming from five cities and districts of Banteay Meanchey and medicine to provincial referral hospitals.

Mrs. Bun Rany Hun Sen said the donation is the contribution from local and overseas charitable people. –AKP

By SOKMOM Nimul

First Ever Library for Prisoners To Be Established

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – The prisoners at Prey Sar prison located in the southern part of Phnom Penh will have access to a library to be established soon with the support of NGO SIPAR.

SIPAR will provide 4,000 books related to culture, agriculture, trade, history and health, etc. to this first ever library, said Mr. Chhoeung Cheng Hak, SIPAR reading development program coordinator.

The US$30,000 library is a SIPAR’s pilot project with an aim to create the culture of reading in all places, he said, adding that the project is based on the “right to education of all people”.

For his part, Heng Hak, director general of the Prisons Department of the Ministry of Interior, said the library will help increase prisoners’ knowledge and morality so that they will not commit infractions again.

According to Mr. Heng Hak, there are over 14,000 prisoners in different prisons throughout the country. –AKP

By LIM Nary

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

Cambodia Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen meets here on Jan. 13 with a delegation of CHMC (China National Heavy Machinery) led by its president Mr. Lu Wen Jun.

In the meeting, Cambodian premier has offered Mr. Lu to work with Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Mine and Energy over the electricity line project.

Photo: Chey Phum Pul

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister H.E Keat Chhon, Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance accompanied by his ministry officials pays a visiting tour in this week at sugar can factory in Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel district.

Photo: Hun Yuth Kun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

A signing agreement on Cambodia-Vietnam Boundary Map Publishing was signed yesterday in Phnom Penh by H.E Var Kimhong, Border Committee President of Cambodia, H.E Ho Yuan Son, Vietnam’s Foreign Deputy MinisterAnd Mr. Claus Poetzsch, Representative of publishing company BLUM.

Photo: Hun Yuth Kun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

The Leadership of Agence Kampuchea Presse receives here today H.E Kazi Imtia Hossain, Bangladeshi ambassador to Cambodia. The Bangladeshi diplomat wishes to promote relationship between Cambodia and Bangladesh through news media. The AKP leadership accepts the initiative and welcomes any cooperation with Bangladeshi government’s news agency.

Photo: Hun Yuth Kun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

A workshop on Anti-Measles Vaccine Contribution Raid to the children from age of 9 to 59 months in the capital was held today here by Phnom Penh Health Office.

Photo: Ouk Sakheoun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

A plenary session for the total work of education in 2010-2011 and setting up the work direction for 2011-2012 of Preah Sihanouk Province was held on Jan. 12 under the presidency of Mr. Keo Lay, Head of Provincial Education Office.

According to the session, there are 38 classrooms of kindergarten school with 1048 children, 72 primary schools with 29,912 students and 26 secondary and high schools with 9,460 students.

Photo: Ngo Sovann, AKP-Preah Sihanouk

Seven Thais Detained for Trespassing and Intrusion Must Face Cambodia’s Legal Process to go through its motions

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP–(Editorial)

Some Thai ultra-nationalists, including the Thai Yellow Shirt members are trying to mislead their own people and the world public by insisting that Cambodia is politicizing the case of the seven Thais who had intruded into sovereign Cambodian territory intentionally. They are deliberately and systematically embarking on a mission to mislead and hoodwink people that the Thais were arrested on their side of the border when the detained Thais had self incriminating evidence which proves beyond doubt that they had intentionally and deliberately trespassed into Cambodian territory.

The arrested seven includes a Democratic Bangkok lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth. The Thais cannot even get their act together. While the yellow shirts claimed the seven were arrested in Thai territory, others argued that the group, including a leading member of the Thailand Patriot Network, Veera Somkwamkid, was apprehended on the disputed area.

Irrespective of what the misled and misinformed Thai agent provocateurs are claiming and spreading malicious rumors, the cold hard truth remains and cannot be changed or altered to suit political expediency or change its factual data to suit Thailand’s internal and domestic political agenda. The facts are indisputable. Video and documentary evidence, including that of the Thai military themselves that the seven had intruded well into Cambodian territory and had even ignored Thai military efforts to stop.

The fact remains that that the seven had intruded not meters but 1.2 kms into sovereign Cambodian territory on December 29, 2010 and had videotaped themselves while doing so, a self incriminating act which cannot be disputed as witnessed the world over, including Thailand. To be explicitly clear, the seven they were apprehended 1.2 km inside Cambodian territory in O’ Beichoan commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province.

They did not only enter Cambodia illegally, they also trespassed into a Cambodian military base there. For those who are unsure of what had transpired and happened with the seven, they should take steps to learn more about the factual situation on the ground before making noises as empty vessels makes the most noise. Thus, it is worthwhile to recall the video clip of Panich’s conversation with his secretary alias Q, quoted verbatim as saying “we are now in Cambodian territory but do not tell anyone else “or let” others know about it, only the PM knows. Tell him to be quiet about this. If there is something happening, I will coordinate/make contact. Tell him (PM) we have crossed.” In one part of the third video, Veera said “Let’s go, if we go there, we will get arrested for sure.” These video footages, which have been well published by national and foreign media, were captured by one of the seven Thais who was detained in Cambodia. Their activities were also confirmed by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya who said that the seven were inside Cambodian when they were arrested. Cambodia’s chairman of the joint border committee, Var Kimhong, said that the area visited by the seven Thais had already been demarcated.

So there was no doubt that that Cambodian forces or authorities had crossed the border into Thailand and grabbed the seven just to detain at Prey Sar prison because, if the Cambodians were to have done that, the roles would have been reversed and Cambodian authorities/forces would have been in Thai prisons and accused of trespassing. The group, which was led by the Veera and Panich, are the main instigators of anti-Cambodia actions and should blame themselves for violating Cambodia’s sovereignty. Now the ball is squarely in the court’s hand and the seven Thai suspects, including journalists, have to face Cambodia’s law and legal procedures. This cannot be circumvented or violated.

The seven have been charged with illegal entry under the immigration law and fraudulently entering a Cambodian military area under the newly enacted penal code. If convicted they would get between three to six months imprisonment in addition to up to $500 in fine.

The trial court of Phnom Penh also charged Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon with espionage given the fact that they intruded into a sensitive Cambodian military zone an attempted to collect information that could affect Cambodia’s national defense. The offence of espionage carries up to 10 years imprisonment if convicted.

Although the suspects admitted that they were on Cambodia’s land, according to their lawyers and investigating judge, still some Thai nationalists did not accept the truth since they have misguided political tendencies. These deficiencies, stroked by foolish ultra nationalism prompted them to hold mass rallies to pressure the government to secure the release of the detainees. My words for the Thai ultra nationalists is that the political move by deliberately mixing public opinion with politics, including petitions earlier this month to the United Nations office representative in Bangkok, will not help you to solve this problem given the fact that the case is purely related to Cambodia’s immigration and penal law, which is nothing to do with the international issue.

We are sure the Thais and others would have heard what Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said “no one can intervene in the judicial system, neither the government nor foreigners, nor Cambodians”. So it is best for the misguided Thais to refrain from internationalizing the issue and leave it to Cambodia’s court to finish with the judiciary procedures and allow the law to take its due course.

It would also be worthwhile to recall that PM Hun Sen said that the Thai suspects could not expect early release if they are found guilty. However, a golden opportunity for the convicts is that Cambodia’s government could consider whether they should be pardoned or not after the convicts will have serve two thirds of their sentences. So leave the court to fully exercise its legal power, which must be respected and no one should attempt to intervene in the judicial system. Cambodian court procedures are not different from those of the Thai courts and that no one should put pressure on the court and I personally am of the view that the case of the seven Thai suspects does not affect the bilateral relations of our country. Even the Thai Prime Minister has declared that he would not comment much since it is currently under consideration of Cambodia’s judicial system.

I am however surprised by the comment of the Thai New Politics Party secretary-general who was quoted in The Bangkok Post on Jan 5 that the different set of facts over the seven Thais could benefit Cambodia. This is ridiculous to me because the Thais themselves had created the current problems and instead of showing remorse, were trying to take the upper hand on Cambodia, meaning that the Thais had intentionally intruded into Cambodia and even had the audacity to inform the Cambodian border officials ahead.

I am convinced that the case will not reignite the diplomatic row between the two ASEAN neighbors and I hope our two countries will maintain good bilateral relations for peaceful co-existence while and protecting each other’s rights and sovereignty. As Abhisit said that it is the government’s duty to do everything possible to bring the seven Thais back to Thailand without any effect on the country’s sovereignty. Now you can see that even the Thai PM assured his people that they would be O.K, so maybe the Yellow Shirt activists do not have to worry much by organizing or holding rallies from time to time as this is a clear waste of time and a weak attempt to pressurize Cambodia’s courts.

At the same time these Thai Yellow Shirt activists and their allies should stop their rallies as such acts will instigate social unrest which would not bring any benefit to your country. If I were the Yellow Shirt, I would rather focus on my daily business and wait and see how the Cambodian court will rule at the end of the day. You should not worry about your people who are being detained in Cambodia because they are well treated like Cambodian detainees as you have seen that relatives and friends of the detainees and Thai veteran politicians have been allowed to visit them in the detention centre while the court continues investigating the case. Their rights are fully respected by Cambodia. The court is merely doing its job and they would receive a fair trial. Last but not least only the accused can tell why they were there. Either they intentionally intruded into the area or were told to do so—given the fact that Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit was aware that the Democrat law maker Panich had gone to the border area of Prachin Buri. But what made Panich lead the team to Sa Kaeo province instead. This is a question which only the Thais can answer. Even Panic himself told Abhist’s secretary over cell phone that “it is difficult for the (Thai) government to help when they were arrested if he and six others were in Cambodia”.

So, Panich, who was formerly an assistant to the foreign minister, is well aware about the border issue given his past work which dealt with the disputed border with Cambodia. He was telling the whole world that he had crossed Cambodia’s border intentionally. More than that he has reportedly entered Cambodia’s territory before in the past as to what Cambodia’s Foreign Minsister Hor Namhong elucidated by saying said that Veera had illegally crossed into the same area twice before in July and September last year, but did not penetrated as deeply into Cambodian territory until his group was arrested in late December. So what one can ask what is his real agenda behind his illegal and unlawful entry into Cambodia?

By Ek Madra (AKP contributor)