City Meets With Lake Residents After Demonstration

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 07 March 2011

via CAAI

Photo: by Heng Reaksmey

Children sit on top their inundated homes, where Shukaku, Inc., has been pumping fill into Boeung Kak lake, (File photo).

“It can temporarily ease the situation, but in the end, a violation of their rights is still a violation of their rights.”

Phnom Penh authorities say they have postponed a deadline for lake residents to settle with a development company, temporarily delaying the prospect of eviction for hundreds of families.

Hundreds of demonstrators from villages around Beoung Kak lake gathered outside City Hall Monday to protest a written order issued by Phnom Penh officials last week demanding they settle with the developer, a joint venture of Cambodian and Chinese companies called Shukaku Erdos Hongjun Property Development.

Daun Penh district officials met with 10 lake resident representatives following the demonstration, backing off the seven-day ultimatum they had given last week. In a March 2 letter to resident of the area, district officials said they must settle with the company or face “strong action in conformity with the law.”

The Boeung Kak lake development has been an ongoing issue for residents for nearly four years. Many maintain that a company buyout offer of about $8,000 per family is not enough to start anew. Nor do many of them want to be relocated to a site far outside the city.

As a counter offer, residents say they want 15 hectares of the 133-hectare commercial development, a proposal that has so far been rejected.

Following Monday’s meeting, Keuth Che, deputy administrative director for City Hall, said the city would delay the seven-day settlement ultimatum.

Ly Srey Mom, a lake resident representative, told reporters after the meeting that she welcomed the postponement but that residents are still demanding 15 hectares of the development.

“I want the government and City Hall to think of the people’s interests as a large [factor],” she said.

Keuth Che said he would forward the 15-hectare proposal to Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema on Wednesday and inform residents of his decision through their respective village chiefs.

Ly Srey Mom said residents will wait five days for an answer, or “we will come to meet Kep Chuktema once again next Monday.”

In 2007, the city government issued a $79-million, 99-year lease to Shukaku, Inc., which is owned by ruling party Senator Lao Meng Khim. The deal sparked unrest from residents who said they had legal rights to the land.

In 2008, Shukaku began filling the Boeung Kak lake, ultimately flooding out hundreds of families and sparking continued protests from residents both at the lake and in front of City Hall.

Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said the postponement of an impending eviction did not constitute a resolution to the underlying problems in the debate.

“It can temporarily ease the situation, but in the end, a violation of their rights is still a violation of their rights,” he said.

Cambodia’s derivative trade ban evokes partial response

http://www.commodityonline.com/

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Published on: March 07 2011

PHNOM PENH (Commodity Online) : Cambodia’s decision to stop five companies from trading in derivatives markets evoked positive responses.

The Southeast Asian nation is yet to launch its first commodity exchange.

Five domestic firms trading in derivatives have been ordered to suspend their operations by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia.

The SECC ordered five companies to halt operations. They were named as Gold Financial Global, First State Gold Investment Company, Global Gold and Forex Investment Consultant Company, CMDK Gold Company, and International Gold Market Company.

In a statement, SECC said Cambodian firms offering derivatives trading had operated without the necessary regulatory framework being in place.

The SECC was cooperating with the firms to prepare the necessary regulations, but the emphasis for the regulatory body was currently on launching the Cambodia Securities Exchange, which is slated for July, the statement said.

Some analysts said to allow some companies the opportunity to start trading in derivatives in commodities including gold, metals and oil would have been the financial equivalent of sprinting before learning to walk in Cambodia’s case.

One of the main challenges Cambodia faces with the forthcoming stock exchange is educating the general public to avoid stock trading turning into a sophisticated version of gambling.

The problem with derivatives trading is that it is infinitely more complex than stock trading. By its very nature, you trade in a value derived from an asset and not in an asset itself.

As instruments that allow hedging and speculation, derivatives offer security for companies against foreign exchange volatility and fluctuating commodity prices as well as a lucrative source of revenue for investment banks.

Indeed, big banks were considered the driving force behind deregulation of derivatives markets dating back to the late 1990s in the United States, a move many financial experts consider to be the root cause of the financial crisis.

Financial products that led to the high leverage that sparked the crisis in the US, including subprime mortgage-backed securities and credit default swaps, are all derivatives.

No-one is suggesting these five Cambodian companies could cause a similar financial meltdown but recent lessons the world has learned from derivatives trading should be clear.

If regulated appropriately, companies in Cambodia will in the future be able to hedge on insurance, oil prices and foreign exchange, all of which represent considerable and often unpredictable costs here.

Unhappy holidays for Cambodia’s economy?

Photo by: Sovan Philong

People march past Hun Sen park during a protest on Human Rights Day in December last year.

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Monday, 07 March 2011 22:04 James O'Toole

Workers across the Kingdom will enjoy a day off on Tuesday to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Next month will bring three days off for Khmer New Year, and after six more public holidays in May, June will begin with a day off for Children’s Day.

All told, Cambodians will enjoy 26 public holidays this year, a total among the highest of any country in the world.

While workers will assuredly enjoy the break tomorrow, some observers are raising questions as to whether this surfeit of days off is introducing a hurdle to Cambodia’s development.

“It’s a clear economic impediment,” said Stephen Higgins, chief executive officer of ANZ Royal Bank.

“Any reduction in economic activity means that Cambodia is not meeting its growth potential.”

Regional powerhouses Hong Kong and Singapore enjoy 17 and 11 holidays, respectively, while workers in neighbouring Vietnam and Laos earn just nine and 10.

Holiday totals in Western countries, by and large, are similarly low, with the United States and the United Kingdom enjoying 10 and nine public holidays this year, respectively.

In the Philippines – which, at 21, still has 19 percent fewer public holidays than Cambodia – a group of seven foreign chambers of commerce released a study in December arguing that the large number of holidays was raising costs for employers by millions of dollars while serving as a deterrent to foreign investors.

"Every paid holiday goes to the bottom line of the balance sheet, and, like minimum wages, can pressure firms that operate on low profit margins to reduce their work force, close, or move into the underground economy," the study said.

Significant underemployment and informal economic activity mitigate the effect of Cambodia’s holiday glut, said Michael Smiddy, a former senior consultant at Emerging Markets Consulting in Phnom Penh.

Many businesses choose to stay open during some holidays, while other key sectors are largely unaffected, he added.

“You can’t harvest more rice just because there are less holidays,” he said.

“The same number of tourists would still come and spend the same amount.”

Other industries, however, feel the effects of public shutdowns more acutely.

Sjaak de Klein, the country manager for transportation and logistics firm TNT, said importers and exporters whose shipments require processing by the government see their activities in many cases delayed unnecessarily by the excess of holidays, reducing the Kingdom’s competitiveness.

Public holidays also typically create a multiplier effect in slowing down work, de Klein added, as many employees choose to take annual leave around their official days off.

“Especially with a middle class arising, this could be a big impact on a rapidly expanding economy,” he said in an email.

In manufacturing, too, the excess of holidays is felt in the form of either stalled production or increased labour costs, as employees earn overtime pay on the many public holidays they choose to work.

“This is an issue that we have been grappling with for a long time and we have reflected to the government on numerous occasions,” said Ken Loo, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia.

Chea Peng Chheang, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said he did not believe the issue posed a challenge to Cambodia’s growth.

“I think that the high number of public holidays in Cambodia does not affect the Cambodian economy, because these days have been set out in the government’s laws and schedules with clear planning,” he said.

Ye Samphy, manager of training and communications at the Labour Ministry’s Arbitration Council Foundation, noted that other countries have annual leave requirements that bring their overall amount of days off closer to the total seen in Cambodia.

Under Cambodian law, full-time employees in the Kingdom are entitled to 18 days of annual leave, plus one extra day for every three years of continuous service.

This total is roughly in line with the personal leave provided in many other countries, though above nations such as Singapore, where employees who have worked for five years at a particular company get just 12 days leave.

TNT's de Klein said a reduction in public holidays could be balanced with annual leave increases in the private sector, thereby allowing workers the same amount of days off while reducing the number of overall economic “shutdowns” over the course of the year.

Higgins, meanwhile, said a simple glance at the calendar suggested obvious starting points for reform.

“Some of these international days do not require a public holiday to celebrate them, whether that’s International Women’s Day, International Human Rights Day – I don’t understand why they need a holiday to celebrate that,” he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

UXO blast kills farmer

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Monday, 07 March 2011 20:12 Sen David

A 52-year-old farmer was killed when a piece of unexploded ordnance was set off while he and his wife were clearing land in Battambang province’s Samlot district on Sunday.

Samlot district police chief Ly Buoy said the victim, Oum Kim, and his wife were expanding their corn and cassava fields 50 metres apart in unfamiliar land when the UXO exploded.

“His wife heard the sound of an explosion, and she saw that her husband was killed immediately … by bleeding so much, especially from his head and belly,” Ly Buoy said today.

The forested area was a place the victim and his wife had never gone to before, and “they didn’t know if this area had landmines or not”, Samlot district Governor Hen Sophan said today.

“The authorities always appeal to residents not to go to unknown areas,” he added.

Chhiv Lim, project manager for the Cambodia Mine/ERW Victim Information System, said 15 people had died from unexploded ordnance in January alone.

He said Battambang province was a hotspot for mine explosions.

Last November, 14 people were killed after a homemade tractor ran over a civil war-era anti-tank mine, one of last year’s deadliest incidents.

By the end of 2010, Cambodia had registered its first year-on-year increase in casualties resulting from UXOs since 2005.

Land clearing halted

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Monday, 07 March 2011 22:12 Tep Nimol

A privately owned rubber plantation delayed clearing land in Kratie province on Sunday after about 100 villagers from Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima district threatened to destroy company property after claims the clearing has encroached on their land.

Soeng Samnang, site manager for the TTY Corporation Co Ltd, said the delay was made after about 100 residents from Chneng village in Sre Khtum commune gathered to protest and threatened to burn the company’s tractors on Saturday and Sunday.

“We suspended activity at the request of the villagers so that they would not burn the company’s property, and we will wait for a solution from authorities,” he said.

Soeng Samnang added that the land the company cleared is within the territory of the Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary, which borders both Kratie and Mondulkiri.

TTY Corporation Co Ltd received a 99-year economic land concession of more than 9,000 hectares in Kratie province in 2008, but villagers are now protesting against the land clearing, saying that it has encroached on their territory.

Chek Saran, a representative for the villagers in Keo Seima district, accused the company of clearing 187 hectares of land belonging to 63 families.

“The villagers want the company to delay clearing land and wait for the authority’s resolution,” he said today.

He added that the Keo Seima district governor had previously asked villagers to document clearage and show exactly how their territory was affected by the company to facilitate a resolution to the dispute.

Sin Vanvuth, Keo Seima district governor, said today that exact statistics were needed in order to “coordinate some compensation from the company” in exchange for stopping their complaints, adding that no documentation has yet been received and that only about 10 families have been affected by the company.

T&P workers questioned over death

via CAAI

Monday, 07 March 2011 21:07 Thet Sambath

Phnom Penh military police today questioned eight women who are living at the offices of T&P Co Ltd, a company training domestic workers for overseas employment, about the death of a 35-year-old trainee inside the company’s office on Sunday.

The eight women were interviewed after asking military police and court officials to help them leave the firm in Sen Sok district.

Authorities were investigating the death of Sing Sina inside the company’s building, as well as the case of Heng Hak, a 31-year-old who broke both legs while trying to escape the centre last week from a third-floor window.

“We took them [to military police headquarters] according to the court’s order and we are questioning them about the injured and deceased women,” said Pen Bunthoeun, a military police officer who is leading the investigation.

Pen Bunthoeun said the military police would help the eight women leave T&P permanently, but couldn’t specify when they would be allowed to leave the company’s offices.

A military police officer, who declined to be named, said “we are waiting for our commander’s order about [the women’s] request” to leave the centre.

Relevant authorities could not confirm any details from their investigations.

Huy Pichsovann, programme officer for the Community Legal Education Centre, said authorities should allow “anyone who wishes to leave a company to return to their houses and meet their family members”.

“They should investigate other companies that violate people’s rights and should punish them and make them follow the law,” he said.

Representatives from T&P could not be reached for comment today.

Shortly after her death, Sing Sina was transported to Kampong Cham province for funeral arrangements.

Heng Hak remains in hospital, where she is receiving medical treatment.

The unnamed military officer said the eight workers wanted to return home “because they are homesick”.

Heroines of Cambodia

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Monday, 07 March 2011 21:14 Youk Chhang

All female survivors of Democratic Kampuchea are heroines of Cambodia.

Seventy percent of the survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime were women; most of them were widows.

Since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, women have been a central force in the reconstruction of the nation.

They reshaped the nation’s economy during the tumultuous decades of the 1980s and 1990s, when civil war with the Khmer Rouge ensued and economic sanctions stunted chances for development.

Furthermore, it was through their unwavering efforts that Cambodian culture, education and traditions – which nearly vanished at the hands of the Khmer Rouge – were reinstituted in the social fabric of daily life.

Under these difficult circumstances, the women of Cambodia demonstrated great strength and resilience.

In honour of their heroism and courage, I propose that a statue be built.

The statue will symbolise both their struggle and that of the nation’s.

Most importantly, the statue will be a memorial for those who perished under the Khmer Rouge.

It will also remind young Cambodians and citizens of the world of the country’s tragic past; a past that shall serve as a lesson against future atrocities.

Standing 20 feet high, the statue will be of a woman holding her young child.

This height, 20 feet, represents the 20th century; a period in which Cambodia suffered enormous political, social and economic hardships.

The body of the structure will be divided into seven parts.

The bottom third of the statue will be buried beneath the soil, representing the three million who died in the genocide.

The remaining four parts, located above the ground, symbolises the four million who survived.

Facing west, the direction of death according to Buddhism, the back of the statue will capture the rising sun’s warmth.

As the sun rises from the east, its shadow will appear in the same direction of the statue. As the sun travels westward across the sky, this shadow too will shift directions and begin to appear behind the statue.

This moving but constant shadow symbolises the souls of the three million people who have passed away.

At sunset, the golden rays of the sun will shine upon the statue’s countenance; this glow represents eternal remembrance.

Humans cannot live without memories; memories remind us of who we are and where we came from.

Both the dark shadow and amber glow are symbols of the memories of genocide. The statue will evoke sorrow and compassion, not anger and revenge. It will be an artistic achievement which signifies peace and progress for Cambodia.

An appropriate location for the statue is Samdech Hun Sen Park, situated along the riverside.

This is a large public area that will allow many visitors to view the statue.

As people behold the statue of the proud Cambodian woman carrying her child, they will be reminded of the lessons of genocide so that in the future, such a tragedy never occurs again in Cambodia or elsewhere.

This national statue should be erected during the historic trial of Khmer Rouge leaders.

Youk Chhang

Director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia

Women’s Day rally blocked

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Prime Minister Hun Sen kisses his wife, Bun Rany, during a celebration of International Women’s Day at the Peace Palace today.

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Monday, 07 March 2011 21:23 Thomas Miller

While Prime Minister Hun Sen presided over a celebration of International Women’s Day at the Peace Palace today, Phnom Penh City Hall rejected a request by unions and NGOs to do the same.

City Hall issued a letter today to the Cambodian Women’s Movement Organisation, a federation of domestic labour unions, refusing its request to host a public event with other NGOs to celebrate the day’s 100th anniversary near Wat Botum, said Phork Hoeurng, a liaison officer for CWMO.

Instead, an expected 1,800 people from a range of civil society organisations will gather on private property on the outskirts of town in Meanchey district.

CWMO sought backing from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs before submitting its application to City Hall, which had rejected a similar request last year, said Phork Hoeurng.

“The Ministry of Women’s Affairs agreed with us to attend the event,” she said.

A copy of the letter seeking support from the ministry that was returned to CWMO and obtained today by The Post, appears to corroborate Phork Hoeurng’s claim.

A note written by hand and dated January 12 reads: “the Minister has agreed to participate.”

Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs, said today she had only agreed to look into the request once it had been approved by the city.

“I didn’t support initially. I said that if the governor accepts them, there is no problem, we’ll look at what is the intention,” Ing Kantha Phavi said.

“If they want to celebrate March 8, of course we support the celebration of March 8. But it seems that they did not get the green light,” she said.

CWMO received a call from a city official last week saying the request, which it submitted last month, had been rejected, Phork Hoeurng said.

The group subsequently learned that Ing Kantha Phavi could no longer participate.

The letter denying the request, signed by Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema and dated March 3, gave no reason for the rejection, according to a copy obtained by The Post.

Kep Chuktema declined to comment today.

Phork Hoeurng said today’s event will highlight issues important to women such as maternity leave and short-term contracts, as well as domestic violence and rape, human trafficking and land disputes.

The government has denied a number of requests to hold public rallies since the 2009 Law on Demonstrations that have sought to address much more sensitive issues, such as the Boeung Kak lake evictions or the 2004 assassination of union leader Chea Vichea.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the rejection of the CWMO permit was a “clear violation of the right to freedom of assembly” and a “sad commentary on the state of women’s rights in Cambodia”.

“The government seems to be imposing a de facto ban on all public assemblies regardless of the issue or the grievances,” he said in Phnom Penh today.

USS Essex Sailors Visit Cambodian Orphanage

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/

via CAAI

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Casey H. Kyhl

Posted: March 7, 2011

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia – Sailors assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) participated in a community service (COMSERV) project March 2 at the Village d'enfant de Sihanoukville orphanage in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (March 2, 2011) - Aviaton Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Philip A. Lapan, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), hands out books during a community service project at the Village dâenfant de Sihanoukville orphanage. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Casey H. Kyhl)

During the COMSERV project, 36 Sailors played sports, handed out dozens of donated books and read to the 100-plus children living at the facility.

"The mission of the Navy goes far beyond sailing ships," said Cmdr. James Johnson, Essex command chaplain and COMSERV coordinator. "The purpose of these events is to give Essex Sailors time to get to know our host nationals, and I think we definitely made a few friends today."

The day began with a traditional Cambodian welcome dance performed by some of the orphanage children. The Sailors responded by teaching the children the "Hokey Pokey" before the group split up to play sports and read books.

"I don't think you get the full experience of visiting a country unless you make an effort to meet some of the local people," said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Bryce Perkins. "I got to know a few great kids today."

Children who have lost their parents stay at the orphanage until they have graduated from high school or can support themselves. The facility has sports equipment, a school house and multiple looms that the children use to make textiles.

"Whether you are in Thailand, the Philippines or Cambodia, kids are kids and fun is fun," said Johnson. "I'm grateful that we got the chance to come out here and make a contribution to this community. I think the Sailors enjoyed it and I think the children did too. There were a lot of smiles everywhere."

Books for the COMSERV were donated by E.J. King High School at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan.

The COMSERV project was one of the final events of the Cambodia Maritime Exercise 2011. During the exercise, Sailors taught courses in military leadership and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's medical staff worked with their Cambodian counterparts to provide primary care services, dental care and optometry care to Cambodians in the Kampong Som province.

Essex, commanded by Capt. David Fluker, is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is on patrol in the Western Pacific.

QSR Incorporates Company In Cambodia

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 7 (Bernama) -- QSR Brands Bhd has incorporated a company in Cambodia, Integrated Poultry Industry (Kampuchea) Pte Ltd, for the purpose of operating a broiler and processing production in Phnom Penh.

The company said the current nominal paid-up capital and shareholdings would be subsequently changed, pursuant to the joint venture agreement dated May 10, 2010.

"The above transaction will not have any material effect on the earnings of the QSR Group for the financial year ending 31 December 2011," it said in an announcement to Bursa Malaysia Monday.

Nevertheless, the transaction is expected to contribute to future earnings, the company said.

Suthep asks Hun Sen to have sympathy for ailing Veera

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Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban hoped Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen would offer sympathy to the jailed Thai nationalist activist Veera Somkwamkid, who is in poor health by giving him a royal pardon to free from Prey Sar prison.

"I believe that Somdach Hun Sen (Cambodian Prime Minister) would understand his condition and would seek ways to help," Suthep told reporters.

Veera and his aide Ratree Pipattanapaiboon were arrested since December 29 near Sa Kaeow province's Ban Nong Chan while inspecting border disputed area together with other five activists including Democrat Party's lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth.

The Nation

Two Augusta women help in Cambodian shelter

 http://www.kansascw.com/

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By Dave Roberts

March 6, 2011

(AUGUSTA, Kan.) — Two Kansas women travEl across the world to help women and girls in danger. They say in the Southeast Country of Cambodia, girls who are still children are often kidnapped and sold into prostitution.

"When you go and you see these little children, you know, it's everywhere there," says Stacey Gray who went on the trip with Laurie Andrews.

The pair decided to go as part of a trip with the Life Church in Augusta. They volunteered at the SHE Rescue Home, which helps rehabilite the girls through education and arts and crafts.

"We saw some beautiful young girls," said Andrews. "It was amazing to me how resilient they were because we knew some of their stories."

At the shelter, they met a teenager who was kept chained to a wall and forced to have sex with several men a day. There was also a six year old who was saved before her grandmother sold her to a pimp.

"So many of them, their childhood has been stolen from them," Andrews said.

After their week long trip, they hope to return soon because they know there's more work to be done.

Women in the World: Sokha Chen, Cambodia

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by The Daily Beast

The city dump in Phnom Penh was the foulest 100 acres in Cambodia. The smell was nauseating, the smoke was choking, and the garbage itself was dangerous. Sokha Chen's legs still bear the scars of countless cuts, stabs, and burns from the four years she spent scavenging for bits of metal and plastic. But today those scars are covered by the bright yellow socks that are part of her uniform at Zaman Academy, one of Cambodia's best private schools. At 16, Sokha is a top student, as well as an accomplished classical dancer. Her life now would have seemed an impossible dream just a few years ago.

Sokha Chen (Photo: Agnes Dherbeys / VII for Newsweek)

Orphaned at age 9, Sokha left her village for Phnom Penh, where one of the few ways a child can earn money is to pick through the dump. That's where Chicagoan Bill Smith found her three years ago. Smith had come to Cambodia a few years earlier to adopt. But instead of just returning home with one child, he wound up founding a center that is home to 100 children from the dump and surrounding slums. Called A New Day Cambodia, it gave Sokha her first real chance to show what she could achieve, not simply what she could endure. She has been moved to successively better schools as she outstrips the other students, demonstrating a remarkable talent for languages. What is most remarkable, though, is her resilience and her optimism. She doesn't mind talking about her painful past, but she prefers to describe the school she will open for poor kids, and the house she wants to buy for her sister. "I have a bright future," she says with a grin. "I want all Cambodian kids to have a bright future too."

Cambodian, Lao PMs meet on bilateral ties

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March 07, 2011

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (2nd L, front) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (1st L, front) inspect the guard of honour in front of the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on March 7, 2011. Thongsing arrived here on Monday to pay a two-day official visit. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held a meeting with his visiting Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong on Monday.

During the meeting, the two leaders held talks on issues of strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, cross-border transportation, security, education, culture, border demarcation, electricity and air-service, the government's spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters after the meeting.

Prime Minister Hun Sen informed Thongsing about the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand over the disputed 11th century Preah Vihear temple during the meeting, the spokesman said.

The Lao prime minister said that his government has been keeping close eyes on the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

The Lao prime minister arrived here on Monday morning for a two- day official visit.

During the visit, he will also pay courtesy calls to Chea Sim, president of the Senate, Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, and will also be received at Royal Audience by King Norodom Sihamoni.

Source: Xinhua

Asean Is Convincing Cambodia For Bilateral Talks With Thailand

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BANGKOK, March 7 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he believes that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is trying to convince Cambodia to settle border issues with Thailand through bilateral negotiations, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

Regarding a plan to organise a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in Indonesia later this month and of Cambodia's intention not to cooperate with the session, the Thai premier noted that he is waiting for a response from Cambodia and he believes Indonesia, as the current chair of Asean, is trying to convince Phnom Penh to attend the meeting.

Abhisit said that Cambodia should not raise the unsettled border issues beyond bilateral frameworks because both countries already have clear existing mechanisms to handle their bilateral problems.

The Thai leader acknowledged that all parties would like to see bilateral negotiations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh as soon as possible, as they do not want the unsettled issues to persist, and that Thailand is now ready for the bilateral talks.

Thai embassy trying to help Veera

via CAAI

Published: 7/03/2011

Online news:

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has sought permission from the Prey Sar prison to send a doctor to visit Veera Somkwamkid in jail, or take him outside for treatment, but has not yet received a reply, Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said on Monday.

Mr Thani was responding to a report that Mr Veera is unwell and that his relatives had decided not to appeal against the jail sentence handed down by a Cambodian court, but to seek a royal pardon instead.

Even though the Thai embassy was not allowed to visit Mr Veera in the prison, its officials delivered food to him twice a day, Mr Thani said. The doctors at the Prey Sar prison told the officials only that Mr Veera has a minor cold.

After hearing a news report that Mr Veera's relatives visited him at the prison on March 4 and later said he was "seriously ill", the embassy had sought permission from the prison to send a doctor to see him in jail, or take him out for treatment.

The prison had not yet replied to the request, Mr Thani said.

Mr Veera and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon and five other Thais, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29, initially for illegal entry. Mr Veera and Ms Ratree were later additionally charged with espionage.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced the other five to nine months for illegal entry. The five Thais, including Mr Panich, were freed after their remaining jail time of eight months was suspended.

Mr Veera and Ms Ratree were later sentenced to eight and six years imprisonment, respectively, for espionage.

Asked about their wish to seek a royal pardon, Mr Thani said the two had to consult their lawyers and set the time for submitting a request. After that the embassy would facilitate its submission.

On a the chance of a Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting, Mr Thani said Cambodia had informed Thailand that it would wait until the Thai parliament approved the agreements made at three previous JBC meetings before setting the date for the next meeting.

via CAAI

By The Nation

Published on March 7, 2011

Preecha Somkwamkid said yesterday that his brother Veera, who has been convicted by Cambodia of trespassing and spying, had no time left to appeal the verdict, as he is struggling for his life against several illnesses.

Preecha visited the Cambodian jail on Friday and found that the political activist's condition was as critical as Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth had claimed earlier.

Preecha refused to say what Veera had asked him to do but admitted it was too late to file an appeal. Facing fatal illnesses, his brother has only one option left and that is to seek a pardon from the Cambodian king.

He urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian PM Hun Sen to help Veera and Ratri Pipattanapaiboon, who was also convicted in Cambodia on the same charges, because their families were greatly concerned about their health.

Abhisit responded to a remark by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who is also the Asean chairman, about the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting. He said Indonesia wanted both sides to hold bilateral talks but Thailand, though ready, still had to wait for Cambodia's stance.

Cambodia had announced it would not attend the meeting, but reports now have Hun Sen agreeing to join the JBC meeting in Jakarta.

Abhisit said Indonesia would explain to Thailand how it would dispatch a mission to the border. Though Thailand has agreed in principle with Indonesia's idea of sending observers, it has reservations over how and where they would be doing inspections.

"It's really a sensitive matter, so we're in the process of making all these details clear,'' he said.

AKP - The Agence Kampuchea Press

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AKP, Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011

A scene of a dreadful traffic accident happens on March 4 at Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nob district along National Highway No. 4, which killed 19 passengers and injured 8 others.

Photo: Ngo Somony

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Lao PM: Cambodia Is Victim of Thailand’s Internal Crisis

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, H.E. Thongsing Thammavong, recognized that Cambodia is victim of Thailand’s internal crisis, as the Lao government has followed closely Cambodian-Thai situation.

Cambodian Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith told here today a press conference upon the bilateral meeting between H.E. Thongsing Thammavong and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

H.E. Thongsing Thammavong praised the Cambodian government for having taken a just position and respected the international law and norms, which gained international community’s support, said H.E. Khieu Kanharith.

Anyway, Laos will do its best to help ease Cambodia-Thailand situation, he added.

For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Thai aggression on Cambodian territory was not by chance, but it was Thai senior leaders’ plan. “Cambodia does not want to wage war against any country, but it’s an obligation that Cambodia had to fight back against this aggression,” he stressed.

Cambodia’s principle is to negotiate multilaterally with Thailand on border dispute, but bilaterally on the fields of economy, tourism …, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

According to the information minister, both sides agreed to hold different events to mark the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand, including the inauguration of border marker at Dom Kralar under the presidency of both prime ministers.

Premier Samdech Techo Hun Sen also accepted the invitation to pay an official visit to Laos in an appropriate time, said Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith.

H.E. Thongsing Thammavong was appointed as Prime Minister of Laos in late December 2010. He arrived in Phnom Penh this morning for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

On the same day, the Lao premier was received in a royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, at the Royal Palace, and he paid courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim and National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin respectively.

According to the schedule, H.E. Thongsing Thammavong will visit the National Museum tomorrow. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

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Vietnam’s Defense Minister To Visit Cambodia

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Defense Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Gen. Phung Quang Thanh will make an official and friendship visit to Cambodia from Mar. 9 to 11, according to a senior official of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense.

Gen. Phung Quang Thanh and his wife will visit Siem Reap province, he indicated.

The main purpose of the three-day visit is to discuss with the Cambodian side on the cooperation plan in 2011, which is expected to be signed during the visit, said the official.

Besides, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh is planning to visit the Kulen center for disabled soldiers, some military achievements donated by the Vietnamese side, and various temples and historical sites. –AKP

By Noeu

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Information Minister Khieu Kanharith: All Media Have To Stop Advertising Tobacco Products

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Information Minister Khieu Kanharith has called on all state-run and private media to cease their advertisement and promotion of tobacco products.

Speaking last Friday at a seminar held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Phnom Penh to disseminate a sub-decree issued on Feb. 24 by the Royal Government of Cambodia relating to the ban on tobacco product advertisement, Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith urged all printing and electronic media, radios, televisions to abide by the provisions of the sub-decree.

Any infringement of the sub-decree’s provisions will be punished not only on the tobacco production companies but also on the concerned institutions, he underlined.

“The issuance of the sub-decree by the Royal Government of Cambodia responds to the Article 13 of Convention on Control of Tobacco,” said H.E. Ing Phirun, Secretary of State to the Ministry of Health.

He further said that it also reflected Cambodia’s contribution to protecting the human resources from destruction caused by nicotine addiction, especially preventing the children, young people and females from falling into tobacco advertising traps.

Information Ministry Secretary of State H.E. Thach Phen said that the tobacco products claimed some 5.4 million lives a year in the whole world.

Tobacco products cause not only many problems to health, but also the loss of family income, and Cambodian people alone spend more than US$69.5 millions a year on buying cigarettes. –AKP

Article in Khmer by SUOS Samrith

Article in English by Ravuth M.

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Cambodian Airports To Include Passenger Service Charge into Air Ticket

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Cambodian airports will include the passenger service charge into air ticket starting from April 1, the Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports (SCA)’s press release said last week.

Adult Cambodian passenger is charged US$18 and under 12 years old US$10, while adult foreign passenger US$25 and under 12 years old US$13, but it’s free for under 2 year-old children.

In 2010, Phnom Penh International Airport alone received 1.7 million passengers, while Siem Rep International Airport got 1.5 millions. –AKP

By KHAN Sophirom

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FAO Provides Vegetable Seeds to Cambodian Farmers

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Under its European Union Food Program Project, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recently provided vegetable seeds and agricultural equipment to some 2,505 families in Battambang province’s Bavel district.

The grant ceremony was held under the presidency of Battambang Provincial Governor H.E. Prach Chan and Head of EU Food Program Project of FAO Mr. Tim Akin.

On the occasion, Mr. Tim Akin said some 50,000 families in ten provinces of Cambodia including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Takeo and Kampong Speu provinces will benefit from the project. –AKP

By LIM Nary

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Local Officials To Discuss Ways To Promote Southern Economic Corridor

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Local officials and private businessmen from 43 provinces in four Southeast Asian countries are meeting here, Mar. 9-10, to discuss ways of attracting investments and promoting growth along the southern economic corridor of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

The 2-day symposium, organized by the Asian Development Bank and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), will bring together public and private stakeholders to discuss public investments, central and provincial government policies, and private sector business environment conducive to the corridor’s development, according to a news release of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) covers provinces in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The GMS countries have envisioned SEC as an engine of economic growth and social development, creating jobs, increasing incomes, reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of the people in the areas while ensuring that its development is inclusive and sustainable.

“We need to look at GMS corridors as not simply a connection between two points because their effects also extend to other less developed areas that can enjoy enhanced access to major economic centers, and thereby reinforcing regional integration in the GMS,” said Pradeep Srivastava, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist in ADB’s Southeast Department.

Through the economic corridor approach, ADB is extending the benefits of improved transport links to remote and landlocked areas, handicapped by their lack of integration with more prosperous and better-located neighboring areas.

“A recent study commissioned by AusAID estimates that reducing trade costs could generate an increase in GDP of more than 6 percent for Cambodia and Laos, as well as significant benefits for other countries in the Mekong,” said Michael Wilson, AusAID’s Minister-Counsellor for Mekong and regional programs. “Improved connectivity will help to reduce poverty throughout the subregion.”

“Australia will also continue to work closely with Governments, other donor partners and civil society organizations in the Mekong to assist communities affected by the construction of new transport corridors to access fair compensation and services, as well as re-establish viable livelihoods,” said Mr. Wilson. –AKP

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FASMEC and ACCCIM Sign Agreement on Promoting Human Resources Training

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – The Federation of Association for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia (FASMEC) and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) have reached an agreement on promoting the human resources training and sharing the experience of small and medium enterprises.

The agreement was signed here last Thursday by the chairmen of FASMEC and ACCCIM, following the discussion between the two sides.

The aim of ACCCIM is to seek the trading partnership with Cambodian businessmen in goods exchanges.

At the signing ceremony, the chairman of ACCCIM briefed FASMEC on the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.

Mr. Te Taing Por, chairman of FASMEC, informed ACCCIM delegation of the national economic development in Cambodia, which covers 336,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises and absorbs roughly 1.4 million persons to engage in labor market.

Mr. Hun Lak, general secretary of FASMEC, was quoted by reporters as saying that Malaysian businessmen are interested in the investment in rubber plantation, palm oil plantation, furniture, palm oil processing plant and real estate in Cambodia. –AKP

By THOU Peou

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Indonesia Arranges Meetings of Cambodia-Thailand Border Committees

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Indonesia is arranging meetings of Cambodia-Thai General Border Committee and Joint Border Committee on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, said on Mar. 5 Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

The Cambodian premier also proposed Indonesia to set the dates for the meetings. “Indonesia, the host, will be the referee when both sides agree on whatever points,” he said during his visit to disabled soldiers in Chhuok district, Kampot province.

In his letter to his Cambodian, Thai counterparts and other foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, the Indonesian foreign minister, current Chair of ASEAN, mentioned that Cambodia absolutely accepted the terms of reference for the Indonesian observers to the border disputed areas, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Cambodia has arranged 14 places for the observers and for the period of 12 months. The time could be extended and the number of places to be observed could be added further, he stressed.

“I am aware that the Thai side does not oppose to the observers, but it is taking it into consideration,” the Cambodian prime minister quoted Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa as saying in the letter.

Thailand had declared to welcome observers from Indonesia and asked Cambodia to do so even though it is at the beginning Cambodia’s initiative. “But when Cambodia accepts [Indonesian observers], Thailand said it is taken into consideration,” said Samdech Techo Hun Sen. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

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PM: Disabled Soldiers Are Not Left Alone

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen along with Lok Chumteav Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen on Mar. 5 paid a visit to disabled soldiers and their families in Chhuok district of Kampot province as part of his inauguration of Bun Rany Hun Sen Koh Sla high school.

“Soldiers with disability should be respected because of their sacrifice to the nation,” addressed Samdech Techo Prime Minister to hundreds of participants, adding that he has encouraged a well planned social security mechanism for soldiers with disability and they will not be left alone without proper care.

According to the report of Gen. Tith Menglong, representative of Koh Sla development village, the Nov. 2007 established village has so far accommodated 254 families of disabled soldiers and each of whom received 1.5 hectare of land.

As of 2011, an average of 85 percent of the given land surface has been transformed into agricultural and animal husbandry areas. With more water sources and irrigation system, the residents of the development village are committed to make the best out of complete potential of the provided land.

In response, Samdech Techo Hun Sen ordered the construction of extra 30 pump wells, the rehabilitation of existing ponds and study for appropriate water catchment system to ensure sufficient water supply to those solder families.

The new education access at Bun Rany Hun Sen Koh Sla high school is another means capacitate children in the area, thus ensuring a sustainable family well-fare of the disabled soldiers. Moreover, a part of the scholarships given to Samdech Techo by different education institutions will be reserved for the children of these soldiers. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by MOM Chan Dara Soleil

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Cambodia on the Way to Boost Road Safety

Phnom Penh, March 7, 2011 AKP – At least 4,700 lives are expected to be saved by the 10-year Cambodia’s National Action for Road Safety, as said the Public Works and Transportation Minister H.E. Tram Iv Tek in his recent interview by the Global Ambassador for the Make Roads Safe campaign, Michelle Yeoh at the ministerial office.

Having once declared that of all the roles she has played, nothing has been more ‘important and fulfilling’ as her contribution to the campaign to improve road safety in the world, the Malaysian born international film actor focuses her interview with H.E Tram Iv Tek on the strategic action plans of the Royal Government of Cambodia to reduce the road accident alarming rate.

According to the public works and transportation minister, Cambodia has included extra two actions to United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety for in the national version after various consultations with concerned ministries and counterparts.

The National Action for Road Safety places significant emphasis on allocating sufficient financial resource, building technical capacity of relevant officials and qualifying the components of Road Crash and Victim Information System (RCVIS) in addition to various other strategic activities to mitigate road accident risk which is among key concerns of the government.

The ultimate aim of the national action is to bring down at least 30 percent of the death cases by 2020.

To further concretize the commitment, Cambodia will participate in the United Nations organized event to launch the Decade of Action for Road Safety in May 11, 2011. –AKP

By MOM Chan Dara Soleil

Land dispute prompts civil case solution

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Monday, 07 March 2011 15:02 Tep Nimol

Ratanakkiri provincial court issued a summons for three ethnic Tumpoun minority residents of Bakeo district’s Paor village, to appear at a hearing related to a private company’s accusations that they had illegally seized 100 hectares of their land.

The summons was sent on Wednesday to Long Lorn, a lawyer for local rights group Adhoc, which represents the codefendants Rorch Phoen, Horn Ror and Kvas Ti, requesting their presence in a civil case in provincial court on March 22, which Long Lorn confirmed they would attend.

“We will prepare some documents and witnesses to explain [our position] in court,” he said.

Horn Ror, a representative for the Tumpoun ethnic villagers in Paor village, said yesterday that although the case is in dispute, the Ly Sokim Company continues to clear villager’s cashew plantations and hopes the upcoming hearing will act as “a positive sign” in finding justice for the villagers, whose land he claimed the company has encroached on since 2007.

It is not known what the company intends to do with the land concession it purchased in 2007 in the Loe Horn village of Keh Chung commune, eight kilometres from Paor village.

Yet in March of last year, the company filed a complaint to the court that more than 100 hectares of land they had bought from Loe Horn villagers was occupied by Paor villagers developing cashew

plantations.

“The company bought over 100 hectares from Loe Horn villagers, but it got confused about the land and [cleared land] in Paor village, filing a complaint against the villagers for growing plantations,” Horn Ror said.

Pen Bonnar, provincial coordinator for Adhoc, said yesterday that research into the disputed land shows that it is under the control of the Paor village, which authorities have legally recognised.

“The representing company bought land legally but the letter is contrary to the law because this is the community’s land and no one has the right to buy or sell it,” he said.

The Ly Sokim Company could not be reached for comment.

Media’s help sought in tobacco ad prohibition

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Monday, 07 March 2011 15:02 May Titthara

The NGO Forum and the Cambodian Human Rights Actions Committee issued a joint statement on Friday, urging the government to prevent a Vietnamese-owned rubber company from further destroying land in Prey Lang forest.

The two umbrella groups, which represent more than 100 NGOs, were responding to protests waged by Kampong Thom province villagers who say they depend on the 200,000 hectare forest for their livelihoods.

The protestors have demonstrated against provincial authorities and the CRCK Rubber Development Company, which was granted a 6,044 hectare land concession by the government last year.

The statement urged the government and development companies to help preserve the land, which they said was rich in natural resources and wildlife, and valuable to locals.

“Us NGOs and villagers were disappointed when provincial authorities said Prey Lang is a dull forest,” the statement read.

Kampong Thom deputy Governor Uth Sam An said last week that the land being developed by CRCK was not communal land, and therefore villagers had no right to it.

At a press conference last Thursday, village representatives from Kampong Thom accused local authorities of using intimidation to break up protests.

Thousands of families are estimated to depend on the forest, which borders Kampong Thom, Kratie, Preah Vihear and Steung Treng provinces.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered last month in front of CRCK headquarters in Kampong Thom’s Sandan district to protest the company’s clearing of land they claim as part of a community forest.

Officials later accused villagers of not knowing the proper boundary of the concession.