Missing woman case brings to light other problems at Unique Living

Jeff Melton / The Star
Unique Living has come under fire in recent years by the county DSS. On Sept. 3, the assisted living facility reported a resident, Mouy Tang, missing.

The Star
Tuesday, Sep 9 2008
David Allen

SHELBY - Quyhn Tang has made the choice to wait by her phone, both hopeful and unsure of her sister-in-law's whereabouts.

"It's heartbreaking," she quietly said of Mouy Tang, who disappeared between Lawndale and Fallston last week. "Very stressful. We're praying that someone out there is caring enough to bring her home.

"Mouy, a native of Cambodia and Unique Living resident, wandered from the oft-criticized adult-care home Sept. 3, following at least two other residents who disappeared in 2006.A representative at Unique Living Tuesday declined to comment on Mouy's disappearance.

It's the type of issue Cleveland County Department of Social Services officials have been warning about for months.

Back in June, the county DSS sent a letter to the state, specifically to Department of Health Service Regulation Adult Care Licensure Section Chief Barbara Ryan, in reference to Unique Living, noting potential dangers the facility presented.


The state's official response, or lack thereof, recently prompted the county DSS board to consider drafting a new letter to Dempsey Benton, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.


"There was no official response to my letter," DSS Director John Wasson said. "They did send teams out ... at least they didn't ignore it totally."Neither Ryan nor DHSR Acting Director Jeff Horton was available for comment Tuesday.

The Star reported in July that teams from the DHSR were brought in to Unique Living to inspect the facility.

Several citations were given, Wasson said, including problems involving faulty door alarms and dangerously hot water.

The facility was directed to correct the issues by Aug. 29, said Tom Ensley, adult services supervisor. Problems remained when officials went back to follow up on Sept. 3, the day Tang went missing.

But less than a week before, a DHSR construction section inspector said the deficiencies had been addressed.

"He stated that all the areas that he had cited as deficiencies had been corrected," Ensley said. "However, when we made our visit last week and walked through that facility, we noted a number of items that were on this list of deficiencies that were still not corrected."

Problems found

County DSS officials said the sanitation level, which was cited as a deficiency, remains below standards. There's a door in the facility leading outside that, no matter the effort, cannot be shut properly. Dresser drawers were found missing or broken. The list goes on.

But the door alarms worried Ensley the most.

"They weren't repaired; they still aren't repaired," he said.

State officials would probably cite Unique Living with "Type A" violations, Ensley said, where "direct harm has occurred" because of uncorrected problems.

Jim Jones, a DHSR spokesman, said the state agency is still investigating the situation in light of Tang's disappearance.

Search continues

Though Tang has been missing a week, officials and Tang's family haven't given up hope.

Searches continued Tuesday morning, DSS Social Work Program Manager Teala McSwain said. Officials scoured underpasses, combed woods.

Nothing.

And as days pass with little to no leads, optimism fades.

"Unless something good has happened or there's a miracle, we may be looking at another death there," McSwain said. There have been several parties actively pursuing Tang's disappearance, she said.

"Her family has been active with her and been in contact with us and with the facility and police and emergency management since this event has happened," McSwain said. "Our law enforcement and emergency management have spent countless hours, day and night, since this has happened.

"Since 1985, three other Unique Living residents have died because of accidents or disappearances - a "sacrifice of our poor system in some ways," McSwain said.

In 2006, resident Kelly "Buck" Whitesides was found dead less than 1,000 feet from the home six days after going missing. One resident was previously scalded to death and another choked on a sandwich.

"How many people are going to wander away?" Quyhn Tang asked. "This is preventable."

Cambodian inflation running at 22 per cent, government says

visitbulgaria.info
Submitted by William Kaelin
on Tue, 09/09/2008

Cambodian inflation was running at a record high of 22 percent for the year through July, Planning Minister Chhay Than said Tuesday.

Than blamed the global rise in oil prices for the increase in the Consumer Price Index, which ended 2007 at 18.7 per cent.

"The Cambodian inflation rate is at a record high and most of that rise can be blamed on global oil prices - completely out of the government's control," Than said.

But he said Cambodia anticipated a reduction in oil costs in coming months, and he hoped the inflation rate would fall in the fourth quarter accordingly.

Cambodia, Australia strengthen co-op to fight against terrorism

www.chinaview.cn

2008-09-09

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Under the support from Australia, Cambodia on Tuesday organized a series of workshops to train more than 550 people, including judges, prosecutors, senior police officers and soldiers, for anti-terrorism law.

The Cambodian government considered terrorism act as a cruel crime in the history of humanity, and it makes turmoil in the society especially politically, Ang Vong Vathana, Cambodian Justice Minister, said at the closing ceremony for the workshops.

The Cambodian government also considered terrorism act as an international matter, he added.

According to geographical areas, the qualification of policy and economy of Cambodia is not the most important target for terrorism acts, he said, adding that Cambodia needs to prepare ahead to fight against terrorism anyway, to ensure the security and safety for people.

Cambodia also has to join with other countries to eliminate the terrorism acts internationally because the terrorism acts put the people around the world under fears, he said.

Meanwhile, Emily Roper, regional chairwoman of legal aid unit for Ministry of General Prosecutors of Australia, said Cambodia is one of the leading countries in the region making an effort to fight against terrorism acts.

"In our region, we used to suffer seriously from a number of the terrorism acts like Marriot Hotel in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta in August 2003 and Bali in October 2005," she said.

"Therefore, we have to cooperate to combat against it and we have to build network firmly in Asia to respond all threats," she added.

"We need strengthen cooperation in the exercises of the anti-terrorism law," she said, adding that Australia is very happy to see the contribution of Cambodia in fighting against the terrorism acts.

Editor: Bi Mingxin

More dams for Cambodia to help rural poor

ABC Radio Australia
Tue Sep 9, 2008

The Cambodian government is preparing to build ten hydro-electric and irrigation dams in the country's north-west provinces.

It's hoped the four billion dollar project will supply more than 100-thousand rural families with water and electricity.

Presenter: Sonia Randhawa Speaker: Veng Sakhon, Secretary of State for the Cambodian Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology; Yang Saing Koma, President of the Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture; Chan Sophal, Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture President.

Listen: Windows Media

RANDHAWA: The World Bank says rural poverty in Cambodia has dropped by more than a fifth over the past decade, but one in three Cambodians still lives below the government poverty line. Low agricultural productivity's been identified as one of the factors keeping farming communities poor. Dams that generate both electricity and a reliable water supply are part of the solution, in the eyes of both the government and international donors. Veng Sakhon is the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology; he outlines the new proposal.

SAKHON: The beneficiaries are two provinces, affecting at least 100,000 families.

RANDHAWA: Poor yields are one barrier stopping Cambodian farmers from getting ahead financially. The crippling price of power is another. Electricity costs are five times higher in Cambodia than in neighbouring Laos, and twice as high as in Vietnam. The prospect of cheaper hydro-electric power's been welcomed by the independent Cambodian Economic Association. Its president is Chan Sophal.

SOPHAL: It is very, very important for the Cambodian economy because we badly need electricity for development. At the moment, we suffer the problem of very expensive electricity, so Cambodia is not competitive at all when compared with neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

RANDHAWA: However, critics say the new dams need to be built properly to deliver their promised benefits. Yang Saing Koma is the president of the Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture. He says projects in the past have suffered from construction flaws.

KOMA: Our experience has shown that one of, one of the big problems is about the sustainability of the structure, I meant that after the construction either the quality is too poor and there is a lack of participation of the community to maintain the scheme properly so it, it leads to the low effectiveness of the irrigation scheme.

RANDHAWA: Nonetheless, the project has firm endorsement from the government. The Water Resources Ministry says it will be of value not just to surrounding villages, but to downstream communities as well, as spokesman Veng Sakhon explains.

SAKHON: The creation of the dam is really for the irrigation, the area is 130,000 heactares, and also play a very important role for flood control, because Kampong Thom area especially Stung Sen, people living along the Stung Sen are affected almost every year by the flooding.

RANDHAWA: That may not be the case unless floods are extreme, according to Yang Saing Koma.

SAKHON: Sometimes flooding is also good, because flooding can bring a lot of silt that can improve the soil fertility. Flooding also cause people in the downstream, they are also growing rice, they have to have a certain water regime that can provide good conditions for the floating rice to grow. So flooding for many places in Cambodia, it is just normal because people have got used to it.

RANDHAWA: On balance, Mr Yang says the government should be investing in other areas, and says other poor rural communities won't benefit at all from the proposed dams.

SAKHON: The impact on the fisheries, if there is a dam built, have to make sure there is a minimal impact on the fisheries, because the fisheries in Tonle Sap is very important for millions of people in Cambodia.

RANDHAWA: And Chan Sophal from the Cambodian Economic Association says that while dams can be of value, they need to be properly planned or the government won't be able to keep its promises to Cambodia's rural poor.

SOPHAL: We have to be careful with the cost of doing this, the cost can be too high, in terms of environmental cost and other cultural and social costs. Damming can be good, but it can also be bad.

Garment enterprises to explore new markets for enhancing trade

fibre2fashion.com
September 09, 2008 (Cambodia)

The Cambodian Ministry of Commerce is worried after looking at the export results of the fourth quarter of 2007. The export of garment, which is the major sector for earning foreign currency, has witnessed a significant fall of almost 46 percent during this period.

The authorities are now demanding that United States, the biggest market for the nation should bring down the import tariff rates, in order to overcome this situation.

However, in the first quarter of 2008, nation shipped apparels worth around US $1.16 billion to United States, a rise of 2.2 percent when compared to same time of previous year.

Cambodia earned nearly $2.9 billion in 2007, by exporting garments, showcasing a slight annual rise of 2.2 percent.

The Cambodian garment sector contributes almost 80 percent to the total earnings made by the country, by shipping various products in different parts of the world.

The sector also plays a vital role in providing employment to large number of people that automatically improves the economic condition of the country. At present more than 3,50,000 people are earning their living by working in garment industry.

Experts suggest that, new markets should be explored in order to boost the exports that have observed a decline in Q4 of 2007. Being one of the important sectors its earnings directly affects the economy of Cambodia. Even the slowdown in US economy is sure to affect the nation, as United States buys 70 percent of Cambodian textiles, the orders are likely to reduce.

Industry insiders also suggest that, the management of units should be done correctly as last year due to various reasons the workers had gone on strikes lot many times, which hampered the production process.

This is why the Government is now finding means to diversify exports and look for other potential overseas markets. The authorities have also asked entrepreneurs related to other industries to explore new destinations for helping the nation increase foreign revenue.

The main export partners of the country are US, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Prince To Seek 'Unity' in Third Royal Party

Prince Sisowath Thomico says he is seeking to keep royal family members politically relevant.

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 September 2008

Khmer audio aired 09 September 2008 (1.21 MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 09 September 2008 (1.21 MB) - Listen (MP3)

[Editor's note: With two fractured royalist parties coming out of the national election, Prince Sisowath Thomico, a cousin of King Norodom Sihamoni, says he has a plan to revive the royal name. With Norodom Ranariddh running his self-named party from exile, and Funcinpec winning only two seats in July's election, Prince Thomico has announced he wants to established a unifying party. He sat for an interview with VOA Khmer at his cabinet office at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.]

Q. You have a plan to set up a new political party, following the formation of a new government later this month. What is the main purpose of this party?

A. I have a plan to find a way not to disqualify the voice of the royalists. And I must set up a new party, but it is not clear how I can set up the new party.

Q. How will you set up the new party?

A. I want to remind people of the royalist stance. Currently, the principle of the royalists is not interpreted clearly. That's why the voice of royalists has been disqualified and there is disunity among the royalists. Because there is no clear ideology, no clear theory, no clear principle, and no clear stance. Right now the royalist side has only individual principles, individual theories, and individual stances.

Q. You set up the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party in 2006, but later you gave up on the party and joined the Norodom Ranariddh Party, and then Funcinpec. Why do you want a new party?

A. Because now Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party have weakened, endangering the Cambodian royal family in politics. I recognize my political process failed in unifying the royalists. I also recognize I lost to [NRP Secretary-General] You Hockry and [Funcinpec Secretary-General] Nhiek Bunchhay, who are the leaders disunifying the royalists. I cannot let the royalists lose. I must find a way to put value to the royal family and royalists once again.

Q. How will your planned party help promote the honor and prestige of the royal family and the royalists in the Cambodian political arena?

A. When the Khmer royal family becomes the national symbol, especially in the political sense, and when the royal family serves the king to protect the national culture and works hard to show the big national problem. I hope to do so. I hope and believe all walks of Khmer citizens can unify together to protect the border, sovereignty and culture. My stance is that the royal family and the royalists can join in unity under the king and the government to show the national problem.

Two Men Sought in Brazen Rape, Abduction

By Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 September 2008

Khmer audioa aired 09 September 2008 (1.46 MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audioa aired 09 September 2008 (1.46 MB) - Listen (MP3)

Police are seeking two men suspected of raping a young woman after a brazen abduction from a Phnom Penh beer garden last week, in a crime rights workers say is not uncommon in a growing culture of impunity.

The victim, who is 16 years old, was allegedly kidnapped by two men at gunpoint from Soun Samneang beer garden around 1 am on Friday night, according to her brother, Ra, who witnessed the abduction and asked that only his first name be used.

Ra's account was corroborated by a police report and testimony of another witness, who asked not to be named with the two men still at large.

The men had been drinking at the beer garden earlier that night, Ra said. They drank until the restaurant closed, and just as Ra's mother arrived to pick up his sister, they returned in their car, a green Toyota Corolla, brandishing pistols.

The two men, both in their twenties, pushed his sister and mother into the car, Ra said in a recent interview from his apartment near Soun Samneang, where he shares a room with guards and waitresses from the restaurant.

He was unable to help because of the guns, Ra said.

"That night, they came," Ra said. "I was fighting with them, and they said, 'Be careful of dying,' and they also pushed me toward the car. I want these gangsters put in prison."

The kidnappers took the two women on National Road 6, dropping the mother at the Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh, Ra said, citing accounts of his sister and mother. They then took his sister to Tek Meas guesthouse, on the Chroy Changva peninsula, where both men raped her, Ra alleged.

Chamkar Mon district police said they have received a complaint from the victim, who said she asked to use the phone of Tek Meas, after the alleged assailants left her, taking her phone and her jewelry.

However, staff members at the Tek Meas guesthouse said Monday they had no knowledge of the incident.

A night guard at the guesthouse, who declined to give his name, said he was asleep by 11 pm that night and did not know two men had taken a girl into a room.

"I know nothing. I heard nothing. I went to sleep as usual," he said.

Everyone with knowledge of Friday's incident was afraid to give his or her full name, for fear of reprisal.

The owner of the Soun Samneang beer garden, who gave her first name, Neat, said she had helped the victim file a complaint.

"I'm worried about this kind of case happening again at my restaurant, because the restaurant has no right to keep the guns of its visitors," she said. It is not possible to know which guests have guns, she said.

A coworker, Nuon, who is a beer promotion girl at Soun Samneang, said she and other girls at the restaurant are now afraid for their safety.

"Even the young gangsters have guns. That's why I'm afraid," she said, adding that she was forced to continue working to earn money and support her parents.

Ra said his sister and mother have gone into hiding.

Chamkar Mon District Police Chief Ouch Sokhorn said Monday the two suspects had been identified, but he declined to provide further details in the ongoing investigation.

However, Friday night's alleged crime was not an isolated incident, and similar cases are not hard to find.

Another victim, Leak, 21, worked as an Angkor Beer promotion girl last year at a similar beer garden in Phnom Penh. In May 2007 she was taken by three men with a gun who forced her into their car and took her to another guesthouse along National Road 6, not far from the Tek Meas.

"One man pointed the gun and forced me to get in the car, and they brought me to a guesthouse," she said. "One man wore a condom, but the other two did not. That's why I'm afraid of AIDS."

The event still haunts her, she said, and the memory of it hurts. She never filed a complaint, and now regrets it, she said, because the three men who raped her remain free.

Lim Mony, director of the women's department of the rights group Adhoc, said criminals in Cambodia look down on the police, their impunity a product of the inability of police to fully protect the people.

"It shows that the honesty and dignity of the law are low down," she said. "The police do not fully protect the safety of society."

Most important, she said, such abductions and rapes exhibit a disregard for women, and especially women who work at night.

Nop Sarin Sreyroth, secretary-general of the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center, said Friday night's case highlighted a worsening problem, where offenders have no respect for the law.

If the men are not arrested and punished, it will affect the feeling of women who work at night, she said, and will encourage other similar crimes.

Phnom Penh Police Chief Touch Naroth said last week the city was meeting with guesthouse owners to make sure they register their guests before renting them a room, or face a fine or closure.

Guesthouses have become a favorite place for petty criminals to do drugs, commit crimes, and rape women, he said.

Court Opens Case in Opposition Assault Suit

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 September 2008

Khmer audioa aired 09 September 2008 (752 KB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audioa aired 09 September 2008 (752 KB) - Listen (MP3)

The Kampot provincial court on Tuesday began proceedings in a suit against a military official brought by Sam Rainsy Party Deputy Secretary-General Mu Sochua.

A court prosecutor said he questioned Mu Sochua in court Tuesday morning, declining further comment.

Mu Sochua, who brought a suit against Brig. Gen. San Sman, who she claims assaulted her during a dispute in Kampot ahead of July's national election.

Mu Sochua said Tuesday she had filed three complaints against San Sman: assault, sexual harassment and attempted murder.

"My request is to urge the court to have a hearing in this case very soon," she said.

During an argument, "the army general assaulted Mu Sochua and her shirt became undone, leaving her half-naked in front of a crowd of men," the party said in a statement ahead of Tuesday's proceedings.

In Cambodian courts, a prosecutor determines whether a case goes on to an investigating judge. Kampot prosecutors must now question San Sman, according to procedure.

San Sman denied the accusation in a brief comment Tuesday.

"If I had rancor with her, it would be right to accuse me of attempted murder," he said. "But she and I never knew each other."

He called the case a "political issue" and declined further comment.

Police Crackdown on Sex Work Debated

From left: Maj. Iem Ratana, of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, Leng Sros, and Sou Sotheavyvice president of the Cambodia Network for Men and Women Development.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

Washington

09 September 2008

Khmer audio aired 08 September 2008 (6.09 MB) - Download (MP3)

Khmer audio aired 08 September 2008 (6.09 MB) - Listen (MP3)

In a police crackdown on public prostitution, sex worker advocates said Thursday the rights of the women and men must be respected.

"Those people need money to feed their children, need money to buy books and feed themselves," saidof Cambodia Network for Men and Women Development, as one of three guests on "Hello VOA."

A new anti-trafficking law passed in February has led to the arrests and fines of sex workers who seek clients in public parks and other locales around the city.

The crackdown has made making a living for these women and men very hard, said Sou Sotheavy, who was joined by Leng Sros, vice president of the organization.

Maj. Iem Ratana, chief of anti-trafficking and juvenile protection unit of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, said the sex industry had declined in the city thanks to the crackdown.

"New law enforcement has made this activity decline, as some violators dare not do it and back off," he said. "It's against the law and custom."

Artisans carve a lovely bunch of coconuts

MICHAEL KOHAN; From Christmas tree ornaments to earrings, each item produced by the Coconut Project is crafted by hand.

MICHAEL KOHAN; Young members of the Coconut Project holds up sample

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Karen London
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

The Coconut Project in Kep teaches rural young people to make, market unique jewellery and craft items using simple coconut shells

IN a small room in the rural village of Chamkea Bei in Kep municipality, a group of young people are carving out a niche in the handicraft market through a unique community development project.

Each morning, in this "coconut shell" room in the Chamka Bei Vocational Training Centre, earrings, necklaces and other jewellery (as well as Christmas decorations) are meticulously crafted by hand using coconut shell. The process is a lengthy one as the makers go through about eight different stages of filing, sawing and sanding to get to the finished product.The results are natural, eco-friendly products made entirely from sustainable resources.

"They start with the coconut husk, file and cut the hair away and then glue the design on and cut around with a hand saw," says Antonia Marison, founder of Khmer Creations, one of the organisations behind the initiative. "The piece is then sanded with up to six different grades of sandpaper and polished with coconut oil to finish. It usually takes between two to four hours to complete one piece.

Shell gain

"Every piece is different and unique - no two pieces are alike. What I also like about them is that they are not machine-manufactured or perfect, which adds to their individuality," Marison added. "In order for this project to be a successful and sustainable enterprise, the quality of our products is paramount."

The Coconut Project was created through a partnership of Khmer Creations and Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia (BABSEA) under the Hand in Hand integrated community development project.

The idea behind the intiative, said Marison, was to provide young villagers with a marketable skill that would eventually lead to sustainable economic self-sufficiency.

"We identified handicrafts as an area where there was a genuine interest from villagers, especially the youth, as well as a burgeoning market," she said.

To help get the project off the ground, a jewellery designer was brought from Japan by Khmer Creations to train the young people in jewellery production and provide design consulting. She came up with "Khmer-focused" designs and carried out a three-week intensive training program with 10 local youth.

The workshop participants were selected from among the poorest young people in the village, most of whom had previously worked as subsistence farmers. While the participants were enthusiastic and eager to learn, their families were initially perplexed at what their children were doing playing with coconut shells during rice-planting season, said Marison.

It was only when they began to sell their handicrafts back to Khmer Creations and to hotels in Kep that the community began to value this seemingly waste material.

"Jewellery making is a skill that anyone can acquire after some training and it is empowering for the artisans," said Marison. "They take a lot of pride in their work, particularly when they see the finished product."

In the initial stages, the Coconut Project is trying to sell locally in markets in Kep and Kampot as well as encourage people to come down to visit the workshop where they can purchase the goods. They have also begun selling their jewellery at the Friends flea market held in Phnom Penh every month, and Khmer Creations is currently approaching international fair-trade buyers for the Christmas decorations.

" Every piece is different and unique – no two pieces are alike.” "

"We had a great response to the jewellery at the last Friends flea market, and in particular to the Christmas decorations. There is a huge market out there for ethical Christmas decorations and now is the time to start tapping into that market. People always like to see something different and have what no one else has."

Learning a business

"Once they have enough orders they will work independently. A percentage will go back to the project to buy equipment like the saw blades which are imported from Germany but available in Phnom Penh. Also, in the future, once BABSEA has phased out management of the vocational training centre, the artisans will be required to pay rent for the workshop space ensuring that vital funds to go back into the community."

BABSEA will continue to recruit trainees for the coconut project according to market demand for the products. They will be trained by the first group, allowing them the opportunity to pass on the skills they have learned.

"By supporting this project, we will be giving young people in Chamka Bei a new perspective on small businesses," said Marison.

Processor could hurt shrimp supplies

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Nguon Sovan
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

A NEW shrimp processing plant slated to begin operations early next year has raised concerns that local shrimp stocks won't be adequate to supply the facility, Sam Peou, president and CEO of Nautisco Seafood Manufacturing, told the Post.

The Canada-based firm broke ground on the US$4 million Sihanoukville plant, capable of processing 30 tonnes of shrimp daily, in January and expects construction to finish in January 2009, Sam Peou said.

"We are very concerned about the availability of shrimp in Cambodia," he said Sunday. "We can't fish 30 tonnes of shrimp per day from local waters, so I expect to buy farmed shrimp from neighbouring countries."

He said the plant expects to get only 20-25 percent of its supply from local sources and the rest will be imported from Vietnam, Thailand and China, depending on quality and price.

Sam Peou said he hopes local aquaculture farmers can also help supply the plant. "We want the government to encourage farmers to raise more shrimp," he said.

But one government official said an increase in local production was unlikely.

"We have no plans to promote shrimp farming," Nao Thuok, director general of the Cambodian Fisheries Department, told the Post Sunday. "If we tried, then people would cut down the mangrove forests and devastate the environment."

Nautisco plans to export between 300 and 500 tonnes of shrimp monthly in its first year of operations to markets in Japan, Canada, the US, Russia and Eastern Europe.

Illegal bottled-water makers face closure

HENG CHIVOAN; A shop vendor checks her stocks of bottled water in Phnom Penh on Monday.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Kay Kimsong
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Safety rising concern as most producers fail to meet standards

MORE than 100 bottled-water companies could be closed for failing to meet minimum production quality standards, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy has said, adding that Cambodia's markets are being flooded with potentially dangerous drinking water.

Only 24 of the 130 enterprises are compliant with the ministry's Department of Industrial Standards, department director Ping Sivlay said. "We know that some of these enterprises don't even tell the ministry where their factories are located or what kind of water they are using to make their product," he told the Post.

Bottled water that meets the ministry's standards is currently given a "CS900" stamp, but enforcing quality control in the markets is difficult. The Commerce Ministry's Cam-Control can report suspect products to the Industry Ministry, but it is unclear by which criteria they are judged and what action can be taken against violators.

Ping Sivlay said that the Industry Ministry was working to establish an Institute of Standards that would set quality-control guidelines for all products manufactured in Cambodia. Once this is set up, the ministry would begin banning subpar products, he said.

"We will take action against any drinking-water enterprises that do not reach national standards for quality," he said.

Ser Viseth, manager for Hi-Tech Pure Drinking Water, said his company brings samples of their product to both Cam-Control and the Industry Ministry each month for testing in order to obtain the CS900 stamp. Others, however, are not so diligent, said Ith Praing, secretary of state at the Industry Ministry.

"For those bottles of water with no [CS900] stamp, they are illegal and the water is not guaranteed to be good to drink," he said.

The overarching concern is the health impact on a public that largely relies on bottled water, health officials say.

Dr Veng Thai of the Phnom Penh Municipal Health Department said unregulated production methods are to blame for the varying quality of water.

But the bottled-water issue also extends to other products, in the interest of fair competition, said Mao Thora, undersecretary of state for the Commerce Ministry. "We need standards for all products," he said.

Say "Om"

VANDY RATTANA

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Vandy Rattana
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Two monks pose in front of Phnom Penh's Royal Palace while another monk snaps their photograph last week. The square opposite the Royal Palace is a popular photo-opportunity spot for both Cambodian and foreign tourists alike.

KR trials and tribute museums

A visitor walks through the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh last week. The government has just applied for the museum to be listed as a Unesco site.

KRT SUSPECTS
- Kaing Guek Eav (Duch), 66 Former director of S-21. Charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.
- Nuon Chea, 82 Former Brother No 2. Charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.
- Khieu Samphan, 77 Former KR head of state. Charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.
- Ieng Sary, 82 Former KR foreign minister. Charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes.
- Ieng Thirith, 76 Former KR social affairs minister. Charged with crimes against humanity.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by May Titthara
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Despite recent judicial progress, for many KR survivors, returning to the scene of the crime is more cathartic than waiting for the wheels of transnational justice to grind forward

WHEN I am here, it is as if I were back in Pol Pot's time, said Ly Sideth. Around him were the horrors of Tuol Sleng prison, the Khmer Rouge torture centre turned genocide museum where the Phnom Penh teacher recently spent two hours walking among the memories of Cambodia's apocalypse - the tortured photo-flashed faces captured in stark black-and-white, the rusting shackles and glass-lined cases full of skulls.

More than two years on, Cambodia's UN-backed genocide court is making tangible progress towards justice. Five of the regime's leaders have been arrested. Tuol Sleng's own commandant, one of the five, has been indicted and is to stand trial later this year.

But many Cambodians like Ly Sideth have only a subdued support for the tribunal, saying it is more redemptive to return to these killing places than to rely on the stuttering wheels of justice.

"My memories are so vivid. At the time I was 10 years old, my parents and relatives all died and when I come here it seems to me that Pol Pot's era happens again," Ly Sideth said, surrounded by almost reverent quiet of Tuol Sleng, or S-21 as it was known to the Khmer Rouge.

Legal justice, he said, "is related to political problems, so it cannot be fast because it serves politicians' benefits".

"Every society has law to limit human ambition," he said, quick not to dismiss the tribunal. But the limitations of the court - to try only "senior leaders and those most responsible" for Cambodia's suffering between 1975 and 1979 - are frustrating, he added.

"I saw a lot of Chinese come to transport our rice [while] the Cambodian people ... could not get enough food to eat," Ly Sideth said.

Artist's impressions

For painter Vann Nath, whose artistic skill kept him alive after his arrest and incarceration in S-21, justice delayed is justice denied.

" WE WANT OUR YOUNGER GENERATION TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY ABOUT THEIR PARENTS’ HARDSHIPS. "

"The ECCC is coming too late because of my seven comrade survivors [of S-21], four have died already," Vann Nath said.

Earlier this year in a macabre judicial twist, S-21 chief Kaing Guek Eav, who is better known as Duch, was brought back to the prison where he recounted for court officials and a few witnesses, including Vann Nath, how he administered the regime's most notorious death machine.

"I absolutely didn't want to go there because I don't want to revive my bitter memories," Vann Nath said of the re-enactment. But this was the duty of the survivor, he added.

"I have been [to give evidence at the court] several times now and I always go to tell them the truth," he said.

But whether this - the re-enactments, indictments or likely convictions - will provide closure for the 63-year-old is unclear.

"We have to wait to see the outcome together because we are ordinary people," he said."We don't have the right to interfere in their [legal] affairs."

A torture museum

S-21 was opened as a museum on August 17, 1979, as a monument to the regime's cruelty, just months after a Vietnamese-backed force drove the Khmer Rouge from power, said Chey Sopheara, deputy director in charge of the facility.

"Today S-21 is used keep victim's photos, skulls and handcuffs to show the ECCC when they require this for their [judicial investigations]," he said, apparently pleased that the museum had been instrumental in charging Duch for the crimes he allegedly committed while in charge of the prison.

Like Vann Nath and Ly Sideth, he said he was happy that the tribunal had materialised after so many years and appeared on track to put at least a few top cadre in prison.

But it is places like S-21 where Cambodians will come to terms with their grief, he said.

Chey Sopheara added, however, that only around 40 Cambodians visited the museum each day, saying that he wanted the high school-turned-prison to once again be a place of learning, although of a different kind.

"I plan to promote this issue with the education sector because we want to bring at least 50 or 60 students per week from schools and universities," he said.

Cambodia's younger generation needs to learn about the history of their country, of their mothers and fathers, Chey Sopheara said. He hoped that school visits to the museum would provoke younger people to talk to Cambodia's older, devastated generation.

"We want our younger generation to understand clearly about their parents' hardships ... so they never follow Pol Pot's footsteps," he said.

Officials vow to fight terrorism at seminar on extremism

RECENT CONVICTS
Five Khmer Kampuchea Krom men were sentenced to between 15 and 17 years in prison in connection with an attempt to bomb the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Monument on July 29, 2007.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chun Sophal and Cheang Sokha
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Senior government and police officials affirm their commitment to preventing domestic attacks and helping in the global 'war on terror'

THE Cambodian government is determined to enforce its new anti-terrorism law in cooperation with other regional countries, government officials said at a seminar on combating extremism held Monday.

"Anti-terrorism requires the collaboration from all countries in the region," said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An at the opening of the two-day seminar at Phnom Penh's InterContinental Hotel.

"Cambodia will not step back in regard to anti-terrorism," he added.

Anti-terrorism legislation adopted by the National Assembly in July 2007 with legal assistance from the Australian government has linked Cambodia into the international community's efforts against extremism, Sok An said.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice, police and the National Committee for Anti-terrorism received additional training in Australia in May, Sok An added. More than 50 officials from ministries with anti-terror duties were called to Monday's seminar to improve their knowledge of extremist movements.

" ...ANTI-TERRORISM REQUIRES COLLABORATION FROM ALL COUNTRIES IN THE REGION. "

"It is necessary to have laws on anti-terrorism as it links Cambodia to other countries in a fight against terrorism," said Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak, adding that terrorism is both a regional and global issue.

Cambodian terrorism

Cambodia is not a stranger to terrorist attacks, Khieu Sopheak said, adding that the country experienced a bloody coup attempt in November 2000 against Prime Minister Hun Sen's government led by Chhun Yasith, leader of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters.

Chhun Yasith, a US citizen, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a US court in April.Om Yentieng, who is also a member of the National Committee for Anti-terrorism, said that Cambodia used to be a haven for terrorist groups.

"We have a duty to prevent terrorism from happening in Cambodia," Om Yentieng said.

Others, including foreign diplomats, have raised concerns over the alleged presence of radical groups in Cambodia.

Australian Ambassador Margaret Adamson said that Cambodia is the first Asean country to adopt anti-terrorism legislation.

"Australia welcomed this determination," Adamson said. "Australia stands with Cambodia on the issue of anti-terrorism."

Golden Days

Photo courtesy of the michael hayes collection

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Michael Hayes
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Former managing editor of the Phnom Penh Post, Alan Pearce (right), and contributing photographer Philip Blenkinsop at the Phnom Penh Post offices on Street 264 in late 1993. On Sunday night, Blenkinsop was awarded the prestigious Visa d'Or award for news photography in Perpignan, France.

Poultry vendors educated about bird flu, sanitation

HENG CHIVOAN; The government is urging poultry vendors to implement good sanitation practices.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Khoun Leakhana
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Cambodia's widespread trade in live chickens and ducks poses a health risk; it is the easiest way for bird flu to spread

THE sixth market forum to educate poultry vendors about bird flu prevention and to encourage good sanitation practices was held on Friday at Phnom Penh's O'Russey market by the government and 14 NGOs.

Mok Chanthol, an official at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NAVRI), said that the number of cases of bird flu in Cambodia could increase in the future if poultry vendors, particularly those selling live chickens and ducks, did not follow good sanitation practices.

"Our purpose is to urge business people, rural doctors and farmers to have more understanding of bird flu and good sanitation," he said.

"Sanitation is a necessary factor [in bird flu prevention]," said Mok Chanthol.

He added that the campaign was held at O'Russey Market because it is a popular place to buy and sell live chickens and ducks.

Sok Touch, director of the Communicable Disease Control Department at the Ministry of Health, said that after distributing information about bird flu in a number of provinces, his department is planning to implement an educational program to help prevent human-to-human infection.

"We are planning programs to prevent human-to-human infection because we currently only have measures to prevent transmutation from birds to people," he said.

Sixteen educational forums on bird flu have now been held in provinces across the Kingdom, according to a report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The report says that 40 percent of Cambodians have a good understanding of sanitation, but the remainder still need to be educated about clean practices and bird flu.

According to NAVRI's research, seven people have already died from bird flu in Cambodia. Four people died in 2005, two people died in 2006 and one in 2007.

Thai FM commits to border timetable

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Brendan Brady and Thet Sambath
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

THAILAND's third foreign affairs minister in seven months, Saroj Chavanavirat, was royally endorsed today, allowing the 66-year-old to replace Tej Bunnag, who resigned last week due to political pressure after just two months in office.

Saroj told Thai media that he was committed to following his predecessor's Joint Border Commission (JBC) timetable, under which he and his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Namhong, are supposed to meet next month following pledged troop redeployments around Preah Vihear temple.

But political turmoil in Thailand - which has included the reshuffling of government and military posts and recently culminated in a state of emergency being declared in Bangkok - led Thai authorities to postpone a border-demarcation meeting that was planned for August 29 in Siem Reap.

Cambodian authorities are downplaying the difficulties of negotiating with a government in disarray.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sin Bunthoeun said the new appointment would not change the negotiations because both sides were still working with the same facts, adding that the only real difficulty was bringing the new appointment up to speed with the relevant facts.

While Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan insisted the reshuffle was merely "inconvenient" and would not prevent the two sides from reaching an agreement, he added that the "complicated power-sharing" situation in Thailand would not let them off the hook for any missteps. "We will see aggressive acts on our border as an act by the (entire) nation."

Reeling in the illegal anglers

Vandy Rattana; Fishermen in Phnom Penh’s Chruoy Changvar district last week using illegal nets that are made of very fine mesh.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Thet Sambath
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Provincial authorities say this year's rise in illegal fishing is linked to the belief that the government would be too busy to crack down during elections

Government officials say they have cracked down on more than 700 cases of illegal fishing in the Kingdom between the months of June and August.

"We have burned more than 80,000 metres of illegal fishing nets countrywide and saved more than 10 million fish that we've released back into Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River," Nao Thuok, director of the Fisheries Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, told the Post Monday.

Current figures show a rise of nearly 30 percent in illegal fishing cases over the same period last year, he added.

"We're seeing a large increase in illegal fishing compared to last year. Illegal fishermen have used July's elections as cover for their activities," he said, adding that they choose times when they believe government officials are too busy to pay attention to ramp up their illegal practices.

"We prosecuted seven men in court," he said. "We've also arrested several others but released them after warning them to stop."

He said cracking down is difficult because illegal fishermen will stop when they are caught but simply re-start operations when authorities are gone.

"We need better cooperation from local authorities and residents," he said.

The southern Tonle Sap lake is prime territory for Cambodia's illicit anglers, local officials say, adding that July's national polls made it difficult for authorities looking for votes to make any serious effort to halt illegal fishing.


" We are seeing a large increase in illegal fishing compared to last year. "

"We are now cracking down in the Tonle Sap area and in three provinces because of the fishing ban season," Hong Hy, director of the Tonle Sap Southern Fisheries Administration Inspectorate, told the Post Sunday.

Cambodia prohibits non-subsistence or commercial fishing from June 1 to the end of September to allow fish populations time to replenish. Some areas impose the ban until the end of October.

Most offenders of the ban are local fishermen using small-mesh nets to increase their catches for family consumption or to sell at markets.

"We would have started cracking down before the elections, but we were worried that politicians would criticise us for doing so," Hong Hy said.

Uy Sarun, also with Southern Fisheries Administration Inspectorate, said authorities have confiscated nearly 3,500 metres of fishing nets in the southern region of the lake, as well as more than 5,000 fish.

The nets were burned and the fish have been returned to the lake, Uy Sarun said.

He said authorities have been conducting the crackdown principally in Battambang and Pursat provinces since last month, but that raids in Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces have produced good results.

"They never stop their illegal activities," Uy Sarun said.

"They just wait until we're finished and then begin again," he added. "We're trying to do what we can for the sake of preventing the destruction of our fish resources."

Thomico to create new party

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Meas Sokchea
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Prince says royalists must unite or they risk irrelevance

CAMBODIA can expect a new royalist party following this month's meeting of the National Assembly, Prince Sisowath Chakkrey Noukpol told the Post Monday.

Prince Sisowath Thomico will establish the yet-unnamed party following the announcement of a new government, expected on September 24, Prince Noukpol said.

"We have many members of Funcinpec, the Norodom Ranariddh Party, retired members of the Cambodian People's Party and even some members of the Sam Rainsy Party who will join us," he said.

Prince Thomico will not serve as president of the party, though another member of the royal family has already been tapped for the position.

Prince Noukpol declined to say which one, adding that further details will be clarified after a new government is in place.

Prince Thomico told the Post Monday that divisions within the royal family have weakened the royalist vote in recent years and that steps must be taken to heal the rifts if a royalist movement is to survive.

"We are waiting to see if a new government will regard royalism as a way of pointing the country in the right direction. If so, we will cooperate with them," Thomico said.

"If they don't, I will not allow royalism to lose votes," Thomico added.

Prince Thomico previously served as president of the Sangkum Jatiniyum Front Party, which he founded after being ousted from Funcinpec in 2006 before it became part of the NRP a year later.

NRP spokesman Suth Dina said no members of his party plan to defect.

"He is [doing this] only to serve his and his group's interests in government," Suth Dina said. "I don't believe anyone will join with him."

CPP spokesman and Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith could not be reached for comment Monday.

Sam Rainsy Party member Son Chhay also said no members of the opposition were defecting to the new party and that Prince Thomico has tried this unsuccessfully in the past.

"I don't know why he's doing this, but I wish him success," Son Chhay said.

Villagers hold third protest

Heng Chivoan, Boeung Kak villagers hold their third protest Monday at City Hall against a large scale development plan for the lake.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chhay Channyda and Sebastian Strangio
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

Lakeside residents demand a halt to the filling of the lake

ABOUT 50 Boeung Kak villagers gathered Monday morning at City Hall for the third protest against a large-scale development project that will see them evicted from their lakeside homes.

Police officers were deployed to prevent violence during the demonstration, but the protest was subdued, with residents holding placards with pictures of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife, Bun Rany.

Last week, residents from Village 4 submitted thumbprints and petitions to City Hall and local developer Shukaku Inc, asking that they halt the filling of the lake until fair compensation is paid to the villagers.

Protester Phan Sopheap, 45, said that she was demonstrating for the first time to demand legal recognition of her land and a halt to the reclamation of the lake, which began August 26 in preparation for a proposed 133-hectare housing and commercial development.

"We want to sell [our land] according to the market price," she said.Noun Thol, a resident of Village 4, said those who protested last week were awaiting a reply from the municipality, and held out hope for a suspension of the construction. "The company stopped pumping sand into the lake on Friday when around 300 villagers protested at the company's office," he said.

So far, 700 of the 4,250 families living at Boeung Kak have agreed to accept replacement housing and US$500 cash or a lump-sum payment of $8,500 in return for relocating. But David Pred, country director of legal advocacy group Bridges Across Borders, said the government was legally bound to provide fairer compensation to the evictees.

"The [2001] Land Law and the Constitution state that you cannot be deprived of ownership without being paid a fair and just compensation in advance ... the universal standard is market value," he said.

Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun said that City Hall is still working to resolve the case brought by the protesters. "They have protested, but we are still working on the case," he told the Post Monday.

Passion a primer for success

The Times

Harvard Report
Published:Sep 07, 2008

Enthusiasm for a job ensures your company attracts like-minded people who have similar objectives

When my future husband , Roger Brown, and I graduated from the Yale School of Management in 1980, we postponed job offers in management consulting to run emergency programmes in Cambodian refugee camps. The Vietnamese had recently invaded Cambodia and ousted the Khmer Rouge, and thousands of refugees fled to the Thai border. I managed a programme for malnourished children, and we saw a lot of very ill babies. Yet, with food and basic medicine, most completely rebounded. Roger and I had always been moved to make a difference, but this experience gave us focus. If you intervene by age five, we realised, you can positively change the whole course of a child’s life. Later, after a few years in management consulting, we went to Africa to become co-country directors in Sudan for Save the Children.

Our humanitarian work engaged us 24/7 — so we gave absolutely no thought to long-term careers. But when we came back to the US in 1986, we had to make some tough decisions. By then, Roger and I had met James Rouse, who co-founded the Rouse Company to turn blighted urban areas into vibrant public spaces. Rouse became our mentor, and one weekend he invited us to his summer cabin on Chesapeake Bay. During one of our wonderful conversations, he said to me: “Linda, your passions don’t have to be extracurricular. They can be central to your life. Unleash them, and you’ll help other people unleash theirs.”

Like most entrepreneurs, I’m loath to follow anyone’s advice, but Rouse’s words immediately clicked. Millions of parents in the US wanted and needed to work, but they had little access to affordable, high-quality child care. It was a national tragedy. We decided to put our passion for giving children the best possible start in life at the forefront of our careers and at the core of a new company.

Don’t get me wrong — building this company was one long, hard slog. We faced a lot of scepticism, including from our financial backers, who had never seen a successful husband-and-wife team before. And when we struggled during our start-up years, some of our initial investors couldn’t understand why we paid higher-than-average salaries, or why we spent precious time founding a non-profit organisatio n to help children of the homeless. But putting our passions first — and backing them up with good financial numbers — gave us a real business advantage.

Through this passion we helped to create an entirely new sector: high-quality, workplace-based child care as a benefit for employees. During our IPO road show in 1997, we talked about the Bright Horizons mission first, before the financials — and witnessed rooms full of tired-looking asset managers, many of them parents of young children, snap right to attention.

Today, Bright Horizons has more than 600 child care and early education centres, and we have made the transition to our second generation of mission-driven senior executives. Our annual leadership conference of more than 1000 managers feels like a cross between a political rally and a tent revival meeting. When you put passion first, you attract the right people, who all naturally head in the same direction. — Linda Mason is chairman and founder of Bright Horizons Family Solutions © (2008) The New York Times

Cambodian Orphans Visit Hawaii

Written by KGMB9 News - news@kgmb9.com
September 06, 2008

Dozens of orphans from Cambodia are in Hawaii. Learning about our culture and getting a check up on their health. The children are all part of the program, "Email Foster Parents International."

They are in the islands to meet and stay with their foster parents for the first time. On Saturday, optometrists at Dr. Tyrie Jenkins' office in Honolulu performed free eye exams for the children who don't always have access to good health care.

"They were seeing below what is necessary to be able to function very well seeing at distance so we were able to provide them with a subscription for new glasses and that should really help them," Dr. Loretta Ng said.

The children will be staying in Hawaii for two weeks before heading back to Cambodia.

Smiling on history

boston.com
September 7, 2008

On a rutted road in sun-drenched jungle, a man named Kola thought back 30 years to Cambodia's murderous Khmer Rouge regime.

In 1975, at 13, Kola was marched by Khmer soldiers from the capital, Phnom Penh, to the fields.
How did he, who survived to raise a family and fight for democracy, navigate those dark days?

It was simple, he said: He talked to no one. He worked in rice fields. Each morning he saluted his rulers' flag.

"I acted stupid," he said.

To illustrate this prior life, Kola screwed his face into a demented twist, then released it back to a grin.

TOM HAINES

Five killed, three wounded by anti-tank mine in Cambodia

www.chinaview.cn

2008-09-07

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- A truck carrying rice to a mill hit an anti-tank mine in Koun Kreal commune, Sam Rong district of Oddar Meanchey province of Cambodia, killing five people and injuring three, including a baby boy aged eight months, national media reported Sunday.

The place is the last battlefield of civil war and local people were warned not to travel on that old road because it was planted with heavy mines, Khmer-language newspaper the Rasmey Kampuchea quoted Men Ly, police chief of Oddar Meanchey province, as saying.

But they do not have other choice of road and the accident occurred Friday, Men Ly added.

In the past years, the number of mine casualties stood at over 800 people each year in Cambodia, one of the world's most-heavily mined countries with an estimated of 4 million to 6 million of such "hidden killers" buried underground.

According to statistics of Cambodian Center of Mine Action (CMAC), 1,640 of 13,913 villages of Cambodia were seriously suffered from mines. 　

Editor: An

Former ambassador, lawmaker help raise $60,000 for musical

Stephen Spillman / Amarillo Globe-News
Danielle Fehr and Glenn Campbell of the Randall County Sheriff's Posse take part in the Rider on the Rim Trail Ride in Palo Duro Canyon on Saturday . More than 50 riders showed up for the fundraiser.

By Janelle Stecklein
janelle.stecklein@amarillo.com
Post a comment here

Amarillo.com

A former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a state representative and a Scot were among 75 participants in the first Rider on the Rim Trail Ride fundraiser.

"That's a good turnout, and it's a beautiful day," said Bill Anderson, executive director of the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, which sponsored the event.

The eight-mile ride through Palo Duro Canyon started at Pioneer Amphitheatre, the home of the musical "Texas," and raised more than $60,000 to help fund the musical.

Former Ambassador Sichan Siv joined state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, David Tidmarsh of Scotland and dozens of others along Palo Duro's scenic trails on horseback.

Siv, author of "Golden Bones - From the Killing Fields of Cambodia to a new Life in America," contributed signed copies of the book for an auction at the event. He is scheduled to speak at West Texas A&M University and the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club this week.

"Many of our facilities were in need of repair," said Doris Alexander, co-chairwoman of the event and chairwoman of the Heritage Foundation board.

"This fundraiser has raised more than any other fundraiser in the history of the stage play 'Texas.' "

Most of the riders paid $1,000 each to be the first to experience a new trail created for the event. The auction featured a variety of items, including paintings, jewelry and a truck.

For those who decided not to go on the four-hour ride, volunteers stayed behind to offer old-fashioned wagon rides.

Cole Cleveland of Claude lounged on a surrey as he waited to give free rides.

"It's a fun deal," he said. "It's like stepping back 150 years every once in a while."

Eddie Longhofer of Canadian spent his afternoon volunteering and driving an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon for people who couldn't ride.

His wife, Judy, rode in the back.

"I think it's neat," she said of the event. "I think it's really nice that they did this."

Cambodia’s ethnic Vietnamese cross the border to go to school

Ethnic Vietnamese primary school pupils living in Cambodia cross the border into Viet Nam to go to school. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

06-09-2008

by Le Hoang Vu

AN GIANG — Schools in Khanh An Commune, An Phu District, An Giang Province are welcoming hundreds of new Vietnamese-Cambodian students from Kan Dal Province, Cambodia this academic year.

The majority of the students hail from Pec Chay Commune, Koh Thum District, Cambodia, where many ethnic Vietnamese are living.

Khanh An Commune’s Primary School B has more than 600 Vietnamese-Cambodian students, according to principal Nguyen Tan Tai. All of the school’s new first graders are Vietnamese-Cambodian.

Vietnamese-Cambodians made up 60 per cent of Khanh An Commune’s Primary School A’s 930 students, said principal Nguyen Thi Sanh.

According to Le Van Be, Khanh An Secondary School principal, 30 per cent of the 800 new students this year live in Cambodia.

More and more of Khanh An Commune’s student body is Vietnamese-Cambodian because many cannot afford to send their children to schools in Cambodia.

The Vietnamese-Cambodian students’ parents, many of whom are illiterate, also hope their children learn to both read and write their mother tongue.

Thus, many of these overseas Vietnamese cross the border into Viet Nam to take their children to school every day.

Bui Minh Hung of Koh Thum District, Cambodia sells fish at An Giang Province’s Khanh Binh border gate, and brings his child to a Khanh An school every day. After all his stock is sold, he takes his child home at 12 a.m.

Despite a difficult commute, Nguyen Thi Xuan of Koh Thum District, Cambodia still makes her children to go to school in Viet Nam so they would speak Vietnamese.

Educational authorities in An Giang Province are assisting Vietnamese-Cambodian students to go to school by waiving school infrastructure fees and giving gifts.

For preparation of this school year, Khanh An Commune Primary School A gave away 878 packages of school bags and other classroom necessities worth VND100,000 (US$6) each.

Residents at the border also help out the students by ferrying them across the river for free.

Thanks to local authorities and residents’ help, many overseas Vietnamese students have beat the odds to succeed. For example, Le Duy Phuong, Nguyen Van Lanh and Diep Hoai An, all former Vietnamese-Cambodian high school students, have gone on to university.

Danh Thi My Non, a Vietnamese-Cambodian An Phu High School alum, just entered her junior year at An Giang University, said her vice principal Ngo Thai Can.

Nguyen Quang Tuu of Koh Thum District’s Vietnamese Association said many ethnic Vietnamese in Cambodia were happy their children could learn their mother tongue and keep some Vietnamese cultural traits. — VNS

News : Boeung Kak Lake

Sacravatoons : "The Monkey-High Qualities "

Courtesy Sacravatoon

Thai Prime Minister Nominates Third Foreign Minister in 7 Months

By VOA News
06 September 2008

Career diplomat to added to current administrationThai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej nominated a retired career diplomat as the country's new foreign minister today (Saturday), the third in seven months.

The Bangkok Post reports Saroj Chavanaviraj would replace Tej Bunnag who resigned earlier in the week amid the political crisis and street protests surrounding the current administration.

He had replaced Noppadon Pattama who resigned July 10th after backing Cambodia's bid to have an 11th century temple on the countries' shared border declared a World Heritage Site.

Saroj is a former ambassador to France and has held several positions in Thailand's foreign ministry.

He must be endorsed by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej before becoming Foreign Minister.

Mr. Samak is under added pressure to fill the open post because Thailand is hosting a regional summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in December.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.

So Far, It Just Isn't Looking Like Asia's Century

Washington Post

By Joshua Kurlantzick

Sunday, September 7, 2008

So much for the Asian century. The Thais are bickering with themselves, and when they're done doing that, they'll bicker with the Cambodians -- again. China may be Japan's biggest trading partner, but they hate each other anyway. Malaysia and Indonesia? Two countries divided by the same language.

I've spent a lot of time in Asia over the past decade, as an expat and a traveler. From where I stand, the place is a geopolitical mess. Hogtied by nationalism and narrow self-interest, the countries of the East won't be banding together to replace the West as the seat of global power -- at least not anytime soon.

Asia's troubles have been on prominent display in recent weeks as anti-government demonstrations, fueled in part by anti-Cambodian nationalism, rocked Bangkok. Earlier this summer, Thailand and Cambodia moved onto war footing because of a dispute over a mountaintop temple -- not exactly a living example of the Beijing Olympics' motto: "One World, One Dream."

Of course, an Asian version of the European Union isn't out of reach, as many Asian leaders know. But today, the continent battles a kind of split personality. On the one hand, many cultural, economic and political trends suggest that Asian nations are becoming more integrated than ever before. But on the other, a virulent nationalism is spreading in the region, one that feeds on reinterpreted -- or even imaginary -- history to gin up hatred and push small-minded agendas.

Elites in Asia clearly understand the benefits of integration, and businesses and officials together are promoting the trend. In 2004, China replaced the United States as Japan's biggest trading partner. Chinese yearly trade with the ten Southeast Asian nations will likely surpass $200 billion by 2010.With the expansion of satellite television, Asian airlines and regional hiring by Asian conglomerates, businesspeople watch the same news, cool their heels together in a slew of space-age international airports and mingle at cocktail parties and pan-Asian business summits. Fads that start in Tokyo or Seoul, such as drinking red wine or dying hair blond, sweep through the region. At summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), I've seen packs of diplomats gathered at bars swapping stories in fluent English about their hijinks during graduate school at Johns Hopkins University.

Despite all that love, most of the region's multilateral institutions do little more than meet for the sake of meeting. In Cambodia and Laos, local officials and fishermen despair that dams built by China on the upper portion of the Mekong River are blocking water flow -- and ravaging fishing in the southern stretch of that river that snakes through their countries. "But when we . . . try to bring this up at ASEAN meetings," Sokhem Pech, a leading Cambodian Mekong expert, told me, "no one even wants to talk about it." The committee officially monitoring the Mekong, which doesn't include China, is so feeble that it rarely speaks out on the issue.

The problem: Calls to nationalism and an obsession with sovereignty are drowning out calls for cooperation. The passage of time since World War II, when nationalism led to catastrophe, has allowed politicians to wield it more freely for short-term gain. "The Chinese are ignorant, so they are overjoyed," Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara quipped after China launched a manned spaceship in 2003. "That [spacecraft] was an outdated one. If Japan wanted to do it, we could do it in one year."

This sort of nationalism isn't the stuff of a few firebrands. Across the continent, populist politicians have scrubbed school textbooks, whether to minimize Japan's atrocities in South Korea and China during World War II or to erase the memory of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia -- perhaps because Prime Minister Hun Sen was an officer in the genocidal regime before he turned against it. Traveling to Cambodia, I meet teenagers who know practically nothing about what happened in their country in the 1970s. China, too, has whitewashed the memory of the Tiananmen Square crackdown of June 4, 1989. When a "Frontline" documentary crew went to Beijing University a few years ago and showed students the iconic 1989 photograph of the man who stopped a tank in its tracks, no one recognized it.

Politicians aren't the only ones embracing nationalism. In 2002, when Thailand was still recovering from its financial meltdown, government-backed filmmakers produced "The Legend of Suriyothai" to restore their country's wounded pride. One of the most expensive pictures in Thai history, it told the story of an ancient Thai queen who died fighting Burmese invaders -- and compounded Thais' hostility toward Burma, their neighbor to the west.

The Internet has further empowered Asian nationalists, allowing them to air their vitriol unchecked. On Chinese online bulletin boards such as the "Strong Nation Forum," which is run by the People's Daily, respondents compete for the most aggressive stance and ridicule Chinese leaders for compromising on issues such as relations with neighboring countries or Tibet or Taiwan. In Japan, the blogosphere helped spark sales of the manga comic book "Hating the Korean Wave." And in Indonesia, online writers helped fuel anger at neighboring Malaysia for the use of a supposedly Indonesian jingle in a tourism campaign and for the mistreatment of an Indonesian karate referee. These are petty grievances, but the Internet amplifies even the smallest outbursts, and reactions can be fierce. Just last week, Vietnam's foreign ministry called in China's ambassador to protest the appearance on Chinese Web sites of "invasion plans" that purported to detail the occupation of Vietnam by the People's Liberation Army.

Whenever I visit Asia, I meet young people who detest neighbors they barely know. "The Thais, all they care about is money. Nothing else," one Burmese acquaintance told me in Rangoon, despite the fact that he'd never actually been to Thailand. In one study taken last year by a leading Japanese nongovernmental organization, two-thirds of the Chinese polled said they had either a "very bad" or "relatively bad" impression of Japan.

As any politician can tell you, public opinion counts. In an open society such as the Philippines, rising anti-Chinese sentiment helped force the government in September 2007 to suspend China-funded projects valued at $4 billion. Even countries that have little history of animosity toward each other can be swept into a rage by the new nationalists. In 2006, after Singaporean state investment fund Temasek Holdings purchased Thai telecommunications giant Shin Corporation, Thai bloggers and online columnists condemned the deal, arguing that a Singaporean company would have control over sensitive Thai communications infrastructure.

Thousands of Thais marched to Singapore's embassy in Bangkok -- a move that left urbane Singaporean diplomats, more accustomed to managing business deals than bullhorns, a bit flat-footed.

All these problems don't seem to have resonated in the United States, where an entire industry has developed around predictions that the Asian century will replace the American one. And maybe it will -- a few centuries from now.

Joshua Kurlantzick is a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a fellow at the Pacific Council on International Policy.

Border talks with Cambodia to go ahead next month

The Bangkok Post
Sunday September 07, 2008

SAROJ TO DO HIS BEST TO MEND TIES, WILL STICK TO TIMETABLE SET BY PREDECESSOR

ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT

Foreign Minister-designate Saroj Chavanaviraj has pledged to keep trying to mend ties with Cambodia and do his best to chair the Association of Southeast Asean Nations (Asean) meeting. Mr Saroj, 66, who said he would not give any formal interviews until his appointment is royally endorsed, stressed that he was committed to following the Thai-Cambodia meeting timeframe of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).

Under the timeframe, agreed upon between his predecessor Tej Bunnag and the Cambodian foreign minister on Aug 19, both ministers would meet next month after the reduction of troops on the border near the Preah Vihear temple was completed.

Chairing the regional grouping would also be another main duty of the retired diplomat.
He said he would do his best in his new job.

Meanwhile, the commander-designate of the Second Army, Wiboonsak Neeparn, who is also the co-chair of the Thai-Cambodian Border Committee, said the political turmoil in Bangkok could be one of the reasons behind the indefinite postponement of the RBC meeting, which was to discuss the second phase of the troop redeployment in the controversial area around the Preah Vihear temple.

The meeting was to have taken place on Aug 29. Lt-Gen Wiboonsak conceded that Cambodia may not want to hold talks until the political conflict is resolved.

Another reason, he said, was the reshuffle and promotions within the Thai army. He will officially take over the post of Second Army commander on Oct 1.

Lt-Gen Wiboonsak stressed that both countries must honour the basic principle of the military reduction on equal terms.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Cambodia would withdraw all its military personnel from around the temple, which was listed as a World Heritage site on July 8, and install policemen instead.

Cambodia still has about 500 soldiers around the eastern side of the Preah Vihear foothill, while Thailand has deployed about 300 soldiers on the western side of the hill.

Foreign Ministry officials, however, predicted that progress in the Thai-Cambodian talks might not be as satisfactory as many would have hoped amid the political instability in Thailand.

The interim agreement to resolve the Preah Vihear border issues, which has to be endorsed by parliament to comply with the law on treaties, has not gone on the agenda of the cabinet meeting.

The interim agreement, prepared by the ministry with approval from the Cambodian side at a meeting in the resort town of Cha-am last month, was to provide a legal platform for officials to discuss the issues related to the border survey and demarcation under the terms of reference and master plan of the initial JBC agreement.

Cambodia, "environmentally sustainable" tourism to save Mekong dolphin

AsiaNews.it
09/06/2008

Overfishing, war, and pollution have decimated the dolphins, and only a few dozen of them are left. Environmentalists have begun a project aimed at contributing to the development of the villages and to saving the dolphins, but their numbers continue to diminish.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Saving the few dozen freshwater dolphins still remaining in the Mekong River, and helping the local population by guaranteeing them a source of livelihood: this is the aim of the "ecotourism" project begun in the border area between Laos and Cambodia by the Cambodia Rural Development Team (CRDT), which has the twofold objective of protecting wildlife and providing an alternative source of income for the inhabitants of the villages.

For centuries, the waters of the Mekong River - which crosses China, Laos, and Cambodia, before reaching the ocean in Vietnam - were the uncontested habitat of thousands of freshwater dolphins. The Sino-Indian War and the increase of industrialization, together with high pollution levels, have decimated the species, only a few dozen of which survive; 71, according to the latest count provided by the World Wildlife Fund.

The village of Sambor, in the north of Cambodia, is one of the places selected by the CRDT as a model of environmentally sustainable development: tourists are given the opportunity to live in contact with the local population, to help the inhabitants protect the natural habitat of the dolphins, and to teach a little English to the children. The most frequently requested activities include well digging, sewer construction, and work in the fields.

The experiment promoted by the activists is intended to save the dolphins from extinction by radically changing the habits of the inhabitants of the village, who for decades have used aggressive fishing methods like explosives and high-capacity nets. Now the freshwater dolphins are seen as a resource to be "exploited" in order to attract foreign capital and tourism; the visitors pay 60 US dollars for three days in contact with nature, and the money is used to support the local population. In a country in which half the population lives on a dollar a day, the inhabitants of the village earn five dollars a day by providing food (two dollars) and lodging (three dollars) for the visitors.

But recent studies have demonstrated that if the benefit for individuals is beyond question, the same cannot be said for the dolphins: in spite of a small increase in their numbers in the initial phase of the project, it is not yet clear whether this is truly effective for preserving the species.

Scientists affirm that a new and not yet identified disease is spreading rapidly, killing the offspring. Researchers fear that the new virus - caused by pollution in the water, infested with chemical agents and the runoff from gold mining projects - could soon lead to the total extinction of the dolphins.