Thailand was once second to none ... but we have slipped

Chavalit: Three urgent matters

The Bangkok Post
Thursday September 25, 2008

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has been appointed deputy prime minister in the Somchai Wongsawat cabinet, tasked with three urgent matters: reconciling with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), settling the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and tackling southern unrest.

Gen Chavalit spoke to Bangkok Post reporter

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK.

Why have you accepted the post of deputy prime minister, when you used to lead the government?

I want to work for the country; even one day of my time is worth it. In the past, Thailand was second to none [in the region]. No countries could compete against us. Why did our leaders let the country slide backwards? Now, we can compete with only Cambodia and Burma. How could we dare to face up to our ancestors?

How long will the government stay in office?

It depends on our achievements. If the government performs well and works for the public, it can stay longer and continue its work.

As a senior political figure, how will you work? Will members of the government listen to you?
I don't care whether others listen to me or not. The main issue is whether we can solve the country's problems or not. I believe the disputes which occurred are urgent issues. If we can identify the the root causes, we can begin tackling the disputes at their origins.

What will you do about the PAD?

The problem occurred as state agencies neglected to address [the PAD's concerns]. But the new government is determined to solve the problem. We must tackle the problem as quickly as possible, through compromise and peaceful approaches. The most important principle is fair government, ruled by people and for the people. The government is determined to solve the problem in its tenure.

Have you consulted the prime minister about how you will solve the PAD problem?

We have not discussed it in detail. But my approach should be the same as that of the prime minister, particularly in our efforts to understand the PAD's intentions, in a bid to find a resolution.

What do think about the PAD's 'new politics' proposal?

It is a new political system that will overcome political problems. Several groups of people have tried to push for it. It's a version of people's politics in which the country is ruled by the people and for the people.

How will political problems be solved?

What I've talked about is the principle. But at the heart of this principle is the democratic system. There are many types of democratic rule, but two types in particular are popular. One is the Washington Consensus - a ruling system by the people and for the people. The other is the Beijing Consensus - a ruling system for the people but not by the people. It's the communist system. But both share the same goal - the benefit of the public.

What are your guidelines on negotiating with the PAD?

The main objective is to understand each other's intentions. We must show that we attach importance to the alliance's problem.

What are your policies to solve southern unrest?

A paper to solve the unrest has been prepared and I am ready to turn it into action.
How will you go about tackling the border dispute with Cambodia?

There is no problem, as I have close ties with Gen Tea Banh [Cambodia's defence minister]. We have known each other a long time. But I need to look into the dispute in detail before I go about devising a strategy.

Backgrounder: The Mekong River

www.chinaview.cn

2008-09-25

VIENTIANE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Mekong River Commission (MRC) on Thursday launched a consultation meeting for the regional Mekong Hydropower Program platform here on Thursday, aiming to shape a way for the river's future hydropower development, which is shared by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and China.

The Mekong River Basin is defined by the land area surrounding all the streams and rivers that flow into the 4,800 kilometer-long Mekong River. This includes parts of China, Myanmar and Vietnam, nearly one third of Thailand and most of Cambodia and Laos. With atotal land area of 795,000 square kilometers, the Mekong River Basin is nearly the size of France and Germany together. From its headwaters thousands of meters high on the Tsinghai-Tibetan Plateau, it flows through six distinct geographical regions, each with characteristic features of elevation, topography and land cover.

The most abundant resources in the Mekong River Basin are water and biodiversity. Only the Amazon River Basin has greater diversity of plant and animal life. So much water flows into the mainstream Mekong from the surrounding basin area where, on average, 15,000 cubic meters of water passes by every second. This water nourishes large tracts of forest and wetlands which produce building materials, medicines and food, provides habitats for thousands of species of plants and animals and supports an inland capture fishery with an estimated commercial value of 2 billion U.S. dollars per year. Known mineral resources include tin, copper, iron ore, natural gas, potash, gem stones and gold.

Farmers in the Mekong River Basin produce enough rice to feed 300 million people a year. Demand for agricultural products from the basin is estimated to increase anywhere from 20 to 50 percent in the next 30 years. Agriculture, along with fishing and forestry,employs 85 percent of the people living in the basin.

The Lower Mekong River Basin (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) is home to approximately 60 million people. There are over 100 different ethnic groups living within the basin's boundaries, making it one of the most culturally diverse regions of the world.

The Mekong River Basin is one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world. The basin provides a wide variety of breeding habitats for over 1,300 species of fish and the annual rise and fall of the river ensures a nutrient-rich environment on which fish can feed. Conservative estimates indicate that basin dwellers eat over one and half million tons of fish per year. The fishery provides a livelihood not just for fishers and their families but for thousands more who are employed full or part time making and selling food products and fishing gear, repairing boats and providing hundreds of related services.

Editor: Wang Hongjiang

Military: Thai spy plane flies into Cambodian airspace

www.chinaview.cn

2008-09-25

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian military officials claimed that Thai military jets flew into Cambodian airspace Monday over two key flashpoints along the border, national media reported Thursday.

"Our troops have been standing by about 200 meters from Ta Krabey temple and this aircraft flew beyond them by a few hundred meters and circled around," Ho Bunthy, deputy commander of Border Military Unit 402, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

Cambodian troops were not given permission to fire, he added.

He called it a surprisingly brazen act given current tension over the border demarcation between the two countries and said he was given no orders on how to respond in the future after reporting the incident to his commander.

The aerial border breach was reportedly repeated around the same time over Ta Moan Thom temple, also without retaliatory shots fired, the newspaper said.

"I think the Thais used this aircraft to survey our troops standing along the border," said Neak Vong, deputy commander of Brigade 42, which is stationed outside Ta Moan Thom temple.

Neang Phat, secretary of state at the Cambodian Defense Ministry, told the Post he would "raise the issue" with Thai officials during negotiations scheduled for next week, but would not elaborate on the authority of military officials along the border to defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom's skies.

The border dispute between the two neighbors erupted after Cambodia's arrest of three Thai nationalist protesters on July 15,whom authorities allege crossed illegally into Cambodia close to the disputed temple site.

Since then, Thailand and Cambodia have been building up their forces near the temple and tensions have escalated, spreading to other temple sites along the border.

Editor: An

Cambodia clobbered at FCC Cup

Photo Supplied; FCC Angkor general manager Ben Jancloes is flanked by Cambodia captain Steve Hayward, IGE event organiser Dean Cashion, Angkor Resort manager Adam Robertson and Vietnam captain Steve Walter.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Peter Olszewski
Thursday, 25 September 2008

PLAYERS in the FCC Indochine Cup teed off at the Angkor Golf Resort in Siem Reap last weekend after a day-one rain delay.But the course was in good shape despite the wet weather, due to supervisor Jim Gulbricky.

An experienced group of Vietnam-resident golfers took up the challenge to play against a select group of golfers representing Cambodia.

With 12 golfers per side, the format of the three-day event was loosely based on the Ryder Cup, but while a relatively inexperienced American team cleaned up at the Ryder, experience ruled at the Angkor and, to put it bluntly, Cambodia copped a hiding.

Cambodian team members are now resorting to the rallying call of all losers, saying the emphasis was really on socialising and friendship.

Vietnam took an early lead winning all four games with comparative ease. Day two heralded a change in format to foursomes, but there was no change in Cambodia's fortune, with Vietnam surging to a 7.5 - 0.5 lead margin after close of play. Cambodia started well on day three with Angkor Golf Resort manager Adam Robertson claiming the first full points of the weekend with an emphatic win. But it all fell away again for Cambodia, with Team Vietnam running out comfortable winners by 10.5 to 5.5.

Dubai Group eyes Cambodia

Heng Chivoan; Cambodians harvesting rice; the Kingdom’s agro-industry sector is attracting increasing amounts of foreign investment.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Post and Wire Services
Thursday, 25 September 2008

Cambodia's Leopard Group could manage investment from the UAE-based fund, with sights set on energy, agriculture and property development

DUBAI Group, an investment company managing more than US$40 billion on behalf of the emirate's ruler, said it may invest in Leopard Capital's Cambodia fund, the group's first investment in the Kingdom.

"We are interested in Cambodia,'' said Lim See Teik, a senior private-equity analyst at Dubai Investment Group, the asset management unit.

"There seems to be a lot of potential.''

The prospect of oil and gas development and political stability are luring foreign investments in Cambodia.

The Cambodian economy grew 9.5 percent a year from 2000 to 2007, the fastest pace in Asia after China.An official at the Finance Ministry said he had no details on the investment.

"I am unaware of the news, but if it materialises, we are pleased to welcome the investment," Hang Chuon Naron, a secretary general at the ministry, told the Post Wednesday.

Dubai Group has invested in other Southeast Asian countries, except for military-ruled Myanmar, Lim said.

The group bought a 30 percent stake in Malaysian bio-diesel company GBD Investment Ltd for $49.5 million in April.

"Cambodia is probably the missing link in the jigsaw,'' Lim added, declining to say how much Dubai Group will invest.

Cambodia ranked 166th among 180 countries in Berlin-based Transparency International's 2008 survey of perceptions about corruption. Myanmar was the most corrupt.

'Opportunities'

Dubai Group, which includes seven units with interests in asset management, conventional and Islamic banking, private equity and insurance, was set up as part of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum's plan to diversify Dubai's economy.

Leopard Capital has invested in a housing project in Siem Reap.

The fund has identified potential investments in agriculture, commodities processing, a fast-food restaurant, banks, power plants and hotels, promising returns of about 25 percent a year, Chief Executive Officer Douglas Clayton said.

Earlier investments will offer much higher returns, he added.

"There is no shortage of opportunities,'' Clayton said. "Here, there are too many deals and not enough money; the country's changed faster than the perception has changed."

Leopard Capital told Bloomberg News it is taking longer than expected to raise the targeted $100 million amid the global financial turmoil.

The fund has raised $12.6 million and is set to attract additional commitments following meetings with investors from 17 countries in Phnom Penh last week Clayton, said.

Tougher environment

"The fundraising environment for everyone is a bit tougher right now given the Western banking crisis, but there are still plenty of investors out there looking for safe havens of growth, and private equity in Cambodia is certainly one of the few in Asia,'' said Clayton.

Cambodia's stock market, scheduled to open by the end of 2009, will have a capitalisation of as much as $2.5 billion in 2014, or about 20 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, said Ken Stevens, chief investment officer of Leopard Capital. Leopard Capital plans to cash out of most of its investments through share sales in the local market.

"The key thing is the development of a capital market which has sufficient breadth and depth to allow exits from investments,'' Dubai Group's Lim said.

"That would be a key concern for us,'' he said.

No information on the investment was available on the Dubai Group's website, and a company spokeswoman would not confirm or deny Dubai Group's plans.

Israel set to become major investor in Cambodia: embassy

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by George McLeod
Thursday, 25 September 2008

Agriculture and high technology earmarked by Israeli businesses as embassy says the country hopes to become a top investor

CAMBODIA may see a flood of Israeli trade and investment over the next year, according to an embassy spokesman.

"There is huge interest in Cambodia [in Israel]. Businesses are looking to [the Israeli government] to open new markets for them in Cambodia," said Tzahi Selzer, the economic and trade attache at the Israeli embassy in Bangkok.

The embassy said the first stage would see investment in agriculture, real estate, high technology and irrigation.

Israel is well-known for its agricultural technology, which includes high-tech drip irrigation and advanced greenhouses.

On the longer term, Cambodia could see Israeli investment in medical equipment and hydro-technology, such as desalinization plants.

"In the next year, you will hear a lot about Israel in Cambodia ... there aren't many places that are as promising as the Cambodian market. Israel has been in Vietnam and India, and is looking for new markets," said Selzer. The Bangkok embassy is in charge of Cambodia, but the attache said the Israeli government is considering opening a representative office in Phnom Penh.

The Israeli efforts come on the back of increasing interest in Cambodia on the part of Middle Eastern countries. A delegation from Kuwait visited Cambodia in August, and investment from Saudi Arabia and Iran has grown substantially. Dubai Group from the United Arab Emirates is expected to invest heavily in Cambodia through the Leopard Fund.

Selzer said his government's efforts are not intended to counter Arab and Iranian investment in the Kingdom.

"We hope to become one of the top-10 investors in Cambodia," he said. Israeli-Cambodian trade and investment is small, and only about 30 Israelis live in Cambodia, said the embassy.

The Israeli government's plans for Cambodia also include negotiations to ink investment agreements on double taxation and protection of investment.

A Heroine From the Brothels

Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times
Nicholas D. Kristof

The New York Times

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: September 24, 2008

World leaders are parading through New York this week for a United Nations General Assembly reviewing their (lack of) progress in fighting global poverty. That’s urgent and necessary, but what they aren’t talking enough about is one of the grimmest of all manifestations of poverty — sex trafficking.

This is widely acknowledged to be the 21st-century version of slavery, but governments accept it partly because it seems to defy solution. Prostitution is said to be the oldest profession. It exists in all countries, and if some teenage girls are imprisoned in brothels until they die of AIDS, that is seen as tragic but inevitable.

The perfect counterpoint to that fatalism is Somaly Mam, one of the bravest and boldest of those foreign visitors pouring into New York City this month. Somaly is a Cambodian who as a young teenager was sold to the brothels herself and now runs an organization that extricates girls from forced prostitution.

Now Somaly has published her inspiring memoir, “The Road of Lost Innocence,” in the United States, and it offers some lessons for tackling the broader problem.

In the past when I’ve seen Somaly and her team in Cambodia, I frankly didn’t figure that she would survive this long. Gangsters who run the brothels have held a gun to her head, and seeing that they could not intimidate Somaly with their threats, they found another way to hurt her: They kidnapped and brutalized her 14-year-old daughter.

Three years ago, I wrote from Cambodia about a raid Somaly organized on the Chai Hour II brothel where more than 200 girls had been imprisoned. Girls rescued from the brothel were taken to Somaly’s shelter, but the next day gangsters raided the shelter, kidnapped the girls and took them right back to the brothel.

Yet Somaly continued her fight, and, with the help of many others, she has registered real progress. Today, she says, the Chai Hour II brothel is shuttered. In large part, so is the Svay Pak brothel area where 12-year-old girls were openly for sale on my first visit.

“If you want to buy a virgin, it’s not easy now,” notes Somaly, speaking in English — her fifth language.

Somaly’s shelters — where the youngest girl rescued is 4 years old — provide an education and job skills. More important, Somaly applies public and international pressure to push the police to crack down on the worst brothels, and takes brothel owners to court. The idea is to undermine the sex-trafficking business model.

In her book, Somaly recounts how she grew up as an orphan and was “adopted” by a man who sold her to a brothel. Once when Somaly ran away, the police gang-raped her. Then her owner, on recovering his “property,” not only beat and humiliated her but tied her down naked and poured live maggots over her skin and in her mouth.

Yet even after that, Somaly occasionally defied him. Once two new girls, about 14 years old, were brought in to the brothel and left tied up. Somaly untied them and let them run away. For that, she was tortured with electric shocks.

As Cambodia opened up, Somaly began to get foreign clients, whom she vastly preferred because they didn’t beat her as well, and she began learning foreign languages. Eventually, a French aid worker named Pierre Legros and she got married, and together they started Afesip, a small organization to fight sex trafficking. They have since divorced, and Somaly works primarily through the Somaly Mam Foundation, set up by admiring Americans to finance her battle against trafficking in Cambodia. It’s a successful collaboration between American do-gooders with money and a Cambodian do-gooder with local street smarts.

The world’s worst trafficking is in Asia, but teenage runaways in the United States are also routinely brutalized by their pimps. If a white, middle-class blonde goes missing, the authorities issue an Amber Alert and cable TV goes berserk, but neither federal nor local authorities do nearly enough to go after pimps who savagely abuse troubled girls who don’t fit the “missing blonde” narrative. The system is broken.

A bill to strengthen federal anti-trafficking efforts within the U.S. was overwhelmingly passed by the House of Representatives, led by Carolyn Maloney, Democrat of New York. But crucial provisions to crack down on pimping are being blocked in the Senate in part by Senators Sam Brownback and Joe Biden, who consider the House provisions unnecessary and problematic. (Barack Obama gets it and says the right things about trafficking to the public, but apparently not to his running mate.)

With U.N. leaders this week focused on overcoming poverty, Somaly is a reminder that we needn’t acquiesce in the enslavement of girls, in this country or abroad. If we defeated slavery in the 19th century, we can beat it in the 21st century.

I invite you to visit my blog, www.nytimes.com/ontheground, and join me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kristof.

CAMBODIA: Rural sanitation in crisis

Photo: UNICEF Cambodia
In rural Cambodia, a woman puts the finishing touches on a new communal latrine

IRIN

Humanitarian news and analysisUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

PHNOM PENH, 25 September 2008 (IRIN) - At the rate rural communities are gaining access to sanitation, it will take Cambodia 150 years to achieve a government goal of universal coverage in 2025, specialists warned.

According to a recent report by the World Bank-sponsored Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP), only 16 percent of rural Cambodians have access to toilets.

In some areas, such as the southeastern Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces, that number is only 2 percent, the WSP report stated.

“To speed up progress, one thing that would be required would be investment, either in a programme of promotion, marketing and supply chain development, and investment in actual construction,” Jan Willem Rosenboom, WSP country director for Cambodia, told IRIN.

“The Ministry of Rural Development [MRD] has never yet had any investment budget for RWSS [Rural Water Supply and Sanitation],” she added. “It is entirely dependent on external aid. The annual budget for the ministry is about 1.25 percent of the government budget, or roughly US$8 million per year.”

" When I need to do it, I usually go to the bushes right outside the village. I don't understand why anyone would spend money on a toilet. They don't need it when they have bushes. "

Scores of people continue to defecate in fields and forests, prompting a host of public health concerns. Every day, 2,000 metric tonnes (MT) of waste are disposed of indiscriminately in the countryside.

“Many people in these areas are under the false impression that they need $100 or more to buy a toilet,” Chea Samnang, MRD’s director of rural healthcare, said. About 33 percent of Cambodians live on less than $0.50 a day, according to government statistics.

Educational barriers

In 2005, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the MRD initiated the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programme, aimed at teaching villagers to construct cheap latrines and practise good hygiene.

In conventional latrine promotion projects, a single toilet can cost up to $200, whereas CLTS only requires $15 per latrine.

Photo: UNICEF Cambodia
Constructing latrines is cheaper than buying them and saves communities money

“It's a big emphasis on letting communities do it themselves instead of us buying it for them,” said Hilda Winarta, UNICEF project officer for water and environmental sanitation, noting its efficiency and self-sustainability.

Since 2005, eight villages of 800 families each have been declared open-defecation-free, a major achievement as 2008 is designated the International Year of Sanitation by the UN.

But despite such progress, huge challenges remain.

Toilets continue to remain taboo in many parts of Cambodia, with villagers often seeing open defecation as more natural.

“When I need to do it, I usually go to the bushes right outside the village,” Sam Than, who lives in the countryside in northwestern Battambang province, said. “I don't understand why anyone would spend money on a toilet. They don't need it when they have bushes.”

NGOs are looking for ways to get around behavioural differences in the countryside, where people often question the need for sanitation. Samnang contends that sanitation coverage is more a matter of education than poverty.

In neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand, with similar rural poverty levels, access to latrines is high at 68 and 99 percent respectively.

“It's not a poverty issue. Some wealthy people in the countryside don't have good sanitation, and some poor families do have it,” he said. “It's an issue of access to the right information.”

Sanitation as second priority

The MRD has not yet gathered enough data to fully measure the overall impact of CLTS, which began in 2005, when the government released its last official sanitation report. The next one is set for 2010.

At the same time, there still remains a lack of widespread recognition of the problem.

“Water has been funded together with sanitation and because water is more visibly demanded, it always takes priority,” Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization (WTO) in Singapore said. “Politicians tend to shy away from the subject.”

Some point to a lack of coordination between sanitation groups as another shortfall.

As many as 20 NGOs conduct sanitation activities in Cambodia, but there is little coordination between them, according to the 2007 WSP report.

CLTS may alleviate that problem as the project integrates the government, UNICEF, Pact Cambodia and several other organisations in sanitation awareness projects.

Children at risk

Children are especially at risk from sanitation-related diseases. According to UNICEF, 12,600 under-fives die every year from diarrhoeal diseases in Cambodia, accounting for 21 percent of all deaths in that age group.

Sanitation also correlates with education levels in most villages.

“We've found that villages with better sanitation coverage also have more children in school,” Winarta said. “Obviously, if they aren't sick with diarrhoea, they're more likely to be at school.”

Cambodia: Parliament Endorses New Cabinet

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen walks on his way to the National Assembly in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, 24 Sept 2008. (Photo courtesy: AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen promised to combat corruption and advocate good governance as he unveiled the country's new Cabinet on Thursday (25 Sept).

Cambodia's newly elected lower house of parliament, overwhelmingly packed with lawmakers from Hun Sen's ruling party, voted to approve the Cabinet, which is filled with the same ministers who served in Hun Sen's administration the past five years.

"A new term but with the same old face," Hun Sen, 57, told the National Assembly after the vote.

Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party took 90 of 123 seats in July elections, ensuring that it will have a free hand in virtually all legislative matters.

Hun Sen, Asia's longest-serving leader, said his new government will not "waver in its commitment to accelerate development and comprehensive reform."

He has made similar promises in the past to foreign aid donors, who give hundreds of millions of dollars in aid each year to the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

But critics have often criticized his government for doing little to control corruption, illegal logging and land-grabbing by well-connected businessmen.

Cambodia was ranked 166 among 180 countries in Transparency International's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index, where the No. 1 country is the least corrupt. Transparency International is a Berlin-based international non-governmental agency.

Hun Sen responded to the findings with his trademark rebuff, saying many issues in Cambodia have been exaggerated by his critics.

"It is their right to write whatever they want," he said. "Nothing is perfect in this world. Social injustice and corruption occur everywhere. The difference is how small or big they are."

All 26 lawmakers of the Sam Rainsy Party, Cambodia's main opposition group, boycotted Thursday's vote, as did three other lawmakers from the Human Rights Party. The two parties have disputed the results of July's election, saying they were rigged to help secure votes for Hun Sen's party. (AP)

MySinchew 2008.09.25

Baptism of fire for Norodom Sihamoni

Cambodge Soir

24-09-2008

No political crisis or formal faux pas. For his first opening session, the King who accessed to the throne in 2004 has accomplished his mission with honours: to represent the nation and remain independent from the parties.

Dressed in a simple suit, he entered the Assembly in the company of high dignitaries, before reading a speech of about ten minutes. “My congratulations go to the different government institutions for the work they’ve accomplished, which contributed to putting Cambodia on the international scene”, said the King in a quiet voice and carefully pronouncing each word. Norodom Sihamoni then expressed his satisfaction of seeing most of the parties gathered in the hemicycle: “The members of this Assembly represent the Cambodian population, they have to prioritise the interests of the nation above any other consideration. “The King has drawn up a list of priorities of the new legislation: peace, respect for human rights and territorial integrity. The elected representatives of the nation have to work together in order to ensure social justice and good governance”, he declared, advising the deputies to establish the best possible bonds “of unity and solidarity”.

Sam Rainsy present at the opening ceremony

Cambodge Soir

24-09-2008

The opposition leader who had declared his intention to boycott the first session of the National Assembly joined the opening ceremony on Wednesday 24 September at 8am.

Sam Rainsy renounced to boycott the opening ceremony of the 24th of September despite his threats since the announcement of the election results of the 27th of July.

The SRP Leader, who had stated that he would travel to his Kampong Cham district on the day of the swearing-in, joined the National Assembly in order to be present at the ceremony presided by King Norodom Sihamoni, with other deputies of his party.

While most deputies were wearing their ceremony costumes, Sam Rainsy listened to the King’s speech wearing civilian clothes.

Kem Sokha, President of the Human Rights Party, shunned the ceremony, as well as the two other elected representatives of his party. The three HRP deputies stayed outside the Assembly.

The King has congratulated the elected representatives on their election and gave them some advice during a speech which lasted about fifteen minutes. “Cambodia has to follow the way of democracy, of good governance, and has to improve its legal system”, declared Norodom Sihamoni.

Cambodia alarmed about Chinese milk

Cambodge Soir

24-09-2008

The authorities are following the progress of the crisis while reassuring people about the situation within the country.

The sanitary scandal of milk laced with melanin continues to stain China’s reputation and goes now beyond the borders of the Empire.

In Cambodia, an anonymous source from Camcontrol, the department of the Ministry of Commerce in charge of the inspection of goods imported into the Kingdom, told Cambodge Soir Info that “the offending milk powder isn’t available in Cambodia”. However, the department allegedly sent a warning message to all its representatives throughout the 24 provinces.

“None of the 22 Chinese milk producers introduced an official import application in Cambodia”, specified this same source, adding that agents have visited all the large markets from the capital, without finding any suspect brick of milk. Milk could indeed have been imported illegally into the country. Others worry that dishonest producers could be tempted to sell their stocks in the Kingdom.

Friday 19 September at the O’Russey Market; some shop owners are distrustful. Interviewed by Cambodge Soir Info on the presence of Chinese milk on her shelves, a saleswoman declares that the product was imported from Malaysia but refused to sell it. “I’m keeping this brick for myself”, she said, before making it quickly disappear.

Melanin, a chemical substance which provoked the death of four infants, was detected in 69 baby milk brands. Until this day, 53,000 children have been treated and 13,000 are still being hospitalised. About twenty companies are likely to be involved throughout China.

The crisis is far from over. Melanin has been discovered in Singapore, in other dairy products like ice-cream, yoghurt, biscuits, etc…

Innocent Prisoners in Cambodia Mark 1,700 Days Behind Bars

Sok Sam Oeun's father and Born Samnang's mother addressing the gathering in front of PJ Prison.

LICADHO

September 25, 2008

September 23, 2008 marked the 1,700th day that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have spent in prison for a crime they did not commit.

Despite overwhelming evidence of their innocence, the two men continue to serve 20-year prison sentences for the murder of trade union leader Chea Vichea. They remain in Phnom Penh's PJ prison, where they have been since their arrests on January 28, 2004.

On the Tuesday morning, over 70 family, friends and supporters gathered outside of PJ prison in a show of solidarity to release balloons to mark the 1,700th day in prison for the two men. The group gathered outside the prison walls adjacent to the two men's prison cell in the hopes that they would be able to see the balloons and hear that people are still supporting them.

Attending the gathering were Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang's parents joined by Chea Vichea's brother Chea Mony. Each addressed the gathering thanking the people for their ongoing support and calling for justice for the two men.

"Please do not lose your hope. There will be the day you will receive the justice that you have long been denied," Chea Mony told the crowd, in comments intended for the two imprisoned men and their families.

Also present at the gathering were Cambodian Independent Teachers Association president Rong Chhun, Community Legal Education Centre Executive Director Yeng Virak, and Voice of Democracy Radio Director Pa Nguon Teang , all of whom have been unjustly imprisoned in the past.

"We all know that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are not guilty; however the government still keeps imprisoning them," Pa Ngoun Tieng told the crowd, "I have been jailed before and I too know the feelings of injustice these men feel."

Hun Sen elected Cambodian premier for 5 more years

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 09/25/2008

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's parliament re-elected Hun Sen as prime minister Thursday, extending his 23-year grip on power, at a session boycotted by parties disputing the results of the July general election.

Only 94 of the 123 elected members of parliament showed up, and unanimously raised their hands to approve the nomination of the parliament's president and the new government.

Hun Sen promised before the session that his government would use its new five-year term to "accelerate development and push for deep and wide reforms" of the southeast Asian nation.

His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) took 90 seats in the July 27 election, while the main opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) received 26 seats.

The royalist parties -- Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party -- picked up two seats each, and the Human Rights Party (HRP) three seats.

SRP and HRP lawmakers did not attended Thursday's session and have claimed widespread irregularities in the July poll.

The opposition leaders could not be immediately reached for comment.

The CPP's overwhelming majority in parliament means this year is the first time since 1993 that the country has not been left in political deadlock after an election.

The previous general election, in July 2003, led to a year of stalemate as parties wrangled over forming a coalition government.

Hun Sen has a reputation for trampling on human rights to secure power, but a booming economy has bolstered his standing in a country still struggling to lift itself from the ranks of the world's poorest.

Ancestors' Day in Cambodia

Jaunted
9/24/2008

In Cambodia, respect for elders extends beyond holding the door for old ladies. Even the dead get their due during Prachum Benda, also called Ancestors' Day or Festival of the Dead, which kicked off last weekend. Cambodian Buddhists believe that the deceased stuck in the spirit world need their help so families deliver food to monks in an attempt to reach the souls of their ancestors and friends by virtue of the monks' sermons.

Everything climaxes on the 15th day of the waxing moon during the tenth month of the Khmer calendar, called "Pheaktrobotr." This year, it falls on September 30.

Metropolitan Khmers flood out of the capital city of Phnom Penh to spend time with relatives at their homes in the countryside. There, they cook, pray, cook and pray some more. At the end, the hope is that loved ones received the Karmic boost they needed for reincarnation.

Constitution Day: 24 September 2008

Posted on 25 September 2008

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 578

Today is a National Holiday - Constitution Day - and while we do not have a regular publication, we use this opportunity to highlight some questions, related to the Constitution, related to the size of Cambodia.

The following is, first a quote from the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, followed by some other statements:

CHAPTER I - SOVEREIGNTY
Article 2:The territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia, shall absolutely not to be violated within its borders as defined in the 1:100,000 scale map made between the year 1933-1953 and internationally recognized between the years 1963 – 1969.

A map of this scale is not very precise - one millimeter on the paper of the map corresponds to 100 meters in nature,

The Government says:

The Land Area of Cambodia is 181,035 sq.km

This is stated together with a map of the ountry calling Angkor Wat “one of the world’s seven wonders.”

But we could not find a source, how this land area of 181,035 sq.km was established. As it is well known in the course of recently setting border markers with Vietnam and Laos, the border had to be defined anew, where there was no marking from before. At the border to Thailand, there are overlapping claims and areas with open questions – open, at least, according to one or to the other side, and therefore clarification on the spot is necessary.

Fore example, while the government of Thailand has accepted the 1962 ruling of the International Court of Justice that the Temple of Preah Vihear is on Cambodian territory, the boundaries of this part of the “Cambodian territory” has not been finally and mutually agreed upon.

The length of the Cambodian coastal borderline is estimated to be 440, 445, or 450 km, while the total borderline – on land – is much bigger. And the contested area around the Preah Vihear Temple is 4.6 sq.km – is this included or not in the 181,035 sq.km?

Only once everything is agreed upon with the three neighboring countries, a new calculation of the area of Cambodia will become possible. It will be interesting to see what the result will be, after all border questions will have been solved in mutual agreement with all neighbors.

Click here to have a look at the last editorial - the public depends on reliable information

Sam Rainsy Party Joins Assembly Swear-In

Newly elected members of parliament swore in on Wednesday, in a ceremony presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni, third from left.

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

Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.18 MB) - Download (MP3) Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.18 MB) - Listen (MP3)

Four political parties, including the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, attended a swearing-in ceremony for a new government Wednesday, but the Human Rights Party held fast to promises it would boycott, withholding three elected lawmakers from the process.

The attendance of Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers followed weeks of threats to boycott the ceremony, potentially threatening to deadlock to the government or cost the opposition some positions in the Assembly.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy arrived at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district early Wednesday morning for the opening of the Assembly, with King Norodom Sihamoni presiding.

Reporters were barred from the Assembly session, and Sam Rainsy declined to speak to reporters afterward. His party won 26 of 123 National Assembly seats in July's election, second behind the 90 seats won by the Cambodian People's Party.

Sam Rainsy had said before Wednesday's session the election had been fraudulent and had called for a revote while threatening to withhold his candidates from Wednesday's ceremony.

Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said lawmakers joined the government on Wednesday after Prime Minister Hun Sen promised to have the opposition role officially recognized by the government and to provide a budget for opposition operations.

Hun Sen addressed reporters Wednesday morning.

"All political parties joined the meeting around the king except the Human Rights Party of Kem Sokha," Hun Sen said. "I promised to get the request by Sam Rainsy discussed in the National Assembly ad hoc [committee] to be put in the internal rules."

Human Rights Party lawmakers Kem Sokha, Yem Ponhearith and Ou Chanrith stayed at their headquarters in Phnom Penh Wednesday morning, watching the Assembly ceremony on TV.

"We are following a request from the voters to boycott," HRP President Kem Sokha said by phone.

"The fourth legislative National Assembly meeting is a new opportunity in history for the legislative institution," King Norodom Sihamoni told incoming lawmakers, and it was imperative the Assembly hold Cambodia's interests above all others.

Cambodia Protests Further Thai Incursions

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 September 2008

Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.09 MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.09 MB) - Listen (MP3)

The Cambodia government sent a request to Thailand’s foreign ministry Monday officially requesting it halt incursions into the Ta Krabey temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

In a letter sent from the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, officials said the Cambodian government “strongly urges the Thai side to stop sending Thai soldiers into [Ta Krabey], pending demarcation work of the Joint Boundary Commission on Demarcation of Land Boundary.”

Maj. Seng Sophal, deputy chief of the Thmar Doun district police post, near Ta Krabey, said Wednesday around 10 armed Thai soldiers were guarding the temple, and a Thai helicopter had circled the temple five times on Monday.

The Ta Krabey temple is part of the Ta Moan temple complex, which has become a second point of contention in an ongoing military standoff that started with Preah Vihear temple in July.

“Although we heard that the Thai side is sending its soldiers into the temple, the Cambodian government’s stance is that this needs to be negotiated by bilateral talks,” Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said.

A Thai Embassy official in Phnom Penh declined to comment on the letter, saying he had not seen the request. The Thai government has gone through two foreign ministers since the standoff began.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Sin Bunthoeun said Wednesday Cambodia and Thailand will plan bilateral talks on the disputed areas after the formation of Cambodia’s government.

Cambodian lawmakers swore in to the new government in a ceremony Wednesday.

US-Cambodians Assail Deportation Policy

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
24 September 2008

Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.84 MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.84 MB) - Listen (MP3)

Cambodians living in the US who have seen loved ones deported under a continuing US policy say the US and Cambodian governments must compensate the families and ensure good living conditions for those sent back.

Since mid-2002, the US has followed a policy to send non-citizens convicted of crimes back to Cambodia, following time served time in US detention.

Yi Sam’s husband was one of them. A resident of Lowell, Mass., with two young daughters, Yi Sam said her husband, Khis Pross, is being punished twice for his crimes. The deportation policy was inhumane and unjust, she said. Both daughters cry day and night and have difficulty eating and sleeping, she said.

“Before, my husband always helped pay the cost of living,” she said. “But now I have no one to help me with this.”

The deportation policy was “a kind of racism,” she said. “They kick them out like kicking dogs and cats.”

Another Lowell resident, Mao Sophann, said the deportation policy had brought much hardship to separated families, as returnees find it difficult to find work in Cambodia.

“They separate or break from their families,” he said. “It is terrible, and the children and wives are still here.”

“The Cambodian and American governments should compensate them, take care of their livelihoods and provide enough education to the deportee’s family,” he added.

Senior government advisor Om Yintieng said the Cambodian government had little choice but to accept the deportations.

“If we don’t accept them, [the US] will close issuing visas to Cambodian people who want to go to America,” he said. “What can we do? Do you think we are so stupid with this? Don’t you know that our Khmer people have difficulty with that?”

Dimple Rana is an advocacy leader with the group Deport Diaspora, in Lowell. She said immigration judges in the US do not allow Cambodian immigrants facing deportation to review their cases.

“People who have gone in front of immigration, they have no justice, and they have no due process,” she said. “Their cases are not reviewed. The judges can’t look at their cases and say, ‘OK, this person has children who are US citizens, this person has a wife or husband who is a US citizen, this person, this person has not committed a crime for many years, this person is a tax-payer in the United States.’ All these factors, the immigration judges don’t have the right to look at.”

John Johnson, a US Embassy spokesman in Phnom Penh, said the US funds a local organization to help deportees learn to read and write Khmer and helps make the adjustment of deportees “as smooth as possible.”

Government Protecting Deportees: Official

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Washington
24 September 2008

Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.54 MB) - Download (MP3)
Khmer audio aired 24 September (1.54 MB) - Listen (MP3)

[Editor’s note: Nearly 200 deportees have been sent by the US government to Cambodia since mid-2002, following convictions of crimes and time served in US detention. Their integration into Cambodia—for some a country they’ve never seen—is a concern for their families. Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak is a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. He spoke to VOA Khmer by phone from Phnom Penh.]

Q. Cambodian immigrants and Cambodian-Americans are concerned that family members who are deported by the US government could serve in Cambodia’s jails. Is this possible?

A. I would like to tell the Cambodian people that under the constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the government has an obligation to protect all Cambodian people, wherever they live. Please don’t worry. The government has the obligation to protect all of you.

Q. Could you clarify the government procedure for managing deportees?

A. I would like to tell you that this is our blood and we don’t want everybody who is our blood who have arrived in our Cambodia to further suffer or face any other guilt. We must do everything to protect our people after they are deported, and only our homeland can take care of them and provide them shelter.

Q. How many Cambodian immigrants have arrived in Cambodia since the US government began deporting them, and when did the US government start to deport them?

A. The US government has deported 189 Cambodian immigrants, including one woman, within 19 times.

Q. How many Cambodian immigrants will be deported next?

A. We really don’t know how many Cambodian immigrants will be deported, but after we agree with each other we respect a case-by-case policy.

Q. What do you mean case by case?

A. First, our Cambodian people had not yet become US citizens when they committed crimes over there. They must serve jail time over there, and after they serve jail time over there then their Cambodian homeland welcomes them, because they are still Cambodian citizens. So we need to check case by case, whether they are our Cambodian citizens or not.

Q. What are the living conditions of those deportees in Cambodia?

A. Among the 189 deportees, 159 were picked up their families and brought back to their homelands. Thirty-one other deportees have still not yet found their families and are supported by the nongovernmental organization called RISP (Returnee Integration Support Program). RISP is helping them by providing education and seeking jobs for them to do.

Q. When did the Cambodian and US governments agree on the deportation issue and what is the exchange for this?

A. I don’t think we have an exchange for this deportation issue. I think they all still Cambodian because they haven’t changed their citizenship yet. Even if they changed their citizenship, they are still Cambodian. Our government does everything by the limit of the law. I really don’t have any exchanges. If they made our people suffer, then we must have our obligation to take care them.

Q. When did the Cambodian government and the US agree on the deportation issue?

A. I think it is since June 22, 2002, after a Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and the United States government. I think that the deportations started then.

Q. Countries such as Vietnam or Laos did not accept returnees. But Cambodia did. Senio government advisor Om Yintieng has said that if the Cambodian government did not accept the returness, the US would have restricted or halted visas to Cambodians hoping to visit the US.

A. I have only one answer, that if our people are being expelled, where should our people live? They have their own homeland. So they can come back to their homeland. Khmer has only one homeland. Our homeland is the Angkor homeland.

Q. What kind of support do they receive from the government?

A. We are trying hard to let their families know about their presence in Cambodia, and then it will become normal, because Cambodian people never let their relatives starve to death.

Ratanakkiri ethnic minorities to protest against land grabs

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Vong Sokheng
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

The remote jungle province has been subject to widespread illegal logging and land grabbing that locals say is destroying traditional livelihoods

FED up with watching their ancestral burial grounds and sacred forests disappear as rampant illegal logging and land grabbing for speculation eat into their land, some 1,000 ethnic minority villagers from Ratanakkiri province are planning to protest if the authorities do not crack down on the problem, a rights group said.

Pen Bonna, provincial coordinator for the Cambodian rights group Adhoc, said Tuesday that a demonstration is scheduled for October 27.

"We have given the authorities two months to consider our complaint," Pen Bonna said."We will gather to appeal to the authorities to enforce the law to save the forest and communities that rely on it."

In recent years Ratanakkiri has been the site of recurrent illegal land grabs in ethnic minority regions.

Rights groups claim that according to the 2001 Land Law, an ancestral claim to the land is enough to prove ownership, but that is not the case in practice as the rich and powerful work through corrupt local officials to acquire land.

Approximately 3,300 hectares of forest have been logged in the last eight months to make way for large multinational companies to move onto the land, affecting 10,000 villagers in 49 forest communities, Pen Bonna said.

Muong Poy, governor of Ratanakkiri province, said the villagers alerted authorities of their plan to demonstrate but said he is still waiting for the government to grant permission.

Massive flooding in Preah Vihear

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Thet Sambath
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

HEAVY rains have caused floods in at least four of Preah Vihear's seven districts, especially along the Stueng Sen River, provincial Deputy Governor Long Sovann said Tuesday.

"At least four districts have been flooded by rain and the rising Stueng Sen River. Some places have been seriously damaged by this flood," said Long Sovann, adding that Tbeng Meanchey, Rovieng, Chey Sen and Kulen districts have been particularly affected.

"I do not have any reports of people's property being damaged, but we believe some rice and farm crops have been destroyed," Long Sovann said, adding that officials are working hard to ascertain the extent of the damage.

Worse to come?

While the water level is still lower than it was last year, some fear that the situation will worsen as the rain continues.

Mao Pov, police chief in Preah Vihear province, said that heavy rains have affected almost all districts and that the water level continues to rise.

"A provincial town located on a hill in Tbeng Meanchey district is currently surrounded by water. Farmers from nearby villagers have been forced to relocate to the small town to avoid the flood," Mao Pov said, adding that the water level continues to rise.

Boeung Tompun residents must pay to stay in new govt initiative

MAY KUNMAKARA; Residents of Phnom Penh's Boeung Tompun lake bail out their boat last week.
_________________

MEANWHILE, AT anOTHER Phnom Penh LAKE ...

Phnom Penh Municipal Court Monday refused to issue an injunction to halt the filling of Boeung Kak lake, despite continuing protests against the lakeside development. Choung Choungy, the lawyer who filed the request on behalf of villagers facing eviction from their lakeside homes, rejected the court’s judgment and said he would continue to fight the case. “We are angry with this rejection. I think that the municipality will try its best to fill the lake even though the people have been protesting against it,” he said, referring to the 4,000 families who are expected to make way for a 133-hectare housing and commercial development. “Even though we have no faith in the courts, we will still lodge complaints with them, because we want to see the municipal court find justice for the poor,” he said. “I regret that the government has not solved the problem for them, but if we lose the case, we will sue again until the people can get suitable payment [for their land],” he said.

MOM KUNTHEAR AND KHOUN LEAKHANA
_______________

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Nguon sovan and May kunmakara
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

City says it aims to legalise land holdings and improve infrastructure at the lake, but local residents say it simply forces them to buy land they've already lived on for decades

A NEW initiative by the city aims to assist residents at Phnom Penh's Boeung Tompun lake to legalise their land holdings by helping to fund local infrastructure projects, Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Pa Socheatvong told reporters last week.

"We will legalise land possessions, but residents will have to pay the government to develop infrastructure in the area," he said.

Infrastructure improvements will include new drainage systems, gardens, schools and hospitals for lake residents, he added.

The scheme would require residents to pay a percentage of the value of their land, as determined by the government. If residents decline to pay, they will have the option of selling the land back to the government, Pa Socheatvong said.

Land or money?

The deputy governor said if a resident's land was valued at US$300,000, for example, the government would charge $30,000 for a legal title.

If the resident disputed the land valuation and said it was only worth $200,000, the government would buy back the land at that price.

"We will set the lowest price possible for them, but if they can't pay we will purchase the land," he said.

The Boeung Tompun lake area, the capital's largest natural sewage water holding site, covers nearly 2,600 hectares of land, including 520 hectares of surface water, in Meanchey district.

About 200 families live on the lake, while many others have purchased plots on or near the lake for resale.

Pa Socheatvong said the government owns the land but wants to develop the area and improve living conditions for residents, none of whom currently possesses legal land titles.

He said the land initiative will follow three guidelines. First, residents must forfeit a portion of their land to support infrastructure projects for the benefit of all residents.

Second, they must pay a fee to obtain their land titles. The fees will be used by the government to pay for infrastructure projects.

Third, residents must have their land surveyed and apportioned into standardised plots."We hope the government will approve these principles for development of the area by the end of this year," Pa Socheatvong said.

He added that land valuation prices have not yet been decided but would be determined based on estimated costs of infrastructure projects.

Residents react

Residents of Boeung Tompun greeted news of the initiative with scepticism."I don't support this development plan because it forces us to buy back our own land," Kong Buntheoun, 45, told the Post Monday.

" FORCING PEOPLE TO BUY LAND THEY ALREADY POSSESS IS THE WORST KIND OF TRICK, AND WE MUST OPPOSE THIS INITIATIVE VIGOROUSLY. "

TRACEY SHELTON; Deputy governor of Phnom Penh Pa Socheatvong in his office on Monday

Kong Buntheoun, who has lived on the lake since 1979, said she would consider selling if the government offered a high enough price.

"If they want to buy my land, they should come now and buy it. I will happily sell, but only at a high price," she said.

She acknowledged that residents don't have legal land titles but said no one could afford to pay for them.

Men Siteun, 55, lives near the lake and sells groceries to support her three children.

"I have lived here since 1990, but I don't have enough money to buy my land. I have 850 square metres, and even if the government sets a low price, I don't know where I would find the money to pay. I earn only US$2.50 each day," she said.

"Sometimes, I can't even afford to pay school fees for my children," she said. "Maybe I will sell in order to support their studies."

She added that she would never have supported local officials in the last election if the initiative had been announced earlier.

She said if the government did not offer a fair price to buy her land, she would complain to the courts.

Government trickery

Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Son Chhay said the initiative was simply a way for the government to steal money from lake residents.

"It is outrageous that residents would be forced to pay for land they have lived on for years," he said.

He said if the government wants to develop the area, they should appeal to residents to contribute to the cost of projects, not force them to pay for their land.

"Lake residents are very poor, so they don't have the money to pay for land titles," Son Chhay said. "If the government wants to improve people's lives with land titles, they should release the titles to residents without charge."

Son Chhay dismissed the Boeung Tompun housing initiative as little more than a government effort to get people to leave their land. If they can't pay, the government buys them out at a cheap price and sells the land to private development companies, he said.

"Forcing people to buy land they already possess is the worst kind of trick, and we must oppose this initiative vigorously," he said.

Prey Veng bridge set to grow trade with Vietnam

Tracey Shelton; Passengers on the Neak Leung ferry on the Mekong. The ferry will become a thing of the past if a new bridge plan goes through.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by MAY KUNMAKARA
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

The Japanese government is behind the US$70 million project to increase land links in Asean and stimulate trade in the region

CAMBODIA and Japan will accelerate construction of a new bridge over the Mekong River under a more than US$70 million project to improve Asean road links by 2011, public works officials told the Post Monday.

Touch Chankosal, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, said construction of the 2,200-metre bridge - connecting Kandal and Prey Veng provinces - will begin in 2011 if Japanese and Cambodian officials complete their preliminary studies.

"We are currently working with [Japan] to prepare a detailed study of affected areas, traffic flows, the environmental and social impact [of the project] and economic growth potential," Touch Chankosal said.

He added this was the third in a series of studies to assess the impact of the bridge project."Our partner is focusing on the costs of construction, while we are working on mine clearing and compensation fees for local people affected by the project," he said.

Touch Chankosal said the bridge was part of a strategy to improve trade between Cambodia and its Asean neighbours.

"We have worked for three years to build this bridge, and it will be completed by 2014 if all goes smoothly," he said. A Cambodian official involved with the project, and who refused to be named, said Monday the grant project was first proposed to Japan in 2001 and that initial studies in 2004-06 pinned the cost at $74 million.

"The recent study shows that past estimates do not account for the high price of construction materials, so the grant will be higher," he said.

He said Japanese advisers have conducted careful studies of affected areas and initial results look positive, but added the project remained conditional on limiting the negative impact on local communities.

Pol Sittha, an official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said the bridge's primary economic impact would be to improve national trade by providing a better conduit to markets in Vietnam and elsewhere, but that local residents would benefit as well.

" Estimates do not ACCOUNT for the high price of construction materials. "

"Once the bridge is completed, we will have more opportunities with our Asean neighbours, but it will also ease traffic and improve transport across the river," Pol Sittha said.

Touch Chankosal said Cambodian officials are waiting for results from the latest impact study, which he expected some time in November.

"Now, we can't do anything but wait," he said.

Seng Choun, a provincial public works officials with the Neak Leung ferry that runs cargo and passengers across from Kandal province, said the new bridge would have a substantial impact on the local economy.

"The ferry takes more time to cross the river, especially during national holidays," he said. "Also, the ferry prices have not gone up even though petroleum prices continue to rise."

He said the new bridge would open up the provinces to increased overland trade with Vietnam.

"This bridge will connect the West Mekong in Kandal province to the East Mekong in Prey Veng along National Road 1 leading to Svay Rieng and Vietnam," Seng Choun said.

National Assembly to convene without opposition members

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE
The National Assembly will convene at 8:30am and King Norodom Sihamoni will address lawmakers in the morning, followed by the announcement of all valid parliamentarians, who will be sworn in during an afternoon ceremony at the Royal Palace.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Meas Sokchea
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

The boycott holds as opposition leaders say they won’t participate in a process that undermines the principles of democracy

OPPOSITION party members will not attend today's first session of the National Assembly, Sam Rainsy told the Post Tuesday, despite the risk of losing their parliamentary seats.

Sam Rainsy reaffirmed his and other opposition parties' determination to boycott the swearing-in session in protest over voting irregularities in July's national polls.

"We still do not recognise the election results, and we refuse to vote in a pack because it runs contrary to democratic principles that require separation of legislative and executive branches of government," he said.

Opposition parties had petitioned King Norodom Sihamoni to hold a separate swearing-in ceremony for their parliamentarians but received no response, he said.

"If we join this block voting, we would be legitimising this [undemocratic] process," Sam Rainsy said.

He added that opposition party members want to be sworn in on Friday, and the location does not matter.

"The constitution does not prohibit this. In our hearts, we have been honest with the nation, honest with the people. We can be sworn in anywhere, because our hearts are honest," he said.

Kem Sokha, Human Rights Party president, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but HRP Secretary General Yem Ponharith told the Post the party's stance remains unchanged.

" IF WE JOIN THIS BLOCK VOTING, WE WOULD BE LEGITIMISING THIS...PROCESS. "

"We still refuse to be sworn in with CPP party members," he said. "Our boycott doesn't mean we want to negotiate positions in Parliament. "We don't want positions. What we want is a fair National Election Committee, a fair Constitutional Council and justice," Yem Ponharith said.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the Post Tuesday he regretted that opposition parties chose not to respect Cambodia's constitution by boycotting the National Assembly.

"We will still meet, and it is not contrary to the constitution, even though they will not attend," he said. "But if they don't attend [Tuesday], they will never attend ever again.

"They have tarnished the reputation of the King, who is our national reconciler and who has requested their attendance," he said.

Heang Rithy, president of the Cambodian National Research Organisation, said the boycott is an obstacle to national unity and contrary to national law.

He added, however, that all parties have made a mistake in not setting conditions for a boycott in the event a party determines that elections were not fair.

Child sex trial delayed as Russian loses lawyer

AFP; Alexander Trofimov covers his face while exiting Sihanoukville court in August following an appeal against his conviction for paedophilia.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chrann Chamroeun and Eleanor Ainge Roy
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Once at the helm of a multimillion-dollar investment, Alexander Trofimov now faces multiple paedophilia trials

THE second trial of convicted Russian paedophile Alexander Trofimov, due to begin Tuesday in the Sihanoukville Municipal Court, has been postponed, delaying the ongoing judgment of the largest paedophilia case ever prosecuted in Cambodia.

The trial of the 41-year-old, who in March was sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, will now start October 13, court officials said.

"We wanted to have the hearing today, but we cannot [as] the accused has informed us that he has no lawyer," Sihanoukville Municipal Court judge Taing Sunlay told the Post Tuesday. "We have no choice but to suspend the case," he added.

Taing Sunlay said that he received a letter from Trofimov's lawyer on Monday informing the judge he would no longer defend the accused.

According to new Penal Code Article 301, a criminal case requires the accused to have a lawyer. "I wrote to the court one week ago to inform them I would not be able to defend my client on September 23 as I had to go to Vietnam for medical treatment," Trofimov's former lawyer, Ouch Sophal, told the Post Tuesday. "I also informed Mr Trofimov at the same time, and he agreed to find a new lawyer himself before I sent the letter to the court."

Uncooperative defendant?

Samneang Sela, director of the anti-paedophile watchdog group Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), said he was "disappointed and unhappy" with the delay.

" This is a waste of time for us ... victims are feeling very disappointed. "

"I think the court is willing to have a hearing on this case, but Trofimov has been shown to be most unwilling," he said.

"This is a waste of time for us as well the police," said Teng Manet, a lawyer working for APLE.

"The victims are feeling very disappointed; they had prepared themselves to stand before the court today and now they must wait longer for that big moment," he said.

Since Trofimov's March sentence was delivered, 18 other girls have come forward to accuse the Russian of sexually abusing them.

If found guilty, Trofimov could face between 10-20 years in prison per claim.

Trofimov, the former chairman of the Koh Puos Investment Group (KPIG), once had plans to develop an island off the coast of Sihanoukville at a cost of US$300 million.

The delay of the trial, coming just weeks after convicted paedophile Philippe Dessart had his sentence for debauchery slashed from 18 years to just three after being retroactively charged with indecent acts, has concerned local NGOs who are worried Cambodia's recent progress in tackling child sex crime could be backsliding.

Chea Vichea 'killers' get message of hope

Heng Chivoan; Sok Sam Oeun’s father and Born Samnang’s mother release balloons at an event Tuesday outside the Police Judicial, or PJ, prison in Phnom Penh, at which their sons are currently detained.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chrann chamroeun and Christopher shay
Wednesday, 24 September 2008

ABOUT 80 friends, family members and supporters of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun - imprisoned since 2004 for the alleged killing of labour leader Chea Vichea - gathered Tuesday at the Police Judicial, or PJ, prison in Phnom Penh to ask for their release.

The group launched white balloons, one for each of the 1,700 days the two men have spent in prison.Chea Vichea was shot and killed in downtown Phnom Penh in January 2004. Six days later, police arrested Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang.

Judge Kong Seth found both men guilty despite a lack of corroborating evidence and sentenced them to 20 years each in prison. In 2006, the primary witness to the murder - the owner of the newsstand where Chea Vichea was shot - released a written statement saying the two men were innocent.

Chea Vichea's brother, Chea Mony, attended the gathering and told local and international observers that Phnom Penh's former police commissioner, Heng Pov, had confirmed the two men's innocence.

Chea Mony, who replaced his brother as head of the Free Trade Union, said he attended the event "to tell Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun not to feel hopeless and to send a message to the Appeals Court to revisit the case, have a hearing and seek justice for them".

Lawyers for the prisoners filed an appeal with the Supreme Court last year, but 17 months have passed with no word from the court.

Nourn Kimtri, the mother of Born Samnang, remains hopeful that her son's conviction will be overturned.

"I continue to hope that the courts will give my son justice and release him from prison," she said. The Supreme Court appeal may not be the only way to get justice, Naly Pilorge, director of rights group Licadho, told the Post Tuesday.

"We're hoping that the King and prime minister will grant them a pardon," he said.Vann Sopath, Licadho's deputy director of communications and advocacy, said the event was not just about demanding justice.

"The release of these balloons ... sends an important message to Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun that there is a crowd of people ... paying attention and intervening to help them seek justice."