Asean MPs vow to ensure charter implementation

By The Nation
Published on March 1, 2009

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan yesterday morning took time off from his tight schedule to have a working breakfast with a group of lawmakers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand. The Asean members of parliament are seeking his endorsement on the plan to establish a new caucus on rights and freedom of expression.

They hope their new group will help Asean to transform into a people-oriented community.

Djoko Susila, MP of Parai Amanat Nasional (National Mandate Party), minced no words when he said that Asean had been dragged down by conservative new members Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Burma. They acted as a team, he said. That was why the Indonesian lawmakers at first were very reluctant to ratify the Asean Charter. They were not happy with the charter, but it was too late to do anything.

He said that as an Indonesian MP he did not want to make the same mistake again. This time, he said, he wanted to make sure Asean leaders would implement the charter and protect human rights. Without rights protection and freedom of expression, how can Asean become a people-oriented community, he asked.

Yim Sovann, an MP from Cambodia, concurred, saying that to make the Asean people feel that they belonged to the grouping, the charter must be fully implemented. At the moment, the Cambodian media are under government control, he said, and free and independent thinking is almost impossible. A caucus to protect freedom of expression would facilitate the realisation of the Asean charter in the near future.

Both Senator Francisco Pangilinan and Congressman Teddy Casino of the Philippines gave strong support to the idea of establishing a new caucus that would not only ensure that Asean legislators understood the content of the charter but also how to implement it.

Casino said the caucus could be used to promote public awareness of the role of freedom of expression in promoting the Asean community. Free flow of information is an important element for such an endeavour, he said.

Kraisak Choonhavan, a Democrat Party MP, pointed out that the new caucus needed the support of local people and communities. Since this new group is aimed at materialising the objectives of the charter, it needs cooperation from the people's sector, he said. He said he was sharing the experience of his own five-year caucus on Burma. Now the Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Burma has a secretariat office in Kuala Lumpur.

From the meeting with Surin and the subsequent brainstorming session, it emerged that the Asean lawmakers, especially from member countries with more liberal political systems, will no longer take Asean norms and values for granted, they said.

"We are reading the Asean Charter and other documents, so that we can effectively monitor it," they said.

ASEAN foreign ministers approve draft on human rights body

PHETCHABURI, Feb 28 (TNA) - Foreign ministers from the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) approved their first draft on establishing an ASEAN human rights body, a senior Thai official said Saturday.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thai ambassador to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, who chairs the drafting committee for the ASEAN human rights body, said it demonstrates how ASEAN attaches importance to defending human rights.

He said ASEAN should have a declaration focusing on human rights and that the bloc should join international organisations involving human rights.

Approval of the first draft was made on the second day of the three-day ASEAN summit, which ends Sunday.

The final draft for an ASEAN human rights body will be submitted to the foreign ministers annual meeting for approval later this year, and should be ready by the next summit in Thailand late this year.

It is expected that the body will be established before the year end, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said earlier.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Critics have expressed doubt over the effectiveness of the body and question how seriously human rights problems would be tackled by ASEAN countries as the long-standing tradition of non-interference in the internal affairs of other ASEAN members continues to exist.

However, Mr. Sihasak said investigative powers for the proposed human rights body should not be ruled out. (TNA)

SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Plans for Regional Rights Body Hit Realities

IPS (Inter Press Service)

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

CHA-AM, Thailand, Feb 28 (IPS) - Plans to create a regional human rights body for the ten-nation South-east Asian bloc are threatening to expose the gulf that separates countries that seek to respect political and civil liberties and the notorious violators.

An incident on Saturday during a summit of Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) revealed the tough road that lies ahead for the high-level panel of experts tasked with drafting the terms of reference (ToR) for this body.

Burmese Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had threatened to walk out of a face-to-face meeting government leaders were to have with civil society representatives from across the region - if the latter included human rights activists from Burma and Cambodia.

A compromise struck to enable the 20-minute meeting to go ahead during the 14th ASEAN summit, being held in this resort town south of Bangkok, ensured that the Burmese military regime and the increasingly authoritarian Cambodian government got their way.

The eight-member group from South-east Asian civil society organisations (CSOs) attended the dialogue with the region’s presidents and prime ministers sans Khin Ohmar, head of the Network for Democracy and Development in Burma, and Pen Somony, programme coordinator of Cambodia Volunteers for Civil Society.

‘’It is disappointing but not unexpected,’’ Khin Ohmar told IPS. ‘’ASEAN leaders need to take into serious consideration what [the Burmese] regime is all about. The Burmese regime’s rejection shows it is not serious about ASEAN’s push for a human rights body.’’

For his part, the Cambodian premier not only objected to Pen Somony’s name but also wanted to insert a Cambodian activist of his own choosing to be part of the CSO team, according to a member of civil society who participated in the dialogue.

‘’The human rights body was discussed during our dialogue,’’ said Sinapan Samydorai, convenor of the task force on ASEAN migrant workers, who was part of the CSO delegation. ‘’We do want a body that is affective.’’

In fact, the civil society delegation was surprised by a welcome nod given by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the clamour by activists that the people of ASEAN should be seen as partners rather than as obstacles in the regional alliance’s quest to establish its new identity as a people-centred group.

‘’The Vietnamese leader said that while the non-interference principle (of ASEAN) holds true, he welcomes the interface (with civil society),’’ said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, who moderated the dialogue on Saturday afternoon between CSOs and government leaders.

ASEAN, which was established in 1967 to stem the spread of communism during the height of the Cold War, includes Brunei, Burma (or Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Last December, ASEAN adopted a charter to make the regional entity a rules-based body and more ‘’people centred.’’

But the promotion and protection of human rights varies among countries. Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand are more open to such precepts, while Malaysia and Cambodia have a mixed record. Brunei, Burma, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam suffer from a human rights deficit in varying degrees.

Bridging this gap is a daunting challenge if Article 14 of the ASEAN charter is to be met. That article is the need to establish an ASEAN human rights body (AHRB) to promote and protect human rights across the region.

‘’The establishment of an ASEAN human rights body (AHRB) would be based on three main principles,’’ Sihasak Phunagketkeow, a senior Thai diplomat and chairman of the high- level panel to draft the ToR, told journalists on Saturday. ‘’We are talking of building and strengthening the human rights regime in the region.’’

The three principles are: realistically ‘’bear in mind the diversity in ASEAN,’’ establish a credible AHRB through ‘’consistency with internationally accepted human rights standards and norms,’’ and develop AHRB ‘’continually’’ through an ‘’evolutionary process’’.

During the current summit, Sihasak chaired an hour-long meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers to share the progress of the ToR, the final draft of which is to be presented at a July ministerial meeting in Thailand.

‘’We hope to establish this body at the next ASEAN summit to be held later in the year in Thailand,’’ Sihasak revealed. ‘’I don’t think this is a PR (public relations) exercise.’’

But the region’s human rights activists have reservations about the confidence of the Thai diplomat that ASEAN will have a human rights body on par with similar regional rights mechanisms in Africa, Latin America and Europe.

Doubts stem from the manner the ToR has been treated - as a secret document, not open to public scrutiny - and the insistence of the drafters on placing greater emphasis on promoting human rights awareness than protection from rights violations where abuses can be investigated.

‘’This [the ToR] is supposed to be a public document, but they are keeping it a secret,’’ says YuYun Wahyuningrum, an Indonesian national who is the East Asia programme manager at the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development, a regional rights lobby. ‘’We want the document to be out so that we can make our input and it will be the basis of a public debate.’’

‘’Civil Society was invited to only one meeting to discuss the ToR, but that too was not based on the draft document. We were only asked to give our opinions,’’ the Indonesian human rights activist told IPS. ‘’Only some governments are interested in our views - Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.’’

Cambodia Property: Foreign Ownership May Be Close

Write About Property

The Xinhua News agency has reported that foreigners will soon be able to own property in Cambodia. Apparently the Cambodian Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction is currently drafting the legal framework to make foreign ownership a reality in Cambodia soon, said the Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith.

I will believe it when I see it. I have reported several times in the last two years that government legislation was close; to allow foreigners to buy property in Cambodia, but it never came. I feel like the boy who cried wolf, hence the tone of this article.

However, I do remember that in an interview I did with the Phnom Penh Post in the middle of last year, I said that Cambodian prices were due to level out because of the rapid level of growth, and that may force the government to reluctantly bring out legislation to allow foreigners to purchase property. So maybe the slump in activity has given them the necessary nudge.

Kanharith said that the new legislation will allow foreigners to own apartments and condos but not land.

Asean parliamentarians urge action on Burma

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on February 27, 2009

Parliamentarians from Asean countries yesterday urged leaders attending the Asean Summit from today until Sunday to seek solutions to pushing Burma toward democracy and social justice.

The juntarun country will hold a general election next year but the poll might not be inclusive enough to have participation from all stakeholders, notably ethnic minorities, said Charles Chang, a parliamentarian from Singapore.

A group of parliamentarians from Southeast Asian countries under the Asean InterParliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) gathered yesterday at a Bangkok hotel to discuss social justice in Burma.

They met Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, as Thailand holds the chairmanship of Asean, to highlight key issues of the current situation in Burma, including humanrights suppression and the 2010 juntasponsored general election.

The issue of Burma has dominated Asean meetings since the country failed to reform politics and release key opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Kasit told the parliamentarians that his government would address the issue of Burma a lot more seriously and with more engagement of civil society, according to an Asean MP who attended the meeting.

The minister was quite open as he allowed former elected MPs from Burma who are now in exile to see him yesterday, said AIPMC president Kraisak Chonhavan.

"It [more open discussion] would be like turning to a new chapter, but how to put it into political practicality in Burma is another question. This is the most open preAsean meeting I have ever seen," he said.

Asked whether the foreign minister, as the representative of Asean, had promised any action towards change in Burma, Kraisak declined to be specific, saying that the Asean charter had set out the standard for human rights in the region.

"The point is that countries which are dictatorships, or countries which are democratic in name only, can no longer dictate the Asean theme. Human rights is now an open horizon and will not stop," he added.

United States Department of State Released Report on Human Rights Violation Committed by Armed Forces against Citizens - Friday, 27.2.2009

Posted on 28 February 2009

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 601

“Businesspeople and powerful officials used courts and armed forces such as police, soldiers, and military police to evict citizens from their land and their houses without proper compensation.

“The US Department of State released the 2008 report about many cases of human rights abuses in Cambodia, caused by armed forces to evict citizens from their houses to grab their land illegally. The report described also tortures against suspects and prisoners at prisons, and the arrests of citizens and extrajudicial killings, as well as the restriction of the freedom of expression.

“The report of the US Department of State continued that most armed forces that used violence are from the military and the police, and they are not prosecuted for what they did.

“The report added that there were 40 cases of extrajudicial killings, where 16 cases were committed by police and 15 cases by military. Frequently, tortures at prisons become normal to force to obtain answers.

“The report of the US Department of State concluded that while corruption is still widespread, land disputes and evictions of citizens from their houses are still a major problems.

“The Minister of Information and government spokesperson, H.E. Khieu Kanharith, could not be reached for comment on 26 February 2009 after the annual report was released by the US Department of State, stating that armed forces were leading the violation of human rights and are involved in extrajudicial killings in Cambodia, where 40 such cases happened.

“Recently, civil society organizations in Cambodia were involved in drafting legislation relating to the establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Committee and an independent human rights committee in Cambodia, with fund allocated by the National Assembly every year for this task.

“Civil society officials said that the report of the US Department of State about the situation of human rights violations, evictions of citizens, and corruption occurring in Cambodia is true, especially about the extrajudicial killings, and about some perpetrators who are not brought to be prosecuted according to the law.

“Such human rights violations show a lack of efforts by the government that lets a culture of impunity exist in Cambodia. If such human rights violations still continue to happen, that means that citizens cannot protect their rights if human rights violations happen, especially the right to freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate against violations of any law.”

Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #351, 27.2.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 27 February 2009

Cambodian, Lao, Myanmar rights activists barred from ASEAN summit

MCOT - English News By Thai News Agency

PHETCHABURI, Feb 28 (TNA) -- Civil society representatives from Cambodia, the Lao PDR and Myanmar were on Saturday barred from attending talks with their government leaders, the same day that foreign ministers from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) approved their first draft on establishing an ASEAN human rights body.

A 30-minute meeting between civil society representatives with their governmental leaders is part of the scheduled activities of the 14th ASEAN summit being held in Thai seaside resort of Cha-am.

The decision was made after representatives from Myanmar and Cambodia were ordered not to attend the meeting when Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen refused to join the meeting with civil society representatives, saying that they represented agencies which are not recognised by their governments.

Soontari Sengking, a representative of Thailand’s civil society, told journalists that there were “attempts by some government leaders in appointing their representatives to attend the talks.”

“Eventually, such talks did not take place,” Mrs. Soontari said. “We believe that it is still far from reality that representatives from civil society could confer with their government leaders.”

She said that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, host of the ASEAN summit, and Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya later met with civil society representatives from Myanmar and Cambodia.

After meeting them, Mr. Abhisit admitted that several issues, especially those which are difficult and sensitive, are difficult to solve because of ASEAN’s core policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of each member country, according to Mrs. Soontari.

Mr. Abhisit has said that ASEAN human rights body would be established before the end of 2009. (TNA)

Treat us as partners: civil-society groups

By KITTIPONG THAVEVONG
THE NATION ON SUNDAY
Cha-am
March 1, 2009

Representatives from the civil society yesterday strongly disapproved the exclusion of two activists from Burma and Cambodia for a historic meeting with Asean leaders.

The meeting was organised on the sidelines of the 14th Asean Summit here where regional leaders also met parliamentarians, youths and businesspeople from the grouping's member states.

In the wake of this incident, Asean civil-society groups called on the grouping's leaders to treat them as partners and institutionalise their interface to ensure full implementation of the people-oriented Asean Charter.

"The Asean peoples should be seen as partners - not obstacles - in the planned integration as enshrined in the Asean charter, with the people as the cornerstone," said Prof Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University.

Thitinan, who served as a coordinator of the first dialogue, said at the outset of his briefing to the Asean leaders that their people have suffered a "participation deficit". As a result, they were very enthusiastic in the week-long workshops, debating wide-ranging problems related to the three key pillars of the Asean community - security, economic and socio-cultural.

The Asean civil society, Thitinan added, expressed its gratitude to the Asean chair for the "unprecedented attention" to transform Asean into a more inclusive community. "The prime minister is very sincere and responsive," Thitinan told The Nation.

Other representatives said the interface was constructive and they had positive exchanges.

Abhisit answered all questions posed by the Asean civil society and urged them to work together with the Asean governments.

The dialogue coordinator said he was surprised to hear very positive responses from Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet, who welcomed the idea of putting the interface between the leaders and civil society into the Asean framework. He said that there must be a guideline governing such relations as stated in the Asean Charter. Vietnam will succeed Thailand as the Asean chairman next January.

During the informal exchange, Yuyun Wahyuningrum of Indonesia also managed to raise pertinent issues that affect 575 million Asean citizens.

She asked the leaders about the possibility of setting up an institutional mechanism such as an Asean Civil Society Advisory Council. The Indonesian human-rights activist said that representatives of women and youths should be part of the civil society representations at all levels.

On the issue of Burma, Yuyun quoted Aung San Suu Kyi's oft-repeated quotation: "Use your liberty to improve our liberty". She asked Asean leaders what immediate measures would be taken to stop ongoing human-rights violations, including the release of all political prisoners?

The last question focused on gender issues. She asked how the Asean leaders would like to address these issues and ensure its compliance with international human rights of substantive equality and non-discrimination.

After the informal interface, Abhisit and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya also met Burmese dissident, Khin Omar and Cambodian civil society representative, Pen Somony.

On Friday, both Cambodia and Burma threatened to boycott the dialogue if these persons attended. As a compromise, it was decided that Abhisit, as the Asean chair, would meet them separately.

Omar thanked the two leaders for their efforts to broaden the dialogue with the civil society while expressing concerns that her country was not fully committed to the Asean Charter.

Pen Somony, the Programme Coordinator of Cambodia Volunteers for Civil Society, told the Thai leaders to widen the space for the young peoples of Asean.

Meanwhile, Soe Aung, spokesman for the Forum for Democracy in Burma, said what had happened had raised doubts about the sincerity of certain Asean leaders in allowing civil society's participation in the process of creating a people-centred Asean.

Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma, said the Burmese and Cambodian leaders "sabotaged" the Asean leaders' meeting with civil-society representatives.

Burma, Cambodia leaders denounced over ban on activists

By Kittipong Thavevong
The Nation
Cha-am, Phetchaburi

Representatives from the civil society on Saturday expressed resentment at the exclusion of two colleagues from Burma and Cambodia for an unprecedented meeting with Asean government leaders.

The meeting was organised at the side of the 14th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations taking place in Cha-am and Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district.

Asean leaders also met with parliamentarians, youths and businesspeople from the grouping's member states.

The activists denounced the leaders of Burma and Cambodia for barring those two civil-society representatives from the meeting.

However, they praised Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for coming out of the meeting venue to talk to the excluded representatives.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Burma's Prime Minister General Thein Sein earlier threatened to boycott the meeting if the persons in question were allowed to attend the meeting.

"They are not respecting the Asean Charter, which aims to be people-centred," said Soe Aung, spokesman for the Forum for Democracy in Burma.

He said what happened has raised doubts about the sincerity of certain Asean leaders in allowing civil society's participation in the process of creating a people-centred Asean.

Representatives from Laos and Brunei opted not to take part in the meeting. Only civil-society representatives from six other Asean countries attended, according to Suntaree Sengking, one of the participants from Thailand.

Soe Aung warned that without real participation of peoples, the Asean Charter would not become effective. "Asean will not go further," he said.

Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative Asean Network on Burma, said the Burmese and Cambodian leaders "sabotaged" the Asean leaders' meeting with civil-society representatives.

"They are abusing not only their own peoples, but also Asean and the host Thailand," she said.

Stothard, however, praised Thailand's prime minister and foreign minister for their "show of solidarity" with the spurned civil-society representatives.

Soe Aung also was impressed by the hosts' action. "They [Abhisit and Kasit] told us that our voice will be heard and they will convey our message to other Asean leaders," said Soe Aung.

Soe Aung and Stothard were talking to reporters at the press centre.

Stothard's unofficial press conference was interrupted by a sudden loud music. The interruption forced her and other civil-society representatives, who joined later, to move outdoors for further interviews with the media.

Abhisit later told reporters at a subsequent press conference in the summit venue that the format of the civil society representatives' meeting with the Asean leaders was organised as agreed earlier with the Foreign Ministry.

He said that the representatives raised concern over human rights issues, particularly involving Burma, during the meeting and that the Asean leaders shared views with them.

The PM said the Asean leaders listened to views from the civil society and would allow further participation. He said the Asean Secretariat would help create necessary process for that.

US: drug problems in Cambodia, Philippines

By FOSTER KLUG
Associated Press
2009-02-28

The United States on Friday praised Beijing for its efforts to fight drug smugglers but said China remains a major transit point for international drug markets.

The State Department, in its annual survey of global counter-narcotics efforts, also described substantial drug problems facing Asia, including in Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar; progress was seen in Laos and Vietnam.

While Beijing recognizes drugs as a major threat to its security and economy, "corruption in far-flung drug-producing and drug transit regions of China limits what dedicated enforcement officials can accomplish," the report said.

North Korean drug activity, the report said, "appears to be down sharply. There have been no instances of drug trafficking suggestive of state-directed trafficking for six years."

But, the State Department said, not enough evidence exists to determine if state-sponsored trafficking has stopped. The State Department has previously raised suspicions that Pyongyang derived money from drug production and trafficking.

In the report, the United States also said that drug runners have increasingly looked to move their products through Cambodia because of Thai and Chinese crackdowns.

The report noted "a significant and growing illegal drug problem" in Cambodia. It praised the country for destroying seized drugs and stiffening penalties for drug use and trafficking but said corruption hampers government efforts.

The State Department called the scope of the drug problem in the Philippines "immense," despite law enforcement efforts to disrupt major drug organizations. Still, the report said, the government had some success enforcing counter-narcotics laws.

Laos has made "tremendous progress" in reducing opium cultivation, but, the report said, the country's momentum is "stalling, and gains remain precarious."

Vietnam was said to have continued making progress in fighting drugs, improving its pursuit of drug runners and its cooperation among state agencies and with the United Nations.

The report said that, in 2007, rising opium values pushed poppy cultivation into new regions of military-run Myanmar. The State Department did not receive 2008 U.N. statistics on Myanmar in time for the annual report.

___

Associated Press writer William C. Mann contributed to this story.

14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cha-am, Thailand February 27, 2009

The national flag of Thailand flies in the background as a Thai anti-government protestor holds a placard during a demonstration near the venue for the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit being held in the Thai resort city of Hua Hin, about 200 km (125 miles) south of Bangkok February 28, 2009.REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (THAILAND)

Anti-government protestors from Thailand hold placards while demonstrating near the venue for the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit being held in the Thai resort city of Hua Hin, about 200 km (125 miles) south of Bangkok February 28, 2009. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (THAILAND)

Myanmar nationals and activists on bicycles hold placards while protesting near the venue for the 14th ASEAN Summit being held in the Thai resort city of Hua Hin, about 200 km (125 miles) south of Bangkok February 28, 2009.REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (THAILAND)

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) shakes hands with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen prior to their bilateral meeting at the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cha-am, Thailand February 27, 2009.REUTERS/Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool (THAILAND)

Thailand's prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) shakes hands with Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister before their bilateral meeting at the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cha-am, Thailand February 27, 2009. REUTERS/Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) talks with Hun Sen, Cambodia's prime minister, during their bilateral meeting at the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cha-am, Thailand February 27, 2009.REUTERS/Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool (THAILAND)

Youth representatives from different religions take a seat opposite the ASEAN heads of state for their meeting at the 14th Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit held in the seaside resort town of Cha Am, near Hua Hin, south-west of Bangkok February 28, 2009.REUTERS/Barbara Walton/Pool (THAILAND)

The leaders of the ten nations comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), meet with civil society representatives in Cha-Am, Thailand, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009. The heads of state of the ASEAN nations are gathering this weekend for their 14th summit. From left are: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.(AP Photo/Udo Weitz, Pool)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, sits with ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan from Thailand during the ASEAN heads of state meeting with youth representatives at the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit held in the seaside resort town of Cha-Am, near Hua Hin, Thailand, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009.(AP Photo/Barbara Walton, Pool)

Cambodian workers (pictured in red t-shirts) during the eviction of families, and the destruction of their homes, in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Southeast Asian leaders have become embroiled in a fresh row over human rights after Myanmar's junta and Cambodia blocked activists from attending rare face-to-face talks.(AFP/File/Tang Chhin Sothy)

ASEAN heads of state sit in front of a traditional Thai shelter as aides stand behind them before the opening ceremony of the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cha-am, Thailand, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009. From left are: Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laos' Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.(AP Photo/Vivek Prakash, Pool)

Foreigners to be allowed to own property in Cambodia

by Asia Pulse

The Cambodian government is actively taking steps to allow foreigners to own property in Cambodia, Xinhua news agency said, citing the Cambodia Daily on February 20.

The Cambodian Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction is now drafting the legal framework to make the idea come true soon, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith was cited as saying at the Banking Cambodia 2009 conference in Phnom Penh.

In a move that will increase the ease of doing business in Cambodia, foreigners will be allowed to have 100 per cent ownership of apartments and condominiums, he said, adding that land, however, will remain off limits to foreign buyers.

At present, foreigners can only gain a 99-year lease on apartments and condominiums.

Cambodia Prohibits Online Gambling

Online-Casinos.com
Friday, February 27, 2009

A directive from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen demanded an end to gambling to "make social reform, strengthen public order, and improve social morality".

Keat Chhon, Minister of Finance, for the Kingdom, issued a declaration Wednesday terminating all previously valid licenses. An earlier government crackdown targeted all electronic gaming, slot machines and sports betting.

Cambo Six, a licenced operator, was shut down for "moral reasons" last Tuesday following the abrupt announcement. "We will punish, in accordance with the law, any business licensee who disrespects this declaration," Mr. Chhon stated.

Nancy Chau, Cambo Six's headquarters manager, said she was advised by Keat Chhon to send a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen requesting a compromise on the issue in a bid to save the considerable investment in the company, both foreign and domestic.

Sporting Live Group, an web based sports gambling chain established in 2006 has closed its operations, being the latest company to be hit by the government prohibition on online gambling.

"We agreed to close our business in accordance with the government's decision," said a Sporting Live Group spokesperson. Sporting Live Group along with Cambo Six has some foreign investment. Sporting Live Group said it employed over 200 people in the Phnom Penh capital as well as in it's provincial outlets.

Sok Sambath District Governor for Daun Penh said he has complied with the government's directive to cease the operations of licensed gaming venues.

"We have closed all seven Cambo Six branches, three Sporting Live Group branches and nine slot-machine venues in Daun Penh, the Governor stated.

In Preah Sihanouk province, Governor Sboang Sarath also closed a number of gambling venues.

These operations were to be licenced until January 31, 2011. A surprised Chau said "We told the prime minister we have an agreement; we cannot immediately end the agreement,"

Sporting Live and Cambo Six said that they had not been able to pay out all winnings owed to their participants due to the shut down, despite Keat Chhon's insistence that all wagers will be honoured.

Global Union Targets Cambodia Labour Law Amendments

polo-shirts.co.uk

The garment and textile industry is complex and its global structure means there are common interests. In fact there is a Global Union which is technically named the International Textile, Garment, and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF). The purpose of the workers organisation is to monitor global labour practices and protect worker rights. As such the union keeps close track of changes in laws which impact working conditions.

Those t-shirts, dresses, and trousers you purchase are made around the world under varying conditions. Recently the Global Union has been tracking changes to Cambodian labour laws which will extend the use of short-term employee contracts. These laws increasing the use of temporary employment arrangements are seen by the Global Union as detrimental to worker rights.

The General Secretary of the ITGLWF is Neil Kearney. He was quoted as saying, “The widespread use of temporary contracts in Cambodia has had a very negative impact on worker rights in our sector. Such contracts represent a major obstacle to the right of freedom of association as they enable employers to get rid of trade union leaders with easy by simply failing to renew their temporary contracts. In addition, contracts of less than one year allow employers to avoid key obligations to workers, including maternity and sick leave.”

The Global Union has pointed out that Cambodia could hurt its competitive status by converting to temporary contracts. The use of temporary workers has been on the rise in other countries too as a cost cutting measure. But the ITGLW believes the use short-term contracted employees is socially irresponsible and deprives workers of their rights and of employment security.

Kearney said, “As the current worldwide recession continues to deepen and brands and retailers are forced to cut back their orders, many are looking to give priority to suppliers that perform the best, both on production criteria and on social compliance.”

Indonesia, Cambodia ink cultural deal

Jakarta Post
Sat, 02/28/2009

INDONESIA: Indonesian Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on culture with Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Him Chhem at the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.

The cooperation covers the research and development of culture, education and training, joint promotion of culture and arts, world heritage, dialogues on culture and arts, and cultural information exchanges

Both countries have arranged short- and middle-term programs, ranging from 2009-2011 and 2000-2014, respectively. Among the programs are a seminar on illicit trafficking of cultural properties, exchange of experts in cultural heritage management and training in the investment for the use of heritage, including filmmaking.

"Indonesia and Cambodia have had close relations for thousands of years. We hope the cooperation will boost the ties," Jero said.

Minister Him Chhem also expressed hope that Indonesia and Cambodia would boost cooperation in culture and tourism.

"Both countries have similar heritage. Cambodia has close ties with Indonesia and we hope to have beneficial cooperation," he said. --JP/Ni Komang Erviani

TVK and KBI Sign Memorandum of Understanding on International Production Operation - Thursday, 26.2.2009

Posted on 28 February 2009

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 601

“Representatives of National Television of Kampuchea (TVK) and of the Korean Broadcasting Institute (KBI) signed a memorandum of understanding on 24 February 2009 at the Ministry of Information about international co-production, with the Minister of Information, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, chairing,.

“The initiative of Korea for this co-production provides many benefits for Cambodia and for the broadcasting stations of Cambodia to show the national pride and culture of Cambodia, like the national heritage, the development of the economy, natural resources, the exchange of experiences where Cambodia can broadcast all qualified programs to both sides through other relevant broadcasting stations, based on co-production.

“The head of the delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the TVK director Mr. Kem Kunavath, said, ‘This is the first signing between TVK and the Korean Broadcasting Institute [KBI], and this international involvement means that our producers, our cameramen, as well as our technicians get experiences under the leadership from the Republic of Korea, where all of these benefit. Another benefit is that we are from the same Asian continent, and we will have cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia with cultures of East Asia – by having cultural exchanges between the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Cambodia. This shows sympathy in relations and cooperation between these countries - we know already that the Republic of Korea is a country which provides support for the economy, support in implementations, and support to develop Cambodia’s infrastructure, economy, and many other sectors.

“He added, ‘We need to clarify the condition for such productions, which is the major initiative of KBI and of the National Television of Kampuchea, representing the nation. Both sides will discuss this production, because Korea is the leading country that wants to let Koreans know about Cambodia, and as for us, we also have the same intention. I think that after the signing, in April is our traditional New Year and everyone wants to know how it is celebrated, what Khmer citizens do during Khmer New Year, and what the meaning of the Khmer New Year is. Therefore their first team will come to observe things in March, to start producing in April, and according to the plan that we know, their production title is ‘New Blue Ocean.’ After finishing the production and the agreement, these programs have to be broadcast both in the Kingdom of Cambodia and in the Republic of Korea, but KBI keeps all rights of the co-production.’

“The KBI deputy director, Mr. Choi Young Ho [Kampuchea Thmey says it is Mr. Harrison Yu], said, ‘Since the beginning, Korea and Cambodia have exchanged many human resources and their cultures, and now we are strengthening the exchange of our cultures more deeply. Such co-production is an indication of our intention to foster cultural exchanges in the fields if ancient and current cultures between both countries.

“He went on to say, ‘I believe that we have gained enough trust through this cooperation, because KBI organized a committee for the cooperation with TVK of Cambodia, and I saw that also TVK has a committee to cooperate with KBI. Thus, both committees will cooperate to achieve development and success together. Through the initiative of KBI and TVK, we want the first production to be finished before June, and in June, we want to broadcast to both countries what we have produced in May, we have to discuss this also further with TVK, to broadcast soon in June.’

“It should be noted that Cambodia had started to cooperate with five countries doing co-productions, once in 2007, with countries like China, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam and this is the second time that Cambodia signed the memorandum of understanding of international co-production, now with KBI.”

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #125, 26.2.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 26 February 2009

Cambodian, Thai leaders pledge to resolve border dispute+

HUA HIN, Thailand, Feb. 27 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand reaffirmed Friday their intent to solve a seven-month-old border dispute but set no deadline.

After a half-hour meeting in Thailand's Hua Hin resort with his Thai counterpart, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told Kyodo News that the two countries agreed to use all existing mechanisms to solve the border problem peacefully.

The premier did not mention a time frame for finding a solution, but suggested he would meet again with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to discuss the matter.

It was the first time for Hun Sen to meet with Abhisit since the latter came to power last year. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN summit.

The territorial dispute between the two countries stems partly from the use of different border maps, and the military standoff began soon after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in July last year.

The area near the temple was the scene of a tense standoff between Cambodian and Thai armed forces. The situation, however, has eased but the military presence remains.

The Cambodian government insists that Thai troops have deployed on Cambodian soil, while Thailand says its troops are only in a disputed zone.

Since the border issue erupted last year, many rounds of talks at different levels including defense and foreign ministerial levels have been held but a concrete agreement or solution has proved elusive.

Hun Sen said the two countries will use the memorandum of understanding made in 2000 as a basis for resolving the conflict.

Hun Sen is on a three-day official working visit to Thailand during which he is attending the 14th summit of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN human rights body gets off to rocky start

The Earth Times

Sat, 28 Feb 2009
Author : DPA

Cha-am, Thailand - Efforts to set up a human rights body for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) got off to a bad start Saturday when Myanmar and Cambodia blocked civil society representatives from attending talks with the group's leaders. The 14th ASEAN Summit being held in Cha-am, 130 kilometres south-west of Bangkok, has been billed as the most "inclusive" meeting of the 42-year-old South-East Asian grouping to date.

The summit kicked off Saturday morning with a series of talks between ASEAN leaders and representatives of civil society, parliamentarians, youth organizations and the business community.

The more inclusive nature of the summit is in keeping with the ASEAN Charter, approved last year, which sets seeks to make ASEAN a more people-oriented organization and acknowledges the importance of protecting human rights in the region.

"Eventually, we want to be an inclusive ASEAN, an engaged ASEAN, a compassionate, sharing and caring ASEAN," ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said of the summit's goals.

But Myanmar's and Cambodia's decision that the civil society representatives for their countries, Khin Ohmar from Myanmar and Pen Somony from Cambodia, are to be excluded from the talks has undermined any spirit of inclusiveness he may have hoped to achieve.

"We were expecting the move from Myanmar but for the Cambodians to do this is very surprising," said Yuyun Wahguningrum, a civil society representative from the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen not only rejected the attendance of Pen Somony but suggested an alternative candidate in his place, who happened to be a political ally, Yunyun said.

"This is ridiculous. This is supposed to be a dialogue between civil society and the ASEAN leaders and instead they are dictating terms to us," she said. The meeting was scheduled for noon Saturday.

One of the main tasks of the summit is to draft the terms of reference for setting up an ASEAN human rights body, which will be finalized in July and start its work in October.

A draft was approved by the foreign ministers Friday, but it remains open to change.

The terms exclude the proposed body from investigating human rights abuses in ASEAN members if they are not welcomed by the host country, raising questions about it's effectiveness as a protective mechanism.

"There needs to be a balance between our two pillars of promotion and protection," said Sihasak Phuangketkeow, chairman of the ASEAN high level panel on the human rights body. "It has to be evolutionary."

Sihasak brushed off criticism that the body will just serve as a showboat for ASEAN, a region rife with human rights abuses.

"I don't think it is a PR exercise," Sihasak said. "We want to do things that can be done. The best way to prevent human rights abuses is to promote human rights awareness in the region."

ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, 10 countries that are at very different levels of economic and political development.

Rights activists barred from talks with ASEAN leaders

AFP/Pool/File – Activists take part in a protest near the ASEAN summit in the Thai resort of Hua Hin on February 28. …

by Martin Abbugao

HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Southeast Asian leaders were embroiled in a fresh row over human rights on Saturday after Myanmar's junta and Cambodia blocked activists from attending rare face-to-face talks.

The spat erupted at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Thai beach resort of Hua Hin a day after ministers from the 10-member bloc discussed setting up a controversial rights body.

Human rights have been a perennial challenge for the grouping over its 42-year history. The bloc has repeatedly failed to press military-ruled Myanmar to introduce reforms and free political prisoners.

ASEAN leaders were due to hold talks with 10 civil society representatives on Saturday, but Myanmar premier Thein Sein and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen refused to take part if activists from their own countries were present.

"We heard that they were not happy with the possible attendance of these two activists and they threatened to not be present in today's meeting if the two attended," Yap Swee Seng, head of the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development, told AFP.

"We are really disappointed and regret such a decision taken by the two countries, because we are of the view that dialogue will help understanding between the two sides and forge cooperation to resolve issues together."

The barred activists were Khin Omar, a democracy campaigner and women's rights activist from Myanmar, and Pen Somony, a volunteer coordinator from Cambodia.

"This shows that the Burmese junta has no commitment to the charter that it has ratified," Khin Omar said, referring to Myanmar by its former name.

A landmark charter setting ASEAN on the road to becoming an EU-style community by 2015 and calling for the establishment of the human rights body came into force in December.

"It is also very worrying for ASEAN as it moves towards forming a human rights body. So now it is up to ASEAN leaders to find a way to hold the Burmese regime accountable," Khin Omar told AFP.

She said that there would now be a 20-minute session of talks from which she and Pen Somony would be excluded and then a 10-minute session in which Thailand's premier and foreign minister would meet them outside.

ASEAN, a 10-member bloc which includes Myanmar and two communist states, has repeatedly been pressed to use its influence to improve the rights situation in Myanmar but to little avail.

A key problem has been the group's underlying policy of non-interference in domestic affairs, which has previously been used by nations like Myanmar to fend off criticism.

The policy has most recently been enshrined in a draft document seen by AFP on the proposed rights body, which will apparently lack investigative and prosecution powers.

The draft is also packed with provisions rejecting external interference and stressing the region's cultural diversity.

"I understand it is indeed toothless," said Debbie Stothard, coordinator of the Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, a non-governmental organisation. Several activists from her organisation held a brief demonstration in central Hua Hin earlier Saturday.

The rights issue has dominated previous ASEAN summits but despite Saturday's row it is unlikely to shift the main focus of this year's meeting from efforts to shield the group from the global financial crisis.

ASEAN's export-driven economies have begun to feel the effects of the crunch, with Singapore facing its worst recession since independence and Thailand also facing difficulties.

The group with a combined population of nearly 600 million people signed a massive free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand on Friday.

ASEAN heads of state and government were due to open their formal summit later Saturday.

Myanmar, Cambodia bar rights activists from talks

channelnewsasia.com

Asia Pacific News
28 February 2009

HUA HIN, Thailand: Myanmar and Cambodia blocked leading activists from attending talks with Southeast Asian leaders Saturday, campaigners said, embroiling the bloc in a fresh row over human rights.

Leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were set to hold rare talks with so-called civil society representatives on Saturday at the summit in the Thai beach resort of Hua Hin.

But Thein Sein, the prime minister of Myanmar, and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen said they would not take part if activists from their own countries were present, a leading rights body said.

"We heard that they were not happy with the possible attendance of these two activists and they threatened to not be present in today's meeting if the two attended," Yap Swee Seng, executive director of the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development, told AFP.

"We are really disappointed and regret such a decision taken by the two countries, because we are of the view that dialogue will help understanding between the two sides and to forge cooperation to resolve issues together."

The row blew up just a day after ASEAN foreign ministers discussed a proposed regional rights body that is to be set up under the bloc's landmark new charter, which came into force in December.

The barred activists were Khin Omar, a democracy campaigner and women's rights activist from Myanmar, and Pen Somony, a volunteer coordinator from Cambodia.

Khin Omar said that there would now be a 20-minute session of talks from which she and Pen Somony would be excluded and then a 10-minute session in which Thailand's premier and foreign minister would meet them outside.

Human rights have been a recurring issue for ASEAN, which includes military-ruled Myanmar and two communist states. The group has repeatedly been pressed to use its influence to improve the rights situation in Myanmar.

Child abuse victim tells of ruined life

TVNZ (New Zealand)

Saturday February 28, 2009
Source: NZPA

A 12-year-old Cambodian girl has not been told that images of her being sexually abused were found on the computer of a Christchurch man whose home was raided in December 2007.

Staff at the foster home where she now lives say that telling her about the images would only add to her shame, embarrassment and insecurity five years after she was rescued from child prostitution.

She had been abused by a Canadian offender who travelled to her village north of Phnom Penh. He has since been caught and dealt with, but the photographs he took as he carried out the abuse are apparently still in circulation.

When the Christchurch man was sentenced today, he went to jail for one year nine months on a series of charges, Christchurch District Court Judge Colin Doherty got the approval of the crown and police for the release of the Cambodian girl's victim impact report to the NZPA reporter.

It was a rare case where child pornography investigators had been able to identify and trace one of the children in the images, he said.

The released version of the report has the names of the girl and her village blocked out, as well as the name of the detective who made the connection, who was working undercover for the International Justice Mission while he was on leave from the New Zealand Police.

In January 2003, the girl was one of more than 50 children in the village between five and 12 years old who were "sold on a daily basis to Western paedophiles for sexual exploitation", the report stated.

"The girl, then aged seven, worked in the brothels near her home for a year before she was rescued. During this time she was expected to perform sexual acts with the `guests' who visited every day. In return, her parents received small amounts of money. There were many times she was photographed by guests."

One guest was the Canadian whose crimes were described as brutal, violent, and degrading in the report. His young victims were verbally abused and repeatedly forced to perform oral sex while he videoed and photographed them.

He was arrested in 2004 and became the first Canadian to be convicted using extra-territorial legislation covering offences against children overseas.

The girl was rescued in 2003 and lived in a shelter before she moved two years later to another organisation, Hagar International, that provided long term care and rehabilitation.

"Following the rescue operation, those involved in debriefing (the girl) stated that they had never participated in a case involving such savagery against children so young," the report said.

The girl still finds it distressing to talk about the abuse. She described her time in the village as "a big, black hole and sometimes I am scared I will fall back into it". She experiences flashbacks to that time.

The report describes her as a quiet girl with few friends. Through her art work she has described feeling "broken-hearted and hopeless".

"Below the surface she is a hurt little girl afraid of the memories that still haunt her," the report says.

In court today, Judge Doherty described the report as "chilling".

Vietnam, Cambodia agree to accelerate border marker planting

ISRIA

The eighth session of the Vietnam-Cambodia joint technical subcommittee for land border demarcation and marker planting was held in Phnom Penh from Feb. 23-25.

The Vietnamese delegation was headed by Nguyen Hong Thao, Deputy Head of the Foreign Ministry’s National Border Committee and member of the Vietnam-Cambodia joint border committee, whilst the Cambodian delegation was led by Long Visalo, Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Head of the Joint Technical Committee for Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting.

Based on the results of the border demarcation and marker planting activities undertaken by Vietnam and Cambodia as well as the current situation in each country, the two sides agreed to propose adjustments to the master plan governing the matter for the 2009-2012 period.

They also discussed preparations for the third session of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee for Border Demarcation and Marker Planting

Backgrounder: ASEAN

http://www.chinaview.cn/

2009-02-27

HUA HIN, Thailand, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 14th ASEAN Summit will be held here on Feb. 28-March 1. The following are some basic facts about the 10-member regional organization.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok by the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.

As of 2006, the ASEAN region has a population of about 560 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a combined gross domestic product of almost 1,100 billion U.S. dollars, and a total trade of about 1,400 billion U.S. dollars.

The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are: (1) to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and (2) to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

In 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that an ASEAN Community shall be established comprising three pillars, namely, ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

The highest decision-making organ of ASEAN is the Meeting of the ASEAN Heads of State and Government. The ASEAN Summit is convened every year.

Editor: Zhang Xiang

Angkor Wat: Ancient Splendor

Bella Online The Voice of Women

Teresa Coates
BellaOnline's Southeast Asia Editor

Lost deep in the jungles of Cambodia, Angkor Wat was long believed by foreigners to be a myth, a Khmer fairy tale. But like the Lost City of Z, El Dorado and the Fountain of Youth, explorers continued to search for it. In 1586 a Portuguese monk stumbled upon the beautiful grounds and raved about it upon his return. But Westerners remained ignorant of the reality of Angkor Wat until the mid-1800s when Henri Mouhot, a French explorer, made copious notes and spread the word.

Over the years, the Angkor Wat grounds have developed into an enormous tourist draw with nearly a million visitors a year. Located 300 kms northwest of Phnom Phen and just a few kilometers outside Siem Reap, the massive temple is still in use by Theravada Buddhist monks. Unlike many other temples, it has never been completely abandoned, in part due to the large moat that surrounds it and has kept the jungle from infringing far more than it has.

Angkor Wat took decades to complete, starting in the early 1100s. Several kings oversaw the work and innumerable craftsman were involved over that time. The vast temple is known for its unique building style and the astounding sculpturing skills of its builders, worker adept at using sandstone as construction material. The extensive decorations that line every wall is an astoundingly beautiful accomplishment. There are numerous large scenes of Hindu epics, including several battles, a procession o f the ancient king and the 32 hells and 37 heavens of Hindu mythology. Some of the carvings are so small and intricate that at first glance they look simply like a nice pattern, but on closer inspection, one is awed to see the carvings of dancers. The bas-relief work is awe-inspiring for its delicacy and beauty.

As Angkor Wat draws more and more tourists, it is wearing down. Ropes and wooden steps have been added to protect the intricate sculptures and floors of the temples and libraries throughout the complex. Numerous organization from countries around the world have taken part in restoring Angkor Wat and preventing further decline. As a visitor is important to remember the impact that tourism has on both the complex, its surrounding lands, and the monks still reside and worship there.

The breathtaking splendor of Angkor Wat remains with visitors long after visiting; the grandeur of the buildings, sculptures and the encroaching jungle that surrounds it makes it easy to imagine the thriving culture that once had their capital there.

Donors Still Push for Corruption Law

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
27 February 2009

A donor community that has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the Cambodian government is now showing a strong demand for the passage of anti-corruption legislation, which initially was drafted more than seven years ago.

Central to a counter-corruption law is the country’s penal code, which must be revised first, officials have said. Last month, a government task force review of the country’s penal code was concluded.

The World Bank’s Cambodia office says the bank and other donors recognize the importance of the anti-corruption law and have been pushing for its adoption.

“At the last Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum...I urged the government to submit the anti-corruption law as soon as possible and emphasized that passing the law will be an important signal, providing investors and development partners with confidence to make more long-term commitments in Cambodia,” the World Bank’s country manager for Cambodia, Qimiao Fan, wrote Tuesday in an email to VOA Khmer.

Japan, which pledged US$ 112 million to Cambodia at the last donor meeting, expressed a strong wish to see the passage of the law, despite a mechanism put in place to closely monitor every spending step in its development aid.

“The Japanese Government believes that the anti-corruption law would enhance the rule of law in Cambodia, and continues to support the early passage of the law,” the first secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Yasuhiko Kamada, said in an email response to VOA Khmer.

In a similar tone, the US Embassy emphasized that the law should be a priority for Cambodia.

“The embassy certainly does support and has supported in the past the passing of any corruption bill, and we expect and would hope that it will meet international standards,” John Johnson, US Embassy spokesperson, told VOA Khmer.

The long-awaited anti-corruption bill was sent to the National Assembly once in 2003, but was sent back, and since then the law remains with the executive branch. Officials say the penal code must be revised first, to ensure the two laws are concurrent.

Analysts say the lack of the law means corruption charges go unpunished and are difficult to investigate, such as kickback allegations at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, government officials implicated by a Global Witness report on illegal logging, and a corruption case allegedly committed by a prosecutor in Kampong Speu province.

The delay in passage of the law has caused some cancellation of development projects.

“In July 2006, UNDP prepared a multi-donor project designed to support the implementation of the anti-corruption law in Cambodia. Due to the delays in passing the law, the project did not reach approval stage,” UNDP said in an e-mail response to VOA Khmer.

“Addressing the issue of corruption in Cambodia is a high priority for UNDP, as it undermines sustainable development,” UNDP said.

However, some observers do not agree with the approaches adopted by the international community, saying donors have not been effective in pushing for the passage of the law.

Cambodia secured almost $1 billion in pledged aid at the last donor meeting, a boost of more than one-third the $689 million it received the year before.

“At every government-donor meeting, the donors should speak out louder,” Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc and an activist against corruption, told VOA Khmer. “Some of them have tended to get tired after failing to get what they wanted in the first place. They tried to push some laws, such as the anti-corruption law, but later withdrew and stopped completely. This is wrong.”

Cambodia ranks 166 on the 2008 index of Transparency International, the most corrupt country in Asia after Burma.

Young Leaders Prepare for Japan Exchange

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
27 February 2009

A delegation of 20 young political leaders will join others from Mekong regional countries Burma, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, in a visit to Japan next week.

The delegation, led by National Assembly lawmaker Ly Narun, will visit March 3 to March 12, in what Yone Zawa, first secretary of the Japanese Embassy, said was a first for young Cambodian parliamentarians.

“The purpose of this visit is to promote the exchange of views and experiences among young political leaders in Japan and Mekong countries for future cooperation,” Zawa said.

Pen Sangha, a lawmaker for the Norodom Ranariddh Party, which has three seats in the Assembly, said the purpose of the visit was to gain experience from Japanese for Cambodia’s younger parliamentarians.

Funcinpec lawmaker Heng Hak Lim said he was “proud” to visit Japan, to learn experiences “to correct my country’s politics.”

The program is based on a plan by Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former prime minister, and will eventually bring 6,000 young political leaders to Japan, from countries as far as Australia, India, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

Riverbank Residents Fear Impending Eviction

By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
27 February 2009

Sitting in front of his wooden house in Group 78 on the Tonle Bassac riverbank, Lem Sombo looks for new faces, in case a human rights official or a journalist comes to ask about the potential eviction of his community.

The 54-year-old coconut vendor said he ignores his business these days, as he is focusing on how to protect his community from a very likely eviction in a dispute with a local company.

“We don’t feel like we want to earn our living at present, as we fear that our houses can be smashed down at any time,” said the father of four children. “I myself stopped my business to find ways to make sure we would be appropriately compensated for our property.”

The Group 78 community, located near the National Assembly and the Naga World Casino, houses 146 families on 1,170 square metres. The residents have been a subject of eviction by the authorities since 2006.

The municipality has claimed that these people are living illegally on a private plot of land belonging to Sour Srun Enterprise, Co., Ltd.

Mann Chheoun, deputy governor of Phnom Penh, addressed the community on his visit there last week, saying the municipality had no role to move people out of their homes, but was acting as an intermediary.

“The company owns the land and wants to file complaints against the people for illegally living on its property, but the municipality asks it not to do so,” he said. “We asked the company to take on a win-win solution.”

Each family is given by the municipality a 5-meter-by-12-meter plot of land, together with $1,000 as a compensation, for their leaving their homes.

However, Khuy Chhom, the brother of Sour Srun’s president, Sour Pheng, who is in charge of dealing with the issue, told VOA recently that the company has had nothing to do with the Group 78 community, and already granted the disputed land to the municipality in 2007.

An appraisal letter issued by the municipality to the Sour Srun company, dated Nov. 30, 2007, and signed by Phnom Penh Municipality Governor Kep Chuktema, says the company granted the municipality 13,341 square meters of land to build two lanes of road in the developed riverbank area, one of which runs across the Group 78 community.

Kep Chutkema has just said it may not be the time to think about the eviction yet.

“Probably, the city has to solve the problem, but I have not thought of the problem,” he said.

So far, approximately 60 families have voluntarily agreed to accept the offer for fear of getting nothing if they refuse. Among them, more than 10 families resettled on a plot of land provided in Trapeng Angchhagn village, Trapeng Krosaing commune, Dongkor district, more than 20 kilometers away from the city center.

The new location has no sewage system. Inadequate water and electricity supply is also a problem for the resettlers, although a new primary school, a health center and a makeshift market can be seen in the area.

Hearing for Ill Ieng Sary Postponed

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
27 February 2009

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the Khmer Rouge tribunal has postponed until April a hearing on jailed regime leader Ieng Sary, citing health concerns.

Chamber judges accepted an appeal by Ieng Sary’s attorneys to postpone a hearing until April 2, “due to the situation of health of the charged person,” judge Prak Kim San said at the end of an appeals hearing for the extension of provisional detention.

A doctor’s report on the health of Ieng Sary, 84, who was not present, had led to the conclusion, Prak Kim San said.

Ieng Sary’s American attorney, Michael Karnavas, said his client’s situation was “serious,” and he welcomed the postponement.

Ieng Sary is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role as foreign minister of the regime.

His health remains the poorest among five jailed leaders, and he returned to detention for a two-day hospital visit Wednesday, following the discovery of blood in his urine.

More Than Half Original Forest Remains: Official

Chea Sam Ang, deputy director of Forestry Administration.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
27 February 2009

Cambodia has lost about 13 percent of its forest cover since the onset of the Khmer Rouge regime, with only about 60 percent of original forest remaining, a forestry official said Thursday.

“Based on a 2006 evaluation, there is 59 percent of the forest remaining, compared to 1970, when there was 73 percent,” said Chea Sam Ang, deputy director of the Ministry of Agriculture’s forestry administration, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

The decline of the forest was from the growth of the population, he said, denying allegations of destruction of the forest and wildlife. Some wildlife thought extinct had even been found, he said.

Meanwhile, heavy fines and imprisonment of five to 10 years await illegal hunters and wildlife traffickers, he said. Preservation of wildlife needed the participation of the people, he said.

Chea Sam Ang applauded the government’s policy on forestry, despite worries from critics about deforestation.

“Hello VOA” callers said they had seen enough government preservation efforts in their areas, especially the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Kratie and Ratanakkiri, where wildlife killed daily.

Thai, Cambodian PMs meet as border tension eases

HUA HIN, Thailand, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met his Cambodian counterpart on Friday as tension along their disputed border has eased, vowing to start energy cooperation in the overlapping Gulf of Thailand.

Abhisit said both countries had agreed to set up panels of technical experts to work on demarcation of the gas-rich area.

"Our understanding has been improved a lot recently and we are looking into possibilities to start our energy cooperation," Abhisit told reporters.

Cambodia's exploration area covers 37,000 square km (14,300 sq miles), while another 27,000 square km are disputed with Thailand.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said this month his government was preparing a framework to manage its energy revenues when offshore oil fields start producing from 2010.

In November last year, U.S. major Chevron Corp (CVX.N) and operator of Block A in the Gulf of Thailand, said Cambodia's first oil was unlikely to be onstream before 2010 at the earliest.

Chevron operates the block with a 55 percent interest, while Mitsui Oil Exploration, a unit of Mitsui & Co (8031.T), holds a 30 percent stake and South Korea's GS Caltex a 15 percent stake. Abhisit said he would expand cooperation with Cambodia to trade and tourism, aiming for a one-visa-two-country project for tourists who want to visit both countries at once.

Phnom Penh and Bangkok agreed earlier this month to withdraw the remaining troops on their disputed border to avoid a repeat of last year's armed clashes near a 900-year-old Hindu temple.

Hun Sen told reporters this month both countries would jointly demarcate the jungle-clad area where four soldiers died in a firefight last October.

The Preah Vihear temple, or Khao Phra Viharn as it is known in Thailand, sits on an escarpment that forms the natural border between the two countries and has been a source of tension for generations.

The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, but the ruling did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of adjoining scrubland, leaving considerable scope for disagreement. (Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Editing by Valerie Lee)

ASEAN in search of relevance

Asia Times Online

Southeast Asia
Feb 28, 2009

Hard Choices edited by Donald K Emmerson

Reviewed by Michael Vatikiotis

In October 2008, I was sitting on a comfortable couch in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, waiting to see Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, when I received a call on my mobile phone from a politician friend in Bangkok.

"Thai and Cambodian troops are firing at each other along the border, what can we do?" There were other calls, including one from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretary general Surin Pitsuwan, who swung into action with appeals for calm, and a flurry of contacts with ministerial colleagues around the region. For one brief moment, it seemed war was imminent.

Tragedy was averted, apart from the two Cambodian soldiers killed and seven Thai troops injured in the border skirmish. Within a matter of hours, local commanders saw sense and pulled back, agreeing to joint patrols of the contested land near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Like so many potential regional flashpoints, the instinctive avoidance of conflict, which is deep-rooted in the region's cultural DNA, helped to defuse a potential crisis without the need for high-level diplomacy or mediation. Yet the incident served to remind of two crucial items.

First, the security of Southeast Asia cannot be taken for granted. Even with the greater ease with which ASEAN leaders can and often do contact one another, there remain a host of unresolved and potentially volatile issues of contested sovereignty across the region. Second, there is no formal, high-level mechanism in place for resolving such disputes should they spiral out of control, hence the frantic scattershot of phone calls and ad hoc initiatives that ensue whenever crisis looms.

Southeast Asia is a dynamic region that has managed a dramatic transformation in recent decades from a loosely connected collection of rice-growing, fish-consuming and superstitious communities into a dynamic, creative and relatively prosperous collection of 10 nation states comprising more than half a billion people.

The frustration for many is that they are still only loosely connected. Sovereignty issues run deep in a part of the world where no capital city is more than three hours away from any other by plane. The quest for community, for shared values and a sense of common identity is one that lies at the heart of the contemporary debate of where Southeast Asia may be headed in the 21st century.

Sadly, there is neither intellectual accord nor an institutional framework to help predict with confidence where that destination may be. Is ASEAN, one of the world's more enduring regional organizations, evolving into a community? Or will it remain little more than a confidence-building mechanism that steers clear of initiatives and measures that might infringe on member states' sense of sovereignty?

The debate has intensified as some of the region's political systems, though certainly not all, have become more open and democratic. Academics ask whether a more democratic ASEAN will evolve into a grouping in which universal norms and values of peaceful co-existence, human rights and basic freedoms will be advocated, applied and, more controversially, universally enforced.

Asian specialist and American academic Don Emmerson's skillfully conceived compilation of essays attempts and reasonably succeeds at addressing these issues. The book is aptly titled, for there are hard choices ahead for Southeast Asian governments of all stripes. The volume tackles several critical political issues confronting ASEAN in a refreshing way, involving a lively discussion of the issues by noted experts. It ends with an argument between proponents of radical transformation on the one hand, and more prudent, gradual change of the association on the other.

Emmerson correctly identifies Myanmar as the most contentious challenge to Southeast Asian regionalism. ASEAN's capacity to influence significant political change in Myanmar is most frequently and adversely judged by the international community, which often brands the organization as a powerless talk shop. Yet Emmerson is right to identify ASEAN's groundbreaking role in paving the way for international aid to reach the victims of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008 as a tipping point for the grouping, one in which, as he puts it, "words led to deeds".

But apart from much deserved praise for the individual political skills of Surin, it is hard for any of the book's authors to see more than a minimal shift in ASEAN's bedrock principal of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in member states' internal affairs. "Southeast Asian regionalism in the evangelical service of liberal democracy," Emmerson argues, is "political science fiction".

Yet, even the small amount of liberal space created by the advance of political openness leaves significant room for change, as many of the authors suggest. The ASEAN charter is regarded as a vehicle for adapting rather than completely changing the twin ASEAN traditions of consultation and consensus.

Indonesian analyst Rizal Sukma argues that the long-held ASEAN principle of non-intervention "should be balanced with the fact of interdependence". Expatriate Burmese academic Kyaw Yin Hlaing suggests that a great deal more could be done for Myanmar in the practical mould of basic capacity-building in development, governance and human security.

However, more should have been said in this otherwise comprehensive collection of essays on the still glaring paucity of dispute-settlement mechanisms. Whilst it is no doubt interesting from an academic perspective to debate the role of democracy and security, and in this context consider the impact of modern notions of human security and the responsibility to protect, a lot of security issues actually require mundane and rather apolitical diplomacy.

Mediation is certainly provided for in the new ASEAN charter, but for the good offices of the ASEAN chair and secretary general to be deployed effectively, ASEAN's resource and institutional capacity needs strengthening. Is it really adequate that a regional organization comprising almost 600 million people is served by a secretariat with a mere 60 officers?

Mostly missing from the debate, with one singular exception, is the question of alternatives to the ASEAN regional framework. Michael Malley's interesting contribution on nuclear energy security points out how member states have bypassed ASEAN to find more effective ways to regulate their nuclear needs. But much more could have been said on the larger regional issue of ASEAN's still poorly developed ties with the United Nations, a topic nowhere considered in this volume.

Ultimately, this is a book for the times. For as ASEAN heads towards a half century of existence and with greater economic integration, the rigid rejection of intervention in the affairs of member states is becoming harder to justify. Pluralist politics has taken root in many countries and democracy is clearly not an alien import, as some once would have argued.

For when an Indonesian parliamentarian expresses concern about the detention of a Burmese colleague, it is about basic human values and decency. When human rights are abused in Thailand, it isn't any longer just the Western media but journalists in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia who shine the spotlight and demand an official explanation.

As Surin writes in the book's foreword, "The days when domestic political controversies could not be discussed in regional settings are over." It is here, he writes, "in the cracks between sovereignties, the spaces between states," that hard ASEAN choices are already being made.

Hard Choices: Security, Democracy and Regionalism in Southeast Asia edited by Donald Emmerson. Walter H Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford University, June 2008. ISBN-13: 9781931368131. Price US$28.95, 320 pages.

Michael Vatikiotis is Asia Regional Director for the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.