China element behind overseas offices: MOFA

Taiwan News

http://www.etaiwannews.com

Office in Bangladesh unable to issue visas, make contacts: Hsia

Taiwan News, Staff Writer

2009-05-26

Taiwan will close its offices in Bangladesh, Bolivia and Venezuela but is encountering problems in setting up offices in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar because of pressure from China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
For the four years of its existence, the Taiwanese representative office in Bangladesh has been unable to issue visas, unable to hang out a plaque with its name, and unable to make any contact with that country's foreign ministry, Vice Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia told lawmakers. He defended the decision to close the office in June as an effort to cut waste of resources in the face of restrictions imposed under pressure from China.

Left-wing governments in Bolivia and Venezuela took similar attitudes toward Taiwanese offices in their countries, demanding diplomats renew their visas every three months, Hsia said.

Efforts to set up new offices in the Southeast Asian nations of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar were meeting with difficulties for the same reasons, namely that those governments were wary of antagonizing China, Hsia told lawmakers.

The difficulties occurred despite the government of President Ma Ying-jeou's policy of a "diplomatic truce" with China, meaning Taiwan would for the time being no longer try to persuade Beijing's allies to switch recognition to Taipei. China has not officially responded to Ma's policy, but since his inauguration in May last year, Taiwan has not lost a single ally.

However, a special taskforce set up more than six months ago to prepare for the opening of more Taiwanese offices in Southeast Asia has achieved little progress, Hsia admitted. Even assistance from Taiwanese business people in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar failed to overturn the countries' reservations, he said.

"Usually when we meet with restrictions overseas, there is only one element, and that is the Mainland China element," Hsia told lawmakers.

UN study advises caution over dams

Guardian News
http://www.guardian.co.uk

AP foreign, Monday May 25 2009

MICHAEL CASEY

AP Environmental Writer= BANGKOK (AP)” A dam-building spree in China poses the greatest threat to the future of the already beleaguered Mekong, one of the world's major rivers and a key source of water for the region, a U.N. report said Thursday.

China is constructing a series of eight dams on the upper half of the Mekong as it passes through high gorges of Yunnan Province, including the recently completed Xiowan Dam, which — at 958 feet (292 meters) high — is the world's tallest. Its storage capacity is equal to all the Southeast Asia reservoirs combined, the U.N. report said.

Laos, meanwhile, has started construction on 23 dams expected to be finished by 2010 on the Mekong and its tributaries, the U.N. said, as a means to spur development and lift the country from poverty. Cambodia and Vietnam also have ambitious dam-building plans.

"China's extremely ambitious plan to build a massive cascade of eight dams on the upper half of the Mekong River, as it tumbles through the high gorges of Yunnan Province, may pose the single greatest threat to the river," the report said.

The report went onto to say that the impacts of the proposed dam development include "changes in river flow volume and timing, water quality deterioration and loss of biodiversity."

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a regular briefing the government pays equal attention to the development of the Mekong and its protection. The Mekong is known as the Lancang river in China.

"I would like to point out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the exploration and the protection of cross-border rivers and conducts the policy of equal attention to development and protection," Ma said.

The proposed dams would add further pressure to the Mekong, which runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The 307,000-square-mile (795,000-square-kilometer) river network is home to dozens of rare bird and marine species, including the Mekong giant catfish, and is a source of food and jobs for the 65 million people who live in the river basin.

The river and its vast tributary network already face threats from pollution, climate change and the effects of earlier dams that were built in China and have caused water levels to drop sharply on the upper Mekong.

Still, the U.N. report said for the time being, the Mekong's pollution levels were not at "alarming levels" while water shortages and conflicts over water on the Mekong have so far not emerged.

"The Mekong is in good condition at this time and can take more pressure such as irrigation development or industrial development," said Mukand S. Babel, one of the reports' authors.

The report, however, found several river basins in the Mekong that are under threat, including the Tonle Sap in Cambodia, Nam Khan in Laos and Sekong-Sesan Srepok in Vietnam and Cambodia due to increasing development and demand for water.

It called for countries bordering the Mekong to work more closely together to ensure that the region's growing population and expected economic development doesn't further strain the capacity of the delta.

"The time to tackle these challenges is now, otherwise the projected growth and development may impact on the basin's ability to meet future water needs," said Young-Woo Park, a U.N. regional director.

Holes Are Drilled into the Angkor Wat Temple to Attach Electric Bulbs

Holes Are Drilled into the Angkor Wat Temple to Attach Electric Bulbs – Who Is Wrong? The Sou Ching Company, the Tuy Nasy Company, or the Apsara Authority? – Monday, 25.5.2009

Posted on 25 May 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 614
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com

“Siem Reap: It has been five days already that the Sou Ching company, which is responsible for collecting money from foreign tourists who visit the Angkor Wat Temple during the night, drills some holes into the walls of the Angkor Wat Temple, in order to install electric bulbs to light different places of the Angkor Wat Temple. On Saturday morning of 23 May 2009, this resulted in strong criticisms from national and international tourists, because they think that it is destroying the Angkor Wat Temple, and this action should not be allowed.

“In that morning, obviously, there were about 20 bulbs attached, fixed into the holes drilled into the walls of the Angkor Wat Temple, at the northern and western long corridors.

“Pieces of stone were found on the ground, dropped down from the drilling to set up electric lights. When journalists asked experts of the Apsara Authority and of the Sou Ching company who was drilling the holes in the temple walls, they denied that they were doing it.

“But when journalists, tourist guides, and international tourists standing near the place showed pieces of stone of the temple which had dropped down on them as evidence to the head of the department for temple conservation in the Angkor Park of the Apsara Authority, Ms. Mao La Or, they admitted they had drilled holes into the walls to install electric bulbs.

“First, Ms. Mao La Or said that nobody had drilled holes as they were accused, but then she admitted it had happened. She said so after she had called an expert of the Apsara Authority at the Angkor Wat, an expert on the weathering of stones to check, Mr. Kham Mao, to check the site, and he found that holes had been drilled into the stones.

“Ms. Mao La Or told journalists with tearful eyes that the Sou Ching company, responsible for collecting money from tourists who visit the Angkor Wat Temple during the night, had nothing done wrong, but the blame should be put on the Tuy Nasy company, because this company is responsible for installing electricity. Though she claimed so, tourist guides and national and international tourists still accused the managing officials of the Angkor Wat Temple, the Apsara Authority, of making a most serious mistake, destroying national property, because the Angkor Wat Temple is a World Cultural Heritage, listed as a World Heritage Site since 1992.

“A tourist guide from the Siem Reap Angkor region, Mr. Sar Arun, who stood at the wall into which holes had been drilled, said that they should not have done so, and it is absolutely not a good idea, because the drilling has already destroyed many parts of the temple.

“Mr. Sar Arun added the question about setting up bulbs which get very hot at the wall of the temple. It will make the priceless temple get cracks and decay, and the future life of our Angkor Wat Temple will be shorter.

“Another tourist guide from the Siem Reap Angkor region, Mr. Sim Sokunthea, said the Apsara Authority, which has authority in this sector, should not allow this. He said so while he was looking with regrets at the continuing dropping pieces of stone from the Angkor Wat Temple walls into which holes were being drilled.

“A Spanish woman, Ms. Carolina Armandi, who was visiting the Angkor Wat Temple, saw what was happening; she said that everything should be kept natural without making any changes. She wanted to state that historical things must not be changed from their original status.

“A Cambodian tourist, who was also visiting the Angkor Wat Temple, said that the plan of the Apsara Authority seems not to be the development or the conservation of the temple, but its destruction, adding that the Apsara Authority should have come to study the details and make decisions before implementing this plan of drilling.

“The same tourist continued to say that if the Apsara Authority had checked and studied the plan thoroughly, there would not have happened such destruction on our temple.

“The Apsara Authority always takes UNESCO as basic reference, but why didn’t they asks UNESCO first, before there such drilling to set up electric bulbs at the temple.

“On 23 May 2009, after there had been follow-up reactions from the general public, the working team of the Apsara Authority, led by the chairperson of the Apsara Authority Mr. Ngo Hongly, the director of the Apsara Authority, Mr. Bun Narith, and Ms. Mao La Or, led a big group of journalists to see the setting up of electric bulbs. The working team explained that they have a technique to set up electric bulbs which causes no harm to the temple. They install bulbs by using cork stoppers put into already existing holes, and they set up lights only where it is possibly, and also at the lower layers of the stone. The working team claims that the heat of the bulbs is weak and does not affect the temple.”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4902, 24-25.5.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 25 May 2009

CARGO SHIP DETAINED

Bernama - Tuesday, May 26

PASIR PUTEH, May 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency detained a Cambodian registered cargo ship for plying with an expired licence and not equip with safety equipments, today.

Its district operation director, Commander Rozali Mohd Said said the captain and crew of the ship would be handed to the Marine Department for further action.

The licence of the ship expired in March 2007 but it had been taking five shipments of palm oil from Teluk Bali port here to Cambodia for the past three years, he told reporters here today.

He said the ship would face RM1,000 fine under Sections 474(1), 474 (2) and 483(1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

As the ship is not equip to fight oil spill, it could pose a danger to the country's maritime, he said, adding that, it would not be allowed to sail until it complied with the requirements.

-- BERNAMA

Seoul urges Asean to go green

http://www.yehey.com

Manila Times

26 May 2009

By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter

South Korea has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for more investments in developing new and renewable sources of energy.

Its President Lee Myung-Bak noted that if South Koreas green technologya fusion of information technology, biotechnology and nano technologywas combined with Aseans opportunities in green growth, both parties could move closer to creating low-carbon smart cities.

Lee disclosed that Seoul is working to put in place smart grids that would help South Korea and Asean to drastically reduce carbon emissions, increase efficiency and reduce overall consumption.

Asean, composed of the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam, is South Koreas third-largest trading partner. It constitutes the second-largest overseas investment destination of South Korea.

President Lees speech

Seoul is making bold investments in developing new sources of clean energy in order to remain globally competitive. With climate change accelerating at such an alarming rate, we can no longer be complacent, Lee said in his speech ahead of the Asean-South Korea Commemorative Summit on Jeju Island on June 1 to 2. The Manila Times had obtained a copy of the speech.

The South Korean president said that while his countrys journey toward economic progress has been marked by many proud achievements, South Korea also made mistakes, particularly on its over-reliance on fossil fuels.

He revealed that South Korea used to get more than 97 percent of its energy needs from abroad and, in the past, Lee said, many thought such situation was unavoidable.

As such, he suggested that South Korea and Asean cooperate in research activities to develop various forms of alternative energies, as well as forestation projects that would play a pivotal role in tackling global warming.

Climate change is a daunting challenge that requires concerted global effort, but it can also be an historic opportunity for promoting cooperation between South Korea and Asean, Lee pointed out.

Through this [cooperation] and much more, South Korea and Asean can become the worlds pioneering leaders and the worlds green research hub that introduces new innovations and turn green ideas into reality, he said.

The East Asia Climate Partnership that Seoul launched in 2008, according to Lee, can also strengthen such green partnership. Additionally, the impending Asean Free Trade Agreement is expected to be a factor such team-up as it will facilitate not only trade and investment but also promote cultural, tourism and educational exchanges.

Having spent a great deal of my time in Asean countries as a young businessman, I recall the warm hospitality, thriving entrepreneurship and the magnificent cultural splendor of Asean. This is why I know that there is so much South Korea can learn from and share with our Asean friends, he said. Until Lee became the president of South Korea, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Corp.

Leaders meeting

He will meet with the leaders from the 10 Asean member-states and the secretary-general of Asean at the Jeju summit but will hold separate summits in Seoul with four Asean leadersPhilippine President Gloria Arroyo and Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Hun Sen of Cambodia and Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam. All four will make official visits to South Korea on the occasion of the commemorative summit.

Based on Department of Foreign Affairs records, South Korea is one of the Philippines most dynamic bilateral partners. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at around $5.06 billion, while over $3 billion in South Korean investments have topped the list of the Philippines foreign direct investment inflows. Furthermore, at least 600,000 South Korean tourists visit the Philippines annuallythe largest share of the visitor arrivals to the Philippines.

North Korea conducts nuclear test

The Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk

By Jonathan Thatcher

Monday, 25 May 2009

North Korea has "successfully" conducted a nuclear test today, according to its state media.

"We have successfully conducted another nuclear test on May 25 as part of the republic's measures to strengthen its nuclear deterrent," the North's official KCNA news agency said.

It added that the underground test "was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control."

The news knocked South Korean financial markets with the main share index falling 4 per cent at one stage on fears the test will raise tension in a region which accounts for one sixth of the global economy.

"The reported test appears to be aimed at securing ultimate endorsement of its nuclear power status from the United States and bringing Washington to the negotiation table," said Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University.

"It could increase investor concerns about South Korea as the test may further worsen already soured inter-Korea relations," he added.

North Korea has for weeks threatened to conduct the test - its first was in October 2006 - in response to tighter international sanctions following its launch of a rocket in April.

The communist state said that launch was to put a communications satellite into space. The international community said it was a disguised long-range missile.

Following the added sanctions, Pyongyang also said it would no longer be a party to regional talks on giving up attempts to build nuclear weapons in exchange for massive aid and an end to its status as a pariah state.

Some analysts have said the test may also be aimed at boosting the position at home of leader Kim Jong-il, widely believed to have suffered a stroke last year.

Several say Kim, who succeeded his father to create the world's first communist dynasty, may be trying secure the succession for one of his three sons and that a nuclear test in defiance of world opinion could help him win support to do so from his hardline military.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers over the test.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency also claimed in an unsourced report, that North Korea launched two additional short-range missiles, hours after Pyongyang announced it had conducted a successful nuclear test.

North Korea earlier fired a short-range missile off its east coast, Yonhap said.

replacement market in focus

http://www.nationmultimedia.com

By Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul
The Nation
Published on May 26, 2009

Group changes emphasis as OEM segment slides

The Siam GS Battery Group has shifted its sales strategy to focus on the replacement-equipment manufacturing (REM) market, as original-equipment manufacturing (OEM) is expected to shrink 40 per cent, in line with overall automotive production this year.

The group comprises two companies in the automotive-battery industry: manufacturer and exporter Siam GS Battery and domestic distributor Siam GS Sales.

Siam GS Battery projects revenue of Bt3.8 billion this year, declining 21 per cent from Bt4.8 billion in 2008. Of last year's revenue, it sold 60 per cent to Siam GS Sales to serve demand in the REM market, 25 per cent was supplied to the OEM market, and 15 per cent was exported.

With an optimistic outlook for the REM market, its sales to Siam GS Sales will be raised to 70 per cent this year, with the rest generated equally by the OEM market and exports.

SM GS Battery exports to Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.

"We've been hit by the global economic crisis, which has resulted in a drastic drop in automotive production in OEM and exports. However, growth in the REM market remains robust, thanks to more demand from the maintenance of used vehicles," said Siam GS Battery and Siam GS Sales director Prakasit Phornprapha.

Siam GS Sales, which has a market share of 35 per cent in the REM market, therefore expects to boost its battery sales by 30 per cent from 1 million units last year.

However, sales revenue will increase only slightly this year, from Bt2.98 billion to Bt3 billion, due to cheaper product prices in line with a drop in the price of lead since last year. Lead is a major raw material in the making of batteries.

The company cut its prices by 25 per cent at the beginning of the year but has no plan to boost them despite the upward price trend of lead over the past three months.

Saran Chinprahat, managing director of Siam GS Sales, said it planned to expand its distribution channels by increasing the number of dealers from 250 to 300 across the country this year.

He said the company targeted increasing its market share to 40 per cent in the next three years by developing and launching new products, as well as using below-the-line marketing activities to promote the understanding of new products.

Medical Council issues new decree to control stemcell research

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

By Sirinart Sirisunthon,
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on May 26, 2009

The Medical Council's plan to issue new regulations requiring stemcell researchers to seek approval from a newly set up national regulatory body, was met with opposition yesterday, with study teams saying the longwinded process would force researchers to conduct their studies in neighbouring countries like Laos and Singapore.

"They will move to another country if they face any more strict regulations controlling their studies," said Dr Ahnond Bunyaratvej, secretarygeneral of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)

The move comes after the Medical Council said yesterday that it had just completed the final version of its decree - expected to come into effect after three months - to regulate the use of human stemcells treatment in diseases related to veins, organ transplants and heart disorders. Stemcell technology is already being used in bonemarrow transplants and blood disorders.

"The relevant agencies should handle the issuance of this new regulation carefully, otherwise it will affect the researchers," he added.

At present, all studies on stemcell treatment need to be approved by an ethics and academic committee at each medical school, hospital and educational institution. Scientists who wish to do their stemcell studies under the auspices of the NRCT also need an approval from impartial experts.

The process of waiting for another approval from the national regulatory body would only delay things, Ahnond said. He also expressed concerns over the conflict of interest and the impartiality of members of the national committee who will oversee stemcell studies.

Pissamai Laopattarakasem, a stemcell researcher from Khon Kaen University, said the Medical Council's regulation would affect research in universities and medical schools, as it would introduce more delays in the process.

She said she felt discouraged by the new regulation and was considering dropping her study all together. She was planning to propose two new stemcell research projects, but has cancelled them after learning about the new regulation. Pissamai said that since it already took five months to get an approval from the ethics and academics university, an additional okay from the national body would extend the waiting period to a whole year.

One stemcell researcher from Chiang Mai, who wished to remain unnamed, said he would be moving his studies to neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia or Singapore as the regulations there were friendlier.

"Personally, I back the Medical Council's plan to control the misuse of stemcell technology, but the council should not control studies into the subject as it would not help the country develop," he said.

The Medical Council's president, Dr Somsak Lohlekha, said the regulation would not block the development of stemcell research but would instead improve standards and the quality of studies.

Only studies in relation to human stem cells will need mandatory approval from a national regulatory body, but it will not allow the use of human stem cells in medical treatment, he added.

Moreover, he said, researchers should not have to wait too long for the approval because the regulatory body will have to work within a strict deadline.

He said the international committee had already condemned some clinics and hospitals in Thailand for using unproven stemcell therapies. "Many physicians do not inform patients that stem cell research is still underway before using the technology on their patients," he said. "That is why we need to issue this regulation."

PetroChina to Pay $2.2 Billion for Singapore Refining (Update1)

BloomBerg
http://www.bloomberg.com/

By John Duce
May 25, 2009

May 25 (Bloomberg) -- PetroChina Co. agreed to pay as much as $2.2 billion to buy Singapore Petroleum Corp. to gain a foothold in Asia’s largest oil trading centre in an acquisition that may extend China’s influence over global resources pricing.

PetroChina, China’s biggest oil producer, will buy 45.5 percent of the Singapore refiner for S$1.47 billion ($1 billion), or S$6.25 a share, from Keppel Corp., 24 percent higher than the last-traded price of S$5.04 at the May 22 close. The transaction, when completed, will trigger a general offer for the remaining shares, the Beijing-based oil company said yesterday.

About 10 million barrels of oil, or 12 percent of the world’s daily output, pass through the Straits of Malacca off Singapore each day, according to the International Energy Agency. The Chinese government introduced a market-based fuel-pricing system in December that takes into account crude oil costs and ensures refiners a profit.

“The deal gives PetroChina immediate access to increased refining capacity to take advantage of higher domestic prices down the road,” said Gordon Kwan, an energy analyst at Mirae Asset Securities in Hong Kong. “On the flip side, if China fails to enforce the domestic product pricing reform, PetroChina can utilize SPC as an vehicle to sell fuel prices at international levels.”

Singapore Petroleum shares rose 20 percent to S$6.05 while Keppel Corp., the world’s largest maker of oil rigs, climbed 4.6 percent to close at S$7.28. PetroChina shares rose 1.9 percent to 13.1 yuan at the close in Shanghai and fell 0.8 percent to HK$8.32 in Hong Kong.

Offshore Platforms

The Beijing-based oil producer, whose market value is exceeded only by Exxon Mobil Corp., has gained 23 percent in Hong Kong trading this year, while the benchmark Hang Seng index advanced 18 percent.

Keppel Corp. expects a profit of S$660 million from the sale of its stake in Singapore Petroleum, the company said in a statement to the Singapore stock exchange today.

“The sale is in line with Keppel Corp.’s strategy to divest its non-core assets and concentrate on its core business activities,” the company said.

PetroChina and Keppel Corp. also agreed “in principle” to cooperate in offshore oil platforms, the Chinese company said in a statement on the Web site of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission today, without elaborating.

Singapore Petroleum has stakes in oil fields in Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam and Cambodia and also owns undersea pipelines carrying gas from Indonesia to Singapore and storage terminals. The company jointly owns Singapore Refining Co., one of the three biggest oil-processing plants in the city state, with Chevron Corp., the second-largest U.S. oil company. The refinery has capacity to process 285,000 barrels of oil a day.

$100 Billion of Trades

Singapore refines, stores and re-exports oil to countries including Indonesia, Vietnam and China. About $100 billion worth of fuels are traded a year in the city state.

The acquisition is meant to “become a platform for the implementation” of PetroChina’s international strategy and “to provide a broader foundation and stable path for development,” the Beijing-based oil producer said.

PetroChina won approval from shareholders May 12 to sell as much as 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) of bonds to fund exploration, pipeline and overseas projects. Chairman Jiang Jiemin told the annual general meeting the company plans to spend 233 billion yuan this year to buy and upgrade assets.

“China is flush with cash and commodities aren’t inexhaustible, so it makes sense for them to go out and buy resources for future use,” Ong Eng Tong, a Singapore-based consultant with Hamburg-based oil trader Mabanaft Gmbh., said in a telephone interview.

Loans-for-Oil Agreements

China agreed to give Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil and Venezuela $49 billion in loans this year in exchange for oil supplies. The government plans to tap its $1.95 trillion foreign-exchange reserves, the world’s largest, for acquisitions.

The government of the world’s second-largest oil user is encouraging local companies to buy commodities and energy assets made cheaper by crude’s 58 percent decline from a record in $147.27 a barrel in July.

“This is just the beginning for PetroChina to buy assets directly to boost its oil and gas reserves,” China Merchants Securities Ltd. analyst Qiu Xiaofeng said by telephone from Shanghai. “But the value of this acquisition isn’t very large, so it won’t have a big impact on PetroChina’s profit.”

PetroChina’s main markets include Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, China and South Korea, according to the company’s statement. The company and smaller rival China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, have announced plans to expand refining capacity to meet demand for fuels in the world’s third- largest economy.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Duce in Hong Kong at Jduce1@bloomberg.net

PetroChina buys 45.5% of Singapore oil refiner

File photo shows drivers lining up at a PetroChina station in Beijing. PetroChina, the listed unit of China's biggest oil and gas producer, said it had agreed to buy a stake in refiner Singapore Petroleum Co. for 1.02 billion dollars.(AFP/File/Frederic J. Brown)

by Peter Harmsen – Mon May 25, 2009

BEIJING (AFP) – Oil major PetroChina said Monday it had agreed to buy nearly half of refiner Singapore Petroleum Co. for 1.02 billion dollars in China's latest move to secure resources for its energy-hungry economy.

PetroChina, the listed unit of the nation's biggest oil and gas producer, said in a statement it intends to acquire 45.51 percent of the Singaporean company's issued share capital at a premium on the market price of 24 percent.

The statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange added PetroChina will make an offer for the rest of the company upon completion of the deal.

"SPC will become a new platform for the implementation of our international strategy and will provide a broader foundation and stable path for development," PetroChina said on its website.

The deal is the latest high-profile bid by China, which sits on 1.9 trillion dollars in foreign exchange reserves, to fuel its economy, which is now the world's third-largest.

This month alone has seen a 10-year Chinese agreement with Brazil for the import of eventually 200,000 barrels of crude a day, as well as a pledge by Venezuela to increase oil exports to China eight-fold within "a few years".

PetroChina bought the shares in SPC from Keppel Oil and Gas Services, part of Singapore-based conglomerate Keppel Corp., according to PetroChina's statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

SPC, a regional energy company with interests in petroleum refining and marketing, owns a 50 percent stake in Singapore Refining Co., one of city-state's three major petroleum refiners, PetroChina said.

The Chinese firm added that Singapore Petroleum Co. is engaged in oil and gas exploration, with production properties in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia.

PetroChina, a unit of China National Petroleum Corp., was likely to benefit significantly from its new presence in Singapore, analysts said.

"This gives them a tremendous amount of flexibility," said Jason Feer, a Singapore-based analyst with Argus Media, a provider of business intelligence for the energy sector.

"If you refine a barrel of crude in China, then all of the products are in China and you have to pay an export tax to export them," he said.

"So now they can just refine what they need in Singapore, bring that product into China and then export the rest out of Singapore and not be subject to Chinese taxes and restrictions on exports."

In addition, Singapore's key position in Asia's oil product market was a boon for PetroChina, as it sought to develop its business, according to analysts.

"It is a large oil products distributing centre and it has an oil product exchange, which is significant in terms of the pricing power," said Wang Jing, a Shanghai-based analyst with Orient Securities.

She added that the agreement would give PetroChina an advantage vis-a-vis China's other energy giant Sinopec, Asia's largest refiner.

"PetroChina has been strong in the upstream business while weaker than Sinopec in refining and sales in the country," she said.

"So the takeover will probably strengthen PetroChina's competitiveness in the middle and downstream businesses," she said.

Court System Being Overhauled, Slowly

http://www.voanews.com

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
25 May 2009

The government has already publicly recognized the importance of legal and judicial reform for development, but, despite millions of dollars in aid from donors, progress has been slow.

The new Council for Legal and Judicial Reform has so far focused on updating laws crucial to the functioning of the maligned court system and training judges and prosecutors.

And now, the government testing a project in 20 different districts where local mediation is favored over courts that may be costly for the average rural villagers.

The government has selected local courts in the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham and Kandal, as well as Phnom Penh, to serve as model courts where high standards of justice are to be ensured.

“The main purpose of judicial reform is to do whatever we can to properly bring justice to people, but this reform is difficult and tough,” said Suy Mongleang, secretary-general of the General Secretariat for Legal and Judicial Reform, in a phone interview with VOA Khmer last week.

France is one of major donors building the rule of law in Cambodia, and since 2001 has been focusing on legal work such as supporting training of judges and prosecutors.

“The main challenges for legal and judicial reform in Cambodia are capacity building,” such as familiarization with legal texts and a professional code of ethics, “and deployment of this training throughout the country,” Fabyène Mansencal, a spokeswoman for the French Embassy, told VOA Khmer by e-mail.

Gaining trust is another tough job for a court that is quite often under criticism from civil society and the public for providing justice to select groups, like the rich or powerful.

Seng Theary, executive director of the Center for Social Development, acknowledges that technically the system has seen progress via training of its personnel, but the court remains influenced by politics and corruption, making the poor vulnerable.

“The court system here is a system that is corrupt and does not have the confidence of the people, because they are still afraid to use the court to find justice,” she said in an interview. “They see the court as a market where justice can be bought.”

Cambodia’s Bar Association, which receives support from Japan International Cooperation Agency, has trained more than 200 lawyers. These lawyers are free to represent any client they want, but critics say they are not independent yet.

“Sometimes, when we are independent and abide by the law too much to pressure judges, they are not happy with us,” Ang Engthong, a former president of the Bar Association who is now in charge of lawyer training, told VOA Khmer. “There are a lot of problems, and as you know in Cambodia there is lot of corruption. This has become a habit.”

Some lawyers now even act as a go-between, he said, negotiating prices between a client and a judge to ensure a favorable outcome.

Cheam Yiep, a National Assemblyman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, admitted corruption could be found in the court system, but argued that the system was being improved through the training of judges and prosecutors.

“It is inevitable that certain individuals in the court system commit corruption or acts of injustice and various inappropriate behaviors, as accused,” he told VOA Khmer. “There must be some, but not too many. The court system is step by step being given education, training, and self-study, to improve knowledge and technical professionalism.”

In 2005, Prime Minister Hun Sen set out an “iron fist” campaign to review irregularity in the courts. Despite much criticism from national civil parties and the international community as being a violation of judicial independence, and in what was seen as a move to please donors, Hun Sen’s public campaign was a clear acknowledgement that time was running out for judicial reform.

Cambodian-Muslim Woman Earns Grant for US Studies

http://www.voanews.com

By VOA Khmer, Sothearith Im
Original report from Washington
25 May 2009

Ohio University graduate student So Farina is a Cambodian Muslim. She was awarded the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Grant on May 19 in Washington, one of ten award recipients worldwide. She is the first Cambodian to receive the award. So Farina impressed the selection committee with her research on Muslim women under the Khmer Rouge.

She hopes to found a center for gender studies under the Documentation Center of Cambodia. The $12,000 grant will help her focus on her studies, she said in an interview with VOA Khmer.

So Farina is a graduate student in Southeast Asian Studies at the Center for International Studies at Ohio University, where a professor encouraged her to apply.

He “warned me that the scholarship was very competitive,” she said. “He asked me to look at the criteria and whether it matched my qualifications. When I saw the criteria, I knew my qualifications fit the criteria.”

So Farina impressed the MMMF selection committee with her research, “Muslim Cambodian Women’s Experience in Khmer Rouge Regime,” and her future potential for creating an oral history project, which she has been working on for about five years.

“First, it not only helps me solve financial problems, but also gives me value, respect, and hope, because it enables me to focus on my study and work more to make my dream a reality,” So Farina said.

The MMMF awards grants to women from developing countries who are studying subjects that benefit lives of women and children. The applicants must be enroll at accredited institutions in the United States and Canada at the time they submit their applications. They must use the grant toward their studies.

Sarah Brau, a member of MMMF’s board of directors, said there are a lot of competent applicants applying for MMMF grants. Besides their impressive qualifications, successful candidates must go back either to their home countries or other developing countries.

“We have tremendous applicants of all ages, and they have to have had experience volunteering or working for women or children in their own countries, and they have to already be here studying in the US or Canada when we add our scholarship money to them,” she said.

Brau said So Farina was the first candidate from Cambodia selected for the scholarship and was chosen for the intellectual ability to tackle difficult issues and pursue an educational goal. She encouraged women from Cambodia to apply for the scholarship.

“She was an extraordinary candidate,” Brau said. “She had exerted a great deal of intellectual rigor…and she both had intellectual analysis, the heart of the problems, and had been able to take a small step to implement the solution.”

The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund was founded in 1981 to honor the life of Margaret Craig McNamara, whose husband was World Bank President from 1968 to 1981. The MMMF has awarded 134 grants to women from 57 countries since 1983. MMMF scholarship is available at mmmf-grants.org.

Notre Dame Student Outlines Obama Speech

http://www.voanews.com

By Im Sothearith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
25 May 2009

Soeng Sophat is a graduate student of international peace studies at Notre Dame University. He watched carefully as President Barrack Obama spoke to his university earlier this month, in what has become a well-publicized appearance thanks to the abortion debate and interruptions of protesters.

Soeng Sophat spoke to VOA Khmer both before and after the speech.

“I think that what he raised is important for the application of democracy as well as conflict resolution,” Soeng Sophat said of Obama. “In general, parties have different views on certain issues. The important thing is to create the opportunity for discussion and dialogue so that we can find common ground.”

Before Obama’s speech to his graduating class, Soeng Sophat told VOA Khmer that Notre Dame represented a large Catholic community in the US, and therefore there would be a lot of opposition to a pro-abortion stance.

He explained the debate between pro-life, which favors the life of an unborn fetus, and pro-choice, which favors options for pregnant women, such as abortion.

“Pro-life is a fundamental moral principle of Catholics,” he said, citing a 2004 decision by Catholic bishops.

As a student, Soeng Sophat said he was interested in freedom of expression and the decentralization of government, such as the US’s federal, state and local authorities. He was also interested in the possibilities for conflict resolution within a democracy, he said.

“That’s what our country should learn,” he said. “We usually use violence to solve problems. In order to solve problems non-violently, first we need independent institutions acceptable to all parties, and we all must hold to the ideas that we can solve problems together non-violently. Obama’s appearance encourages debate about the differences, especially the abortion issue. I expect to learn how they deal with it.”

Obama’s Notre Dame appearance thrust the new president into the abortion debate. During the speech the president challenged notions of conflict resolution by saying that there may in fact be intractable differences between the two camps.

Following that speech, Soeng Sophat described the appearance of less than 50 demonstrators, including 38 people who sneaked onto campus and were arrested. A low-flying plane dropped anti-abortion banners before the university created a “no-fly” zone, he said.

“During his speech, there were interruptions from four people shouting out,” he said. “Someone shouted out, ‘Stop killing our children! How can problems be solved while you allow people to kill our children?’ Then students booed back and shouted out, ‘Yes, we can.’ His 30-minute speech focused on the disagreements over abortion, the identity of Notre Dame University, the American people’s beliefs, both Catholic and non-Catholic. He said that when we don’t agree on a particular issue, we need to seek common ground and start from there.”

To Soeng Sophat, the president raised important questions about the application of democracy and conflict resolution, saying that, in general, parties usually have different views on certain issues.

“I was lucky to be an eye-witness to United States president and to how he dealt with this issue,” Soeng Sophat said. “It was interesting to see the president’s reaction to those who opposed him. He said he agreed that they have their reasons to oppose. In this sense, I think they have a culture of debate. At the family, community and national levels, they have a tradition of discussion and debate based on reasoning, to solve complicated problems.

“Freedom of expression and debate has been rooted in their society for a long time,” he said. “I think in our country, we have not yet had a culture of non-violent solution to problems. We have not yet had the culture of debate and discussion based on reason, because everyone sticks to his views, and they sometimes use violence to oppose opponents without listening to their reasons and views. A culture of debate and non-violent conflict resolution can be created through an education system, which educates a younger generation to use non-violent solutions to problems.”

Three Test Negative for H1N1 Virus

http://www.voanews.com

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 May 2009

Three US-Cambodians have tested negative for the H1N1 virus, after they shared an international flight where one passenger was found to have the illness, health officials said Monday.

Sok Touch, director of Health Ministry’s communicable disease control department, said Chay Cerone, 62, was found in Battambang province, while Pann Thy, 46, and Pann Saroun, 26, were found in Kampot province.

All three tested negative for the virus, which appeared in Mexico last month and has sparked concerns of a pandemic. They were tested by the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh.

Authorities began searching for the three visitors when South Korea issued an alert saying that one passenger on a May 17 flight from Seattle to Incheon had tested positive for the illness.

Cambodia has no known cases of the H1N1 flu, but officials say they remain vigilant.

Chhour Kimny, chief of immigration police at Phnom Penh International Airport, said his personnel continue to watch for travelers with flu-like symptoms.

Between 1,300 and 1,500 passengers have been investigated through temperature scanners, which were installed at both international airports a few days after the first reported outbreak of the H1N1 flue was reported from Mexico.

The World Health Organization says 43 countries have officially reported more than 12,000 cases of infection, which has caused 86 deaths worldwide.

Cambodian Conservationist Looks to Save Fish

http://www.voanews.com

By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 May 2009

Chouly Ou, a conservationist and biologist, hopes to use her education to save the fish of the Mekong river. Her plan is to pursue a PhD to gain technical knowledge on fish population modeling.

“I plan to develop a model for sustainable management of the fish population in the Mekong river, the largest and most important river in Cambodia,” Chouly Ou said in an interview with VOA Khmer.

Chouly Ou was born and raised in Battambang province. After finishing high school, in 1999, she pursued an undergraduate degree in biology at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

After graduating in 2003, she was given a scholarship to study for a master’s in natural resources management, at the Asian Institute of Technology, in Thailand. High marks earned her a fellowship at Roskilde University, Denmark, in 2005.

She returned to the Royal University, in 2006, this time as a lecturer at the department of environmental science.

She worked for a conservation organization, Birdlife International, monitoring the Biodiversity Conservation Corridor Initiative. This allowed her to conduct fieldwork in forest areas like the Cardamom mountains and the eastern plains of Mondulkiri province.

She is now working for a PhD on fish population modeling.

“I believe that the fish population modeling I aim to develop will serve as a guide for sustainable management of fishery resources in the country,” she said.

Later this month, the conservationist will travel to Cambridge, Mass., to attend a Fulbright Enrichment Science and Technology Seminar.

She will be among the first Cambodian students to pursue a PhD with Fulbright funding.

“Participating in the seminar, I will learn about applied sciences, micro-enterprises and research and development laboratories,” she said.

Before attending the seminar, she plans to spend one week visiting the US capital and New York City, she said.

In Trial, Duch Discusses Vietnam Factor

http://www.voanews.com

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 May 2009

Jailed Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch explained to tribunal judges Monday the influence of Vietnam’s “Indochina Plan” in the calculations of the regime.

The guerrillas were originally supported by communists in North Vietnam, but later broke from them. By the time the Khmer Rouge were fully in power, they were opposed to the Vietnamese, and it was in part the fear of Vietnamese infiltration in the group’s ranks that led to a series of internal purges.

Duch ran Tuol Sleng prison, known to the Khmer Rouge as S-21, where many of the accused infiltrators were sent for confessions made under torture.

Duch said he appreciated the struggle of Pol Pot against the Vietnamese and a plan for Indochinese federation.

“Pol Pot was very wise in his struggle to defend Cambodia,” Duch told the judges during questioning.

Duch, 66, whose real name is Kaing Kek Iev is facing charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and murder for his role as chief of the prison, where prosecutors say more than 12,000 Cambodians were tortured and sent to their deaths.

“I did not clearly know about the armed clashes between the Cambodian communist party and the Vietnamese communist party,” Duch said. “But I knew about armed clashes in the south of Modulkiri province and the border.”

Duch said he was not privy to decisions surrounding armed clashes, but said he put his faith in Pol Pot to defend the nascent country, which was undergoing an agrarian revolution and the policies of Democratic Kampuchea, the official name for the Khmer Rouge.

In testimony at the UN-backed court, Khmer Rouge expert Nayan Chanda described armed clashes between Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese soldiers, stemming from border disputes.

North Korea says it has conducted its most powerful underground nuclear weapons test ever, amid reports it also test-fired a short-range missile on Monday, as the South called an emergency security meeting. UPDATED

Bangkok Post

http://www.bangkokpost.com

By: AFP
Published: 25/05/2009

North Korea carried out a second and more powerful nuclear test, defying international pressure to rein in its atomic programmes after years of six-nation disarmament talks.

The hardline communist state, which stunned the world by testing an atomic bomb for the first time in October 2006, had threatened another test after the UN Security Council censured it for a long-range rocket launch in April.

The North "successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology," it said.

The force of the blast was between 10 and 20 kilotons, according to Russia's defence ministry quoted by news agencies, vastly more than the estimated one kiloton blast three years ago.

The United Nations Security Council, which sanctioned the North for its previous test, planned to meet Monday afternoon in New York, the Japanese UN mission said.

The United States, Britain, France, Russia and the European Union expressed serious concern, as did the North's closest neighbours South Korea and Japan.

US President Barack Obama said Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes threaten world peace.

"North Korea's attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security," Obama said in a written statement.

"The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community."

The North informed the United States and China in advance of the test, a Seoul official said on condition of anonymity.

South Korea, in mourning over the weekend suicide of former president Roh Moo-Hyun, called its neighbour's atomic test a "serious threat" to regional peace and a grave challenge to non-proliferation efforts.

It put its military on heightened alert.

In Tokyo chief cabinet secretary Takeo Kawamura called the test "absolutely unacceptable."

"Japan will take stern action against North Korea," he added.

The KCNA report did not say where the test was conducted. South Korean officials said a tremor was detected around the northeastern town of Kilju, near where the first was staged.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said it measured 4.5 on the Richter Scale conmpared to 3.6 in October 2006.

Yonhap news agency said the North also appears to have test-fired a short-range missile Monday from its launch site at Musudan-ri near Kilju.

China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States have been negotiating since 2003 to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for energy and security guarantees.

The negotiations led to an agreement signed in 2007, under which the North said it would dismantle its nuclear facilities. The deal bogged down last December over ways to verify the North's declared nuclear activities.

In April the North fired a long-range rocket for what it called a satellite launch. Many nations saw a disguised ballistic missile test and the Security Council condemned the launch and tightened sanctions.

A defiant North vowed to conduct a second nuclear test as well as more ballistic missile launches unless the world body apologised.

It also announced that it was quitting the six-way talks, which are hosted by its closest ally China, and would restart its plutonium-making programme.

Analysts believe the North has stockpiled enough plutonium for six to 12 small nuclear bombs. Its first test was seen as only partially successful.

KCNA said Monday's test had resolved "scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology."

North Korea has frequently said it needs a nuclear deterrent to prevent any attack. It said Monday's test would "contribute to defending the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism and ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula and the region."

The North has expressed disappointment at the Obama administration, calling it no better than its precedessor.

"The second test was earlier than expected and reflects the North's growing anger at Washington," said Kim Yong-Hyun of Seoul's Dongguk University.

"Or some internal problems may be forcing Pyongyang to take a strong attitude."

Leader Kim Jong-Il, 67, was widely reported to have suffered a stroke last August, prompting speculation overseas about the succession. The North's position has noticeably hardened since then.

Burma hits out at Thailand regarding Suu Kyi trial

Breaking News
http://www.breakingnews.ie

25/05/2009

The trial of democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi resumed today as Burma lashed out against Thailand – one of its few supporters in an international community likely to halt recent moves to improve relations with the country’s military rulers.

Ms Suu Kyi, due to testify this week, is widely expected to be found guilty for allegedly harbouring an American who swam across a lake to her residence. She faces up to five years in prison.

A list of four or five defence witnesses will be submitted to the court and statements from remaining prosecution witnesses are to be heard at today’s session inside Rangoon’s security-ringed Insein prison, said Nyan Win, a spokesman for Ms Suu Kyi’s political party.

Already bombarded by criticism from Western nations, the junta turned on neighbouring Thailand, a partner in the 10-nation Association of Southeast Nation, or Asean, accusing its neighbour of violating the bloc’s principle by interfering in Burma’s internal affairs.

Thailand, the grouping’s current chairman, last week expressed “grave concern” over the trial, saying “the honour and the credibility of the (Burma government) are at stake.”

A statement from Burma issued today responded: “It is sadly noted that (Thailand) failed to preserve the dignity of Asean, the dignity of Burma and the dignity of Thailand.”

Ms Suu Kyi, who has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years, is being tried on charges of violating the terms of her house arrest after the uninvited American, John W. Yettaw, swam to her home earlier this month and stayed for two days. Ms Suu Kyi pleaded not guilty on Friday.

Myanmar says Thailand meddling in Suu Kyi trial

A Myanmar activist holds a portrait of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during protest outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok (Reuters)

http://www.swissinfo.ch

By Aung Hla Tun

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar accused neighbouring Thailand of meddling in its internal affairs on Sunday after Bangkok said the trial of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi threatened the junta's "honour and credibility."

Myanmar said the statement issued last week by Thailand, amid growing international outrage over Suu Kyi's trial, was factually wrong and "deviated from the practice of ASEAN."

Thailand holds the rotating chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), one of the few groups that allows the former Burma as a member.

"It is tantamount to interfering in Myanmar's internal affairs," said a statement read out on state-owned MRTV.

Suu Kyi pleaded not guilty on Friday after a prison court formally charged the Nobel Peace laureate and her two female housemates with violating her house arrest by allowing an uninvited American intruder inside her home.

If found guilty, the 63-year-old Suu Kyi faces up to five years in prison.

John Yettaw, the 53-year-old American who swam to Suu Kyi's home on May 4 because he had a dream that her life was in danger, also pleaded not guilty.

He is charged with immigration violations, illegal swimming and breaking a state security law.

Critics say the trial, which resumes on Monday, is a sham to keep the charismatic leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in detention until after 2010 elections.

ASEAN has often been criticised for taking a soft line on the generals. Last week's statement was unusually direct.

It urged "humane treatment" for Suu Kyi and reminded the junta that it had ignored the group's previous calls for her release from detention. It said the Myanmar authorities' "honour and credibility" was at stake, but held fast to its policy of engagement with the military government.

"SCRIPTED" TRIAL

The court's decision to formally charge Suu Kyi came as no surprise in Myanmar, where the military holds sway over a legal system that has jailed more than 2,000 political prisoners.

Foreign Minister Nyan Win said last week Suu Kyi's trial "will proceed fairly according to the law."

But diplomats who were given a brief glimpse of the trial inside Yangon's Insein prison said it appeared "scripted."

After 47 years of unbroken military rule, Myanmar's courts have a long history of stretching laws to suit the generals, activist lawyers say.

"I'm sure they will jail Daw Suu," said Aung Thein, a prominent lawyer who was assisting with her defence when his law licence was revoked a week ago.

Rights groups called it the latest "blatant attempt" by the junta to intimidate lawyers working on political cases.

Some 11 lawyers are in jail for working on such cases, including defending top monks and former student leaders arrested in the September 2007 protests crushed by the military.

Suu Kyi's lawyers will submit a list of defence witnesses on Monday, and they expected the trial to run for two more weeks.

Prosecutors argue Suu Kyi broke the conditions of her house arrest by allowing Yettaw to stay for two days and accepting several items from him. They included a copy of the Book of Mormon, two black robes, sunglasses and a flashlight.

Suu Kyi insists she did not invite Yettaw and blames the authorities for lax security at her home.

She has spent more than 13 of the past 19 years in detention, most of those years at her home under police guard, with her phone line cut and visitors restricted.

(Writing by Darren Schuettler; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Cambodia quarantines Japanese couple suspected of having swine flu

Earth Times

http://www.earthtimes.org

Posted : Mon, 25 May 2009
Author : DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodian health authorities said Monday they were waiting on test results for a Japanese couple who showed symptoms of swine flu after travelling by air from Vietnam to the northern town of Siem Reap. Bun Artha, director of civil aviation at Siem Reap International Airport, said the couple, a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, was taken to hospital after thermal imaging equipment detected both had high temperatures as they exited a flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

"They arrived in Siem Reap on Sunday evening after spending four days in Vietnam and both were taken immediately to Siem Reap hospital," he said.

Em Bun, director of Siem Reap hospital, said the couple was placed in voluntary quarantine and doctors were waiting on test results to return from a pathology lab in the capital Phnom Penh.

"The couple reported that they had suffered food poisoning in Vietnam and had recovered from ordinary flu just before they left Japan," he said. "Phnom Penh is several hundred kilometers away, so it will take some time for the results to be confirmed and for us to know whether they have the H1N1 virus."

Health authorities on Sunday confirmed there were no cases of swine flu in Cambodia after test results came back negative for three US citizens exposed to the potentially deadly virus during a flight from the US to South Korea.

Cambodian workforce needs overhaul

The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com/

May 25, 2009

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA has an 'urgent' need to invest in education and health to further grow its economy and reduce poverty, a United Nations economist said at the launch of a report on Monday.
'Cambodia has a serious lack of qualified workers and this is something that needs urgent priority,' UN Development Programme (UNDP) economist Brooks Evans told reporters.

Mr Evans made his comments during the launch of a UNDP study on Cambodia's competitiveness in the global economy, which ranked it near the bottom among southeast Asian countries.

Cambodia also finished last in regional higher education training scores while 40 per cent of its population does not even finish primary school, Mr Evans said.

He added that lax rules and regulations have caused investors from the United States, Europe and Japan to shy away from setting up operations in the country, one of the world's poorest.

'Cambodia is potentially losing out on huge amounts of foreign direct investment,' Mr Evans said.

Cambodia enjoyed several years of double-digit economic growth until last year, but has seen sharp declines in garment exports and tourism - its two key industries - because of the global financial crisis.

Despite the recent economic expansion, under-employment, where someone's work earns only a meagre return, remains high in Cambodia.

Some 30 per cent of the country's 14 million people live on less than 50 US cents a day. -- AFP

Cambodian dengue fever patients rise sharply

www.chinaview.cn

2009-05-25

PHNOM PENH, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The number of dengue fever patients of Cambodia rose to about 1,500 until May, 960 more than the same period of last year, or an increase of about 50 percent, national media said on Monday.

The 1,500 victims were mainly spotted in Phnom Penh with 343 cases, Kampong Cham province 259 cases and Kandal province 161 cases, Chinese-language daily newspaper the Commercial News quoted officials of the Ministry of Health (MoH) as saying.

Moreover, three people died of the disease all over the kingdom, two of them died in the early of the year and the third in May, according to MoH.

The MoH has already received the assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB), and plans to buy some mosquitocide and propaganda material to enhance the public understanding, according to MoH.

The rainy season from May to November is the period of the outbreak of the dengue fever nationwide. Usually, children under the 15 years old were the most fragile group to be attacked by the illness, and some 71 percent of the contaminated cases used to be children.

The government has called on the people to clean their water-saving tanks frequently, kill mosquito eggs in their tanks with pesticide, and sleep in anti-mosquito nets.

According to official figures, in 2007, a rampant year for the disease in the kingdom, 407 children died of it, out of a total of 39,851 infected cases of minors. And in last year there were 9542 people infected with the disease in the kingdom, out of them 65 were killed.

Editor: Wang Hongjiang

World leaders offer condolences for Roh's death

The Korean Herald

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr

2009.05.25

World leaders have expressed their condolences to the South Korean people for the death of the country's former leader Roh Moo-hyun. U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday expressed his condolences, praising Roh for his role in enhancing bilateral ties.

"I was saddened by the news of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea," Obama said in a statement.

"During his tenure, President Roh contributed to the strong and vital relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea. On behalf of the government of the United States, I offer my condolences to his family and to the Korean people."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent a message of condolence to the family of South Korea's late former President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday, saying he was deeply saddened by the shocking death of his former boss.

"I am shocked and in deep grief over the news of Roh's unexpected death," Ban said in the message. "I send my condolences to the South Korean government and its people who lost their former leader."

Ban served as South Korea's foreign minister from 2004-2006 during Roh's presidency.

Ban sent the message from Sri Lanka, where he was meeting with local officials to discuss the ethnic conflict in the South Asian nation, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said.

The U.N. chief also praised Roh for his efforts in paving the way for democracy in South Korea and pushing for various social reforms in his home country.

Separately, Ban issued a statement of condolence over Roh's death on the U.N.'s Web site.
British Prime Minister Gorden Brown also offered his condolences over Roh's death, the British Embassy here said Saturday.

"I would like to send you and the Korean people sincere condolences on behalf of the British government at this time of grief and shock," said Brown in a message sent to South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak through the British Embassy in Seoul.

"I was most saddened to hear the news of President Roh Moo-hyun's tragic death. He had been a leader of your country who had made his mark both nationally and internationally."

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed surprise at the death of Roh and offered his condolences to the Korean people.

"I was quite surprised," Aso told reporters after hearing about Roh's death, according to Jiji Press. "I would like to offer my condolences and pray for the repose of his soul," Aso said.

Yukio Hatoyama, head of the nation's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said in a statement: "I would like to give my sincere condolences to the bereaved family and Korean people."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also offered his condolences following the death of Roh who he said made large contributions to the improvement of ties between Korea and Southeast Asia.

"I don't know how to express my sadness. I express sincere, deep condolences," the prime minister told a group of South Korean reporters visiting here. "I didn't hear yet about the exact reason for his death, but I can't contain my sadness over the news."

He noted that Roh had given much aid and support to Cambodia during his presidency from 2003-2008, recalling Roh's visits to Phnom Penh and Siem Riep, home of the Angkor temple complex.

From news reports
2009.05.25

Growing anger

Photo by: AFP

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com

Written by AFP
Monday, 25 May 2009

Members of the Burma Democratic Network call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest Sunday in front of the Chinese embassy in Bangkok. The democracy icon, who has been arrested on suspicion of violating the terms of her house arrest, is preparing to open her defence in a trial that has received worldwide criticism.

End of the day

Photo by: TRACEY SHELTON

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com

Written by Tracey Shelton
Monday, 25 May 2009

A construction worker wraps up his work daySunday at a garden in front of the Cambodia-Korea Phnom Penh Gyeongbuk Culture, Tourism and Trade Promotion Centre Sunday. The US$9 million project, funded by the Korean government, began construction in September last year and is due for completion in July.

Thai instability blamed for delays in oil talks

Photo by: Kay Kimsong
Drill rods for oil exploration to be used by Chevron in the Gulf of Thailand sit on the quayside at Sihanoukville Port in this file photo. Following calls by the US oil giant for a resolution to offshore demarcation disagreements, the government in Phnom Penh said Thai instability was to blame for the impasse.

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com

Written by Ros Dina
Monday, 25 May 2009

Negotiations on overlapping areas in Gulf of Thailand stalled by political unrest, says CNPA, after Chevron's call for resolution.

THE Cambodian oil authority said at the end of last week that Thailand's recent political instability had delayed negotiations between the two countries over the vast disputed offshore area in the Gulf of Thailand that potentially holds marketable oil reserves.

Te Duong Dara, director general of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA), said that Thailand's recent turmoil and change of personnel in government meant that a clear policy on the issue had not been established in Bangkok, adding that Cambodia would have to wait until its neighbour's political situation improved before readdressing demarcation of the disputed 27,000-square-kilometre offshore area.

"Specific work teams are needed for negotiations, but they are not in place yet. For us, there are no changes, but Thailand has political instability. They do not have a work team leader or technology team leader yet, so we have to wait until the political turmoil subsides."

Thai embassy First Secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai declined to comment on Sunday.

An oil industry specialist working for a Thai company who declined to be identified said Sunday that delays in the process were partly due to political instability, meaning that policy and personnel on the issue had yet to be decided in Bangkok, but added there were additional factors.

He said that low oil prices meant that the incentives for new exploration were not currently there, while uncertainty of deposits in the disputed area was likely another factor - if the area was known to hold large deposits, undoubtedly the process of resolving the issue would speed up, he added.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[oil companies] want both countries to find a solution as soon as possible.
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The Bangkok Post reported last week that the US-based energy company Chevron - which operates Cambodian offshore concession Block A - had called upon Cambodia and Thailand to speed up negotiations on disputed offshore areas where, it said, it was "ready to take part in developing ... as soon as the resolution is made".

"They [oil companies] want both countries to find a solution as soon as possible so that they will benefit from a solution," Te Duong Dara said in response to Chevron's call.

Government Spokesman Khieu Kanharith reacted at the end of last week by saying that Chevron did not need to push the issue given that Cambodia has been working on a resolution to the overlapping-claims issue for some time.

Te Duong Dara said that the Kingdom remained in discussions with Chevron over an extension to the operating licence for Block A, which could extend for a further two months, he added, despite the last agreement having expired in April.

"We have our own strategies for negotiating, and we will see what the result is," he said, adding that it would take up to a further three years to market oil from the offshore block.

Both sides have refused to disclose details on the negotiations.

Going for gold

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Written by Trevor Keidan
Monday, 25 May 2009

With many investments still looking uncertain, in-demand gold remains a steady bet.

GOLD looks set to regain its shine as the US dollar comes under increased pressure amid renewed doubts over the United States economy.

On Friday, gold was near a two-month high at US$951.75 per ounce after reaching $955.95 earlier in the week. The increase in the price of gold was assisted by the commodity's status as a safe-haven in the face of the weakened dollar as well as the resurfacing of doubts over the state of the United States economy.

Some reports suggested that the only factors holding the price of gold back were profit-taking and the long holiday weekend in the US. Other reports even suggested that gold will achieve a price per ounce of $1,000. Others were even more bullish suggesting a price of $1,200 per ounce.

One of the factors that is driving this new golden age is uncertainty over the economy. Despite the fact that stock markets around the world appear to have staged rallies of late, there are still doubts over the US (and indeed the global) economy.

Although some are saying that the worst is over, others claim that there is more to come - and it could be worse!

There is talk that US banks are still undercapitalised despite faring as expected during the much-touted recent stress tests. There is also talk that banks are still not offering credit which is essential to start the economy moving again.

In addition, there is speculation that what happened to the residential property market could also afflict the commercial real estate market - but on a bigger scale. There is significantly more money invested in the commercial sector than the residential sector.

Add to this US jobless claims continuing to rise, and unemployment in the world's largest economy creeping towards 10 percent, and things look decidedly shaky. This does not bode well for the future of the dollar, or indeed stocks, but could be good for gold.

Something else that's good for gold is the report that China has secretly been buying up the commodity recently. In fact, China has been shying away from the dollar as a reserve currency in favour of the precious metal.

China currently owns the largest foreign-exchange reserves in the world. An estimated two-thirds of the country's reserves are in dollars.

However, recently China has made no secret of its desire for a change of international monetary policy and a move away from the dollar as the world's reserve currency. China made its opinion known at the G20 summit in the United Kingdom in March and has since followed up by backing away from the dollar while quietly buying gold.

According to some reports, China's gold reserves are still not as large as those of the US or other developed countries, but they are growing.

The Chinese are also still buying dollars - just not as many.

So, how do we get into gold? As ordinary investors, there are a number of ways. In Cambodia we could buy jewellery such as bracelets, necklaces or rings. We could also buy bullion in the form of bars.

Those with trading accounts can buy into mining stocks listed on major exchanges. There are also mutual and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that specialise in gold.

The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund is the SPDR Gold Trust GLD. It can be bought and sold like shares in a stock-market account. Last week, it was on the rise before taking a pause towards the end of the week due to profit-taking and the long holiday weekend in the US.

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Trevor Keidan is managing director of Infinity Financial Solutions. Should you wish to contact Trevor send an email to tkeidan@infinsolutions.com.

Koupreys beat Laos to avenge loss

Photo by: NICK SELLS
Cambodia fly half Francois Bleriot (second left) looks to release to teammate Kham Saroeun (right) during their friendly match against Laos at Old Stadium on Saturday.

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com

Written by Ray Leos
Monday, 25 May 2009

A top-class peformance by the Cambodian Rugby Union team to overcome a tricky Laos side 24-8 Saturday at Old Stadium helped heal the wounds from a last gasp loss to them in March.

LED by the standout play of veteran fly half Francois Bleriot and young half back Phorn Bophan, an inspired Cambodia Koupreys team dominated play all afternoon, beating Laos 24-8 in their rugby friendly Saturday at Phnom Penh's Old Stadium. It was sweet revenge for Cambodia, as the Koupreys bounced back from their heartbreaking last second 8-3 loss to the Laotians in March during the HSBC 5 Nations Southeast Asia Regional Tournament.

"We wanted to make a statement today," said a beaming Cambodian No 8 Chey Sophal after the match. "People were starting to say how Cambodia wasn't so good anymore and how Laos was now so much better than us. But we played hard today, didn't make many mistakes, and we showed everyone what we can do when we put our minds to it."

Cambodia dominated play in the opening minutes, controlling the majority of possessions and spending most of their time in Laos territory. Phorn Bophan made good on two penalty kicks in the 9th and 19th minutes, giving Cambodia a 6-0 opening advantage.

Meanwhile, some ferocious Cambodian tackling kept Laos at bay throughout most of the first half, with the Kouprey defense bottling up Laos fly half Chris Mastaglio, normally a key player in the Laotian offensive attack.

Laos got their first break of the day after 22 minutes, when Phorn Bophan knocked on Mastaglio's unsuccessful penalty kick attempt, resulting in a Laos five metre scrum. However, Laos was unable to capitalise, with an offside penalty near the goal turning the ball over to Cambodia.

Laos finally got on the scoreboard in the 29th minute as Mastaglio nailed a drop goal from 12 metres, narrowing the score to 6-3.

Cambodia answered back with two minutes left in the half when a Bleriot kick from midfield sailed over the head of two Laos defenders near the 15-metre line. Kouprey captain Vannak Vireak gave chase, picking up the loose ball and tumbling in for the try, although Phorn Bophan's conversion attempt was unsuccessful and kept the score 11-3 to Cambodia at the halftime whistle.

As the second half ensued, Cambodia extended its lead close to the hour mark as Phorn Bophan booted his second successful penalty kick of the afternoon, making it 14-3.

Laos then saw a glimmer of hope, as it took the kickoff and began to move down the field with some effective kicking and inside running by its backs. At the Cambodian 10-metre line, centre Mit Oudone Keohanham took a quick pass off a ruck, found a gap, and darted into the corner for the try on 62 minutes. Mastaglio's conversion attempt failed, but the Laotians were now within striking distance, trailing by only six points.

Cambodia quickly dashed any hopes of a Laos comeback, as Frenchman Bleriot led his team quickly down the field with some sharp passing and well placed kicks.

Aussie prop Ralph McMillan capped the scoring drive in the 69th minute, as he barreled in from 10 metres to score the try, making it 19-8 Cambodia.

After Phorn Bophan missed the conversion, the Laotians took the kickoff, but were unable to pierce the Cambodian defence, as Bleriot and flanker Ut Vuthy instigated some fierce tackling.

Cambodia capped off the day's scoring with two minutes to play, as halfback Pich Ratana, who had come on to replace Phorn Bophan moments earlier, found a gap near the touchline and scampered in from 12-metres, giving the Koupreys their final 24-8 advantage.

Cambodia coach Peter Maley was effusive in his praise for the play of Bleriot and 20-year-old Phorn Bophan.

"Francois was just fantastic today," said Maley. "He ran our backline well, had some good runs, and his tackling was awesome. Bophan also did a great job. He made a few mistakes, like dropping that kick early on, but he recovered and played well."

Maley felt his team was much more effective than in the previous match against Laos.

"Our defending was excellent again today, but we also passed and supported well," said Maley. "Our backs really stepped up."

Laos coach Ian Melhuish also praised the Cambodian effort. "Cambodia had an excellent game today and we couldn't do much," he said.

"This is a great competition and I think it raises the skill levels for both teams."

Although Cambodia gained the victory, Laos retains possession of the Mekong Cup trophy for 2009 by virtue of their previous victory over Cambodia in March. The two nations will meet again for another two match series in 2010. The overall series stands at four wins for Cambodia, three wins for Laos, and no draws.

"We respect them [Laos] a lot and I think they respect us too," stated Chey Sophal. "We look forward to some hard matches with them again next year."

In the curtain raiser earlier in the day, the Laos women defeated the Cambodian women in a 10-a-side match, 15-5.