Weekly highlights

via CAAI

Published: 14/01/2011

The foolhardy adventurism of seven Thais remains the talk of the town two weeks after their arrest by Cambodian soldiers. Meanwhile in Bangkok, business owners at Ratchaprasong intersection can no longer tolerate the red-shirt protests and ask the UDD to give them a break.

The border intrusion saga involving seven Thais who were caught by Cambodian forces before the year's end took a turn for the better, but only slightly, when the Phnom Penh Municipal Court decided on Thursday to release two of the detainees on bail.

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh put up one million riel, about 7,500 baht, for each of them - Democrat MP for Bangkok Panich Vikitsreth and Ms Narumol Chivarattana. They were released on the condition they must not leave Cambodia and must report to authorities when summoned.

Mr Panich and Ms Narumol have taken temporary refuge at the Thai embassy.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya disclosed that a group of Cambodian border crossers held in Thailand were sent home in return for the release of the two Thais.

The other five Thais, including Veera Somkwamkid, a leader of the Thai Patriots Network, a splinter faction of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, were still being detained at Prey Sar prison in the Cambodian capital on charges of illegal entry and trespassing on a military area. Mr Veera and Ms Ratree each face an additional charge of spying.

Yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid (centre left) and Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth (centre right) are escorted by Cambodian police at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Jan 6, 2011.

The seven were arrested while on a trip they said was to investigate alleged intrusions into Thailand near a border village in Sa Kaeo province by Cambodian people. A video clip posted on YouTube showed Mr Panich, talking with a man via mobile phone and admitting that his team was on Cambodian soil. The inspection trip led by Mr Panich had the blessing of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Meanwhile in Bangkok, members of the Thai Patriots Network (TPN) led by Chaiwat Sinsuwong rallied in front of Government House Thursday to demand the resignation of Mr Abhisit and Mr Kasit. They threatened to block the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border crossing, which is a major trading post for Thais and Cambodians alike. Besides, the Cambodian border town of Poipet boasts several casinos which attract thousands of Thai punters, especially on weekends.

But TPN members will face stiff resistance if they carry on with their threat to shut the border checkpoint. Some 1,500 local people from several districts of Sa Kaeo province staged a rally Thursday at Muang district to protest against the TPN, which was later reported to have cancelled the protest.

On the political front, the main spotlight of the week was on the conflict between the Democrats and their coalition partners over a single issue in the charter amendments bill which passed the first reading in the parliament and which narrowly won the endorsement of the constitutional amendments scrutiny committee by only 18 votes to 17 on Tuesday, with the chairman casting the deciding vote.

The issue is about the proportion of constituency and party list MPs in the House of Representatives. The amendments bill seeks to change the ratio from 400 for constituency MPs and 80 list MPs to 375 and 125 respectively. The coalition parties, minus the Democrats, want the seating formula to revert to the 400 and 100 formula specified in the previous constitution of 1997.

The minor coalition parties, which include Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana and Puea Pandin, argue that the 375 plus 125 formula will benefit only the Democrats, as it will help them win more party list seats.

After their proposed formula was outvoted in the constitutional amendments scrutiny committee led by Democrat MP Therdpong Chaiyanant, Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart of the Chart Thai Pattana Party told reporters that he was confident that their formula would, in the end, be accepted.

So far, the Democrats have stuck to their guns and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has been assigned to discuss the matter with the coalition partners.

The opposition Puea Thai Party has supported the dissenting coalition parties’ formula although they have boycotted the government’s charter amendments bill from the very beginning. The party wants to revive the 1997 charter with changes made to the chapter regarding the Privy Council.

Another significant event of the week was the rally on Tuesday by some 2,000 business operators, vendors, employees and residents at Ratchaprasong shopping district against red-shirt protests, which they say have seriously affected their lives, businesses and livelihood generally.

The Ratchaprasong Square Traders Association said that red-shirt protests during March and May last year caused big losses for some 2,000 business operators, to the tune of 11.2 billion baht, and that the protest on Sunday Jan 9 this year alone cost them about 100 million baht in lost sales.

RSTA wants the red-shirts to protest elsewhere and the government to find a suitable location for future gatherings by all political groups. The traders also called on the government to accelerate the passing of a law on public gatherings to ensure that such activities do not cause hardship or inconvenience to other people.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva

A discussion is under way between representatives of the red-shirt movement and the Ratchaprasong business operators about the next protest, scheduled for Jan 23, at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Another topical political issue of the week was the government’s nine New Year "gifts" for the Thai people announced by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last week as part of the government’s ambitious Pracha Wiwat programme.

The nine gifts are; continued free electricity for households which use less than 90 units a month; credit arrangements for taxi drivers to buy new cars; social security coverage for informal workers; registration of motorcycle taxi-drivers so they are freed from having to pay under-the-table fees to loca mafia; additional trading spots for vendors; and the freezing of the price of LPG for home and transport sector use.

Criticism of the handouts range from borrowing future money to curry favour from voters ahead of the coming general election and putting the burden on future generations, weakening the Thai people to the extent that they will have to depend on government handouts, and potentially bankrupting the economy.

Among the critics was Privy Councillor Kasem Wattanachai, who voiced serious concern over the populist policies. He said that politicians all over the world are of the same mould – that is, they care only about getting votes in an election.

NPP: Revoke Thai-Cambodian MoU

via CAAI

Published: 14/01/2011

The New Politics Party has called on the government to revoke the memorandum of understanding on the border signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 and to press Cambodia to release the five Thais still detained at Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh.

Representatives of the New Politics Party, founded by the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, went to Government House on Friday morning to submit a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

They demanded the government revoke the 2000 MoU on the Thai-Cambodian border and the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Commission, as they believed Cambodia violated Thai sovereignty.

They wanted the Cambodian government free all seven arrested Thais unconditionally.

The seven, including Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and yellow-shirt activist Veera Somkwamkid, have been charged with trespassing on Cambodian territory and intruding into a military zone on Dec 29.

Two of the seven - Mr Panich and yellow-shirt member Narumol Jitrawarattana - have been released on bail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.

Mr Veera, who has previously been arrested for illegal entry into Cambodia, and a woman, have also been charged with spying.

Three More Thai Detainees In Cambodia May Be Released

via CAAI

BANGKOK, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- The Phnom Penh court is expected to grant bail for temporary release to three more Thai detainees in Cambodia -- after two out of the seven Thai detainees in the Cambodian capital were released on bail on Thursday.

However, bail is unlikely for Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipatanapaibul, who were additionally charged with espionage.

All the seven Thai nationals -- who were arrested by Cambodian soldiers in a border area on December 29 -- were charged with illegally trespassing onto the Cambodian soil.

Two of them, Panich Vikitsreth, a Bangkok MP of the Thailand's ruling Democrat Party, and Naruemol Jitwaratana, were first granted bail by the Cambodian Court Thursday.

Both of them are staying at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, Thai Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said that the Royal Thai Army has sent its public relations officers to talk with local people in Sa Kaeo Province who oppose activists of Veera's Thai Patriots Network plan to rally at the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint in the province to protest against the Cambodian arrest of the seven Thai people, as the Royal Thai Army does not want to see Thai people clash with one another.

The situations along the Thai-Cambodian border in Aranyaprathet district and other areas have, however, remained normal.

Thai Navy chief-of-staff Admiral Thakerngsak Wangkaew said that naval officers of the Navy's Chanthaburi-Trat Task Force have also conducted naval patrols along the border in areas under their jurisdiction.

He confirmed that relations between Thai and Cambodian navies have been good, and that both sides have regularly visited and informed each other of their movements in advance.

Thai demonstrators call for tougher stand against Cambodia

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

via CAAI

Jan 14, 2011

Bangkok - Several hundred Thai protestors gathered at Government House and the Defence Ministry in Bangkok Friday to demand a tougher stand against Cambodia for its arrest of seven Thais along the two countries' border.

The demonstrators called for the resignation of Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan for allegedly failing to respond adequately to the arrest of the seven Thais by Cambodian authorities on charges of trespassing on Cambodian territory on December 29.

The protestors identified themselves as members of the Thai Patriots Network, which had earlier planned to march along the border near the Thai town of Aranyaprathet to voice their outrage at the Cambodian government.

'For the time being we won't go to Aranyaprathet,' said Thai Patriots Network leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong. 'But our duty still remains.'

Chaiwat insisted the seven arrested Thais, including member of parliament from the ruling Democrat Party Panich Vikitsreth and Veera Somkwamkid, an activist in the nationalist movement known as the yellow shirts, had been on Thai territory when they were detained by Cambodian troops.

During an earlier court hearing in Cambodia, Panich's lawyer said he had been visiting a border village 'to address the complaints of [Thai] villagers,' adding that the villagers had alleged that a border marker had been moved by Cambodians to encroach on Thai territory.

The protestors' proposed protest march along the border has been strongly opposed by the Thai government and by residents of the area who depend on cross-border trade for their livelihoods.

Earlier Friday, representatives of the New Politics Party, an offshoot of the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy, submitted a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva demanding that he revoke a border agreement signed in 2000 due to alleged violations of Thai sovereignty by Cambodian forces.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday criticized the Thai Patriots Network and its allies for playing politics with the already volatile Thai-Cambodia border situation.

'Although the patriots have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, they are obligated not to cause any disruptions to the people,' Suthep said.

Thai FM Urges Cambodia To Speed Up Legal Process On 7 Thai Detainees

via CAAI

TIMOR-LESTE, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya urged Cambodian authorities to speed up legal process on seven Thais arrested for illegally entering Cambodia and move on with numerous tasks on bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

During his visit to Timor Leste on Thursday, Kasit gave the comment after two of the seven Thais were granted bail by Cambodian Court, that Cambodia could quickly resolve the case, as it was not a matter of serious crime, and that Thailand was ready for a swift settlement after it had made forthright clarifications.

He said previously in the past 3-4 months, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had already met with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen four times, and therefore, the case of the seven Thais should not hinder bilateral cooperation.

Kasit is on an official visit to Timor-Leste for the first time since assuming his post, where he was welcome by Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta, and is scheduled for courtesy calls with Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President of the National Parliament Fernando de Araujo, on Friday.

The Thai Foreign Minister's agenda for discussion during his Timor visit include bilateral cooperation in the fields of technical assistance, fishery, education and energy, together with conveying Thailand's support for Timor-Leste's prospective Asean membership.

After the Timor-Leste visit, Kasit will attend the Asean Ministerial Meeting Retreat in Lombok Island of Indonesia starting from Saturday, during which he will hold a sideline meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong.

Cambodia's Khmer Rouge leaders ordered sent to trial after indictments upheld

via CAAI

By Associated Press

January 13, 2011

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal has refused to drop indictments against four former senior members of the Khmer Rouge, rejecting their appeals.

The tribunal says Nuon Chea, the Khmer Rouge's chief ideologist; Khieu Samphan, its head of state; Ieng Sary, its foreign minister; and his wife Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs, were ordered Thursday to be sent for trial. Court officials have suggested the trial would start midyear.

Charges against the four include crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and murder, torture and religious persecution. An estimated 1.7 million people died under the Khmer Rouge's rule in the late 1970s.

The regime's chief jailer was convicted last year of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Cambodia grants bail to two Thais

via CAAI

The Nation (Thailand)

Publication Date : 14-01-2011

Cambodia should free the rest of the Thai detainees now that Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth and yellow-shirt activist Narumol Jitrawarattana have been released on bail Thursday (January 13), Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya said.

Panich and six yellow-shirt activists, including Veera Somkwamkid, were arrested late last month while allegedly inspecting the disputed border area near Sa Kaew province's Ban Nong Chan town.

They are being prosecuted in Phnom Penh for unlawfully entering Cambodian territory and a military zone. Veera and his aide Ratree Pipatanapaiboon face additional charges of espionage.

The Thai embassy covered the bail of one million Cambodian riel or 7,500 baht (US$246) for each individual released from the Prey Sar prison yesterday, and provided them with accommodation. Panich and Narumol need to remain on Cambodian soil so they can appear in court when summoned, Kasit's secretary Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said.

A request for the bail of all seven Thai nationals was filed on Monday and the court is considering each on a case-by-case basis.

"We want all seven (to be freed on bail) and hope the court makes a decision soon," Kasit told reporters. "Thai people would like to see this incident come to an end soon, because the two countries have many other things to do that are mutually beneficial."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called Panich to provide him moral support and assure him that the government was working hard for their safe release. The Democrat MP did not speak to reporters waiting in front of the Thai embassy, while Narumol allowed his photo to be taken.

Despite Panich and Naurmol getting temporary release, things did not calm down back home as more members of the yellow-shirt Thai Patriots Network joined the rally in front of Government House and the foreign ministry.

They demanded that Abhisit, Kasit, Chavanond and Thai ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasasvinitchai step down for failing to secure the detainees' release.

A group of protesters surrounded the foreign ministry, blocking the gates for hours. The ministry's permanent secretary, Theerakul Niyom, instructed officials to leave the premises via a secret door, but the protesters found out and blocked it too.

Theerakul later had a hole dug in the wall so officials could make their way out until the police arrived and negotiated with the protesters.

Later, the yellow-shirt protesters threatened to shut down the border checkpoint at Sa Kaew's Aranyaprathet district if the government did not move to get their colleagues released. This threat was met by more than 1,500 local residents gathering in front of the Aranyaprathet Municipality Office, voicing their opposition to the "patriots" closing the border because it would affect trade and tourism.

Cambodian vendor Huan Sey, who regularly crosses over to make purchases in Aranyaprathet, said Poi Pet residents were worried that the border closure would affect businesses.

"We have more than 100 million baht ($3.28 million) worth of goods in Thai warehouses waiting to cross the border," she said, adding that many of her fellow vendors had decided not to trade Thursday because they were not unsure about the situation.

Commander of the Burapha task force Valit Rojanapakdi, who oversees the border area, also called on the yellow-shirt group to desist from shutting down the border as it could worsen the situation and lead to clashes with local residents. "If they really care for the country, they should not be pressuring the authorities in this manner," he said.

Buying Cambodia’s killing fields

 via CAAI

12 january, 2011

Producer Jo Mathys recording an interview for Crossing Continents' Cambodia: Country for Sale

Crossing Continents reporter Mukul Devichand describes his trip to Cambodia to try to understand why global investors are suddenly fighting to snap up cheap fertile paddy fields from poor villagers, who claim they are being exploited and intimidated.

“There aren’t meant to be any landmines here,” says my producer Jo Mathys.

We’ve followed the rulebook on operating in potentially unsafe environments and made several checks before driving to this remote village in Cambodia’s far north.

But sometimes, even the best checks only get you so far.

Outside the car window is a very large flag with a skull and crossbones – the international symbol for mines.

It’s a clear warning, do not tread here.

New conflict

______________________

Journalistically, this is the most difficult part of the assignment. While there are no end of non-governmental organisations eager to take us to villages where they claim there was wrongdoing, the business community - perhaps understandably - are wary of foreign reporters.

Crossing Continents reporter Mukul Devichand

______________________

Land mines are just one of the perils of reporting in Cambodia.

But as we travel around the country making an edition of Crossing Continents – the BBC radio documentary series on world affairs – it soon dawns on us that much of what goes on here relates to recent history and a very painful conflict.

The country fell under the rule of leader Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge party from 1975-9, whose ‘social engineering’ policies resulted in the deaths of an estimated two million people. And for more than a decade after that, the Khmer Rouge were locked in a guerrilla war with the new, Vietnamese-backed government.

Twelve years after Pol Pot’s militia finally collapsed, we’re here to look at the way the government has opened up the country’s land to private and foreign investors.

These measures have resulted in a new type of conflict. Today villagers are saying that they’re being displaced so that their land can be sold.

Investigating allegations

Back in the car, with the skull and crossbones still staring us in the face, there’s a long and uncomfortable pause as Jo, myself and our local colleague Yin Soeum make calls and speak to locals in Khmer and English.

Crossing Continents reporter Mukul Devichand

We ascertain that the path to the village we are visiting is, in fact, landmine free and well trodden.

Indeed, the warning sign turns out to be a part of the story.

Mines have now been cleared here, but it only happened when a private company took over the village’s land to turn it into a sugar plantation.

And we are here to investigate claims that these villagers have been forcefully evicted by the company.

Fallout from history

So we get out of the car and set out on the long walk to O’Batman village, led by locals through the humid afternoon air.

There’s not much to look at when we arrive. The burnt out shells of the villagers’ old homes are behind a perimeter fence, guarded by armed police.

The villagers say they were chased out and their houses set alight by authorities, shortly before a Thai investor acquired the land.

Investors often say villagers like these are ‘squatters’, because they don’t have documents to prove they own the fields being taken over.

Land being built on by developers, photographed while recording the programme

And technically they are right because the Khmer Rouge, deciding to turn back the clock to ‘year zero’, burned all land deeds back in the 1970s.

So, just like the land mines, this current conflict is a direct result of the fallout from Cambodia’s painful history.

Uncomfortable moments

A few days later, back in the capital Pnomh Penh, Jo and I are in the more congenial surrounds of the Metro Cafe.

It’s a favourite place for casual business meetings and the best venue in town to meet investors from abroad.

We’re keen to know what these investors think, so we take it in turns to strike up conversations with bemused-looking foreign businessmen, using our smatterings of Hindi and Mandarin, as well as English.

Journalistically, this is the most difficult part of the assignment. While there are no end of non-governmental organisations eager to take us to villages where they claim there was wrongdoing, the business community - perhaps understandably - are wary of foreign reporters.

After a number of dead-end conversations, I finally strike gold.

Winners and losers

Producer Jo Mathys recording street sounds for the documentary

The next morning I'm in a motorcycle rickshaw on the way to meet George, a Chinese Malaysian investor.

He introduces me to Liv Sokhpetra, his local business partner. Aged 28, having already made millions of dollars in land and other deals, this intriguing man (who goes by the nickname 'Petra') becomes a big part of our documentary and an indicator to what Cambodia's new elite really thinks.

Petra transports us around in his own four-wheel drive.

He maintains he has never 'grabbed' land, but acknowledges there are many losers in the new investment rush.

"It's just too bad for them," he tells me.

Like every Cambodian, he's seen much pain in his own lifetime and any form of change is welcome.

Khmer Rouge Defendants To Remain in Custody for Trial

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Friday, 14 January 2011

via CAAI

Photo: AP

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia, (ECCC).

“If the trial keeps getting delayed further and further, Nuon Chea's lawyer team will find ways to ask the court to release our client on bail.”

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the Khmer Rouge tribunal has affirmed the indictments of four regime leaders and determined it will keep them in provisional detention ahead of trial.

The court said in a statement Thursday it has officially “ordered the accused persons to be sent for trial and to continue to be held in provisional detention until they are brought before the Trial Chamber.”

The announcement means no claims by the defense to end the trial process were admitted by the chamber.

Four seniors leaders—Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith—are awaiting trial for atrocity crimes, including genocide, with the trial process expected to begin later this year.

Lawyers for the accused say their clients have been detained past the maximum three-year period allowed by law.

“If the trial keeps getting delayed further and further, Nuon Chea's lawyer team will find ways to ask the court to release our client on bail,” defense attorney Son Arun said.

The three-year pre-trial detention period expired at the end of 2010, but the rules of the court are open to some interpretation.

Phat Povsean, a lawyer for former social affairs minister Ieng Thirith, said the defense can only argue about court procedures to the Trial Chamber, but the Pre-Trial Chamber's decision is final.

Officials Begin Asset Declaration to Counter Corruption

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 14 January 2011

via CAAI

Photo: AP

Cambodia is ranked No. 154 of 178 countries for corruption by Transparency International

“The asset declaration is a legal measure to prevent corruption.”

More than 100,000 government officials have begun the task of asset declaration, a secret process required by the new anti-corruption law aimed at helping in investigations.

Government ministry officials have until March to add up their worth and send it to anti-corruption authorities, as the country tries to tackle a deeply ingrained culture of graft.

“The asset declaration is a legal measure to prevent corruption,” said Keo Remy, spokesman for the National Anti-Corruption Council, which, along with the separate Anti-Corruption Unit, was formed by the new law as well. “The asset declaration is made in secret, a first and historic condition to safeguard each official’s physical and mental safety, and particularly the country’s political stability.”

Officials from the rank of undersecretary and chief of department up are to fill in declaration forms, which include property listings, to make future auditing for corrupt practices easier.

Nov Sowatharo, secretary of state for the Ministry of Information, said the process was not complicated. It required filling out two sets of forms and putting them into two envelops.

“We filled out the form secretly,” he said. “After closing the envelops, we give it to the ministry's agent, who submits ministry officials' declarations to the Anti-Corruption Unit.”

The ACU then takes the envelops, stamps them with a seal and returns one copy to the owner.

Sean Borath, deputy chief of the ACU, said no one has the authority to open the envelops, unless an official is suspected of corruption. The sealed declaration then becomes part of an investigation and is opened.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party, said the secret nature of the declarations means less transparency and the potential for abuse. “I believe that a secret asset declaration has little effectiveness,” he said.

Keo Remy said secret asset declaration was built into the law, which passed last year after decades of drafts and delays. The law provides punishment of up to 15 years in jail for the worst offenses.

Supporters of the law say it will help improve Cambodia's poor corruption record. The country is ranked No. 154 of 178 countries for corruption by Transparency International.

The light of enlightenment

via CAAI

Friday, 14 January 2011 15:01 Heng Chivoan

Manh Loy, the 85-year-old keeper of Prasat Porthilom at Wat Ounalom in downtown Phnom Penh, lights incense before placing it in front of a Buddha statue at the temple. Wat Ounalom, established in 1422, is one of Phnom Penh’s five original monasteries.

AKP - Agent Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

PM Receives Chinese Company’s President

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received here yesterday Mr. Lu Wen Jun, president of the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation, in charge of the construction of Stung Tatai Hydropower Dam in Koh Kong province.

During the meeting, Mr. Lu Wen Jun told Samdech Techo Hun Sen that this hydropower project will be completed by the end of 2013. He also informed the Cambodian premier of the power distribution project around Phnom Penh city and he is committed to accelerate this work.

In reply, the Cambodian prime minister praised for the Chinese company’s efforts. Regarding the power distribution network, he recommended Mr. Lu Wen Jun to work with the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also reiterated the support of the royal government to the contribution of private companies in establishing power distribution network.

The construction of Stung Tatai Hydropower Dam, in Thmar Baing district, Koh Kong province, begun Wednesday in a groundbreaking ceremony presided over by Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

China National Heavy Machinery was granted with a 42-year investment concession with five years projected for the construction of 246-megawatt Stung Tatai Hydropower Dam at the estimated cost of US$540 million, and the rest 37 years for business operation. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHIM Nary

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

Cambodia, Vietnam To Spend US$1.5 Million for Topographic Border Map

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – The Cambodian and Vietnamese governments have agreed to spend some US$1,528,333 for a Danish company to produce both countries’ Topographic Border Map.

The contract for the production of the map was signed here yesterday by H.E. Var Kimhong, Cambodian senior minister in charge of border affairs and chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam joint border committee; Mr. Ho Xuan Son, Vietnamese deputy foreign minister and chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia joint border committee; and Mr. Claus Poetzsch, Director International Business at BlomInfo A/S, a land surveying company from Denmark.

The mapping process will conclude in July 2012, said H.E. Var Kimhong, adding that the new maps will help the two countries to have a clear border with friendship and development.

Cambodia and Vietnam share the common border of 1,270 kilometers with 375 border markers. –AKP

By KHAN Sophirom

Two Arrested Thais Released on Bail

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – Two of the seven Thais arrested near the border on Dec. 29, 2010 were released on bail on Jan. 13 by Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Thai Democratic Party lawmaker Panich Vikisreth and house keeper Naruemol Chitwaratana were released temporary, but they are not allowed to go outside Cambodia while under investigation.

The seven Thais were arrested by Cambodian border protection army at the border pole No. 46 in Chok Chey village, O Beichuan commune, O Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. They were charged on Dec. 30, 2010 for illegal entry into Cambodia and bandit deed to enter military base.

Of the five Thais remaining in custody awaiting trial, Veera Somkwamkid, a core member of Thailand Patriot Network, and Ratree Taiputana Taiboon, known as Veera’s woman secretary, faced additional charge of an attempt in “collecting information which might damage Cambodia’s national security”. –AKP

By SOKMOM Nimul

TVK To Product Documentary Film on Dancing Across Borders

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – The National Television of Cambodia (TVK) is planning to produce a documentary film on Dancing Across Borders to broadcast on TVK’s screen.

TVK will cooperate with Mrs. Anne Bass, director/producer of art documentary films and Silapak Khmer Amatak (Cambodian Living Arts) Organization to produce this documentary film, TVK Director General H.E. Kim Kunnawadh told reporters upon the meeting between Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith and Mrs. Anne Bass here on Jan. 12.

Cambodian Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith expressed his support to this documentary film making project, stressing that it will show Cambodia’s image not only in terms of intangible heritage such as ancient temples, but also in other fields, H.E. Kim Kunnawadh said.

During the meeting, he added, Mr. Hoeun Prin, assistant to Mrs. Anne Bass and managing director of Silapak Khmer Amatak Organization, said he is seeking partners to organize a festival between April and May 2013 in New York, Paris and Tokyo to show Cambodian culture, arts and the firmness of Cambodia’s field of arts.

The event will also include film projection and a conference on Cambodian tangible and intangible arts, Mr. Hoeun Prin indicated. –AKP

Article in Khmer by HUN Yuth Kun

Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul

CRC Gives Donation to Poor People in Banteay Meanchey

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) President Mrs. Bun Rany Hun Sen paid a visit on Thursday to 2,052 families of HIV/AIDS patients, orphans, disabled and elderly people in Banteay Meanchey province.

On the occasion, the CRC president also gave donation to those families coming from five cities and districts of Banteay Meanchey and medicine to provincial referral hospitals.

Mrs. Bun Rany Hun Sen said the donation is the contribution from local and overseas charitable people. –AKP

By SOKMOM Nimul

First Ever Library for Prisoners To Be Established

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP – The prisoners at Prey Sar prison located in the southern part of Phnom Penh will have access to a library to be established soon with the support of NGO SIPAR.

SIPAR will provide 4,000 books related to culture, agriculture, trade, history and health, etc. to this first ever library, said Mr. Chhoeung Cheng Hak, SIPAR reading development program coordinator.

The US$30,000 library is a SIPAR’s pilot project with an aim to create the culture of reading in all places, he said, adding that the project is based on the “right to education of all people”.

For his part, Heng Hak, director general of the Prisons Department of the Ministry of Interior, said the library will help increase prisoners’ knowledge and morality so that they will not commit infractions again.

According to Mr. Heng Hak, there are over 14,000 prisoners in different prisons throughout the country. –AKP

By LIM Nary

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

Cambodia Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen meets here on Jan. 13 with a delegation of CHMC (China National Heavy Machinery) led by its president Mr. Lu Wen Jun.

In the meeting, Cambodian premier has offered Mr. Lu to work with Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Mine and Energy over the electricity line project.

Photo: Chey Phum Pul

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister H.E Keat Chhon, Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance accompanied by his ministry officials pays a visiting tour in this week at sugar can factory in Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel district.

Photo: Hun Yuth Kun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

A signing agreement on Cambodia-Vietnam Boundary Map Publishing was signed yesterday in Phnom Penh by H.E Var Kimhong, Border Committee President of Cambodia, H.E Ho Yuan Son, Vietnam’s Foreign Deputy MinisterAnd Mr. Claus Poetzsch, Representative of publishing company BLUM.

Photo: Hun Yuth Kun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

The Leadership of Agence Kampuchea Presse receives here today H.E Kazi Imtia Hossain, Bangladeshi ambassador to Cambodia. The Bangladeshi diplomat wishes to promote relationship between Cambodia and Bangladesh through news media. The AKP leadership accepts the initiative and welcomes any cooperation with Bangladeshi government’s news agency.

Photo: Hun Yuth Kun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

A workshop on Anti-Measles Vaccine Contribution Raid to the children from age of 9 to 59 months in the capital was held today here by Phnom Penh Health Office.

Photo: Ouk Sakheoun

AKP, Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011

A plenary session for the total work of education in 2010-2011 and setting up the work direction for 2011-2012 of Preah Sihanouk Province was held on Jan. 12 under the presidency of Mr. Keo Lay, Head of Provincial Education Office.

According to the session, there are 38 classrooms of kindergarten school with 1048 children, 72 primary schools with 29,912 students and 26 secondary and high schools with 9,460 students.

Photo: Ngo Sovann, AKP-Preah Sihanouk

Seven Thais Detained for Trespassing and Intrusion Must Face Cambodia’s Legal Process to go through its motions

Phnom Penh, January 14, 2011 AKP–(Editorial)

Some Thai ultra-nationalists, including the Thai Yellow Shirt members are trying to mislead their own people and the world public by insisting that Cambodia is politicizing the case of the seven Thais who had intruded into sovereign Cambodian territory intentionally. They are deliberately and systematically embarking on a mission to mislead and hoodwink people that the Thais were arrested on their side of the border when the detained Thais had self incriminating evidence which proves beyond doubt that they had intentionally and deliberately trespassed into Cambodian territory.

The arrested seven includes a Democratic Bangkok lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth. The Thais cannot even get their act together. While the yellow shirts claimed the seven were arrested in Thai territory, others argued that the group, including a leading member of the Thailand Patriot Network, Veera Somkwamkid, was apprehended on the disputed area.

Irrespective of what the misled and misinformed Thai agent provocateurs are claiming and spreading malicious rumors, the cold hard truth remains and cannot be changed or altered to suit political expediency or change its factual data to suit Thailand’s internal and domestic political agenda. The facts are indisputable. Video and documentary evidence, including that of the Thai military themselves that the seven had intruded well into Cambodian territory and had even ignored Thai military efforts to stop.

The fact remains that that the seven had intruded not meters but 1.2 kms into sovereign Cambodian territory on December 29, 2010 and had videotaped themselves while doing so, a self incriminating act which cannot be disputed as witnessed the world over, including Thailand. To be explicitly clear, the seven they were apprehended 1.2 km inside Cambodian territory in O’ Beichoan commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province.

They did not only enter Cambodia illegally, they also trespassed into a Cambodian military base there. For those who are unsure of what had transpired and happened with the seven, they should take steps to learn more about the factual situation on the ground before making noises as empty vessels makes the most noise. Thus, it is worthwhile to recall the video clip of Panich’s conversation with his secretary alias Q, quoted verbatim as saying “we are now in Cambodian territory but do not tell anyone else “or let” others know about it, only the PM knows. Tell him to be quiet about this. If there is something happening, I will coordinate/make contact. Tell him (PM) we have crossed.” In one part of the third video, Veera said “Let’s go, if we go there, we will get arrested for sure.” These video footages, which have been well published by national and foreign media, were captured by one of the seven Thais who was detained in Cambodia. Their activities were also confirmed by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya who said that the seven were inside Cambodian when they were arrested. Cambodia’s chairman of the joint border committee, Var Kimhong, said that the area visited by the seven Thais had already been demarcated.

So there was no doubt that that Cambodian forces or authorities had crossed the border into Thailand and grabbed the seven just to detain at Prey Sar prison because, if the Cambodians were to have done that, the roles would have been reversed and Cambodian authorities/forces would have been in Thai prisons and accused of trespassing. The group, which was led by the Veera and Panich, are the main instigators of anti-Cambodia actions and should blame themselves for violating Cambodia’s sovereignty. Now the ball is squarely in the court’s hand and the seven Thai suspects, including journalists, have to face Cambodia’s law and legal procedures. This cannot be circumvented or violated.

The seven have been charged with illegal entry under the immigration law and fraudulently entering a Cambodian military area under the newly enacted penal code. If convicted they would get between three to six months imprisonment in addition to up to $500 in fine.

The trial court of Phnom Penh also charged Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon with espionage given the fact that they intruded into a sensitive Cambodian military zone an attempted to collect information that could affect Cambodia’s national defense. The offence of espionage carries up to 10 years imprisonment if convicted.

Although the suspects admitted that they were on Cambodia’s land, according to their lawyers and investigating judge, still some Thai nationalists did not accept the truth since they have misguided political tendencies. These deficiencies, stroked by foolish ultra nationalism prompted them to hold mass rallies to pressure the government to secure the release of the detainees. My words for the Thai ultra nationalists is that the political move by deliberately mixing public opinion with politics, including petitions earlier this month to the United Nations office representative in Bangkok, will not help you to solve this problem given the fact that the case is purely related to Cambodia’s immigration and penal law, which is nothing to do with the international issue.

We are sure the Thais and others would have heard what Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said “no one can intervene in the judicial system, neither the government nor foreigners, nor Cambodians”. So it is best for the misguided Thais to refrain from internationalizing the issue and leave it to Cambodia’s court to finish with the judiciary procedures and allow the law to take its due course.

It would also be worthwhile to recall that PM Hun Sen said that the Thai suspects could not expect early release if they are found guilty. However, a golden opportunity for the convicts is that Cambodia’s government could consider whether they should be pardoned or not after the convicts will have serve two thirds of their sentences. So leave the court to fully exercise its legal power, which must be respected and no one should attempt to intervene in the judicial system. Cambodian court procedures are not different from those of the Thai courts and that no one should put pressure on the court and I personally am of the view that the case of the seven Thai suspects does not affect the bilateral relations of our country. Even the Thai Prime Minister has declared that he would not comment much since it is currently under consideration of Cambodia’s judicial system.

I am however surprised by the comment of the Thai New Politics Party secretary-general who was quoted in The Bangkok Post on Jan 5 that the different set of facts over the seven Thais could benefit Cambodia. This is ridiculous to me because the Thais themselves had created the current problems and instead of showing remorse, were trying to take the upper hand on Cambodia, meaning that the Thais had intentionally intruded into Cambodia and even had the audacity to inform the Cambodian border officials ahead.

I am convinced that the case will not reignite the diplomatic row between the two ASEAN neighbors and I hope our two countries will maintain good bilateral relations for peaceful co-existence while and protecting each other’s rights and sovereignty. As Abhisit said that it is the government’s duty to do everything possible to bring the seven Thais back to Thailand without any effect on the country’s sovereignty. Now you can see that even the Thai PM assured his people that they would be O.K, so maybe the Yellow Shirt activists do not have to worry much by organizing or holding rallies from time to time as this is a clear waste of time and a weak attempt to pressurize Cambodia’s courts.

At the same time these Thai Yellow Shirt activists and their allies should stop their rallies as such acts will instigate social unrest which would not bring any benefit to your country. If I were the Yellow Shirt, I would rather focus on my daily business and wait and see how the Cambodian court will rule at the end of the day. You should not worry about your people who are being detained in Cambodia because they are well treated like Cambodian detainees as you have seen that relatives and friends of the detainees and Thai veteran politicians have been allowed to visit them in the detention centre while the court continues investigating the case. Their rights are fully respected by Cambodia. The court is merely doing its job and they would receive a fair trial. Last but not least only the accused can tell why they were there. Either they intentionally intruded into the area or were told to do so—given the fact that Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit was aware that the Democrat law maker Panich had gone to the border area of Prachin Buri. But what made Panich lead the team to Sa Kaeo province instead. This is a question which only the Thais can answer. Even Panic himself told Abhist’s secretary over cell phone that “it is difficult for the (Thai) government to help when they were arrested if he and six others were in Cambodia”.

So, Panich, who was formerly an assistant to the foreign minister, is well aware about the border issue given his past work which dealt with the disputed border with Cambodia. He was telling the whole world that he had crossed Cambodia’s border intentionally. More than that he has reportedly entered Cambodia’s territory before in the past as to what Cambodia’s Foreign Minsister Hor Namhong elucidated by saying said that Veera had illegally crossed into the same area twice before in July and September last year, but did not penetrated as deeply into Cambodian territory until his group was arrested in late December. So what one can ask what is his real agenda behind his illegal and unlawful entry into Cambodia?

By Ek Madra (AKP contributor)

Mixed reaction to graft inquiries

Photo by: Khem Sovannara

Moek Dara, secretary general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, as seen in this file photo from 2008.

via CAAI

Friday, 14 January 2011 15:02 James O'Toole

WHEN the Kingdom’s anticorruption law finally passed last March after years in the making, its reception varied predictably across the political spectrum.

Ruling party officials hailed the legislation, with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An calling it “an effective tool to fulfill a serious duty for government and society”. Others lamented the lack of public consultation on the law and worried about the independence of the newly created Anticorruption Unit.

“We are very disappointed, and I think that this anticorruption law will become a law defending corruption,” Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said at the time.

In a statement released in October, the international watchdog group Global Witness said there were “serious flaws” in the government’s anti-graft strategy, claiming the new legislation “will not stop high-level offenders”.

Ten months on from the anticorruption law’s passage, however, the government has shown a willingness to target senior officials. This week, the ACU announced two of its highest-profile probes yet, with the arrest of Banteay Meanchey provincial police chief Hun Hean and detention of Moek Dara, secretary general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs.

Yet even with such prominent targets in the ACU’s crosshairs, observers are divided on whether the government’s effort is a genuine attempt to combat graft or a simply ploy to further concentrate power in the hands of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“It can be a smokescreen for a kind of internal fighting,” said Son Soubert, a political observer and former member of the Constitutional Council.

He pointed to 2009, when then-Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Ke Kim Yan was pushed out of his post in what was seen by many as a strike by Hun Sen against the faction of Senate President Chea Sim and Interior Minister Sar Kheng. The moves against Moek Dara, who serves under Ke Kim Yan with the latter’s new posting as head of the NACD, and Hun Hean, a police chief in a region that has traditionally been associated with the Chea Sim faction, may represent further partisan maneuvering, Son Soubert said.

“It’s the logic of this kind of regime that one of the clans has to overcome the other one,” Son Soubert said. “The rumours of internal in-fighting may be true.”

SRP lawmaker Son Chhay was unwilling to speculate on the government’s motives in the two cases, but said the ACU’s efforts were assuredly not indiscriminate.

“The anticorruption body is not independent; everybody knows that, so the action that takes place has to be selective,” he said. “The prime minister makes the final decision on that.”

Son Chhay allowed that the probes announced this week could spook some crooked officials into falling in line in the short term, but he said that ultimately, the Kingdom’s entrenched networks of patronage would ensure immunity for the well-connected.

“Until people respect the law and don’t worry so much about powerful people, things will not change in terms of corruption, in terms of illegal activity in Cambodia,” he said. “The message of using one or two people to scare the rest is not going to work.”

Others say the ACU’s latest investigations show it is gaining momentum for a sustained anti-graft push.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan called the government’s efforts “a new chapter in Cambodian history”, saying this week’s cases were the consequence of systemic reform.

“This year, 2011, the government wants to address all activity related to corruption. We have a law, we have a unit to implement the law, so it’s a message to tell everyone to [stop] corrupt activity,” he said.

Phay Siphan noted that roughly 100,000 government officials are expected to take part in an asset declaration process over the next two months, though the disclosures will not be public. In November, the ACU arrested Pursat provincial prosecutor Top Chan Sereyvuth on corruption charges, while in December, it released a report naming 30 low-level tax officials that had allegedly overcharged motorists during road tax collection.

Last January, Hun Sen announced what he said was a crackdown on officials involved in illegal logging. The effort was subsequently trumpeted by subordinates and provincial officials, but one year on, no prominent members of government have been prosecuted.

Son Chhay said the largely cosmetic logging crackdown was not a promising precedent, though he added that the premier’s past rhetoric indicates that he may take drug-related cases, in which Moek Dara and Hun Hean are reportedly involved, “more seriously”.

“We welcome that, but we’re hoping that these actions will be firm and will look seriously at any particular abuse of power,” Son Chhay said.

Cambodian Centre for Human Rights president Ou Virak said yesterday that for the moment, it was still “too early to tell” what the implications of the government’s recent efforts would be.

“With an arrest, we’ll have to assume that they’re all still innocent until a court proves them guilty,” he said. “It looks to be a positive step, but I think certainly a first step. Certainly, we’ll have to have more steps to come.”

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY THET SAMBATH AND SAM RITH

Pursat dispute: Six villagers summoned to court

via CAAI

Friday, 14 January 2011 15:02 May Titthara

Pursat dispute

SIX villagers in Pursat province’s Krakor district have been summonsed to court after local conglomerate Pheapimex Group filed a complaint accusing them of destroying private property, villagers said yesterday. The six, from Ansar Chambak commune, are due to appear in court on Monday in connection with the long-running dispute, which began in 2008, when Pheapimex began bulldozing land for development.

Village representative Sok Chan Roeun said he was surprised to receive the summons. “We didn’t do what they have accused us of and do not have enough time to find a lawyer,” he said. “We have to ask [the court] for a delay”.

One villager, Lach Sarun, said he suspected that Commune Chief Lanh Sithon gave villagers’ names to Pheapimex. Lanh Sithon denied the claims. “I am not involved in reporting villagers’ names to the company,” he said.

In November, 12 villagers from four communes in Krakor district were summonsed to court after Pheapimex filed a complaint against them. Pheapimex - owned by Choeung Sopheap, the wife of ruling party senator Lao Meng Khin - was granted a 315,028-hectare concession to develop land in Kampong Chhnang and Pursat. Pursat deputy provincial governor and Pheapimex representative Ty Kimtok could not be reached for comment.

KR tribunal set for Case 002 hearings

via CAAI

Friday, 14 January 2011 15:02 James O'Toole

THE Khmer Rouge tribunal is set to proceed with its historic second case, the court said yesterday, with judges having ruled on the defendants’ final pre-trial appeals.

The court’s investigating judges issued indictments in September against former Khmer Rouge Brother No 2 Nuon Chea, foreign minister Ieng Sary, head of state Khieu Samphan and social action minister Ieng Thirith. The quartet face a raft of charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

Yesterday, the court said in a statement that the case had been cleared for trial despite challenges to the indictments by lawyers for the defendants, who represent the most senior surviving members of the Democratic Kampuchea regime.

“The Pre-Trial Chamber has ordered the Accused Persons to be sent for trial and to continue to be held in provisional detention until they are brought before the Trial Chamber,” the court said.

The court has said the trial will begin in “the first half of 2011”, but has yet to set a specific date.

“The Trial Chamber will decide the timeline when they have been seized of the case,” United Nations court spokesman Lars Olsen said. “The main thing now, of course, with this decision, is that now all things here at the court will be about preparing the trial.”

In ruling on the defendants’ final appeals, the Pre-Trial Chamber amended the indictment only slightly.

The PTC judges ordered that the alleged crimes against humanity in the indictment be specifically linked to an armed conflict taking place during the time they were allegedly committed.

They also ruled that the rape charges in the indictment did not exist in international law as crimes against humanity during the time they were allegedly committed, though they said this offence fell under the general category of “other inhumane acts” within the legal definition of crimes against humanity.

Released SRP activist must resign: official

via CAAI

Friday, 14 January 2011 15:02 Meas Sokchea

OPPOSITION Sam Rainsy Party activist Tuot Saron has been ordered to give up his post as chief of Pongro commune in Kampong Thom province’s Baray district, after being freed from jail on royal amnesty last month.

Baray District Governor Hak Mov Seng said yesterday that he will refuse to let Tuot Saron resume his duties unless the Ministry of Interior issues an official letter reinstating him. He said he has demanded that Tuot Saron return his rubber stamp, a means of ratifying official documents.

“Tuot Saron cannot hold a rubber stamp any more. I will not allow him to do anything at all and if he stamps documents, we will refuse them,” Hak Mov Seng said.

During the run up to national elections in 2008, Tuot Saron was imprisoned for abducting and illegally holding an SRP election candidate against his will.

Rights group Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience and he received a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni in December.

Hak Mov Seng said that under Article 16 of the law on commune management, council members must give up their posts in case of imprisonment for either a crime or misdemeanor, making Tuot Saron ineligible to be commune chief.

However, Pongro commune Deputy Chief Dam Mon refused the order from Hak Mov Seng, saying it is illegal unless ordered by the Ministry of Interior.

Tuot Saron said on Wednesday that he has the right to serve his people as commune chief, and that the Ministry of Interior did not restrict any of his rights following his release from prison.

“I am no longer a prisoner. The government and the Ministry of Interior have not issued any letter removing me from my post. The word of pardon means that everything must be restored,” he said.

Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, confirmed that unless banned by the ministry, Tuot Saron should be allowed to remain.

If the district governor wishes to remove Tout Saron, he must contact the ministry, Sok Sam Oeun added.

City downgrades plans to build Boeung Kak flyover

via CAAI

Friday, 14 January 2011 15:02 Khouth Sophakchakrya

PHNOM Penh municipality has amended plans to build a flyover linking Russian Boulevard with the Boeung Kak lake development zone, officials said, in a bid to reduce the number of families affected.

According to the results of the monthly City Hall meeting on January 4, which was uploaded to the municipality’s website yesterday, the US$7 million flyover – set to displace 50 families – has been downgraded to a standard road that will only affect 19 families in the area.

The families, in Village 3 of Daun Penh district’s Srah Chak commune, will be evicted at an undetermined date.

Ean Narin, acting director of the municipal Department of Public Works and Transport, confirmed yesterday that the planned 50-metre high, 400-metre long sky bridge, known as R6, will be replaced by a standard road.

He added that he did not know specifically when construction on the project would start, as it was still in the planning phase.

“This plan was changed to a simple street which is 30 metres wide because it will cut down on the number of resident’s houses that are affected,” he said. In a statement dated January 11 and posted on City Hall’s website today, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema said the city would pay $8,000 in compensation to each of the 19 displaced households.

He added, however, that residents who were “stubborn-headed” and refused to leave would be taken to court.

Or Siheang, a 57-year-old villager who has a six-by-17-metre house along Russian Boulevard that will be destroyed by the proposed development, said that the $8,000 compensation offered was far from enough to buy a similar plot of land in Phnom Penh.

“How can I accept such a small amount of money?” she said. “This amount of money can’t buy a good plot of land in Phnom Penh. I need the authorities to offer compensation of at least $40,000.”