guardian.co.uk,
Friday, 21 January 2011
Financial training deal inked
Photo by: BLOOMBERG/AFP
A vendor sells fruits and vegetables at a produce market in Beijing, China. The PRC said today that its economy grew 10.3 percent in 2010 but concerns about persistent inflation sent regional markets tumbling. The announcement came as US$45 billion worth of trade deals were made between China and the US.
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 19:01 May Kunmakara
A representative from a Hong Kong-based financial industry body and training school inked an agreement with a Cambodian institute today to improve human resources for the Kingdom’s planned stock exchange.
The memorandum of understanding will see the Hong Kong Securities Institute assist the Kingdom-based Financial Institute of Cambodia by providing advice on training curriculums.
The deal also paves the way for an exchange of professors between the two institutions.
Cambodia’s FIC was established last July and aims to prepare students for a future in securities trading, according to its chairman Sorn Sokna.
Some 300 students have been attracted to the organisation so far.
“Today’s MoU is to build human resources for Cambodia, especially for the establishment and development of a stock market in Cambodia, consistent with transparency, accountability, safety, effectiveness, fairness and investor protection,” said Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon at the signing ceremony in Phnom Penh today.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia was also a signatory to today’s agreement.
Huot Pum, economics specialist at the Royal University of Law and Economics, said the exchange would benefit from more human resources training, as the securities sector was new for Cambodia.
“What we want to do is try our best to educate more and more people – as many as we can,” he said.
HKSI chairman Anthony Muh said the agreement would allow both professional bodies to improve continuous training in the finance and investment field.
“This has marked the beginning of a new phase to promote sharing of market experiences and best practices among professionals from two sides,” he said. HKSI was founded in 1998 and aims to assist students with pursing careers in the financial services industry, according to its website.
“To successfully perform our important mission, we need strong cooperation from two critical organisations [the SECC and Hong Kong Securities Institute],” said FIC’s Sorn Sokna.
Meanwhile, the SECC is also slated to hold a public consultation today to discuss what currency will be used on the stock exchange when it launches in July.
Experts have voiced support for several options, including the riel, the United States dollar, or allowing listings in both currencies.
OSK Indochina Bank country head Lim Loong Seng said he supported choosing just one currency – either the dollar or the riel.
OSK has been approved to act as an underwriter on the exchange.
In Channy, chief executive officer of ACLEDA Bank, one of four approved brokers for the exchange, has previously told The Post that he supported use of the riel.
Economic Institute of Cambodia senior researcher Neou Sieha said he supported listings in both currencies, adding the dollar would initially be the most widely used under that scheme, but would gradually be overtaken by the riel.
SECC Director General Ming Bankosal said no decision had yet been reached on the issue.
“We have not decided on a currency because we want to receive input from stakeholders first, before submitting our plans to the government for final approval,” he said today.
ISP denies blocking blog site
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 19:54 Summer Walker
Local internet service provider Ezecom today denied reports it blocked a web domain hosting popular antigovernment news blog KI-Media, while access to the site appears to have been restored for its customers.
Ezecom sent a notice to its customers today in response to press reports, denying it received a directive from the government to restrict access to any website.
The notice stated that the ISP did experience a technical problem on Wednesday which “could have potentially caused some users issues”.
It claimed the technical glitch was resolved by 8:30pm that night.
“Reportedly EZECOM Customer Service staff stated that we received a directive from the government,” Ezecom CEO Paul Blanche-Horgan said in the letter.
“As the CEO I can say, we have received no directive, nor did we block access to any websites on our service.”
KI-Media and other websites on the blogspot.com domain appeared available to Ezecom customers as of today, though users reported problems with the domains as early as Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a customer service representative for Ezecom told The Post that his manager told him to block access to the website on the government’s orders.
Naly Pilorge, director of rights group Licadho, said an additional Ezecom representative had confirmed the order with her.
The allegation was also reported in the Khmer-language press.
Naly Pilorge said today that access to KI-Media appeared to have been restored for Ezecom customers, though around five of her associates were having difficult accessing the blogspot.com domain through the Metfone ISP.
Nguyen Do, a marketing representative for Metfone, had not responded to questions as of press time.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said today that he was unaware of any order to block access to the site.
“Until now I am still in the dark about who made the order. My ministry never issued such an order,” he said.
KI-Media last made headlines in December, when Seng Kunnaka, a security guard employed by the United Nations World Food Programme, was charged with incitement and jailed for six months after he showed colleagues an article printed from the website – a verdict that was harshly criticised by rights groups.
The controversy also follows an aborted scheme by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to charge private companies to route all domestic web traffic through a single, state-run Domestic Internet Exchange managed by Telecom Cambodia.
The plan, announced in April, fell through after the private sector exerted pressure due to concerns such a move would hinder the sector’s growth.
TC leaders told The Post at the time that the aim of the hub plan was to give the ministry more control over web content.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY THOMAS MILLER
Mekong bridge to break ground
Photo by: Sovan Philong
Travellers cross the Mekong River by way of the Neak Leung ferry in April 2009. Officials say a new bridge will replace the ferry by 2015
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 19:11 Cheang Sokha
Prime Minister Hun Sen announced today that construction of the long-awaited Neak Leung bridge will start next month.
The construction of the bridge is being funded by the Japanese government and is expected to cost US$131 million.
The two-kilometre bridge will span the Mekong River between Kandal and Prey Veng provinces along National Road 1, which connects Phnom Penh with the Vietnamese border.
“The Neak Leung bridge is the longest, biggest and most difficult to build,” Hun Sen said today, speaking at an inauguration ceremony for a new building at the Kampong Cham provincial hospital.
Japanese Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the bridge on February 12, Hun Sen added.
While China has provided billions of dollars worth of loans and investment for infrastructure projects in recent years, Japan remains the Kingdom’s largest foreign aid donor, drawing praise from Hun Sen today.
“Japan is still the leading country in providing grant aid, equalling roughly US$130 million per year,” Hun Sen said.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said in June that construction of the bridge would be completed by February 2015.
Tokyo also provided funding for the construction of the Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge across the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh in 1993, as well as for the Kizuna Bridge in Kampong Cham province in 1999.
Earlier this month, the government announced plans to study a proposed 3,500-metre bridge – the Kingdom’s longest – and a 58-kilometre road to connect the Kampong Chhnang provincial capital to Kampong Thom province.
The proposed bridge would span the Tonle Sap river, with the project costing an estimated $180 million.
Gold fever infects Preah Vihear
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 20:12 Thet Sambath
Authorities in Preah Vihear province have banned locals from prospecting for gold along a new road leading up to Preah Vihear temple, after hundreds of fortune-seeking villagers halted work on the road for three days.
Officials said the gold fever was sparked when the road works turned up red rocks which villagers believed contained gold dust.
“We stopped people from looking for gold because they caused the road construction to stop, and construction could not happen for three days,” Om Phirom, heritage police chief at the Preah Vihear National Authority, said today.
“They thought it was gold ore but actually it was just mercury,” Om Phirom added.
“We have told them not to look for gold again, since they have blocked the road construction.”
Yim Phim, commander of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Brigade 43, said today that the crowds had been dispersed.
“There are no more people looking for gold at the road construction site,” he said.
“I don’t know if it was gold or not, but I was told they could sell it for $20 for one kilogramme.”
Hun Sen sounds off
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 20:52 Cheang Sokha
Prime Minister Hun Sen defended his oldest son’s recent military promotion and lashed out at opponents suggesting a Tunisia-style revolution could come to the Kingdom in a characteristically wide-ranging address in Kampong Cham province today.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony for a new building at the Kampong Cham provincial hospital, the premier said 33-year-old Hun Manet, promoted to a rank of two-star general in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces earlier this month, was well-qualified to serve in his new position.
“He has been military age for 16 years already,” Hun Sen said. “The military is obliged to promote in accordance with its internal framework.”
At a ceremony at the Ministry of Defence on January 3, Hun Manet became a two-star general and deputy commander-in-chief of the RCAF infantry.
He is also director of the anti-terrorism department at the Ministry of Defence and was promoted in September to deputy commander of his father’s bodyguard unit.
Hun Manet has long been groomed for an apparent leadership role.
He graduated in 1999 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his education was financed by the American government, according to The Associated Press.
He was reportedly granted one of the 10 spots that are reserved for foreign students at the military academy each year, later going on to earn a PhD in economics at Bristol University in the United Kingdom.
“Why develop human resources if you don’t put them to good use?” Hun Sen said today.
“What are we training our children for?”
At the promotion ceremony this month, Defence Minister Tea Banh, too, lauded the young officer’s credentials, pointing in particular to his West Point education.
“This school is recognised internationally for its distinction in political science, law and military affairs, and in his new position, Manet must use the skills he has learned,” Tea Banh said.
“We have to let the younger generation take over our work and ensure that our achievements are protected and that forces of evil who want to destroy our achievements are stopped.”
Hun Sen has previously stated that he does not want his son to enter politics in the future, claiming Hun Manet will instead focus on charity work and his military obligations.
Some observers, however, have seen Hun Manet’s swift rise through the army ranks as a sign that he is the chosen successor of his strongman father.
“Dynasties of this kind have happened,” said Son Soubert, a former member of the Constitutional Council.
“As for qualifications, he may be better than any other Cambodian high-ranking military [officers],” Son Soubert added. “Of course, it can be viewed as nepotism because he is the son of the prime minister, and other Cambodian citizens should be entitled to be sent to West Point.”
Another ruling party scion, Sar Sokha, is set to be promoted to the position of Phnom Penh municipal deputy police chief today in a ceremony at police headquarters in the capital, Phnom Penh deputy police chief Ben Rath said today.
Sar Sokha is the son of Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
Also today, Hun Sen lashed out an unnamed critic that he said had advocated a popular revolution in Cambodia on the model of Tunisia, where rioting and protests forced out long-time ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali last week.
“There is a guy saying that Cambodia should foment a Tunisia style-revolt. I would like to send you a message that if you provoke or foment a Tunisia style-revolt, I will close the door to beat the dog this time,” Hun Sen said, arguing that the North African nation faces “the prospect of civil war” as it attempts to hold together its fragile interim government.
“This guy, if he enters Cambodia, will face arrest. This guy has a bald head. This guy says Cambodia should look to the style of Tunisia: if you dare to gather [the people] to do that please come, don’t say such silly words … I will beat you on the head.”
It was not clear to whom the prime minister was referring.
ADDITIIONAL REPORTING BY MEAS SOKCHEA AND JAMES O’TOOLE
City restricts union march
Photo by: Heng Chivoan
Unionists march in 2009 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the killing of union leader Chea Vichea.
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 20:04 Meas Sokchea
Phnom Penh municipal authorities have granted permission for unionists to hold a march through the city in memory of slain unionist Chea Vichea, though they have imposed restrictions on where and how the group can assemble.
In a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, Koeut Chhe, deputy chief of the municipal cabinet, said 250 members of the Free Trade Union would be permitted to participate in the march, but that they would not be permitted to carry banners make public statements.
According to a report of the meeting obtained today, Koeut Chhe also said the march would be barred from passing Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house near Independence Monument, and warned that the ceremony must not be used as a platform for FTU members to make political statements.
“If the participants do not respect the above conditions, the permit holder must be completely responsible before the law,” the report quoted Koeut Chhe as saying.
Unionists march each year to mark the gunning down of former FTU president Chea Vichea on January 22, 2004, at a newspaper stand near Phnom Penh’s Wat Lanka.
Though two men were arrested in connection with Chea Vichea’s killing, they were released in 2009 and rights activists have urged the government to track down those responsible.
Authorities have also moved to break up several planned screenings of Who Killed Chea Vichea?, a 2009 film directed by American Bradley Cox which explores the unionist’s killing.
According to the Kingdom’s law on Peaceful Demonstrations, passed in October 2009, public protests are restricted to crowds of fewer than 200 people and require at least three representatives to register their identification cards with local authorities at least five days prior to the protest.
Demonstrations are also banned after dark.
Koeut Chhe could not be reached for comment today.
But Chea Vichea’s brother and current FTU President Chea Mony strongly criticised the city’s preconditions.
He said that the FTU wrote to the authorities on January 10 not to ask permission, but only to inform them that the celebration would take place, describing the restrictions as an impingement on the freedom of assembly.
“The government has always restricted democrats. We are not killers,” he said. “If they do not allow the parade, I’ll still do it.”
Chea Mony also called upon politicians from other parties to participate in the ceremony.
He declared that if Prime Minister Hun Sen wanted them to avoid his villa, he should make the demand himself.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said he planned to inform members of his party to join with the FTU during the march.
He added that the authorities’ restrictions were evidence that they were ill-prepared to provide security for the people.
“The right to freedom of expression cannot be banned except when [people] use violence and incitement,” he said.
“If the government refuses to allow the FTU to make statements, it appears to be seriously restricting the rights of the people.”
Cambodian lawyer lodges new bail appeal for Thai activist
via CAAI
BANGKOK, Jan 20 – Thailand’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed that a Cambodian lawyer has appealed to the Cambodian Supreme Court seeking the temporary release of Veera Somkwamkid, a Thai activist whose bail request was earlier rejected, saying the court’s decision is expected in five days.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, said the bail application was filed by Mr Veera's Cambodian lawyer to the Supreme Court today and the result is expected to be known within five days, the same as the previous requests submitted to the lower court.
Regarding talks between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Foreign Minister Kasit and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Mr Chavanond said the discussions focused on how to secure the release of the seven Thais and the possibilities to coordinate with Cambodia so that the court can deliver its verdict at the earliest.
The premier has instructed the foreign ministry and the defence ministry to do by all means to bring the seven Thais back home safely as soon as possible," said Mr Chavanond. “Among possible options we earlier discussed are to seek royal pardon or extradition, but it is too early to comment as no verdict is yet given."
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Abhisit said he did not want the case to be prolonged, but stated that Thailand has not interfered with the Cambodian judicial process.
The seven Thais, including ruling Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, were arrested in Cambodia Dec 29 for illegal entry and trespassing into a military area, charges that carry a maximum combined sentence of 18 months in prison.
Six of them however were released on bail and are staying at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
Mr Veera, a key activist of the "Yellow Shirt" movement, is the only one who remains detained at Prey Sar prison as he was additionally charged with espionage for attempting to gather information that could affect Cambodia's national defence, an offence punishable by up to 10 years in jail. (MCOT online news)
Malaria kills 118 Cambodians in 2010, down 75%
English.news.cn
2011-01-20
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has seen a sharp decline in the deaths from malaria last year thanks to joint- efforts from all relevant stakeholders, Duong Socheat, director of the National Malaria Center, said Thursday.
There had been about 60,000 infection cases of the disease reported last year, down 25 percent from 80,000 cases in 2009, he told Xinhua by phone on Thursday. Of the cases in 2010, 118 Cambodian people were killed, 75 percent down from 207 in 2009, he said.
"It's a sharp drop in the deaths last year, it is attributed to our joint-efforts to combat the disease through education, mosquito net distributions and treatment," he said.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease. In Cambodia, the disease is often found in rainy season and mostly happens in border provinces, forest and mountainous provinces such as Pailin, Banteay Meanchy, Udor Meanchey, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, and Kratie.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday advised the Ministry of Health to do the campaigns to eliminate malaria by 2015 or 2020.
"We had already eliminated polio in 2002, now it's time to discuss and set the deadline to eliminate malaria to zero percent," he said during the inauguration of a hospital in Kampong Cham province.
According to Cambodia's Millennium Development Goal, the country sets to alleviate the malaria fatalities to 0.1 percent by 2015, said Duong Socheat.
"Thus, Cambodia could eliminate malaria by 2020 at the latest if all relevant ministries and stakeholders join forces to eliminate it," he said.
Editor: Xiong Tong
Nations help push Cambodian hockey
Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun
Cambodian national hockey Coach Rana Asif Maqsood.
via CAAI
Thursday, 20 January 2011 15:00 H S Manjunath
The Asian Hockey Federation has pledged the best possible help to the Cambodian Hockey Federation now that there is a change of guard and a change of attitude towards the revival of the sport in the Kingdom.
The annual general meeting of the AHF, held in Kuala Lumpur last week, welcomed the reemergence of the CHF from the throes of a near extinction.
“All the procedural issues, like our membership status, were quickly resolved and we took part in the elections,” national team Head Coach and Technical Director Rana Asif Maqsood told The Post yesterday.
The coach, who represented the CHF at the meeting, also secured a place in the Development, Umpiring and Coaching committee, opening up a window of opportunity for the Federation to get a better footing in the region.
“Several counties have promised us help in their individual capacities, and the AHF will soon provide us with some equipment. It was a very fruitful meeting as far as the CHF was concerned,” said Pakistan born Maqsood.
“Thailand and Laos are keen on a three-way partnership with Cambodia and we are working out details.”
The search for a suitable practice ground in Phnom Penh is underway, but interim training sessions have been planned to start on February 5 on the sports field of Boeung Keng Kang school.
Maqsood also confirmed that two club sides from Pakistan will pay a visit soon.
Hun Sen: Cambodia Not to Follow Tunisia's Path
2011-01-20
Xinhua
Web Editor: Liu
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday he will not allow his country to follow any situation as happened in Tunisia.
Delivering speech at inauguration of a hospital in Kompong Cham province, Hun Sen said his country will not follow the same trace of Tunisia.
"I will close the door and hit the dog inside," Hun Sen said, referring to a Cambodian politician who suggested a similar example in Tunisia be practiced in Cambodia.
But, Hun Sen did not name the politician except saying he is staying abroad.
Hun Sen said he came to power through people's votes and he will only lose his power through the same channel. He became the prime minister in 1985, or 26 years since then.
Former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled the country for 23 years, was ousted from power last week following mass protests from the people. He fled to Saudi Arabia last Saturday.
Hun Sen is vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party which won 90 of the total 123-seat parliament in the last general election held in 2008.
ISTC begins Skills Exchange Programme in Cambodia
http://www.prlog.org/
via CAAI
The first-ever skills exchange program for youth travel operators begins on Monday, January 24th. The ISTC Skills Exchange brings together an existing STAY WYSE member and a hostel in a country with a less-developed youth travel infrastructure.
PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 20, 2011 – Created by ISTC* (a sector association of the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation) and based on a pilot project proposed by STAY WYSE (the WYSE Travel Confederation sector association for youth travel accommodation), the ISTC Skills Exchange brings together an existing STAY WYSE member and a hostel in a country with a less-developed youth travel infrastructure.
“The goal is to help hostels in developing areas around the world improve their businesses in areas such as sales, marketing, branding, strategy and operations, and by extension create more opportunities for youth and student travel. The more developed operators also benefit greatly by receiving added exposure along with opportunities to develop partnerships and relationships globally,” according to Robin Wicks, Director General of the WYSE Travel Confederation.
There’s one week to go before the inaugural project officially kicks off and the first participants – umiHotels from the UK and Rosy Guesthouse in Cambodia – have been selected and are busy with preparations.
To keep tabs on the progress of the skills exchange, ISTC and STAY WYSE have created a blog: www.istc.wordpress.com.
To participate in a future ISTC Skills Exchange, please contact Laura Daly at l.daly@wysetc.org .
*ISTC, the International Student Travel Confederation, provides a forum for the world's leading student travel providers to define student travellers' needs and to develop products and services which address students' unique travel and international education ambitions. ISTC is a founding member of WYSE Travel Confederation.
STAY WYSE is a global forum and trade association for organisations involved in youth accommodation. STAY WYSE not only prepares cutting edge research on the importance of the youth accommodation sector; it also supports members’ ability to learn from each other by offering unparalleled trading, networking, and marketing opportunities. More information can be found at http://www.staywyse.org/.
The Elephants Disappear from The Last Forests of Cambodia
Cambodia’s forests harbored in the 1990′s, when the country was at the gates of the end of a long and bloody civil war, more than two thousand copies of the elephants. Yet today, when people receive the dividends of that peace and urban development, there are only 400 elephants, due to abuse of which have been part of the population.
“For many years in villages has been persecuted and killed the elephants because they saw them as a threat to their crops and homes,” said Tuy Sereivathana, director of the Khmer Group Elephant Conservation.
The elephant approached a village to find food that will satisfy hunger waiting fatal traps made of bamboo tapered, and even acid-throwing farmers causing serious injury, explains agronomist in 2010 was awarded the Goldman Prize, considered the Nobel of the Environment. This group, associated with the NGO Fauna and Flora International, got some time to stabilize the number of individuals with awareness programs in rural areas living in some copies.
However, the country’s economic development, where builders are competing for a span of land, is now the main enemy of these animals who are deprived of natural habitat and food and water they need to survive in an environment increasingly hostile. Most of the remaining elephants in Cambodia live in the provinces of Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri in the northeast, and in the Cardamom Mountains, located to the south, two regions where mining projects threaten the country’s last forests. The development of these areas, even among the least advanced country, has further increased the value of the meter of soil and motivated the interest of national and foreign companies that seek to expand their business. This has intensified illegal logging, a business already profitable, to dispose of land to sell or grow.
London hotelier spearheads skills exchange with hostel in Cambodia
http://www.prlog.org/
via CAAI
The International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) is working with umi hotels to give Rosy Guesthouse in Cambodia a strong brand and web presence with every minute of design, consultation and marketing, donated free of charge.
PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 20, 2011 – In the first project of its kind, the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) is working with umi hotels to give Rosy Guesthouse in Cambodia a strong brand and web presence with every minute of design, consultation and marketing, donated free of charge.
Steve Lowy, Founder of the award-winning budget hotel group, umi hotels, volunteered to work with ISTC and the Association of Youth Travel Accommodation (STAY WYSE) on their first Skills Exchange Initiative which aims to encourage the development of youth and student travel providers in lesser developed countries.
On 24th January, Steve will arrive in Siem Reap to begin a busy ten day schedule of assessment, mentoring and training with the team at Rosy Guesthouse. Having built his budget hotel portfolio up from the age of 26 and becoming a Caterer & Hotelkeeper Acorn award winner three years later, he has proven his entrepreneurial talent within the hospitality field. He is keen to share his passion and knowledge to help Rosy’s succeed and is hoping to learn some new ways of doing things himself.
In advance of Steve’s trip, 2am Media, the web development partner of umi, also donated their time and technical skills free of charge to build a brand new website for Rosy’s following the re-branding of the hostel by the newly established agency, umi Marketing. Steve will also be spending Sunday coaching a local junior football team in Siem Reap, having donated some much-needed equipment purchased for the team by umi hotels.
The Skills Exchange Initiative uses the expertise of global youth travel professionals to help youth travel organisations in emerging and lesser developed countries to create commercially sustainable organisations. The exchange of skills and exposure to best practice examples will help Rosy Guesthouse promote their accommodation to travellers in advance of their arrival in Cambodia and become a more profitable business. The initiative also increases industry appreciation of the challenges that travel organisations in the developing world face.
Follow the progress of the project at http://istc.wordpress.com/.
Ex-Khmer Rouge foreign minister too ill for full-day trial sessions
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/
via CAAI
Jan 20, 2011
Phnom Penh - The defence team for the Khmer Rouge's former foreign minister said his advanced years and poor health precluded him from attending full-day sessions of Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes tribunal, a court spokesman said Thursday.
The lawyers for Ieng Sary, whose trial along with three other defendants was expected to start in the first half of this year, requested half-day sessions instead.
'Ieng Sary's age and medical problems prevent him from sitting in the courtroom for any extended period of time,' the lawyers said, stressing that their client wanted to be present during his trial.
They said the 85-year-old suffers from back problems and urological issues and cannot concentrate for long periods.
Tribunal spokesman Lars Olsen said the court would assess Ieng Sary's request.
The court last week confirmed the indictments against the four surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge, clearing the way for their trial to start.
The other three defendants are 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea, the movement's ideologue; former head of state Khieu Samphan; and the Khmer Rouge's social affairs minister Ieng Thirith.
Legal teams for Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan this week called on the tribunal to release their clients ahead of the trial.
Nuon Chea's lawyers said the court had not explained its reasons for refusing their appeal against his indictment, and Khieu Samphan's defence team said the court had held him for longer than the rules permitted.
The four, who are in pre-trial detention, face charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as an array of crimes under Cambodian law.
The four are accused of involvement in millions of deaths from execution, disease, starvation and overwork during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-79 Maoist regime. They denied the charges.
A demographic study by the tribunal estimated that 1.7 million to 2.2 million people died during that period, around 800,000 of them violently.
The genocide charge relates to the persecution of Cham Muslims and ethnic Vietnamese living in Cambodia at the time.
The accused are all elderly - aged 78 to 85 - and there are fears one or more might die before a trial is concluded. The movement's leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.
Nuon Chea is also accused of controlling the movement's security apparatus, including the notorious torture centre in Phnom Penh known as S-21, which was run by his subordinate Comrade Duch.
At least 12,273 people died at S-21, tortured and condemned to death as perceived enemies of the regime. In July, the court jailed Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, for 30 years for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Both the prosecution and Duch's lawyers appealed the ruling, the tribunal's first. Duch's appeal is to be heard in the last week of March.
DAP News. Breaking News by Soy Sopheap
via CAAI
Cambodia Angkor Air Plans to Add Two more Planes
Thursday, 20 January 2011 10:12 DAP-NEWS/BULONG
CAMBODIA, PHNOM PENH, JAN 20, 2011-In 2011, Cambodia Angkor air will introduce more fleet with two more brand new Airbus 321 that shall be increased from 3 to 5 airplanes for expanding the flights, the press release of airline said on Thursday.
It added that the new regional destinations included Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Tokyo, or Osaka (Japan) and brand some cities in China shall be added into its route development plan,” it said, adding that at the present time, CAA is offering a domestic route between Phnom Penh-Siem Reap with four flights daily and international routes between Phnom Penh- Ho Chi-Minh with two flight daily, and between Siem Reap- Ho Chi Minh with three flights daily by using two brand new ATR 72-500 turboprop planes and an Airbus A321 jet.
“To ensure its fleet well maintained at the highest level of safety and reliability, CAA received comprehensive technical support from Vietnam Airlines,” it noted.
It continued that in 2010 tried to offer its services with 6,100 flights and 5,500 flying hours with absolute safe and secure to all its passengers. A total flights and 329,293 passengers were carried which 106,995 passengers and 222,298 passengers were flown by domestic fight and international flights respectively. An average of its load factor for each flight was 60 per cent.
Cambodia Seeks Role of Courts and Arbitration in Labor Dispute Resolution
Thursday, 20 January 2011 10:06 DAP-NEWS/PISETH
CAMBODIA, PHNOM PENH, JAN 20, 2011-Cambodia on Thursday conducted the workshop on seeking the role of courts and arbitration in labor dispute resolution, which the country so far has not had the labor court.
“ It aims at promoting better understanding of the role of the Arbitration Council in labour dispute resolution and discussing the role of courts in recognition and enforcement of arbitral decisions,” justice minister Angvong Vathana quoted by the press release from the arbitration council.
This seminar is organized by Arbitration Council Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice. This seminar will be the first ever session between arbitrators and sitting judges and prosecutors from over Cambodia with a renowned arbitration and mediation expert sharing history and development of arbitration and court recognition of the system in the US.
Cambodia is on the way of creating the commercial court and labor court.
Amherst group heads to Cambodia for water project
via CAAI
By: Nancy Pierce
January 19, 2011
Courtesy Peacedevelopmentfund.org
Sokha and Ny Mao are a couple on a charitable journey. As maintainers for Housing and Residence life at the University of Massachusetts Sokha and Ny left with friends on Jan. 5 for Cambodia in hopes of seeing the progress of a project they were compelled to start back in 2003.
According to Mary Sayer, long-time-friend and once a co-worker to the Maos, Sokha and Ny Mao fled from Cambodia to the United States as refugees in 1981 as a result of the mass genocide under the Pol Pot regime. In 2003, the couple, now residing in Amherst, returned to their homeland. Sayer said they were appalled by their former home’s horrid conditions and were inspired to take action. With the help of Sayer and neighbors Ruth Hazzard and Claude Pelletier, the Maos formed the Cambodia Water Project.
This project raised almost $10,000 for the purchase of over 100 toilets and the construction of ponds and wells. Some of the areas the project is involved with are Omani, Onk, Pursat, Kaodak, Prey Totand and Troh Pan Chann.
Sayer, a member on the Board of the Cambodia Water Project, was moved to join these efforts.
“I started out because I knew Ny and Sokha, and the more I read about [the project], it became something I really wanted to do,” she said.
Sayer befriended the Maos while working with them 19 years ago at the Common School on South Pleasant St. in Amherst.
She said, since the mass genocide, which wiped out a quarter of the population, a lot of the villages were destroyed and as a result, a lot of the people fled Cambodia.
“People with skills were either refugees or killed, so there was very little expertise on rebuilding,” she said.
Because of the devastation in Cambodia, Sayer wanted to give back.
She explained that she, along with the rest of the board, communicates with monks in the villages to identify what the people need. The board then figures a budget from the money they raised that year to map out a plan. Sayer emphasized they encourage substantial input from the people of Cambodia in need. Not only are the native villagers working on the projects as volunteers, but they also have a very active role in requesting what their community needs. “We don’t feel it’s up to us to tell them how to do the project,” said Sayer.
Sayer said the objective for the trip that many of the members are currently on is to collaborate with the monks and elders in each village to see how the existing projects are progressing. Specifically, they are checking on how the wells are holding up, as well as making contacts in attempt to integrate water filters for schools, temples, and eventually, individual homes. According to Sayer, polluted streams make water filters a necessity.
Associate Director of Administration at the Peace Development Fund in Amherst Tony Rominske has been working with the Cambodia Water Project since 2005. The Peace Development Fund is a public foundation with a focus on social justice. It manages donations for organizations and projects doing charity work. The Peace Development Fund fiscally sponsors the Cambodia Water Project.
Rominske lauded the Cambodia Water Project as “one of the most effective projects that PDF works with in regards to use of their funds.” He also praised the project’s determination to work on projects appropriate for the village they’re working on.
“They don’t spend any money in the US. All the money goes to villages for such things as wells, water ponds and toilets,” he said.
When asked how the grant process works, Rominske explained how any organization that wants to be approved by Peace Development Fund must be reviewed by its board of directors.
“We really want to support those projects that are working with the community,” he said.
The Cambodia Water Project, approved by Peace Development Fund in 2005, met this criteria.
Nancy Pierce can be reached at npierce@student.umass.edu.
Thai lawyers not allowed to defend 7 Thais in Cambodia
via CAAI
January 19, 2011
The Lawyers Council of Cambodia has turned down a request to replace two Cambodian lawyers defending the seven Thais facing prosecution in Phnom Penh with Thai lawyers, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
The request was made by legal advisors of Thailand Patriots Network (TPN), an aggressive nationalistic group to which some of the seven Thais belong to, according to Thani Thongphakdi, director-general of the ministry's Information Department.
Thani told reporters that this meant the seven Thais will continue to be defended in court by the two Cambodian lawyers hired by the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
He said the Cambodian lawyers planned to petition the Supreme Court in requesting bail for Veera Somkwamkid, a TPN leader who is the only Thai still being detained, after his request for bail had earlier been rejected by an appeal court.
The other six Thais, arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec. 29 for alleged illegal entry into the neighboring country, have been granted bail and are currently staying at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
Thani said his ministry was still unclear when the court will deliver its verdict on the seven Thais.
There have been reports speculating that the court will deliver its verdict on Feb. 1.
Source:Xinhua
Colombia Foreign Minister in Cambodia to strengthen Asian ties .
http://colombiareports.com/
via CAAI
via CAAI
via CAAI
Colombia's Foreign Minister, Maria Angela Holguin, is attending a tourist forum in Cambodia to strengthen ties with Asian nations, reports Spanish news agency EFE.
Holguin is in Cambodia to participate in the Tourism Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to "advance the strengthening and diversification of the links between Colombia and the countries of the Asian Pacific."
Colombia plans to open an embassy in Indonesia and a new sales office in Singapore as a part of a strategy to revive its contacts with Asian nations, reported newspaper Dinero.
The forum will take place over the course of the week with more than 1,600 delegates from different countries with the aim of promoting tourism between ASEAN countries and other regions.
AKP - The Agence Kampuchea Press
via CAAI
New Building of Kampong Cham Hospital Inaugurated
Phnom Penh, January 20, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen presided over today the inauguration ceremony of a new building of Kampong Cham Hospital.
Equipped with up-to-date medical equipment, the construction of the new building cost over US$12 million financed by the Japanese government.
The building is part of Japan’s grants to Cambodia in contribution to the country’s reconstruction, said the Cambodian premier, adding, “This is also an important achievement in response to the local people’s need, especially those in Kampong Cham province.”
On the occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen called on health officials to pay primary attention on health education to raise people’s awareness, for example about hygiene, and the Health Ministry to do their best to reduce to maximum or to remove the financial barrier so as to provide opportunity to all people, particularly the poor to have access to healthcare services.
For his part, Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Masafumi Kuroki said this US$12-million Kampong Cham hospital improvement project is aimed at strengthening the hospital’s capacity so that it becomes a solid referral hospital in the eastern part of Cambodia. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul
______
Cambodia’s National Bank Hosts the 9th SEACEN EXCO Meeting
Phnom Penh, January 20, 2011 AKP – The 9th meeting of SEACEN Executive Committee (SEACEN EXCO) on macro-economic relation and financing was held here yesterday in the presence of Cambodia’s National Bank Governor H.E. Chea Chanto.
The meeting, with the participation from the delegates of SEACEN EXCO member countries, held a discussion on the issues dealing with the risk management coming from macro-economic relation and financing, the experiences shared by the central bank leaders of SEACEN EXCO member countries in the economic crisis with the resolution way, the actions taken for strengthening a mechanism of financing cooperation and other things relating to the economic development after the world economic recession.
In their remarks, Dr. Karunasena, executive director of SEACEN center and Mr. Andrew Filando, representative of Asia-Pacific economic secretariat elaborated on the macro-economic relation and financing matters.
In his speech at the opening of the meeting, H.E. Chea Chanto considered the meeting as a vital event, in which he said the banking and financing institutions’ leaders of SEACEN EXCO member countries, the researchers and economists gather to formulate a policy, hold talks and exchange experiences on monetary fund and fiscal management of the central bank and financing establishments, as well as take other strict actions in conformity with the mechanism and market disciplines.
This year, Cambodia’s National Bank hosted the 4th ASEAN deputy bank governors and deputy finance ministers’ conference, and then the 9th meeting of SEACEN Executive Committee (SEACEN EXCO).
In recent years, Cambodia has seen the development of banking and financing institutions, thus contributing to the national rehabilitation and development.
Three international standardized banks including CIMB, the Bank of China and the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam operated their financial business in Cambodia.
In 2011, Cambodia’s economic growth is expected to reach 6.8 percent. –AKP
By THOU Peou
______
PM Meets Colombian Foreign Minister
Phnom Penh, January 20, 2011 AKP –Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, warmly received here on Jan. 19 at the Peace Palace visiting Foreign Minister of Colombia Ms. Maria Angela Holguin.
Ms. Holguin, who is on her first visit to Cambodia, said the current policy of the Colombian government is to strengthen cooperation with the ASEAN member countries and other countries.
The Colombian foreign minister informed the Cambodian premier of the landmine problem in Colombia, and expressed deep thanks to the Royal Government of Cambodia for taking part in mine clearance in her country. She further expressed her full support to the 9th point set by Cambodia in the millennium development goal related to mine issue.
In reply, Samdech Techo Hun Sen thanked the Colombian government for sending its troops to join the peacekeeping mission in the UNTAC framework in Cambodia in 1992-1993.
The Cambodian prime minister also briefed Ms. Holguin on Cambodia’s situation from 1979 to the present time.
Concerning the landmine issue, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stressed the successive reduction of the danger of mines in Cambodia during recent years, indicating that only around 200 people are victims of mine each year, against 1,000 in the previous years, and this figure would reach zero in the near future. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul
______
ANZ Bank Director: Cambodia, a Model in Weathering Financial Downturn
Phnom Penh, January 20, 2011 AKP – Australia’s ANZ Bank Director has regarded Cambodia as a model in weathering the global financial crisis with the least impact, and said the Bank was prepared and committed to contribute to the country’s national development.
Mr. Mike Smith was speaking in Phnom Penh Wednesday while meeting with Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, according to Mr. Ieng Sophalet, assistant to the prime minister, who told reporters afterwards.
He informed Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen that the ANZ Bank would like to play an important role, especially in the financial sector, in Cambodia. He further said the Bank was successful in Cambodia and was expanding more branches.
For his part, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen welcomed the good progress of the ANZ Royal Bank in Cambodia, saying that in time of preventing and promoting the macro-economy while the world is facing the financial downturn if the ANZ Royal Bank had any problem, that would lead to the collapse of the other banks and would bring about the difficulties for the Royal Government of Cambodia.
He asked the ANZ Royal Bank to continue more active participation in the financial sector, and said that the Royal Government’s need is the brain resources which the Bank could take part in sharing some ideas or initiatives through the Government and Private Sector Forum.
Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen also expressed his sympathy to share the problem caused to Australia by the recent flood. –AKP
Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul
Article in English by CHIM Nary
______
France To Continue to Assist Cambodia’s Health Sector
Phnom Penh, January 20, 2011 AKP – The French government will extend, through its embassy in Cambodia, some 800,000 Euro to support Cambodia’s human resource training in the field of health from 2011 to 2013.
French Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Christian Connan told Health Minister H.E. Mam Bun Heng during their meeting here on Tuesday.
The Cambodian health minister thanked the French government for having assisted Cambodia in the field of health, particularly in human resource training by providing scholarships to Cambodian medical students to continue their studies in France, in assisting Pasteur Institute of Cambodia in infectious disease research, and in strengthening health system at the grassroots level, etc.
France has played an important role in Cambodia’s health sector, he stressed.
The French diplomat expressed his government’s determination to continue to contribute to the development of Cambodia.
On the same day, H.E. Christian Connan and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports H.E. Im Sethy signed a framework convention, which enables Cambodia to implement the bilingual educational program for additional three years, from 2011 to 2013. –AKP
By KHAN Sophirom
______
AKP New Website Launched
Phnom Penh, January 20, 2011 AKP – The Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) on Wednesday launched its new website (www.akp.gov.kh) under the witness of Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith.
On the occasion, AKP also signed a MoU on ICT cooperation with MekongNet company, which is part of the Angkor Data Communication Group.
The MoU was signed by H.E. Ouk Kimseng, press advisor to the Ministry of Information and AKP deputy director general, and Mr. Sreang Tito, CEO of Angkor Data Communication Group.
AKP is the only Cambodian national news agency, which particularly broadcasts news on the real situation in Cambodia, especially the country’s development in three languages: Khmer, English and French. –AKP
Article in Khmer by PAL Son
Article in English by SOKMOM Nimul
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)