Water woes

Siem Reap’s water shortage is angering business owners.

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Friday, 25 March 2011 15:01 Thik Kaliyann and Michael Sloan

Daily dry season interruptions in Siem Reap’s water supply look set to continue indefinitely, according to Water Supply Authority officials.

Siem Reap Water Supply Authority deputy director Soum Kounthea told 7Days that water cuts lasting from one to three hours each day have been imposed on homes and businesses in a large swathe of downtown Siem Reap due to an increase in consumer demand during the dry season.

“The water shortages were not caused because of mistakes on our part, but are due to weather conditions and the limitations of water production facilities in the province,” Soum Kounthea said.

Supplies from Siem Reap’s main water plant in Teuk Vil village are not sufficient to keep up with demand.

Deputy general director of the Water Supply Authority Chan Seng La said: “In 2012 a new water plant owned by the KTC Korea Company will be up and running and [will be] capable of supplying an extra 17,000 cubic metres of water per day. Until then the Water Supply Authority is exploring ways to supply customers with water from Tonle Sap Lake.”

KTC was given permission by the Cambodian government to construct and operate a water treatment plant six kilometres from Siem Reap town in December 2010. But the privately owned treatment plant, which draws water from the Baray reservoir, will not come online until 2012 at the earliest, providing little comfort to Siem Reap residents and business owners facing ongoing shortages.

X Bar manager Carlo Tarabini said the on-off water supply was frustrating when trying to run a business. “The cuts seem to happen during our busiest hours of operation in peak season. It happens so randomly we’ve had to keep a large bin full of water near the bar and ration it.”

Some bar and restaurant owners have even taken to installing water tanks to maintain supplies to their businesses.

Chan Seng La explained he has recently been contacted by customers unhappy over cuts to their water supply, but is unable to offer much assistance. “Whenever people call about the problem I explain the reasons behind it, and offer advice on what they should do while waterless,” he said. “I tell them to store water while it’s on and use that when the supply is cut.”

Tarabini finds the reliability of the water supply in Siem Reap has failed to improve in recent years, despite a recent price increase. “I wish they’d let people know which areas are affected. You see workers tearing up streets and pipes but there’s no notice about anything.”

A meeting held two months ago between business owners and Siem Reap’s governor Sou Phirin at the Pacific Hotel discussed the issue of water reliability, which Miss Wong bar owner Dean Williams sees as an important step in resolving the problem.

“For the previous two years the problem had existed but we’d received no information from authorities. This was the first time the issue was addressed in a public forum and it was a really positive step.”

Despite still facing ongoing problems with water reliability, Williams said maintenance carried out on the town’s water infrastructure is having a gradual effect. “The problem is still on and off but it appears to be getting better. The pipes in our street were recently torn up and replaced and I’ve noticed an increase in water pressure as a result.”

Man About Town: 25 Mar 2011

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Friday, 25 March 2011 15:01 Peter Olszewski

HOTEL SCHOOLS COOPERATE

Two luminaries of the heady international hospitality industry were to be in town, flexing their wrists in preparedness for signing a memo of understanding tomorrow morning at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort.

The two high-profile signatories were to be Paul Dubrule, the French co-founder of the Accor group which owns the Sofitel hotel chain, and Michel Rochat, the general director

of L’Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.

The historic memorandum was scheduled to set the agenda for a harmonious and productive working relationship between Siem Reap’s Paul Dubrule Hotel and Tourism School, and L’Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, one of the world’s leading hotel management institutes.

But late Monday evening, Rochat announced that he had to pull out of the trip due to an emergency crisis at the school in Lausanne.

The all-important cooperation between the two schools will go ahead, and Paul Dubrule School director Gerald Hougardy will fly to Switzerland in a fortnight to oversee the signing of the MOU.

Meanwhile, the inestimable Paul Dubrule himself is in town and ready to head the school’s annual bike rally on Sunday morning.

Dubrule’s attendance at the rally is becoming a tradition and this is certainly fitting seeing that in 2002, at the age of 68, Dubrule travelled just over 15,000 kilometres by bicycle from the French town of Fontainebleau to Siem Reap, partly to attend the grand opening of the school that bears his name.

NO VACANCY CONFERENCE

CAMBODIA and Siem Reap will figure significantly in No Vacancy, one of Asia Pacific’s leading accommodation industry conferences. The first Southeast Asian No Vacancy conference will be held in Bangkok on June 7, the day before the start of Thai Travel Mart.

No Vacancy has been running annually for the past five years in Sydney, Australia and is strongly supported by leading hoteliers, online travel agents, technology suppliers and industry groups.

Founder Martin Kelly told Man About that Cambodia and Siem Reap will be very much on the agenda, and that he is scouting around for Cambodian speakers to feature at the conference.

Interested Siem Reap parties can contact Kelly by emailing martin.kelly@traveltrends.biz

RAIN, RAIN, COME AGAIN

UNSEASONAL but very welcome rain deluged Siem Reap on Monday night, washing away the dust that’s such a problem during the dry season. It also set off a festive carnival-like atmosphere along the banks of the Siem Reap River early on Tuesday morning as hundreds of Khmer netted thousands of fish that were a bounty from the unexpected rain. In turn, large crowds gathered by the riverbanks to watch the fishing folk haul in their catches of small, slithering silver fish.

Included in the catch were silver-painted bananas that mysteriously appeared in the river over the weekend and which, before being identified, prompted an alarm that there had been a damaging fish kill.

Man About was on the river at dawn on Sunday morning to investigate, only to discover that what appeared to be a large patch of decidedly

dead floating fish was actually the aforementioned silver-painted bananas.

And speaking of rains, rivers and water, its good to see on these pages that this year, Siem Reap authorities have been very open in discussing why the town is yet again plagued with cuts to the water supply.

While we all appreciate the explanations, and now realise that the cuts are obviously planned beforehand, the plea to the authorities is to inform the public in advance of water cuts.

PEDOPHILE UPDATE

CONVICTED and jailed Siem Reap pedophile Nick Griffin has been the subject of close scrutiny in the Welsh media, where accusations have been made that he raped a boy while working in Wales.

This allegation was reported this week in Wales on Sunday, which said that during his time in Wales, Griffin was a fisheries manager and Scout leader in Llangollen, and that police are in investigating the claims that he allegedly raped a boy while running the Scout group in North Wales.

According to Wales on Sunday, North Wales Police told the publication that they took the allegations “very seriously”.

Charity volunteers who worked with Griffin in Siem Reap also told Wales on Sunday “of the disturbing behaviour they witnessed”.

The paper also quoted Sally Sayer, regional director of Volunteer Project Overseas, who lives in Siem Reap.

The publication reported that she said she had become concerned about 53-year-old Griffin and the orphanage more than a year ago.

The paper quoted her saying: “I didn’t have much to do with him at the start, but then in January last year I took over as project manager and I had a huge amount more to do with him.

“It was then that I started to look at things and think things were a bit odd.”

Rob Hamill pursues brother's torturer

ROB HAMILL: Wants to meet war criminal

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BEN STANLEY

Last updated 13:08 25/03/2011

A continuing desire for a face-to-face meeting with the man responsible for the killing of his brother will send Rob Hamill back to Cambodia today to attend an appeal hearing for a Khmer Rouge war criminal.

Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, was sentenced to 35 years in prison by a United Nations-backed tribunal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last July, after he had pleaded guilty to crimes against humanity, war crimes, premeditated murder and torture.

Duch, 67, confessed to the torture of more than 12,000 people – among them Mr Hamill's brother, Kerry, in 1978 – before they were executed during his tenure as chief of the notorious S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Duch's defence lawyers claim he was not the most responsible senior official at S-21.

The prosecution has also appealed the length of Duch's sentence, which they want extended to 45 years.

Mr Hamill, who lives in Te Pahu, addressed the war criminal in court in Phnom Penh last year, but now wants an opportunity to speak to him "face-to-face".

Emails to Duch's defence team have not received replies but Mr Hamill remains resolute, saying he would attempt to speak with Duch's representatives again while in Phnom Penh.

"There's more to it than him just agreeing to meet."

Mr Hamill believes Duch had an opportunity to "walk away" from S-21 or stop what was happening at the infamous torture camp.

"He didn't do a Schindler's List when he could have," Mr Hamill said.

"He could've got out of there and helped people ... but he didn't."

Mr Hamill expects it "could take months" before a new sentence is confirmed or denied.

The appeal begins on Monday and will last four days.

Mr Hamill is currently making the final edits to a documentary about his brother and his search for justice for Kerry's death.

Entitled Brother Number One, it is expected to be released later this year.

Women in Garment Factories Help Cambodia Out of Poverty

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By Marwaan Macan-Markar

PHNOM PENH, Mar 25, 2011 (IPS) - Cambodia’s rise out of poverty continues to depend on the nimble fingers of young women like Khiev Chren.

She has spent the last three years in a garment factory on the outskirts of this capital city, churning out clothing for international name brands such as Levis, Dockers and GAP. "This is my first job and I need the money to help my family in the province," the 23-year-old said, barely pausing as her fingers guided the left leg of a white trouser under the needle of her electric sewing machine.

Around her rose a hum from nearly 2,000 sewing machines, behind which sat women stitching garments from jeans to shirts, in a well-lit cavernous hall. "This is a more secure job than working in the rice fields back home," Chren admitted, alluding to the hardship of life in her rural-rice-growing province of Takeo, south of Phnom Penh.

The increasing dependence on women like Chren for this Southeast Asian country’s journey out of poverty was brought home Monday by the World Bank’s ‘East Asia and Pacific Economic Update’. "Garment exports registered a 24 percent growth in 2010 after shrinking 20 percent during the 2009 [global financial] crisis," the international financial institute revealed of the main driver of Cambodia’s fledgling export economy.

"Two of Cambodia’s growth drivers rebounded faster than expected," the Bank added in its assessment of the country’s economy, referring to the garment and footwear sectors. "As a result, some 55,300 new jobs have been created by both industries in 2010, recovering most of the jobs lost during the 2009 economic downturn."

Women in this country of 14 million have benefited from this windfall in new jobs, amplifying the trend in the garment sector from the time it set its roots in the mid-1990s helping Cambodia recover from decades of conflict, genocide and occupation - which ended with the 1991 Paris peace accords - and extreme poverty. Today, the face of the 320,000 workers in the country’s 270 garment factories remains a feminine one.

The garment factories, which serve as a base for this country’s limited industrial sector, are also pivotal as an employment magnet for the bulging youth population. Nearly 35 percent of the population is between 10 and 24 years old, earning this country the distinction of having the biggest youth population in Southeast Asia, according to U.N. estimates.

It is the labour of the female workforce, in fact, that has contributed to over 70 percent of export earnings from garment sales to markets in the United States and Europe. In 2008, before the global financial crisis, exports earned 4.07 billion U.S. dollars, dropping to 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2009 following the crisis - which saw U.S. markets shrink. But by last year, the export market, led by garments, had rebounded, with earning inching close to 4.6 billion U.S. dollars.

And the monthly income of the female labour-force - above 90 U.S. dollars - has been a significant element in helping alleviate poverty in a country still ranked among the world’s 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that Cambodia, which has a third of its population living below the poverty line, will fall short of meeting a 2015 global millennium development goal (MDG) of slashing by half the number people who had been living on less than one dollar a day in 1990.

In rural Cambodia, where close to 85 percent of the population live, the number of people living below the poverty line was as high as 43 percent of the population in 1994, but had dropped to 34.79 percent prior to the 2009 financial crisis. It is a drop for which the garment sector earns kudos.

"The garment factories have been an equaliser in alleviating poverty in rural Cambodia," says Tumo Poutiainen, chief technical advisor of Better Factories Cambodia, a special initiative to ensure high labour standards involving the International Labour Organisation (ILO). "Women come to work in the garment factories not just for themselves, but to send money home."

The remittances that the 350,000 garments factory workers sent home prior to the crisis helped two million people in rural areas, ILO estimates reveal, not counting the additional 150,000 jobs the factories spawned on the fringes of Phnom Penh creating a "secondary economy".

Better Factories Cambodia has been hailed by labour rights activists as an answer to sweatshops, a still persistent reality in countries that Cambodia is competing with to produce cheaper garments, such as Bangladesh. Such economic rivalry, which also involves garment factories in Vietnam, has intensified following the end of the multi-fibre agreement, an international quota system for garments, at the beginning of 2005.

Investors from South Korea and Malaysia are leaders in the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) to this country, much of it helping to bolster the garment and the telecommunications sectors. The garment industry grew at a rate of 44 percent annually between 1997 and 2007, helping the economy hit an impressive 8.2 percent annual average growth rate during that decade.

But rural women in their early 20s who have been drawn to the city to stitch their way out of poverty have also had to pay a price. The freedom, liberty and economic independence they have displayed in their new surroundings have been rebuked by residents of Phnom Penh - including charges of "immorality".

"City residents look down on the garment factory workers. They are being accused of destroying the culture of Cambodian women," says Ly Phearak, coordinator of the Workers’ Information Centre, a non-governmental organisation championing the cause of garment workers. "They expect the women from the village to live according to their traditional and conservative rules, and not feel empowered, more confident." Ignored, as a result, is the life of vulnerability these single women face in a new environment. "These workers need social protection and care to grapple with issues like nutrition, labour rights, and HIV," asserts Chrek Sophea, a former garment factory worker. "Few want to say thank you to these workers for helping Cambodia’s economy improve."

Cambodia and Thailand agree to UNESCO meeting over damaged

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Thailand News.Net

Thursday 24th March, 2011

Representatives of Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to a United Nations-sponsored meeting to discuss ways to safeguard the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage List site that was damaged during border clashes between the South-East Asian neighbours earlier this year.The two sides will meet at the Paris headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 25 May, the agency reported this week.The agreement follows a recent mission to Cambodia and Thailand by Koi;chiro Matsuura, UNESCO's Special Envoy for Preah Vihear, who met with the prime ministers of the two nations and other senior officials.UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said in a statement that the main aim of the discussions on 25 May will be "further dialogue on the effective conservation of Preah Vihear." An 11th-century Hindu temple, Preah Vihear was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008 in recognition of its outstanding universal value. Considered an outstanding example of Khmer architecture, it consists of a complex of sanctuaries linked by pavements and staircases on an 800-metre-long axis.Ms. Bokova said she has also been briefing both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the latest developments.

The Cambodian Student Society of California State University, Long Beach, has been around a long time. It was started in 1959 by a group of Cambodian exchange students.

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Indonesia awaits call to monitor flashpoint

Published: 25/03/2011

Newspaper section: News

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' plan to send Indonesian military observers to the disputed Thai-Cambodia border has stalled as it awaits approval from Bangkok and Phnom Penh, according to Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kusuma Habir.

At the Asean meeting in Jakarta last month, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to accept Indonesian observers to the flashpoint section of the border where heavy fighting erupted in February.

But more than a month later the observer teams remain in Jakarta.

"We're still waiting for further approval from both countries before we can proceed to the area," Ms Habir said.

The observers had not received their operating orders and did not even know where they would be posted or for how long, she added.

"We hope that we will receive their approval as soon as possible," Ms Habir said.

The Indonesian foreign affairs spokeswoman's remarks came after the Thai army asserted earlier this week that Thailand does not need foreign troops to be deployed.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday supported the army's stance of opposing Indonesian observers being deployed to the disputed area.

Mr Suthep, who is in charge of national security, said Thailand has to try its best to protect its sovereignty.

But Mr Suthep said the demand that foreign soldiers should not be deployed to the disputed area before the Joint Border Committee (JBC) talks was not the right move.

The talks could be held anywhere and Indonesia, as a third country, could send representatives to observe the meeting.

Earlier, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said he wanted the JBC to take place without the participation of a third country. Moreover, the JBC meeting should be held either in Cambodia or Thailand.

Mr Suthep added there has been no progress in the JBC talks because parliament has not improved the minutes of earlier JBC meetings.

The government will ask the parliament to approve the JBC minutes today, said the deputy prime minister.

"If our parliament doesn't approve the minutes, Cambodia might feel another JBC meeting is useless," said Mr Suthep.

"However, we want the discussion on border demarcation between the two countries to continue."

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon also reaffirmed yesterday that the next General Border Committee (GBC) meeting must be between Thailand and Cambodia only, without a third party present.

Gen Prawit said he had personally discussed the matter with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh.

Moreover, the Thai Defence Ministry has sent a letter to the Cambodian counterpart, asking it to call a GBC meeting as soon as possible so that the military leaders of the two countries could discuss border problems together.

The GBC is co-chaired by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia. It is separated from the JBC under the Foreign Ministry.

He said Cambodia was supposed to host the eighth GBC meeting this year. But if Cambodia was not ready, Thailand would be willing to host it.

At the next GBC meeting the two sides would discuss problems in implementing agreements over the disputed border area, security along the border, illegal labour, drug smuggling and other crime, he said.

Col Thanathip Sawangsaeng, the defence spokesman, said Gen Prawit told the Defence Council meeting yesterday that the GBC must be held in either Thailand or Cambodia only.

"However, there would be no problems if Indonesia wants to come as a listener," he quoted Gen Prawit as saying.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday distributed about 100,000 leaflets to people in downtown Bangkok to inform them of what it said were the negative consequences if parliament endorses the three JBC minutes.

The PAD earlier planned to rally in front of parliament today when the House of Representatives reviews the JBC minutes but it has changed its mind.

Long Beach Student Show Seeks To Preserve Culture

Cheang Sophinarath
Longbeach, California Thursday, 24 March 2011

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Photo: Courtesy of Cheang Sophinarath

Students at a rehearsal, about a Cambodian family living in Long Beach, California.

“I feel very happy to see Cambodian children still loving the traditions.”

The Cambodian Student Society of California State University, Long Beach, has been around a long time. It was started in 1959 by a group of Cambodian exchange students.

Last week, the society hosted its 27th annual cultural show, in an effort to continue Cambodia’s cultural traditions and strengthen friendships within the communities of Long Beach, which is home to one of the most diverse populations in the US.

The show included the traditional dance styles of Chai Yam, Chuon Por, and Apsara, along with skits that ranged from the Angkorean era and modern Cambodian life in America.

Organizers said the show was made possible by a lot of planning, and a lot of help.

“With our members, we have planned since October,” said Chhou Ou, vice president of the student association. “And since ware are a community in Long Beach, we got a lot of help, like the dance troops from the community. We got a lot of help from the community.”

The show, like the association, was a reflection of the diversity in the community. The Cambodian Student Association has members from different ethic groups, including Vietnamese and Filipinos. Many of its members were born in the US, but others come from Cambodia and beyond.

Chhou Ou, for example, was born in Phnom Penh, but she immigrated to America with her parents when she was three years old. She’s been a member of the student association for the past four years.

“We welcome anyone and we welcome everyone,” she said.

Audi Fuhr, 22, is Hungarian and Ethiopian, but he teaches Chai Yam dance and focuses on Southeast Asia for his International Studies degree.

“I started getting really interested in Cambodian, Southeast Asian, culture,” he said. “And I have become so close [to it]. All my close friends, I’ve just become so close with everyone. And I’ve seen so many interesting things, I just stay around.”

The student society and last week’s show are supported by Cambodians in the Long Beach community, as well.

“I feel very happy to see Cambodian children still loving the traditions,” said Dalin Chhay, 43, whose son was one of the performers. “My son is a Krab dancer. I asked him if he wanted to join the Cambodian club, and he liked it.”

“I really support them,” said Bopha Kanharouth, who was in the audience for the show. “I never thought that they were born here, but they could speak and perform greatly in the dance and the skits. I was so excited because I didn’t expect them to do well like this.”

Esteban Lazo Meets with Top Cambodian Government Official

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Havana, Cuba, Mar 24.- Esteban Lazo, Vice-president of the Cuban Council of State, met on Wednesday with Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, now on an official visit to Cuba.

According to a report by the National Television Newscast, the two leaders tackled several issues on the international agenda and the current situation of bilateral relations.

Likewise, Lazo -also a Politburo member- and the distinguished visitor reiterated their willingness to continue strengthening the bonds existing between Cambodia and Cuba.

Also participating in the meeting were Long Visalo, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Hay Sonnarin, Cambodian ambassador to Havana, among others, while the Cuban party was also represented by First Deputy Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina, as well as by other officials of the island’s Foreign Ministry. (acn).

At US University, a Writer Seeks His Own Path

Poch Reasey, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 24 March 2011

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Photo: by Im Sothearith

Kho Tararith, is currently enrolled in a one-year fellowship at Brown University, in Providence, R.I.

“I don’t belong to any political party, because if I did, I would lose my independence.”

Kho Tararith used to be a moto taxi driver and construction worker in Phnom Penh. Today, he’s a writer enrolled with the prestigious literary program at Brown University, in Providence, R.I.

Kho Tararith, who is participating in a one-year fellowship at the university, says he loves to write short stories and poems that examine social issues in Cambodia. He has his own way of doing things.

“I’ve had to pave the way for myself,” he told VOA Khmer. “That’s what I’m doing. I have my own style, and I write about social issues that I see. I’m an independent writer.”

Kho Tararith said he wants to maintain his independence, while at the same time promoting Khmer-language literature.

“I don’t belong to any political party, because if I did, I would lose my independence,” he said. “I’d have to write what the party boss wanted me to write.”

When his year is finished, he said, he wants to find another scholarship to continue his studies in the US. After that, he said he hopes to return to Cambodia to help young writers develop their craft.

Ministry To Seek Out Fraudulent Orphanages

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 24 March 2011

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Photo: AP

A group of Cambodian orphans gather and play while an orphanage worker looks on (File photo).

“We have the best interests of the child in mind, and at the moment we believe that many of these orphanages do not have the best interests of the child at heart.”

Cambodian authorities say they will begin inspecting orphanages across the country, following concerns that many children living in the increasing number of facilities have parents.

Unicef said this week it remains concerned with the high number of reported Cambodian orphans, around 12,000, and the multiplying number of orphanages, which have more than doubled in the five years.

The UN agency said nearly three in four children at orphanages have at least one parent. The concern is whether children with parents are being used to draw funding to orphanages.

Of the estimated 269 orphanages in the country, only 21 are run by the government, according to the report.

“We have the best interests of the child in mind, and at the moment we believe that many of these orphanages do not have the best interests of the child at heart,” Unicef spokesman Marc Vergara told VOA Khmer Thursday.

Unicef will work with the Ministry of Social Affairs and non-government groups to look into the orphanages, he said.

Lim El Djurado, a spokesman for the minisry, said inspections will take place to ensure the orphanages comply with the ministry’s standards and policies. Substandard centers will face closure or other measures, he said.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak said that while the inspections fall under the purview of the Ministry of Social affairs, his ministry was ready to help investigate and intervene in orphanages that do not comply with the law.

Tribunal Judges Keep Seats After Defense Complaint

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 24 March 2011

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Photo: AP

"The decision was “not suitable” and “not reasonable.”

Khmer Rouge tribunal officials rejected on Thursday a motion from defense lawyers to disqualify a group of judges from an upcoming trial of former regime leaders.

In their decision, five judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber said the motion lacked evidence and said they would no longer consider further similar motions.

Defense lawyers for former Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith filed a complaint in February accusing five judges—Nil Nonn, Sylvia Cartwright, Jean-Marc Levergne, Ya Sakhan and Thou Mony—of bias and corruption.

They asked the judges be removed from Case 002, which will try the three defendants, along with Khieu Samphan, for atrocity crimes, including genocide. The trial is expected to take place later this year.

In their decision Thursday, the Trial Chamber said the motion lacked evidence and reasoning. They also rejected a request to suspend procedures in anticipation of an appeal and further hearings on the matter.

Ang Udom, a lawyer for Ieng Sary, said the decision was “not suitable” and “not reasonable.”

Vietnam urges peaceful resolution to Thai, Cambodia border conflict

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Mar 24, 2011

Hanoi - Vietnam urged Thailand and Cambodia to find a peaceful solution to recent conflicts in accordance with international law, state media reported Thursday.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem made the comment at a meeting with his Thai counterpart in Hanoi Wednesday, the report said.

According to state-run newspaper Viet Nam News, Khiem welcomed upcoming talks between Thailand and Cambodia on border issues to be held in Indonesia next month.

A peaceful resolution over border clashes between the two countries 'was for the benefit of the two countries' peoples and for peace, stability and co-operation in the region,' Khiem was quoted as saying.

Vietnam has consistently held a neutral stance on the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The conflict, which claimed five lives last month, centres on ownership of a plot of land near the region's Preah Vihear temple.

The temple itself has changed hands many times over hundreds of years, although the International Court of Justice granted Cambodia sovereignty in 1962.

The Association of South-East Nations (ASEAN) has taken the reins of mediating negotiations and the two countries are to meet in Indonesia, the group's chair, to discuss the issue on April 7.

Vietnam was chair of ASEAN in 2010.

Heartache of Khmer Rouge forced marriage victims

Heartache of Khmer Rouge forced marriage victims

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By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 3/24/2011

When the Khmer Rouge ordered Phalla to marry a man she had never met in 1976, the young woman knew she had to obey if she wanted to survive Cambodia's infamous "Killing Fields" era.

Having already angered the superiors in her labour camp by refusing to wed her cousin, she was warned that such defiance would not be tolerated twice.

"I was told I was to marry another man and if I still refused, I would be re-educated," she said, a term she knew meant certain death.

"Then I agreed because I was very afraid," Phalla, 54, told AFP, not wanting to use her real name.

Experts say the Khmer Rouge forced tens of thousands of men and women to wed, often in mass ceremonies, as part of leader Pol Pot's plan to boost the population.

Authorities wanted to control every aspect of an individual's life and sought to destroy family bonds, claiming the state was all the family a person needed.

The hardline communist regime strove to create an agrarian utopia but was ultimately responsible for the deaths of up two million people from overwork, starvation and execution between 1975 and 1979.

Four of the movement's most senior surviving leaders -- "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan, ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary and ex-social affairs minister Ieng Thirith -- are set to face a UN-backed court for atrocity crimes in the middle of this year.

With forced marriage included as a crime against humanity in the indictments, the trial will provide the first forum for these husbands and wives to seek justice.

More than 600 forced marriage victims have been included as civil parties in the upcoming case, international civil party co-lawyer Silke Studzinsky told AFP, and many are hoping to give testimony.

According to the indictments, the unions "were part of the attack against the civilian population, in particular the imposition of sexual relations aimed at enforced procreation".

In stark contrast to a traditional Cambodian wedding, Pol Pot's mass ceremonies were sombre affairs without any sense of celebration and usually without any family members present, witnesses say.

"The organisation called out one male name and one female name," Phalla recalled. "They asked us to make a commitment to stay together forever. That was the first time I met my husband."

Many couples say there was pressure to consummate the marriage on the wedding night.

A wooden dwelling on stilts provided a semblance of privacy for the reluctant couples, but they were hardly alone.

"Soldiers stood underneath our building, listening to hear whether we were getting along or having disputes," said Phalla.

"But we just lay there, like brother and sister." The next day they were sent back to their own bases and saw each other "only very rarely" at pre-arranged times.

It is not known how many unions led to pregnancies or how many couples split up after the regime was ousted from power in 1979.

"After the Khmer Rouge, many people tried to get back to their families and their homes, so it was easy to separate," said Studzinsky. "But others stayed together, often because they had children as a result of the forced marriage."

Phalla remained married. "Under the Pol Pot regime, my husband listened to me. He respected my rights, did not abuse me or rape me," she said. "In the end, I fell in love with him."

Still Phalla insists a crime was committed. "We had no opportunity to choose our own spouse. I want justice for that situation," she said.

Unlike forced marriages in Rwanda, Sierra Leone or Uganda -- where husbands were often the perpetrators -- Cambodian men were themselves victims, according to Natalae Anderson, a researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

"Forced marriage in the Cambodian context is unique when compared to incidences of forced marriage in other countries," she wrote last year in a paper for the Documentation Centre of Cambodia, which collects evidence of Khmer Rouge atrocities.

Observers have warned the case will be lengthy and complex, with all four defendants denying the charges.

It follows the landmark conviction last July of Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, who was sentenced to 30 years in jail for overseeing the deaths of some 15,000 people. Both Duch and the prosecution have contested the verdict. Their appeals will be heard next week.

There will be no individual reparations for the forced marriage victims and the tribunal has instead invited suggestions for alternative forms of "collective and moral" redress. Education programmes and remembrance days are among the ideas mooted.

Sin Ban is stepping forward as a civil party "because our rights were abused".

Now a 57-year-old farmer, he said the officials in his commune ordered him to marry a woman who had difficulty walking just weeks before Vietnamese forces liberated the country.

His eyes downcast, he admits that he considered leaving her when freedom beckoned.

"But then I thought about how she had lost her parents and that she was disabled. I felt pity for her so I tried to take care of her," said the father-of-six, who has stuck by his wife to this day.

Thailand tries to boost trade with Cambodia despite border dispute

via CAAI

March 24, 2011

Thailand will hold a large trade exhibition here in May in order to boost bilateral trade cooperation despite ongoing military confrontation between the two countries in the disputed border areas near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, said Thai ambassador on Thursday.

During a farewell meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the outgoing Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai said that the expo will help to boost closer trade ties between the two countries and Thai commerce minister Porntiva Nakasai will attend it.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen expressed his support for the expo and encouraged more cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand on other sectors even though the two countries have border conflict.

Jiranan Wongmongkol, director of the Thai embassy's Foreign Trade Promotion Office in Phnom Penh, said, "Every year, we just hold one trade expo here, but this year, we do twice because Thailand is committed to strengthening and expanding trade cooperation with its neighboring Cambodia."

She added that the Thai product expo on May 19-22 at Phnom Penh' s Diamond Island Exhibition Center will be larger than the one held in February.

There will be 300 Thai companies displaying a variety of products ranging from consumer goods, foodstuffs, drinks, construction materials, household utensils, leather-made products, school stationeries and cosmetics, she said.

Bilateral trades between Cambodia and Thailand mounted to 2.54 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, up 54 percent from 1.65 billion U.S. dollars in a year earlier, she said.

Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

The latest clashes on Feb. 4-7 this year unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border, which had killed and injured many people of both sides, and caused tens of thousands of the two countries' villagers nearby the disputed areas to escape for safe shelters.

Source: Xinhua

Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia youths boost cooperation

via CAAI

Thursday ,Mar 24,2011

Young people from regional countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia joined in a friendship meeting in Hanoi on March 23.

The event, held by the Hanoi ’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, aims to create a forum for youths from the three countries to meet and exchange experiences in educating the young generation to treasure solidarity, promote traditional friendship as well as maintain peace and boost cooperation in the future.

The exchange, taking place on the occasion of the 80 th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Year 2011, is a chance for Vietnamese youths to promote the country’s image as well as introduce their Lao and Cambodian counterparts achievements that Vietnamese young people have contributed to the country’s construction and defence.

In the framework of the event, participants will take part in a talk themed “Vietnam- Laos- Cambodia youths promote traditional solidarity and friendship for mutual peace, cooperation and development” to update each other on mobilising youth and promote youth’s roles in cooperation for socio-economic development of the three countries.

During the event, which will last till March 30, Lao and Cambodian youths will meet with Vietnamese students and visit the country’s historical sites and landscapes.

Source VNA

Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that he disagreed with a plan to allow presence of foreign troops in the disputed zone on the Thai-Cambodian border.

via CAAI

Published: 24/03/2011

The next General Border Committee (GBC) meeting must be between Thailand and Cambodia only, without a third party, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon reaffirmed on Thursday.

Gen Prawit said he had personally discussed this matter with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh.

Moreover, the Thai Defence Ministry had sent a letter to his Cambodian counterpart, asking it to call a GBC meeting as soon as possible so that the military leaders of the two countries can together discuss border problems.

The GBC is co-chaired by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia. It is separate from the Joint Border Commission (JBC), under the Foreign Ministry.

Gen Prawit said he believed Cambodia would not postpone the meeting again and that a date would be agreed upon soon.

He said Cambodia was supposed to host the 8th GBC meeting this year. But if Cambodia was not ready, Thailand would be willing to host it, he added.

At the next GBC meeting the two sides would discuss problems in implementing agreements over the disputed border area, security along the border, illegal labour, drug smuggling and other crime, he said.

Gen Prawit today chaired a meeting of the Defence Council.

The meeting was attended by Gen Kittipong Ketkowit, the permanent secretary for defence, Gen Songkitti Jakkabatara, the supreme commander, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army commander in chief, Adm Kamthorn Phumhiran, the navy chief, and ACM Ithaporn Suphawong, the air force chief, who are also members of the GBC.

Col Thanathip Sawngsaeng, the defence spokesman, said Gen Prawit reaffirmed to the meeting that the GBC must be bilateral without the presence of representatives from Indonesia or any other third countries.

"We will not go to Indonesia. The meeting must be held in either Thailand or Cambodia only. However, there would be no problems if Indonesia wants to come as a listener," he quoted Gen Prawit as saying.

On the Joint Border Commission meeting, Col Thanathip said this is a matter for the foreign ministries of the two countries to jointly agbree on a nmeeting and venue.

Thai deputy PM opposes presence of foreign troops in disputed zone

via CAAI

March 24, 2011

Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban said on Thursday that he disagreed with a plan to allow presence of foreign troops in the disputed zone on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Suthep made the remarks after Army Chief General Prayut Chan- ocha mentioned that he did not want Indonesia or any third country to be involved in the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission ( JBC) or General Border Committee (GBC) meetings.

Indonesia, the current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), earlier this week proposed to hold JBC and military-led GBC on April 7 and 8.

The deputy prime minister said the presence of foreign troops at any spot in the overlapping zone should be allowed only with the co-presence of Thai and Cambodian troops, particularly where border demarcation remains unclear.

The deputy PM said the JBC meeting could not go forward because Thai parliament has not yet approved the minutes of three previous meetings.

He said the minutes would be proposed for the parliament's consideration on Friday so that the border-demarcation meeting would be able to continue.

The Article 190 of the 2007 Constitution reads that any agreement which will be made with foreign country and will have impact on the country's territory is required endorsement from the parliament.

As for the People's Alliance for the Democracy (PAD)'s plan to rally against the government's move to ratify those three minutes on Friday, Suthep said he was not very worried.

Thailand and Cambodia earlier agreed to allow Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire in a deadly border dispute between the two countries in February this year.

ASEAN foreign ministers said in a statement in Jakarta that they welcomed a commitment made by Thailand and Cambodia to avoid further armed clashes and urged both sides to resume bilateral negotiations as soon as possible.

Source: Xinhua

Indonesia awaits approval on Thai-Cambodia mission

A view of the Preah Vihear temple on the disputed Cambodian-Thai border

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

Posted: 24 March 2011

JAKARTA: Indonesia said Thursday that an ASEAN plan to send Indonesian military observers to the disputed Thai-Cambodia border had stalled as it awaited approvals from Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

At a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta last month, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to accept Indonesian observers to a flashpoint section of the border where heavy fighting erupted in February.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan hailed the agreement as a "historic day" for the 10-nation block, but more than a month later the observer teams remain in Jakarta and Thailand's military now says they are not needed.

"We're still waiting for further approvals from both countries before we can proceed to go to the area," Indonesian foreign ministry spokeswoman Kusuma Habir told AFP.

The observers had not received their operating orders and did not even know where they would be posted or for how long, she added.

"We hope that we will receive their approvals as soon as possible," Habir said.

Thailand's army chief, General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, said Wednesday the observers were not wanted in the disputed area near an 11th-century temple because it was too dangerous and they would only complicate matters.

Prayut said the Thai defence ministry, armed forces and military commanders rejected the idea of outside monitors, but conceded it was up to the government to decide.

A Thai government spokesman denied however that there had been any change in Bangkok's position, and said a joint border committee would be convened to iron out the details of the observers' mission.

Thailand and Cambodia have each accused the other of starting the border clashes, which erupted around the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear.

-AFP/ac

AKP - The Agence Kampuchea Press

via CAAI

President of Timor Leste To Visit Cambodia Next Week

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta, will pay a state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia on Mar. 29-31 at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

During his visit, the president of Timor Leste will be received in royal audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia at the Royal Palace, said a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation dated today.

H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta will also respectively pay courtesy calls on Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim, National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, and hold official talks with Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, the press release pointed out. –AKP

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PM: Government Has No Plan to Recruit New Army

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – The Royal Government of Cambodia has no plan to recruit new army, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen said yesterday.

Speaking at the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training’s annual meeting, Premier Techo Hun Sen said although we have to protect our motherland at the border, our government has no plan to recruit new army.

“Don’t worry, we have no plan to mobilize our students, workers and youth since the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces already have enough soldiers. There are a lot of our youths who want to join the army, but we can’t afford it since the number of our soldiers is in surplus now,” Samdech Hun Sen stressed.

On the occasion, the Cambodian premier once again called on the Cambodian people to be vigilant so that they do not fall in the trap of illegal labor ring-leaders. –AKP

Article in Khmer by CHEY Phum Pul

Article in English by KHAN Sophirom

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Cambodia Welcomes Ceasefire Monitors

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Sok An told visiting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun on Wednesday that “the Indonesian military observers’ mission will be very important for monitoring the ceasefire and the protection and salvation of Preah Vihear Temple.”

“Cambodia is ready to cooperate with the Indonesian military observers”, the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers quoted H.E. Sok An, who is also Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, as assuring Mr. Yun.

The Cambodian deputy prime minister said that the presence of the 13 Indonesian military observers on Cambodia’s side of the border would “contribute to building trust for both countries as well as to preventing the danger of further crimes against culture.”

He further informed the U.S. delegation that Thailand is trying to avoid any meetings mediated by a third party.

H.E. Sok An said that Thai military commanders, according to Thai media reports, did not want to attend a scheduled meeting on April 7-8, to be held in Indonesia. The meeting had already been postponed once because of Thai reluctance.

The deputy premier also showed photographs of serious damage to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple caused by Thai troops’ artillery fire. “The Thai troops even fired at the sign board calling for the protection of this world cultural heritage,” he said.

H.E. Sok An also briefed the delegation about the Thai troops’ use of unconventional weapons, namely cluster munitions and gas shells, during their Feb. 4-7 attack. He noted that the Thai military is again building up its forces along the border, including tanks and heavy weapons.

During the Feb. 4-7 attack, at least six Cambodian military and police were killed and at least 30 Cambodians were wounded. More than 3,000 Cambodian families were displaced from areas near the Temple of Preah Vihear.

H.E. Sok An said that Thailand has violated the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, which ruled that: the Temple of Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia. The Court found that Thailand is under obligation to withdraw any military or police forces, or other guards or keepers, stationed by her at the Temple, or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory. Thailand is under an obligation to restore to Cambodia any objects of the kind specified in the Cambodia’s fifth submission which may, since the date of the occupation of the Temple by Thailand in 1954, have been removed from the Temple or the Temple area by the Thai authority. –AKP

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Human Rights Reporting Training Course for Journalists Closes

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – The Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) closed yesterday a human rights reporting training course, awarding certificates to 50 trainees, of them 25 are from provincial media units, in the presence of Secretary of State at the Ministry of Information H.E. Thach Phen.

The course was aimed to help increase Cambodian journalists’ knowledge and capacity, especially in effectively reporting the human rights issues, said CCJ President Pen Samitthy.

According to Mr. Chhay Sophal, a CCJ board member, the CCJ has during the past ten years trained more than 1,000 journalists from different media units throughout the country.

Mr. Rafael Dochao Moreno, chargé d’affaires of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, stressed on the importance of human rights reporting, saying that it provides news related to the violation of human rights law and helps strengthen good relations between journalists and the public.

For his part, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Information H.E. Thach Phen attached a lot of importance to the human rights reporting skill, praising CCJ for running the course to increase the knowledge of journalists and their related skills. –AKP

By Théng

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Cambodian Higher Education Association Delegation Returns Home

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – A delegation of Cambodian Higher Education Association returned home on Mar. 23 after paying their 10-day visit to the United Kingdom.

The visit was aimed to contribute to enhancing the education of Cambodia, exchange and study the experiences and culture of the UK, the structural management and UK universities’ study program and to improve relations between Cambodian and UK’ universities, Mr. Ly Chheng, President of Cambodian Higher Education Association, told reporters upon the arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport.

During its stay in the UK, the delegation has visited a number of famous universities, including the University of Greenwich, Regent’s College, London Metropolitan University, the University of Wolverhampton, York St John University, Leeds Metropolitan University, Calderdale College, the University of London, the School of Oriental and African Studies and St Mary’s University, he said

The 16-member delegation is from Beltei International Institute, Phnom Penh International University, New York International School, Cambodian Banana University, International University, Vanda Institute, Home of English and Home of Khmer. –AKP

By LIM Nary

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Fifteen Carved Statues of Buddha Blessed in Preah Sihanouk Province

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – Fifteen newly carved statues of Buddha were blessed by 555 monks in a ceremony held in the western coastal province of Preah Sihanouk on Mar. 18-20.

The monks, invited to attend the blessing ceremony, were from the provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Takeo and Prey Veng.

Of the fifteen statues, the biggest of more than 11 metres high and four metres wide is made of granite rock, originally from Kampong Thom province.

The construction of the carved statues costs roughly US$70,000 funded by the provincial governor and charities.

The statues, displayed under the banyan tree in the garden park, aims to let the Buddhist followers bring the offerings for praying, mainly promoting the beauty of the provincial town, a chief of sub-district of the provincial town was quoted by an AKP reporter as saying.

The banyan, taken from India in former State of Kampuchea and based on Cambodian Buddhist followers’ believes, is a symbol of where the Buddha as a God Master achieved enlightenment and left behind the rule of conducts to the next generations to follow. –AKP

Article in Khmer by SVAY Kethana

Article in English by THOU Peou

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Embassy of Japan Opens Bank Account for Donations for Quake Victims

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – The Embassy of Japan in Cambodia has opened a new bank account for those who want to make donations in order to help the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The following is the full press release of the Embassy of Japan dated Mar. 21:

1. The Embassy of Japan would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Cambodia for their messages of condolence and sympathy for the victims of Tohoku district, off the Pacific Ocean Earthquake and tsunami which caused devastating human and physical damages on Friday, 11th March.

2. (1) The Embassy also appreciates the many enquiries from the people of Cambodia on how to make donations in order to help the victims in Japan. The Embassy opened a new bank account which will be used specifically to accept such donations. Bank account information is as follows;

Name of Bank: Cambodian Public Bank

Payee name: Embassy of Japan in Cambodia (Earthquake)

Account No.: 010-02-10-05966-0

(2) The Embassy also accepts donations on weekdays, from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 1 2:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

3. Donations can also be made directory to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Please see below information for details.

4. While the Embassy appreciates offers of relief supplies and dispatch of assistance persons, the Government of Japan is unable to ensure smooth integration of these efforts to the activities running on the ground at the moment. The Embassy is thankful and appreciates your understanding of this situation.

-Direct donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS)-

1. Donations for the victims through the JRCS (Note: JRSC will distribute donations to the victims through local government in devastated areas): If you need a receipt, please indicate it in the payment slip. Bank account information is as follows;

Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Name of Branch: Ginza

Account No.: 8047670 (Ordinary Account)

SWIFT Code: SMBC JP JT

Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society

Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN

2. Donations for relief activities by the JRCS (Note: Donations will be specifically used for the relief activities undertaken by the JRCS): If you need a receipt, please indicate it in the payment slip. Bank account information is as follows;

Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Name of Branch: Ginza

Account No.: 8047705 (Ordinary Account)

SWIFT Code: SMBC JP JT

Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society

Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN

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U.S Chevron To Establish Office in Cambodia in May

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – U.S. Chevron has planned to open its office in Cambodia on May 1, the company’s officials told Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers H.E. Sok An in a meeting here on Mar. 22.

They further reaffirmed the company’s commitment to make further progresses with Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA), according to the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers.

H.E. Sok An, also CNPA Chairman, welcomed U.S. Chevron to establish its office in Cambodia. “We have been working together for years but Chevron has yet to have a

permanent office. We can now achieve a new phase by establishing an office in Cambodia,” he said.

The Cambodian deputy prime minister said that having the company’s permanent office in Phnom Penh will be vital to increase the level of cooperation between the company and CNPA on how to prepare and train human resources to work for the company’s project.

“It is very good timing. And you know very well that we need skilled people to work on Chevron’s off-shore project,” he told the delegation. “We have to pay high attention to human resources.”

H.E. Sok An also said that Cambodia’s Ministry of Education has been working with the Ministry of Labour and the concerned National Vocational Training Centre for preparations to train the locals on how to work on Chevron’s central production platform and processing facilities.

The company officials said it is a great opportunity and is ready to work with CNPA to get the first oil project running for contribution to the Cambodian economy.

Mr. Steve Glick has been appointed as President for Chevron Overseas Petroleum (Cambodia) Ltd. in Cambodia.

In a meeting with Mr. Frank Sampson Jannuzi, Policy Director for East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the majority staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the United States, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sok An said that Cambodia expects to produce its first oil in December 2012 from “Block A” where Chevron is drilling.

He has said that Cambodia will spend the oil revenue wisely in social sectors for the

benefit of the nation and its people. –AKP

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Cambodian, Cuban Foreign Ministers Agree to Boost BilateralRelations

Phnom Penh, March 24, 2011 AKP – Foreign ministers of Cambodia and Cuba on Wednesday in Havana agreed to strengthen bilateral relations that have enjoyed close cooperation and friendship for over 50 years, Chinese News Agency Xinhua reported.

“Cuba has always supported Cambodia in all fields, particularly during the most tragic period in our history,” said Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. Hor Namhong. He will be visiting Cuba until Thursday.

“Our political relations have always been very close and we support each other,” said H.E. Hor Namhong after a meeting with his Cuban counterpart H.E. Bruno Rodriguez.

Cuba and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in April 1960 and both countries have suffered from economic embargo by the United States.

“On behalf of the government and people of Cuba, I thank Cambodia for the continued solidarity, especially in the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) vote against the U.S. blockade against Cuba,” H.E. Bruno Rodriguez said.

Cambodia and Cuba maintain collaboration in the field of education. 30 young Cambodian university students are currently studying in Cuba. –AKP