Cambodia welcomes the world of women's football

FIFA.com

Wednesday 25 March 2009

History was made today in Cambodia when the first pilot course for Com-Unity Women's Football Seminar opened in Phnom Penh, bringing the women's game to the football community of Cambodia.

The Opening Ceremony attended by Cambodia Football Federation President, Lt. Gen. Sao Sohka and the Secretary of State from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Dr. Phoeng Sakona, provided a strong start to the three-day course.

A positive tone was set right from the opening speech, with Lt. Gen Sao Sohka underlining the Cambodia Football Federation's dedication to promoting and developing women's football. He continued: "I look forward to the declaration at the end of the course to pledge our will to FIFA and our football community to develop women's football. We do not only want to help by giving moral support, but also the practical implementation of projects and activities."

FIFA representatives gave the audience a lively introduction to the world of women's football, before inviting Dr. Pheong Sakona to officially open the Cambodia Women's Football Com-Unity.

Dr. Pheong commented: "More women and girls are playing football in Cambodia and I support the idea that it is becoming more popular in this country." She continued: "Sport is very important to help reduce the social problems in Cambodia."

Also in attendance was the General Secretary of the National Olympic Council of Cambodia, Mr. Meas Sarin, in addition to a healthy turnout from NGOs based in Phnom Penh including UNICEF, Spirit of Soccer and the Indochina Starfish Foundation.

The FIFA delegation includes Michelle Cox (New Zealand), Mayrilian Cruz Blanco and David Borja (both FIFA), Windsor John (Malaysia, Development Officer Kuala Lumpur), Clare Kenny Tipton (Rep. of Ireland), Dato Yap Nyim Keong (Malaysia) and Belinda Wilson (Australia).

The next two days will be devoted to the Communications and Marketing of Women's Football. A friendly football match between the FIFA representatives and the Football Federation of Cambodia will take place at 1800hrs at the Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh on Tuesday 24 March 2009.

Directly following the Cambodia Women's Com-Unity, a practical FIFA Coaching Course will take place from 26 to 30 March 2009 to train Cambodian women's football coaches.

Thai troops accused of crossing Cambodia border

Cambodian troops guard the Preah Vihear temple late last year amid heightened tensions with Thailand.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CNN) -- Nearly 100 Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodian territory Wednesday near a disputed border temple that was the site of clashes last year, Cambodian officials said.

The Thai army denied the claim.

Thai soldiers crossed into the area of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple about 1:40 p.m., said Phay Siphan, secretary of the Cambodian Council of Ministers.

The two sides did not fight and Cambodia has asked Thailand to pull back.

Thai Army Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd said the troop movement was part of a normal rotation and that Thai soldiers had not gone anywhere they were not permitted to be.

For months last year, the two countries saber-rattled over the ancient temple. The nations differ on whether some territory around the temple forms part of Thailand or Cambodia.

Both countries posted troops in the area after the United Nations in July approved Cambodia's application to have the temple listed as a World Heritage Site -- a place the United Nations says has outstanding universal value.

The temple sits atop a cliff on Cambodian soil but has its most accessible entrance on the Thai side.

The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962. Thailand claims, however, that the 4.6 sq. km (1.8 square mile) area around it was never fully demarcated.

Thailand says the dispute arose from the fact that the Cambodian government used a map drawn during the French occupation of Cambodia -- a map that places the temple and surrounding area in Cambodian territory.

The United Nations' decision re-ignited tensions, with some in Thailand fearing it will make it difficult for their country to lay claim to disputed land around the temple.

Last year's flare-up began July 15, when Cambodian guards briefly detained three Thais who crossed into the area. Once they were let go, the three refused to leave the territory.

Cambodia claimed Thailand sent troops to retrieve the trio and gradually built up their numbers. Thailand denied that, saying its troops are deployed in Thai territory.

Cambodia threatens retaliation, say Thai soldiers crossed border

Earth Times

Wed, 25 Mar 2009
Author : DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia on Wednesday threatened to use military force against up to 80 Thai soldiers who reportedly entered a disputed border region and set up camp, officials said.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Cambodian military police threatened to open fire unless the Thai soldiers retreated from the area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple site, where a fatal skirmish between Cambodia and Thailand erupted last year.

The Thai soldiers entered the area Wednesday afternoon and were immediately confronted by Cambodian military police, Phay Siphan said.

He said Cambodian military officials were negotiating with their Thai counterparts to prevent an armed confrontation.

A Cambodian military police officer who asked not to be named said hundreds of additional Thai soldiers were stationed on the other side of the border.

Both countries say the 11th-century Hindu temple falls within their borders, and the South-East Asian neighbours amassed troops along the border in July after UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage Site.

Cambodia: Thai troops crossed border; Thais deny

By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press Writer AP
Thursday, March 26

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Cambodia accused Thai troops of crossing into its territory Wednesday and at one point said the two sides were "getting ready to fight," even as a Thai commander insisted all was calm and the border had not been breached.

According to Cambodian officials, more than 100 armed Thai soldiers entered Cambodia in the afternoon about a half-mile (a kilometer) west of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple and stayed several hours before agreeing to retreat.

The temple has long been a site of flare-ups over the countries' ill-defined border. Two clashes near the temple last year sparked brief concerns of war.

Cambodian army Capt. Theam Thy, who is stationed at the border, said the incursion occurred shortly after midday.

"The situation is very tense, and both sides are getting ready to fight," he told The Associated Press.

By early evening and after negotiations, the Thai side agreed to leave the area, said Brig. Gen. Yim Pim, a Cambodian army commander in the area.

"Now, there is no more confrontation between the two sides," Yim Pim said. "We asked them to pull back their forces, and they agreed."

But Thai army Col. Pichit Nakarun, stationed on the Thai side of the border, denied any troop activity.

"There has been no troop movement that encroaches on the Cambodian border," he told The AP. "The situation is not more tense than usual."

Soldiers from both countries have been stationed at the border since July 2008, when long-standing tensions flared after UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site.

More clashes erupted in October when two Thai soldiers lost legs after stepping on land mines. The incident came just days after a brief gunfight broke out between troops from the two sides. One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were wounded. Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border.

In 1962, the World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia, but sovereignty over the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

The two countries share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) land border, much of which has never been clearly demarcated because the countries refer to different maps.

Indict No More: Former Rebel Commander

Meas Muth in an interview with VOA Khmer

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Cambodia
25 March 2009

With five Khmer Rouge leaders in jail, and potential further indictments delayed indefinitely, many former soldiers of the regime continue to live among their victims.

Meas Muth, a 70-year-old former Khmer Rouge division commander, would be a possible suspect under a wider indictment scheme. But he believes that charges against the leaders already in custody—Noun Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, and Duch—are enough.

“To add five, six or 10 more, or more than that, that’s not for justice, but to stir up Cambodia, causing instability,” he told VOA Khmer in an exclusive interview at his home near the Thai border. “In fact, until today, the situation pleases everyone.”

More indictments could include the real leader of the revolution, he said

“Everyone knows that His Majesty was the leader,” he said, referring to the former king, Norodom Sihanouk, who abdicated in 2004 but who also rallied peasants to the Khmer Rouge cause in the 1970s. “To bring in only five and not to bring in the chief, that is not a breakthrough. It’s just detention of the five for sale, or for nothing.”

Following his ouster, then-prince Norodom Sihanouk led a unified coalition, which included the Khmer Rouge, to retaliate against his political opponent, the US-backed prime minister, Lon Nol.

No one has publicly said the revered monarch should be indicted by the current tribunal. Experts, however, suggest that there were other cadre who could be tried under the tribunal’s rules.

Research conducted by Stephen Heder in 2001 found that Meas Muth, as commander of Division 164, one of only nine divisions, played a direct role in the arrest and transfer to Tuol Sleng prison of cadre suspected as traitorous to the regime.

The leader of that prison, Duch, whose real name is Kaing Kek Iev, is schedule for the first tribunal trial, next week, for crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and murder.

At his home in Samlot district, Battambang province, a former Khmer Rouge zone, Meas Muth denied any wrongdoing as a commander for the government of Democratic Kampuchea. He also said he had nothing worth testifying to for the tribunal.

As it brokered peace with the Khmer Rouge to end of years of fighting, the government offered amnesty to soldiers of the regime, including those like Meas Muth.

The government was forced to change its position, however, as talks for a tribunal got underway and as investigating judges and prosecutors began seeking indictments.

Even then, the government and UN agreed that only senior leaders would be tried, but there is no clear interpretation of who those would be, creating what some lawyers fear is a loophole for many former cadre who defected to the government in 1996.

There has been no decision by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the tribunal court on whether to indict more senior leaders, a subject on which the Cambodian and foreign tribunal prosecutors disagree.

Cambodian prosecutor Chea Leang has said further indictments risk stability.

That position runs counter to just over half of Cambodians recently survey by the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which found 52 percent of 1,100 people wanted more indictments.

Meas Muth would have fallen under the other 48 percent, who say, whether because of budget or stability problems, that five is enough. For his part, he said, he now worked each day on his farm and had recently donated money for the improvement of a nearby pagoda.

Thousands Strike Over Fired Union Leaders

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

Nearly 2,000 garment workers in Kandal province went on strike at one large factory Wednesday, demanding the return of eight fired union representatives.

The eight leaders, who represented the Free Trade Union, were fired after conflicts over memberships with leaders of a second union, the Khmer Youth Trade Union Alliance, Prum Kosal, a striking worker at Tai Yang Enterprise, told VOA Khmer by phone Wednesday.

"We must use our right to request the factory manager to allow the eight fired representatives to work normally," he said. "If not, we will hold more strikes."

The strike comes as Cambodia's garment industry is struggling under the global financial crisis, with many factories closing in the past few months and orders and revenues down.

At least 14 factories have closed down in Cambodia since the onset of the crisis, in September.

Sin Mom, another worker on strike, said the workers were not afraid of losing their jobs.

"We must use our freedom to fight the unjust firing of our representatives," she said from outside the factory Wednesday morning. "All the workers are standing and shouting in front of the factory to strike until we have the resolution."

The strike was to protect the representatives, she said, "because they struggle to protect our rights and our interests from violations from the factory manager."

Workers at the factory have difficulty receiving pay for overtime and want appropriate working conditions, she said.

Factory officials could not be reached for comment.

Kandal province's deputy governor, Cheav Tai, who attended talks between the sides on Wednesday, said negotiations had not yet reached a resolution. The factory side has so far refused to allow the return of the fired representatives.

Free Trade Union President Chea Mony said Wednesday the union could not tolerate the firings.

"Nineteen of my trade representatives in factories have been fired from the beginning of the year until now," he said.

Since 2004, 139 Free Trade representatives have been sacked from factories where they led workers.

The Free Trade Union is a powerful union with many factory workers as members. The former president of the union, Chea Vichea, was gunned down in 2004, after demonstrating an ability to amass giant demonstrations.

Chea Mony, who is Chea Vichea's brother, warned of mass demonstrations if the government did not take action against factories that fire representatives.

Teachers Group Sees ‘State of Emergency’

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 March 2009

The Cambodian Teacher's Association has found the value of education in Cambodia decreasing, as students were leaving school and teachers were not always tending to their classes.

In interviews with 460 teachers in nine provinces, the association said Wednesday, 93 percent said students were abandoning their studies due to poverty, bribes charged by teachers, or school supply expenses; 54 percent of the teachers said they kept irregular teaching hours.

Teachers said that some students left school because they felt discouraged they would not find a job after graduation.

The association's president, Rong Chhung, said the education system had reached a "state of emergency."

"According to my survey, we show that the education system is falling, and the Cambodian government should take immediate action to prevent this," he said.

Ministry of Education officials could not be reached for comment.

Koeur Nay Leang, director-general of the Phnom Penh department of education, dismissed the findings of the survey, saying it had been conducted without the cooperation of the Ministry of Education.

Other countries faced the same difficulties in education as Cambodia, he said, and the government was in the process of reform.

Free Trade Union President Chea Mony told reporters Wednesday a weak education system had led to at least 15 percent of Cambodia's underage students to leave their studies for work in factories.

Politicising Phrea Vihear issue could make things worse

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on March 26, 2009

The opposition and red-shirted protesters should not "politicise" the Thailand-Cambodia border issue for their own benefit in the battle against the government, since such a move could spoil the on-going border settlement efforts.

This country has already learnt from previous episodes of power struggle that nationalism and politicised border conflict can worsen relations with its neighbour.

The red-shirted Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) should not repeat this mistake because it would not bring any good to the country, only problems and trouble.

The yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters employed the notion of bruised nationalism to politicise the border dispute at Preah Vihear to shoot down Noppadon Pattama from his post as foreign minister last year.

The PAD and its allies in Parliament accused Noppadon of claiming lost sovereignty over the disputed areas adjacent to the temple. The attack not only toppled Noppadon but also brought on a border skirmish in October 2008, which killed four soldiers on both sides.

Former foreign minister Tej Bunnag spent every minute of his one month in office fixing the problem. He reinstalled the Thai-Cambodia Joint Commission on Demarcation of the Land Boundary (JBC), a mechanism of negotiation for demarcation and provisional arrangement to handle the disputed areas.

The JBC is now working hard to lay out fundamental plans and infrastructure to demarcate the boundary and settle the dispute.

However, the task is still at an early stage and the boundary is not yet clear. Some disputes still remain since both sides have not stopped developing the border for economic benefit. Cambodia has built a new road to the Preah Vihear through an overlapping area, prompting diplomatic protests from Thailand.

Of course, making any change in the overlapping area is against the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries in 2000, but such a violation should not lead to a major conflict between the two sides.

The JBC could handle the issue. It can use diplomatic negotiation and technical methods to settle the problem provided the issue is not over-politicised.

Unfortunately, the opposition Pheu Thai Party during the censure debate last week borrowed the PAD and Democrat's tactics to turn the tables, using the Thai-Cambodian border issue to attack Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. The opposition, together with DAAD, accused Kasit of losing 250 metres of territory as he ignored Cambodia's road construction in the overlapping area. They demanded that Kasit adopt the very same rhetoric he used when he joined the PAD protest last year.

They know, like Kasit and the PAD, that nationalism is nonsense in this context and never helps settle a border dispute with a neighbouring country; it could even worsen the situation. A worse border situation would mean trouble for the government in domestic political affairs.

The JBC is scheduled to have the next round of meetings in Phnom Penh on April 6-7 to continue negotiations on boundary demarcation and a provisional arrangement for the disputed area near Preah Vihear. Political pressure at home could jeopardise the talks.

The JBC has some differences to overcome in the next meeting - seeking a common term to call the Hindu temple on the cliff, which Thailand wants to call Phra Viharn while Cambodia prefers Preah Vihear. They also need a single name for a security unit to take care of the area.

Vasin Teeravechyan, head of Thai JBC, said he could not expect the next meeting to yield a breakthrough, since both sides have no point of compromise.

As long as terms for the temple are not settled, the minute of agreement could not be signed and other tasks could not be started, he said.

However, negotiators and technicians could find a solution eventually, he said, as long as politicians and protesters don't pressure the talks.

"I always say that the boundary demarcation is time-consuming work. If we rush to get the result, we will lose everything," he said.

Preah Vihear temple raises Thai-Cambodian tensions

AsiaNews.it
03/25/2009

After last October’s clashes, which left four soldiers dead, the movement of 100 Thai troops into the disputed area causes alarm. Both governments try to downplay the incident.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Tensions between Cambodia and Thailand flared up suddenly today when Thai troops crossed into a disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple claimed by both countries. Last October, clashes left four soldiers dead.

Thai soldiers entered the area where they were faced by Cambodian troops, but both sides quickly issued statements in order to avoid clashes.

"We are trying to push the Thais back to their border through negotiation. We do not want violence again,” Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said.

“Both sides move their troops from time to time. We inform our Cambodian friends of our movements and vice versa,” Major General Kanok NetraKaveysana said.

An old Hindu temple, Preah Vihear was built in the 12th century.

Sitting on an escarpment the temple became an issue when in July of last year UNESCO decided to list it as a World Heritage Site. The International Court of Justice had already awarded it to Cambodia in 1962.

The original ruling did not however determine the ownership of a 4.6 sq km area of scrub next to the ruins.

In the wake of last October’s clashes Thailand and Cambodia agreed to demarcate the border once for all.

Thai, Cambodian troops face off again near temple

PHNOM PENH, March 25 (Reuters) - Thai and Cambodian soldiers faced each other near a 900-year-old Hindu temple on their disputed border on Wednesday, but both sides pledged to avoid a repeat of last year's armed clashes.

Tensions rose when 100 Thai troops crossed into a disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple and were stopped by Cambodian soldiers, Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said.

"We are trying to push the Thais back to their border through negotiation. We do not want violence again," he said, referring to a firefight that killed 4 soldiers last October.

Thailand's military commander in the area said the troop movements were routine.

"Both sides move their troops from time to time. We inform our Cambodian friends of our movements and vice versa," Major General Kanok NetraKaveysana told Reuters.

The border had been quiet for months while the Southeast Asian neighbours sought to jointly demarcate the jungle-clad area where one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers died in last year's exchange of rifle and rocket fire.

Cambodia's deputy military commander in chief, General Kun Kim, said the Thais had only entered the disputed area and had not crossed into Cambodian territory.

"We would have shot the Thai soldiers if they had crossed into our land," he told Reuters by telephone from the border.

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

The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, but the ruling did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins, leaving considerable scope for disagreement.

Cambodia says Thai troops crossed border

Thai soldiers stand guard close to Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Around 100 Thai troops briefly entered Cambodian territory on Wednesday near a disputed border temple where a deadly gunbattle broke out last year, Cambodian officials said.

Thailand's military however denied the claim, saying that they only had a few soldiers in a disputed area where troops from both sides have been posted since the clashes in October.

"There are nearly 100 armed Thai troops -- fighting troops -- who violated about one kilometre (just over half a mile) into Cambodian territory," Cambodian government cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan told AFP.

The Thai soldiers crossed into Cambodia about two kilometres away from the ancient Preah Vihear temple at about 1:45 pm (0645 GMT), he said.

The spokesman and the Cambodian military later said the Thai troops pulled back from the area after talks between Cambodian and Thai commanders.

"They withdrew from the area at around 5:00 pm (1000 GMT). There was no clash during the confrontation," commander Yim Pim said.

During the brief standoff, a Cambodian soldier stationed at the temple told AFP by telephone that the situation was "hot and all Cambodian troops are fully alert and prepared."

Tensions over the long-disputed territory flared in July last year after the 11th century temple was granted United Nations world heritage status. Soldiers clashed in the area in October, leaving four troops dead.

Subsequent talks between Cambodia and Thailand have not led to a resolution of the dispute.

"Both Thai and Cambodian soldiers are there in the disputed area and we have not crossed into Cambodia," said Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, army commander for northeastern Thailand, in response to the Cambodian claims.

"We have not increased our amount of soldiers at all. We have stayed with the same amount for several months," he told AFP.

The border between the two countries has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Thai soldiers enter Cambodia near disputed temple

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian officials say about 100 armed Thai soldiers have entered Cambodia near a disputed border temple where clashes erupted last year.

A spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers says the Thai soldiers were fully armed and crossed into Cambodia about a half mile (1 kilometer) west of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple at about 1:40 p.m. (0640 GMT) Wednesday.

Spokesman Phay Siphan said no fighting had erupted but "both sides are on alert."

He said Cambodia's top commander was asking the Thai soldiers to leave the area.

Soldiers from both countries have been stationed at the border since last July, when long-standing tensions flared and fighting erupted. The clashes briefly sparked concerns of war.

Film stars fight escort hoaxes

Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN
Actress Doun Zorida gets her makeup done Tuesday before hosting an entertainment show on TV5.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by May Titthara and Mom Kunthear
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

A CRIMINAL investigation has been launched into a number of Phnom Penh nightclubs that purport to offer female film stars' services as high-class escorts.

Actresses have told the Post they intend to sue for damages, actors unions are issuing warnings to their members, and the Minister of Women's Affairs has expressed outrage at the practice - which, it says, objectifies women and damages Cambodian culture.

Movie star Doun Zorida, who also presents an entertainment show on TV5, told the Post Tuesday that she has spoken to the police, who have launched a probe into the clubs, and has decided to go public to draw attention to the issue.

"My pictures have been shown in photo albums at some VIP clubs in Phnom Penh and with a price next to the photo of some $4,000 to $8,000," she told the Post, referring to purported charges for sexual services, but declining to name the clubs involved in the scam.

"The clubs put my photo there to cheat their clients. When a client asks for me, the owner asks them to pick another actress because I am busy," she said, adding that she intended to sue and appealed to other affected actresses to come forward.

"When the police went to investigate the clubs, they found many actresses' photos in albums, all with different prices. I know that some film stars really do [prostitute themselves] but I do not. Not all film stars sell their body," she said.

"Today I am telling all actresses to come together to sue these people through the anti-human trafficking police, so that when police see club owners use our photos they will arrest them," she added.

Ing Kantha Phavi, minister for women's affairs said on Tuesday that her ministry would help the investigation.

"It impacts how women are valued if this has in fact happened. The ministry always tries to promote Khmer women as valuable members of society and the family, not as objects," she said. "We will cooperate with police and take measures through the law if it has happened,"

Ten Borany, deputy director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Department at the Ministry of Interior, said he was "now investigating the issue".

Doun Zorida added that her photo had also been displayed on escorting websites and on club owners' phones.

"After I consulted the club owners, the photos were taken out of the albums, but they can still show their clients the photos on their phone," she added.

Actress and singer Vang Sreyno told the Post that she had also seen her photo displayed in clubs, and that she had met with police to help them investigate the issue.

"I will join together to sue these clubs because it affects the entire film industry," she said.

Ieng Sithul, director of the Khmer Actress Association, said she was making other actresses aware of the problem.

"Right now we are talking about this issue with our members, and we plan to formally launch a lawsuit against them on Friday."

Heng Pov faces time on charges in '98 plot

Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN
Disgraced ex-police chief Heng Pov is escorted into the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday morning.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chrann Chamroeun
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Ex-top cop chides presiding judge over access to funds, while defence says case reopened with no further investigations.

THE Phnom Penh Municipal Court will announce its verdict in the murder trial implicating former city police chief Heng Pov on April 7, it said Tuesday following a five-hour court hearing.

Heng Pov, who is already serving 74 years in prison for a variety of murder, extortion and kidnapping convictions, has been charged - along with three other men - with the attempted murder of Koh Santepheap newspaper editor Thong Uy Pang in June 1998.

Three of the four accused were present for the hearing, the opening of which saw Heng Pov argue with Chief Presiding Judge Chan Madina over his legal representation and access to nearly $1 million of funds held in Canadia Bank accounts bearing his name.

Refusing a court-appointed lawyer, Heng Pov accused the judge of denying him his legal rights and again criticised the court-imposed freeze on his assets.

"Legally, the court should allow me to withdraw money from Canadia Bank, but the Municipal Court chief always hinders my requests, and I am not able to pay for the services of my lawyer," he told the court.

Heng Pov remained silent for the rest of the hearing while the court questioned suspects Ly Rasy, a former police official, and Pheng Phai, a former police bureau chief of anti-drug trafficking.

Heng Veng, the fourth accused and Heng Pov's nephew, remains on the run from authorities.

Ly Rasy and Heng Veng's defence counsel, Long Dara, complained to the court that the case was dropped in 2000 due to the lack of suspects aside from fugitive Heng Veng, but that in 2006 the court decided to reopen the case and charged three individuals without conducting fresh investigations.

"It is very strange that in 2000 the court prosecutor decided to leave the case but later on decided to reopen the case ... without a re-investigation," Long Dara told the court, calling on the court to lift the charges against his clients.

But the victim's lawyer, Puth Theavy, replied that the court was "afraid" to work on the case while Heng Pov was police chief, and that now he was behind bars it was possible for the court to pursue justice for his clients.

He added that the attempted murder of Koh Santepheap editor Thong Uy Pang and his bodyguard Yim Chhoeun was an official police order rather than a case of individual revenge, which was a clear case of premeditation.

"I request that the court have a thorough consideration and to convict these men in a serious way," he said, also requesting the court pay US$300,000 in compensation costs for his two clients.

Court prosecutor Hing Bunchea also asked the court to convict the four accused according to Article 31 of Criminal Law, which carries a penalty of between 10 and 20 years.

Minister greenlights draft RCAF reforms

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Sam Rith
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

MINISTER of Defence Tea Banh has approved a draft administrative and management reform of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), following its submission by new RCAF Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun.

The draft Reform of the RCAF Appointment Structure and Management System, approved by Tea Banh on March 5, includes proposed reforms of the army's size, structure, appointment procedures and ranking system, according to documents obtained by the Post.

It also recommends how the army can strengthen the quality of its leadership, encourage responsible command and eliminate the number of non-existent "ghost" soldiers drawing money from the national coffers.

"The RCAF Commander-in-Chief has organised an in-depth reform of the RCAF appointment structure and management system and plans to implement it through the whole of RCAF in the coming months," Pol Saroeun stated in a letter to Tea Banh, dated March 4.

"To ensure the efficiency of implementation of the reforms, I would like to suggest for the Defence Minister to check and approve the draft herewith."

The following day, Tea Banh responded that he "approved in principle" the draft reforms and ordered "all staff to carry out the necessary work".

Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Son Chhay said he welcomed the reform of the armed forces so long as it was conducted fairly and thoroughly, and added that a previous set of army reforms funded by the World Bank failed due to the number of ghost soldiers paying their "salaries" into the pockets of well-connected miltary officials.

"It is time for the government to stop taking advantage by showing unreal numbers of soldiers," he said. He said also that the government should improve the quality of leadership, observing that many officers gained rank through nepotism and corruption.

Pol Saroeun declined to comment in detail Tuesday, saying the reforms were "an internal military issue that needs addressing".

Deminers to Africa: PM

Photo by: Tracey Shelton
Cambodian deminers before leaving for Sudan.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Meas Sokchea
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Hun Sen confirms Cambodian deminers and peacekeepers will be deployed to Africa but departure date unknown.

PRIME Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that Cambodia would dispatch more than 400 deminers and peacekeepers to Chad and the Central African Republic as part of an ongoing United Nations peacekeeping mission.

Speaking Tuesday during a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said he made the decision to dispatch the deminers and peacekeepers two weeks ago, adding that they had been requested by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He did not say when or for how long they would be deployed.

The mission, approved in September 2007, is "a multidimensional presence intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons" in the central African countries, according to the UN's website devoted to peacekeeping operations.

Hun Sen said Cambodia's ability to contribute deminers and peacekeepers to the UN mission was evidence of its political and social stability.

His remarks were an apparent reference to a report released Friday by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that rated Cambodia as one of the countries most at risk of suffering serious social unrest as the glocal economic crisis escalates. Cambodia was tied for fourth with Sudan, making it more stable than Zimbabwe, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo but less stable than Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This comment is unreliable, saying that political risk in Cambodia is worse than Afghanistan and Iraq when they have been fighting each other and dying every day," Hun Sen said. "This prediction would affect their prestige."

He did not reference the EIU report directly.

Cambodia has despatched deminers to Sudan as part of UN peacekeeping missions since 2006.

Prak Sokhon, a secretary of state at the Council of Ministers, told the Post Tuesday that Cambodia had prepared 270 deminers and 150 peacekeepers for deployment.

"We have prepared this number, but we have not decided how many troops to despatch," he said. "It is up to the United Nations."

9 charged in land fight

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Cheang Sokha and Kyle sherer
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Siem Reap Province

NINE villagers from Siem Reap province's Chi Kraeng commune were charged with robbery and assault Monday over their participation in a weekend clash with military police that left three villagers in hospital with bullet wounds.

The confrontation, triggered by a long-standing local land dispute, saw the arrest of 40 individuals, but most were released by authorities after pledging to give up their claims to 92 hectares of land contested with villagers from a neighbouring commune.

The villagers appeared in Siem Reap courthouse Monday before being detained at Siem Reap prison. Yin Srang, chief clerk at the prosecutor's office at Siem Reap provincial court, told the Post that the trial of the nine villagers is expected to start in four to six months.

He said it is likely more prosecutions will follow, though he is not sure if the three hospitalised Chi Kraeng villagers will be charged.

A group of local rights groups also met with provincial Governor Sou Phirin Tuesday seeking solutions to the land dispute involving villagers from Chi Kraeng and Anlong Samnor communes.

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, comprising 21 local NGOs, and the local office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spoke for three hours with the governor, who promised to resolve the dispute fairly with participation from civil society groups.

Funding for KR-era B'bang dam in jeopardy, ADB says

Photo by: THET SAMBATH
Roth Mom, a farmer and representative for the 180 families who have made a complaint, at the site of the dam in Battambang.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Thet Sambath
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

BATTAMBANG PROVINCE

The Asian Development Bank says the concerns of local people who stand to be affected should be addressed.

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has threatened to withdraw funding for a US$2 million project to rehabilitate a collapsed Khmer Rouge-era dam in Battambang province unless the concerns of affected local people are addressed.

The warning comes after 180 families filed a complaint with the Battambang authorities requesting that they be given land in compensation for the 500-hectare Chork dam site, which they have farmed since 1979.

"If this development will have a big impact and that cannot be resolved, then we will withdraw [funding for] it," said Prum Viratha, the deputy team leader of technical assistance for the bank's Northwest Irrigation Sector Project. "Our loan agreement stipulates that [problems with] any project affecting the land, rice paddies or houses of people must be resolved."

Prum Viratha said that condition applied whether or not the project was on state land. He said the bank did not yet know how many rice fields were affected since the assessment stage was currently focussed on the technological requirements of the rehabilitation. The next stage would investigate the project's impact.

"The government has to solve it according to the loan agreement. If the problem is not solved and both sides disagree, the project will be withdrawn," he said.

Officials respond
The governor of Battambang, Prach Chan, told the Post Monday that the authorities were investigating the villagers' complaint.

"I have ordered my officials to look into this problem and to meet with the relevant officials and people in order to find a solution," Prach Chan said Monday. "In the newspapers it looks as though we are treating the people badly ­- but we are just trying to repair the dam in order to allow people to irrigate their rice paddies and farms twice a year."

Asked whether he thought the ADB would withdraw funding if the situation was not resolved, Prach Chan said it was too early to say. He was first waiting to hear from his officials about a proposed solution: "What I know is that the people have been growing rice on state land," he said.

Long Phal Khun, the director of the provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, said a team had travelled to the Chork dam on Monday to assess the impact from the proposed restoration.

"First, we need to examine the situation and determine the number of rice paddies affected by the rehabilitation," Long Phal Khun said. "Once it has been studied, we can decide on the next stage for the people affected."

The ADB is funding three dam reconstruction projects in the province ­- Daun Av, Canal No 1 and Chork - as part of its $20 million Northwest Irrigation Sector Project.

Police clear hospital staff in Pailin death

THIS IA HOW JUSTICE WORK IN CAMBODIA, THE POOR DIES FOR NOTHING AND THOSE WHO HAVE POWER CAN SAY TO WHATEVER THEY WANT.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Mom Kunthear and Chrann Chamroeun
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Battambang prosecutor says he plans to look into the March 15 death of a pregnant woman.

Four obstetricians at Pailin Referral Hospital who were interrogated in connection with the March 15 death of a pregnant woman were told Monday they had been cleared of any wrongdoing, the hospital's head of obstetrics told the Post Sunday.

Luy Chantha, who was among those questioned, said Pailin Governor Y Chhien informed the obstetricians that he would "stop this problem" during a meeting last week in which they explained their version of events.

The woman, Vorn Yoeub, 37, went to the hospital to give birth on the night of March 15 with her husband, Mith Rorn. In a March 18 interview with the Post, Mith Rorn said obstetricians at the hospital demanded US$25 in advance to treat Vorn Yoeub, a fee the couple could not pay.

"My wife's stomach got very painful, and I woke up the two obstetricians three times," Mith Rorn said.

"But they ignored me and said it could wait until the morning. But by then it was too late - my wife died during the night."

This account was disputed by hospital staff, and Luy Chantha reiterated on Sunday the hospital's claim that it never turned away patients who were too poor to pay treatment fees.

Luy Chantha said the investigation, conducted by Pailin police officers, began Thursday and ended Sunday.

Lawyer to look into case
Battambang court prosecutor Koy Chanya, who has jurisdiction in the case, said Monday that he planned to continue pursuing it despite the officers' finding that the obstetricians were not in the wrong.

"I will not be silenced. I will try my best to find justice for any victim," he said. "This is very shocking news of carelessness on the part of expert doctors and obstetricians."

Luy Chantha said she planned to sue any NGO workers and others who had pushed for a criminal inquiry, saying they had "damaged our reputation throughout the country".

Chhuon Makara, Pailin provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc, said the question of whether to continue pursuing the case was complicated by the fact that Mith Rorn had decided not to press charges.

A tale of two tribunals

Photo by: SOVANN PHILONG
A young woman rides her bicycle near the entrance to the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Long Panhavuth
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

The ECCC must be beyond reproach in its form and function, or risk lethal comparisons to its 1979 predecessor.

The atrocities committed in Cambodia between April 17, 1975, and January 6, 1979, by the Khmer Rouge Regime were the focus of a trial in August 1979, conducted by the People's Revolutionary Tribunal with support from Vietnam and other communist-bloc countries. Pol Pot and Ieng Sary were tried and sentenced to death in absentia. The judgement of that tribunal, however, was not internationally recognised as legitimate and was generally considered to be a show trial. The 1979 tribunal was not independent and utterly failed to respect the right of the accused to basic due process. The 1979 tribunal was conducted precisely to legitimise the political goals of the regime at that time.

The current Khmer Rouge tribunal, with the sexy name Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), is the result of more than 10 years of effort and difficult negotiations between the United Nations and the Cambodian government, and is designed to avoid the flaws of the 1979 tribunal. It is a partnership between the government of Cambodia and the United Nations that features a cumbersome structure designed in large part to ensure that the court meets basic international standards for fair trials.

The participation of international professionals at all levels of the court - including the judiciary - and a requirement that decisions of the chambers be achieved by "supermajority vote" (a voting process that ensures at least one international judge concur with the decision) flow from concerns about the political commitment of the government to an independent court that meets international standards.

How will the ECCC be different from the 1979 tribunal? It should be different in that international participation in the prosecution, judiciary and administration will bring wisdom acquired from the emerging international criminal justice movement rather than from communist leadership with no commitment to judicial independence or fair trials. At the ECCC, it is probably fair to say, further, that the current international participation is not to collude or to legitimise the political goals of the current elites. Their participation is to ensure that the international standards for fair trials are upheld and that political interference or other illegitimate actions are prevented or exposed, but it is probably too early to give the international actors the credit as some of them may, indeed, be here just to collude or to legitimise.

A second basic difference between the 1979 tribunal and the ECCC should be demonstrated by the respect of the ECCC for the fair trial rights of the accused, but the ECCC is still struggling to gain credibility and to be a competent court amid corruption allegations within the administration of the Cambodian side. In addition, concerns about basic independence from political interference - evidenced by the disagreement among prosecutors about whether to investigate additional suspects - raises doubts about the hallmark of a fair trial: judicial independence. Furthermore, recent remarks by the government's spokesperson that more prosecutions are unnecessary feed concerns that the decision over who to prosecute is being made by politicians rather than by prosecutors.

Finally, unlike the 1979 trial, the ECCC proceedings shall be transparent from beginning to end in order to allow the Cambodian people to have a basic minimum understanding of the proceedings. The current policies of the court to protect almost completely the confidentiality of the investigation process and of proceedings to resolve differences between co-prosecutors or co-investigating judges harms the ECCC's claim to transparency.

The ECCC must reassess whether it is making sufficient efforts to distinguish its operations from the 1979 tribunal. The purpose of the ECCC is not merely punishment. It is also to tell more of the truth about the Khmer Rouge and to offer reconciliation with that truth. To succeed in fully distinguishing its work from that of the 1979 tribunal, the ECCC, its partners, donors and all those who act on its behalf must renew efforts to ensure that the court operates consistently according to international standards of justice, free of the taint of corruption or political interference. Furthermore, it must make much greater efforts to ensure that the people of Cambodia have a basic understanding of the proceedings.

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Long Panhavuth is a program officer with the Cambodia Justice Initiative, a legal NGO monitoring the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

DuPont presses govt over GM corn crops

BLOOMBERG
Du Pont, a US-based GMO company, says it hopes to see its corn seeds used in Cambodian fields having already set up an office in the Kingdom last year.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by George McLeod
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

US-based chemical giant says it is trying to register hybrid corn seeds with Ministry of Agriculture, but opponents warn of dire consequences

CAMBODIA'S first genetically modified (GM) crops may be on the way, with American chemicals giant DuPont saying it is in the process of registering GM seeds with the Ministry of Agriculture.

"We are proceeding to register our hybrid corn seeds with [the Ministry of Agriculture]... We are open to discuss research collaboration in hybrid materials," said Hsing Ho, Du-Pont's managing director in Singapore, in a speech at an agriculture and technology seminar in Phnom Penh on Monday.

DuPont opened its first office in Cambodia in 2008.

A DuPont representative in Phnom Penh said the company is still studying the Cambodian market, and that it has not developed a plan for local operations. He added that DuPont attended the Monday event at the government's invitation.

DuPont is one of the top makers of genetically modified seeds, or seeds whose DNA is altered to offer benefits such as higher yields, or enhanced resistance to disease.

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We ... need to do more research into the health and environmental impact.
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GM crops are grown in 25 countries worldwide with nearly 800 million hectares under cultivation in 2008, say figures from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), which attended the seminar.

GM crops, also often called genetically engineered (GE) or genetically modified organisms (GMO), are a subject of controversy, and opponents claim they pose health and environmental risks. The Ministry of Agriculture told the Post that no

GM crops are grown in Cambodia, and they require special permission.

A ministry spokesman said that the government is under pressure to adopt the crops, but that the benefits of higher yields do not offset possible damage to Cambodia's food exports.

"Many countries do not allow GM goods, so if we start allowing those crops here, it could lead countries to stop buying from us," said Hean Vanhan, secretary of state for the Ministry of Agriculture.

"We also need to do more research into the health and environmental impact of GMO," he said.

But one group that backs GE crops said Cambodia could benefit from reduced malnutrition and increased food security.

"Cambodia has a lot to gain from the use of GE crops," said a spokesman from ISAAA, a nongovernmental group.

"The three most common GM crops have been corn, cotton and soy - corn is doing wonderfully well, especially in China and India," said Daniel Otunge by telephone from Kenya. "For developing countries, the first concern has to be feeding its own population ... this is a legitimate concern for exporting farmers, but at this point, GM crops are so widespread that it is becoming less of an issue," he said.

Five European countries ban the import of GM crops, and some African and South American states prohibit some types of GE crops, according to Greenpeace. Sixty countries require the labelling of foods containing GM ingredients, according to the American Association for Health Freedom.

Otunge said that concerns about possible environmental and health side effects are overblown. "Over the past 12 years when GM crops have been widespread, there has been no evidence they impact health. Ultimately, they help the environment by reducing the need for toxic sprays," he said.

But according to Greenpeace, an environmental watchdog, Cambodia stands to lose by adopting GM crops. "For Cambodia, I can't see how it would make any sense [to use GE crops].... In the age of climate change, genetically engineered crops are a threat to food security," said Jan van Aken, a GE expert.

He cited South Africa as an example, where 200,000 hectares of GE crops were lost recently for unexplained reasons. "There is not a single example of where genetically modified varieties have seen higher yields. There have been examples where genetically modified crops have resisted insects for two or three years, but new insects come and threaten the crops."

Cafe to cash in on intl brand

Photo by: Tracey Shelton
The Starbucks sign at the soon-to-open The Cafe coffeeshop at The Place on Sihanouk Boulevard. The sign says "The Place does not possess Starbucks licence".

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Michael Fox
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

A COFFEE shop sporting the Starbucks logo is scheduled to open on April 1 in Phnom Penh, despite having failed to secure a Starbucks licence, the store manager said on Tuesday.

Called The Cafe and situated in The Place on Sihanouk Boulevard, it is closely modelled on the American coffee giant.
The logo displayed on the window is a replica of the Starbucks logo, but a ring of text around the outside states: "The Place does not possess Starbucks licence".

Cafe manager Joshua Jones admitted they are not a licensed Starbucks store but said they would sell Starbucks coffee and products as well as use the logo.

Jones said he had not been involved in the legal proceedings around the design of the label, but was confident they were not infringing on Starbucks's trademark.

"Whatever we have done we have done within the law, and whatever repercussions that it might have, have been covered," he said, adding that the wording around the logo clarified this.

Previous applications for a Starbucks licence had been rebuffed. "We have applied for one a number of times, and each time we have been denied," he said.

"They're not interested in coming to Cambodia."

Starbucks is a US-based coffee giant with over 4,500 stores in 47 countries around the world, according to its website.

After a prolonged period of rapid expansion, the coffee giant is currently axing a number of its outlets around the world.

Since July last year it has announced the closure of over 900 stores worldwide. Its profits dropped by almost 70 percent in the final quarter of last year.

The company has been known to vigorously protect its intellectual property, though this appeared to be only in countries where it was already operating.

Starbucks has successfully sued outlets in the past for trademark infringement, including a Chinese chain that used a green and white logo with a similar sounding Chinese name.

It also prevented a US artist from profiting from a parody of the Starbucks logo which featured the words "consumer whore" around the outside.

Jones said his target market was 20-to 30-year-old unmarried professionals. He added that he expected foreigners who were familiar with the brand to be his major customers to begin with.

Lawyer Matthew Rendall, a partner at Sciaroni and Associates, said that unless The Cafe had permission from Starbucks, it appeared to be a blatant copyright violation.

"You can't go and use somebody else's logo to promote your own product or service without their permission, so unless they've got permission from Starbucks you'd have to assume that was a trademark violation," he said.

Rendall added that the Ministry of Commerce was very vigilant about protecting trademarks, on the basis that that business might try and enter the country one day.

"You've got to assume that at the very least it's false and misleading," he said.

Cambodia to set up own standards system soon

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by May Kunmakara
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

CS tag will match the global ISO system, says official

CAMBODIA has set up a standards institute to improve the quality of local food and water, an official said Tuesday.
The new Cambodian Standard (CS) should also help local manufacturers gain access to external markets said Ping Sivlay, the president of the new Institute of Standards of Cambodia (ISC).

Ping Sivlay said the implementation date for the standards, which fall under the remit of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, had not yet been finalised. He said the standards match those of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), but would not be drawn on the costs of testing products to meet the CS. The cost to issue the certificate is US$100, he said.

"Some products will need to carry the CS standard in order to ensure safety for users," he said. "Cambodia is a member of the WTO, so all local entrepreneurs should come to get their certificate to improve product quality to sell in the local market and also to export to foreign markets. We can also help them get the ISO rating."

Ping Sivlay said there were two types of standards - voluntary and compulsory - with the latter applicable to products that affect human health, such as water, salt, pepper and beans. Voluntary standards are meant to encourage entrepreneurs to get the CS mark.

The ISC can currently only test the chemical composition and microbiology components of food and water - that is done using a machine accredited by Norway. Ping Sivlay said just 30 of the nation's 100 manufacturers of bottled water had the CS mark, and just one company out of 50 that produce pepper, beans, salt or vinegar.

"When those enterprises meet the standard, they don't only produce high-quality products, they also ensure that hygiene standards are followed with regard to packaging and the workplace environment," he said. "If we find that a company is making a product that has a high impact on human health, we will force them to get the compulsory standard or shut them down."

Thai Vantha, the deputy manager of bottled water manufacturer Euro-Tech, said his firm had its CS certificate as well as the ISO 9001 certificate, which it obtained overseas.

"Having the standard has improved the quality of my company's product because we follow all the ministry's guidelines," he said. "And our clients support us because they trust the quality of our water."

However, Chhorn Ravuth, the manager of palm wine manufacturer Confirel, said he was worried at the cost of complying with the regulations, and said some bureaucrats might use the opportunity to look for problems that did not exist in order to extort money. He added that his company already holds a certificate from Russia allowing it to export.

"I am happy that our country has an institute for local enterprises to improve the quality of our products," said Chhorn Ravuth. "But the cost of complying should not be so high that it acts as a barrier to entrepreneurs as that will cause us to lose access to local and foreign markets."

Your guide to the rental trail

Photo by: Mark Roy
Rental properties in Phnom Penh can often be hard to find.

What to look for
- Access: Will you have a separate entrance or a shared gate? Will you have easy 24-hour access?
- Landlord: Many landlords live on site or nearby, so find one you get along with.
- Security: Is security provided? Are there street lights? Is the roof accessible from surrounding buildings?
- Noise: Is there any construction going on nearby? A karaoke bar? Visit early in the morning or late at night to check on noise levels.
- Heat: Are there ceiling fans or air conditioning? How is the airflow? Older houses can be sweatboxes.
- Mosquito screens: If these are not installed, insist on some at no cost to you.
- Mattresses: Foam mattresses may be old and uncomfortable – your landlord may supply a new spring mattress if your request one.
- White goods: Is a refrigerator provided? Is there a laundry nearby? You may be able to do a deal on a washing machine with you landlord, or try the buy and sell column at www.expat-advisory.com or the classified ads in the Post Tuesday and Friday.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Mark Roy
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

So you are in Phnom Penh and need a place of your own – but how do you negotiate the minefield of securing a good rental property without it costing you an arm and a leg?

With a high volume of workers arriving and departing in Phnom Penh, there is no shortage of rental properties coming onto the market. But good-value properties are snapped up quickly.

When you find a place that's right for you, you need to move fast, says Bruce Cormack, a moderator of the online resource Expat Advisory Services. "You can't put a place on hold - generally it's up for grabs until a cash deposit has changed hands," Cormack says. "There's no substitute for being there in person."

But searching for an apartment on your own in Phnom Penh can be a case of "buyer beware", he warns.

"Your best bet is to make use of a local to help you, either a foreigner or a local Khmer," he says.

"Most residents will have an idea of reasonable prices for the main areas of town, or can put you in contact with someone who knows."

Bonna Real Estate Project Manager Charles Villar says people who choose to go through a real estate agent do so to avoid extra hassles.

"Real estate agents have properties already available for home finders, and this can cut down the time expats, NGOs and executives spend searching," Villar explains.

"These are people who are busy during the day." He said the other benefit was increased security.

"We provide standard contracts, and we can explain these contracts to our clients," he says. "We are also licensed by the government, which is another level of security."

Cormack says it pays to do some thinking before you begin your hunt. "Whether you're searching solo, through an agent or with help from a friend, there are basic criteria you have to decide on before you start," Cormack says.

"You'll make your life and those of the people who may be trying to help you a lot easier if you take an hour to sit down and figure out what you want, or to at least narrow it down."

For example, do you want a villa, a one-bedroom flat, or a serviced apartment? How many bedrooms do you need? Do you need a study, a balcony, a garden? Do you need a parking bay?

Do you want to live on the ground floor or climb stairs? Do you want it furnished or unfurnished?
What other services do you need? Broadband, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, cleaning, a security service and laundry facilities will usually cost you extra.

Signing a longer lease will put you in a better position to bargain.

Location, location, location...
It pays to equip yourself with a good map and narrow your search by location. A real estate advertisement often lists the quarter in which the property is located. A useful map will show the main districts (khan) which are divided into quarters (sangkat). A map of districts and quarters can be found in the Yellow Pages, or online at www.yellowpages-cambodia.com/cambodia/postal codes.

Cormack also suggests visiting friends' places to see what you can get for the price in different areas.

Know your budget

Weigh up your costs and look at carefully your budget, and let your agent or those helping you know how much you want to spend.

"As a rough guide, $150-$300 per month budget would allow for basic, but comfortable and secure, rental properties in various parts of town," Cormack says.

But you can also pay much more than $4,000 per month, depending on what degree of amenities or luxury you require.

Doing the business
A standard contract will normally require two months' deposit plus once month's rent in advance.
If you are dealing with a landlord who does not speak English well, Cormack recommends taking a local with you who does, even if you are going through a real estate agent.

"Your Khmer speaker can monitor discussions between an agent and the landlord to ensure that you're informed of things discussed that you need to know, assist with your side of the bargaining, and save you from frustration if much of the conversation would otherwise be in Khmer," Cormack says.

And most importantly, get written receipts for every payment you make, he says.

Encouragement for foreign projects to push ahead

Photo by: SOEUN SAY
Secretary of State for Ministry of Land Management Urban and Construction Phoeung Sophoan with Vice President of Camko City DK Kim.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Soeun Say
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Government officials have been visiting major foreign-funded construction sites in Phnom Penh over the last few weeks in order to persuade developers to push ahead with their plans despite the impact of the global financial crisis.

Ministry of Land Management Secretary of State Phoeung Sophoan visited the 119-hectare Camko City development on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Thursday.

Owned by South Korea's World City, the development was initially slated to cost $2 billion and be finished in 2018, but concerns have risen that the developer may be considering scaling back its ambitious plans.

"Today, we came here to strengthen the relationship and persuade the Korean investors they should feel good about the prospects of their projects," Phoeung Sophoan told Prime Location Thursday.

Camko City Vice President DK Kim brushed aside concerns and said the second phase of the development would be launched as planned later this year when phase one was completed.

The US$109 million initial phase included 1,009 townhouses, villas and condominiums, 85 percent of which had already been bought, Kim said.

Kim denied rumours that the Ministry of Economy and Finance were considering moving its proposed stock exchange from Camko City to the still-under-construction Canadia Tower.

"I'm 100 percent sure the stock market will be housed here and not moved to another place," he said.

Phoeung Sophoan said the mission had also visited Yon Woo's Gold Tower 42 project, and would also visit GS Engineering and Construction's International Financial Complex and Ciputra's Grand Phnom Penh International City, among other large developments.

While he acknowledged the impact of the global financial crisis on Cambodia's construction sector, Phoeung Sophoan said many smaller developments were pushing ahead and around 20 new projects had received approval already in 2009.

Larger developments had slowed construction work, but were still committed to finishing their projects, while other projects were awaiting approval, he added.

"According to my inspection of the Camko City construction site today, I am confident the developer has sufficient budget to complete construction."

He said the development was creating jobs for 4,600 workers and that up to 10,000 workers could hope for employment if the pace of construction could be ramped up in the near future.

Keeping the business afloat

The nightclub boasts a popular river location opposite the Night Market in Phnom Penh.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Conor Wall
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

After the crowd sank Pontoon’s dancefloor on its first big party night, the new management took the opportunity to completely redecorate its unique nightclub space on the Tonle Sap river

Oh the twists and turns one's life can take. One year ago, who would have imagined two Scottish nightclub managers would end up transforming Phnom Penh's sleepy club scene from a pontoon afloat on the brown waters of the Tonle Sap river. Certainly not Simon Shaw, 27, and Eddie Newman, 28.

Originally from Glasgow, these two young entrepreneurs have slightly different Cambodian timelines. Eddie has been in Cambodia on and off for four years, while Shaw came here for the first time a little over a year ago. Both had experience working in bars, clubs and promotions back in their homeland, and it was only a matter of time before they fell back into their old ways. Their latest business enterprise has seen them turn the Pontoon Lounge and Club into one of the city's most popular nightclubs.

"Cambodians love Western culture," says co-manager Shaw. "Our aim is to attract both Khmers and local expats by showcasing international acts in a European-style venue."

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Our aim is to attract both Khmers and local expats by showcasing international acts in a European-style venue.
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So far Shaw has kept true to his word by securing the services of acts such as Ministry of Sound co-founder Bert Bevans, Akil from Jurassic 5 and a host of other English, American, Thai and Singaporean DJs.

The venue has proved to be somewhat more challenging. Last July, on only its fourth night, Pontoon sank during the first big party night under the new management.

"It was a blessing in disguise," explains Shaw. "Firstly, it showed the owners that we were the real deal. We knew how to throw a party. Secondly, it meant, once refloated, we had to completely redecorate the whole pontoon."

The first port of call was to secure the pontoon, so 300,000 extra litres of ballast were added to the vessel's underside. Next some interior changes were needed. The dark colour scheme chosen exudes sophisticated elegance. Jet-black floorboards, walls and arching roof canopies set the backdrop for the sultry burgundy and black leather sofas that encircle the dancefloor. The dancefloor was enlarged by moving the seating and bar areas back, allowing extra couches to be added.

With the dancefloor sorted, the DJ booth needed work. "The focal point of any club should be the DJ booth," reveals Shaw. For this reason, it was painted an angelic shiny white and moved into a central position. The new sound system required changes to the power supply to handle the extra wattage. The speakers were imported from Thailand, Singapore and England.

On the other side of the pontoon, against the all-black background, the glossy white, marble bar stands out like an oasis in a desert. At night, red and yellow strip lights below the counter illuminate the marble, showing off the stone's beautiful inner contours and strata. Ten extra leather bar stools have been added and the bar lengthened to accommodate the expat tradition of bar-hanging.

As Shaw explains, with a hint of Glaswegian sarcasm: "The four extra metres of bar counter we have added has meant we can now deal with a lot more customer complaints."

The lack of wall space in the pontoon limits the artwork or ornaments that can be hung. However, on either side of the main walkway exit, two stunning cityscapes of Phnom Penh, by local expat artist Victor Blanco, instantly grab the attention of visitors.

"I gave Victor complete freedom with the wall space, and to be honest I couldn't be happier with the outcome. It's probably my favourite ornament in the whole club," reveals Shaw.

With the pontoon in order, Shaw and Eddie's attentions turned to the 30-year-old ex-casino boat Mekong Queen moored next door. Under the previous owners, the upstairs had been a restaurant. However, the two Scots decided a chill-out bar would more suit the club theme they were looking for. As with Pontoon, black wooden floorboards and walls set the backdrop for the chic leather sofas and leather-padded bar. Each sofa set is partitioned by innocuous-looking glass-box tables, which spring to life when darkness falls.

"It is not until nighttime that the real atmosphere of the chill-out bar comes to life," explains Shaw.
"The lighting system we installed is simple but very effective."

Ambient red lighting within each glass box illuminates the whole room with a soft, warm red glow. This glow reflects off the floor, the beautiful varnished roof, a solitary gold painted pillar and the room's many windows to create the illusion that light is coming from all angles.

Downstairs, under the chill-out bar, lies Shaw's living quarters. Here the dark black wood of the pontoon and bar are replaced with much lighter pine. Harsh light spills through the circular portholes stretched along the starboard side of the room, illuminating circular pockets on the varnished floorboards. A partition of black metal and white fabric partially hides the sleeping area. Around the room, entertainment systems, TVs, stereos and even a backgammon board give an indication of the occupant's hobbies.

When asked of these hobbies, Shaw admits he is not the party animal one might expect. Although nights can be a bit hectic, his favourite pasttime is relaxing in his favourite corner of the dance floor watching the world drift by on the Tonle Sap. "I am a lucky man", he says with a wry smile. "My living room is a floating pontoon with a spectacular view. And not many people can make a claim like that in their lifetime."

Medley of diverse dishes provide taste of Myanmar in Cambodia

Photo by: Tracey Shelton
Win Myanmar restaurant in Phnom Penh serves tasty fare.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Stephanie Mee
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Phnom Penh restaurants Irrawaddi and Win Myanmar offer a taste of Myanmar hospitality and cuisine with signature dishes that are bound to make your mouth water

Although not as internationally renowned as the fare in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, China or India, Myanmar cuisine is just as fresh, flavourful and varied as any other type of food in Asia.

The culinary tradition in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been influenced over the centuries by its bigger neighbours, and more recently, England and Bangladesh, and this has resulted in a medley of diverse dishes, all with a distinct twist.

Typical dishes in Myanmar range from many types of noodle and rice dishes, stir-fried vegetables and meats, curries, fresh and spicy salads, crispy fried fish, sweet sticky rice with shredded coconut, and all manners of soup.

"Most Burmese food is fresh, such as the salads, soups and fish dishes, although some fried dishes can be a bit spicy, oily and salty at times," said Cho Cho, former Yangon resident, and owner of Irrawaddi restaurant in Phnom Penh. "That's why we try to attune our dishes to the customer's tastes. We try to change them just a bit so that they suit everyone's palate."

Cho Cho estimates that there are about 200 Myanmar nationals residing in Phnom Penh, and her restaurant appears to be a home away from home for many, as well as an assortment of Western and Asian clientele.

With some 72 dishes on offer, the menu at Irrawaddi reads like a crash course in the flavours of the diverse regions of Myanmar, with such options as fried bamboo shoots with garden peas and a crispy onion topping, ginger salad, fried bitter gourd and tea leaf salad.

"Tea leaf salad is very special in Myanmar," said Cho Cho. "Whenever you go to someone's house to visit, the host will often serve tea leaf salad to the guests, along with hot tea."

The tea leaf salad, or le ptet thow, at Irrawaddi is a combination of mild, moist green tea leaves; crunchy white beans; tiny, salty, dried shrimp; fresh tomatoes; fragrant garlic; toasted sesame seeds and a few roasted peanuts for good measure, all tossed in a light oil dressing.

Another popular signature dish at Irrawadi is Hilsa fish. Hilsa is an oily fish rich in omega-three fatty acids that is found only in the Bay of Bengal, and a few rivers in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Cho Cho and her team at Irrawaddi import the fish from Myanmar and serve it piping hot and tender, in a rich stew of onions, lemongrass and gravy.

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I want people to experience the authentic burmese style of hospitality.
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"Most of the staff here is from Myanmar, and we have become like family," said Cho Cho. "At first they were nervous to serve people because they had no international serving experience, but I said to them: ‘Please maintain your own culture. Do what you did in your family, in your community,' I want people to experience the authentic style of hospitality."

Coming from a country that is renowned for its generous and welcoming treatment of guests, it is not surprising that the style of service at Irrawaddi is first rate, with no water glass falling below the halfway point nor a complimentary peanut dish remaining empty for long.

Win Myanmar is another restaurant in Phnom Penh that specialises in Myanmar cuisine, and although the atmosphere is not quite as cosy or visually stimulating as Irrawadi's, what they lack in decorative elements, they make up for in impeccable service and tasty Myanmar and Khmer cuisine.

Dishes at Win Myanmar include pork and chicken salads, catfish curry, Myanmar-style Biryani rice, and a special dish available every Sunday called mohinga.

Often called the national dish of Myanmar, mohinga varies from the north to the south of Myanmar, but a standard mohinga consists of rice vermicelli noodles in a thick fish soup, and contains garlic, onions, lemongrass, ginger, slices of banana tree stem, fish paste, chickpea powder and roasted catfish.

"Mohinga is typically a breakfast food, but can be eaten any time of day," said Soueng Vorn, a waiter at Win Myanmar. "We get many customers from Myanmar who come here for our mohinga special, and to sit and chat and enjoy their Sunday afternoon."

To enjoy the unique flavours of Myanmar in Phnom Penh head to Irrawaddi Myanmar restaurant, 24 Street 334 or Win Myanmar restaurant, 23 Street 110.

New cookbook whisks up feast

Photo Supplied
Women’s International Group of Cambodia.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Zoe Holman
Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Women's International Group of Cambodia accomplishes organisational and culinary feat

That old maxim that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach may well be proven by a recent cookbook from the Women's International Group of Cambodia (WIG).

Created to fundraise for the group's charitable work, this full-colour, 195-page collection features 64 recipes from 24 different countries, all of them tried and tested by the busy hands and discerning palettes of WIG members.

The book was published and launched last November with the help of the main sponsor, the recently closed Cambo Six, and co-sponsor, Telekom Malaysia International Cambodia (Hello), as well as six months of toil and stirring, whisking and frying by WIG members.

Established in 1994, WIG is a coalition of "ordinary women doing extraordinary things", as Malaysian-born cookbook co-ordinator Lee Say Lor said.

With over 100 members from 30 nations organising a range of activities and monthly meetings with topical guest-speakers, WIG provides a social network for women living in Cambodia. However, WIG's other major focus is fundraising for charity through their membership fees and annual Christmas fair.

The organisation aims to fund around 10 projects each year, ranging from purchasing cows for a women's community cow bank, water filters for a silk factory and pharmaceuticals for former prostitutes, to funding the publication of children's storybooks.

"We try to give to those projects which don't get support from mainstream funding ... and are sustainable," said WIG president Dorte Kieler

Organisational feat
WIG's cookbook is a product of the diversity and energy of its members. With all aspects of its production including recipes, text and editing, food-preparation and photography, graphics, design and funding organized by the WIG members themselves, the project was an organisational as well as culinary feat.

The book's composition reflects an intercultural ethos.

"It seemed inappropriate to organise the book in the standard categories of appetisers or breakfasts and dinners because what's considered breakfast in one culture ... might be considered lunch or dinner in Western culture," said Ashley Young, a member of the WIG cookbook team.

Recipes and their complete Khmer translations are therefore grouped into Light Choices, Main Choices and Sweet Choices, and the book also includes a beginner's briefing on the Cambodian market.

"The local market is such an integral part of Cambodian life, but to a foreigner it can be a bit daunting," said Lee Say Lor.

And where food customs can often prove mystifying, alienating or plain bizarre, it is hoped the book will give cooks the confidence and insight to brave unchartered culinary waters.

"We also want more Cambodians to try out foreign recipes. Food is a great cross-cultural bridge," said Lee Say Lor.

The cookbook can be purchased from the Reading Room, Ida and Ira Gallery, Silk and Pepper, Angkor Soaps, Amatak Spa and DoriThy Gallery.