The Prime Minister Said that to Summon More Khmer Rouge Leaders for Questioning Is Fatal – Friday, 4.12.2009

http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

Posted on 5 December 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 641

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

“The Prime Minister said, ‘Some do take the opportunity to use the Khmer Rouge court again and again… it is a fatal case. I do not interfere in the court affairs, but the court did not put off the war [with the Khmer Rouge]; and be careful, in case the court creates war and division in the society again…’

“This statement was made by Prime Minister Hun Sen again on 3 December 2009 during the 27th International Day of Disabled Persons in Phnom Penh, in relation to the intention of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to summon more people to testify.

“On 30 November 2009, the lawyer of a Khmer Rouge leader demanded that the investigating judges of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal question Prime Minister Hun Sen and some government officials, for having politically interfered in the affairs of this court. But yesterday, the head of the government, Mr. Hun Sen, stated that he does not interfere in the court affairs, but he just pointed to intentions to destroy the peace, which could hardly be recovered by summoning more former Khmer Rough leaders for questioning. This kind of an expression of concern is considered by a foreign defense lawyer of a former Khmer Rouge leader to be a criminal offense.

“Nuon Chea’s defense lawyer mentioned Prime Minister Hun Sen’s words, saying in September 2009, that the Prime Minister stated that he himself fled from the communist regime in 1977, adding that witnesses do not need to testify at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

“Nuon Chea’s defense lawyer, Mr. Michael Pestman, said to the news agency AFP and was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post, for their publication on 30 November 2009, as saying, ‘Mr. Hun Sen really told all summoned witnesses that they do not need to cooperate with the tribunal. That means he committed a criminal offense and it seriously affects the legal investigations of this court.’

“A similar suggestion, which AFP had received, mentioned the words of government officials they had used in October 2009 that the six parliamentarians and high ranking officials of the government, summoned by this court, do not need to testify.

“Mr. Pestman added, ‘Mr. Hun Sen’s statement is affecting the hearings to seek justice for our clients, because those government officials are direct witnesses whom we need for this process.’ He added, ‘At least, these words can weaken the legitimacy of the court.’

‘Yesterday morning, Mr. Hun Sen did not exactly refer to any Khmer or foreign lawyers, prosecutors, or judges, but stressed that this measure intends just to provoke turmoil in Cambodia.

“Mr. Hun Sen said, ‘They try to create turmoil in order to exploit the benefits for themselves.’

“After the celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons yesterday, Mr. Hun Sen said, ‘From 1993 till now, when Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, and other leaders of the Khmer Rouge cabinet arrived back, we considered this as the stage where the political and military organizations of the Khmer Rouge had been dissolved.’

“Mr. Hun Sen added that he would rather let the Khmer Rouge Tribunal fail, than would he let it to create a new war in Cambodia. He stated, ‘A hearing is just a hearing, but the peace must be kept also, and national unity must be maintained. You must balance these. Do not play with them, it can be fatal; and 100,000 to 200,000 people would die if there would be war again; who will then call the Khmer Rouge, or go to call them back from the forest again? I am old now. When I went to call the brothers and sisters [the former Khmer Rouge people] back from the forest, I was not yet 50 years old… I would rather let the court fail, but I will not let war break out. I want to say this clearly to the people. If the court fails, let it be.’

“Mr. Hun Sen is the 7th person who was to be summoned to testify.

“Even though Mr. Hun Sen is worried about the breaking out of war again because of the summons for more former Khmer Rouge leaders, the former prime minister of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea in the 1980s, Mr. Pen Sovann, supports the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to summon more former Khmer Rouge leaders to testify, who are now high ranking officials of the Cambodian People’s Party.

“On 8 October 2009, Mr. Pen Sovann told Khmer Machas Srok related to this case that the Khmer Rouge Tribunal is an independent and professional court which can provide justice to Khmer citizens who are victims of the Khmer Rouge. He said, ‘Nobody who was involved in the past Khmer Rouge history, no politician, should interfere in this court, because this court is independent… I support this court as it has its rights, its independence, and its role.’

“Prime Minister Hun Sen frequently warned that there will be instability if this court continues to summon more former Khmer Rouge leaders for questioning. But Mr. Pen Sovann claimed that there will not be any instability. He went on to say, ‘I think that this could not happen. It is only the personal opinion of Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen; he wants to protect persons of the former the Khmer Rouge Regime.’

“The four top former Khmer Rouge leaders, who are at present already being detained, are the former head of state, Mr. Khieu Samphan; the former president of the National Assembly, Mr. Nuon Chea; the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ieng Sary; and the former Minister of Social Affairs, Ms. Ieng Thirith; in addiion, there is also the former S-21 (Tuol Sleng) prison chief Duch, who was a middle level leader, who was brought first to the hearings.

“On 7 October 2009, the French investigating judge, Mr. Marcel Lemonde, and also a co-judge of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, summoned six high ranking officials of the Cambodian People’s Party to give testimony. Those six officials are the president of the Senate and of the Cambodian People’s Party, Mr. Chea Sim; the honorary president of the Cambodian People’s Party and president of the National Assembly, Mr. Heng Samrin; the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Keat Chhon; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Hor Namhong; and two other senators, Mr. Sim Ka and Mr. Ouk Bunchhoeun. Mr. Hun Sen is the 7th person of the Cambodian People’s Party who was summoned for questioning and to testify.”

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #546, 4.12.2009

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Friday, 4 December 2009

Chinese Uighurs Seeking Asylum in Cambodia: Reports

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

Original report from Washington

04 December 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Twenty-two members of a Chinese minority group who reportedly witnessed violent protests against the Chinese administration in July are now in Cambodia seeking asylum, according to US media reports.

The Washington Post on Thursday quoted Omar Kanat, vice president for the World Uyghur Congress, saying that the 22 people, three of them children, arrived in Cambodia over the past several weeks.

A reliable source confirmed to VOA Khmer on Thursday that the 22 Uighurs are now in Cambodia and in good condition.

Uighurs protesters confronted with police in China

Cambodian government officials contacted Thursday said they have not been informed of the case.

“I’ve heard that Washingtonhas run this story,” national police spokesman Keat Chantharith said Thursday. “People have asked me too. I am not aware of it. I have received no information.”“People have asked me about the case too and said the Washington Post has run the story. I checked with several people, but received no answers,” said Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Koy Kuong, however, said that it is still too early to say whether Cambodia will hand the refugees over if they are in Cambodia and

China requests their return.Turkic Uighurs are mostly Muslim ethnic group from the far western province of Xinjiang, where for years separatists have waged a campaign against the Chinese government in the resource-rich region.

In early July protesters led violent demonstrations in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.

New UN Prosecutor Faces Tough Challenges

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

Original report from Washington

04 December 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The UN’s new prosecutor for the Khmer Rouge tribunal faces at least two challenges as he begins work at the court, observers of the hybrid court say.

For starters, Andrew Carley, a British prosecutor appointed to the UN side of the court this week, will have to work side by side with his counterpart, Chea Leang, to ensure adequate prosecution of four senior Khmer Rouge leaders currently in detention, said Long Panhavuth, a project officer for the Open Society Justice Institute, which oversees the tribunal.

“Both prosecutors have to unanimously agree and join shoulders to execute [the case], to ensure that the investigation in Case No. 002 is completed, good, adequate and with independence guaranteed,” he said.

Tribunal judges have said the end of this year they will conclude their investigation of the four leaders, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith, in a case that promises to be more complicated that the trial of Kaing Kek Iev, or Duch, which wrapped up last week.

Carley, who has not yet arrived, will also have to face the question of further indictments, a position promoted by his predecessor, Robert Petit, who left earlier this year.

The question of further indictments beyond the five cadre now in custody divided the prosecution office, with judge Chea Leang maintaining the same position of Prime Minister Hun Sen, that the current caseload is enough and that further arrests could lead to instability.

Hun Sen reiterated this warning Thursday, saying he would prefer to see the court fail than have the country “fall into war.”

A coalition of civil society groups said Friday they were not concerned that proceedings of the Khmer Rouge tribunal have the potential of igniting civil war in Cambodia.

Government Must Curb Rights Abuse: Advocate

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

Washington

04 December 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

If the government doesn’t move to curb persecution of human rights defenders, it can be implicated in rights abuses, a Cambodian advocate said Thursday.

Rights groups in the country have faced a high number of threats this year, said Ou Virak, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

“So in this case, we look in every corner,” he said. “One, we look at policy and legality, because the state has policies and laws of protection. Two, we see about punishment, and then in any case that the state is aware [of abuses] but does not take the effort to find justice, that mans the state is participating in human rights violations.”

People are “still in fear,” he said, because of physical threats of violence and legal threats.

“We see that all these threats are contrasting the principle of human rights that we declared to recognized, but we do not maintain,” he said. “That’s what’s important.”

In 2009, at least 168 rights workers faced persecution, arrest or detention, according to figures from rights organizations, he said.

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Commission is reviewing Cambodia’s rights efforts in Geneva as part of mandatory review process.

Ou Virak said he expected the government to act on good recommendations from the Human Rights Council.

Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, denied allegations of government complicity in rights abuses. The government has worked to reform the rule of law and judiciary, he said.

“We have the constitution and law, and especially we know that we defend human rights and the value of human beings,” he said.

Ou Virak said Thursday the government had failed to protect the rights of people, especially in land-grabs.

Alleged Thai Spy Denied Release on Bail

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

04 December 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday ruled it would continue the detention of a Thai citizen accused of espionage, denying a written request he be released on bail.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, was arrested on Nov. 12, after allegedly leaking a flight schedule of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his newly appointed economic adviser, ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, to Thai officials in Phnom Penh.

Siwarak was charged with spying, a crime that carries a sentence of up to 15 years. He did not appear at his hearing Friday.

Thai officials have called the charges “malicious” and claim Sirawak was framed.

Siwarak, an employee of the Thai-owner Cambodia Air Traffic Services, which handles Cambodia’s flight traffic, has become a focal point in a diplomatic row between the two neighbors.

The disagreement over Thaksin’s appointment as Hun Sen’s economic adviser has led to the ejection of diplomats from the capitals of each country and the annulment of development loans.

Thaksin is wanted in Thailand on corruption charges, following his ouster in a bloodless coup in 2006.

Hun Sen said he would not honor Thai requests to extradite Thaksin, whose case he said was political, angering Bangkok and increasing the diplomatic tension between the two countries, which have troops amassed on each side of a contested border in Preah Vihear province.

Thai held on Cambodian spy charges cancels bail bid

04 December 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH: A Thai national held in Cambodia on spying charges, relating to a visit by fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, withdrew his request for bail on Friday.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, was arrested on charges of supplying details of Thaksin's flight schedule to his country's embassy when the tycoon visited Phnom Penh last month.

In a letter read in court, Siwarak, who did not appear for the bail hearing, said the "bail request is no longer necessary" because his trial had been scheduled for Tuesday.

Judge Ke Sakhan of Phnom Penh Municipal court granted the request.

Siwarak's arrest deepened a diplomatic crisis over Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser and its refusal to extradite the ousted premier to Bangkok.

Cambodia expelled the first secretary of Thailand's embassy in Phnom Penh after alleging that Siwarak had passed information to the diplomat. Thailand reciprocated hours later.

Both countries earlier also withdrew their respective ambassadors in the dispute over Thaksin's appointment.

All Thai air traffic control staff were suspended from the Thai-owned civil aviation company that oversees Cambodian air space, after a Cambodian government official was appointed temporary caretaker of the firm.

Thaksin was toppled in a coup in 2006 and is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but has stirred up protests in his homeland.

Angered by his presence in Cambodia, Thailand put all talks and cooperation programmes on hold and tore up an oil and gas exploration deal signed during Thaksin's time in power.

Tensions were already high following a series of deadly military clashes over disputed territory near an 11th century temple on the two countries' border.

Cambodia allows foreigners to own property

http://news.asiaone.com/

Fri, Dec 04, 2009

AFP

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (AFP) - The Cambodian government on Friday approved a draft law allowing foreign ownership of buildings such as apartments and office buildings to boost economic growth, the country's cabinet said.

The draft law approved in a meeting chaired by premier Hun Sen was aimed at "attracting investors, facilitating the growth of real estate market, and pushing the development", a cabinet statement said.

But Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said foreigners will be permitted to own only buildings and apartments, not the land beneath them.

"We will allow foreigners to have ownership of buildings from the first floor up," he told AFP.

The draft law is expected to be approved by Cambodia's parliament and senate, and then will be promulgated by King Norodom Sihamoni.

The move comes after the private sector in recent years urged the government to allow foreign ownership of properties such as apartments or factories, saying a liberalised real estate market would spur the economy.

Under the current rules, foreign property investments can only be made through the name of a Cambodian national, and many are unwilling to risk losing their assets to potentially unscrupulous local partners.

The cash-strapped country's investment law was amended in 2005 to allow foreign ownership of buildings, but the legislation had yet to be implemented and the initiative floundered.

Despite current restrictions, billion-dollar skyscraper projects and sprawling satellite cities promising to radically alter Phnom Penh have bloomed over the past few years.

But many projects have been halted or slowed down as Cambodia has been buffeted by the world financial crisis after several years of double-digit growth fuelled mainly by tourism and garment exports.

The International Monetary Fund in September predicted Cambodia's economy will contract 2.75 percent this year amid the slowdown.

Relationship between Thai, Cambodian militaries remains good: Thai minister

http://www.chinaview.cn/

2009-12-04

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The relationship of the Thai and Cambodian militaries has remained good, Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said Friday.

The diplomatic tension has not affected the bilateral cooperation between the Thai and Cambodian militaries along the border, Thai News Agency quoted General Prawit as saying.

"At the army level, after talking to Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, we have agreed we will always cooperate as Defense Minister Tea understands every matter, no problem," General Prawit said.

The Thai and Cambodian defense ministers met on Nov. 27 in Thailand during a meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC).

During the GBC meeting, the two sides have agreed that they will not use force to deal with the border matter.

The diplomatic problem has occurred after Cambodia has appointed ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to Cambodia's government and Prime Minister Hun Sen from Nov. 4.

A day after the appointment, the Cambodian government announced the recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.

Editor: Han Jingjing

Cambodia needs 10 more years to clear all land mines

http://www.chinaview.cn/

2009-12-04

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 4 (Xinhua)-- Cambodia has officially requested donor community to extend another 10 years to clear land mines covering the country, said a government official.

Leng Sochea, deputy secretary general of the Cambodia Mine Action Authority said Friday that Cambodia made a request to extend another 10 years to clear all land mines in Cambodia at the summit on a mine-free world, which is being held this week in Cartagena, Colombia.

He said that Cambodia, as a signatory to Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, was originally planning to clear all anti-personnel mines by the end of this year, but it becomes unrealistic and needs to adjust the timeline.

However, he said, the Cambodian government's commitment to clear all mines within the next 10 years will again depend on donors' community and Cambodia needs a total of 330 million U.S. dollars.

Casualties caused by land mines are still a worrisome fact for many Cambodians living in northwestern parts of the country, even though the number of casualties has declined year by year.

Cambodia recorded a total casualty of up to 4,320 by mines in1996, but the number fell to 271 in 2008.

Civil war had lasted for nearly three decades in the country since late 1960s.

Editor: Han Jingjing

KKF participate in the Universal Periodic Review on Cambodia

Friday, 04 December 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Universal Periodic Review for Cambodia yields disappointing results as no attention is dedicated to indigenous or minority rights.

On 1st December, Cambodia faced examination of their human rights situation under the sixth session of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR). A delegation from UNPO Member the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) attended Cambodia’s review session in Geneva. M Thhai Makarar from the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation Youth Committee said he was ‘disappointed’ by the outcome of the review. He stated that although H.E. Mr. Sun Suon, the Permanent Representative of Cambodia spoke for an hour, the problems facing indigenous and minority peoples were not raised on this crucial international stage.

During the interactive dialogue, questions were put to Cambodia by state representatives expressing concern about land grabbing, freedom of expression, lack of an independent of the juridical system and the immunity of the opposition party. There was controversy however since the list of speakers on Cambodia was cut due to time constraints, which will impact negatively on the scope of the recommendations which will be taken into account in the Report of the Working Group.

The Khmer Kampuchea Krom were mentioned specifically three times in the Joint Stakeholders Submission - the collective contributions from non-governmental organizations on human rights concerns which should be considered during the review process. The report mentions the difficulties faced by the Khmer Kampuchea Krom in obtaining citizenship including the resulting insecurity, the denial of right to vote and inability to occupy property or own land. The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization is quoted in the report recommending that Cambodia should acknowledge the indigenous status of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom and end the forceful repatriation of Khmer refugees from Cambodia to neighbouring countries.

Instead of addressing these pertinent issues and recommendations, the Permanent Representative of Cambodia claimed that the Cambodian Government had ‘achieved a great deal to develop their country.’ UNPO considers it unfortunate that Cambodia neglected to address substantial human rights concerns and failed to respond to constructive recommendations concerning the indigenous status of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom.

Despite being procedurally ineligible to address the Human Rights Council during the review, KKF representatives were able to raise their concerns with the Assistant to the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous People. KKF delegates met with Ms Lydie Vendre at a side event in the Palais Wilson to discuss the widespread violation of religious and cultural rights, repression of the freedom of expression, concern for refugees in Thailand and the confiscation of the ancestral land as the case of M Vinh Ba.

At another meeting, Sam Rainsy, the President of the opposition Party in Cambodia along with NGOs such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) discussed how to put into place procedures to ensure that the Cambodian Government follow recommendations with the ultimate aim of encouraging Cambodia to represent a strong democratic country. The KKF delegation also lobbied countries including Switzerland, Germany and United States of America to assist them to raise their concerns with Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

The adoption of Cambodia’s report was due to take place yesterday (Thursday 3rd December) and UNPO anticipates the publication of the ‘Outcome Report’ which will be adopted at a plenary session of the Human Rights Council.

A podcast of Cambodia’s UPR can be watched here

Cambodian pepper farmers set to gain from 'champagne' status (Feature)

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/

By Robert Carmichael Dec 4, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Kampong Trach, Cambodia - On a small plot of earth 10 kilometres outside a dusty provincial town in southern Cambodia, farmer Nuon Yan tends his crop.

Like most farmers in Cambodia, Nuon Yan grows rice. But today he is tending his other crop: Kampot pepper. The final product - spicy black peppercorns that enliven dishes across the world - will soon become the first Cambodian product to benefit from Geographical Indicator (GI) status.

GI is more familiar as a concept than a phrase, and most famously with champagne: Only sparkling wine grown in a certain region of France which conforms to the quality standard set by its members may be called champagne. The advantage for growers is a better price; consumers benefit knowing that they are getting a quality product.

Cambodia's farmers are a key pillar of the country's economy, and widespread rural poverty means better prices for their crops are essential. UN figures show agriculture employs more than half of the 8-million-strong labour force and generates one-third of the kingdom's gross domestic product.

Kampot pepper, which is named after Nuon Yan's home province near the border with Vietnam, has an excellent name regionally and is highly regarded by some chefs in Europe. But a good name is not enough: in a world of imitations, protecting that name is critical.

Var Roth San is director of the intellectual property department at Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce. He says attaining GI status typically boosts the value of a product by at least 20 per cent.

'We want to create jobs, and we want the poor to get more money from their jobs in the rural areas,' he said. 'GI is one thing that will help the poor.'

Nuon Yan is a member of the newly formed Kampot Pepper Producers' Association, which will market and promote his crop.

It is a cooperative of more than 100 farmers, along with a handful of middlemen. It will ensure the Kampot pepper its members grow comes only from certain areas and meets quality standards. By early 2010, only the pepper produced by its members will be able to use the name.

Jean-Marie Brun, an advisor at the French agricultural non-governmental organisation GRET, said members of the World Trade Organisation are obliged to protect GI-status products. Once a product earns the name and is registered, it can easily be protected.

GRET was involved in the establishment of the cooperative, whose members defined the geographical growing area and quality standards.

'The stakeholders decided on the delimitation of the area, how it should be produced, and the quality criteria for Kampot pepper,' Brun said.

Kampot pepper is not the only Cambodian product in the running. Others vying for GI status include regionally produced palm sugar, honey, silk and possibly even durian fruit.

Brun says the main benefit for the small-scale farmers who comprise the bulk of the cooperative is financial. The current gate price for black pepper is 2.5 dollars per kilogram, but that should double once the GI status is confirmed.

By the time Kampot pepper gets to Europe, where it will be sold in packets of 20 to 50 grams, it can retail at an equivalent of 100 euros (150 dollars) per kilogram.

'Importers of Kampot pepper in Europe know it has a name and they are willing to pay a higher price for that,' Brun explained. The extra profit will allow for increased marketing expenditures.

Protection of the brand rests initially with the association, whose simple office is based in a shady grove outside Kampong Trach town in Kampot province. This is picture-postcard Cambodia: green rice fields, sugar palm trees and karst hills, with wooden carts drawn by white oxen along dirt roads.

The vice-president of the association, En Trou, is a farmer with 150 pepper vines, each providing 1 kilogram of peppercorns per year. En Trou said the total output of the members this year will be 14 tons, but he predicts that will double over the next five years.

En Trou said members have in the past encountered difficulties trying to sell their crops for a decent price, but is optimistic that GI status for Kampot pepper will help.

Four kilometres from the association's office along a series of ever-narrowing dirt tracks, Nuon Yan keeps an eye on his 300 pepper vines. He earned 400 dollars from his crop last year, but aims to double that next year. So what will he do with the extra cash?

'I will put some in the bank, and I will use the rest to buy more pepper vines,' he said.

The vines take three years to mature, so it is no short-term measure. But for Nuon Yan the benefits from ensuring his pepper meets the GI requirements make it worthwhile to invest more time and money on growing Kampot pepper for the kitchens of Europe.

Vietnam, Cambodia Tighten Anti-Human Trafficking Ties

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Concrete measures to combat human trafficking and provide aid to its victims topped the agenda of a workshop between Vietnam and Cambodia, which held in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh on December 2 to 3.

According to the Vietnam news agency's report, the move is part of joint efforts to implement a cooperation agreement signed in October, 2005, to repel the trafficking of women and children as well as provide them with assistance.

The Vietnamese delegation to the workshop was led by Vice Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem, and the Cambodian delegation was led by Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation Hav Bunse.

On the sidelines of the workshop, Vietnam and Cambodia also signed another cooperative agreement on confirming and repatriating the victims of human trafficking.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Secretary of State Hav Bunse praised the workshop's success, regarding it as new evidence of tight bilateral cooperation and determination to combat against trans-border crimes for the sake of the safety of their peoples.

A Village Chief Shot and Killed a Sam Rainsy Party Activist, and Police Gave the Victim’s Family US$900 so that They Do Not Sue – Thursday, 3.12.2009

http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

Posted on 4 December 2009

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 641

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

“An activist of the Sam Rainsy Party was shot dead by a village chief who lives in a different village, while the victim and his nephew were fishing at a canal; and police gave the victim’s wife US$900 so that she would not inform civil society and sue him at the court. This is according to the deputy director of the Sam Rainsy Party in Prey Veng, Mr. Pim Samnang, who received the information from the victim’s family.

“But the police chief of Sithor Kandal denied that he negotiated anything with the victim’s wife to stop suing him.

“Mr. Pim Samnang told Khmer Machas Srok in the morning of 2 December 2009 at the Sam Rainsy Headquarters in Phnom Penh, that the victim is Buo Boun, 28. He lived in Prasat village, Chrey Khmum commune, Sithor Kandal, Prey Veng. He added that at 7:00 p.m. on 28 November 2009, Buo Boun together with an 11-year-old boy was shot by Voeun, the chief of the Ta Nal village which is in the same commune, killing him immediately at the site while he and his nephew were fishing at the Anhchanh canal in his village.

“The perpetrator shot the victim three times, and once hit him in the back in the shoulder-blade.

“The Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian from Prey Veng, Mr. Chea Pouch said, ‘I cannot assume that it is political, but we let police investigate it first with participation from civil society.’

“He added, ‘I condemn the murderer who was already known as a village chief from the Cambodian People’s Party.” Therefore, police must capture the murderer as the target is clearly identified already.’

“According to this report, at about 2:00 p.m. on 29 November 2009, his wife Din Then knew her husband died. The victim is a farmer and has a six-year-old daughter. His wife is now eight months pregnant.

“The report went on to say that on 1 December 2009, police officials of Sithor Kandal went to negotiate with the victim’s wife and family by offering US$900 to Buo Boun’s wife so there would be no complaint to the court and to civil society.

“The Sithor Kandal district police chief, Mr. Net, told Khmer Machas Srok via telephone yesterday evening [2 December 2009] that indeed there was a killing which resulted from an electric fishing shock. When asked whether police helped to negotiate to pay US$900 to stop any complaint, Mr. Net denied it and claimed that his role is to make a report and to send it to higher levels, and to try to arrest the perpetrator for prosecution.

“He added that the police has not yet arrested the perpetrator, but they know who he is.

“Though Mr. Net denied negotiating with the victim’s family, Ms. Din Then, villagers and the victim’s relatives claimed that the district police did negotiate to pay US$900 to the victims’ wife in order to stop her going to sue at the court.

“Buo Boun was an orphan and an outstanding activist of the Sam Rainsy Party. He used to be an agent of the Sam Rainsy Party at his village and also the one who was able to find most support for the Sam Rainsy Party for the national elections in 2008. His murder is considered as political, as he never had disputes with anyone.

“Mr. Pim Samnang called police to arrest the perpetrator, Voeun, the village chief, to be convicted according to the law.

“Yesterday evening, it was reported that the secretary-general of the Sam Rainsy Party, Ms. Ke Sovannarath, wrote a letter to the Minister of Interior, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, requesting him to arrest the perpetrator to be prosecuted according to the law.

“It should be noted that last month, an activist of the Sam Rainsy Party was attacked and killed while the victim and his wife were sleeping in their cottage to guard their paddy rice in Basedth district, Kompong Speu.”

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #545, 3.12.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:

Thursday, 3 December 2009

Cambodia Wants Peace: PM

Friday, 04 December 2009 06:53 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday again confirmed that Cambodia is willing to see the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT) fail, but does not want to see war again.

The confirmation comes after a KRT Co-Prosecutor asked for charges to be filed against more KR leaders. The KR regime resulted in the deaths of nearly 2 million Cambodians cruel torture, starvation, disease and execution.

“I am not interfering with the court. But it is not the court that stopped the war. Be careful—the court will create war, causing division of society again,” Hun Sen said in a speech the capital Phnom Penh. ”Again and again, I see they want to question. Be careful, this is the issue of death,” Hun Sen said during a ceremony to bring attention to the plight of disabled people.

He went on to repeat warnings that he would rather see the court fail than to expand prosecutions beyond the 5 former KR leaders currently detained for their roles in the KR regime.

Final arguments in the court’s first trial, that of S21 prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, concluded last week. The court plans to prosecute former Khmer Rouge ideologue Nuon Chea, head of state Khieu Samphan, foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife, minister of social affairs Ieng Thirith sometime in 2011.

Australian Company Drills for Minerals in Cambodia

Friday, 04 December 2009 06:53 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Southern Gold Limited, an Australia-based company, has commenced diamond core drilling at its 100 percent-owned Snoul gold in Kratie province and base metals tenements in Cambodia, the company said on Thursday.

“The 2,500m program is testing the continuity of gold mineralization intersected at the Anchor Prospect including … and at the nearby O’Pok prospect areas and will also test several other prospects identified from soil and trenching results,” Southern Gold said.

According to Southern Gold, this will be the first diamond core and drilling that will be completed on its Cambodian projects.

It is planned that the drilling operations will involve utilizing two to three man portable diamond core drill rigs, and two RC multi-purpose drill rigs.

Southern Gold said it expects continuous six month flows of drilling results from Cambodia. Cambodia is becoming a fresh country for mien exploration companies and investment.

Keat Chhon, deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, said on Tuesday at the national assembly that mine exploration is also conducting at area between Oddar Meanchey province and Banteay Meanchey province. “We have to attract investors to develop mine land that we could gain benefit to develop the country,” Keat Chhon said, as mines will provide huge benefits for the economy.

Cambodia Denies Thai Spy’s Mother Met Sok An

Friday, 04 December 2009 06:52 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Cambodian Government on Thursday rejected a report published by the Nation Thai newspaper on December 3 that the mother of detained spy met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, according to a Thursday press release.

“The Spokesman’s office of the Council of Ministers whishes to make the clarification following an article posted on December 3, 2009 in The Nation said mother of the detained Thai engineer was received by Sok An,” the press release said. The accused’s mother was met at airport by Sok An, the Cambodian deputy premier, thanks to Noppadon’s connections in Phnom Penh, the Nation apparently erroneously published on Thursday.

”The mother of the detained Thai engineer received a warm welcome in Phnom Penh, with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An waiting for her at the airport,” the Nation claimed.

“In this regard, the Spokesman´s office wishes to clarify that the publication of this article is incorrect since on December 02, 2009, Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the office of the Council of Ministers, was not at the Phnom Penh International Airport to meet Mrs. Simarak na Nakhon who was on the trip to visit her son Sivarak Chutipong,” the Cambodian MFA press release confirmed.

Speaking via telephone from Phnom Penh, Simarak said she wanted to thank Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for allowing her to visit her son, as well as Sok An for meeting her at the airport and escorting her to the prison. She said the visit had been made very easy and had come as a surprise to Sivarak.

She also thanked Pheu Thai Party for facilitating her visit—according the Nation newspaper, former Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama used his connections in Phnom Penh to help.

When asked about her reliance on the opposition party, Simarak said she did not care that it had caused a political conflict because she was willing to do anything to save her son. “I have no hidden agenda, no politics, but will use every channel I can to see my son,” she was quoted as saying by the Nation.

Sivarak’s arrest is just one facet of the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. He was arrested in connection with Thaksin, who was appointed by Hun Sen as an economic adviser.

Angered by Thaksin’s appointment, Thailand downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia and Cambodia has cancelled many Thai cooperation projects. The Thai government has also blamed Thaksin for manipulating conflicts between the two countries.

Noppadon, meanwhile, said the Thai government’s moves against Cambodia could end up costing the country, adding that Thaksin should not be blamed for the slump in foreign relations because he had suggested several times that Thailand reconcile with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya should also make clear whether the government wants to revoke the maritime deal with Cambodia, he was quoted by the Nation as saying.

HIV/AIDS Authority Rejects Rumor

Friday, 04 December 2009 06:50 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Relevant Cambodian authorities on Thursday rejected rumors of charging for HIV/AIDS treatment.

Teng Kunthy said that “Many treatment drugs will reach Cambodia by all supporters.”

Seth Ya, 30, an AIDS patient said that she feared hospital charges. “Both I and my husband are infected with HIV, but my children are not. Although my children are OK, we are very poor, so we do not have enough money to support them and take care of ourselves.”

Recently, Cambodian authorities have been supporting the family with money, rice, and zinc roofing, she added.

Others also denied that patients were charged.

Executive Director of the Urban Poor Women Development (UPWD) Sum Samon said that “The rumors will be the subject of a meeting.”

PM Hun Sen Urges Stop to Disabled Discrimination

Friday, 04 December 2009 06:46 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Cambodian government on Thursday celebrated the 27th international day of disabled people under theme of “we all join to implement the law on protection and promotion of disabled people” with the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“We must stop discriminating with disabled people so disabled people do not commit bad behaviors in society, and especially they should not be beggars for life,” Prime Minister Hun Sen said at the National Institution of Education in Phnom Penh. The premier also highligh- ted the activities of the government and partners that have helped disabled people. The government always pays great attention to the disabled because Hun Sen “knows their situation better than others,” as he also is disabled after losing an eye in the civil war in the mid-1970s.

“I contributed about US$1 million to build a disabled community in Kampot province for former soldiers, and this without talking about sharing land for them.” This is the 11th year Cambodia has marked the annual day to recognize the disabled. Hun Sen said that in 2008, 1.4 percent of Cambodia’s 14 million people were disabled, down from 2 percent in 1998.

He added that disabilities people in Cambodia are caused by the previous civil war, landmines, traffic accidents, and polio disease. Mines and UXO are still a threat and therefore Cambdoai has concentrated on a mine clearance program in the millennium development goals, he said, adding that so far this year, 199 people have been killed and injured by mines and UXO, down from last year’s 269. Cambodian has committed to following the international convention of banning mines.

Traffic accidents are also a key factor, and “we are strengthening law enforcement of the traffic law, and urge local people to wear helmet, he added. Before mines and aids are our threat but road accident is a key data that we need to continue for our people’s health.”

The government has actively taken part with all partners to provide vocational training to support families and shared land for their families for planting agricultural crops and households, the PM added. Over 15,880 disabled people have clear skills and jobs and we have 11 centers for vocational training and teach brail, youth rehabilitation,

Mother of Thai jailed in Cambodia cancels bail request bid

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Dec 4 (TNA) - Mother of a Thai engineer detained in a Cambodian prison on espionage charges Friday cancelled her bail request plan as her son's new lawyer advised that the request will delay the case.

Opposition Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said that Simarak Na Nakhon Panom, mother of Siwarak Chutipong, an employee of Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) arrested by Cambodian police November 12 on charges of passing information on the flight details of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thai diplomats agreed with the counsel of the newly-appointed lawyer of her son.

Mr Siwarak has been detained at Preysar prison. The Cambodian court will give its verdict on the case on December 8.

Mr Siwarak's Cambodian lawyer Kao Sopha, provided by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, earlier said he will submit the bail request Friday at 2pm.

Mrs Simarak however said Thursday on returning from Phnom Penh on her second visit to see her son that she would change her son's lawyer as she believes the new lawyer, recommended by Mr Siwarak's friends, will perform better than the current one.

"The new lawyer thinks that if Mr Siwarak is released on bail, this will delay the case," explained Mr Prompong. "The Cambodian court will give its verdict December 8. The new lawyer is now coordinating with the ex-premier Thaksin, Puea Thai Party chairman Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry to prepare for the royal pardon request if the court rules that Mr Siwarak is found guilty." (TNA)

Uighurs who fled China in Cambodia seeking asylum

By ISOLDA MORILLO and CARA ANNA, Associated Press Writers

 Fri Dec 4, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BEIJING – A group of 22 Uighurs who fled after ethnic rioting in western China are seeking asylum in Cambodia after using an underground network of missionaries in China that has helped North Korean refugees in the past.

It is the first time the Christian interfaith network has helped a group of the largely Muslim Uighurs, and it might not be the last. People who work with the network say overseas-based Uighur groups have been asking if they could use the underground "railway" through China to reach the U.N. refugee office in Cambodia.

Tension in China's remote northwest has increased since the July rioting between the Turkic Uighurs and the majority Han Chinese. It was China's worst ethnic violence in decades.

The Chinese government says the rioting left nearly 200 people dead. A Chinese court sentenced five Uighurs to death Thursday for murder and other crimes during the rioting, and China announced last month that nine Uighurs had been executed for taking part in the violence.

Overseas Uighur groups reject China's accusations that they helped cause the violence in the long-tense region and say Uighurs have been rounded up in mass detentions since the riots.

The 22 Uighurs, who have been described by Uighur exile groups as witnesses to the rioting, made their way through China and Vietnam before arriving in the Cambodian capital, where they have made contact with the UN refugee office and applied for political asylum.

However, they live in fear of being picked up and returned to China, which has close ties with Cambodia, according to Uighur groups.

"China has a very big influence in Cambodia. So their life is in risk, I would say," said Ilshat Hassan, the U.S.-based director of interior affairs for the World Uyghur Congress.

A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry asked that questions about the case be sent in a fax, and offered no immediate response.

Hassan said the group is the first large one to leave China after the riots. He said they witnessed the violence in the Xinjiang region and took photos. Two other Uighurs were arrested in Vietnam, he said, and he lost contact with another group of four.

A spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of the Interior, Pol. Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, said Friday that at least 16 Uighurs are now staying at the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the capital, Phnom Penh.

He said the Cambodian government can do nothing with the Uighurs as they are under the UNHCR's protection. He said he doesn't know when and how they arrived in Cambodia, or whether the government will deport them to China.

"It is too early to talk about this," the general said.

UNHCR's spokeswoman for Asia, Kitty McKinsey, said she could not discuss the case. "It's our policy everywhere in the world never to speak about individual asylum seekers or refugees," she said. The Phnom Penh office is the closest UNHCR office to China in Southeast Asia.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the government will consider carefully any repatriation request from China. He said Cambodia has the right to deny such a request if the people are considered political asylum seekers.

"But if they are purely criminal people and there is a request, we may deport them back," he said.

Missionary groups have been getting more and more requests from overseas Uighur groups hoping to use the North Korean "railway," the Rev. Marcus Ramsey with the Macau Interfaith Network told AP Television News.

The "railway" is a network of sympathetic locals who agree to shelter and guide people as they cross China.

Ramsey's group collaborates with other missionary groups and helped the 22 Uighurs leave China.

The requests come because some Uighurs fear the Chinese government is targeting them after the July rioting, he added.

Hassan did not want to talk about any involvement with the missionary network, saying only "some locals from the China side helped."

Now, however, China has tightened border controls and the way into Vietnam is no longer possible, he said.

___

Associated Press Writer Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, contributed to this report.

Cambodia, Thailand veer closer to collision course

Long-standing dispute escalates dramatically as Phnom Penh hires fugitive former Thai PM as government adviser

MARK MacKINNON

PHNOM PENH — From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published on Friday, Dec. 04, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The armies of Cambodia and Thailand declared last week that they have no intention of fighting a war with each other. That's the good news.

The bad news is that the escalating dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours has become so dangerous that such a statement was required. The past 12 months have seen ambassadors expelled, trade disrupted, accusations of espionage and a series of deadly border clashes around an ancient temple in a contested frontier area.

Tensions have risen dramatically in the past two weeks after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen waded into Thailand's internal political battle by inviting Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's fugitive former prime minister, to visit Cambodia and gave him a job as a government adviser.

Mr. Hun Sen could scarcely have made a more provocative gesture. Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted from office in a 2006 military coup and is wanted on corruption charges, called his supporters into the streets earlier this year in an effort to topple the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The uprising was quelled by the military after street fighting between pro-Thaksin and pro-government groups left two people dead and more than 100 injured.

Though Mr. Thaksin has since left Cambodia to resume his exile in Dubai, Thailand responded to his appointment by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh, a move Cambodia quickly matched. Shortly afterwards, Cambodian police seized the offices of the Thai company that handles air-traffic control at Phnom Penh airport. The company's Thai employees were locked out and replaced with Cambodian staff, and one Thai national was charged with espionage for allegedly passing on the details of Mr. Thaksin's flights to the Thai embassy.

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan poured more kerosene on the fire, calling Thailand a failed state and comparing Mr. Abhisit to Benito Mussolini.

"Thailand has initiated everything. We have just responded to their decisions," Mr. Phay said, speaking shortly after the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers emerged from a meeting to pledge that they wouldn't allow the political battle between the two governments to degenerate into a shooting war.

In a sign the dispute may nonetheless continue to worsen, an aide handed Mr. Phay a memo during the interview informing him Thailand had withdrawn from an aid project to upgrade a highway used by tourists travelling between the two countries. "We don't care. We can find other money to finance this project. We don't need money from Thailand," Mr. Phay steamed after reading it.

The root of much of the trouble is a long-standing argument over ownership of the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, a popular tourist destination near the border that the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 to be on Cambodian soil but which Thailand still claims. The dispute was resurrected last year when Cambodia succeeded, at a meeting held in Quebec City, in getting Preah Vihear named to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. Since then, the Thai army has regularly moved its soldiers into the area to assert its claim, drawing occasional Cambodian fire.

In April, at least two Thai soldiers were killed in a prolonged exchange of fire in the area that saw the two sides use machine guns and rocket launchers.

The economic impacts of the dispute have been far-reaching. Trade between the two neighbours has declined sharply and construction has been delayed on a rail line that was to link the two countries as part of a planned regional rail network running from Singapore to southern China via Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam.

But analysts say the dispute may be helping both Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Hun Sen politically. Mr. Abhisit's popularity ratings have received a boost since taking a hard line toward Cambodia, while Mr. Hun Sen is seen as benefiting from having the Preah Vihear dispute on the front pages of newspapers instead of the global recession and the layoffs and factory closings that have hit this already poor country's garment industry.

The future of Thai-Cambodian relations may now depend on how the political struggle in Bangkok plays out. In effect, Mr. Hun Sen is betting that Mr. Thaksin, who is still widely popular among the country's rural poor, or one of his allies will return to office after elections that are expected some time next year.

"As long as [Mr. Abhisit's] Democrat Party remains in power, bilateral relations will be tense and bumpy. If Thaksin's supporters regain power, relations are likely to be more workable," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a Thai political analyst. "Hun Sen has placed his bet and played his Thaksin card. Whether it pays off will depend on how Thai politics pans out."

Sivarak's bail request withdrawn

Published: 4/12/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Sivarak Chutipong, who has been arrested and detained in Cambodia on spy charges, has withdrawn the bail request submitted earlier by his former lawyer as advised by his newly-appointed attorney, Puea Thai Party member and former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama said on Friday.

Mr Noppadon said the new lawyer advised Mr Sivarak to do so, reasoning that this would expedite the court's consideration of the case.

Because of the bail withdrawal, the court's schedule to decide whether to grant bail today has been cancelled. However, the court will deliver its verdict in the case on Dec 8, he said.

Mr Noppadon said the Puea Thai Party had nothing to do with Mr Sivarak's decision to withdraw the bail request.

According to Mr Noppadon, if the court finds Mr Sivarak guilty, his lawyer would submit a request for a royal pardon. After that both former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Puea Thai chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh would coordinate with the Cambodian government to push for the royal pardon, he added.

Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Simarak na Nakhom Phanom, Mr Sivarak's mother, accompanied by Foreign Ministry officials, will leave for Phnom Penh on Dec 7 to hear the court's verdict on Dec 8.

Kao Soupha, the lawyer appointed by the Foreign Ministry for Mr Sivarak, said he was informed by the Cambodian court yesterday evening that he had been replaced at Mr Sivarak's request.

The lawyer said he did not mind being replaced, saying it was his client's right to do so.

Mr Sivarak, an employee of Thai-owned Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on November 12 on a charge of spying on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's flight information and handing it to Kamrob Palawatwichai, first secretary at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, who was later expelled from Cambodia.

Mr Sivarak admitted to Cambodia's court that he passed Thaksin's flight plan to the diplomat, as he considered the information was no secret. He said he did not know at the beginning that Thaksin was a passenger of the flight, which landed in Phnom Penh November 10.

His arrest was a big blow to the Thai government, which was apparently upset by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser.

Sour relations between the two governments opened a chance for the opposition Puea Thai Party to steal the show. The party arranged for Mrs Simarak to visit her son for the second time on Dec 2.

On her return from Phnom Penh on Dec 3, Mrs Simarak said she obtained VIP treatment from Cambodian authorities, particularly Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. She then visited Gen Chavalit at the Puea Thai Party office where she revealed her intention to get the lawyer, provided by the Foreign Ministry, replaced.

Cambodia, Vietnam vow to strengthen cooperation

http://www.chinaview.cn/

2009-12-04

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 4 (Xinhua)-- Cambodia and Vietnam vowed Friday to strengthen their cooperation in many fields of common interests for both nations, a government official said.

Koy Kuong, spokesman of foreign ministry said that at the end of the two-day meeting of the 11th joint commission between foreign ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam that concluded Friday, the two ministers had signed an agreed minute covering many fields of cooperation for common interests of the two nations.

He said, among those fields of cooperation are education, agriculture, environment, hydropower, trading and investment as well as border issue.

The foreign ministerial meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Commission for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held in Cambodia's southwestern province of Preah Sihanouk from Dec. 3-4, 2009.

The meeting was co-chaired by Hor Namhong, Cambodia's deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Gia Khiem.

According to Koy Kuong, the two ministers also agreed to expand duration of stay for both nationals traveling to either country for normal passport from 14 days to 30 days and reiterated their desires to end the border demarcation by 2012.

During his stay in Cambodia, Pham Gia Khiem had paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The 12th meeting of Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Commission will be held next year in Vietnam.

Editor: Han Jingjing

Demining deadline extended by decade

Photo by: Photo Supplied

The winner of the online Miss Landmine contest, Miss Battambang, Dos Sopheap, was announced Thursday on the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. She received 2,315 online votes.

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This does not disguise the fact that there is a large problem that has [an impact on] development.

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(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Friday, 04 December 2009 15:05 Robbie Corey-Boulet and Sam Rith

New goal might be out of reach without more donor funds, govt says.

PARTIES to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty have formally approved Cambodia’s request to push back the deadline for clearing all antipersonnel mines by 10 years, though the government’s formal extension request asserts that “current productivity levels will not be sufficient” to meet the revised goal.

Leng Sochea, deputy secretary of the Cambodia Mine Action Authority [CMAA], on Thursday confirmed that the request had been approved Wednesday at the Summit on a Mine-Free World, which is being held this week in Cartagena, Colombia.

“Whether we completely clear all land mines in the country or not, it will depend on the money that we receive from the donor countries and other donors,” he said.

A Cambodian delegation attending the summit said clearance efforts for the next 10 years will cost approximately US$330 million.

Cambodia became a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty, formally the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, in 1999, thereby committing to clear all antipersonnel mines by the end of this year.

But after officials deemed that deadline unrealistic, they set about preparing the extension request, which includes a plan to facilitate clearance by accurately surveying areas affected by mines, as well as accrediting the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to assist in demining projects.

The delegation presented the request on Monday, and Thailand, Australia, Canada and Austria all made interventions expressing their support. “What we were really surprised about was that Thailand supported us,” Leng Sochea said.

The request notes the considerable progress that has been made in lowering landmine casualties and clearing land. From a high of 4,320 in 1996, total casualties fell to 271 in 2008. “However, this does not disguise the fact that there is a large problem that has a significant impact on both national and local development priorities,” the request states.

A formal survey completed in 2002 that was designed to quantify the scope of Cambodia’s land-mine problem identified 4,544 square kilometres of contaminated land affecting 46.1 percent of all villages. The government now estimates that 648.8 square kilometers still need to be cleared, although this figure has not been backed up by technical research.

A baseline survey launched this past August will map all remaining contaminated areas in the 122 mine-affected districts recorded in the 2002 survey. The new survey is expected to be complete by the end of 2012.

The request also notes that the $330 million the government plans to spend on clearance will only be enough for the three demining operators – the Cambodian Mine Action Centre [CMAC], the Mines Advisory Group and the HALO Trust – to clear 470 square kilometres by the new deadline.

“This demonstrates that current productivity levels will not be sufficient to [clear all antipersonnel mines] within the next 10 years,” the request states. “However, with a 38 percent increase of financial resources made available to the sector and a greater involvement of RCAF in addressing the remaining challenge, productivity rates can be increased, which may make completion of clearance of all known minefields within the extension period possible.”

RCAF is expected to be accredited by the end of the year.

A report released Monday by the UN found that Cambodia’s land-mine problem was “too large and complex for the country to manage alone”, and that expert estimates indicate that it will take “another 10 to 20 years to get the job done if the current level of funding is maintained”. The same report highlighted a 74 percent budget shortfall for the mine action community for 2010.

The “Portfolio of Mine Action Projects” also noted that the total amount of funding requested for mine action projects for 2010 was 75 percent higher than the $17.7 million requested last year.

Khem Sophoan, chairman of the CMAC governing council, said he expected Wednesday’s extension request to facilitate donations to mine action projects, a point seconded by CMAA Deputy Secretary General Chan Rotha.

“It can be viewed in terms of the credibility of Cambodia internationally, because the approval is a sign that we’ve done a very good job and have been granted what we requested,” Chan Rotha said.

“But we are not ambitious. We are just trying to maintain whatever the development partners gave us in the last 10 years.”