Resolving Land Disputes and Protecting Citizens’ Rights

By William E.Todd, U.S ambassador to Cambodia

For thousands of years, Cambodia has been a place where people’s lives are deeply connected to the land they cultivate.  With more than half of the country’s labor force still employed in the agricultural sector today, the land continues to be the backbone of the Cambodian economy.  This week, Sopheap from Phnom Penh wrote to me to express her concerns about this precious resource.  She asked, “Villagers from provinces as far as BanteayMeanchey and Pailin have been coming to Phnom Penh to ask our national government to help resolve land disputes.  How can we improve our land policy to prevent land disputes and protect citizens from forced evictions?”

In recent weeks, we have seen hundreds of people marching into the capital to protest over land concessions, bringing renewed attention to this long-standing issue.  Land is a finite resource, and increased population growth and economic activity put an increasing strain on public lands.  A fair and effective land management policy that advances economic development and also protects individual rights is something that individual families and businesses both demand. 

Last week, Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his own concerns about land concessions and called for greater accountability by local officials in the handling of land disputes.  It was also reported that the Prime Minister set up a new high-level inter-ministerial committee to review whether companies are abiding by the rules of the economic land concessions, which is a promising idea.  For Cambodian citizens who have been affected by land concessions, the Prime Minister’s call for action has raised hope that positive changes may be within reach, but implementation will be key.

It is not surprising that an issue as complex as land management continues to present challenges.  Moratoriums on land concessions have temporarily addressed the problem but are not a permanent solution.  According to a report issued this month by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the number of violent forced evictions from disputed rural land has been on a steep rise over the past year.  In addition to ripping people from their homes, these forced evictions can lead to environmental degradation through illegal logging and other practices and contributes to public distrust of government.  

Ministry decides to grant land titles to land-dispute villagers in Kratie [United, they have won!] រដ្ឋាភិបាល​សម្រេច​ដក​ហូត​ដី​ពី​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ប្រគល់​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ស្រុក​ស្នួល​ខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- The Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction decided to grant land titles to 329 families in Snuol district of Kratie province. 

The decision came after Land Management Minister Im Chhun Lim visited the villagers who came to Phnom Penh to protest over long-lasting land disputes, at capital's Sammaki Rangsey pagoda where they were staying. 

In a statement, the ministry said it decided to provide 391 land titiles to which accounted for 1,562 hectares of land to 329 families, asking them to receive the land titles at Kratie Provincial Hall on September 3, and for those who can not go there on this date can go to take the land title at Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction. 

After the ministry's decision to grant land title to them, the Snuol villagers who have been staying in Phnom Penh for many days said that they will go back to their hometown on September 1st.

ស្ដាប់ ឬ ទាញ​យក​សំឡេង 

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​រៀបចំ​ដែនដី នគរូបនីយកម្ម និង​សំណង់ លោក អឹម ឈុនលឹម ចុះ​ដោះស្រាយ​ដីធ្លី​ជាមួយ​ពលរដ្ឋ​មក​ពី​ខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ នា​វត្ត​សាមគ្គីរង្ស៊ី នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣០ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។

RFA/Ouk Savborey

ទំហំ​ដី​ចំនួន​ជិត ១.៦០០​ហិកតារ នៅ​ស្រុក​ស្នួល ខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ រដ្ឋាភិបាល​សម្រេច​ដក​យក​ពី​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កូរ៉េ ឈ្មោះ ហូរ៉ាយស៊ិន អាគ្រីខាល់ឆឺរ ឌីវ៉ូឡប់មែន (Horizon Agriculture Development) ហើយ​ប្រកាស​ប្រគល់​ជូន​ពលរដ្ឋ​ជិត ៣៣០​គ្រួសារ មក​ពី​ភូមិ​គ្រង និង​ភូមិ​ថ្ពង ដែល​មាន​ប្លង់​ដី​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ តែ​មិន​បាន​ដី​កាន់​កាប់​ដាំ​ដុះ។

ពលរដ្ឋ​មាន​ជម្លោះ​ដី​ជាង ៣០០​គ្រួសារ នៅ​ស្រុក​ស្នួល ខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ ទទួល​បាន​ការ​សន្យា​ប្រគល់​ដី​តាម​ប្លង់​ដែល​មាន នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ ទី​៣ ខែ​កញ្ញា ដែល​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​រៀបចំ​ដែនដី នគរូបនីយកម្ម និង​សំណង់ បាន​ប្រកាស​ចំពោះ​មុខ​ជន​រងគ្រោះ​នៅ​វត្ត​សាមគ្គីរង្ស៊ី រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣០ ខែ​សីហា។

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​រៀបចំ​ដែនដី នគរូបនីយកម្ម និង​សំណង់ លោក អឹម ឈុនលឹម មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កូរ៉េ ឈ្មោះ ហូរ៉ាយស៊ិន អាគ្រីខាល់ឆឺរ ឌីវ៉ូឡប់មែន មិន​បាន​ដាំ​ដុះ​លើ​ដី​ដែល​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ប្រគល់​ឲ្យ​វិនិយោគ​ទេ ទើប​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ដក​ដី​ទំហំ​ជាង ១.៦០០​ហិកតារ ប្រគល់​ជូន​ពលរដ្ឋ​ពីរ​ភូមិ គឺ​ភូមិ​គ្រង និង​ភូមិ​ថ្ពង ឃុំ​ស្នួល ស្រុក​ស្នួល ចំនួន ៣២៩​គ្រួសារ ឲ្យ​ទៅ​បើក​យក​ប្លង់​ដី​ពី​សាលា​ខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ ទី​៣ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។ ប្រសិន​បើ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ទៅ​យក​ពី​សាលា​ខេត្ត​មិន​ទាន់ អាច​បើក​ប្លង់​យក​ពី​មន្ទីរ​សុរិយោដី​ខេត្ត​គ្រប់​ម៉ោង​ធ្វើ​ការ៖ «ទី​១ គឺ​ផ្តល់​ប័ណ្ណ​កម្មសិទ្ធិ​លើ​ចំនួន ៣៩១​ក្បាល​ដី ជូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ចំនួន ៣២៩​គ្រួសារ។ នេះ គឺ​ឋិត​នៅ​ភូមិ​ថ្ពង ភូមិ​គ្រង ឃុំ​ស្នួល ស្រុក​ស្នួល ខេត្ត​ក្រចេះ អនុលោម​ទៅ​តាម​បញ្ជី​ឈ្មោះ​នៅ​ប្លង់​សុរិយោដី ដែល​បាន​ធ្វើ​ការ​បិទ​ផ្សាយ​ជា​សាធារណៈ​រួច កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៤ ខែ​មិថុនា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៣ ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣ ខែ​កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៣»។

Will Cambodia become another Champa?

In relation to: Drgunzet boasted about his Confucius lineage 

By Bun Thoeun

CAMBODIA IS A SECOND CHAMPA IN THE MAKING BY THE EVIL VIETNAM. IT IS UP TO THE KHMER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTHS, TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

How long did it take Vietnam to fully swallow Champa? It took hundreds of years.

How long will it take Vietnam to fully swallow Cambodia? It will take hundreds of years. It is a long process, and we must wake up.

What are the purposes of the “triangle area”, the destruction of Khmer natural resources, the 99 years land concession, the massive influx of the Vietnamese into Cambodia, the refusal to implement the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, etc...? 

Now, Vietnam and its slave Hun Sen wanted Khmer people to stay calm, just eat and sleep, eat and sleep...

To counter this catastrophic event – Cambodia’s disappearance from the world map – Khmer people, especially the youths, must be MENTALLY PREPARED FROM TODAY for the next round of the PEACEFUL demonstrations after the next election when Hun Sen refused to relinquish his power after he lost the election. This time, we MUST NOT RUN like chickens when the evil Vietnam, through its slave Hun Sen, killed a few people.

We have to remember that nothing in this world is free. The evil Vietnam lost many of its soldiers to conquer Cambodia in 1979.

How do we expect to liberate Cambodia from this war merchant called Vietnam without losing any people? If we think this way, we must be dumb crazy. 

Therefore, the CNRP must review its rhetoric that we don’t want to see Khmer people die. Nobody wants anybody to die, but NO SACRIFICE, NO CAMBODIA.

Land-grab victims to receive land titles on 4th September [United, they won!] ពលរដ្ឋខេត្តក្រចេះតវ៉ារហូតបានជោគជ័យទទួលប្លង់ដីកម្មសិទ្ធិនៅថ្ងៃទី៤កញ្ញា២០១៤ខាងមុខនេះ

The suffering of land-grab victims from Kratie

Two Buddhist monks from Pothiyaram Pagoda who used to participate in land dispute protests with land-grab victims to be defrocked after the end of the rainy season [This is a warning to other monks who help land-grab victims] ព្រះសង្ឃ​ពីរ​អង្គ​ដែល​ចូលរួម​សកម្មភាព​តវ៉ា​រក​យុត្តិធម៌​ឲ្យ​អ្នក​មាន​ជម្លោះ​ដីធ្លី​នឹង​ត្រូវ​ផ្សឹក​​

ដោយ៖​ ប៉ែន ប៉ូលីន​ | ថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ទី31 សីហា 2014 | 

ព្រះសង្ឃ​ពីរ​អង្គ​គង់នៅ​វត្ត​ពោធិយារាម​ក្នុង​សង្កាត់​ជ្រោយចង្វារ​ខណ្ឌ​ជ្រោយចង្វារ ដែល​ធ្លាប់​សកម្ម​ចូលរួម​តវ៉ា​ស្វែងរក​យុត្តិធម៌​ជូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ដែល​រងគ្រោះ ដោយសារ​ជម្លោះដីធ្លី​នៅ​ពេល​កន្លងមក​នេះ ​នឹង​ត្រូវចាប់​ផ្សឹក​នៅ​ពេល​ចេញ​ព្រះវស្សា​។​

​ព្រះសង្ឃ​ពីរ​អង្គ​ដែល​គង់នៅ​វត្ត​ពោធិយារាម​​ព្រះនាម មាល និង​ព្រះនាម​នី នឹង​ត្រូវ​ផ្សឹក​នៅ​ក្រោយ​ពេល​ចេញ​វស្សា​រួច បើសិន​ជា​ព្រះសង្ឃ​ទាំង​ពីរ​អង្គ​នេះ​ត្រូវបាន​រកឃើញ​ថា​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​ខុស​វិន័យ​ពុទ្ធ​សា​សា​នា​មែន​នោះ​។​

​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍​ម្សិលមិញ​អនុគណ និង​ព្រះ​វិន័យ​ខណ្ឌ​ជ្រោយចង្វារ​បាន​កោះ​និមន្ត​ចៅអធិការ​វត្ត​ពោធិយារាម​ព្រះ​តេជគុណ ​មាស សុខន​ ទៅ​សាកសួរ​។ បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការសាកសួរ ព្រះ​តេជគុណ មាស សុខន ​មាន​សង្ឃដីកា​ថា អនុគុណ និង ព្រះ​វិន័យ​គ្រោង​ផ្សឹក​ព្រះសង្ឃ​ពីរ​អង្គ​ក្នុង​វត្ត​ពោធិយារាម​។​

​ព្រះ​តេជគុណ​ មាស សុខន មាន​សង្ឃដីកា​ថា ព្រះអង្គ​មិន​បានដឹងថា ព្រះសង្ឃ​មាល និង​ព្រះសង្ឃ​នី​ធ្លាប់បាន​ប្រព្រឹត្ត​ខុស​វិ​ន័យ​អ្វី​នោះទេ គឺ​ទើប​នឹង​បានទទួលដំណឹងពី​អនុគុណ និង​ព្រះ​វិន័យធរ​ខណ្ឌ​ជ្រោយចង្វារ​។  ព្រះអង្គ​បញ្ជាក់ថា ព្រះសង្ឃ​ពីរ​អង្គ​ដែល​ព្រឈម​នឹង​ការផ្សឹក​ធ្លាប់​ចូលរួម​សកម្មភាព ក្នុង​ការស្វែងរក​យុត្តិធម៌​ឲ្យ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ដែល​រងគ្រោះ ដោយសារ​ជម្លោះដីធ្លី​។​

​គួរ​រំលឹក​ថា​ពេល​នេះ ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​និង​ព្រះសង្ឃ​ដែល​ឡើងមក​តវ៉ា​ដីធ្លី​ពី​ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង បន្ទាយមានជ័យ និង​ប៉ៃលិន​កំពុង​ស្នាក់នៅ​ជា​បណ្ដោះអាសន្ន​ក្នុង​វត្ត​ពោធិយារាម​នៅឡើយ​ទេ​គឺ ស្របពេល​ដែល​ព្រះសង្ឃ​ទាំង​ពីរ​អង្គ​ដែល​គង់នៅ​ក្នុង​វត្ត​នេះ​នឹង​ត្រូវ​បាន​ផ្សឹក​ក្រោយ​ពេល​ចេញ​វស្សា​៕

សរសេរ​មកកាន់លោក ប៉ែន ប៉ូលីន តាមរយៈ​ penpoline@yahoo.com.au

Prisoner Recounts Horrors of Kraing Ta Chan Prison

Ta Tith, left, who oversaw the Northwest Zone and is named in Case 004, along with Ta An, right, a former Khmer Rouge commander speaks during an exclusive interview with VOA Khmer on July 27, 2011 at his house in Kamrieng district of Cambodia's northwest.

BY GEORGE WRIGHT AND PHORN BOPHA | the cambodia daily, AUGUST 30, 2014

TRAM KAK DISTRICT, Takeo province – In the early 1970s, Soy Sen, the illegitimate son of a local official, lived with his grandmother in a tiny house here. Too poor to attend school past the second grade, he spent his days running free through his family’s small rice field as he tended cattle.

“I enjoyed my life so much,” he recalled in a recent interview.

At the time, the Khmer Rouge was still several years away from wresting control of the country from Lon Nol’s republican government and instituting its own extreme brand of communism nationwide, but it had already “liberated” large swaths of the Cambodian countryside.

One of the first areas to fall to the communist fighters was Tram Kak district, the home base of the brutal Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok. Communal dining halls and other hardline measures were imposed on the population starting in 1973. That same year, when Sen was 14, he was abruptly taken from his grandmother’s house by Khmer Rouge soldiers and imprisoned in the newly established Kraing Ta Chan security center, where he would remain for over five years. He believes he was targeted because of his father’s position in the Lon Nol regime, despite the fact that he had barely had a relationship with the man.

Located in Kus commune, Kraing Ta Chan was first set up as a meeting and education center by the Khmer Rouge in 1972,but was quickly transformed into a vital “security center,” where perceived enemies of the regime and its ideology were jailed, tortured and executed.

“I just lay there shackled with no food other than a little porridge. I was so skinny you can’t even explain,” Mr. Sen said, lifting his trousers to reveal large scars around his ankles.

After laying in isolation for four months, Mr. Sen, who is one of only a handful of known survivors of the prison, was taken out of solitary confinement and trusted with tending buffalo, burying bodies and making alcoholic palm juice for Ta An, the prison chief.

“I saw people killed every day and I would be responsible for burying the dead prisoners, taking clothes from the bodies, cleaning them, drying them and taking them back to the community to be worn. Ta An trusted me to take care of burying the corpses. They all trusted me, even Ta Mok,” said Mr. Sen.

Convictions in the Killing Fields of Cambodia

Sokha Ten Meyer was 23, married to a Cambodian army officer and the mother of two children in 1975 when Phnom Penh, her country's capital, fell to the Khmer Rouge. The city's entire population was forcibly evacuated. This was the first step in a genocide that would kill an estimated 2 million or more Cambodians in four years.

Ten Meyer and her family were banished to a series of labor camps, where she broke stones, planted rice and plowed fields. There was little to eat. Her two sons died of malnutrition within two days of each other. "There were executions every day," she said. "At night you could hear the cries: 'Why are you killing us?' 'What did I do wrong?' You heard the children crying in the background."

Read the full article at The Chicago Tribune.

Illegal Vietnamese immigrants in Cambodia receive "Certificate of Recognition" as legal migrants ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម​មាន​ជំហរ​មិន​ស្រប​គ្នា​ចំពោះ​ប័ណ្ណ​ប្រកាស​ជា​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍

ស្ដាប់ ឬ ទាញ​យក​សំឡេង 

ប្រធាន​ភូមិ​វៀតណាម ឬ​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ទម្លាប់​ហៅ​ថា​ភូមិ​យួន លោក ទ្រឿង វុំាងតឺយ (Truong Van Toi) ផ្ដល់​បទសម្ភាសន៍​ដល់​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី ពី​ប័ណ្ណ​ប្រកាស​ជា​ក្រុម​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​ស្រប​ច្បាប់​សម្រាប់​រស់នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដែល​ផ្តល់​ជូន​ដោយ​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៨ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។

RFA/Sek Bandith

ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​វៀតណាម ខុស​ច្បាប់​ដែល​កំពុង​រស់នៅ​កម្ពុជា បង្ហាញ​ជំហរ​មិន​ស្រប​គ្នា​ចំពោះ​ការ​ផ្តល់​ប័ណ្ណ​ប្រកាស​ជា​ក្រុម​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ សម្រាប់​រស់នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដែល​ផ្តល់​ជូន​ដោយ​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ។

ការ​បង្ហាញ​ជំហរ​នេះ បន្ទាប់​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ​ស្រុក​ចំនួន​ពីរ​នៅ​ខេត្ត​កណ្ដាល គឺ​ស្រុក​ល្វាឯម និង​ស្រុក​កៀនស្វាយ ធ្វើ​ពិធី​ចែក​ប័ណ្ណ​នេះ​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម មួយ​ចំនួន ដែល​កំពុង​រស់នៅ​ក្នុង​មូលដ្ឋាន​ទាំង​ពីរ​នេះ។

ពេល​ឈាន​ជើង​ទៅ​ដល់​សហគមន៍​ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម ដ៏​រឹងមាំ​មួយ​ស្ថិត​នៅ​ត្រើយ​ម្ខាង​ទន្លេ​បាសាក់ ទល់​មុខ​ក្រុង​រណប​កោះ​ពេជ្រ រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ឬ​នៅ​ជិត​កំពង់​ចម្លង​អរិយក្សត្រ​ត្រើយ​ខាង​កើត​នោះ មាន​អារម្មណ៍​ចម្លែក​ម្យ៉ាង គឺ​ហាក់​ស្ថិត​នៅ​កណ្ដាល​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម ដូច្នោះ​ដែរ។

«សំឡេង​ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម ជជែក​គ្នា»

សហគមន៍​នេះ​ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​ភូមិ​អរិយក្សត្រ ឃុំ​អរិយក្សត្រ ស្រុក​ល្វាឯម ខេត្ត​កណ្ដាល។ អ្នក​រស់នៅ​ទីនោះ ភាគ​ច្រើន​បំផុត​ជា​ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម ហើយ​កម្រ​មាន​ការ​សន្ទនា​គ្នា​ជា​ភាសា​ខ្មែរ​ណាស់ រាប់​តាំង​ពី​ក្មេង​តូចៗ​ឡើង។ សូម្បី​តែ​រឿង​វីដេអូ ទូរទស្សន៍ ក៏​បើក​ប៉ុស្តិ៍​ផ្សាយ​ពី​វៀតណាម ដែរ។

«សំឡេង​ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម ជជែក​គ្នា»

ប្រធាន​ភូមិ​វៀតណាម ឬ​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ទម្លាប់​ហៅ​ថា​ភូមិ​យួន លោក ទ្រឿង វុំាងតឺយ (Truong Van Toi) វ័យ​ប្រមាណ ៧០​ឆ្នាំ ហើយ​លោក​មាន​ឈ្មោះ​ខ្មែរ​មួយ​ទៀត គឺ​ឈ្មោះ ស៊ី យូ។ លោក​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា សហគមន៍​គាត់​មាន​អ្នក​រស់នៅ​ជាង ២០០​គ្រួសារ​ទាំង​នៅ​លើ​ទឹក និង​លើ​គោក។

ពេល​សាកសួរ​ពី​ព័ត៌មាន​នៃ​ការ​ផ្តល់​ប័ណ្ណ​ប្រកាស​ជា​ក្រុម​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ អ្នក​ភូមិ​ខ្លះ​ហាក់​មិន​បាន​ដឹង​អំពី​រឿង​នេះ​ឡើយ ហើយ​ខ្លះ​ទៀត​ហាក់​មិន​ខ្វល់​ពី​រឿង​ច្បាប់​ទម្លាប់​នៃ​ការ​រស់នៅ​ជា​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​ខុស​ច្បាប់​នៅ​កម្ពុជា នេះ​ឡើយ ដោយ​គិត​តែ​ពី​រឿង​រក​ស៊ី ហើយ​បើ​សិន​មាន​ការ​រក​រឿង​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ ពួក​គេ​ប្រើ​លុយ​កាក់​ជា​មធ្យោបាយ​ដោះស្រាយ​ជា​ការ​ស្រេច។

ចំណែក​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ទៀត​ហាក់​សម្រេច​ដោយ​ខ្លួន​ឯង​រួច​បាត់​ទៅ​ហើយ​ថា គេ​ជា​ជនជាតិ​ខ្មែរ ដោយ​មិន​ខ្យល់​ពី​ច្បាប់ ពីព្រោះ​គេ​សំអាង​ថា គេ​រស់នៅ​យូរ​ឆ្នាំ​ហើយ គឺ​ក្រោយ​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨០ បន្ទាប់​ពី​របប ប៉ុល ពត បាន​បញ្ចប់ ឬ​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ហៅ​ថា តាំង​ពី​សម័យ​យួន​ចូល​ភ្នំពេញ អ្នក​ខ្លះ​គេ​អះអាង​ថា គេ​កើត​នៅ​ស្រុក​ខ្មែរ​នេះ​ផ្ទាល់​ហើយ៖ «សំឡេង»។

ទាក់ទង​នឹង​ការ​ផ្តល់​ប័ណ្ណ​ប្រកាស​ជា​ក្រុម​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​វៀតណាម ប្រធាន​ភូមិ លោក ទ្រឿង វុំាងតឺយ ឬ ស៊ី យូ មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា អ្នក​ទើប​មក​ពី​វៀតណាម ថ្មីៗ​សប្បាយ​ចិត្ត​ដោយ​សង្ឃឹម​ថា​ធ្វើ​ប័ណ្ណ​បាន ២ ទៅ ៣​ដង នឹង​បាន​សញ្ជាតិ​ខ្មែរ ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នក​មក​នៅ​យូរ​ហើយ គេ​មិន​សប្បាយ​ចិត្ត​ទេ ព្រោះ​បើ​ទទួល​យក​ប័ណ្ណ​នេះ មាន​ន័យ​ថា ពួក​គេ​នៅ​តែ​ជា​ជន​អន្តោប្រវេសន៍​ដដែល។ ពួក​គាត់​អះអាង​ថា គេ​ម្នាក់ៗ​មក​រស់នៅ​ពី ២០ ទៅ ៣០​ឆ្នាំ​ហើយ គួរ​តែ​មាន​សិទ្ធិ​រស់នៅ​ស្រប​ច្បាប់​ដោយ​ស្វ័យ​ប្រវត្តិ ឬ​ទទួល​បាន​សញ្ជាតិ​ខ្មែរ៖ «សំឡេង»។

Drgunzet boasted about his Confucius lineage [So Drgunzet's surname is "Kong"?]

Re: If you want peace, follow Mike's advice!

By Drgunzet

The Buddhists view life as as an ocean of suffering. I view life as the battle field of the survival of the species and this includes the survival of the nation, race and down right to a company.

Take the company as an instant. You work on a product, making it cheaper, better, pretty and hope to outsell the competitors's products. You hope your product will take over the whole market, destroy the other companies. Your competitors lose sales, laid off and eventually go bankrupt (die).

Nations constantly bicker with neighbors over land, resources and various claims.

Race as a whole constantly jockey for position in the society. Take America for instant, the Hispanic race found a pretty sweet spot in the America society. They work hard, earn a reputation for endurance, patient for menial works. They have high birth rate and are increasing the ratio mix percentage in America.

Is there a grand honcho Hispanic leader who plan all of this? No. By nature, things just work out.

How about the African-American race? They continue to be at the bottom of the society, having the highest crime rates and all kind of problems and constantly have problems with the White race, and in some parts with other races too.

I have never encountered an African-American engineer in my career, nor I have ever encountered a Khmer engineer.

So, let's talk about the Khmer race. You folks are few in number. And each of your member in your race is rather weak, untalented, angry, cruel and have bad reputation. I don't see how your race is going to survive this battle of life, the survival of a race.

Now, let's talk about my race. I have a mix of Chinese race from the Kong lineage (Confucius lineage). This part is what I kinda hate. I am hiding the other part, my lineage from my biological father. So many times, when people saw a glimpse of my ability, they utter the words, "Oh my God..." 

Brothers Torture Teenage Coconut Thief, Post Pictures to Facebook

Below: Heng Dane boasted on his Facebook that "I arrested a thief who stole my coconuts".

Below: The two men were arrested by the police.

BY KHUON NARIM | AUGUST 30, 2014

Two men were arrested in Prey Veng province on Friday for repeatedly dunking a 14-year-old boy’s head in a container of water after he apparently stole four coconuts from their property, according to local police officials.

Heng Vanny, 28, was apprehended at his home in Pea Reang district along with his brother, Heng Dane, 34, after he posted a picture to his Facebook account on Thursday of the boy with his hands tied behind his back and his head fully immersed in water.

Another photograph showed a man holding the boy’s head by the hair after pulling him from a large water jar.

The photographs quickly went viral, with even Prime Minister Hun Sen’s daughter Hun Mana sharing them on her Facebook page and appealing to police to immediately arrest the men for torturing the boy.

District police chief Oum Vantha said police heard about the incident on Facebook and tracked down Mr. Vanny to Kompong Popil commune through this phone repair business. The pair are currently being held in custody.

“Heng Dane confessed that he went to his farm [on Thursday] and saw the boy in the coconut tree picking coconuts,” Mr. Vantha said.

“He told the boy to climb down and tied his hands up behind his back and pushed his head into a pot filled with water.”

Mr. Vantha said that the second suspect, Mr. Vanny, stood back and took the photographs that later appeared on social media.

The boy’s mother, Chhorn Sok, 45, said she had not been aware that the men had tortured her son until she was contacted by police.

“I think it is very brutal that they tortured him, even though he stole coconuts,” she said. “They should have just warned and educated him.”

Thach Setha's lifetime service to the Khmer Krom people ថាច់ សេដ្ឋា​ ស្ទើរ​មួយ​ជីវិត​ធ្វើអ្វីៗ​ដើម្បី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រោម

លោក​ ថាច់ សេដ្ឋា ពេល​ធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​ប្រឆាំង​វៀត​ណាម​ នៅ​មុខ​ស្ថាន​ទូត​វៀត​ណាម កាល​ពី​ពេល​ថ្មីៗ​នេះ។​ ហេង ជីវ័ន

Sat, 30 August 2014

វង្ស សុខេង

បញ្ហា​ខ្មែរ​កម្ពុជាក្រោម ដែល​រង​ការ​ធ្វើ​ទុក្ខ​បុកម្នេញ​យ៉ាងខ្លាំង ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ​វៀតណាម បាន​ដក់​ជាប់​ជានិច្ច​នៅក្នុង​ដួងចិត្ត​របស់​លោក​ ថាច់ សេដ្ឋា ហើយ​លោក​តែងតែ​ស្រក់​ទឹកភ្នែក​អួល​ដើមក នៅពេល​ដែល​នឹក​ឃើញ​ដល់​ «យួន​ចាប់​អ្នក​ប្រាជ្ញ ឬ​បញ្ញវន្ត​អ្នក​ស្នេហា​ជាតិ​ខ្មែរ​យក​ទៅ​ដាក់​គុក​ធ្វើ​ទារុណកម្ម ឬ​សម្លាប់​» ដោយសារ​តែ​អ្នក​ទាំងនោះ ហ៊ាន​ចេញ​មុខ​ការពារ​ប្រពៃណី​សាសនា​ទំនៀមទម្លាប់​និង​អក្សរសាស្ត្រ​ខ្មែរ​។

លោក ថាច់ សេដ្ឋា កើត​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៤ ខែ​ឧសភា​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៥៣ ក្នុង​ភូមិ​អញ្ចាញ ឃុំ​តាសឹក​ស្រុក​ថ្កូវ ខេត្ត​ព្រះត្រពាំង ដែល​ជា​ទឹកដី​កម្ពុជាក្រោម​ស្ថិត​នៅ​ប៉ែក​ខាង​ត្បូង​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​នា​ពេល​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​។ លោក​សេដ្ឋា បាន​ខិតខំ​តស៊ូ​សឹង​តែ​ពេញ​មួយ​ជីវិត​របស់​លោក គឺ​ដើម្បី​រក្សា​ប្រពៃណី ទំនៀមទម្លាប់ វប្បធម៌ និង​អក្សរសាស្រ្ត​ខ្មែរ​។

លោក សេដ្ឋា បាន​ប្រាប់​«កម្ពុជា​ចុងសប្ដាហ៍​»ថា លោក​ធំ​ដឹង​ក្ដី​នៅក្នុង​ទឹកដី​កម្ពុជាក្រោម និង​បញ្ចប់​ការ​សិក្សា​នៅ​ទី​នោះ តាម​កម្មវិធី​សិក្សា របៀប​របស់​ខ្មែរ​នៅក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ខ្មែរ​។

នៅ​ឆ្នាំ ១៩៧០ លោក​បាន​មក​ស្រុក​ខ្មែរ​ដើម្បី​បន្ត​ការ​សិក្សា​នៅ​មហាវិទ្យាល័យ​មនុស្សសាស្រ្ត និង​អក្សរសាស្រ្ត នៅ​ភ្នំពេញ តែ​មិន​បាន​ចប់​ទេ ដោយ​ត្រូវ​វិល​ត្រឡប់​ទៅ​កម្ពុជាក្រោម​វិញ​នា​ឆ្នាំ​ដដែល​នោះ ហើយ​បាន​បញ្ចប់​ការ​សិក្សា​នៅ​ពុទ្ធិកវិទ្យាល័យ នៅក្នុង​ស្រុក​កំណើត ហើយ​បាន​ធ្វើ​ជា​សាស្ត្រាចារ្យ​នៅ​ទី​នោះ។

លោក​ថាច់ សេដ្ឋា ពេល​ផ្តល់​បទ​សម្ភាសដល់​កម្ពុជា​ចុង​សប្តាហ៍​។​ រូប​ថត ម៉េង​ស្រ៊ុន

លោក សេដ្ឋា បាន​រៀបរាប់​ពី​សាវតារ​ដ៏​ឈឺចាប់ ដែល​យួន​បាន​ធ្វើ​ទៅលើ​អ្នក​នយោបាយ​ខ្មែរ​នៅ​អំឡុង​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨៤ ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ចាប់​យក​ទៅ​ធ្វើ​ទារុណកម្ម​និង​សម្លាប់​ដោយ​អយុត្តិធម៌។

លោក​បញ្ជាក់​ថា​៖ «ខ្ញុំ​តាំងពី​ក្មេង​ចាប់​អារម្មណ៍​នឹង​រឿង​នយោបាយ និង​ជាតិ ដោយសារ​តែ​ការ​ឈឺចាប់ ព្រោះ​កើត​មក​ឃើញ​តែ​ភាព​អយុត្តិធម៌ ឃើញ​យួន​ធ្វើ​បាប​ខ្មែរ​ស្រស់ៗ​ពេក នៅលើ​ទឹកដី​របស់​ខ្លួន»។

លោក​បញ្ជាក់​ថា​៖ «ខ្ញុំ​មាន​បងប្អូន​ជីដូន​មួយ​មា្នក់ ត្រូវ​បាន​យួន​ចាប់​ផ្សឹក និង​បណ្ដើរ​យក​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​ជីក​រណ្ដៅ​ដោយ​ខ្លួនឯង​ហើយ​វ៉ៃ​នឹង​ដំបង​ដែក​គោល​យ៉ាង​ឃោរឃៅ​ព្រៃផ្សៃ​បំផុត ទម្លាក់​ចូល​ទៅក្នុង​រណ្តៅ​នោះ​»។

លោក សេដ្ឋា នៅ​ចងចាំ​មិន​ភ្លេច​ទេ គឺ​នៅក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨៤ មាន​យុទ្ធនាការ​របស់​អាជ្ញាធរ​វៀតណាម ចាប់ផ្ដើម​ចាប់​អ្នក​ប្រាជ្ញ បញ្ញវន្ត​ខ្មែរ នៅក្នុង​ទឹកដី​កម្ពុជា​ក្រោម​ទាំងអស់​។ ទន្ទឹម​នឹង​នោះ​ផង​ដែរ សាលារៀន​ទាំងអស់​ត្រូវ​បាន​បិទទ្វារ មិន​ឲ្យ​រៀន ឬ​បង្រៀន​ភាសា​ខ្មែរ​ឡើយ ដោយសារ​អាជ្ញាធរ​វៀតណាម ត្រូវការ​ត្រួតពិនិត្យ និង​គ្រប់គ្រង​សាលារៀន​ទាំង​ស្រុង ដែល​ពី​មុន​ធ្លាប់​ត្រូវ​បាន​គ្រប់គ្រង​ដោយ​ខ្មែរ​។

នៅក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​ដដែល​នោះ គ្រូបង្រៀន និង​អ្នក​ប្រាជ្ញ​ខ្មែរ​ទាំងអស់​ប្រមាណ​៤២៤៨​នាក់ ខ្លះ​ថា ​៦០០០ នាក់ ត្រូវ​បាន​វៀតណាម ចាប់​ដាក់​គុក​ធ្វើ​ទារុណកម្ម ហើយ​មួយ​ចំនួន​បាន​ពិការ​រហូត​ដល់​សព្វថ្ងៃ​នេះ។ ការ​ឈឺចាប់​បាន​ដក់​នៅក្នុង​ចិត្ត​របស់​លោក​ជាប់​ជានិច្ច ហើយ​បាន​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​លោក​ចូលរួម​ចលនា​តស៊ូ​របស់​ខ្មែរ នៅ​ក្នុង​រឿង​នយោបាយ​ជា​ហូរហែ​ចាប់​តាំងពី​ពេល​នោះ​មក។ លោក សេដ្ឋា បាន​ចាប់ផ្ដើម​ការងារ​រៀបចំ​សាលារៀន​បាន​ពីរ​ថ្ងៃ ក្រោយពី​មាន​ការ​ឃាត់​ខ្លួន ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ​នយោបាយ​ខ្មែរ​ក្រោម​នា​ពេល​នោះ។

លោក​បាន​បន្ត​ថា​៖ «​ពេល​នោះ ជីវិត​នយោបាយ​របស់​ខ្ញុំ និង​អ្នក​នយោបាយ​ដទៃ​ទៀត​ត្រូវ​បាន​អាជ្ញាធរ​យួន គាបសង្កត់​យ៉ាងខ្លាំង មិន​ឲ្យ​មាន​ទំនាក់ទំនង​ពី​វត្ត​មួយ​ទៅ​វត្ត​មួយ​ទេ​»។

អាជ្ញាធរ​វៀតណាម បាន​ចោទ​ថ្នាក់​ដឹកនាំ​នយោបាយ​ខ្មែរ​ថា មាន​គំនិត​ក្បត់​តាំងពី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៧២។ នៅ​ពេល​នោះ​អាជ្ញាធរ​វៀតណាម រក​ចាប់​រូប​លោក តែ​លោក​បាន​រត់​គេច​ខ្លួន​មក​ភ្នំពេញ​។

«ខ្ញុំ​ឃើញ​ខ្មែរ​នៅ​ក្នុង​គុក អត់បាយ អត់ទឹក និង​មាន​អ្នក​ស្លាប់​ដោយសារ​យួន​ចាក់​ថ្នាំ​សម្លាប់​ដែល​ធ្វើឲ្យ​ខ្ញុំ​តក់ស្លុត...(នៅ​ពេល​និយាយ​មក​ដល់​ត្រង់​ចំណុច​នេះ លោក​ស្រក់​ទឹកភ្នែក​អួលដើម ក និយាយ​លែង​រួច និង​បាន​ឈប់​មួយ​សន្ទុះ) ដោយ​សភាពការណ៍​នេះ​ហាក់បី​ដូចជា នៅ​ចំពោះ​មុខ​ខ្ញុំ​ស្រស់ៗ​»។

លោក សេដ្ឋា បាន​រត់​គេច​មក​ស្រុក​ខ្មែរ ដោយ​មាន​គេ​តាម​រហូត តែ​ដោយសារ​តែ​លោក​ដូរ​នាមត្រកូល ទើប​បាន​គេច​ខ្លួន​ផុត​មក​ដល់​ភ្នំពេញ​នៅ​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨៥ ហើយ​បាន​រក​ការងារ​ធ្វើ​ជា​បណ្តោះអាសន្ន។

Inside Phnom Penh’s cop shop [In Cambodia, police buy their own uniforms]

Police vests hang in Teuk Thla Market Hong Menea

Sat, 30 August 2014

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

In Teuk Thla Market, a warren of alleyways off of Russian Boulevard in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district, bundles of plastic batons and pistol holsters dangle from storefronts like bunches of bananas.

Racks of khaki slacks and shirts, stacks of peaked caps with patent leather brims and navy nylon vests with reflective strips advertising “POLICE” all testify to a fact of life in the Cambodian security services: being a cop or a soldier in the Kingdom means spending a little money.

Teuk Thla is a clearinghouse where soldiers, police and occasionally criminals haggle over all things police- and military-related, from footwear to stun guns, and even insignia of rank.

Interviews with buyers and sellers alike reveal a vicious cycle. Government officials in charge of procurement sell state-owned gear to vendors. They, in turn, sell it on to other police who flock to the market after finding themselves under-equipped partly because much of the gear intended for standard issue winds up in Teuk Thla instead.

“The reason we have come to buy the military clothes, shoes or hats here is because the ration [of clothes and equipment] that is provided by our military commander or from the Ministry of National Defense is not enough,” said Sath Bunthoeun, a soldier stationed in Kampong Speu province, who was on a recent shoe-buying trip to Teuk Thla.

Two officers drive near Wat Phnom

Bunthoeun said he and his comrades come to Teuk Thla about twice a year to supplement the often incomplete kits issued by their units.

“According to military policy, every soldier will be provided with a set of military clothes, a hat and shoes twice every year, but when we receive it, we don’t get all those things as announced,” he said.

“Sometimes, we receive only the clothes and hat, but are left without shoes. And sometimes, we receive merely the clothes and shoes, but are left without a hat or a hammock or the related equipment. So it is not enough to use,” he continued.

“So to make up for the lack of that necessary equipment, we have to look to buy them from the market.”

Stalls sell military kit, including gun holstersHong Menea

Ironically enough, the goods that Buntheoun and others are forced to buy in Teuk Thla originate in their departments’ own storehouses.

Soeun Chamroeun*, 34, a police officer working for the Ministry of Interior, said that he often buys his National Police uniforms, hats, shoes and other items from Teuk Thla, because the standard issue goods he’s given by the ministry are second-rate.

“My unit has distributed to me only poor quality clothes, shoes and hats, but they have sold the good quality ones to the market,” he said. “If I want to get the good quality clothes and other related gear, I have to find it and buy it from the market.”

An officer at the Ministry of National Defense, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that at least some of the military goods funnelled into Teuk Thla were from high-ranking officials taking advantage of Cambodia’s notoriously over-inflated soldier statistics to requisition surplus goods.

Military caps for sale Charlotte Pert

“As far as I know, the reason why military clothes and kit are still being sold illegally at markets … is because of corrupt high-ranking-military officials, because they have inflated soldier numbers,” he said.

“Now, they still have a lot of names of ghost soldiers [on the rolls] at the ministry. The military clothes and other military materiel that are sold at markets … were intended for the ghost soldiers,” he added.

The officer gave an example of a unit with 800 soldiers whose commander had listed their number at 1,000. The 200 spare sets of uniforms and equipment, he said, were sold on the black market.

But it isn’t just soldiers and policemen taking advantage of the goods on offer at Teuk Thla.

Ou Borom*, a 35-year-old moto taxi driver, bought a military hat and T-shirt from a shop in Phsar Teuk Thla last week.

Love in the time of the Khmer Rouge

Director Ian White and French actor Nicolas Berthery shooting an action scene Eli Meixler

Sat, 30 August 2014

Will Jackson

Noir thriller depicts a doomed romance played out in the final days before the fall of Phnom Penh

On the third floor of Phnom Penh’s derelict old colonial police station this week, two men wielding pistols and dressed in green fatigues – a Cambodian with a black patch over one eye and a tall, wild-haired Frenchman – stalked each other amid the rubble.

By the end of the action, a scene being filmed for upcoming period film Before the Fall, one of the men lay dead on the tiles while the other had escaped with a valuable prize.

“This scene is the very centrepiece of the film; a cat and mouse chase through the building with both men after a bag full of cash,” said the film’s stocky Australian director, Ian White, between takes.

Set in the chaotic last days before the Khmer Rouge overran Phnom Penh in April 1975, the noir thriller tells the story of a love triangle between a Cambodian nightclub singer, a French combat photographer and an American entrepreneur.

“It’s a bit like Casablanca with a psychedelic visual and Cambodian rock ’n’ roll soundtrack,” White said with a grin.

The noir thriller – set to hit theatres in the 40th anniversary year of the fall of Phnom Penh – is a co-production of Kith Tieng’s Rock Productions, part of the Royal Group, and a Singaporean film distributor, Silver Media Group, which has affiliates able to take the film to Europe and North America.

White goes over some notes with actors Pauline Cammal and Ian Virgo Eli Meixler

White declined to reveal the film’s budget, but said it was large by Cambodian standards.

The filmmaker said that while writing the script, he looked to enduring stories that held up over time, like Casablanca and James Cameron’s more recent blockbuster love story, Titanic. “Both of those films are points of inspiration,” he said. “I guess you could say that in my film, the Khmer Rouge is the iceberg.”

All three main characters are being played by relative unknowns: French model Nicolas Berthery, who is only starting to embark on an acting career; American Ian Virgo, who was in the Hollywood film Black Hawk Down but has primarily worked in TV on series such as The Bill, EastEnders and Casualty; and first-time Cambodian actress Pauline Cammal.

Berthery, 31, said he found much in the role that he could relate to in his own life – his father was a journalist and his mother is half Vietnamese. She emigrated to France when she was 6.

But he also did a lot of research – reading about Cambodia’s history from the ’50s to the ’80s and watching documentaries about war photographers – before shooting started, so he could more effectively wear the skin of his character. He said he based his character on fearless combat snappers like Sean Flynn and Tim Page.

But the biggest challenge with the role was taking on a war photographer’s “physicality and animality”. “[The way they are] in the field, to jump everywhere but be really smooth about the way you shoot, move and walk,” he said.

Cammal - who grew up in Phnom Penh, France and Canada – had no professional acting experience before being cast in the film, just high school theatre, but said she couldn’t ask for a better way to get into movies. “I guess it’s just like being on your first day of work, with butterflies in your stomach,” she said. “But the crew are so nice, always making sure I’m comfortable and helping me get my lines right. They’re a great team to work with.”

Before the Fall is Cammal’s first professional acting role Eli Meixler

The 22-year-old described her character – torn between two lovers – as being “like a chicken wishbone about to be snapped in two”.

Cammal said she used this emotional hook as a way of getting into the role.

“Everyone’s been through love triangles, like, I have been in so many love triangles before, so I found that easy to relate to,” she said. “I’m also used to being surrounded by men – by alpha males – mostly because I’m the only girl in my family.”

She added that she was enjoying the musical aspect of the film: the soundtrack has been recorded by the Cambodian Space Project.

“I grew up on Cambodian rock,” she said. “My mum was a huge fan and was always listening to Ros Sereysothea, Pen Ron and the rest.”

Land disputes need concrete actions rather than sweet words

Lor Peang villagers (Kampong Chhnang) watch on as bulldozers owned by KDC, a company owned by Chea Kheng, wife of Energy Minister Suy Sem, bulldozed and grabbed their land.

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- It is not the first time that Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced land reform, but till now amid the deep reform the government proudly introduced, land disputes still persist. 

This compels Hun Sen to raise his tone over land reform again. Will the ruling party be able to settle land disputes once and for all as time keeps running out?

In fact, the Cambodian People Party’s government that likes to repeatedly show off their effort in speeding the land reform has never achieved its goal even for once. Land disputes remain controversial and keep dragging down the ruling party’s popularity.

In the mid of 2012, Hun Sen used to put forth a new land policy aimed at ending all persisting land disputes. 

The head of government promised to give the land back to the people who were living on the disputed land, regardless of whether the land belongs to the state or private company.

Provided that the government was genuinely willing to solve land disputes and land reform effectively implemented, then the problems must have been terminated or cut down to a large extent. 

However, land dispute still remains a hot issue. Facing with such grave situation, the Prime Minister has again raised his tone to push his officials to solve all land disputes for people living within their territory of authority.

Hun Sen’s order has revived hope for land-dispute villagers and observers in Cambodia. Nonetheless, they seem skeptical about the effectiveness of PM’s order as similar experiences have disappointed them several times already.

Vietnam signals goodwill [toward China]

BEIJING (ANN) -- The fatal mid-may anti-china riots in Vietnam were so destructive that few will anticipate a hasty two-day visit by a Vietnamese special envoy will suffice to repair the damage.

Yes, Le Hong Anh is the fifth most powerful man in Vietnam. And visiting as special envoy of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, he is the highest-ranking Vietnamese official to visit Beijing since the riots froze bilateral ties.

Yes, as it has declared, Hanoi now wants to defrost ties. Whether it likes it or not, its economic interdependence with China means it is difficult for Hanoi to sustain a costly standoff.

Certainly Beijing is also interested in repairing strained relations, or Le would not have visited and talked with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Angry as it was at the riots and Hanoi's de facto acquiescence, Beijing knows hostility does no good except further destabilizing the neighborhood, which serves neither Vietnamese, nor Chinese interests.

China and Vietnam have not always been on good terms. But from thousands of years of dealing with each other, they have learned the significance of good-neighborliness. A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin; they know this.

The biggest obstacle estranging the two has been their territorial dispute. Each of their recent conflicts arose from there.

Territorial disputes can be furious, even fierce. But the successful North Bay demarcation suggests that they do not have to be, as long as both sides can demonstrate reason and sincerity. The latest row in the South China Sea has escalated to such a degree because Hanoi has lost its mind with incitement from outside.

Lor Peang Villagers Bailed After CPP Lawmaker’s Intercession

Oum Sophy (holding microphone, villagers' representative and wife of one of the jailed activists, appeal for their release in the presence of opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

BY KUCH NAREN | the cambodia daily, AUGUST 30, 2014

Kompong Chhnang Provincial Court on Friday released on bail five villagers at the center of a high-profile land dispute with the wife of Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem. The villagers’ arrests had sparked a series of recent protests in Phnom Penh.

“The five are now set free,” provincial prison chief Peou Vuthy said on Friday evening.

Three of the men—Snguon Nhoeun, Srun Tha and Kuch Hok—were arrested earlier this month as they attempted to walk to Phnom Penh in a bid to draw attention to their long-running dispute with the KDC company, owned by Chea Kheng, the mines minister’s wife.

Another two men, Mang Yav and Seang Heng, were arrested in July over a protest against KDC that turned violent.

Their release came after the CPP lawmaker for Kompong Chhnang province, Ker Chanmony, told the Justice Ministry that she would personally provide a guarantee for the men—one of three conditions that usually need to be met in the event of granting bail.

In turn, Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana wrote to the provincial court to inform it of Ms. Chanmony’s guarantee, according to his cabinet chief, Sam Pracheameanith.

Ms. Chanmony said she intervened in the case due to advice she had received from unnamed “colleagues,” and after 61 villagers filed a complaint with her seeking help in securing the men’s release.

“I used my name as a lawmaker to guarantee them, so then the villagers being held in prison can be released on bail as I promised to help the villagers resolve their issues,” she said.

However, Ms. Chanmony said she also hoped that the men’s release would induce their wives and neighbors to stop protesting in Phnom Penh and return home to Kompong Chhnang.

Gov’t Must Probe ‘Enforced’ Disappearance: UN

BY LAUREN CROTHERS | the cambodia daily, AUGUST 30, 2014

The UN and human rights groups called on the government Friday to honor its obligations as a party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and thoroughly investigate the disappearance of 16-year-old Khem Sopath, who was last seen lying bloodied and injured during violent protests in January.

Saturday is International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

In an email, the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia said that Khem Sophath’s family has endured “unspeakable suffering” and urged the government to take “all appropriate measures to search for, locate and release disappeared persons and, in the event of death, to locate, respect and return their remains.”

It added: “If it is found that Khem Sophath is a case of enforced disappearance, the Convention makes it clear that the State must bring those responsible to justice.”

Australia plans to set up a refugee camp in Cambodia

Deutsche Welle

29th August, 2014

For months, Australia has faced criticism because of its refugee policy. Canberra is now close to striking a deal with Cambodia to set up a camp for refugees seeking to enter Australia.

"The refugee camp is actually a pit hole. The floor is littered with stones, whose sharp edges pierce through the shoes and feet of the children. Many of these refugee children have no shoes, no shade to keep them cool." That's how the former employee of the aid organization Save the Children described the conditions in the Australian refugee camp OPC3 (Offshore Processing Centre 3) on Nauru island.

Nauru, a former Australian colony with less than 10,000 inhabitants, is located in the Pacific Ocean, nearly 3,000 miles from the nearest Australian city of Cairns. Currently, more than 1,100 refugees live in a camp there. Most of them had tried to reach Australia by boats. The refugees have held several hunger strikes, attempted suicides, and even failed uprisings against the camp authorities. Now, the Australian government is planning to relocate the majority of asylum seekers - who mainly come from Iran, Vietnam and Sri Lanka - to Cambodia.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's conservative government won the election last September after campaigning heavily on tough immigration policies, which have been fiercely criticised but are popular with voters. The administration has vowed to cut down on refugees and illegal immigrants, with various claimants being turned back or held at sea.

Canberra says it favors a regional solution to the issue. "We are looking for new options in the region to relocate refugees to countries that are signatory to the UN Refugee Convention," Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told "The Australian" newspaper.

HRW says the Australian government is trying to get rid of the refugees in a cost-effective manner

Reports regarding a possible deal with Cambodia have surfaced, but details of the agreement will only be announced once the deal is signed, Morrison said.

A 'wrong signal'

Vivian Tan, spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Bangkok, criticized the move. The refugee agency has been asking for more information about the initiative since Canberra announced it in February. The UNHCR normally offers solutions to countries that have signed the UN Refugee Convention of 1951.

"Unfortunately we have no details, because the UNHCR is not part of the agreement," she said. "UNHCR is very concerned about the precedents that Australia and Cambodia are setting through bilateral agreements," she told DW. Adding that the deal is "highly unusual," she said "refugees have the right to feed their families and to integrate into society."