Vietnamese bank invests in Cambodia

Tuesday, 02 October 2012

By Rann Reuy

Phnom Penh Post

Police officers stand outside a Sacombank branch in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Post Staff/Phnom Penh Post

Vietnamese Bank Sacombak (Cambodia) Plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sacombank in Vietnam, will extend its operation in the Cambodian financial market, according to a bank official.

Nguyen Nhi Thanh, CEO and President of Sacombank in Cambodia, said during the first anniversary celebration after the bank’s transformation into a 100 per cent foreign-owned bank yesterday that the bank would open more branches in Phnom Penh at the end of this year and in other provinces in the following years.

Now the bank employs 135 staff members at five offices including the headquaters and a branch in Kampong Cham.

Cambodia's NRG 89 to reshape music radio

Tuesday, 02 October 2012

By Poppy McPherson 

Phnom Penh Post

DJ Pops records music with DJ Mywife at NRG 89fm's studios Monday, Oct.01, 2012. Photograph: Chhim Sreyneang/Phnom Penh Post

DJ Mywife is playing a practical joke on Cambodia. “I want the whole country to know my name: DJ Mywife,” she enthused at the launch of Cambodia’s newest radio station yesterday.

“I want people to turn on the radio and say, ‘Whose is this voice on the radio? DJ Mywife? Oh, your wife, she sounds beautiful.'”

The 21-year-old presenter, whose real name is La Lin, wanted to be an actress before she won a job as an announcer at NRG 89 fm — the first station in the country to play music around the clock, which launched yesterday.

The station, which plays a mix of international pop and Khmer music 24 hours a day, held its official launch party yesterday at its studios in Boeung Salang, Toul Kork, to mark its inaugural breakfast show.

[UAE Minister of Foreign] Lubna Al Qasimi discusses bilateral ties with Cambodia

WAM Abu Dhabi, Oct 2nd, 2012 (WAM) -- Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Cambodian Minister of Trade and Commerce, Cham Prasidh, have discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and means to strengthen them in agricultural, services and industrial fields.

Mohammad Ali Omran Al Shamsy, UAE Ambassador to Thailand and non-resident Ambassador to Cambodia was also present on the occasion.

This came during Sheikha Lubna's official visit to Cambodia along with a high profile trade delegation representing a wide spectrum of UAE industries from various sectors.

During the meeting, Sheikha Lubna thanked the Cambodian side for their kind hospitality and affirmed the UAE's commitment to strengthening its cooperation in trade and investment with its trade partners. Both parties discussed strengthening bilateral agricultural, industrial and services relations, whereby Sheikha Lubna pointed out that the tourism, textile and food manufacturing sectors are all suitable for the creation of trade partnerships between the two countries.

UAE says mulling investment in halal food, rice in Cambodia

Xinhua | 2012-10-2
By Agencies

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considering investing in halal food production and rice milling in Cambodia, visiting UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi said here on Tuesday.

Speaking in a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace, Sheikha Lubna said her visit was to seek Cambodia's potential for investment.

The UAE minister, who also held a talk with her Cambodian counterpart Cham Prasidh on Monday, said Dubai will prepare specific plans to investment in Cambodia in halal food production and rice milling, and the products will be exported to her country.

CCHR Media Comment, Phnom Penh, 2 October 2012 Contempt Shown for The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as Andong Community Faces its Second Forced Eviction Without Compensation

CCHR Media Comment, Phnom Penh, 2 October 2012

Contempt Shown for The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as Andong Community

Faces its Second Forced Eviction Without Compensation

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR“) expresses its grave concerns regarding the forced evictions of nineteen families in Andong village near Phnom Penh, scheduled for 3 October 2012, as was reported in a recent article[1] in Open Development Cambodia.

Nor is this the first time that these families have suffered eviction: in 2006, 1,554 families were violently evicted from the Sambok Chab village in Phnom Penh with the use of police​​​​​​​ and military police forces using electric shock batons, shields, guns and tear gas in forcing families​​ from their homes and arbitrarily resettling them to​ the relocation site in Andong village – a rural area 25 kilometers from the capital.  Government officials failed to honor their promises to the villagers of both comparable replacement land and appropriate compensation, with many villagers now living with no shelter, electricity, running water, public infrastructure, services, or employment opportunities in a site which is prone to flooding in the rainy season.  Furthermore, the land on which the villagers’ former homes were located remains vacant and unused, despite its seizure for the purposes of planned commercial development.  The villagers have been left in a legal void, with no realistic expectations of obtaining legal title to their land, no legal recourse to remedy their situation, and future generations relegated to extreme poverty. After enduring seven years of misery, 19 of these families are now being evicted once again without compensation.

CCHR-ADHOC Joint Human Rights Defenders/Freedom of Expression Alert

Joint Human Rights Defenders/Freedom of Expression Alert – Phnom Penh, 2 October 2012

Three rights workers and one journalist summonsed to appear at Ratanakkiri court on charges of incitement

On 1 October 2012, Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”), Pen Bonnar and Chhay Thy, provincial coordinator and investigator from the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (“ADHOC”), and Radio Free Asia (“RFA”) reporter, Sok Ratha, aka Ratha Visal, were summonsed by the deputy prosecutor at Ratanakkiri Provincial Court to appear for questioning on charges of incitement to commit a crime. The charges were based on a complaint by leading party commune chief Kith Chem and purportedly relate to allegations that the men incited members of an ethnic minority to protest violently against powerful agro-business company, D.M. Group, in 2009.

The complaint filed against the four men is assumed to be related to the ongoing land dispute in Lumphat district, Ratanakkiri province, between D.M. Group and 136 families of indigenous Tumpuan people, concerning a 260-hectare area of land. The conflict has involved the threatening and intimidation of villagers and legal charges against 10 representatives of the affected communities.

Cambodian land rights campaigner jailed for 20 years

"I see that the verdict was written by politicians." OU VIRAK

"Today's verdict only serves to demonstrate, yet again, that the courts in Cambodia have been increasingly used as a tool for repression," the International Federation for Human Rights said in a statement. 

Activists condemn jailing of 71-year-old Sonando as court finds him guilty of plot to overthrow the government

• Reuters in Phnom Penh
• guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 October 2012 10.50 BST

Cambodian police clash with protesters outside the Phnom Penh court where Sonando was on trial. Photograph: Mak Remissa/EPA

A Cambodian court has jailed a 71-year-old broadcaster and land rights campaigner for 20 years after finding him guilty of leading an anti-state rebellion, a verdict condemned by activists as the latest crackdown on human rights.
Three judges at the Phnom Penh court convicted Sonando, who has joint Cambodian-French citizenship, and 13 others of inciting villagers in eastern Kratie province to rebel against the government.
The long-time rights campaigner and critic of the prime minister, Hun Sen, stood accused of inciting villagers to take up arms and of aiming to recruit up to a million people to topple the government.
Hun Sen urged in a nationally broadcast speech in June that Sonando be arrested for masterminding "a plot to overthrow the government and attempting to establish a state within a state".

Cambodian Court Case Stokes Fear Of Crackdown

"It's paranoia. I think he's starting to see enemies everywhere. The challenge to his strongman image and his grip on power is coming from all over the place."- OU VIRAK

Anthony Kuhn/NPR Supporters of Cambodian journalist Mam Sonando protest outside a Phnom Penh courthouse on Monday, when judges sentenced him to 20 years in jail for leading an alleged secession movement. Critics say the pro-democracy activist's case was politically motivated.

October 1, 2012

by Anthony Kuhn 

Listen to the audio npr.
 

A court in Cambodia has convicted a prominent journalist and pro-democracy activist on charges of convincing villagers in eastern Cambodia to rise up and declare independence from the country. Civic groups say the case is part of a worrying trend of government efforts to stifle freedom of expression, and attempts to take land away from farmers.

Hundreds of supporters vented their fury outside the courthouse Monday as judges sentenced Mam Sonando to 20 years in jail. Speaking before the verdict, his wife, Dinn Phanara, says the case was politically motivated.

"To be frank, the government has threatened my husband with imprisonment in order to keep him from teaching people about the rule of law and democracy," Dinn Phanara said. "His efforts have won him a lot of popular support. He is a patriot."

Enlarge STR/AFP/Getty Images Supporters of Mam Sonando (shown here Monday after his conviction) say the pro-democracy activist drew the government's ire by trying to help farmers in eastern Kratie province protect their land. He also runs one of the few private broadcasters in the country that is critical of the government.

The U.S criticised the jailing of Mam Sonando អាមេរិក រិះគន់ការកាត់ទោស លោកម៉ម សូណង់ដូ

The U.S criticised the jailing of Mam Sonando. The EU also expressed its concerns.

 

(ថ្ងៃទី 1 តុលា 2012,) | ដោយ: គ្រីទិច  Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: ​ស្ថានទូត​អាមេរិក​ប្រចាំ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា បាន​សម្តែង​ការខកចិត្ត​ចំពោះ​សាលក្រម​តុលាការក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ ដែល​បាន​កាត់ទោស​លោក​ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ អោយ​ជាប់ពន្ធនាគារ​រយ​:​ពេល​២០​ឆ្នាំ​។​

​ លោក ហ្ស​ង ម៉ាស៊ីន​តូ​ស (Sean J. McIntosh) អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​ស្ថានទូត​អាមេរិក​ប្រចាំ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា បាន​ប្រាប់​គេហទំព័រ CEN ប៉ុន្មាន​នាទី​មុននេះ​ថា “​យើង​សម្តែង​ការខកចិត្ត និង​ការព្រួយបារម្ភ​ចំពោះ​សាលក្រម​តុលាការក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ ដែល​បាន​កាត់ទោស​លោក​ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ អោយ​ជាប់ពន្ធនាគារ​រយ​:​ពេល​២០​ឆ្នាំ​”​។ លោក​បាន​និយាយ​បន្ថែមទៀតថា យើង​គាំទ្រ​យ៉ាងខ្លាំង​ចំពោះ​សេរីភាព​សារព័ត៌មាន និង​ការបញ្ចេញ​ទស្សន​:​នយោបាយ​ដោយ​គ្មាន​ការភ័យខ្លាច ឬ ក៏​គ្មាន​ការធ្វើ​ទុក្ខទោស ការបំភិតបំភ័យ​។​

The National Rescue Party officially registered and Sam Rainsy officially became its president លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី ក្លាយជា​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ

(ថ្ងៃទី 1 តុលា 2012,) | ដោយ: លី សិលា Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: ទី​បំផុត​ទៅ លោក​សម​រង្ស៊ី ដែល​កំពុង​ជាប់ទោស និង​រស់​នៅ​ក្រៅប្រទេស បាន​ក្លាយជា​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ដែល​ជា​ការរួបរួមរ​វាង​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី និង​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ជា​ផ្លូវកា​រហើយ បន្ទាប់​ពី​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ស ខេង បាន​ចុះហត្ថលេខា​ទទួល​ស្គាល់​។​

​លោក​ ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក ខៀវ សុភ័គ អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ បាន​ប្រាប់​អ្នក​កសែ​ត នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ ទី​១ ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ ថា រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ បាន​ចុះហត្ថលេខា ផ្តល់​សុពលភាព​ជូន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ហើយ​។ ក្នុងនោះ ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ​ក៏​បាន​អនុញ្ញាតឲ្យ​លោក​សម រង្ស៊ី ធ្វើជា​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ថ្មី គឺ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​។​

Activists, journalist summoned to appear in court [Ou Virak summoned: More crack down being carried out against rights groups]

BANLUNG, Rattanakiri (Cambodia Herald) – Three activists and a journalist have been summoned to appear in  Rattanakiri Provincial Court on October 11, sources said.

The sources said the four, who were summoned by prosecutor Chea Sopheak, were suspected of inciting residents to commit crimes related to a land dispute.

The four were identified as Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, Pen Bunna and Chhay Thy from the Cambodia Human Rights and Development Association (Adhoc), and Sok Ratha from Radio Free Asia.

Local residents have accused DM Group of illegally occupying plantations, a community forest and 260 hectares of state forest.  The company has also been accused of felling trees for luxury timber

Independent radio station owner will be 91 when released

Supporters of Mam Sonando, a 71-year-old radio broadcaster and land-rights campaigner for 20 years, hold a protest calling for his release near Phnom Penh Municipal Court, October 1, 2012. 

 

Published on Monday 1 October 2012

Reporters Without Borders

 

 Reporters Without Borders and the Cambodian Centre for Independent Media are appalled by the 20-year jail sentence that a Phnom Penh court passed today on Radio Beehive owner Mam Sonando for allegedly inciting unrest in the southeastern province of Kratie in mid-May.

Aged 71, the independent radio station’s owner will be 91 when he completes the sentence.

"Freedom of expression and media freedom are in danger in Cambodia," the two organizations said. "We call on the authorities to release Mam Sonando at once and to quash this conviction on charges for which there is no evidence."

Sonando, who was previously arrested in 2003 and 2005 for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen, was found guilty of "insurrection" and "inciting the use of arms against the state" in connection with a supposed uprising in Kratie with the aim of creating "a state within the state."

Joint statement and details of verdict related to Mam Sonando case

Phnom Penh Court Sentences Independent Radio Station Owner to 20 Years

Phnom Penh (Oct. 1, 2012) – We, the undersigned civil society organizations, condemn the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s shocking conviction of independent radio station owner Mam Sonando today, and the draconian 20-year sentence that he received. At age 70, Sonando is likely to die in prison if he serves his full term.

Sonando, the owner of Beehive radio, was arrested on July 12 on charges that he masterminded a so-called “secessionist movement” in Kratie. Several co-defendants were charged with organizing the movement on the ground. They were all convicted as well, though two of the previously identified “ringleaders” had their sentences suspended, echoing the Prime Minister’s public statement that those who confess would be spared punishment.

Cambodian broadcaster sentenced to 20 years

Police escort Mam Sonando into a car after a court sentenced him to 20 years. (AFP)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia October 1, 2012, (AP & CBS News)— A Cambodian court on Monday sentenced a dissident radio station owner to 20 years in prison on insurrection charges that critics claim are part of a political vendetta by the government.

Judge Chaing Sinat of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said 71-year-old Mam Sonando was convicted and sentenced on four counts related to an alleged secessionist movement in eastern Cambodia. He was charged with instigating an alleged insurrection in Kratie province in May this year and inciting armed rebellion.

Mam Sonando's Beehive Radio is one of the country's few radio stations broadcasting criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.

Cambodia radio broadcaster jailed 20 years for inciting rebellion

By Emily Alpert 

The Los Angeles Times
October 1, 2012

Photo: Cambodian supporters of Mam Sonando protest in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday. Credit: Heng Sinith / Associated Press

A Cambodian radio broadcaster was sentenced Monday to 20 years behind bars for stirring up an insurrection against the state, charges that human rights groups say are a fig leaf for the government squelching dissent.

Mam Sonando, the 71-year-old founder of Beehive Radio, was found guilty of instigating rebellion and inciting people to take up arms against the government, among other charges. The insurrection charges were tied to a land dispute in Kratie province during which security forces fatally shot a teenage girl.

Local activists have denied the government description of the Kratie clashes as efforts to stop a secessionist rebellion, calling it an excuse to eject families from land sought by a corporation. Sonando was abroad when security forces stormed the village in May, the Phnom Penh Post reported.

Over 600% Growth in UAE Re-Exports to Cambodia in 2011:

WAM Abu Dhabi, 1 Oct. 2012 (WAM) -- The UAE's non-oil exports to Cambodia have risen by 639 percent from 2010 to 2011, with total Emirati exports to the Asian country going up by 271 percent during which the UAE achieved a surplus in trade between the two countries of around USD 2.3 million in 2011, in comparison with a deficit the year before worth around 8.5 million, with total bilateral foreign trade between the two countries growing by 122 percent in 2011.

This data was made available in a study released today by the Ministry of Foreign Trade on trade relations between the UAE and Cambodia within the framework of a visit currently being conducted by Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, to Cambodia, where she is heading a UAE delegation to strengthen trade and investment relations with the Asian country.

The study also revealed that Cambodia went up to the 99th position in the list of countries on the receiving end of UAE re-exports, after it was at the 143rd position in 2010.

Cambodia sentences journalist to lengthy prison term [Mam Sonando jailed for 20 years]

Court Cases

Deutsche Welle 

A Cambodian court has sentenced a journalist and activist to 20 years in prison. Mam Sonando had been accused of instigating an anti-government rebellion. But critics say authorities are trying to silence a vocal critic.

A court in Phnom Penh on Monday sentenced journalist Mam Sonando to 20 years in prison. Sonando, 71, was accused of inciting an anti-government movement. However, critics say authorities had little basis for the accusations.

Following Monday's verdict, Rupert Abbott with London-based Amnesty International called the sentence "outrageous."

"We believe the motivation behind his conviction is because he's been a prominent government critic," Abbott said. "He's seen, I think, as a threat to the government; someone who's prepared to speak out."

Sonando ran the popular independent radio station Beehive Radio and was president of Cambodia's Democrat Association. In Cambodia, the media scene is dominated by outlets that are generally sympathetic to the ruling party. But Sonando's station often aired stories that were critical of the governing Cambodian People's Party.

Cambodia rights activist jailed 20 years on disputed conviction [It is not a surprise because Hun Sen is the court]

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH

Mon Oct 1, 2012 
 

(Reuters) - A Cambodian court jailed a 71-year-old radio broadcaster and land-rights campaigner for 20 years on Monday after finding him guilty of leading an anti-state rebellion, a verdict condemned by activists as a further crackdown on human rights.
Three judges in the Phnom Penh court convicted Sonando, who has joint Cambodian-French citizenship, and 13 others of inciting villagers in eastern Kratie province to rebel against the government.
Sonando, a long-time rights campaigner and critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, stood accused of inciting villagers to take up arms and of aiming to recruit up to a million people to topple the government, charges his supporters say were trumped up.
Hun Sen urged in a nationally broadcast speech in June that Sonando be arrested for masterminding "a plot to overthrow the government and attempting to establish a state within a state".
Sonando, the head of Beehive Radio, had pleaded not guilty.

Activist Mam Sonando gets 20 years

Monday, 01 October 2012

By May Titthara 

Phnom Penh Post

Mam Sonando is escorted by guards outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last month. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Independent radio station owner Mam Sonando was sentenced to 20 years in prison this morning by Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges related to stoking a so-called secessionist movement in Kratie province.

A second supposed mastermind, Bun Ratha, was sentenced to 30 years in absentia, while three others were given sentences ranging from 10 months to three years.

Over the course of more than three hours, Judge Chang Sinath recounted the charges against the group and the lengthy story behind the separatist movement that Sonando is accused of having masterminded. As she spoke, hundreds of Sonando's supporters gathered outside the court, drawing scores of police.

The Sonando trial has drawn the ire of rights groups, who have called the charges spurious and politically motivated.

Media owner [Mam Sonando] jailed for 20 years in Cambodia

Cambodian supporters of Mam Sonando, one of Cambodia’s most prominent human rights defenders, protest in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. Some 300 supporters gathered to demand the release of local radio station owner Mam Sonando, who is accused of leading a secession, and has been held in pre-trial detention for almost two months. His verdict is scheduled to be announced at the court on Monday. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith Photo: AP / AP

AFP & ABC  

Updated October 1

 A prominent critic of Cambodia's government has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for an alleged secessionist plot, dismaying rights campaigners who say the verdict is politically motivated.

Radio station owner Mam Sonando was also fined 10 million riel ($2,500) by a a Phnom Penh court which convicted him on charges including insurrection and inciting people to take up arms against the state.

He is considered by Amnesty International to be a prisoner of conscience.

The 71-year-old, who was arrested in July, was accused of involvement in an alleged plot to establish an autonomous region in eastern Kratie province.

Rights groups have called the accusations baseless and said the government was seeking to justify its harsh crackdown on a land dispute there in May, when a teenage girl was shot dead by security forces clashing with demonstrators.

EU Representative Catherine Ashton expressed concerns about the jailing of Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando សហភាព​អឺរុប សម្តែង​ក្តីកង្វក់​ពី​ការកាត់ទោ​សនាយក​វិទ្យុ​សំបុក​ឃ្មុំ លោក ម៉ម​សូណង់ដូ​

Mam Sonand's supporters protest outside the court after the verdict.

EU Repsentative Catherine Ashton expressed concerns about the jailing of Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando.

(ថ្ងៃទី 1 តុលា 2012) | ដោយ: សុភ័ក្ត្រ  CEN

ភ្នំពេញ​: ​អ្នកតំណាង​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​សហភាព​អឺរុប​សំរាប់​កិច្ចការបរទេ​ស និង​គោល​នយោបាយ​សន្តិសុខ លោកស្រី កា​ថឺ​រីន អាស​តុ​ន (Catherine Ashton) បាន​សម្តែង​ការ​ព្រួយ​បារម្ភ​យ៉ាងខ្លាំង ចំពោះ​ការកាត់ទោស​លើ​លោក ម៉ម​សូណង់ដូ នាយក​វិទ្យុ​សំបុក​ឃ្មុំ និង​ជា​ប្រធាន​សមាគមន៍​អ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ  ព្រមទាំង​ជនជាប់ចោទ​ផ្សេងទៀត ដូចជា លោក ផន ស្រឿន   តូច រៀម និង​ខាន់ សុ​វាន់ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ ទី​១ ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ ដោយ​តុលាការ​ក្រុងភ្នំពេញ​។

​ក្នុង​ សេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍ សហភាព​អឺរ៉ុប បាន​ហៅ​ការកាត់ទោស​នេះ ថា​ធ្វើឲ្យ​មាន​មន្ទិល​សង្ស័​យយ៉ាងខ្លាំង​អំពី​ភាព​មិន​ឯករាជ្យ​របស់​ តុលាការ​។​

Hundreds of bicycle factory workers clash with security guards

BAVET, Svay Rieng (Cambodia Herald) – About one thousand striking workers from a bicycle factory clashed with security guards Monday as they demanded better working conditions, a source said.

The source said the clashes took place at A & J Company Co Ltd in the Tai Seng Special Economic Zone with workers throwing rocks at the factory and shattering windows.

The workers have been on strike since Saturday and are demanding bonuses of $10 a month, no salary deductions for arriving late and $1 an hour for overtime work.

They are also demanding days off on Sundays and public holidays, an end to evening work between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and the dismissal of a Vietnamese employee accused of insulting others.

The source said that the Svay Rieng Department of Labor was expected to discuss the demands with factory representatives on Tuesday.

Government moots new defence body [King Sihamoni is the president and Hun Sen is the deputy president, but the power rests with the deputy president!]

Monday, 01 October 2012

Phnom Penh Post

By Meas Sokchea

King Norodom Sihamoni (R) greets Prime Miniser Hun Sen on Independence Day last year in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post

A long-dormant proposal to create an executive governmental body with oversight of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces is back on the National Assembly’s agenda.

In the coming days, according to a high-ranking government official who declined to be named, lawmakers will consider a draft law to create a Supreme Council of National Defence.

King Norodom Sihamoni would preside over the newly formed body, with Prime Minister Hun Sen serving as deputy president.

A statement about the draft law, which was approved by the Council of Ministers at the end of last week, describes the Supreme Council of National Defence as being responsible for safeguarding the constitution, national independence, sovereignty, the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the military.

Iconic Vespa back on Cambodia's market

Monday, 01 October 2012

By  May Kunmakara

Phnom Penh Post

Vespa scooters are displayed at a new showroom in Phnom Penh last month. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Italian-made Piaggio and Vespa scooters officially went on sale last weekend after being absent from the Cambodian market since 1975.

Mark Franklin, the managing director of Piaggio Asia Pacific, said the development of the Cambodian economy, and the trust his company had in it, had convinced Piaggio to return to Cambodia.

“Our company is glad and proud to be given the opportunity to bring about the best-quality brand of products — Vespa and Piaggio scooters — to serve the Cambodian people,” Franklin said.

For its comeback, Piaggio appointed local company Narita Group to be its authorised distributor.

Bus routes on their way to Phnom Penh

Monday, 01 October 2012 

By Kim Sarom and Rosa Ellen

Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh might have a bus service by early next year after City Hall named two bus companies to start running routes through the capital.

Lim Andre, chief executive officer of Global (Cambodia) Trade Development, who along with City Trans Cambodia beat a handful of competitors to win the licence, said his company plans to employ a fleet of 90 buses along four lines around Phnom Penh and from Takhmao, Kandal province.

“If the first operation is successful, our firm will expand another two lines operation,” he said.

Passengers could expect to pay about 1,300 riel for a bus fare along one route, Lim said, or buy a monthly ticket for US$11 with unlimited use.

The absence of a public transport system in a growing city of 1.5 million people has been the subject of much debate.

In 2001, the Japan International Cooperation Agency developed an urban transport master plan for Phnom Penh with a target year set for 2015. During this project, a citywide bus service was tried but struggled to compete with the established and affordable moto trade.

New school to offer IB in Phnom Penh [A Canadian school set up shop in Cambodia]

Monday, 01 October 2012

By Erika Mudie 

Phnom Penh Post

Donna Trafford, principal of the Canadian International School Phnom Penh, cuts the ribbon at the school’s opening ceremony on Saturday. Photograph: Erika Mudie/Phnom Penh Post

The first phase of the Canadian International School Phnom Penh (CISP) officially opened on Saturday with a lively celebration involving current and prospective members of the school’s community.

Located in Bassac Garden City, the pre-school caters to children aged 18 months to six years.

By 2014, a primary and a high school on Diamond Island will be completed.

“Our plan is to link this pre-school with a companion school on Diamond Island and this will guarantee a seamless journey through the school,” Donna Trafford, CISP’s principal, said.

Shuffle at top for capital cops [Hun Sen is paranoid, so he surround Sar Kheng with his loyalists!]

Monday, 01 October 2012

By Vong Sokheng

Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh municipal police chief Touch Naroth (C) is pictured at the scene of a fire in July 2012. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

A shake-up at the top of Phnom Penh’s municipal police force will see its long-serving chief, Brigadier General Touch Naroth, relinquish his position for a role in the Ministry of Interior’s bodyguard department, he has confirmed.

Naroth could be overseeing the bodyguard unit as early as Wednesday – a move local media outlets have reported as a promotion – clearing the way for Lieutenant General Chuon Sovan, deputy chief of the National Police at the Ministry of Interior, to assume Naroth’s position.

“We’re all aware of this appointment,” Naroth confirmed.

He did not, however, say whether he considered the new role to be a promotion.

“I guess we’ll wait until there is an official ceremony before we talk more about it.”

From war zone to film industry [A German army lieutenant starts a film company in cambodia]

Monday, 01 October 2012

By Javier D Yepes 

Phnom Penh Post

Camerman Ingo Hoffman (L) and actor Preap Sovath share a happy moment on the set. Photograph: Abbie Wong/Phnom Penh Post

An attack near the Afghan-Pakistan border prompted Ingo Hoffman to pursue a career in Cambodia’s film industry.

Today, Hoffman is Cambodia’s only Steadicam operator. Finding himself on sets and locations all over the country doing work that requires the special hand-held camera, which can isolate itself from the operator’s movements.

The high-tech camera functions like a tripod, except that the device is carried by Hoffman for a variety of clients on a variety of projects.

In Europe, a good Steadicam operator can earn between $800 and $1200 a day, according to film director Peter Ristau. The camera itself costs between $4,000 and $6,000.

Cambodia hits oil revenue [Cambodia to share oil revenue 80:20 with Chevron]

Friday, 28 September 2012

By May Kunmakara 

Phnom Penh Post

A view of a Caltex gas station in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post

Officials yesterday confirmed that the Cambodian government will receive a majority of the revenue share from Chevron’s offshore Block A oil permit area near Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand. The government expects to issue the American oil giant a production permit licence by the end of this year.

Ek ThA, A spokesman from the Office of the Council of Ministers said the Cambodian government and Chevron were presently working on the deal, which had not yet been concluded.

“We will take between 70 and 80 per cent of the total revenue,” Ek Tha said.

“Now, both parties are in the negotiations, and we are on the brink of a production permit. We are working for the interest of the Cambodian people and the nation as a whole.

Eco-heaven in Cambodia

Song Saa Islands the next wave of ultra-deluxe resorts with a conscience.

• Published: 1/10/2012
• Bangkok Post
• Writer: Philip Heijmans

In the Koh Rong archipelago off the Cambodian southwest coast is a little piece of paradise seldom known in the country. White sandy beaches and luxury accommodations are the first qualities that come to mind, but Song Saa Islands, affectionately known as the sweetheart islands, also serve another purpose.

Schools of fish hop fearlessly above the glossy blue glare of the water below, while colourful hornbills and sea eagles sit atop the mangroves, confident and proud. It’s the result of a huge conservation effort that is all the difference between your standard luxury resort and a far more illuminating eco-paradise.

Located 29 kilometres from Sihanoukville Port, the two-island resort is always all-inclusive, with unlimited access to its all-star kitchen staff, designer villas and guided tours.

It also includes pickup by boat or helicopter, an experience worthy of mention as you are overwhelmed with feelings of discovering of an exotic yet luxurious landscape for the first time. It is a feeling that harkens back to The Man with the Golden Gun, when James Bond arrives on Thailand’s Koh Khao Phingkan. Koh Rong has all the feeling of Thailand 40 years ago, sans the three-nippled arch-villain and weapon of mass destruction.

CCHR Press Release – CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia's Reputation

CCHR PRESS RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 1 October 2012

CCHR Slams Guilty Verdict for Mam Sonando as a Travesty of Justice and an Embarrassment to Cambodia’s Reputation

CCHR condemns in the strongest possible terms the guilty verdict brought against Mam Sonando today at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.  He was found guilty of all the charges brought against him – under articles 28, 456, 457, 464, 504 and 609 of the Penal Code 2009 – including instigating an alleged insurrection in Kratie province in May 2012 and inciting people to take up arms against the state authority.  He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and a fine of 10 million riel.  Bun Ratha, who is also accused of instigating the same alleged insurrection, was sentenced in absentia to 30 years; two others were sentenced in absentia to 15 years; and three other defendants held in pre-trial detention were handed sentences of ten months, three years and five years.  Seven others were handed suspended sentences ranging from ten months to five years.

Over the course of three days of close monitoring of Mam Sonando’s trial last month, CCHR heard no evidence that in any way connected Mam Sonando with the May 2012 events in Broma village, Kratie province, or with any of the charges of which he has now been found guilty.  Given the lack of evidence, the only rational, reasonable and legal thing the court could have done, as CCHR and many others urged during the trial, would be to acquit Mam Sonando of all charges against him and set him free immediately.  Today’s events represent a gross travesty of justice – an outrageous violation of Mam Sonando’s right to freedom of expression and fair trial rights, including the fundamental right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty.

Khmer People Power Movement's Press Statement on Sonando's Imprisonment

Khmer People Power Movement's Press Statement on Sonando's Imprisonment

The SRP and HRP request the court to drop charges against Mam Sonando and 13 co-accused

គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី និងគណបក្សសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ទាមទារឲ្យតុលាការលើកលែង​​ការចោទប្រកាន់លោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស្លូតត្រង់ ១៣នាក់

Cambodian farmers squeezed out

Small-scale pig raisers can’t compete on price with Thai imports and big local farms.

• Published: 1/10/2012 
• Bangkok Post
• Writer: Philip Heijmans

Cambodians like pork. The average Cambodian consumes 9.29 kilogrammes of the meat a year and local farmers have long supplemented their incomes by selling an average of two pigs a year.

Cambodian pig prices are down 5% but feed costs are up 25%. As well, Thai firms use hormones and only need to feed pigs for three months instead of six.

In 2008, Cambodian farmers supplied around 2 million pigs, more than 90% of domestic demand. But the market for small-scale pig farmers is vanishing. Most of the pork local people now eat is imported from Thailand, or comes from large-scale producers who have seized the market once dominated by local farmers.

Though bad for the farmers, the changes have been good for consumers: live pig prices have fallen 53.5% to about 7,000 riel (53 baht) per kilogramme in just one year, pork industry executives say.

Anti-tank mine explodes, kills 6 Cambodian farmers

October 1, 2012

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Six farmers were killed when their tractor ran over an anti-tank mine left over from Cambodia’s 1980s civil war.

District police chief Khum Soy said Monday one of those killed was a 12-year-old child. Two other people were seriously wounded by the blast in northwestern Battambang province.

He said the group was driving home from a market where they had traveled to sell mushrooms and firewood.

The area around Battambang province was a site of intense battles between the former Khmer Rouge regime and government forces.

An estimated 4 million to 6 million land mines and other unexploded ordnance still remain in Cambodia from more than three decades of armed conflict.

កោះត្រល់ និងកោះក្រចកសេះខ្មែរ (Koh Tral and Koh Krochork Sess)

សូមអានជៀសវាង ហ៊ុន សែន បោក ព្រោះមានតែ ហ៊ុន សែន ទេដែលថាបារាំងកាត់កោះត្រល់ឲ្យយួន។ ក្បត់ជាតិ! 

អាន៖ អំពីកោះត្រល់និងកោះក្រចកសេះខ្មែរ 

Hun Sen sacked Gen. Touch Naroth because he protect Mam Sonando's supporters?

Hun Sen sacked Gen. Touch Naroth because he protect Mam Sonando's supporters?

ទស្សនៈ​ជុំវិញ​ការ​ផ្ទេរ​តំណែង​លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ
ដោយ ម៉ៅ សុធានី 2012-09-30 Radio Free Asia

ប្រភព​ព័ត៌មាន និង​សារព័ត៌មាន​ក្នុង​ស្រុក​មួយ​ចំនួន បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ស្នងការ​នគរបាល​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ ត្រូវ​បាន​លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ផ្ទេរ​តំណែង​ទៅ​ធ្វើ​ការ​នៅ​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ វិញ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍ ទី​២៩ ខែ​កញ្ញា។

RFA/Sok Serey

លោក ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ត្រី ទូច ណារ៉ុថ ផ្ដល់​បទ​សម្ភាសន៍​ដល់​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១ ខែ​ឧសភា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។

លោក ជួន សុវណ្ណ ជា​អគ្គស្នងការ​រង​នគរបាល​ជាតិ នឹង​ត្រូវ​ទទួល​តំណែង​ជំនួស​លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ។

មន្ត្រី​អង្គការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​ខ្លះ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា បាន​សំដែង​ការ​សោកស្ដាយ​ចំពោះ​ការ​ផ្ទេរ​តំណែង​លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ ស្នងការ​នគរបាល​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ។

Hun Sen is running the country by fears

Re: A major police reshuffle: Is there a power struggle within the ruling CPP? 

By Kmenhwatt

Hun Sen doesn't need good servants to his country, Hun Sen only needs loyalty and crooks who can help him cover up his corrupt practices. Hun Sen reshuffled the public servants and chose the ones whom he thinks can better protect him and will not betray him. It's not easy to run a country based on "Fears". Hun Sen is running the country by fears, from the left to the right and is  internally paranoid and distrusted his own party.

Therefore, fears rule his judgement, fears make him re-arranged and chose only the ones whom he trusted to be close to him or around him, regardless of those individuals' credentials or educational backgrounds. Only his chosen loyalists and his so-called "friends", whether those individuals were thugs, killers or madmen it doesn't matter, only loyalty matters to him, nothing else. 

Hun Sen promoted Hok Lundy to the highest position in the police rank in order to help protect him. Now Hok Lundy is dead, but if he can get Hok Lundy out of HELL [raise him from the death], Hun Sen would do so because he needs some one ruthless around him to protect him.

Hun Sen: UN peace process failed in Cambodia [Hun Sen said this because the UN peace process caused him to lose the 1993 election?] សម្តេច​ហ៊ុន​សែន​៖ អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ បរាជ័យ ក្នុង​ការស្វែងរក​សន្តិ​ភាព នៅ​កម្ពុជា​

លោក ហ៊ុន សែន៖ កម្ពុជា​មិន​មែន​ទទួល​បាន​សន្តិភាព​ដោយសារ​វត្តមាន​​អ៊ុនតាក់ 

ដោយ វណ្ណ វិចារ 

2012-09-30  Radio Free Asia

លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ប្រកាស​ជា​ថ្មី​ថា ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា មិន​មែន​បាន​ទទួល​សន្តិភាព​ពេញលេញ​ ដោយសារ​វត្តមាន​អាជ្ញាធរ​បណ្ដោះអាសន្ន​របស់​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ហៅ​ថា អ៊ុនតាក់ (UNTAC) នោះ​​ទេ។

RFA/Sok Serey

០៦-កក្កដា-២០១១៖ លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្លែង​ក្នុង​ពិធី​បើក​ការដ្ឋាន​សាងសង់​ស្ពាន​នៅ​ក្រុង​តាខ្មៅ ខេត្ត​កណ្ដាល។

លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ក្នុង​ពិធី​ប្រគល់​ប្លង់ដី​ជូន​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣០ កញ្ញា ថ្លែង​ជា​ថ្មី​ថា កង​កំលាំង​រក្សា​សន្តិភាព​របស់​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ អ៊ុនតាក់ មិន​បាន​ស្វែង​រក​សន្តិភាព​ពិតប្រាកដ​ជូន​ពលរដ្ឋ​កម្ពុជា នោះ​ទេ។ ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នក​តាម​ដាន​ស្ថានការណ៍​នយោបាយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា មិន​ឯកភាព​នឹង​ការ​លើក​ឡើង​របស់​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឡើយ។

លោក ហ៊ុន សែន មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា អ៊ុនតាក់ បាន​ចំណាយ​លុយ​ជាង​ពីរ​ពាន់​លាន​ដុល្លារ​ដើម្បី​នាំ​កម្ពុជា ទៅ​រក​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និង​សន្តិភាព ប៉ុន្តែ​បែរ​ជា​មិន​ជោគជ័យ។ លោក​បន្ត​ថា បន្ទាប់​ពី​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៣ កម្ពុជា​នៅ​តែ​ជា​ប្រទេស​មួយ​តំបន់​ត្រួតត្រា​ពីរ គឺ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ និង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម ដែល​ប្រយុទ្ធ​គ្នា​ជា​រៀងរាល់​ថ្ងៃ។

Muslims Torch Buddhist Temples, Homes in Bangladesh

A Buddhist temple burnt by Muslims is seen in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, September 30, 2012.

 

VOA News

September 30, 2012 

Hundreds of angry Muslims torched Buddhist temples and homes in southeastern Bangladesh early Sunday, complaining that a Buddhist man posted an anti-Islam photograph on Facebook.

Muslims in the Cox's Bazar area, near the border with Buddhist-majority Burma, set fire to at least five Buddhist temples and dozens of homes. The rioters say a local Buddhist man posted a photograph that defamed the Quran, the Muslim holy book. The protesters took to the streets late Saturday.

Police say the situation was brought under control early Sunday.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties or if any arrests were made.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

A Cambodian adventure off the beaten track

• Image Credit: Supplied picture
• Following a 5km trek through the forest, the woods clear and open on to a stunning waterfall.

• Image Credit: Getty Images
• In South West Cambodia, at the base of the Cardamom Mountains.

• Image Credit: Supplied picture
• The Cambodian jungle is one the most diverse habitats in Asia, which includes everything from your standard gawking monkey to flying squirrels.

Community-based ecotourism centres in Koh Kong aid Cambodia's wildlife crisis by offering trips into the country’s unspoilt wilderness

• By Jade Bremner, 
• Gulf News and Alpha magazine
• Published: September 30, 2012

In South West Cambodia, at the base of the Cardamom Mountains, we’re greeted in Koh Kong by two moto drivers who zoom us along dusty red roads, past lush green vegetation, grazing water buffalos and farmers picking tea, to the Phipot River. Here, we cross the water on a dubiously fragile rickety ferry, made with two wooden canoes and some old planks, and head to the sleepy village of Chi Phat.

This shabby but charming gathering of brightly coloured huts, home to families living basic rural lifestyles, is as deep as a village can get into the jungle. It is flanked by one of the most diverse habitats in Asia, which includes everything from your standard gawking monkey to flying squirrels.

However, the nature here is severely threatened by illegal logging and hunting for commercial gain. In 2008, the Community Based Eco Tourism (CBET) centre opened to aid the survival of over 2,500 globally endangered plants, birds and other species in the area.

Garment industry stokes Cambodia’s political growth

                                       Garment workers working at a factory in Phnom Penh.

By: The Economist

The Winnepeg Free Press

1 October 2012

Under dazzling white strip-lights, a production line of young Cambodians stitch, iron and fold their way to the day’s target of 820 two-piece children’s pajamas. These garments are destined for the shelves of Los Angeles, shop price $9.97. The workers, mostly women, start at 7:30 a.m. and could knock off at 4 p.m., but almost all stay for two hours’ overtime. There are about 1,300 workers at the Gawon Apparel factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and they can produce as many as 20,000 items of clothing a day, or 7.3 million a year.

The factory is South Korean-owned, and is one of about 375 across the country with an export permit. Garment-making is the country’s most important and dynamic industry. Together with 45 footwear companies and hundreds of subcontractors, the industry employs almost 500,000 workers, out of a population of barely 14 million people. The shirts, blouses and sneakers churned out by these factories account for 80 percent of the country’s exports and earn $4 billion of foreign exchange in a country with a GDP of only $13 billion.

Young Cambodians act out their nation's tale

By: ALAN BRISSENDEN

From: The Australian

October 01, 2012 

The Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company is thrilling on stage. Source: Supplied

• DANCE
  
  Cambodia Sun Rising. Sunrise Children's Village. Space Theatre, Adelaide, September 27.
  Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company. Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide, September 28.

IN 1993, Adelaide-born Geraldine Cox helped set up the Australia Cambodia Foundation which operates the Sunrise Children's Village for orphans in Kandal province. The music and dance that are integral to the education program have led to Cambodia Sun Rising, the imaginative creation of theatre director Cate Fowler, choreographer Ninian Donald and Cox, involving 30 confident performers aged four to 18, a couple of adults and a small band of traditional instrumentalists.

Seven scenes depict aspects of Cambodian life and history. Gorgeous gold costumes and intricate headdresses enhance the formal movements of traditional Khmer dance. Tall puppet-ghosts scaring a bunch of kids are placated with gifts of food: Cambodians are superstitious. A lively, rhythmic stick game and domestic chores show village life.

The war comes. The Khmer Rouge slaughter of nearly two million people is powerfully symbolised by the slow, menacing march of a few soldiers; the rest of the cast falls, filling the stage with bodies. A mother rises, kneels and sings an anguished lament, but then two boys enter with white butterflies trembling and dancing on thin wire rods.

Two armed robbers robbed SRP's MP Keth Khy at his house ចោរប្លន់ផ្ទះអ្នកតំណាងរាស្រ្ត កែត ឃី

សេចក្តីប្រកាសព័ត៌មាន

          នៅវេលាម៉ោង ៧,៣០ នាទីយប់ ថ្ងៃទី២៩ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ មានជនមិនស្គាល់មុខ ស្លៀក​ពាក់ស៊ីវិល​ចំនួនពីរនាក់​ ប្រដាប់ដោយអាវុធខ្លី២ដើម  បានចូលធ្វើសកម្មភាពប្លន់​ផ្ទះ​ឯកឧត្តម​ កែត ឃី អ្នកតំណាងរាស្រ្តមណ្ឌលខេត្តកំពង់ធំ មកពីគណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី ស្ថិតនៅ ភូមិ​ទួលគោក សង្កាត់ទួលសង្កែ ខណ្ឌប្ញស្សីកែវ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ។

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ជនមិនស្គាល់មុខទាំងពីរនាក់ បានប្រើប្រាស់អាវុធខ្លីភ្ជង់ទៅលើអ្នកតំណាងរាស្រ្ត កែត ឃី និងភរិយា​ ព្រមទាំងកូន ហើយបានប្រមូលយកគ្រឿងអលង្ការ​ និងថវិកាមួយចំនួន​ ក្រោយ​មកក៏គេចខ្លួនបាត់  ៕

Cambodia Ecotourism

A video shot in Cambodia for an Ecotourism non governmental organisation called Mlup Baitong regarding a site near Kirirom called Chambok

Karl Malone
Dir/Prd/Shoot: Karl Malone