Family Marks 100 Days Since Woman’s Death in South Korea

BY OUCH SONY | DECEMBER 1, 2014

The family of Y Silen, a Cambodian woman who South Korean police suspect was murdered by her Korean husband, on Saturday marked 100 days since her death in a ceremony covered by reporters from two major Korean TV stations.

Y Silen was cremated in South Korea on August 25, two days after she was killed in a car accident that police there believe was orchestrated by her husband—who was in the driver’s seat and survived—in order to cash in on 26 life insurance policies he had taken out in her name that would pay out more than $8.6 million.

Y Silen poses with her daughter in an undated photograph provided by the Cambodian Embassy in Seoul.

But Y Silen’s ashes have not yet been returned to her family, who live in Tbong Khmum province’s Kroch Chhmar district, and the parents of the Korean husband are now caring for her 5-year-old daughter, Ork Saveng, the victim’s mother, said Sunday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised me to submit a request [today] for the ashes, my granddaughter and money that belonged to my daughter,” she said.

Ms. Saveng said she decided that having her daughter marry a man in South Korea in 2008 was a good idea after seeing some of her neighbors, who had previously married their daughters to Korean men, receive a steady flow of money from abroad.

“My daughter agreed to marry [her Korean husband] because she saw that others had good families after marrying Korean men and they got jobs with better pay,” she said. “We saw a lot of people marry Korean men and they had no problems.”

Ms. Saveng said both the initial news of her daughter’s death in August, when it was thought to have been the result of an accident, and recent reports that it may have been a case of premeditated murder, had come as a surprise.

“He had good behavior and always sent me some money,” she said of the husband, whom South Korean police identified only by his surname, Lee. “I was very surprised when I heard this news, because I never thought he would kill his own wife.”

Cambodian Parties Bicker Over Secretariat For Election Body

CNRP and CPP working teams meet to debate the role of district- and commune-level NEC staff in Phnom Penh, Sept. 8, 2014.

RFA

Cambodia’s ruling and opposition parties announced Monday that they have completed a draft law on electoral reform, but officials say they remain at odds on how to establish a secretariat to manage the country’s national election body.

Ben Chhin, who leads a working group for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), said that a draft law to revamp the National Election Committee (NEC) had been finalized, but that they cannot come to an agreement with the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on the formation of a secretariat for the NEC.

“We cannot decide on the process of [appointing] the NEC secretariat,” he told reporters in the capital Phnom Penh.

“We’ll submit our recommendations to the party leaders before deciding how to proceed.”

The NEC is supported by a general secretariat, which oversees the work of five departments: operations, administration, finance, training and public information, and legal services.

Ben Chhin said Monday that the CPP wants the secretariat to be selected by a government sub-decree, while the CNRP wants candidates to be approved by a majority of NEC members.

He did not provide details on what reforms had been agreed to under the draft law finalized Monday.

New parties on horizon [Kem Ley's new parties will not achieve anything other than splitting the oppositions that enable the CPP to win again]

Kem Ley, political analyst and founder of Khmer for Khmer, outside the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh in March. Kem Ley plans to create five independent political parties in 2015. Vireak Mai

     

Mon, 1 December 2014

David Boyle and Bennett Murray

Political analyst Kem Ley plans to create a diverse set of independent political parties in the new year, tackling what he says is an autocratic “disease” infecting both the ruling party and the opposition.

Using his newly founded “social network” Khmer for Khmer as a springboard, Ley will register the parties at the communal, district and provincial levels of government, as well as create an Islamic party and an ethnic minority party, he told the Post last week. The idea is to start with five parties in different provinces and then potentially expand.

Ley’s intention, he said, is for the new entities to act as models of pluralistic “intra-party democracy” at the grassroots level.

“We will create local political parties, and those political parties will educate the people about the politics,” he said, adding that he does not intend to influence the parties’ politics beyond helping them establish their internal structures and bylaws.

Ley expects to register a provincial party in Kampong Speu, a commune party in Takeo, a district party in Ratanakkiri, an ethnic minority party in Mondulkiri and an Islamic party in Kampong Cham, all in the first half of 2015.

While Ley said it is legal to register parties at a commune or district government level, he admitted it has never been tried before. Given their small sizes, he said, it would be more practical for the parties to join forces with others instead of fielding their own candidates.

“They can make alliances if the CPP or CNRP agrees on their political platform, or all of them can come together to adopt a new body,” he said.

Ley also said the parties must ensure that ordinary party members vote for their leaders, adding that the large parties too often appoint leaders based on favouritism.

Python reported on the loose in Cambodian capital [If the python eats any human-beings, Nhim Vanda must be prosecuted for murder]

 A python escaped from the house of a government official and is on the loose in the Cambodian capital, a local newspaper reported Monday.

It is the second such serpent to escape from the Phnom Penh home of Nhim Vanda, the first vice chairman of Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, The Cambodia Daily said.

Vanda is the owner of two private zoos; one in Kampot in south-western Cambodia, and another in Prey Veng, east of Phnom Penh.

Vanda said he had obtained the latest python last week and was preparing to take it to one of his zoos. It was last seen on Wednesday making its way onto the branch of a tree and then disappearing down a drain.

A python owned by Vanda escaped from his Kampot zoo a little over two months ago, and was captured only after it slithered 7 kilometres away and devoured two pigs, the newspaper reported.

-Sapa

Golden memories ... សុវណ្ណអនុស្សារ

Sam Rainsy on the new political agreement with the rulin CPP

Post by Sam Rainsy.

Sam Rainsy's speech in parliament about the 2014 National Budget

Post by Sam Rainsy.

Opposition MP Kong Bora divorced his wife because of different political persuasions លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា លែងលះ​ប្រពន្ធ​ដោយ​សារ​តែ​និន្នាការ​នយោបាយ​ខុស​គ្នា

លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា (នៅ​លើ​ឡាន​រាប់​ពី​ស្តាំ​ទៅ​ឆ្វេង ទី៤) ពេល​ទទួល​លោក សម រង្ស៊ី វិល​ត្រឡប់​មក​ពី​បរទេស​កាល​ពី ខែ​កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៣។ រូបថត ហ្វេសប៊ុក លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា

     

Sat, 29 November 2014

វង្ស សុខេង

ក្នុង​វ័យ​ប្រមាណ ៤០​ឆ្នាំ អ្នក​នយោបាយ​ជំនាន់​ក្រោយ​នៅ​ក្នុង​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា បាន​បែក​បាក់​ជីវិត​អាពាហ៍​ពិពាហ៍ ដោយ​សារ​តែ​និន្នាការ​នយោបាយ​ផ្ទុយ​គ្នា រវាង​លោក និង​ឪពុក​ក្មេក ដែល​ជា​មន្រ្តី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​នៅ​ក្នុង​គណបក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច។

លោក បូរ៉ា បាន​រៀបការ​ជាមួយ​កូន​មន្រ្តី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់ គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ក្នុង​អំឡុង ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៤ ហើយ​លោក​បាន​លែងលះ​គ្នា​នៅ ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៧ ដោយ​សារ​និន្នាការ​នយោបាយ​ខុស​គ្នា។

លោក​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ការ​រស់​នៅ​មិន​ចុះ​សម្រុង​គ្នា «ខ្ញុំ​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត​លែងលះ​គ្នា​ក្នុង ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៧ រហូត​ដល់​ពេល​នេះ មិន​ទាន់​រៀបការ​ថ្មី​ទៀត​នៅ​ឡើយ​ទេ។ ចំពោះ​ឪពុក​ក្មេក​ខ្ញុំ​គាត់​មិន​មែន​ជា​អ្នក​រើស​អើង​នយោបាយ​ទេ ប៉ុន្តែ​សង្គម​ខ្មែរ ដោយ​សារ​តែ​និន្នាការ​បក្ស​នយោបាយ វា​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​រង្កៀស​ចិត្ត ហើយ​ខ្ញុំ​ដឹង​ខ្លួន​ថា កុំ​ឲ្យ​លោក​ឪពុក​ក្មេក មាន​ការ​លំបាក​ដោយ​សារ​តែ​ខ្ញុំ» ទើប​លោក​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត​លែងលះ​ជាមួយ​ប្រពន្ធ​របស់​លោក។

ការ​លែង​លះ​នេះ បាន​កើត​ឡើង​ដោយ​សារ​តែ​លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា មិន​ចង់​ឲ្យ​ប៉ះ​ពាល់​ដល់​តំណែង​ឪពុក​ក្មេក​របស់​លោក។

លោក​បញ្ជាក់​ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំ​មិន​សោក​ស្ដាយ​ទេ ព្រោះ​ខ្ញុំ​មាន​ការ​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត​ច្បាស់​លាស់ ខ្ញុំ​នៅ​តែ​ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ​ចំពោះ​កូន​ស្រី​ខ្ញុំ​ម្នាក់ ហើយ​ខ្ញុំ​នៅ​តែ​និយាយ​គ្នា​ទៅ​មក​រក​គ្នា​ជាមួយ​អតីត​ភរិយា​របស់​ខ្ញុំ»។ រហូត​មក​ទល់​ពេល​នេះ លោក បូរ៉ា នៅ​តែ​ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ ក្នុង​ការ​ចិញ្ចឹម​កូន​ស្រី​ម្នាក់​របស់​លោក។

លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា មុន​ពេល​រៀប​ចូល​ស្បថ នៅ​ព្រះ​បរម​រាជវាំង ដើម្បី​ចូល​កាន់​តំណែង​ជា​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ​អាណត្តិ ទី៥ ផ្លូវ​ការណ៍​កាល​ពី ខែ​កក្កដា។ រូបថត ហ្វេសប៊ុក លោក គង់ បូរ៉ា

លោក បូរ៉ា កើត​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ ទី២០ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​១៩៧៤ នៅ ភូមិ​គោកល្វៀង ស្រុក​ពញា​ក្រែក ខេត្ត​កំពង់ចាម។ ឪពុក​របស់​លោក ឈ្មោះ គង់ គាំ បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ជា​សមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា ម្តាយ​ឈ្មោះ សៀក អយ។ លោក បូរ៉ា មាន​បង​ប្អូន ៦ នាក់ ស្រី ២ នាក់ ហើយ​លោក គឺជា​កូន ទី៣។ ក្នុង​របប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​លោក បូរ៉ា មិន​មាន​ប្រវត្តិ​ជូរ​ចត់​អ្វី​ទេ ដោយ​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម បាន​ឲ្យ​លោក​ឃ្វាល​គោ ក្របី។

ក្រោយ​ពី​របប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​ដួល​រលំ ក្រុម​គ្រួសារ​លោក បូរ៉ា បាន​ចាក​ចេញ​ពី​ស្រុក​កំណើត​មក​រស់​នៅ​ក្នុង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ​ក្នុង ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨០ ។ លោក​បាន​ចូល​រៀន​នៅ​សាលា​បឋម​សិក្សា​ចតុមុខ។ ប៉ុន្តែ​ដោយ​សារ​ឪពុក​របស់​លោក ត្រូវ​បាន​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​សម័យ​នោះ តែង​តាំង​ឲ្យ​ទៅ​ធ្វើ​ជា​ឯក​អគ្គ​រដ្ឋ​ទូត នៅ ទីក្រុង​ហាណូយ ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម នៅ ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨១ លោក បូរ៉ា បាន​តាម​ឪពុក​របស់​លោក​ទៅ​រស់​នៅ​ទី​នោះ​រហូត​ដល់ ឆ្នាំ​១៩៨២ ទើប​ត្រឡប់​មក​ស្រុក​ខ្មែរ​វិញ ហើយ​បាន​បន្ត​ការ​សិក្សា​នៅ​សាលា សុធារស។

លោក​បាន​ប្រឡង​មធ្យម​សិក្សា​បឋមភូមិ​នៅ ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩០។ បន្ទាប់​មក​លោក​បាន​ប្រឡង​ចូល​សាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ​ចំការ​ដូង រហូត​ដល់ ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៥ បាន​បញ្ចប់​ការ​សិក្សា ខាង​ផលិតកម្ម និង​បសុព្យាបាល ទើប​លោក​ចូល​បម្រើ​ការងារ​ជា​មន្រ្តី​រាជការ។ នៅ​ក្នុង ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៦ លោក បូរ៉ា ជា​មន្រ្តី​រាជការ​នៅ​ក្រសួង​កសិកម្ម មាន​តួនាទី​ជា​មន្រ្តី​គ្រប់​គ្រង​ផ្នែក​រដ្ឋបាល​របស់​នាយក​ដ្ឋាន​ផលិតកម្ម និង​បសុ​ព្យាបាល។

នៅ​ក្នុង ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៣ លោក បូរ៉ា បាន​ទៅ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត រៀបចំ​ដោយ​អង្គការ​សហ​ប្រជាជាតិ ដែល​ពេល​នោះ លោក​បាន​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​ហ៊្វុន​ស៊ិន​ប៉ិច។

ក្រោយ​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត លោក​ក៏​ចាប់​ផ្ដើម តាម​ដាន​ព្រឹត្តិ​ការណ៍​នយោបាយ​របស់​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ ហើយ​ក៏​បាន​យល់​ដឹង​ពី​ភាព​ស្អាតស្អំ នៅ​ក្នុង​ការ​បំពេញ​ការងារ របស់​លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ដែល​កាល​នោះ​គាត់​ជា​រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ក្រសួង​សេស្ឋកិច្ច និង​ហិរញ្ញ​វត្ថុ និង​ព្រះ​អង្គ​ម្ចាស់ នរោត្តម សិរីវុឌ្ឍ ដែល​ជា​អតីត​រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ក្រសួង​ការ​បរទេស កូតា​គណបក្ស​ហ៊្វុន​ស៊ិន​ប៉ិច។

Hun Sen's sister resigns from her position as undersecretary of state ​ប្អូនស្រី​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន លាលែង​ពី​តួនាទី​ជា​អនុរដ្ឋលេខាធិការ​​

ដោយ៖​ អុឹង ប៊ុនថន​​ | ថ្ងៃចន្ទ ទី1 ធ្នូ 2014,

មើលរូបភាពបន្ថែម

លោកស្រី ហ៊ុន ស៊ី​ណាត (ព្រួញចង្អុល) អនុរដ្ឋលេខាធិការ ក្រសួង​ទំនាក់ទំនង​រដ្ឋសភា ព្រឹទ្ធសភា និង អធិការកិច្ច ដែលលាលែង​ពី​តួ​នាទី (រូបថតពី​ បណ្តាញ​សង្គម)

ប្អូនស្រី​លោកនាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ប្រកាស​លាលែង​ពី​តួនាទីជា​អនុរដ្ឋលេខាធិការ ខណៈ​មាន​ព័ត៌មាន​ថា លោកស្រីចាញ់​ការ​តតាំង​ក្តី​ជាមួយឧ​កញ៉ា​ម្នាក់​ដែល​មាន​ជម្លោះ​ដីធ្លី​ជាមួយ​ពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​ខេត្ត​កំពង់ស្ពឺ​ ។​

ក្នុង​លិខិត​របស់​លោកស្រី ហ៊ុន ស៊ី​ណាត អនុរដ្ឋលេខាធិការ ក្រសួង​ទំនាក់ទំនង​រដ្ឋសភា ព្រឹទ្ធសភា និង អធិការកិច្ច ចុះ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១ ​ខែ​ធ្នូ​នេះ ដាក់ជូន​លោកនាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី លោកស្រី បានបញ្ជាក់​ថា មូលហេតុ​នៃ​ការសុំ​លាលែង​ពី​តួនាទី​នោះ ដោយសារ​មាន​បញ្ហា​សុខភាព ហើយ​ត្រូវ​ព្យាបាល​ជា​ប្រចាំ​ ។​

Opposition TV ‘will be truly independent’ [Hun Sen will engineer the takeover of this TV by some shareholders like he did with Funcinpec's channel 9 TV in the late 1990s]

  Mon, 1 December 2014

Shane Worrell

The opposition party will aim to deliver Cambodians television programming similar to that seen on CNN and the BBC, a spokesman said yesterday.

As part of a political deal finalised on Friday, the government granted the Cambodia National Rescue Party an analogue television licence, enabling it to compete against the country’s traditionally government-aligned and -owned stations.

CNRP lawmaker and spokesman Yim Sovann yesterday gave no indication as to when the station would begin broadcasting or whether presenters were already being groomed.

But, he said, the CNRP already has a firm idea of what direction it wants the station’s programming to take.

“We have to learn from international TV stations such as CNN, the BBC and Channel News Asia,” he said. “It has to respect a code of ethics and show professional programs. I assure you, it will be truly independent.”

Because the opposition was so resolute about this, it would effectively forfeit any further influence it has over programming, Sovann said. This would leave content in the hands of an independent team of programmers – and leave the opposition party, in theory, subjected to as much scrutiny as the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

“We want public debate,” Sovann said.

Scheduling would consist mainly of Cambodian programs that focus on human rights, democracy, education and health, Sovann said. Entertainment would also have a place, he added.

Concessions small: Sochua [The Minority Leader is just a title, nothing else!]

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy leaves the National Assembly in Phnom Penh on Friday after obtaining an analogue television licence for his party. Pha Lina   

  

Mon, 1 December 2014

Charles Rollet

Once again since the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ended its boycott of parliament in July, the party is finding itself rebutting claims that it has ceded too much ground to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

In an agreement reached between Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP leader Sam Rainsy on Friday, the CNRP was granted a television station licence while Rainsy was made the parliament’s minority leader, a position formally “equal” to Hun Sen’s.

In return, the CNRP relented on a major sticking point by agreeing that no members of the National Election Committee could hold multiple nationalities, seemingly ruling out rights activist Pung Chhiv Kek from the position.

In an email to CNRP supporters, public relations director Mu Sochua appeared to address such criticisms against the party, saying that the “CNRP made no ‘major concessions’ on election reforms as reported by the media.”

Although supportive of the agreement overall, Koul Panha, executive director of election watchdog Comfrel, said he had problems with the controversial clause.

“On this point, it’s not that good,” said Panha. “In our political institutions and in the government, they have always included people [who have other nationalities] because so many were refugees and came from outside the country because of the killing fields.”

The agreement has also brought comparisons between the CNRP and the ill-fated royalist political party Funcinpec.

Under the cover of Hun Sen's Cambodia

 

            

2014-11-28 19:29 by David Boyle and Daniel Quinlan

His book Hun Sen's Cambodia is the first truly comprehensive analysis of a man who has reigned over his country for almost 30 years.

Sebastian Strangio, a freelance journalist and former editor at The Phnom Penh Post, sat down with State of Play to probe the turbulent political shifts that Cambodia's premier has navigated and survived.

Contact authors: David Boyle and Daniel Quinlan

Tycoon freed after arrested, three bodyguards questioned

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Police arrested tycoon Thong Sarath and his bodyguards and sent them to Phnom Penh police station on Monday.

The tycoon was later allowed to return home at around 3 o'clock the same day, but three of his bodyguards are still being questioned at the police station, the tycoon's personal advisor Sem Saroeun told CEN, an affiliate of The Cambodia Herald.

Police said the tycoon was mistakenly arrested, Saroeun said.

Saroeun said he contacted the police station, still he hasn't known clearly about the arrest of the tycoon's bodyguards.

CPP, CNRP to discuss selection of minority leader in the parliament

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Working groups of ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) will meet Tuesday to discuss amendment of article 45 of the internal regulations of the National Assembly to prepare for selection of minority leader whose rank will be equal to Prime Minister.

Components of the CPP's working group will include Pen Panha, and three other members, Sik Bunhok, Hem Khorn and Kruoch Sam An, while CNRP's side will be leader Eng Chhai Eang, and Yem Ponharith, Son Chhay and Ou Chanrith as members.

According to a joint statement issued Friday after about one-hour meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy, the premier agreed in principle to allow the CNRP to own a television channel under the name of Cambodian Independent Media Co., Ltd, and advised the company to apply for a license at the Ministry of Information.

The statement said the two leaders also agreed that a new National Election Committee law which is being drafted by the two parties and a draft law on the amendment of the Election Law will be completed by the end of February 2015.

After Compromise, CNRP Returns to Grass Roots

By Alex Willemyns and Van Roeun | December 1, 2014

 

KHSACH KANDAL DISTRICT, Kandal province – Laying the groundwork for the opposition party’s long run to the elections due in early 2017 and 2018, CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha over the weekend again returned to his party’s base to sell the case for change through compromise with the CPP.

Although it was not the first time Mr. Sokha or CNRP President Sam Rainsy has made the case that cooperation with the ruling party is the best way to defeat it, the journey to the provinces was the opposition’s first chance to defend the details of the electoral framework finalized on Friday.

CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha takes questions from the audience after delivering a speech at a public forum in Kandal province Sunday. (Alex Willemyns/The Cambodia Daily)

Speaking in front of about 250 supporters here in Kandal province Sunday, Mr. Sokha cautioned against becoming demoralized when the opposition is forced to capitulate to the CPP in order to push promised reforms forward.

He told the audience that the CNRP had come a long way against a government prone to violent suppression.

“Step one for change was to go and vote,” Mr. Sokha reminded the audience. “After the voting, we did not see them show the true results…so we demanded they check the results again but they did not let us look or investigate.”

“When we did not see the true results, we gathered together to hold demonstrations—to demonstrate and to protest to make demands from one step to another,” he said.

Angkor: an interactive map of Cambodia's must-see temples

An interactive guide to Angkor Wat and other temples at Angkor, Cambodia, including then-and-now recreations of individual temples and a map of the essential sights

 

By Natalie Paris and Rory Norton

28 Nov 2014

   

Angkor’s enigmatic temples, some still buckling under the weight of the jungle, have become a must-see on south-east Asia itineraries. But visitors who think of them only as crumbling ruins are seeing only half the picture, beautiful though it is.

Far from being left to nature, most temples were painstakingly rebuilt over the past century. To what extent they have been reconstructed only becomes clear when looking at astonishing black-and-white photographs from the École Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), showing excavation work amid mounds of earth and rubble in the early 20th century.

“What visitors see now are temples that have been worked on for many years,” said Andrew Booth, the author of The Angkor Guidebook, a new book that was three years in the making.

“I never understood how much work had been done on them,” said Booth, who trawled for 10 days through 25,000 images kept by the EFEO. “Baphuon was not very well designed and started to fall down as soon as it was built. A picture from 1948 shows just a pile of rubble and early attempts to underpin it with concrete. What are now the temples were put together piece by piece by diligent academics so we can appreciate them. Hats off to them.”

^{Credit: EFEO}

The EFEO, a French institute dedicated to the study of Asian societies, first began reconstructing Angkor’s temples back in the early 20th century. “Preah Khan was the first one to be seriously rebuilt,” said Booth. “It’s the only double-tiered structure in Angkor but a black-and-white photograph from 1909 shows only the bottom tier standing.”  Read more at The UK Telegraph.

Russian Businessman Blames Fugitive Oligarch for Attack on Son [Most Russian businessmen in Cambodia are mafia who escaped arrests in Russia]

By Saing Soenthrith and Ben Woods | December 1, 2014

 

Russian businessman Nikolai Doroshenko has accused his longtime rival, fugitive oligarch Sergei Polonsky, of ordering a hit on him following a brutal attack on his son in Sihanoukville on Thursday—which he says was meant for him.

Mr. Polonsky—an eccentric former billionaire wanted on multimillion-dollar embezzlement charges in Moscow, who splits his time between Phnom Penh and a tiny private island off the coast of Sihanoukville—denied the accusation.

Ostap Doroshenko sits in a local clinic after being attacked in Sihanoukville on Thursday. (Nikolai Doroshenko)

According to police, Mr. Doroshenko’s son, Ostap, 36, a Cambodian citizen and captain in the Preah Sihanouk provincial immigration police force, was sent by his father to meet two Russian men who wanted the well-connected family’s help in delivering $1,000 to Denis Valov. Mr. Valov, also Russian, was sent to the provincial prison last month for allegedly killing a local high-school student with his car while driving drunk.

Provincial minor crimes police chief Men Vanny said Sunday that the elder Mr. Doroshenko, 56—also a Cambodian citizen— received a telephone call at about 11 a.m. Thursday from a Russian-speaking man soliciting his help in delivering the cash, and arranged to meet the man that evening.

Vietnam Asks Cambodia to Send Back Montagnards

By Aun Pheap and Chris Mueller |

December 1, 2014

 

Vietnamese authorities have asked Cambodian police to arrest and deport 16 Montagnards who recently crossed into Ratanakkiri province, according to the provincial police chief, who said his officers intended to comply with the request.

Thirteen members of the indigenous minority, concentrated in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, are currently hiding in the northern province’s Lumphat district, having fled across the border over the past month.

Provincial police chief Nguon Koeun said Sunday he received a report “recently” from Vietnam, via the Interior Ministry, that includes a list of 16 names.

“Vietnamese authorities provided us with a list of 16 people who fled from their homes. They asked our authorities to find them and send them back home because they are Montagnards,” Brigadier General Koeun said.

“We will arrest those people and send them back to Vietnamese authorities,” he added.

Vietnam’s Montagnards, also known as Degar, have long been persecuted for supporting U.S. and French forces during the First and Second Indochina Wars. Most Montagnards observe a form of Protestantism that Vietnamese authorities have outlawed, which led to a violent crackdown on Montagnard churches between 2001 and 2011.

Thousands sought asylum in Cambodia during that period; a handful escaped to the U.S., but most were forcibly repatriated. Many of those sent back to Vietnam were reportedly jailed and tortured.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be reached for comment.

Ethnic Jarai villagers in O’yadaw district’s Yatung commune said that local authorities arrested two middle-aged Montagnard men in the commune on Thursday.

Rainsy to get rank 'equal' to PM [This deal sounds good on paper, but it means nothing on practice because Hun Sen is not trustworthy] ហេតុអ្វី​ត្រូវការ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ប្រធាន​ក្រុម​ភាគតិច​នៅ​ក្នុង​រដ្ឋសភា

Sam Rainsy at the National Assembly on Friday. Pha Lina

 

Fri, 28 November 2014

Taing Vida

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy today obtained an analog TV license for his party and a future parliamentary position as the officially recognised minority leader, in return for a major concession on election reform to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

A joint statement released after a closed-door meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen, Rainsy and high-ranking officials from both sides at parliament confirmed that the premier had agreed to grant an analog TV license to a private company on behalf of the CNRP.

It also says that both leaders had agreed that a new National Election Committee law being drafted by the two parties, along with upcoming amendments to the election law, would be completed by the end of February.

The internal rules of the assembly will be amended to officially recognise minority parties that win seats in parliament, with the minority leader to have a rank formally recognised as equal to prime minister, the statement says.

Rainsy has said in the past that he wants to see a Westminster-style shadow government in the National Assembly with an officially recognised opposition leader, but yesterday said what had been agreed was more similar to the US system.

“In the US, the minority leader has rights and privileges; his role is recognised and respected. Such an institution functions well in the US, so if we can replicate that system in Cambodia, it will be a good formula,” he said in a phone interview.

But even as the CNRP appeared to score victories on this and the TV license, it caved on a key demand that citizens with multiple nationalities be allowed to sit on a revamped National Election Committee.

Hun Sen, Rainsy settle differences in reform deal

KUCH NAREN | NOVEMBER 29, 2014

Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy, in a meeting on Friday at the National Assembly, settled the remaining disputes between the CPP and CNRP over the details of the sweeping electoral reform package promised in their July 22 political deal.

A letter signed Friday by Mr. Hun Sen and Mr. Rainsy, who met on the sidelines of a plenary session of parliament, says a new draft law on the organization of the National Election Committee (NEC) and an amendment to the existing election law will be passed by the end of February 2015.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy speaks with Prime Minister Hun Sen in the chamber of the National Assembly prior to adjourning for a private meeting, in an image captured from a television screen in the Assembly’s pressroom. (Siv Channa/The Cambodia )

“For the remaining disagreements in the draft law on the organization and functioning of the NEC, the top leaders of the two parties agreed to settle them completely,” the letter says.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kuoy Bunroeun, one of the CNRP’s lead negotiators in election reform talks, said the opposition party had given in to the CPP’s demand that members of the NEC be barred from holding dual citizenship.

“Regarding the matter of nationality for all members of the NEC, we are not extremely intransigent,” Mr. Bunroeun said. “It means that those who want to be candidates shall renounce other nationalities after being voted in.”

Mr. Bunroeun said that NEC members would be able to reclaim foreign citizenship once they left their position on the nine-member committee.

The new law will also require the NEC’s secretary-general and other officials to be approved by a majority vote among the nine members, according to Keut Rith, a CPP secretary of state at the Justice Ministry who also addressed reporters following the meeting.

The CPP had previously been pushing for the NEC president to be given the power to personally appoint the body’s administration.

Kem Sokha’s Assistant Cries Foul Over ‘Khmer for Khmer’ Tip [Kem Ley is stirring up the CNRP]

BY HUL REAKSMEY AND ALEX WILLEMYNS | NOVEMBER 28, 2014

One of CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha’s personal assistants on Thursday said the deputy opposition leader “cannot lead anyone” after Mr. Sokha ridiculed a phone call that she claims to have made warning him about a threat from the fledgling “Khmer for Khmer” reform group.

Answering a question on Radio Free Asia on Wednesday night about the Khmer for Khmer group, which was launched in October by political commentator Kem Ley, Mr. Sokha said the group intended to cause a split between him and CNRP President Sam Rainsy.

“For example, late last night, this group called me. They called and said ‘Don’t you know? Sam Rainsy and [CNRP lawmaker] Long Ry are meeting with people from that side,’ but Sam Rainsy and Long Ry were together with me,” he said.

“This group was the one who said that, meaning that their idea is purely to split us up. But I don’t pay attention to that. Let them do whatever they want to help the nation.”

Mr. Rainsy and Mr. Sokha merged their respective opposition parties into the united CNRP a year before last year’s parliamentary election, which they came within seven seats of winning.

Yet Mr. Ley’s advocacy group, which has been visiting villages around the country, has drawn concern that it will turn into a new party in competition with the CNRP.

On Thursday, Mr. Ley claimed no one in his group had called Mr. Sokha, but said he received information that one of Mr. Sokha’s own assistants had in fact made the phone call.

“I don’t know. I asked my team, and they said nobody called him. I think he lied,” Mr. Ley said of Mr. Sokha. “I heard that someone from the CNRP, Lak Sopheap—a member of the CNRP’s committee—she called him. I heard this last night.”

Hun Sen’s sister resigns in protest [She had an argument with Deputy PM Men Sam An that's why Hun Sen sacked Men Sam An]

 

Fri, 28 November 2014

May Titthara

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s sister Hun Sinath has resigned from her job as a secretary of state over what she said was her colleagues’ fear of investigating a land dispute between villagers in Kampong Speu province and tycoon Ly Yong Phat. [Hun Sinath had an argument with Men Sam An that's why Hun Sen sacked her].

Sinath revealed her resignation from the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection in a Facebook post yesterday, addressing the affected villagers in Kampong Speu’s Thpong district and apologising for her ministry “not daring” to investigate the allegations made against Yong Phat.

“In my life, I hate injustices more than anything. I will quit my job, because I think when the ministry inspects their fellow travellers, such as Ly Yong Phat, I am sure they do not dare to do anything,” she wrote.

“So I cannot continue to work in a ministry that cannot find justice for people through the complaints system. I will step down from my position and from now on become a normal citizen.”

Sinath, who is married to ruling Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Nhim Chandara, a former ambassador to Myanmar, also said that various officials had asked her how much money it would take to keep quiet.

“Tycoon Ly Yong Phat looks down on me in every way,” she added.

The younger sister of Hun Sen previously worked at the Cambodian consulate in China’s Chongqing province before she took up her job at the ministry in December 2013.

Yong Phat, an ethnic Thai CPP senator and director of the Phnom Penh Sugar Company, declined to comment on Sinath’s resignation.

“I don’t know anything about it,” he said yesterday.

Kem Sokha claims victory in political deal with Hun Sen លោក កឹម សុខា អះអាង​ពី​ភាព​ជោគជ័យ​នៃ​ជំនួប​ចរចា​នយោបាយ

ស្ដាប់ ឬ ទាញ​យក​សំឡេង 

លោក កឹម សុខា អនុប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ និង​ជា​អនុប្រធាន​រដ្ឋសភា ថ្លែង​ក្នុង​ពិធី​សម្ពោធ​ទីស្នាក់ការ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ នា​ខេត្ត​ព្រះសីហនុ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៩ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។

RFA/Den Ayuthyea

មេ​ដឹក​នាំ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ និង​ជា​អនុប្រធាន​រដ្ឋសភា បាន​អះអាង​ពី​ភាព​ជោគជ័យ​នៃ​ជំនួប​ពិភាក្សា​រវាង​មេ​ដឹក​នាំ​គណបក្ស​ជាប់​ឆ្នោត​ទាំង​ពីរ ក្នុង​ការ​បង្កើត​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត (គ.ជ.ប) ថ្មី និង​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​មាន​សិទ្ធិ​បង្កើត​ស្ថានីយ​ទូរទស្សន៍ និង​វិទ្យុ ជាដើម។

ប៉ុន្តែ ទន្ទឹម​គ្នា​នេះ​ក៏​នៅ​មាន​ចំណុច​អវិជ្ជមាន​មួយ​ចំនួន​ទៀត ដែល​គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ត្រូវ​បន្ត​ជួប​ពិភាក្សា​គ្នា​រក​ដំណោះស្រាយ។

ថ្លែង​នៅ​ចំពោះ​មុខ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ជាង ៥០០​នាក់ ក្នុង​ពិធី​សម្ពោធ​ទីស្នាក់ការ​ថ្មី​នា​ខេត្ត​ព្រះសីហនុ កាល​ពី​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍ ទី​២៩ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា លោក កឹម សុខា អនុប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ជំនួប​ចរចា​ស្ងាត់ៗ​រវាង លោក សម រង្ស៊ី និង​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ នា​មន្ទីរ​រដ្ឋសភា បាន​ទទួល​ជោគជ័យ​ទៅ​លើ​ការ​បង្កើត​ក្បាល​ម៉ាស៊ីន​ដឹក​នាំ គ.ជ.ប ថ្មី និង​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ទទួល​បាន​សិទ្ធិ​បង្កើត​ស្ថានីយ​ទូរទស្សន៍ និង​វិទ្យុ ស្រប​តាម​កិច្ច​ព្រមព្រៀង​នយោបាយ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២២ ខែ​កក្កដា។

ប៉ុន្តែ​ទន្ទឹម​គ្នា​នេះ លោក​ថា​ក៏​នៅ​មាន​ចំណុច​មិន​ច្បាស់​លាស់ នៃ​ការ​កំណត់​សញ្ជាតិ​ទៅ​លើ​សមាជិក​ក្បាល​ម៉ាស៊ីន គ.ជ.ប ថ្មី ត្រូវ​មាន​សញ្ជាតិ​ខ្មែរ​តែ​មួយ និង​មិន​ទាន់​ច្បាស់​អំពី​សំណើ​សុំ​ដោះ​លែង​មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ និង​ពលរដ្ឋ​សហគមន៍​ដីធ្លី​ចេញ​ពី​ពន្ធនាគារ​នៅ​ឡើយ​ទេ៖ «ចំណុច​ដែល​ខ្ញុំ​កត់​សម្គាល់​ថា​ល្អ​នោះ គឺ​បញ្ជាក់​គ្នា​ច្បាស់​ថា គ.ជ.ប ចាស់ ដែល​នៅ​សព្វថ្ងៃ​នេះ ត្រូវ​តែ​បញ្ចប់​មុន​ដាច់​ខែ​កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៥។ ហើយ គ.ជ.ប ថ្មី ត្រូវ​តែ​ធ្វើ​កិច្ចការ​ថ្មី និង​អនុវត្ត​ច្បាប់​ថ្មី។ នេះ​ជា​ចំណុច​សំខាន់​ដែល​ខ្ញុំ កឹម សុខា ពេញ​ចិត្ត​ជាង​គេ។ ហើយ​ចំណុច​មួយ​ទៀត គឺ​ចំណុច​ដែល​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ទទួល​បាន​សិទ្ធិ​បង្កើត​ស្ថានីយ​វិទ្យុ​ផ្សាយ​បន្ត​ផ្ទាល់​តាម​ខេត្ត​នានា និង​បង្កើត​ស្ថានីយ​ទូរទស្សន៍​សម្រាប់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន ដែល​ជា​ម្ចាស់​របស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ»។

CNRP seeks fund to set up TV station គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ស្វែងរក​ថវិកា​ដើម្បី​ដំណើរការ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍​ទូរទស្សន៍

ក្រុម​បាតុករ​ចូល​រួម​មហា​បាតុកម្ម​អហិង្សា​របស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២ នា​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៦ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៣។

RFA/Den Ayuthyea

របៀបវារៈ​នៃ​ការចរចា​នយោបាយ​មួយ ដែល​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ទទួល​បាន​ជោគជ័យ​នោះ គឺ​ការអនុញ្ញាត​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ឲ្យ​គណបក្សប្រឆាំង​នេះ អាច​បើក​ស្ថានីយ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ វិទ្យុ​និង​ទូរទស្សន៍។ ក្នុង​ដំណើរការ​នៃ បើក​ការ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​របស់​ខ្លួន​នេះ គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​សហការ និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​មួយ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ផ្សព្វ​ផ្សាយ​ឯករាជ​មួយ​ឈ្មោះ ស៊ី​អាយ​អឹម (Cambodian Independent Media) ។

ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​ឯករាជ្យ​កម្ពុ​ជាមួយ កំពុង​រៀបចំ​ឯកសារ ដើម្បី​ដំណើរ​បើក​ស្ថានីយ​ទូរទស្សន៍​របស់​ខ្លួន បន្ទាប់ពី​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន​បាន​សរសេរ​លិខិតអនុញ្ញាត​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៤​វិច្ឆិកា។ ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាភិបាល​នៃ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​ឯករាជ្យ​កម្ពុជា​ដែល​ហៅ​កាត់​ថា ស៊ីអាយអឹម អ្នកស្រី គុណ លំអង មានប្រសាសន៍​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ៣០​វិច្ឆិកា​ថា អ្នកស្រី មាន​ភាព​ជឿជាក់​ថា នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​អាជ្ញាប័ណ្ណ​បើក​ស្ថានីយ​ទូរទស្សន៍ ពី​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន ប៉ុន្តែ​កត្តា​ដែល​អ្នកស្រី​ព្រួយបារម្ភ​នោះ គឺ​បញ្ហា​ធនធាន​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ​សម្រាប់ ដំណើរការ​ស្ថានីយ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​មួយ​នេះ។ អ្នកស្រី​បញ្ជាក់​ទៀត​ថា បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន កំពុង​ពិភាក្សា​នឹង​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ក្នុង​ការ​ធានា​ឲ្យ​មាន​ប្រភព​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ​គ្រប់គ្រាន់ នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​ស្ថានីយ​នេះ​នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​អាជ្ញាប័ណ្ណ ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​នៅ​ពេល​ដ៏​ខ្លី​ខាងមុខ។

សេចក្ដីប្រកាស​របស់​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន​នា​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២៤​វិច្ឆិកា​បាន​បង្ហាញ​ថា តាម​សំណើ​របស់​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ លោក សម រង្សី និង​លិខិត​ពិសេស​របស់​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាភិបាល របស់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​ឯករាជ្យ​កម្ពុជា ស៊ីអាយអឹម ក្រសួង​បាន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​នេះ បើក​ស្ថានីយ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍​ទូរទស្សន៍​របស់​ខ្លួន ប៉ុន្តែ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​នេះ ត្រូវ​មក​បំពេញ​បែបបទ​សុំ​អាជ្ញាប័ណ្ណ។

ទោះជា​យ៉ាងណា​ក៏​ដោយ​មន្ត្រី​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ កំពុង​ខិតខំ​ប្រឹងប្រែង​សហការ​នឹង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​នេះ លើ​ការ​បំពេញបែបបទ​សុំ​អាជ្ញាប័ណ្ណ​នេះ។

Cambodia PM, opposition leader finalize election reform

Agree to draft new law on operations of election committee and to amend current election law before end of February.

World Bulletin/News Desk

Cambodian prime minister and his political opponent have finalized the details of an electoral reform plan, but some were met with criticism Saturday amid fears the election body will remain stacked with employees loyal to the ruling party.

The Cambodia Daily reported that both Premier Hun Sen and Cambodia National Rescue Party President Sam Rainsy decided during a meeting Friday to draft a new law outlining how the National Election Committee, or NEC, would operate.

It also said the current election law will be amended before the end of February.

The election committee has come under repeated fire from opposition parties and election monitoring groups for failing to conduct fair elections.

Its outdated voter registration process, for instance, is manually updated every year by local officials in communes around the country. But it is estimated that more than a million people could not vote in last year’s elections since their names were nowhere to be found on the voter list come election day.

The outcome of the election -- 68 seats for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) compared to 55 for the Cambodia National Rescue Party -- gave way to a protracted deadlock, during which opposition lawmakers-elect refused to take their seats until promises of electoral reform were granted.

Thailand’s Cambodian charm offensive

29 November 2014

South East Asia Forum

Author: Chheang Vannarith, University of Leeds

The recent state visit by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to Cambodia represented part of the Thai military government’s uphill diplomatic battle to build and strengthen its legitimacy abroad. This visit occurred amid mounting diplomatic pressures from Europe and the US, calling for a rapid return to democracy.

Legitimacy, security, and economic development are Prayuth’s three core interests. Building confidence and good relations with Thailand’s immediate neighbours is his top priority while also simultaneously approaching China to defuse diplomatic pressures from the West. Since the bloodless coup in May, which ousted the democratically elected Yingluck administration, the military regime claimed its necessary role to restore peace and order in Thailand, which has been hit by lengthy crises.

Prayuth was elected as prime minister by the appointed members of the National Assembly in August and was later endorsed by the King. In October, he stepped down from his position as army chief to take up a civilian-style leadership role. He promised to carry out deep structural reform and restore national unity and development.

Some, however, are sceptical whether the military regime will honestly keep its word, suspecting that the military will hold on to power for a few more years. In that case, political convulsions may reoccur. A popular uprising is not a remote possibility, particularly in north-eastern Thailand where the majority of the farmers are still loyal to the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

To stabilise and secure the country, Prayuth has taken a strategic and proactive foreign policy approach with its neighbours, especially Cambodia and Myanmar. Cambodia sits in a strategic location, highly important to the current Thai regime but, moreover, the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has shown friendship to Thaksin Shinawatra. Prayuth is concerned that Cambodia may become a safe haven or even a base for the anti-coup movement. More than 200,000 Cambodian migrants were either deported from Thailand or fled fearing violence in June. For his part, Hun Sen has frequently claimed that Cambodia would not allow Thaksin’s forces to reside in the country. Prayuth started to engage Hun Sen since his first day in power. In early July, he sent his top diplomat, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, to Phnom Penh to build mutual confidence, initiate cooperation, and manage the migrant crisis.