Khmerization

Friday, 28 September 2012

Cambodia gears for offshore drilling

Published: Sept. 27, 2012

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, (UPI) -- Cambodia aims to begin its first offshore oil production next year, a government official said.

"We would like to proceed quickly, on a fast-track basis," Sok Khavan, acting director general of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, was quoted as saying Wednesday at the Oil and Gas Investor Summit in Singapore by Platts news service.

Khavan was referring to oil exploration in Block A off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, operated by Chevron Corp. with partners Mitsui, KrisEnergy and GS Caltex.

The development, covering 1.2 million acres, consists of a wellhead platform and a floating storage and offloading vessel, says a Chevron fact sheet.

So far Chevron has drilled 15 wells, says CNPA.

Book details child's view of Cambodia killing fields

By Nick Olivari

NEW YORK,

Thu Sep 27, 2012

(Reuters) - A seven-year old child is torn from a secure and happy life when the Khmer Rouge come to power in Cambodia in 1975 and send her privileged family into the misery of hard labor as the new regime destroys the established order.
"In the Shadow of the Banyan" is the first novel of Vaddey Ratner, 41. While the book is powerful as told through the eyes of seven-year-old Raami, Ratner's own story is more so.
Only five when the Khmer Rouge came to power, the author endured four years of forced labor and starvation before she and her mother were able to flee the country. Arriving in the United States by a tortuous path and unable to speak English, she ultimately graduated from Cornell University and only years later returned to Cambodia.
Ratner now resides in Potomac, Maryland, with her husband and daughter and talked to Reuters about the book and her experiences during a brutal period of Cambodian history.

Advice to Hun Sen: Control your thuggish behaviour!

Re: Opposition party lawmaker 'stupid', 'a spy': PM [Hun Sen call Son Chhay a stupid spy?]

By Yobal Khmer

My advice to you, Mr PM! Please control your outburst,control your raw emotion,control your strong man attitude,and most of all control your " me,me,me!= Ah thmar niyum". You're a public servant to your nation to serve, to protect and to defend the constitutions of Cambodia. You don't have to act like a killer and to intimidate your own citizens by using uncivilized words to get your points across,just talk normal with respect to all individuals and your critics. Don't be afraid of criticism from your citizens, they have the rights to do so and you have the rights to defend yourself with normal tone of voice and with respect to your critics.

You've left the jungle for more than three decades now, please leave the jungle behind you, don't bring the jungle with you to the civilized world. Be strong to the weak, be kind to the poor, loving the loveless, think about others more and think about yourself less.

God and the Buddha said "Thou shall not steal...Thou shall not kill...Thou shall not bare fall witness...Thou shall not commit adultery".

You're okay leader if you follow the above commandments.

Cambodia lures foreign investors in Thailand

Published: 27/09/2012

Bangkok Post

Cambodia is trying to attract foreign investors with manufacturing bases in neighbouring countries, with promises their factories would be safer from flooding.

The Phnom Penh Post reported that Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh is appealing to foreign investors with production bases in neighbouring countries, particularly Thailand, to expand into Cambodia because their factories would be less vulnerable to flooding.

The commerce minister boasted that even though Cambodia also faces floods every year, only rice fields along the Mekong River are affected. Most factories are left untouched.

Cambodia eyes domestic oil production, refinery for energy security: official

Singapore (Platts)--27 Sep 2012

Cambodia is working on three fronts to improve its energy security and supply, including the development of its first oil-producing asset, looking for ways to resolve a disagreement over disputed territory in the Gulf of Thailand, and studying the economic viability of building its own refinery.

"Having that security, having our own supply and our own refining will ... enable the country to grow at a faster rate," Sok Khavan, acting director general of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, said at the Oil & Gas Investor Summit in Singapore Wednesday.

"Right now our electricity price and energy price [are] very high and the benefit that we get from a lower energy price and increased supply security will be more growth," he added.

Thursday, 27 September 2012

By Abby Seiff

Phnom Penh Post

More than three years after it was stripped, the immunity of opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua (pictured) was restored yesterday by vote from the National Assembly’s Permanent Committee.

“It’s a new page. I’m moving on,” Sochua told the Post last night, adding that she learned of the committee’s vote in a letter signed by National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

The parliamentarian’s immunity was stripped in 2009 after she announced plans to sue the premier for making allegedly degrading comments. Prime Minister Hun Sen countersued for defamation, a case he won.

PRESS RELEASE

The President of the main opposition party in Cambodia is coming to visit Australia

The Cambodian National Rescue Party in Sydney wishes to inform the public of the following:

Following the meetings between the Sam Rainsy Party, led by its President Sam Rainsy, and the Human Rights Party, led by its President Kem Sokha, in Manila on 16-17 July 2012, the two main Cambodian political parties have merged to create a new and united political party, called the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

This new party will reunite all patriotic and democratic forces to fulfil the Cambodian national mission of salvaging the country from the dictatorial and destructive regime of the current ruling party and the ill effects from this regime that we have been witnessing for the last 30 years. This regime has led to increasing impoverishment of the Cambodian people, destruction of national resources, and abuses of human rights.

Mr. Sam Rainsy was elected as a President and Mr. Kem Sokha as a Vice-President of the Cambodian National Rescue Party.

To raise awareness of the new party and engage with overseas Cambodians, both leaders will visit Australia and New Zealand to garner the support of overseas Cambodian and international communities. They will be in Australia and New Zealand from 05-15 October 2012.

We, the Cambodian National Rescue Party, will hold the reception functions and meetings at the following dates and places:

· 05-06 October: Melbourne

· 07-08 October: Sydney

· 09-10 October: Canberra

· 11-13 October: New Zealand

· 14-15 October: Adelaide

For further detail information:

Sydney: Contact Mr. Chhayri Marm on 0403 174 553 (ch_marm@yahoo.com.au)

Melbourne & NZ: Contact Mr. Men Vanna on 0417 062 938 (vannamen@bigpond.net.au)

Adelaide: Contact Mr. Lam Sameth on 0412 423 278 (someth_lem@optusnet.com.au)

Cambodian National Rescue Party hopes to win two seats in Svay Rieng province គណបក្ស សង្គ្រោះជាតិ សង្ឃឹមថា គណបក្សខ្លួន ក្នុងខេត្តស្វាយរៀង អាចនឹងទទួលបាន ពីរអាសនៈសភា

Thursday, 27 September 2012 ដោយៈ ដើមអម្ពិល(DAP): ID-014 DAP News

ស្វាយរៀងៈ មន្រ្តីគណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រចាំខេត្ត ស្វាយរៀង បានប្រាប់ឲ្យដឹងថា ការរួបរួមគ្នា រវាងគណបក្សសម រង្ស៊ី និងគណបក្សសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ដែលមានឈ្មោះថ្មីថា គណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិកម្ពុជានោះ អាចនិងទទួលបានអាសនៈសភាពីរ ក្នុងចំណោមអាសនៈសភា៥ របស់ខេត្តស្វាយរៀង ក៏ប៉ុន្ដែមន្រ្តីជាន់ខ្ពស់ គណបក្សប្រជាជន កម្ពុជា ខេត្តស្វាយរៀង បានចាត់ទុកថា នេះគ្រាន់តែជាក្ដីស្រម៉ៃប៉ុណ្ណោះ។

លោក រៀល ខេមរិន្ទ ប្រធានគណបក្សសម រង្ស៊ី ប្រចាំខេត្តស្វាយរៀង បានថ្លែងប្រាប់មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលព័ត៌មានដើម អម្ពិលនៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍ ទី ២៧ ឆ្នាំ២០១២ ថា ការរួបរួមគ្នានេះ វានឹងធ្វើឲ្យសន្លឹកឆ្នោតរបស់គណបក្ស សង្គ្រោះជាតិកម្ពុជា នៅក្នុងខេត្តស្វាយរៀងកើនឡើងជាក់ជាពុំខាន។

On September 25, 2012, opposition leader Sam Rainsy wrote the following letter to The Cambodia Daily:

ANY ELECTION IN CAMBODIA WOULD BE MEANINGLESS

WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF THE NATIONAL RESCUE PARTY

In “Opposition Parties Threaten to Boycott Next Year ‘s Elections”(September 25, page 20) Mr. Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, is quoted as saying that a boycott by the two main opposition parties would have a negative effect on the elections, and that “even the CPP would get a less credible result.”

In fact, any election in 2013 without the participation of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP) – which are in the process of merging to form a united democratic opposition under the banner of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) – would just be meaningless.

Cambodia’s political landscape has dramatically changed. There are now only two competing political blocks: the ruling CPP and the opposition CNRP. No other party is likely to get any representation at the National Assembly at the upcoming polls. If we translate the plummeting votes they obtained at the June commune elections into National Assembly seats, the two small royalist parties aligned with the CPP – Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) – stand to lose the four parliamentary seats they now have (out of 123). This leaves only the CPP and the CNRP.

Cambodia to export 300,000 tons per year to China ចិនជាទីផ្សារថ្មីសម្រាប់កម្ពុជានាំអង្ករចេញ

ដោយ អាន ស៊ីថាវ 2012-09-27 Radio Free Asia

ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា មានទីផ្សារថ្មីសម្រាប់នាំចេញអង្ករផ្សេងទៀត គឺប្រទេសចិន ដោយសារតែប្រទេសចិន មានតម្រូវការអង្ករកើនឡើងរៀងរាល់ឆ្នាំ ហើយការធ្វើពាណិជ្ជកម្មទ្វេភាគី កម្ពុជា-ចិន បានព្រមព្រៀងគ្នាដោះស្រាយកត្តាប្រឈមជាច្រើន ទាក់ទងនឹងបច្ចេកទេស និងអនាម័យលើផ្នែកនាំចេញអង្ករ។

RFA/Ouk Savborey

១៨-តុលា-២០១១៖ បុគ្គលិកក្រុមហ៊ុនបៃតងកម្ពុជា ជួយលើកអង្ករដាក់លើម៉ូតូពលរដ្ឋដែលមកទិញអង្ករនៅតាមស្តង់ នារាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។

បច្ចុប្បន្នមានក្រុមហ៊ុននាំចេញអង្កររបស់កម្ពុជា បានទទួលកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងបញ្ជាទិញអង្ករពីប្រទេសចិន រួចហើយ ដែលតាមការប៉ាន់ស្មាន កម្ពុជាគ្រោងនឹងនាំចេញអង្ករទៅប្រទេសចិន ប្រមាណ ៣០ម៉ឺនតោនក្នុងមួយឆ្នាំ។

ប្រធានក្រុមហ៊ុននាំចេញអង្ករ ឡូរ៉ង់ (Loran Import Export Co., Ltd) លោក ឧកញ៉ា លឹម ប៊ុនហេង មានប្រសាសន៍នៅថ្ងៃទី២៧ កញ្ញា ថា ការនាំចេញអង្ករទៅប្រទេសចិន មិនមានលក្ខណៈស្មុគស្មាញដូចមុនទេ ដោយសារមានការពិភាក្សាគ្នាជាមួយផ្នែកបច្ចេកទេសនាំចេញអង្ករដូចជា ផ្នែកអនាម័យ កាំកុងត្រូល និងផ្នែកគយ បានព្រមព្រៀងគ្នាក្នុងការធ្វើពាណិជ្ជកម្មអង្កររវាងកម្ពុជា និងចិន។

Anti-Corruption Unit gets 800 complaints in eight months

PHNOM PENH, 27 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - The Anti-Corruption Unit received 800 complaints in the eight months to August, up from 700 in the same period last year, President Om Yintieng said Thursday.

"Thirty percent of the 800 complaints are being investigated," he told a UN conference on corruption.

Om Yintieng also said that half the complaints were anonymous and added that the unit was also investigating deforestation in Kampong Thom.

In one case, he said, the unit is investigating the son of powerful family who allegedly paid money to avoid being prosecuted for assault. A judge, prosecutor, victim and witness involved have been summoned to appear in court.

Norway offers another $1 mln to Khmer Rouge tribunal

PHNOM PENH, 27 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - Norway has contributed another six million kroner ($1 million) to the international component of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), boosting its assistance to $5 million.

"As the ECCC faces an imminent funding shortfall, we sincerely thank the Government of Norway for its generous contribution," a tribunal statement said.

"This continuous support from Norway is essential to ensure that the ongoing court proceedings can continue without interruptions.”

The statement noted that Norway had been supporting the ECCC since it was set up in 2006.

Mekong dolphins risk deadly entanglement

Thursday, 27 September 2012

By Justine Drennan

Phnom Penh Post

An Irrawaddy dolphin swims in the Mekong River. Photograph: Gerard Ryan/WWF/Phnom Penh Post

In a Khmer fable, the dolphin originated from a woman who threw herself into the river, escaping disgrace, according to a new World Wide Fund for Nature report calling for protection of freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong along the Lao border.

The report cautions that if the Mekong is to remain the dolphin refuge it was in fables, Laos must act immediately to extend a ban on gill nets and co-operate with Cambodia to control the use of boats and explosives for fishing in the area.

Only six dolphins remain in the deep pool that spans the southern edge of Laos and Cambodia’s Stung Treng province – down from dozens a few decades ago, the report says.

Flood resistance leverage for foreign investment [Honda should run away from Thailand to Cambodia]

Thursday, 27 September 2012

By May Kunmakara

Phnom Penh Post

Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidth (L) looks at vehicles at a new Honda showroom in Phnom Penh yesterday at Honda’s 20th anniversary gathering. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia's Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said foreign investors with production bases in Thailand ought to consider Cambodia for future expansion because of the Kingdom’s greater resistance to floods.

Speaking at Phnom Penh Honda’s 20th anniversary yesterday, the Commerce minister said that while Cambodia faces floods each year, the floods did not seriously affect most factories and industries.

“Flooding affects only rice fields along the Mekong River – not factories. We also forecast that this year, the floods will be bigger than the last year, and we are trying to curb any negative effects to the economy. Cambodia’s industry sector, which is mostly located away from flooded areas, should not be affected,” he said.

Donors, government miss mark on development targets [Donors turned a blind eyes to human rights abuses]

Thursday, 27 September 2012

By Abby Seiff and Khouth Sophak Chakrya

Phnom Penh Post

Boeung Kak activist Tep Vanny (C) leads a protest by several communities affected by land grabbing yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

While protesters demonstrated outside, urging land and human-rights reform, members of the donor community met with the government yesterday at the Council for the Development of Cambodia in Phnom Penh to sign off on a series of development targets that bore only a faint resemblance to those recommended by civil society.

The high-level donor meeting typically convenes every six months, but had been indefinitely postponed since April, 2011.

At the meeting, donors and the government agree to targets that help inform aid packages.

Another journalist targeted over illegal logging

Thursday, 27 September 2012

By Chhay Channyda

Phnom Penh Post

Ek Sokunthy (C), a 42-year-old journalist for the Ta Prum weekly newspaper in Ratanakkiri province, recovers after being attacked and beaten on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at his home. Photograph supplied

Three men, including a disgraced former police officer, have been accused of savagely beating a journalist in what is believed to be the third instance this month of intimidation against reporters exposing illegal logging in Ratanakkiri.

Ek Sokunthy, 42, a journalist for Ta Prum weekly newspaper, told the Post yesterday that he was beaten on the head and body with a pistol and wooden stick in Andong Meas district’s Malik commune. His wife, who had recently given birth to their first child, was pushed to the floor during the attack, which took place Tuesday.

Major Kim Vanna, of Ratanakkiri provincial of military police, said the alleged perpetrators, former Andong Meas police officer Nget Senghorn, and local residents Puth Hoeurn and “Thy”, have fled the area. The search for the suspects continues.

Bokator bid to become UNESCO cultural heritage [Cambodian martial to become a UNESCO heritage?]

Thursday, 27 September 2012
By H S Manjunath

Bokator Grand Master San Kim Sean (L) and NOCC Secretary-General Vath Chamroeun pictured at the NOCC. Photograph: Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), in conjunction with the World Martial Arts Union, will seek UNESCO recognition of the Angkorian-era martial art bokator as an intangible cultural heritage — a status the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex holds with its place on the World Heritage List.

Cambodia’s traditional fighting discipline goes back nearly 2,000 years and ranks among the world’s oldest martial-arts forms.

“The World Martial Arts Union, of which Cambodia is a member, is wholly supportive of our mission to have this status bestowed on bokator, which has immense historical significance in the evolution of Khmer life and tradition,” NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun told the Post yesterday.

The Kingdom will have to meet certain prerequisites before earning UNESCO’s seal of approval.

The foremost is to declare bokator as a Cambodian national cultural heritage, and steps have already been initiated in that direction.

“We have provided lot of historical evidence, including some rare and breathtaking Bokator depictions on the walls of the Angkor Wat temple,” Vath Chamroeun said.

“We have a two-pronged approach. It is the development of bokator on one hand, and its conservation on the other.

“I’m very hopeful UNESCO will recognise bokator’s legitimate, indisputable claim as a cultural heritage asset.’’

Cambodia: Will justice be served for the millions killed by the Khmer Rouge?

Published on Thursday September 27, 2012

Heng Sinith/AP Cambodian Meo Soknen, 13, stands inside a small shrine full of human bones and skulls, all victims of the Khmer Rouge, near her home in the Kandal Steung district of Kandal province, Cambodia.

By Andrew Livingstone

thestar.com

Staff Reporter

The four-stripe general looked down at Kunthear Thorng and asked the boy to leave with him.

“I said ‘to where?’ and he said ‘far away from here,’” Thorng said. “I looked at him and I said no. I couldn’t run away from home because my father was still there.”

In 1974, Cambodia’s U.S.-backed Lon Nol government was losing a civil war against Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge. Thorng was 12 years old when the Khmer Rouge came to the military compound he lived in with his father, stepmother and five step siblings to arrest them.

The general knew what the future held for the war-torn Southeast Asian nation, but Thorng couldn’t bear to leave his father, a high-ranking commander in the Lon Nol government, unsure what would his fate would be.

But just a few days later he ran and never looked back.

Maneuvering through life’s minefields

St. Helena woman publishes first collection of poems

St. Helena poet Judith Rose is shown with a buddy, Ishi. Carolyn Younger photo

http://napavalleyregister.com

Judith Rose looks every inch the wife, mother and grandmother, a friend to dogs and respecter of chickens and bees.

The St. Helena resident is all this and more — hardworking, determined, courageous (she once sat calmly while being swarmed by thousands of hornet-sized Cambodian bees) — and despite years of maintaining a mind-boggling schedule, she is a former librarian and teacher of English at San Quentin State Prison, a college professor, a holder of a Ph.D. in English, and a published poet.

What she isn’t is unaware.

For more than a decade, Rose was part of Women in Black and stood vigil at St. Helena’s Lyman Park for three years in silent protest against violence and war.

Time for truth of Khmer Rouge to emerge

Global Times | 2012-9-27 By Ding Gang

Illustration: Sun Ying

Talking about the Khmer Rouge with Tara, a Cambodian taxi driver, all he knew was that in his village, some 30-somethings like him once went to Phnom Penh to hear the trials of Khmer Rouge leaders. "Vehicles came to pick you up, and you even got a free meal," said Tara, who lives in a village not far away from Siem Reap.

Many Cambodians still remember the Khmer Rouge era, which ended over 30 years ago. It is estimated that during the ruling by the Khmer Rouge, which lasted 44 months, anywhere between 400,000 and 3 million people, out of a population of less than 8 million, died of hunger, forced labor, disease, torture, political persecution, or from other unnatural reasons. The Khmer Rouge is still a frequent topic in Cambodian and other Southeast Asian media.

Khmer group advocates school-based care for children of refugees

Sept. 27, 2012

HealthyCal.org

By Robin UrevichCalifornia Health Report

Trauma passed on through next generation - ACA makes school-based care possible

At the Khmer Girls in Action summer program, some 20 teenagers – both girls and boys – chatted in small groups or lounged on traditional Cambodian straw mats at Houghton Park in North Long Beach on a hot July afternoon. It was like summer camp, with a cause.

They were preparing to hit the streets, with health surveys and clipboards to bolster their case for establishing health centers at three Long Beach high schools.

KGA, an activist youth organization aimed at developing leadership among young men and women, wants better health care for high school students and their families, access to pregnancy testing and contraception and help with their community's overwhelming mental health issues, which they chalk up to the torture and deprivation many of their parents experienced at the hands of the Khmer Rouge and their later life as refugees in a strange new country.

Chinese FM meets Cambodian, Sudanese, Algerian officials on bilateral ties

Xinhua | 2012-9-27
By Agencies

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met Wednesday with top officials from Cambodia, Sudan and Algeria and exchanged views on bilateral ties on the sidelines of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly.

In his meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Nam hong, Yang said China and Cambodia have been enjoying long-time friendship.

"China is willing to work with Cambodia to keep the momentum of mutual visits between high-ranking officials, promote trade and economic cooperation, step up cooperation and coordination in regional and international affairs, and further increase the development level of bilateral relations," he said.

Cambodia proud of close ties with China: Deputy PM

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 26, 2012 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is very proud of excellent relationship with China and believes that the ties will be further enhanced in the future, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, said Wednesday evening.

"Our two governments and peoples are very proud that our relation has been strengthened and upgraded to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation in recent years," he said during the celebration of the 63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China (Oct.1, 1949- Oct 1, 2012).

The event was attended by some 300 people, including Cambodian senior government officials, foreign diplomats, Chinese businessmen and Chinese residing in Cambodia.

Foreign tourists to Cambodia likely to reach 3.3 million in 2012

Xinhua | 2012-9-27
By Agencies

Cambodia is expected to receive 3.3 million foreign tourists this year, a 15 percent rise year-on-year, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday.

"The country's cultural and eco-tourism has seen remarkable development, there is steady growth from year to year," he said in a message to mark the 33rd World Tourism Day. "This truly demonstrates that Cambodia has peace, political stability, security and safety, better infrastructures, clean resorts and good services."

He said last year tourism industry attracted 2.88 million foreign visitors, earning $1.9 billion, equivalent to 12 percent of the nation's GDP.

Boeung Kak Lake and Borei Keila residents petition donor group which meets in Cambodiaអ្នកបឹងកក់និងបុរីកីឡាដាក់ញត្តិទៅប្រទេសម្ចាស់ជំនួយជួយអន្តរាគមន៍

ដោយ វិជ័យ អានន្ទ 2012-09-26 Radio Free Asia

អ្នកភូមិបឹងកក់ និងអ្នកភូមិបុរីកីឡា ជាង ១០០នាក់ នាំគ្នាយកញត្តិទៅជូនប្រទេសម្ចាស់ជំនួយ សុំឲ្យប្រទេសទាំងនោះ ជួយធ្វើកិច្ចអន្តរាគមន៍ទៅរដ្ឋាភិបាល ឲ្យដោះលែងសកម្មជនតវ៉ាដីធ្លីទាំងពីរនាក់របស់ពួកគេ គឺលោកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា សកម្មជននៅតំបន់បឹងកក់ និងលោកស្រី ទឹម សាក់មុន្នី សកម្មជននៅតំបន់បុរីកីឡា។

RFA/Vichey Anandh

សកម្មភាពអ្នកបឹងកក់ តវ៉ាសុំប្រទេសម្ចាស់ជំនួយធ្វើអន្តរាគមន៍ ឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាដីធ្លី និងបញ្ហាឃុំខ្លួនអ្នកតំណាងរបស់ពួកគេ នៅមុខក្រុមប្រឹក្សាអភិវឌ្ឍន៍កម្ពុជា ក្បែរវត្តភ្នំ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៦ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១២។

អ្នកទាំងពីរនាក់ ត្រូវសាលាដំបូងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ សម្រេចឃុំខ្លួន កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៤ និង៥ កញ្ញា។ ក្រុមអ្នកតវ៉ា បានសុំឲ្យប្រទេសម្ចាស់ជំនួយទាំងនោះ ជំរុញរដ្ឋាភិបាល ដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាដីធ្លីតំបន់បឹងកក់ និងគោរពកិច្ចសន្យាសង់អគារពីរខ្នងបន្ថែម នៅតំបន់បុរីកីឡា ឲ្យពួកគាត់។

Kem Sokha: The strategy of the Cambodian National Rescue Party លោក កឹម សុខា ៖ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្របក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8cqNe3QSy4&feature=player_embedded

លោក កឹម សុខា៖ បក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិនឹងទាមទារកោះត្រល់ជាសម្បត្តិខ្មែរវិញ… តើយកមកវិញ តាមការធ្វើសង្រ្គាម ឬច្បាប់?

មេដឹកនាំគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ អះអាងថា នឹងទាមទារកោះត្រល់ពីវៀតណាម មកជាកម្មសិទ្ធិខ្មែរវិញ បើគណបក្សនេះ ឈ្នះ ការបោះឆ្នោតជ្រើសរើសសមាជិកសភាអាណត្តិទី៥ ឆ្នាំ២០១៣។ លោក កឹម សុខាអះអាងបែបនេះនៅក្នុងវេ ទិការជាមួយ ពលរដ្ឋនៅខេត្តកំពត។ អានអត្ថបទដើម ទីនេះ

តើយកមកវិញតាមការធ្វើសង្រ្គាម ឬច្បាប់? នេះជារឿងមួយដែលបក្សប្រជាជនជាពិសេស ហ៊ុន សែន តែងតែ និយាយជាញឹកញាប់មកមកបំភ័យនិងគម្រាមខ្មែរថា បើអ្នកណាចង់ យកដីកម្ពុជាក្រោមឬកោះត្រល់មកវិញខ្លួននឹងធ្វើក្តាម្ឈូសទុកឲ្យ។
តាមពិតវាជាសំដីមនុស្សគ្មានមនសិការស្នេហាជាតិទេ ព្រោះថាការ តវ៉ាយកមកវិញគឺយើងមិនចាំបាច់ត្រូវការធ្វើសង្រ្គាមទេ។ យើងមាន តុលាការអន្តរជាតិ ជាអ្នកធ្វើកិច្ចការនេះបាន។ យើងប្រយុទ្ធគ្នានៅទីនោះ ដោយផ្អែកលើមូលដ្នានច្បាប់រៀងៗខ្លួន។

Land protestors lobby foreign donors

Residents from Borei Keila and Boeng Kok protest out of Council for Development Cambodia where government officials and development partners were meeting

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Residents from two property development sites protested Wednesday outside the Council for the Development of Cambodia where government officials and development partners were meeting.

The residents including children asked foreign donors to ask the government about their evictions from Borei Keila and Boeung Kok as well as the fate of two women protestors detained for attempted violence and incitement.

In a letter, they demanded land titles for 60 families and claimed 12.44 hectares of land.

Meeting of the Development Partner Coordination Committee

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - The World Bank urged the Cambodian government Wednesday to accelerate reforms while taking a participatory approach to its National Strategic Development Plan.

Speaking at a meeting of the Development Partner Coordination Committee, World Bank Country Director Annette Dixon congratulated the government on its current development plan from 2009 to 2013.

"The country successfully overcame both the 2009 global downturn and the 2011 flood and has managed to sustain high economic growth, reduce poverty and improve critical health and education indicators," she said.

Dixon noted that the government now aims "to build the necessary foundations of a middle income country.

NGOs Push Donors on Rights

Radio Free Asia

2012-09-25

They say donors must ensure aid goes to strengthening democracy and human rights in Cambodia.

RFA

Cambodia's NGO community meets in Phnom Penh to discuss recommendations to the country's aid donors, Sept. 25, 2012.

More than 100 nongovernmental organizations gathered in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday, calling on donor countries to make further aid conditional on government reforms for a more transparent electoral process and efficient judicial system.

They made the call ahead of a key meeting on Wednesday between donors and the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, which has been accused of human rights abuses.

[Thailand's] KBank sees potential for bancassurance in Laos, Cambodia

By CHAMNAN NOISAMRAN

THE NATION

September 27, 2012

Kasikornbank aims to expand its bancassurance business into neighbouring countries after finding that customers in Laos and Cambodia incur higher medical expenses.

Pakorn Partanapat, executive vice president, said that the bank has prepared business plans to cope with the Asean Economic Community (AEC), and bancassurance is one of its focused areas because it generates higher fee income.

The bank found that health insurance could respond to the needs of foreign customers, especially the people of Laos and Cambodia, because medical services in Thailand are better than in other countries.

At present, the Office Insurance Commission (OIC) requires the policy language must be in Thai. However, the OIC plans to allow insurers to add international languages to serve the AEC. The bank plans to add the Laotian, Myanmar and Cambodian languages in its policies.

Video in KHmer of Venerable Sovath receiving, yet another Human Right price

Cambodian Monk Nominated for Martin Ennals Awards (Cambodia news in Khmer) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBIpWKhUtDk&sns=fb

Sunrise Children's Village orphans arrive to perform in [Australia's] OzAsia and meet up with sponsors

Melissa Sampson, Seiv Hong, Seiv Heang and Melanie Sampson

Adelaide sisters Melissa, left, and Melanie Sampson reunite with their Cambodian sponsor children, sisters Seiv Hong, 11, and Seiv Heang, 14, at the SA Museum. Picture: Brenton Edwards Source: adelaidenow

THEY have known little outside of poverty and heartbreak, but when 30 Cambodian children touched down in Adelaide this week they were all smiles.

By Katie Spain

The Herald Sun & adelaidenow

September 26, 2012

And none more so than sisters Siev Hong, 11, and Siev Heang Soeun, 14, who were met by the two women who have sponsored them for much of their young lives, twins Melissa and Melanie Sampson.

The 30 youngsters, including the girls' 16-year-old-brother Rotana, are here with Sunrise Children's Village orphanages to perform as part of OzAsia Festival's world premiere, Cambodia Sun Rising, at the Space Theatre from September 27-29.

The girls will be joined by 16-year-old-brother Rotana and 27 fellow Sunrise performers.

The Morphett Vale-based Sampson sisters will chaperone the children during their stay this week.

Tears flowed and hugs were exchanged as the two sets of sisters reunited at Adelaide Airport.

"We're not just sponsors, we're family," said Melanie.

Hun Sen reiterates that Cambodian territory is bigger than 181,035 km2 លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បញ្ជាក់ជាថ្មីថាផ្ទៃដីកម្ពុជាពិតប្រាកដគឺធំជាង១៨១.០៣៥គីឡូម៉ែត្រក្រឡា

Hun Sen reiterates that Cambodian territory is bigger than 181,035 km2.

ដោយ វណ្ណ វិចារ 2012-09-25 Radio Free Asia

លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បំភ្លឺពីបញ្ហាព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-វៀតណាម កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៩ សីហា ដោយលើកឡើងថា ផ្ទៃក្រឡាប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ពិតប្រាកដធំជាង ១៨១.០៣៥គីឡូម៉ែត្រក្រឡា ដូចនេះរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា នឹងពិចារណាធ្វើវិសោធនកម្មរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ។

RFA/Sok Serey

១៥-មិថុនា-២០១១៖ លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្លែងក្នុងឱកាសចែកសញ្ញាបត្រដល់និស្សិតនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យ វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រសុខាភិបាល រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។

បន្ទាប់ពីការថ្លែងយ៉ាងដូចនេះ មានអ្នកនយោបាយ និងអ្នកវិភាគមួយចំនួន បានបង្ហាញចំណាប់អារម្មណ៍របស់ខ្លួនជុំវិញបញ្ហាធ្វើវិសោធនកម្ម រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ។ ប៉ុន្តែនៅថ្ងៃទី២៥ កញ្ញា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានប្រតិកម្មយ៉ាងខ្លាំងចំពោះការលើកឡើងរបស់អ្នកនយោបាយម្នាក់ដែល លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ហៅឈ្មោះថា ជាកូនចារកម្ម។

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

By Meas Sokchea

Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen once again lashed out at Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay (pictured) yesterday, calling him an “ignorant man or stupid” in response to criticism of the premier’s wish to change the constitution to reflect the government’s updated information on the size of Cambodia.

“There is someone, a spy, who said that … it is not necessary to amend the constitution. He is very stupid,” the Prime Minister said yesterday during a speech given at a graduation ceremony held on Koh Pich island, rehashing an oft-repeated claim made by the premier that the opposition lawmaker once acted as his spy.

Bring on the one-horse race: PM [In Khmer we say "Jiss Sess Leng Dai"- riding a horse without holding the reins]

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

By Vong Sokheng

Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at a graduation ceremony on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

In a speech at a graduation ceremony on Koh Pich yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen mocked – without naming – the newly formed Cambodian National Rescue Party for its threat earlier this week to boycott upcoming national elections.

The CNRP has said that it will refuse to engage in next year’s general election if the National Election Committee is not reformed.

“There is a political party refusing to participate in the 2013 elections,” Hun Sen said, noting that an election without opposition would be “easy”, and that his ruling Cambodian People’s Party would gladly accept their share of the votes.

“They threaten to boycott the elections, because they may have a shortage of budget,” he added.

Hong Kong tycoon offers HK$500 million bounty to marry off lesbian daughterជូន៦៥លានដុល្លារដល់បុរសណាដែលអាចអោយកូនស្រីខ្លួនរៀបការជាមួយបាន

ថ្ងៃទី 26 កញ្ញា 2012, CEN

លោកសេស៊ីល ចាវអះអាងថាកូនស្រីអាយុ៣៣ឆ្នាំរបស់លោកនៅតែនៅលីវ.

South China Morning Post

A Hong Kong tycoon has offered a HK$500 million (US$65million) “marriage bounty” to any man who can win the heart of his lesbian daughter, a report said Wednesday.
Cecil Chao announced the financial reward of HK$500 million after his daughter, Gigi, married her same-sex partner of seven years in France earlier this year, the South China Morning Post reported.
“I don’t mind whether he is rich or poor. The important thing is that he is generous and kind hearted,” 76-year-old Chao was quoted as saying.
“Gigi is a very good woman with both talents and looks. She is devoted to her parents, is generous and does volunteer work,” he added.

Comfrel sees 'unusual' activities in voter registration

PHNOM PENH, 26 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - The Committee for Free and Fair Elections (Comfrel) says it has noticed "unusual" activities in voter registration for next year's elections.

Such activities include commune clerks coming late for work, failing to close last year's name lists and registering names without voters being present, a statement said.

Cambodia Aims for Offshore Production Next Year

September 26, 2012,

The Wall Street Journal

By JACOB GRONHOLT-PEDERSEN

The Cambodian government expects U.S. oil major Chevron Corp. CVX -0.73% to begin developing the country's first offshore oil field early next year, and hopes the nation will become a regional hot spot for oil and gas investment, a government official said Wednesday.

Cambodia has vast untapped oil and gas resources both on land and offshore, but development has been slow as the country has emerged from the genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge and decades of war.

Chevron discovered commercial resources at Block A off Cambodia's coast, raising hopes that oil revenue would soon flow into the coffers of one of the world's poorest countries. The company has drilled 18 wells at the block, but reaching terms for developing the field has been slow.

"Cambodia does not yet have all the relevant laws and regulations in place," Sok Khavan, acting director-general of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority, said in an interview. "We are very close to finalizing this discussion and hope to have an agreement by the end of the year, so that development can start [next year]."

Cambodia’s Landless Class

By LUKE HUNT

The New York Times

September 26, 2012,

PHNOM PENH — In a union office for garment workers on the outskirts of the capital on a recent afternoon, Tith Srey Mom and her sister Mach were pondering what to do next. After losing a 10-year legal battle to keep their 200-square-meter plot of land, they were being evicted. All legal avenues had been exhausted. All they could do was wait for the police to come and forcibly remove them.

Cristóbal Schmal

The sisters are from Chrolang Village, about 30 miles south of Phnom Penh. Tith Srey Mom’s grandparents assumed control of their land in 1979 as the Khmer Rouge were retreating. The family tilled the patch of dirt for decades, growing rice to subsidize their meager incomes.

Then in 2002 the police arrived and told them to leave, claiming that the sisters no longer owned it. No one among the 32 families in Chrolang had ever heard of Tep Menon, but the police said he was now the owner of the plot. And so began the sisters’ decade-long fight in the courts to keep their land.

Cambodia: Government-Donor Coordination Committee Meeting to address human rights violations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2012

To: Participants of Government-Donor Coordination Committee Meeting

We, the undersigned international and regional human rights organizations, write to you to convey our deepest concern regarding the increasing human rights violations in Cambodia. In light of the Government-Donor Coordination Committee (GDCC) meeting on September 26, 2012, we urge the international donor community, which finances almost half of the Cambodian national budget, to take timely and decisive action regarding the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). Specifically, we urge you to ensure that international aid strengthens democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Cambodia, and that all charges against journalist Mam Sonando and human rights defenders Yorm Bopha and Tim Sakmony are withdrawn and they are released immediately.

PHNOM PENH,26 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - Citibank has offered to underwrite a sovereign bond issue by Cambodia and has long-term plans to establish a branch in the country, according to Live Trading News.

The report said Darren Buckley, country head of the US bank's operations in Thailand, met with Economy and Finance Minister Keat Chhon on Tuesday afternoon.

Mey Vann, head of the financial industry department at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, was quoted as saying that that he urged Cambodia to conduct a sovereign bond issue.

Cambodia Official: Expect Chevron to Start Development of Block A Next Year

Published September 26, 2012

Dow Jones Newswires

The Cambodian government expects to be able to issue a license for offshore Block A to U.S. oil major Chevron Corp. (CVX) by the end of the year, the acting director-general of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority said Wednesday.

Chevron discovered commercial oil resources off the coast of the Cambodia in 2010, but is still in talks with the Cambodian government about the terms for developing the block.

"Cambodia does not yet have all the relevant laws and regulations in place," Mr. Sok Khavan told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview. "We are very close to finalizing this discussion and hope to have an agreement by the end of the year, so that development can start [next year]."

Sam Rainsy's and Kem Sokha's Visit to Sydney, Australia

Vietnam asked Cambodian king to recognise new border demarcations វៀតណាមស្នើព្រះមហាក្សត្រខ្មែរទទួលស្គាល់ការបោះបង្គោលព្រំដែន

ដោយ សុ ជីវី 2012-09-26 Radio Free Asia

ប្រធានាធិបតី និងនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីវៀតណាម បានទទួលស្វាគមន៍ដំណើរទស្សនកិច្ចផ្លូវរដ្ឋទៅកាន់ប្រទេសវៀតណាម របស់ព្រះមហាក្សត្រខ្មែរ ព្រះបាទ នរោត្តម សីហមុនី។

RFA/Ayuthyea. A Vietnamese leader greets Cambodian King Sihamoni during his visit to Vietnam.

៩-វិច្ឆិកា-០៩: ព្រះមហាក្សត្រខ្មែរ ព្រះបាទបរមនាថ នរោត្ដម សីហមុនី យាងចូលរួមជាអធិបតីភាពក្នុងទិវាបុណ្យឯករាជ្យជាតិខួបទី៥៦ នៅវិមានឯករាជ្យ នារាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។

ក្នុងជំនួបជាផ្លូវការនោះ នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីវៀតណាម បានស្វែងរកការគាំទ្រពីព្រះមហាក្សត្រខ្មែរចំពោះដំណើរការបោះបង្គោល ព្រំដែនរវាងកម្ពុជា និងវៀតណាម។

អ្នកឃ្លាំមើលកម្ពុជា ទូលស្នើព្រះមហាក្សត្រព្រះតម្រិះពិចារណាអោយបានដិតដល់នៅមុនពេល ឆ្លើយតបចំពោះការលើកឡើងរបស់វៀតណាម ដែលចង់បានការគាំទ្ររបស់ព្រះអង្គទៅលើដំណើរការបោះបង្គោលព្រំដែន រវាងកម្ពុជា និងវៀតណាម។

NGOs urge reform ahead of aid meet [Donors returned, so it's time to put pressures on Hun Sen]

Wednesday, 26 September 2012
By Claire Knox
Phnom Penh Post

People from the Boeung Kak and Borei Keila communities demonstrate near Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Tuesday, Sept 25, 2012 for the release of two jailed villagers. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

More than 100 NGOs and human rights groups yesterday urged foreign donors to flag issues regarding land policies, democratic processes and human rights during today’s Government-Development Partner Coordinating Committee (GDCC) meeting.

While the high-level aid conference was once held every six months, today’s meeting marks the first GDCC since April last year after the government indefinitely suspended it in August 2011.

Intended as a preparatory meeting for Cambodia’s main government and donor summit, the GDCC is generally used by the government to provide an indication of where its five-year plan is headed. That, in turn, is meant to inform donor policy in the lead-up to the Cambodian Development Cooperation Forum (CDCF), in which donors typically reveal where aid funding will be channelled and identify reforms they expect the government to tackle.

A Change of Guard

Friday, 28 September 2012

Thursday, 27 September 2012

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

By JACOB GRONHOLT-PEDERSEN