Navy intercepts Cambodian hardwood smugglers

April 28, 2013 

The Nation 

Chon Buri -- The Thai Navy has seized a Cambodian boat and arrested four Cambodian crew members for allegedly trying to smuggle Bt10 million worth of processed wood, belonging to a protected tree species.

The arrests were made early on Sunday morning.

HTMS Chao Phraya from the First Naval Area spotted the suspicious boat off Rayong's coast near the Jasmine oil field in the Gulf of Thailand.

The boat tried to speed away, prompting HTMS Chao Phraya to take chase and arrest the four Cambodian crewmembers.

Navy officers boarded the vessel and found 296 pieces of Payung rosewood, a native hardwood tree that is protected against logging. The pieces were hidden in the frozen storage chambers of the fishing boat.

The Nation

Attracting More Foreign Investment in Cambodia ទូតអាមេរិក៖ ទាក់ទាញ​វិនិយោគ​បរទេស​ថែមទៀត ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា

By William E. Todd, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia 

I’d like to begin my column this week by thanking the many Cambodians who have sent me their condolences regarding the horrific bombings last week in Boston, Massachusetts.  As a person with deep family roots in the Boston area, the tragedy hit home for me, and like you, my heart goes out to all who lost a loved one, and I wish those injured a speedy recovery.  As President Obama said, we owe a tremendous debt to law enforcement professionals for swiftly apprehending those believed to be responsible for this senseless act.  Through it all, Boston, just like the rest of the United States, remains resilient and committed to the values that define our republic.

For this week’s column, I would like to answer a question that touches on the U.S.-Cambodia trade relationship.  I received a question from Sereyvath who asked, “Why doesn’t the United States lower import duties on Cambodian textiles?”

Textiles are Cambodia’s primary export, so I understand the interest in expanding this sector.  The United States purchases over 40 percent of Cambodia’s textile exports, which constitute about 20 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).  Approximately 150,000 Cambodian jobs depend on these exports to the United States.  In addition to the economic benefits of its exports, Cambodia can stand to diversify its economy by creating an environment for more higher-paying, skilled-labor positions.  This type of job creation in developing countries usually requires foreign investment.  According to some reports, U.S. companies have over $5 trillion in cash sitting idle, waiting to be invested.  If Cambodia could attract just a fraction of those reserves as foreign direct investment, its economic prospects would improve dramatically.

How can Cambodia compete with other developing countries for U.S. foreign direct investment?  The key to increasing investment is creating a more attractive business environment.  Cambodia has made progress in many areas, such as publishing government fees online, but as a small country in a highly competitive region, Cambodia can offer a better investment environment than its neighbors.  It reminds me of the strategy by Avis Car Rental, the second-largest U.S. car rental company.  When asked how his company could compete with its much larger competitor, Avis’s president said, “We try harder.”

Dispute over Preah Vihear Temple is taken up, threatening to revive Thai nationalistic fervor

By Pavin Chachavalpongpun

Special To The Japan Times

Apr 28, 2013

KYOTO – From April 15-19, the hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the Thai-Cambodian dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple took place in the Netherlands. Cambodia made its opening argument on April 15 followed by Thailand two days later. Each side then made additional arguments. The court retired after the April 19 session, and is expected to give its verdict by October.

Cambodia has petitioned the ICJ to interpret its 1962 ruling, and decide whether it includes territory surrounding the temple. The ICJ awarded the temple itself to Cambodia, but did not dictate ownership of the area around the temple itself which is claimed by both countries.

Although the ruling was reached in 1962, the conflict over Preah Vihear has continued to be politicized, specifically in the context of Thailand’s domestic politics. To undermine the Thaksin-backed regime of Samak Sundaravej in 2008, the royalist “yellow shirts” exploited the Preah Vihear issue to achieve their purpose.

Back then, Prime Minister Samak offered his support for Cambodia’s bid to have Preah Vihear listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. His enemies accused him of exchanging the overlapping area within the temple vicinity for Thaksin’s personal interests — an allegation that has been proven groundless.

When Abhisit Vejjajiva became prime minister in late 2008, relations between Thailand and Cambodia gravely deteriorated. This was because Abhisit once lent his support to the royalist yellow shirts in attacking Cambodia. The intense relations led to a series of armed clashes along the common border. These have become ones of the most severe armed clashes in the two countries’ recent memories. That was when Cambodia decided to send the verdict back to the ICJ for reinterpretation.

But in the past year, Thai relations with Cambodia have noticeably improved. Thailand’s election of July 2011 significantly changed the country’s political landscape. The Yingluck Shinawatra premiership was immediately celebrated in Phnom Penh. Her much-publicized visit to Phnom Penh on Sept. 15, 2011, symbolized a thaw in the Thai-Cambodian relationship. Thaksin Shinawatra followed up with his own visit to Cambodia in September 2011, helping to pave the way for a better relationship.

Cambodia's oil imports down 12 pct in Q1

PHNOM PENH, April 27, 2013 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia imported 412,190 tons of petroleum in the first quarter of 2013, a 12 percent decrease compared with the 471,000 tons it imported at the same period last year, the commerce ministry's report showed on Saturday.
During the January-March period this year, the country spent 397 million U.S. dollars to buy the petroleum, down 15 percent from 469 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year, it said.
Currently, the country totally purchases petroleum from Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand as its seabed's oil and gas have not been exploited.
On April 8, during the official visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to China, Hun Sen and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang witnessed a signing on a Memorandum of Understanding on the 5 million tons oil refinery project among China Development Bank, China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, China Perfect Machinery Industry Corporation and Cambodian Petrochemical Company.

Cambodian Americans Celebrate New Year, But Honor Grim History

By DOUALY XAYKAOTHAO

April 27, 2013
Listen to the audio here.
 

On Saturday, Cambodian-Americans in Southern California are celebrating their new year festival with cultural dances, day-long picnics and visits to local Buddhist temples. But one group is also using the occasion to educate a new generation about the Khmer Rouge genocide.

 

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Today in Long Beach, California, Cambodian-Americans are celebrating their new year with traditional foods, dance and songs. But the festivities also coincide with the anniversary of the Cambodian genocide. During the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror between 1975 and 1979, cities were emptied and nearly one-fourth of the population was executed, starved or worked to death. Doualy Xaykaothao reports.

DOUALY XAYKAOTHAO, BYLINE: The Communist Party of Kampuchea officially took control of Cambodia 38 years ago during Khmer New Year. The Pol Pot regime eventually killed approximately 1.7 million people. Bryant Ben is president of the Killing Fields Memorial Center in Long Beach.

BRYANT BEN: A lot of survivors here - a thousand people, a thousand story, and each story, it's very, very personal to each family. And I urge any survivor to share that experience.

XAYKAOTHAO: A conversation with his son is especially hard.

BEN: He said I never see my grandpa on your side, on his mommy's side. Simple answer is pass away, but then they question is how he pass away. That very difficult for me how he died.

XAYKAOTHAO: The Khmer Rouge killed Ben's father, his three brothers and two sisters.

BEN: I remember everything. I can see the picture when I'm talking to you.

XAYKAOTHAO: For Ben and other survivors in his group, New Year is about helping one another cope but also it's about not forgetting those who died and teaching younger Khmer Americans about their history.

(SOUNDBITE OF BUDDHIST BLESSING)

XAYKAOTHAO: Over at Long Beach City College, a Buddhist monk offers a New Year blessing for both the living and the dead. It's an event called Courage to Remember, organized by Sara Pol-Lim of the United Cambodian Community.

Golden memories . . . អនុស្សាវរីយ៍មាស . . .

សោភ័ណមាសបង

Chamka Somroung - Eng Nary

Rous Sneah Odom- Keo Chan Somphoss & Ek Side 

'The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.'

 -Pablo Picasso

The ruling CPP coerced people to join the party គណបក្សប្រជាជន (យួន) នៅតែដើរបោកប្រាស់ និងបង្ខំប្រជជនឲ្យចូលជាសមាជិកបក្សខ្លួន

People were sent with the cap and T-shirt that bear the CPP party logo as well as an invitation letter to join the party with their personal details already filled in. (រូបភាព៖ មួក អាវ និងលិខិតអញ្ជើញឲ្យទៅចូលបក្សដោយមិនដឹងខ្លួន និងមានលក្ខណៈបង្ខំដោយប្រយោល)

A Thai company asks Ly Yong Phat to help obtain a licence and to facilitate the (illegal) export of 500 tons of woodchips to Thailand through O'Smach town លី យ៉ុងផាត់ ក្រៅពីប្លន់ដីប្រជាជនគឺចូលដៃបំផ្លាញព្រៃឈើថែមទៀតជាមួយថៃ?

Assessing the Relevance of Southeast Asia’s Monarchies

By Mong Palatino 
The Diplomat
April 23, 2013

Southeast Asia has four monarchies, each with its own unique traits. Brunei is an absolute monarchy, while Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia have the constitutional form. The history of these monarchies, including their future prospects, is discussed in the March 2013 issue of the Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia. The essays in the volume give a fascinating overview of how these monarchies survived colonialism and the transition towards democracy.

In Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has been the absolute ruler since 1984. Professor Naimah Talib argues that the Sultan successfully wields centralized authority by promoting the ideology of Melayu Islam Beraja or Malay Islamic Monarchy. To accommodate the rising middle class, the Sultan welcomed educated elites into his government. To further strengthen his legitimacy, he used the country’s oil revenues (accounting for 70 percent of its GDP) to implement generous welfare programs which allow Bruneians to enjoy one of Asia’s highest standards of living. What’s more, there is no personal income tax in Brunei.  

Constitutional amendments were introduced in 2004 to pave the way for so-called democratic reforms, but they only gave the Sultan greater powers. A Legislative Council was formed, but its members were all appointed by the Sultan.

Meanwhile, Cambodia’s past half century was dominated by one figure, Khmer King Norodom Sihanouk. He was King for two terms and abdicated twice. Throughout Cambodia’s tumultuous modern history, he served as head of state, premier, and even became a guerrilla leader who fought for his country’s independence. There was no Cambodian monarchy from 1970 to 1993, but Sihanouk became King again and continued to be a well-liked figure until his death last October.

According to Professor Charnvit Kasetsiri, Sihanouk was the first King in Cambodian history who made direct contact with his subjects, which probably explains his enduring popularity among the masses.  Sihanouk’s charisma could benefit his son, King Norodom Sihamoni, and ensure the continuity of the Cambodian monarchy in the 21st century.

Thailand and Cambodia submit maps backing cases on Preah Vihear 'vicinity'

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation  
April 27, 2013

The red part of this map shows the area of Preah Vihear Temple and its vicinity as determined by the Thai cabinet in 1962, following a World Court verdict that the temple was under Cambodia

Thailand and Cambodia yesterday submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) maps and graphics to demonstrate the area surrounding Preah Vihear Temple, in response to a question raised last week by Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, after the hearing on the temple's "vicinity".

Cambodian officials had said they defined the temple area in accordance with a line indicated on the French Annex I map of 1:200,000 scale, but declined to say how large it is.

"If we want to know about the vicinity of the temple [Preah Vihear] it is clearly defined by the Annex I map," Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters after the court hearing last week.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a map proposed by the Foreign Ministry to demonstrate to the court the area around Preah Vihear. The map has not been made public, but military officers and officials at the ministry said that the area delineated corresponded with the 1962 Thai cabinet resolution on the issue.

Thailand and Cambodia have been at loggerheads over the location of the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear and its territory for decades. The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the temple was situated on territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia. Under the ruling, Thailand was obliged to withdraw its troops from the temple and the "vicinity".

However, the ruling provided no details on the territory that comprised the vicinity surrounding the temple. The Thai cabinet therefore decided that 0.28 square kilometres of territory made up the vicinity of the historic site. Thailand then informed the ICJ that it believed the 0.28 square kilometres was the area from which it should withdraw its troops.

A biography of former Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh ប្រវត្តិ សឺង ង៉ុកថាញ់

ដោយ៖ ថាច់ ប្រីជា គឿន
Wednesday 24 April 2013 - Free Press Magazine. Read Son Ngoc Thanh's biography in English here.

សឺង ង៉ុកថាញ់ (១៩០៨ -១៩៧៧)

វីរបណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុកថាញ់ (ភាសាអង់គ្លេសៈSon Ngoc Thanh , ភាសាយួនៈ Sơn Ngọc Thành)កើតឆ្នាំ ១៩០៨ ស្លាប់ ១៩៧៧ នៅក្នុងគុកជីវ៉ា (Chí Hòa) របស់បក្សកុម្មុយនិស្តយួន ។ជាអតីតនា យករដ្ឋមន្រីខ្មែរឆ្នាំ ១៩៤៥ និង ១៩៧២ ,ជាអតីតប្រមុខចលនាខ្មែរសេរី និង កងកម្លាំងពិសេសខ្មែរ និងជាអ្នកបានបង្កើតសារព័ត៌ មានជាភាសាខ្មែរមុនដំបូងនៅកម្ពុជាឈ្មោះ«នគរវត្ត»នាឆ្នាំ ១៩៣៦ ។

ព័ត៌មាន​មួយ​ចំនួន
ឈ្មោះ	សឺង ង៉ុកថាញ់
ថ្ងៃកំនើត	ថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ១៤ កើត ខែមិគសិរ ឆ្នាំ រកា ឯកស័ក ព.ស.២៤៥២ ត្រូវនឹងថ្ងៃទី ០៧ ខែធ្នូ គ.ស.១៩០៨
ស្រុកកំណើត​	ភូមិគគីរក្រៅ​ ស្រុកកំពង់ធំ ខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង(បច្ចុប្បន្នយួន)
ឪពុក	សឺង ណែវ អភិបាលខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង
ម្តាយ	ថាច់ ធីតុប
បង​ប្អូន​	ប្រុសស្រី​7នាក់ និង​ 3នាក់​ទៀត​កូន​​ម្តាយ​ដើម​
ភរិយា	ឡាំ ធីអ៊ុក(កូនស្រីទី១០)
ឪពុក​ភរិយា​	ឡាំ ទន់ មហាសេដ្ឋី
ម្តាយ​ភរិយា​	ត្រឹង ធី ស៊ុក
កូន​ប្រុស​ស្រី​​	៤នាក់
ស្លាប់​​​	ថ្ងៃទី ០៨ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ ១៩៧៧វេលាម៉ោងៈ១១ និង ៤០ នាទី(អាយុៈ៦៩ ឆ្នាំ)
កន្លែង​ស្លាប់​​​	ក្នុងគុកជីវ៉ា

ប្រវត្តិ

បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ កើតថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ១៤ កើត ខែមិគសិរ ឆ្នាំ រកា ឯកស័ក ព.ស.២៤៥២ ត្រូវនឹងថ្ងៃទី ០៧ ខែធ្នូ គ.ស.១៩០៨ នៅ ភូមិគគីរក្រៅ ស្រុកកំពង់ធំ ខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង (បច្ចុប្បន្នយួនៈẤp Kỳ La xã Hòa Thuận huyện Châu Thành tỉnh Trà Vinh)

សម្ព័ន្ធភាពគ្រួសារ

បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ ជាបុត្ររបស់លោកអភិបាលខេត្តព្រះត្រ ពាំង សឺង ណែវ និងលោកស្រី ថាច់ ធី តុប ។ បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ មានបងប្អូនប្រុសស្រី រួមផ្ទៃច្រើននាក់ដូចជា៖

1. លោក សឺង ថាយ ស៊ុន (បងប្រុស)
2. លោក សឺង ថាយ ហ្វៀន (បងប្រុស)
3. អ្នកស្រី សឺង ធី ចាវ (បងស្រី)
4. អ្នកស្រី សឺង ធី សឹម (បងស្រី)
5. បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ (រូបលោក)
6. លោក សឺង ថាយ ង្វៀង (ប្អូនប្រុស)
7. អ្នកស្រី សឺង ធី ថែម (ប្អូនស្រី)

លោកយាយ សឺង ធីថែម កើតឆ្នាំ ១៩១១ ត្រូវជាប្អូនស្រីរបស់បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់​សព្វ​ថ្ងៃ​កំពុង​រស់​នៅ​នា​ទីក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ ។

ក្រៅពីនេះ បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ នៅមាន បងប្រុសស្រីរួមឱពុកម្តាយទីទៃ ៣ នាក់ ទៀត ត្រូវជាកូនរបស់ ប្រពន្ធទី ១ នៃលោកអភិបាលខេត្ត សឺងណែវ ។ ក្រោយពីប្រ ពន្ធទី ១ មានជម្ងឺស្លាប់ ទើបលោកអភិបាលខេត្តសឺងណែវបានរៀបមង្គលការជាមួយលោកយាយ ថាច់ ធី តុប ត្រូវជា ម្តាយរបស់បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ ។

នៅថ្ងៃទី ១៥ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ ១៩៣៨ បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ បានរៀប អាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍នឹងលោកស្រី ឡាំ ធីអ៊ុក (អក្សរយួនៈLâmThị Út អង់គ្លេសៈ Lam Thi Ut) ត្រូវជាកូនស្រីទី ១០ របស់មហាសេដ្ឋី ឡាំ ទន់ (១៨៦៣_១៩៣៩)(ភាសាយួនៈ LâmTòan, អង់គ្លេសៈLam Toan) និងលោកយាយ ត្រឹង ធី ស៊ុក(ភាសាយួនៈTrần Thị Xúc , អង់គ្លេសៈTran Thi Xuc)នៅភូមិបាស្រែ(ក្បែរស្រះគូ) ខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង ។

លោកតាមហាសេដ្ឋី ឡាំ ទន់ (១៨៦៣ _១៩៣៩) និង លោកយាយ ត្រឹងធី ស៊ុក នៅភូមិ បាស្រែ (ក្បែរស្រះគូ) ស្រុកកំពង់ធំ (Châu Thành) ខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង (Trà Vinh) ដែលត្រូវជាម្តាយឪពុករបស់លោកស្រី ឡាំ ធី អ៊ុក ជាភរិយារបស់បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ មានកូនប្រុសស្រី ចំនួន ១២ នាក់គឺ៖

1. ឡាំ ធី សែន (ស្រី)
2. ឡាំ ធី ឡែន (ស្រី)
3. ឡាំ និញ (ប្រុស
4. ឡាំ ធី យឿន (ស្រី)
5. ឡាំ សឹម (ប្រុស)
6. ឡាំ ធី ញ៉ី (ស្រី)
7. ឡាំ ធី តូ (ស្រី)
8. ឡាំ ធី ទ្រឿង (ស្រី)
9. ឡាំ ធី ហាក (ស្រី)
10. ឡាំ ធី អ៊ុក (ភរិយា សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់)
11. ឡាំ ធី លន់ (ស្រី)
12. ឡាំ ថាញ់ វិញ (ប្រុស)

បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ និង លោកស្រី ឡាំ ធី​អ៊ុក មានបុត្រប្រុស ស្រីចំនួន ៤ នាក់ គឺ៖

1. សឺង ហ្វា យ៉ិន (ស្រី)
2. សឺង សេរីវុធ (ប្រុស)
3. សឺង ទី ឡាយ (ប្រុស)
4. សឺង ង៉ុក ម៉ាយ (ស្រី)

ការសិក្សាអប់រំ

បណ្ឌិត សឺង ង៉ុក ថាញ់ អាយុបាន ១១ ឆ្នាំ លោកអភិបាលខេត្តសឺង ណែវ ជាឪពុកបានស្លាប់​ចោលទុកឲ្យនៅក្រោមការបីបាច់ ថែរក្សាពីអ្នកម្តាយ​ឈ្មោះ ថាច់ ធី តុប ។ កាលនៅកុមារលោក បានរៀន​អក្សរខែ្មរនៅក្នុងវត្តសិលាជលធី(វត្តគគីរ) ស្រុកកំពង់ ធំ ខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង។ ក្រោយមកលោកយាយ ថាច់ ធី តុប បាន បញ្ជូនលោកឲ្យទៅរៀននៅសាលាបឋម​សិក្សាជាន់ដំបូង នាទីរួមខេត្តព្រះត្រពាំង និងទៅបន្ត​ការសិក្សាថ្នាក់បឋមសិក្សា បំពេញវិជ្ជា នៅសាលា ឌូដាឌឺឡាក្រេ នាទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ។ ពេលបានបញ្ចប់ ថ្នាក់បឋមសិក្សាបំពេញវិជ្ជាហើយ លោកក៏បានទៅបន្តការសិក្សា នៅទីក្រុងព្រៃនគរ ។ លុះធំពេញវ័យលោកបានទៅបន្តការសិក្សា នាទីក្រុងប៉ារិស ប្រទេស​បារាំង ផ្នែកនីតិសាស្ត្រ ។ ពេលនោះ លោក សឺង ថាយ ង្វៀង ជាប្អូនប្រុសរបស់លោកក៏បានទៅបន្ត ការសិក្សានៅប្រទេសបារាំង ជាមួយលោកផងដែរ។

ការបង្កើតសារព័ត៌មាន «នគរវត្ត» ពីឆ្នាំ ១៩៣៦ដល់ ឆ្នាំ ១៩៤២

The new face of evil: why Henry Kissinger is still relevant today

opednews.com 

http://www.opednews.com

By fred branfman (about the author)

Original article here.

 

Including ten quotes that illustrate his megalomania and indifference to the deaths of untold numbers of civilians.

Photo from wikipedia

Henry Kissinger's quote recently released by Wikileaks,"the illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer", likely brought a smile to his legions of elite media, government, corporate and high society admirers. Oh that Henry! That rapier wit! That trademark insouciance! That naughtiness! It is unlikely, however, that the descendants of his more than 6 million victims in Indochina, and Americans of conscience appalled by his murder of non-Americans, will share in the amusement. For his illegal and unconstitutional actions had real-world consequences: the ruined lives of millions of Indochinese innocents in a new form of secret, automated, amoral U.S. Executive warfare which haunts the world until today.

And his conduct raises even more fundamental questions: to what extent can leaders who act secretly ,illegally and unconstitutionally, lying to their citizenry and legislature as a matter of course, legitimately claim to represent their people? How much allegiance do citizens owe such leaders? And what does it say about America's elites that they have honored a man with so much innocent blood on his hands for the past 40 years?

Mr. Kissinger's most significant historical act was executing Richard Nixon's orders to conduct the most massive bombing campaign, largely of civilian targets, in world history. He dropped 3.7 million tons of bombs** between January 1969 and January 1973 - nearly twice the two million dropped on all of Europe and the Pacific in World War II. He secretly and illegally devastated villages throughout areas of Cambodia inhabited by a U.S. Embassy-estimated two million people; quadrupled the bombing of Laos and laid waste to the 700-year old civilization on the Plain of Jars; and struck civilian targets throughout North Vietnam - Haiphong harbor, dikes, cities, Bach Mai Hospital - which even Lyndon Johnson had avoided. His aerial slaughter helped kill, wound or make homeless an officially-estimated six million human beings**, mostly civilians who posed no threat whatsoever to U.S. national security and had committed no offense against it.

Thailand: The paradox of nationalism

Khmerization's note: The following editorial was written by Davan Long, a Khmer living in Canada, and was published by the Thai Nation newspaper. 

Bangkok, 26th April 2013 (The Nation/ANN) -- This past week, Cambodia and Thailand experienced another tense moment in their roller-coaster relationship as both presented their case on the Preah Vihear Temple dispute at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The first time the two countries took the issue to the ICJ was in 1962, and the court ruled in favor of Cambodia by nine votes to three. Following that ruling, there were several diplomatic and sporadic military clashes. The latest military stand-off occurred from 2008-2011, following Cambodia's successful move to have Preah Vihear listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the military stand-off culminated and war became imminent, Cambodia felt compelled to bring the dispute back to the ICJ, requesting the court to interpret its 1962 ruling.

Judging from a series of events taking place since the 1962 verdict, some analysts remain cautious about the prospect that the protracted dispute will be put completely to rest by the pending verdict of the court. Indeed, some Thai ultra-nationalist groups have already made clear their intention to ignore the court ruling, expected before the year end, if it is not in favor of Thailand.

Few doubt the intention and ability of these groups to ignite new tension domestically, and externally with Cambodia, if they are not satisfied with the decision. The question is how far they will go at the risk of further damaging the image and interests of their own country. Oddly enough, it is the very same image and interests they proudly claim to champion that they are hurting.

Nationalism is a well-oiled machine in Thailand, as it is in Cambodia. It is important to point out a key difference between the two. In Cambodia, the so-called nationalist view and interpretation of history with neighboring countries are practically based on numerous independent studies and documents published by credible Western scholars and researchers. Thai nationalist sentiment, on the other hand, is predominantly influenced by history books written by Thai historians, under various forms and degrees of de facto censorship.

Some Thai scholars have called for a comprehensive reform in the teaching of Thai history, especially the history of Thailand's relations with neighbors. In a recent article, "Biased Views of Neighboring Nations Must Change" in The Nation (April 20), professors Thamrongsak Petchlertana and Akkhaphong Khamkhun were candid. "The teaching … should be reformed to eradicate Thais' superiority complex and condescending attitude, mistrust and even hatred towards its closest neighbors."

Actress Ashley Bell gets close up with Cambodian elephants

By Ashley Dvorkin, Shannon Witte 
Star Traveler 
Published April 26, 2013 FoxNews.com 
 
Watch the video of the interview with Actress Ashley Bell here.

On a recent trip to Cambodia, actress Ashley Bell got to do what tourists only dream of doing: hug an elephant.

The star of the "The Last Exorcism: Part II" traveled to Asia in her role in "Love and Bananas" --a new documentary about the plight of Asian elephants in captivity.

As graduate of NYU’s Tish School of the Arts, Bell isn't afraid to embrace a variety of roles that let her strong acting chops shine. From thrillers to action adventure, and even romantic comedies, there isn’t a role this budding actress won’t take on. Now, she can add activist to her resume.  By helping to raise the profile of those who dedicate their lives to rescuing elephants – from zoos, circuses, logging facilities, and tourist attractions -- she's found a new appreciation of this part of the world.

She says this project wasn't much of a reach, because she was always surrounded by rescue dogs and cats growing up. But her time in Cambodia has opened her eyes even more to the mistreatment of elephants.

Fox 411: What did you learn in your travels?

Bell: It was absolutely remarkable. People could not have been nicer.  I, unfortunately, did learn that Cambodia is going through a very bad problem with deforestation. While we were filming the documentary, we went up in a helicopter and filmed a lot of the rain forest.  I believe 75 percent of the rain forest is being, has been, cut down.  So in working with the Cambodian Wildlife Sanctuary, they're looking to restore that rain forest, provide more jobs for local villagers so they won't need to cut down trees for money.  And, also to provide a home for rescued elephants.

Fox 411: Tell us a little more about the documentary.

Bell: "Love and Bananas" --it's in its very first stage. We got the initial filming done in Cambodia in January.  And it is about the plight of Asian elephants. These elephants have been rescued from logging facilities as working elephants, circus performing elephants, and also, tourist elephants.  A lot of tourists, when they visit, they offer elephant rides.  And, what's important to know is, elephant rides are abusive to elephants. It's not in an elephant's nature to be captive and chained and ridden, as much fun as it seems, it takes a toll on the elephants and they do suffer, and the elephants that are at the sanctuary have actually been freed of that and are now roaming the jungle where they're meant to be.

Fox 411: Were you aware of this cause before working on this film?

Sizzling Cambodia

Exploring temples, watching Filipino bands, and sampling the nightlife in Siem Reap 



By Pocholo Concepcion
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Saturday, April 27th, 2013

JACK Daniel’s Set band search winner Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus. PHOTO BY POCHOLO CONCEPCION

Siem Reap, Cambodia—First thing that hits us after coming down from the plane is the scorching temperature which makes us feel like we’re in a pressure cooker.

But before one can even complain, a female crew member in the airport graciously offers a cold, wet towel and a local delicacy—small, round candies made of brown sugar that perks up our tired bones.

THE BLUE Pumpkin cafe in the Old Market area in Siem Reap. PHOTO BY POCHOLO CONCEPCION

We’re traveling with the Filipino rock band Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus—winner of the recent “Jack Daniel’s Set,” a talent search conducted by the Tennessee whisky company’s Philippine office to help create brand awareness in Southeast Asia.

Hypnotic

The seafood and chicken welcome dinner at Asian Square, a restaurant not far from Le Meridien Angkor Hotel where we’re staying for the next two days, is highlighted by a presentation of Cambodian native dances and music, the latter reminding us of the ethnic tunes performed and recorded by the likes of Asin, Joey Ayala and other folk music acts back home. Read the full article and see great pictures at The Philippine Enquirer.

Monarchs who abdicated

Agence France-Presse 
April 25, 2013

The abdication of Dutch Queen Beatrix, 75, in favour of her son Willem-Alexander comes after a 33-year reign.

The Netherlands has a history of abdications: Beatrix took over the throne on April 30, 1980, when her mother queen Juliana abdicated on the day of her 71st birthday. Juliana herself took the throne in September 1948, after her mother, queen Wilhelmina, abdicated.

Here is an account of the main abdications in the world over the past century:

- BRITAIN: Edward VIII was forced to abdicate after only several months in power on December 12, 1936, in order to marry divorced American Wallis Simpson, thus avoiding a major constitutional crisis. His younger brother Albert took over the throne under the name of George VI in May 1937. He was the father of the current Queen Elizabeth II.

- ROMANIA: Michael I was forced to abdicate by the communists in December 1947, before going into exile several months later.

- ITALY: Victor-Emmanuel III, the king of Italy since 1900, abdicated on May 9, 1946 because of his collaboration with the fascist regime of dictator Benito Mussolini. His son, Umberto II, nicknamed the "May King", went into exile in June of the same year the day after a referendum setting up the republic.

- BELGIUM: King Leopold III, on the throne since 1934 but controversial because of some of his actions during World War II, abdicated on July 16, 1951 in favour of his son Baudouin I in order to avoid the possibility of major civil unrest after his return to the throne after six years in exile.

- EGYPT: King Farouk I abdicated in July 1952 during the revolution led by Colonel Gamal Abdul Nasser, 16 years after his accession to the throne. His son, Fuad II, succeeded him, but was forced to join his family in exile after the proclamation of the republic less than a year later in June 1953.

A royal, opulent experience

By Meera Bhardwaj - 
New Indian Express BANGALORE 
25th April 2013 

Photos From top: Phnom Penh, Royal Palace as seen from across Tonle Sap River. The king of Cambodia participating in a ceremony. Mural paintings in the royal palace | EPS From top: Phnom Penh, Royal Palace as seen from across Tonle Sap River. The king of Cambodia participating in a ceremony. Mural paintings in the royal palace | EPS 

Do you know that it was because of the opulent culture of the Khmers that the capital of Royal Kingdom of Cambodia was shifted from Angkor to Phnom Penh in the 15th century. However, it was abandoned for nearly three centuries and it was only in 1866 that it once again became the Khmer capital. Known as the 'Pearl of Asia', this capital today is not only an eclectic mix of high rise buildings, chic pubs, bistros and boutique hotels on the river front but also the Cambodian royalty's opulent abode. It is ironic that once again an edifice of the most ostentatious order was created on the lines of the Khmer artistry of Angkor.

Since then the royal family of Sihanouks have always lived at the Royal Palace except for a brief period during the turmoil of the Khmer Rouge regime. Situated atop an ancient citadel on the crossing of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, the Palace was built in the mid-19th century.

Earlier, there was only the silver citadel but over a period of time, many buildings and temples have been added by the royal family. But amazingly, even these were demolished over a period of time. However, the Royal Court and a new Throne Room which was built later is based on Khmer, Thai and European classical architecture. The Throne Hall adapting Khmer artistic style and inspired by Angkorian design is pretty extravagant and exuberant incorporating significant European style too. It was a late sunny morning when we set out to see the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda with King Norodom Sihamoni in residence. I got an opportunity to see the King, a very unobtrusive and quiet personality unlike his father, the late King Norodom Sihanouk utterly revered by Cambodians till his death in Beijing last October. The present King, unmarried without a heir, seems to be reluctant to meddle in domestic affairs or regional politics.

WikiLeaks Data Dump Exposes Secrets [The Kissinger Cables]

April 24, 2013   AFP

• Diplomatic cables of the 1970s reveal facts U.S., Israel, India, others would prefer remain hidden

By Keith Johnson

The inner workings of the United States State Department during the Kissinger era are under renewed public scrutiny thanks to whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, which recently released more than 1.7M diplomatic cables from 1973 to 1976, a portion of which has been dubbed the “Kissinger Cables.”

Although the U.S. government has already declassified many of the documents, they’ve been sitting for decades in virtual obscurity at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. In what can only be described as a remarkable achievement, WikiLeaks obtained the massive collection of files and reverse engineered them in a way that makes it easy to cross reference material according to names, places, dates and events. The end result is a massive database that allows researchers to glean fresh insights on America’s foreign policy during this volatile era of uncertainty.

For instance, correspondence sent from the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia suggests that American diplomats were far more forthcoming in their evaluations of Middle East tensions than they are today. In a January 9, 1975 cable, Israel is accused of being the stubborn partner in peace negotiations by concluding that Arabs will never guarantee their security and that future wars are inevitable.

According to the cable: “Israeli pessimism seems largely if not entirely unwarranted. It seems based on an extraordinary lack of understanding of what happened in the Arab world in the last year and a half. Rather than girding their loins  for the fifth, sixth, seventh Israeli-Arab wars, the Israelis might examine more carefully than they seem to have done so far [and accept] the alternative of a peaceful accommodation with the Arabs.”

The cable goes on to say: “If Israel were prepared to accept the Arab proposition and return to 1967 borders, and simultaneously were assured that this withdrawal would be expected only if there were guarantees of its security, we have no doubt that the Arabs—at least those here—would be willing to give them almost anything they could ask.”

In another cable, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is shown to have had particular contempt for transparency and the rule of law. After Turkey invaded the island of Cyprus in 1974, Kissinger met with Turkish foreign minister Melih Esenbel and discussed ways the U.S. might be able to supply Turkey with arms and other foreign aid.

“The Europeans should find ways to meet quick needs; for example, the air force needs spare parts,” Esenbel suggested. “For other items that they can’t find in the stocks, maybe you could make a deal with the Dutch or others to send it here.”

“That is illegal,” replied William Macomber, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey.

Cambodian Activist’s [Chut Wutty's] Family Wants Murder Case Reopened គ្រួសារ​អតីត​សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឈើ​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី ទាមទារ​យុត្តិធម៌

Chut Wutty’s funeral ceremony in Kandal province, April 28, 2012.

Photo: RFA 

26th April 2013

Family members of slain Cambodian environmental activist Chut Wutty on Friday held a Buddhist ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of his death, calling for the reopening of investigations into his murder and urging authorities to find his “true killer.”

The call came as members of Cambodia’s civil society held a memorial service for the activist in the country’s capital Phnom Penh, appealing to the government to end a “culture of impunity” they say prevented him from receiving justice.

During a ceremony in southern Cambodia's Koh Kong province, Chut Wutty’s brother-in-law, Yong Sokhorn, appealed to authorities to continue the probe into his murder although a private security official was convicted in relation to the case.

“The government must reconsider and reopen the case in order to find the true killer and determine who was behind the killing,” he said, speaking in front of the logging company in Mondul Seima district where Chut Wutty was gunned down last April while investigating illegal logging operations.

Court proceedings on Chut Wutty’s case—the highest-profile death of a Cambodian activist in years—ended in October last year after a court in Koh Kong convicted a logging company’s security chief for the killing of a military officer accused of murdering Chut Wutty.

Timber Green Logging Company security chief Rann Borath was sentenced to two years in prison for the “unintentional murder” of military officer In Rattana, who judges said had fatally shot Chut Wutty.

Chut Wutty’s son, Chhoeuy Odomraksmey, told RFA’s Khmer Service that the convicted security chief is only in prison as a “scapegoat” in the incident.

At White House, Demonstrators Call for Cambodian Election Reform

More than 100 Cambodians from across the Eastern seaboard gathered in Washington, calling for election reforms and a cut to military spending to the Cambodian government.

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

25 April 2013 

WASHINGTONTON DC - A group of Cambodian-American demonstrators gathered in front of the White House in Washington on Wednesday, to protest what they say is a poor election process in Cambodia.

The showing in Washington coincided with a similar protest in Phnom Penh Wednesday, demanding reforms from Cambodia’s National Election Committee ahead of July polls.

More than 100 Cambodians from across the Eastern seaboard gathered in Washington, calling for election reforms and a cut to military spending to the Cambodian government. They held placards that read, “We want a fair election,” and, “Reform the NEC now.”

“We came today to ask President Obama to help Cambodians,” said Mary Chea, 61, as she stood holding a banner in front of the White House. “We’ve consistently lived in an environment of suffering for the past 30 years, until today. We still suffer in the face of non-stop killing. It’s the 21st Century, but people live like animals.”

The protesters also said opposition leader Sam Rainsy should be allowed to return to Cambodia and contest the elections, a proposition that Cambodian leaders have said is not possible, as he faces a criminal prison sentence on his return.

The UN and other Western observers have said they want to see Sam Rainsy allowed to contest the elections, and have called on similar reforms to the election process.

CCHR Open Letter to the Thai Prime Minister concerning the continual shooting to death of Cambodian civilians in Thai territory CCHR៖ ស្នើ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ថៃ​បំភ្លឺ​ទាហាន​ថៃ​បាញ់​សម្លាប់​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ

Dear all,

Please see attached and below, a letter from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR") to the Thai Prime Minister, Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra, concerning the continual shooting to death of Cambodian civilians in Thai territory and the lack of any investigation into those cases.

2012 saw a startling increase in the number of recorded attacks: the Thai-Cambodian Border Relation Office reports that 45 Cambodian civilians were shot dead by the Royal Thai Army in Thai territory during 2012 – a threefold increase on 2011 (15 deaths).  Six Cambodians have reportedly so far been killed during 2013, with several others seriously injured or still missing. The shooting of Cambodian civilians resulting in death or serious bodily harm constitutes an unlawful act and a grave violation of the victims’ human rights.  However, CCHR hopes that, in this period of closer Thai-Cambodian relations, this issue – as well as the connected border dispute – can be resolved peacefully and in line with international law and human rights principles.

If you should require any further information or wish to discuss this topic, please contact CCHR at this e-mail address.

Kind regards,
CCHR

--

Her Excellency Yingluck Shinawatra
Prime Minister of the Royal Thai Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
Office of the Prime Minister
Government House
Thanon Phitsanulok, Dusit
Bangkok 10300, Thailand

24 April 2013

Letter to Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra concerning the continual shooting to death of Cambodian civilians in Thai territory and the lack of any investigation
Your Excellency Ms Yingluck Shinawatra,
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) expresses its deep concern regarding the continual shooting of Cambodian civilians in Thai territory – which have caused countless deaths and serious injuries.  2012 saw a startling increase in the number of recorded attacks: the Thai-Cambodian Border Relation Office reports that 45 Cambodian civilians were shot dead by the Royal Thai Army in Thai territory during 2012 – a threefold increase on 2011 (15 deaths).  Six Cambodians have reportedly so far been killed during 2013, with several others seriously injured or still missing.
The shooting of Cambodian civilians resulting in death or serious bodily harm constitutes an unlawful act and a grave violation of the victims’ human rights.  Thailand is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the “ICCPR”), to which it acceded on 29 October 1996, and is therefore legally bound by its provisions.  Article 6 of the ICCPR guarantees the right to life, while Article 7 stipulates that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  Article 4 states that no derogations from Articles 6 and 7 are permitted.  Furthermore, Article 2 obliges signatories to respect and ensure the rights recognized in the ICCPR to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction – which include Cambodian civilians who find themselves in Thai territory, whether legally or illegally.  Thailand is also a party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Article 1 of which defines the act of torture, and Article 2 of which states that torture cannot be justified under any circumstances.  The shooting of Cambodian civilians violates all of these rights which Thailand has officially approved and to which it is legally bound.  CCHR notes – as per the Thai Code of Criminal Procedure as well as international standards – that the use of lethal force and firearms is justified only when used against a real, imminent and grave threat of death or serious injury, or to prevent the commission of particularly grave crimes involving such threats, or to arrest a person presenting such grave danger – in other words in self-defense.  In addition, the use of lethal force can only be used as a measure of last resort and must be proportional to legitimate objectives.  CCHR argues that since the casualties are unarmed civilians who find themselves in Thai territory while logging, and who in no way pose a real and imminent threat to anyone, such actions cannot be justified as self-defense as they are no less than extra-judicial and arbitrary acts of murder, nor can they be deemed a measure of last resort or remotely proportional.

An American investment company lost a $300 million compensation lawsuit against the Cambodian government at the International Investment Court in Paris កម្ពុជាទាត់ចោល សំណើទាមទារ សំណងជិត ៣០០លានដុល្លារ ពី Cambodia Power Company

Friday, 26 April 2013  ដោយដើមអម្ពិល៖ DAP News ID-015

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល នៃព្រះរាជា ណាចក្រកម្ពុជា មានសេចក្ដីរីករាយសូមជូន ដំណឹងថា ការចោទប្រកាន់ និងការទាមទារ សំណងពីសំណាក់ក្រុមហ៊ុន Cambodia Power Company ត្រូវបានទាត់ចោល ទាំងស្រុងដោយអង្គជំនុំជម្រះក្ដីមជ្ឈត្ដកម្ម បង្កើតឡើងក្រោមឆ័ត្រ នៃមជ្ឈមណ្ឌល អន្ដរជាតិសម្រាប់ការដោះស្រាយទំនាស់វិនិយោគ (International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes ឬ ICSID) ។ Cambodia Power Company ជាក្រុមហ៊ុនអនុវត្ដគម្រោងរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន ដើមឈ្មោះ Beacom Hill Associates Inc. ។ មកពីក្រុង Delaware នៃសហរដ្ឋអាមេ រិក។ នេះបើយោងតាម សេចក្ដីប្រកាសព័ត៌ មានរបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ចុះថ្ងៃទី២៦ ខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ ២០១៣ ។
ក្រុមហ៊ុន Cambodia Power Company បានចោទប្រកាន់ថា ព្រះរាជា ណាចក្រកម្ពុជា និងអគ្គិសនីកម្ពុជា (EDC) បានរំលោភកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងដែលបានចុះហត្ថ លេខាជាមួយ Beacom Hill Associates Inc.  នៅឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៦ ដែលកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង នោះ គឺសម្រាប់ការផ្ដល់ហិរញ្ញប្បទាន សាង សង់ និងដំណើរការរោងចក្រអគ្គិសនីដែល មានអានុភាព ៦០ មេហ្គាវ៉ាត់ នៅរាជធានី ភ្នំពេញ ។ ក្រុមហ៊ុន Cambodia Power Companyទាមទារសំណងជាទឹកប្រាក់ជិត  ៣០០ លានដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ។
នៅគ្រាដំបូងនៃដំណើរការមជ្ឈត្ដកម្ម អគ្គិសនីកម្ពុជា ត្រូវបានគេអូសបញ្ចូលជា ភាគីចុងបណ្ដឹងមួយ ប៉ុន្ដែ អង្គជំនុំជម្រះក្ដី មជ្ឈត្ដកម្មរបស់ ICSID បានបដិសេធ ដោយលើកថា អគ្គិសនីកម្ពុជាមិនស្ថិត ក្រោមយុត្ថាធិការរបស់ ICSID ទេ ។ ដូច នេះ ដំណើរការមជ្ឈត្ដកម្មត្រូវបន្ដតែជាមួយ ភាគីរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាតែមួយប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
ក្រោយពីការក្នុងសវនាការនៅទីក្រុង ប៉ារីស ប្រទេសបារាំងកាលពីខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ ២០១២ អង្គជំនុំជម្រះក្ដីមជ្ឈត្ដកម្ម ICSID បានផ្ដល់ការកាត់សេចក្ដីចុងក្រោយ ថ្ងៃទី ២២ ខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ ២០១៣ ។ ការសម្រេច នេះបានបញ្ជាក់ថា ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា ពុំបានរំលោភកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងទាល់តែសោះ ទោះផ្ទាល់ ឬមិនផ្ទាល់ក្ដី តាមរយៈសកម្ម ភាពនានា របស់អគ្គិសនីកម្ពុជា ។ ហើយ អង្គជំនុំជម្រះក្ដីមជ្ឈត្ដកម្មបានទាត់ចោល ការចោទប្រកាន់ និងការទាមទារសំណង ទាំងអស់របស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន Cambodia Power Company ។ លើសពីនេះទៅទៀត អង្គជំនុំជម្រះក្ដីមជ្ឈត្ដកម្មបានតម្រូវឱ្យក្រុមហ៊ុន Cambodia Power Company បង់សំណង ជាប្រាក់ជាង ៥,៦លានដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ជូនភាគីព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជាសម្រាប់ ប៉ះប៉ូវការ ចំណាយផ្លូវច្បាប់ និងដំណើរការ មជ្ឈត្ដកម្មអស់រយៈពេលជិត៤ឆ្នាំមកនេះ។

Maids-to-Singapore plan still on track

Last Updated on 26 April 2013 
Phnom Penh Post 
By Sen David
 

A pilot program under which about 400 Cambodian women will become domestic workers to Singapore was going according to plan, the labour minister said yesterday.

The prakas, or ministerial edict, concerning the project had already been drafted in Khmer and translations were under way so the laws could be vetted by the Labour Ministry’s Singaporean counterparts, Labour Minister Vong Sot said.

The first batch of workers will travel to Singapore in July, with more in each successive month. In all, about 400 women will take part.

If the project was successful, the Kingdom might also send construction workers to Singapore, Sot said.

“This year, Singapore has opened its market to our workers. If the project is successful, we will be allowed to send more,” he said.

Singapore’s labour record is far from unblemished; days off for maids were mandated only in January.

But Sot said Singapore had much higher wages and better labour laws than other places where Cambodian maids have worked, such as Malaysia.

Opposition warns it would protest again

Yim Sovann, the spokesman of the National Rescue Party (NRP) 

 

PHNOM PENH( The Cambodia Herald)-- A senior official of the National Rescue Party (NRP) warned it would hold "another demonstration shortly" if the National Election Committee (NEC) does not accept its requests.

1.5 million people couldn't find their names in the registration lists, Yim Sovann, the spokesman of the NRP, said Monday, this shows the abuse of the constitution and human rights and it is the responsibility of the NEC to fix the problem.

Yim Sovann, who demanded for the reforms of the NEC for a more free and fair process in the up-coming election, said, the opposition requested to renew the registration lists so that 1.5 million people could vote.

Some recommendations of the U.N. and national and international non-government organizations were accepted by the NEC and had also made changes to their regulations and procedures for the National Election.

However, the NEC said, they could not accept the request demanded by the opposition to renew of the registration lists and  postpone election day.

40 hectares razed in Ratanakiri [by a Vietnamese company]

Last Updated on 26 April 2013 
Phnom Penh Post 
By Phak Seangly

Bulldozers clear land for a Vietnamese company in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district yesterday. Photo supplied

More than 40 hectares of protected forest in Rattanakiri’s O’Yadav district was razed by a Vietnamese company over the course of six days before they were stopped yesterday by villagers and investigators from rights group Adhoc, a local official said.

Sav Hlin, a village chief in the district, said he had received news from villagers that the company – known to them as Company 72 – had been working in the area.

“After I found out they were clearing the forest, we went straight there to stop the vehicles immediately,” said Hlin, who added that more than 40 hectares of the forest land had been cleared by the time he got there with a group of villagers and two Adhoc investigators.

The forest lies adjacent to a 6,000 hectare economic land concession awarded to Men Sarun Company for a rubber plantation, said Adhoc senior investigator Pen Bonnar.

Company 72 had been sub-contracted by Men Sarun Company to clear the land and prepare it for planting.

Phan Phoeun, deputy chief of the provincial Forestry Administration, confirmed that the forest had been cut out from the ELC and set aside for the community.

This is not the first time Company 72 has been in the news for clearing protected forest. The company was summonsed by the Ratanakkiri Provincial Court to face accusations of illegal logging in February.

One year on, family seeks justice ខួប​១​ឆ្នាំ​នៃ​ការ​បាញ់​សម្លាប់​សកម្មជន​ការពារ​ព្រៃឈើ​លោក ឈុត វុទ្ធី

Last Updated on 26 April 2013 
Phnom Penh Post 
By May Titthara

Chut Wutty, an environmental activist who was gunned down a year ago while investigating illegal logging in Koh Kong province, stands in front of his SUV on a forest road in 2011. Photo by AFP

A year after his death, there will be little fanfare at the memorial service today for slain anti-logging activist Chut Wutty.

Hundreds of people travelled from across the country for his funeral after he was gunned down on April 26, 2012, while investigating illegal logging in Koh Kong province’s Mondul Seima district.

His son, Chhey Odom Reaksmey, then a timid and shocked young man, said yesterday he expected just a handful of NGO workers and a monk to join his family today as they return to the small clearing where Wutty fell.

But he is determined that his father’s legacy of fighting deforestation will live on.

“I want to know after my father’s death how different it is. Because in other provinces there has been serious logging after my father passed away,” he told the Post yesterday.

“I will continue doing my father’s job because I love the forest as he did. But I need support, because I am young.”

The 20-year-old has big shoes to fill if he takes up his father’s cause.

Wutty travelled the country end-to-end, embarking on journeys that pushed him to the edge of physical exhaustion as he waged a protracted and dogged battle to expose corruption and the rapacious destruction of Cambodia’s forests.

Logging blamed on sibling firm [A Vietnamese company blames the same Vietnamese company for illgelly logging in Cambodia?]

Last Updated on 26 April 2013 
Phnom Penh Post
By Phak Seangly and Shane Worrell

A recently felled tree lies on the forest floor in the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratanakkiri province on Wednesday. Photo supplied

A rubber company representative yesterday denied claims that his firm was involved in the alleged $100 million illegal logging of Ratanakkiri province’s Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary – but blamed a sister company for at least some of the forest’s devastation.

Seng Mony, a representative of Hoang Anh Andong Meas, which operates on an economic land concession (ELC) within the wildlife sanctuary, said his company was not logging illegally.

“We’ve never done this,” he said. “Not a single log. I only clear forest inside my company’s land.”

Mony, however, said Hoang Anh Lumphat, a company run by different bosses but owned by the same conglomerate, had been logging outside its ELC.

“I know Hoang Anh Lumphat is cutting timber in the sanctuary,” he said. “But I do not care. It’s not my business – Hoang Anh Lumphat doesn’t even allow me to drive my car past.”

The Post yesterday reported claims that rights group Adhoc, local authorities and villagers had discovered that an estimated 16,000 trees had been cleared from the sanctuary.

Sre Angkrang commune chief Chhoem Sokhim said he visited the site on Sunday and saw timber being transported into Andong Meas’s ELC.

Cambodia election committee starts receiving political party registration for July poll

Xinhua | 26th April 2013
By Agencies

Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) announced on Friday that it will begin to accept registration of political parties and candidates for a July general election from April 29 to May 13.

"Each political party is required to put a down payment of 15 million riel ($3,750) at the NEC for the registration, " said a statement signed by the committee's chairman Im Suosdey on Friday.

It added that the down-payment will be returned to the party in case that the party gains at least 3 percent of the total votes, or earns one seat at the National Assembly.

Tep Nytha, NEC's secretary general, predicted Friday that less than 10 political parties out of the 43 political parties, which were registered at the Interior Ministry, would run for the forthcoming election.

Cambodia is scheduled to hold a general election on July 28. Some 9.67 million Cambodians are eligible to cast their ballots in the upcoming election.

Political analysts forecast that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen will dominantly win the election.

Late last month, Hun Sen also predicted that his party would win at least two-thirds majority in the poll.

Hun Sen, 62, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the office until he is 90.

Cambodian dessert business grows in Bella Vista

Coconut sticky rice enveloped in banana leaves. (DREW LAZOR) Posted: April 25, 2013
 

Coconut sticky rice enveloped in banana leaves. (DREW LAZOR)

FOR THOSE OF US who don't have a prahok-slinging Phnom Penh grandma on standby, real Cambodian food is a little hard to find here, especially in comparison to the Vietnamese, Thai and Laotian options available to hungry fans of Southeast Asian cooking. Luckily, that's starting to change, with sit-downs like South Philly's Khmer Kitchen and Lawncrest's Angkor spreading the charms of the cuisine beyond the city's strong Cambodian population.
While those restaurants build followings, a new venture - a little sweeter, but still fluent in Khmer - is taking shape. Anna Hitchens, along with her husband, Tim, has a fledgling food business in Koliyan, hoping to position itself as the local go-to for Cambodian desserts.

Koliyan, a traditional Khmer girl's name, translates to "beloved," which describes the reverence Hitchens possesses for Cambodian cuisine. The first member of her family to be born in America, she's the child of immigrants who came here in 1982 after time spent in post-war refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines.
Born in Philly but raised in Connecticut and South Carolina, she spent many summers back here working at Fresh Express, her uncle's doughnut shop at Broad and Oregon. (He's since sold it.)
"My dad's side is very entrepreneurial," said Hitchens, whose father is one of eight. "As a child, they wanted me to be busy. I wasn't sent off to summer camp. I was sent off to a doughnut shop."

Grandmother's recipes

Working at the shop left Hitchens well-versed in American sweets, but it was her grandmother's native preparations that stuck. "She wouldn't talk much about it - she would just do it," recalled Hitchens of her gradmother's "authoritative" kitchen style, which involved no exact portions or measurements.
Her grandmom's num, the Khmer catch-all term for desserts, ranged from coconut sticky rice enveloped in banana leaves to crispy, chewy cassava tart, only a few of the traditional desserts she's representing through Koliyan.
When Hitchens' grandmother passed away, the sweets stopped making regular appearances, as she was the only one who knew how to make them. The family had to "wait for another wedding or another celebration to get to eat the desserts," she said. That shortage was among the motivations behind Hitchens' decision to establish Koliyan. Another: the honeymoon trip she and Tim, a social worker, took to Cambodia, the first time any member of her family had been back since their immigration.

The Courage to Change for All - ភាពក្លាហានដើម្បីផ្លាស់ប្តូរសម្រាប់ទាំងអស់

 

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Unfair referee! - 'The National Election Committee says the lists are fine and its nine members are independent and do not need to be changed.'

"The committee's members were named by the interior ministry and approved last year by Parliament, which the ruling party dominates." - AP

by School of Vice

Cambodia’s parliamentary Opposition led by the Cambodia National Rescue Party is taking a step in the right direction by calling for reform of the NEC; a body set up to oversee the election process. The recently merged main opposition party [consisting of hitherto two major political parties in the SRP and HRP] has given itself renewed vigour and momentum, and a positive dynamic springboard for further expansion and growth as the nation’s alternative to, and perhaps, the only hope, for positive change in Cambodia. 

These developments are also crucial in context of widening not only the party’s electoral appeal as reflected in its readiness to work and operate as an effective unified movement, but also in terms of signalling forth a more serious credible image to the outside world whose vested diplomatic and economic stakes in the country can still tilt the balance decisively in the Opposition’s favour, and hopefully, through that channel, affect change in the lives of millions and the fate of a much maligned nation with a long history of misrules, external manipulations and interventions in its internal affairs. 

The Opposition as such is not without its own faults and weaknesses; the leadership personalities at its executive level are made up of competent and, in the main, studious, educated and honest individuals whose views and sentiments can be said to be far more measured and humanitarian, and are thus more conducive to the task of national leadership in relevant fields, by means of comparison to their ruling counterparts and or their qualities and attributes. 

Response from the National Election Cheating (NEC)

CCHR Press Release - A year on, CCHR mourns the murder of environmental activist Chut Wutty

CCHR PRESS RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 26 April 2013

A year on, CCHR mourns the murder of environmental activist Chut Wutty and the twin scourges of violence and impunity that continue to stalk Cambodia

A year on, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) marks the first anniversary of the murder of Chut Wutty on 26 April 2012 in the remote Cardamom Mountains of Koh Kong province in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”), and mourns his loss.  Chut Wutty was the founder and director of the Natural Resource Protection Group, and was Cambodia’s foremost environmental and anti-logging activist.  While accompanying two journalists to investigate alleged illegal logging and land grabs in Koh Kong province, Chut Wutty was fatally shot in the leg and stomach as he tried to start his car, following a heated stand-off with military police and representatives of logging company Timber Green.  The alleged shooter, In Rattana, was also found shot dead at the scene.

To date, no credible, transparent or independent investigation has been launched, with the result that many questions remain unanswered.  Authorities provided various conflicting – and mostly ludicrous – accounts of the two deaths in the following days, and the Cambodian courts have not shed any further light on events in the months since.  Koh Kong Provincial Court infamously declared the case closed on 4 October 2012, thereby depriving Chut Wutty’s and In Rattana’s families of justice, while simultaneously revealing that the twin scourges of violence and impunity that stalk Cambodia have as strong a grip on the country and its people as ever.

In order to ensure that justice is served, that the judiciary can salvage some credibility, and, most importantly, that the Cambodian people are reassured that the rule of law prevails to some degree, CCHR urges the authorities to reopen the case and ensure that a full, transparent and independent investigation is allowed to proceed.  Even if the Cambodian government is not responsible for Chut Wutty’s murder, it has violated Chut Wutty’s right to life by failing to conduct an adequate investigation into his death, which it is legally obliged to do under domestic and international law.

On this sad day, CCHR President Ou Virak comments: