Blood sugar: Made in Cambodia [Mu Sochua's letter to the Phnom Penh Post]

Labourers harvest sugar cane at a plantation in an economic land concession in Kampong Speu’s Thpong district last week. Daniel Quinlan

Wed, 2 April 2014 Phnom Penh Post

Mu Sochua

Dear Lord Puttnam,

Cambodia is facing a human-rights crisis in the form of land grabbing and often-violent forced evictions by sugarcane plantations whose crops are destined for the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the European Union.

As a consequence of the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade pact with Cambodia, sugar has become big business here over the past half-decade.

Last year, the EU imported 65,000 tons of sugar from concessions in Koh Kong, Kampong Speu and Oddar Meanchey provinces.

While I recognise, in theory, the benefits of the EBA scheme for least developed countries such as Cambodia, the cost of the rapid economic growth that necessarily follows must not be borne by the poor – for then, such an agreement loses all meaning and purpose.

According to rights group Licadho, “development of the Cambodian sugar industry has been accompanied by violent forced evictions; widespread seizures of farmland; destruction of property, crops, livestock, and community forests; and the use of violence and intimidation”.

A directive by Prime Minister Hun Sen suspending the granting of new economic land concessions (ELCs) has not been heeded, and a supposed review of existing ELCs, announced at the same time, has not taken place.

Incomplete land registration has compounded the problem, because many farmers do not possess documents to confirm ownership of their land, despite having cultivated it well beyond the legal periods necessary for entitlement.

The government, as well as concession holders, routinely use this situation to their advantage, and in contests between farmers and private companies, the farmers almost always lose.

I am writing to request that you, in your capacity as UK trade envoy to Cambodia, do everything in your power to push the Cambodian government to deliver on its so-far-unfulfilled promises to protect the rights and livelihoods of its citizens as our economy advances.

Ukraine's Ousted President Hopes for Crimea's Return [Hun Sen shares some parallel stories with  Yanukovych] (posted by Khmer Wathanakam)

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia April 2, 2014 (AP)

By CARO KRIEL and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press

Yanukovych and Putin Google image)

[ Does Hun Sen have remorse at the end as Yanukovych? ] (image english.vov.vn)

In his first interview since fleeing to Russia, Ukraine's ousted president said Wednesday that he was "wrong" to have invited Russian troops into Crimea and vowed to try to persuade Russia to return the coveted Black Sea peninsula.

Defensive and at times teary-eyed, Viktor Yanukovych told The Associated Press and Russia's state NTV television that he still hopes to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin to get the annexed region back.

"Crimea is a tragedy, a major tragedy," the 63-year-old Yanukovych said, insisting that Russia's takeover of Crimea wouldn't have happened if he had stayed in power. He fled Ukraine in February after three months of protests focused on corruption and on his decision to seek closer ties to Russia instead of the European Union.

Yanukovych denied the allegations of corruption, saying he built his palatial residence outside of Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, with his own money. He also denied responsibility for the sniper deaths of about 80 protesters in Kiev in February, for which he has been charged by Ukraine's interim government.

As the world has watched the tumultuous events in Ukraine, Yanukovych has been a bit of a ghost, even as he has insisted he is still the country's true leader. While Putin has been openly dismissive of Yanukovych, the Russian president has also described him as the legitimate leader and his ouster as illegal.

Sam Rainsy, Sar Kheng Say Plans Underway for Top-Level Talks

Hun Sen talks to Sam Rainsy while Sar Kheng smiles in the background during their summit on 16th September 2013.

BY ALEX WILLEMYNS AND HUL REAKSMEY |the cambodia daily,  APRIL 2, 2014

Interior Minister Sar Kheng and opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Tuesday that preparations are underway for a meeting between Mr. Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss the country’s ongoing political deadlock.

On the sidelines of the second session of the National Assembly since the CPP government was formed in September, Mr. Kheng responded pithily when asked about reports regarding the possibility of such a meeting.

“We are preparing, we are preparing,” he said, declining to elaborate.

Asked by telephone about Mr. Kheng’s comments, Mr. Rainsy said talks were taking place between representatives of the two parties to set an agenda for a meeting between the party leaders.

“There are now communications at the lower level. They are preparing for a possible meeting between the top leaders,” Mr. Rainsy said.

“They have been exchanging information and coordinating what could be a common approach,” he added. “I cannot say more than that, but on our part, it is Son Chhay who is negotiating with someone from the government.”

Mr. Chhay, who is the CNRP’s chief whip, said that the discussions about such a top-level meeting are still in their early stages.

“There are communications between myself and Prum Sokha,” Mr. Chhay said, referring to the CPP Ministry of Interior secretary of state.

“We have been appointed for the meantime to work on a solution to the crisis. But we have no further details. We have not met yet to talk about what we can bring back to the party leaders,” the opposition lawmaker-elect said.

Cambodia’s Eight-month Political Deadlock Shows Hints Of Ending

By Robert Carmichael 

April 02, 2014 

FILE - Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (white shirt, right), and deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha (left) wave to people watching the march, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Robert Carmichael/VOA).

PHNOM PENH — Talks between Cambodia’s ruling party and the opposition to resolve the impasse over last year’s election have been deadlocked for months. The two sides disagree on a number of issues, most significantly reform of the National Election Committee (NEC). But signs of a thaw have emerged, and a meeting between the leaders of the two parties looks increasingly likely.

Cambodia has been in a state of political paralysis since July’s disputed general election, in which the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, shocked the ruling party when it won nearly half of the votes and 55 of the 123 seats in parliament.

The opposition insists it was cheated of victory by the ruling Cambodian People's Party, and has refused to seat its 55 lawmakers-elect until there is an independent investigation into alleged irregularities or a new election.

The opposition also wants to change the NEC, whose members are effectively appointed by the ruling party. The opposition wants NEC appointments to instead be subject to a two-thirds vote in parliament, giving it veto power to block members it opposes.

In a bid to step up pressure, the CNRP said in recent days that beginning in May, it will hold daily demonstrations nationwide in the run-up to district and provincial elections scheduled for May 18.

Opposition chief whip Son Chhay, the man leading the CNRP’s negotiating team, said dialogue remains the preferred option.

“So I think when we still cannot find any solution to settle the political crisis, the CNRP would be looking for working with the public to demand the ruling party to commit themselves to solve the problem. So that is a second option. But at the moment we’re still working on a political compromise or solution to the crisis. So I hope that we could reach some sort of agreement before May,” said Chhay.

MP-elect Real Camerin was helped by protesters after being badly beaten by police/thugs during a protest to demand an independent TV licence on 31/3/14 តំណាងរាស្រ្តគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ខេត្តស្វាយរៀង លោក រៀល ខេមរិន្ទ្រ

Post by Keo Rothna វីរជន វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ.

Mu Sochua surrounded by police/thugs when she went to Freedom Park 2/4/14

Post by Mu Sochua.

Mu Sochua determined to go to the banned Freedom Park លោកស្រី​មូរ សុខ​ហួរ ប្តេជ្ញា​ទៅកាន់​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​រៀងរាល់​ព្រឹក ដើម្បី​រំលឹក​គុណ​អ្នកគាំទ្រ និង​អប់រំ​សមត្ថកិច្ច​​

ដោយ៖​ តាំង វី​ដា​​ | ថ្ងៃពុធ ទី2 ខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ2014, VOD

លោកស្រី មូរ សុខហួរ បេក្ខជនជាប់ឆ្នោតតំណាងរាស្ត្រ គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ (រូបថត៖ តាំង វីដា)

បេក្ខជន​ជាប់ឆ្នោត​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ជា​ស្ត្រី​មួយរូប ប្តេជ្ញា​ទៅកាន់​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ជា​រៀងរាល់ថ្ងៃ ដើម្បី​រំលឹក​គុណ​ដល់​អ្នកគាំទ្រ​គណបក្ស​នេះ និង​អប់រំ​ដល់​កងកម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់អាវុធ ដែល​បិទ​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ មិន​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ប្រមូលផ្តុំ​នៅ​ទីនោះ។

​លោកស្រី មូរ សុខ​ហួរ បេក្ខជន​ជាប់ឆ្នោត​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ មណ្ឌល​បាត់ដំបង ដែល​មាន​យុវជន​គាំទ្រ​គណបក្ស​នេះ​ប្រមាណ ៣០​នាក់ អមដំណើរ​ជា​មួយ​នោះ ឲ្យដឹងថា លោកស្រី នឹង​ទៅ​កាន់​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ជា​រៀងរាល់ថ្ងៃ​នៅ​ម៉ោង ៨​ព្រឹក ដើម្បី​រំលឹក​គុណ​ដល់​អ្នកគាំទ្រ ដែល​បាន​ចូលរួម​បាតុកម្មអហិង្សា​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ទាមទារ​ឲ្យមាន​ការកែទម្រង់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​បោះឆ្នោត និង​បោះឆ្នោត​ឡើងវិញ នា​ពេលកន្លងមក​។​

លោកស្រី មូរ សុខ​ហួរ បន្តថា ការ​ទៅ​កាន់​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ជា​រៀងរាល់​ព្រឹក​នេះ​ដែរ ក៏​ក្នុង​គោលបំណង​ដើម្បី​អប់រំ​ដល់​កងកម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់អាវុធ ដែល​តែងតែ​បិទ​ច្រក​ចេញចូល​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និង​បង្ក្រាប​ទៅលើ​ក្រុម​បាតុករ និង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ អំពី​សិទ្ធិ​សេរីភាព​ក្នុង​ការប្រមូលផ្តុំ និង​បញ្ចេញមតិ​ «ស្មារតីរបស់យើងនៅពេលនេះ នៅទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យហើយ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរាប់លាននាក់ គាំទ្រយើង ថាយើងនៅទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យជារបស់យើង ប៉ុណ្ណឹងគឺជាសារគ្រប់គ្រាន់ហើយ ប្រសិនជាលោក ហ៊ុន សែន គាត់ស្តាប់ឮ គាត់នឹងបើកទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រគាត់ ជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្របិទ»។

​ទោះជា​យ៉ាងណា គោលបំណង​ដែល​ទៅកាន់​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​នេះ របស់​បេក្ខជន​ជាប់ឆ្នោត​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​បរាជ័យ​ជាថ្មី ដោយសារ​កម្លាំង​សមត្ថកិច្ច​ជា​ច្រើន​នាក់ បានដាក់រ​បាំងបិទ​ច្រកចេញ​ចូល​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ នៅ​ព្រឹក​នេះ​។​

នៅពេល​ដែល​អ្នកស្រី​កំពុង​មាន​វត្តមាន​នៅ​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ក៏​មាន​យុវជន​ម្នាក់​ឈ្មោះ វណ្ណី បាន​ចេញ​មុខ​ប្រាប់​ទៅ​អ្នកស្រី ឲ្យ​បញ្ឈប់​ការប្រមូលផ្តុំ​នេះដែរ ដោយ​អះអាង​ថា ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​មិន​ចង់ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ធ្វើបាតុកម្ម​នោះ​ទេ ហើយ​ថា​ការធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​របស់​គ​ណ​បក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​នា​ពេលកន្លងមក គឺ​គ្រាន់តែ​ជា​កលល្បិច​នយោបាយ​របស់​បក្សប្រឆាំង​នេះ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ «រួចចុះឆន្ទៈរាស្ត្រដូចខ្ញុំនេះ ឥឡូវគាត់យកឆន្ទៈរាស្ត្រដើម្បីធ្វើបាតុកម្ម ចុះខ្ញុំមានសិទ្ធិជាឆន្ទៈរាស្ត្រ ខ្ញុំសូមឲ្យគាត់ផ្អាកធ្វើបាតុកម្មបានអត់ នេះបើគាត់ធ្វើតាមឆន្ទៈរាស្ត្រមែន»។

លោក វណ្ណី ជាអ្នកស្នើឲ្យលោកស្រី មូរ​ សុខហួរ បញ្ឈប់ការប្រមូលផ្តុំរបស់គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ (រូបថត៖ តាំង វីដា)

សម្រាប់​អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​ក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ លោក ខៀវ សុភ័គ ឲ្យដឹងថា ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ នឹង​ត្រូវ​បើក​ឲ្យមាន​ការប្រមូលផ្តុំ លុះណាតែ​សង្គម​កម្ពុជា មាន​ស្ថិរភាព​នឹងនរ​ឡើងវិញ​។ លោក​យល់ថា សកម្មភាព​របស់​លោក​ស្រី មូរ សុខ​ហួរ គឺ​ចេតនា​បង្កជម្លោះ​រវាង​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ទាំងពីរ​ «ដោះស្រាយការងារ ដោះស្រាយតាមចិញ្ចើមថ្នល់ ដោះម៉េចនឹងចេញ បើមិនចូលសភា។ ខ្ញុំយល់ថា ទៅប្រជុំមានប្រយោជន៍ជាង ទៅទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យហ្នឹង។ ហើយបើទៅទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ បានន័យថាម៉េច? បានន័យថា គាត់អត់ការងារធ្វើចេះតែសន្សំរឿងទៅ»។

‘A shameful milestone’ [This is a good evidence for a criminal lawsuit against Hun Sen at the ICC]

Map supplied by Licadho

Wed, 2 April 2014 Phnom Penh Post

Alice Cuddy and May Titthara

Cambodia has passed a “shameful milestone” of half a million land conflicts, with more than 2,200 families affected so far this year alone, rights group Licadho said yesterday.

The updated figures, gathered since 2000, indicate that land rights remain a central issue in the country, which continues to pit farming communities and the urban poor against powerful officials and business interests.

“These figures show that land grabbing is not just [a matter of] isolated conflicts or problems … it affects and will continue to affect people all across the country,” Licadho director Naly Pilorge said.

Pilorge explained that the half-million figure only scratches the surface of the problem, as Licadho only monitors land conflicts in about half of the country.

According to Licadho, the first few months of 2014 have seen a “renewed wave” of “violent land grabbing”, with new cases affecting 2,246 families across the provinces it monitors.

That represents an almost four-fold increase on the statistics the group collected in the same period last year – when the number of families stood at 618 – and the highest number the group has recorded in four years.

According to Pilorge, the “epidemic” of land grabbing is largely the fault of the government.

“Not only is much of this land grabbing [directly] done by the government, but it is also done with the complicity of the government … protecting the interests of businesses,” she said.

Ou Virak, chairman of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, agreed.

“The land of the people is not secure. Even people not already affected live in fear.

“They [land grabs] started a very long time ago, but they have got really bad in the past five years, because the government thinks it’s invincible,” Virak said.

Rong Ky, a fisherman in Koh Kong province, knows firsthand the devastating effects land conflicts can have on a community.

Ky had lived in his home in Kiri Sakor district for more than 30 years when Chinese company Union Development Group arrived in town.

Union Development received 36,000 hectares in economic land concessions in 2008 and about 9,000 more in 2011. With the concessions came grand ambitions to turn the area into a coastal mega-resort.

Unrest crimps growth

Protesters chant along Veng Sreng Boulevard in front of fires during protests that turned violent in Phnom Penh in early January. Pha Lina

Hor Kimsay Phnom Penh Post Wed, 2 April 2014

Due to political instability and unrest in the garment sector, foreign direct investment has fallen and Cambodia’s economy is projected to grow only seven per cent this year, slightly down from 2013, according to a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released yesterday.

In the report, titled Asian Development Outlook 2014, ADB estimated that Cambodia GDP’s growth was 7.2 per cent last year. While growth revised downward, the ADB says inflation is expected to rise 3.5 per cent this year from three per cent in 2013, due to tightening of procedures at customs.

Poullang Doung, senior economics officer at the ADB, said that even if the inflation rate gets higher, it is still controllable, and that overall, the country’s development is positive.

“The economic growth rate of 7 per cent is already strong growth,” Doung told reporters yesterday at the hotel during a presentation of the report. “Even though the inflation rate increases to 3.5 per cent, it is still manageable and it is nothing to be worried about.”

The expected slowdown in 2014 is due mainly to political tension and garment strikes that have disrupted production late last year and early this year, according to the report. In January, military police killed at least four garment workers during a protest. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party is still boycotting parliament over the 2013 election results.

“Inflows of net foreign direct investment (FDI) were buoyant at $1.3 billion, though that figure represented a decline from the previous year, partly a result of political tensions after Cambodia’s national elections in July 2013,” the report said, without going into deep detail.

In 2014, industry growth driven by exports of garments and footwear to the United States and European Union is projected to ease to 8.7 per cent from 10.5 per cent the year before.

Services sector growth is expected to moderate to 7.1 per cent from 8.4 per cent.

‘Real’ reform urged: US envoy lends NGOs his support

Kevin Ponniah Wed, 2 April 2014 Phnom Penh Post

US Ambassador William Todd (pictured) has criticised discussion over the political neutrality of NGOs and election watchdogs at recent election reform talks as an “unnecessary distraction”.

“I strongly believe that any effort to restrict the independence of NGOs would be a major step backward in Cambodia’s democratic development, especially as it relates to election monitoring,” Todd wrote in his column for the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper.

A joint election reform committee agreed last month to 14 areas of proposed reform that – on the urging of the ruling party – included the neutrality of NGOs, despite the opposition calling it “irrelevant”.

“Given the urgent need to press forward with genuine reforms that will improve the electoral process, debating the role of civil society groups . . . is an unnecessary distraction,“ Todd wrote.

The government has accused election watchdogs of trying to discredit the election on behalf of the opposition.

Contact author: Kevin Ponniah

‘Top-level’ talks on the way

Prime Minister Hun Sen fields questions from the media about rumoured high-level meetings after leaving the National Assembly yesterday in Phnom Penh. Heng Chivoan

Wed, 2 April 2014

Meas Sokchea

A top-level meeting between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party could occur soon, senior officials from both parties hinted yesterday, as the National Assembly opened its second session of the fifth mandate with only the CPP represented.

Fronting the press at the parliament, Interior Minister Sar Kheng confirmed that the CPP is “arranging” a top-level meet, but did not give a specific date as to when this would occur.

Prime Minister Hun Sen referred questions about the meeting to the CNRP.

“We have [vowed] that we must go ahead [with negotiations]. The others [CNRP] sometimes they go back and forth, so you must ask the others [about this], don’t ask me,” he said.

Son Chhay, CNRP whip, said the top-level meeting would take place soon, though he could not provide a date.

“The parties have been contacting each other. We are making progress. [We] have much understanding [but] we will continue to debate further details,” he said.

Remains of 'missing US soldiers' repatriated from Cambodia

US soldiers carry a flag-draped coffin containing what are believed to be the remains of a US soldier, during a repatriation ceremony at Phnom Penh International Airport on April 2, 2014 (AFP Photo/Siv Channa)

Phnom Penh (AFP) - Remains believed to be those of three American servicemen killed in Cambodia more than four decades ago during the Vietnam War were repatriated Wednesday for identification in the United States.

The remains were recovered by a team of Cambodian officials and members of the US Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) in eastern Kampong Cham province, according to the US embassy.

The team is tasked with searching for missing US personnel in Southeast Asia.

"A few days ago, a joint team of Cambodians and Americans completed their most recent mission and recovered the possible remains of Americans missing in Cambodia," William Todd, US Ambassador to Cambodia, said at a solemn repatriation ceremony at Phnom Penh airport.

"Today, we honor colleagues who died far from home and whom we never knew," he said, adding he hoped their return "will ease the pain" of the fallen's families.

The remains, carried in three coffins draped in US flags, were flown on an American military plane bound for JPAC's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii.

Further details on how the US military servicemen were killed were not immediately available.

Hun Sen says he is ready to negotiate with Sam Rainsy បក្ស​ប្រជាជន​បើក​ផ្លូវ​ចរចា​ថ្នាក់​កំពូល

 

P.M Hun Sen

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald)- Prime Minister Hun Sen said today that he is ready to have a summit with Sam Rainsy, the president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, to break the current political deadlock.

“The Cambodian People’s Party is ready to negotiate in a summit with CNRP. CPP has its clear position to move forward,” Hun Sen told reporters at the National Assembly.

He added that “The other side (CNRP) sometimes move forward but some times move backward. Thus, you have to ask them ( about the date of the summit) and you should not ask me.

Son Chhay, a senior CNRP official, said that the representatives of the two parties are still keeping in touch. “However, we have not decided yet on when a summit can take place,” He added.

លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្លែង​ទៅ​កាន់​អ្នក​កាសែត​នៅ​ខាង​មុខ​រដ្ឋ​សភា នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១ មេសា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។

RFA/Van Vichar

គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា នៅ​ប្រកាន់​ជំហរ​បើក​ផ្លូវ​ចរចា​ថ្នាក់​កំពូល ស្រប​ពេល​ដែល​លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ចោទ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ថា កំពុង​តែ​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ដំណើរការ​ចរចា​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​នយោបាយ​ដើរ​ថយ​ក្រោយ។ ការ​ថ្លែង​បែប​នេះ ធ្វើ​ឡើង​បន្ទាប់​ពី​លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ចេញ​ពី​ប្រជុំ​សភា​នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១ ខែ​មេសា។

លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បដិសេធ​មិន​ធ្វើ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ​ច្រើន​ជុំវិញ​បញ្ហា​ទំនាស់​នយោបាយ​ឡើយ។ ប៉ុន្តែ​លោក​កត់សម្គាល់​ដោយ​ខ្លី​ថា ភាគី​ម្ខាង​ទៀត​ជា​អ្នក​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ដំណើរការ​ចរចា​មិន​អាច​ទៅ​មុខ​រួច។

លោក​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា «ថ្ងៃ​នេះ​ខ្ញុំ​មិន​អាច​បំពេញ​បំណង​អស់​លោក​បាន​ទេ យើង​មាន​បំណង​ដើរ​ទៅ​មុខ ឯ​អ្នក​ដទៃ​គេ​ម្ដង​ដើរ​ទៅ​មុខ ម្ដង​ថយ​ក្រោយ។ អ៊ីចឹង​អស់​លោក​ត្រូវ​សួរ​ទៅ​អ្នក​ដទៃ មិន​មែន​សួរ​ខ្ញុំ​ទេ»។

យ៉ាងណាមិញ​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី និង​ជា​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ លោក ស ខេង ត្រូវ​បាន​កាសែត​ក្នុង​ស្រុក​ស្រង់​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​កំពុង​រៀបចំ​ចរចា​ថ្នាក់​កំពូល​ជា​ថ្មី។ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៤ ខែ​មីនា ប្រធាន​ក្រុម​ចរចា​របស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា លោក ប៊ិន ឈិន ក៏​បញ្ជាក់​ជំហរ​ដែរ​ថា បក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា រង់ចាំ​ចរចា​គ្រប់​កម្រិត​ជាមួយ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង ប៉ុន្តែ​មិន​បាន​កំណត់​ពេល​វេលា​ចរចា​ច្បាស់លាស់​ទេ។

កន្លង​ទៅ​លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ធ្លាប់​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា សព្វថ្ងៃ​មិន​ជាប់​គាំង​អ្វី​ទាំង​អស់ ព្រោះ​ថា ដំណើរការ​របស់​ស្ថាប័ន​រដ្ឋ​ដើរ​ទៅ​មុខ​ជា​ធម្មតា មិន​មាន​ការ​រាំង​ស្ទះ​ណា​មួយ​ទេ។

ទាក់ទង​នឹង​បញ្ហា​នេះ ប្រធាន​នាយកដ្ឋាន​កិច្ចការ​សាធារណៈ គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ អ្នកស្រី មូរ សុខហួរ បដិសេធ​មិន​តប​ចំពោះ​ប្រសាសន៍​ចោទ​របស់​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ទេ។ ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នកស្រី​បញ្ជាក់​ថា គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ នៅ​តែ​ចង់​ឲ្យ​មាន​កិច្ច​ចរចា​រវាង​មេដឹកនាំ​កំពូល​នៃ​គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ឲ្យ​បាន​ឆាប់ៗ​ខាង​មុខ​នេះ៖ «គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សុំ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ជំនួប​កំពូល​ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​នយោបាយ ហើយ​ជំនួប​នោះ​យើង​បាន​ប្រាប់​ក្រុម​ការងារ​បច្ចេកទេស​រួច​ហើយ តាំង​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៤ ខែ​មីនា មុន​នឹង​យើង​ផ្អាក​កិច្ច​ចរចា​មួយ​រយៈ»។

Interior Minister: CPP and CNRP is trying to arrange another summit to break the deadlock

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald)- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and one of the highest ranking members of CPP, Sar Kheng told reporters this morning that CPP and CNRP are arranging another meeting between its top leaders in solving current political deadlock.

When asked about a possible summit between Hun Sen and Samrainsy, Sar Kheng said it is in the process of arranging.

His confirmation was made following a stalemate of the two parties’ negotiation regarding electoral reform. 

The joint committee decided to leave authority to their respective leaders for solving the deadlock. The negotiation came to a stalemate over the proposal that National Election Committee shall be a constitutional institution and its members need to be elected through an approval of at least two third of the Members of Parliament.

Who is the real Mr. Ear Kimsreng? Is he Mr. Pang Lang, the bandit/killer in 1979? តើលោក អ៊ា គិមស្រេងជានរណាពិតប្រាកដ្ឋ? តើឈ្មោះពិតរបស់លោកជា ប៉ាង ឡាង​ ដែលជាចោរព្រៃនិងជាឃាតករក្នុងឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩ឬ?

Post by Bora Boranvichea.

Post by សម្ពន្ធហ្វេសប៊ុកកម្ពុជា CFA.

The construction of the world's tallest building will start in April 2014 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia គម្រោងសាងសង់អគារខ្ពស់ជាងគេលើពិភពលោកនឹងចាប់ផ្ដើមនៅខែមេសានេះហើយ!

គម្រោងសាងសង់អគារខ្ពស់ជាងគេលើពិភពលោកនឹងចាប់ផ្ដើមនៅខែមេសានេះហើយ!
http://www.cambo-report.com/news1/TheKingdomTower.aspx

Why Hun Sen never smile any more? ហេតុអ្វីបានជាហ៊ុន សែន មិនដែលញញឹម?

Post by Sin Rozeth.

US lawyer Morton Sklar says the present Cambodian leaders are accomplices of the Khmer Rouge and could be considered as criminals by the ICC

Post by Sam Rainsy.

Cambodia's major party leaders planned to resume talks over dispute

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R), shakes hands with opposition leader, Sam Rainsy (L), Tuesday, 28 February 2006.

EPA/HENG SINITH

by 

XINHUA

01.04.2014 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy are planned to resume negotiations over the post-election dispute, but no exact date is set yet, officials said Tuesday.

"We have been preparing a top-level meeting for the leaders of the two parties," Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng told reporters. However, he declined to give further details.

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) chief whip Son Chhay confirmed that both sides have contacted to discuss topics for a top-level meeting, but no specific date is set for the meeting.

"The CNRP wants to see a meeting between the two leaders as soon as possible in order to find a solution to the 7-month-old political dispute," he said.

Dispute between Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy's CNRP has simmered since the July election results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

Having boycotted parliament since last September, the CNRP is demanding either a probe into election irregularities or a re- election, along with deep electoral reform.

However, Hun Sen has said that he will not call a re-election because it is unconstitutional.  

Kuwaiti-Cambodian meeting promotes bilateral trade

By Muhammad Al-Moula

(with photos) KUALA LAMPUR, April 1 (KUNA) -- The Kuwaiti-Cambodian Committee discussed in its meeting on Tuesday in the Cambodian capital city Phnom Penh means of boosting bilateral trade including closer ties between the two nation''''s private sectors, said Kuwait''''s ambassador to Cambodia Dhirar Al-Twaijri.
Representing the Kuwaiti side of the meeting in Phnon Penh were Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Abdul-Aziz Al-Khaldi and representatives from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Finance, the Public Authority for Investment, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), said the ambassador in a telephone conversation with KUNA.
He said that KFAED representative gave a thorough report in the meeting on the fund''''s financing activities in Cambodia, adding that the Public Authority for Investment presented in the meeting a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation on joint investments. The Kuwaiti side also discussed with the Cambodians a proposal calling for prevention of double taxation.
The ambassador further said that both sides agreed that a delegation from the Cambodian government presided by the minister of commerce along with a number of businesspeople would visit Kuwait in the last quarter of the year 2015. (end) mam.ajs

Sam Rainsy speaks to Sen. Christine Milne, an Australian senator from the Greens Party សំឡេងសមាជិកព្រឹទ្ធសភាប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលីគឺលោកស្រី Christine Milne

Post by Rapsberry Maqui.

The Phnom Penh authority bans a gathering of more than 10 people in Freedom Park. Now MP-elect Mu Sochua wants to test that law and try to have a gathering of 6 people. However they are still banned and have been dispersed violently by the guards manning the park

Post by Oeur Narit.

Rainsy Says Protests to Resume in May During Council Elections

Post by Virak Chun.

BY ALEX WILLEMYNS |the cambodia daily, APRIL 1, 2014

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Monday that the CNRP will resume mass demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen on May 2.

The opposition will use the official campaign period for May 18 district, city and provincial council elections to circumvent a government ban on public gatherings.

Mr. Hun Sen’s government has not allowed gatherings in Phnom Penh since early January.

Mr. Rainsy, who on Sunday led a small and unannounced march from central Phnom Penh to CNRP headquarters in Meanchey district, said that the party would take advantage of the upcoming campaign period to resume demonstrations.

“We are organizing big demonstrations in early May. It will be the official campaign for the district and provincial elections,” he said.

“Officially there will be two weeks of an official campaign, so there will be no reason for the CPP to ban it, even though the government has very restrictive rules on demonstrations.”

The opposition leader said the CNRP will take part in Labor Day marches on May 1 with garment factory workers before starting demonstrations the next day.

“From May 2 to May 17, we will organize big demonstrations every day not only in Phnom Penh but throughout the country,” he said. “We are preparing for it now.”

Police beat protesters who demand an independent TV licence with chains 31/3/14

Post by Seang Sovannara.

Cambodian defense minister heads to US for ASEAN-US defense ministers' meeting

Xinhua | 2014-3-31 

By Agencies

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh left for Hawaii Sunday night to attend the ASEAN-US defense ministers' meeting slated for April 1-3.

Gen. Nem Sowath, chief of the Defense Ministry's Policy and Foreign Affairs Department, said this is be the first time the US has ever hosted all ASEAN defense ministers' meeting in the US

"Three main topics including ASEAN defense cooperation, maritime security, and disaster relief will be discussed at the meeting," he told reporters at the Phnom Penh International Airport before Tea Banh's departure. "The participants will also exchange views on regional security issues."

Tea Banh will also hold bilateral talks with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to discuss military cooperation between the two countries.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Tea Banh Travels to US for Asean Defense Ministers Meeting

BY MECH DARA AND JOSHUA WILWOHL | APRIL 1, 2014

Defense Minister Tea Banh will meet Tuesday in Hawaii with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as well as nine other Asean defense ministers at the first U.S.-hosted meeting with the regional defense chiefs, officials said.

Gen. Banh, speaking at a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport before his departure, told reporters that he plans to inform the ministers and Mr. Hagel about the “real situation” in Cambodia.

“We cannot let some people speak alone. Countries do not listen only to one side. If they want to know the real situation, they will listen to both sides,” he said, without mentioning the opposition CNRP by name.

Gen. Banh has repeatedly promised to defend Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government, along with the Constitution under which it was elected, since July’s disputed national election.

The CNRP, meanwhile, has lobbied the international community to halt aid to Cambodia until an ongoing dispute over July’s election has been settled.

Sam Rainsy visits vendors at Chbar Ampov Market, Phnom Penh សម រង្ស៊ី បានចុះសួរសុខទុក្ខអាជីវករ និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ នៅផ្សាច្បារអំពៅ

Post by Cnrptv.

China's Huawei introduces new smartphone models in Cambodia

Xinhua | 2014-3-31 

By Agencies

The world's third largest smartphone maker Huawei on Monday unveiled two newest smartphone models for Cambodia's fast growing mobile phone market.

The two models are Huawei Ascend G730 and Ascend Y600.

"With the introduction of the two new smartphone models, consumers will get more choice in the fast growing smartphone category in Cambodia," Cary Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei (Technology) Cambodia, said at the launching ceremony.

"Cambodia is one of our key and fast growing markets and we have lined up exciting plans and new products launching in the coming months," he said.

He said the company saw huge potential in smartphone demand in Cambodia and set a firm strategy to promote Huawei's smartphone brand in Cambodia.

"There is great potential in growth of smartphone users here and Huawei wants to encourage consumers to try and enjoy technology of smartphone with Huawei at very competitive prices," he said.

Cambodia has seen rapid growth in mobile phones market in the last five years. The country has population of 14.8 million, but the number of mobile phone subscribers has reached 20.2 million last year, up 6 percent from 19.1 million in previous year, according to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

My mom sold my virginity when I was 12: Teenager's firsthand experience reveals the horrors of the sex trade in Cambodia

By MARGOT PEPPERS

PUBLISHED: 31 March 2014, The UK Mail Online

A Cambodian teenager whose virginity was sold to a man when she was a child has opened up about the horrors of the sex trade in her home country.

Dara Keo, now 17, told Marie Claire that she was just 12 when her mother Rotana sold her to a 'rich, powerful man' because she was desperate to pay off her late husband's gambling debt.

'His creditors threatened violence when I couldn't pay,' explains 62-year-old Rotana, who was earning just $1 a day at the time. 'Fear and worry about the debts made me ill. Finally, I gave in.'

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Robbed of a childhood: Dara Keo (pictured), now 17, a Cambodian teenager whose virginity was sold when she was just 12, has opened up about the horrors of the sex trade in her home country

What ensued was unspeakable but by no means uncommon in Cambodia, where ancient belief derived from Taoist culture dictates that sex with virgins can prolong lifespan.

Keo was first taken to a corrupt doctor who examined her to make sure her hymen was still intact - a veritable worry for the man who purchased her, since many sex traffickers surgically heal girls' hymens to resell them multiple times.

'Then I was taken to the man who bought me,' recalls Keo. 'I had to stay with him for one week while he raped me many times without a condom.'

 

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The man who purchased Keo was a prominent Cambodian politician, although she and her mother refuse to make his name public. 

He kept her in a hotel room for a week and would visit her twice or even three times a day for sex. 'He was very forceful,' she says, recalling the pain as 'excruciating.'

After the week was up, Keo was left with tearing and bruises and she found it 'agonizing' to walk or urinate for two weeks.

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Easy targets: Hostesses wait at a beer garden in August 2013, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. These girls are often targeted by rich and powerful men looking to pay for their virginity

While her case may seem dire, Keo is just one of thousands of Cambodian girls whose virginity is sold each year - mostly to prominent politicians and policeman, the only men rich enough to afford it.

Indeed, destitute families typically receive around $1,500 to sell a daughter's virginity, which is equivalent to four years' salary. Rotana was so desperate, however, she accepted just $500.

'Fear about my husband's debts made me ill. Finally, I gave in and sold my daughter's virginity'

Vannith Uy, 41, worked for years as a cook at a beer garden, where young hostesses in revealing clothes attract men looking for virgins to sleep with.

Desperate for money, she sold her own daughter Chamnan Sok's virginity when the girl was just 18, and she witnessed at least 50 young females working at the beer garden succumb to the same fate. 

Cambodian Radio Station Supporters Injured in Clashes With Police

Mam Sonando (C), owner of a local independent radio station, is blocked by police officers during a demonstration in central Phnom Penh, March 31, 2014.

Suy Heimkhemra March 31, 2014 

At least six people were injured, one of them seriously, as supporters of a radio operator and frequent government critic clashed with security forces in Phnom Penh.

About 100 protesters were confronted by baton wielding police Monday as they attempted to gather at Freedom Park, the government-sanctioned assembly space that was blocked by police on Sunday.

The clash was near the Ministry of Information, which has refused to grant Beehive radio permission to expand its network or add a television station to its operations.

Beehive owner Mam Sonando said his supporters have a right to assemble.

“Most of them [security forces] do not understand the law and the order was given illegally," he said. "We are simply demanding freedom.  We will keep on pressing and will have more gatherings.”

But Phnom Penh government spokesman Long Dimanche disagreed, saying authorities have a right to stop what he called “illegal activities”.

“We simply maintain public order," he said. "The gathering was illegal.”