Friday, 4 December 2015

ppp Thu, 3 December 2015

Zoe Holman

A man reads a newspaper at a stall in Phnom Penh yesterday, which saw the launch of the Cambodian Media Ownership Monitor, aimed at providing transparency in the sector. Pha Lina

The pluralism and transparency of Cambodia’s media are under threat by a lack of regulation and politically affiliated media companies’ domination of the sector, a new monitoring project has warned.

The Cambodian Media Ownership Monitor (MOM), launched in Phnom Penh yesterday, is the initiative of international press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and was conducted in collaboration with the Cambodian Center for Independent Media.

The online database details the ownership and reach of the country’s major media outlets, finding that television is both the most popular sector and the sector where audiences were most concentrated under just a handful of outlets.

Overall, Cambodia’s top four media corporations and owners are named as the Royal Group; Ing Chhay Nguon, owner of the TV station Hang Meas; Hun Mana, Bayon TV owner and daughter of Prime Minister Hun Sen; and ABC Radio proprietor, Sen Bunveng – players who together reach some 84 per cent of the nation’s audience, with significant potential influence on public opinion.

At least 10 of the 28 Cambodian media owners assessed were also found to be either on the government payroll, advisers to the Cambodian People’s Party or declared affiliates of a political party.

“Such a high degree of media concentration as well as political and economical affiliations as we found here . . . puts media pluralism in jeopardy,” said Christian Mihr, executive director of the German section of RSF, “furthermore, it discourages political reporting.”

As Mihr noted, political control of Cambodia’s media was apparent not only during coverage of the 2013 election, but also in the dangers faced by journalists reporting on sensitive subjects.

Education Ministry investigates test bribe

ppp Thu, 3 December 2015

Khouth Sophak Chakrya

Students take the grade 12 national exam in Phnom Penh earlier this year. Pha Lina

The Ministry of Education yesterday said it is creating a committee to investigate an alleged case of a student bribing education officials in Battambang with $650 to give him a passing grade 12 exam score in 2014.

The investigation followed Tuesday reports in local media claiming that Oeng Ngor Hok and Chhorn Chheang, senior officials in of Battambang’s education department, colluded to accept the bribe from a student who failed the standardised test in 2014 but still received a preliminary high school certificate.

“If an education official is found guilty, that official would be punished according to the administration’s principles,” education spokesman Ros Salin said, not ruling out the possibility of “other punishment”.

In 2014, the ministry instituted sweeping reforms to its grade 12 testing, which was previously rife with cheating. The measures saw pass rates plummet.

Chheang yesterday denied having anything to do with the student. He accused the media of perpetrating the scandal to “damage his reputation” and “destroy the prestige of the Cambodian education system”.

An anonymous source inside the provincial education department leaked evidence of the malfeasance to the media.

Some of the documents show that the student at Preah Monivong High School got a failing score on his test, but his high school certificate showed that he received a passing grade of “D”.

Also, the student’s room and seat numbers on some of his pre-test documents didn’t match those on his post-test documents.

Preap Kol, the executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, said that such investigations weren’t rare, but that punishments for such malfeasance were.

Additional reporting by Igor Kossov

Samrin marks day of liberation front’s birth

ppp Thu, 3 December 2015

Taing Vida

Heng Samrin speaks yesterday at the National Institute of Education. Heng Chivoan

Thirty-seven years since he helped found the movement that would topple the Khmer Rouge and provide the nucleus of the present-day Cambodian government, National Assembly President Heng Samrin yesterday appealed for unity and public service from those in power.

Celebrating the anniversary of the Kampuchea United Front for National Salvation in Phnom Penh, Samrin urged the Cambodian People’s Party to stay united and stamp out illegal activities. Among these, he listed illegal logging, land clearing, destruction of infrastructure, social disorder and anything that caused damage to Cambodia’s national income.

“You must put all your efforts into serving the country based on the political policy of the CPP and the government’s political plan; you have to keep in mind that this is the ultimate goal and wisdom of the united front and CPP,” Samrin, an honorary CPP president, said.

Officially constituted on December 2, 1978, in Kratie province, the Kampuchea United Front for National Salvation, also known as the Salvation Front, began as a group of Cambodians, largely ex-Khmer Rouge cadre, who fled across the Vietnam border amid purges within Pol Pot’s ultra Maoist regime.

Led by Samrin and backed by the Vietnamese military, the front captured Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979, toppling the Khmer Rouge and setting up the People’s Republic of Kampuchea government, the forerunner of today’s CPP.

Since then, the CPP has used its involvement in the regime change to build support and burnish its political image. But to many Cambodians, there is still contention as to whether January 7, 1979, marked the victory of a CPP-led “liberation” or a Vietnam-backed “invasion”.

Chea Vannath, independent analyst, said if the CPP wanted to maintain its popularity after so many years in power, it needed to tackle corruption and social injustice and ensure members were promoted on merit, rather than harping on its decades-old efforts to topple the Khmer Rouge.

Rainsy: I did not "defame" Heng Samrin; Sihanouk did

០៣ ធ្នូ ២០១៥ / 03 December 2015 - Heng Samrin versus Norodom Sihanouk.
ដោយសារតែខ្ញំុបានបង្ហោះវីដេអូខាងក្រោមនេះ សម្តេច ហេង សំរិន បានប្តឹងខ្ញំុ ថាខ្ញំុបានបរិហាកេរ្តិ៍លោក។ សូមបងប្អូនមើលចុះ ៖ តើខ្ញំុបាននិយាយអ្វីខ្លួនខ្ញុំ ដែលប៉ះពាល់ សម្តេច ហេង សំរិន? អត់ទាល់តែសោះ!

វីដេអូនេះ ថតនៅឆ្នាំ ១៩៨៣ គឺក្នុងសម័យ "សាធារណរដ្ឋ ប្រជាមានិត កម្ពុជា" ដែលមានលោកហេង សំរិន ជាប្រមុខរដ្ឋ។ ក្នងការលើកតម្កើងពាក្យ "សាធារណរដ្ឋ" គឺគេបានសម្លាប់ស្តេច តាមផ្លូវនយោបាយ និងផ្លូវចិត្ត រួចទៅហើយ។

Because I posted the attached video on 17 November 2015, Heng Samrin -- as a private citizen and not on behalf of the CPP or any other institution -- has just filed a defamation lawsuit against me. Please judge it by yourselves: did I say anything myself that referred to Heng Samrin or might affect his honour? Not at all !

This video was shot in 1983, at a time when the Vietnamese-backed "People's Republic of Kampuchea" was in place in Cambodia, with Heng Samrin as the nominal head of state. By putting forward the word "Republic" they have already killed the King from a moral and political point of view.

Sam Rainsy

Doctor Who Caused Mass HIV Outbreak Sentenced to 25 Years

Yem Chroeum, 55, was accused of reusing needles and syringes on patients in his unlicensed clinic, spreading the virus.

Yem Chroeum, left, an unlicensed medical practitioner, sits in a car as escorting by prison guards after a verdict announcing of the Battambang provincial court in Battambang province, northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. The Cambodian court sentenced Yem Chroeum to 25 years in prison Thursday after finding him responsible for infecting more than 100 villagers with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, by reusing unsanitized syringes. At least 10 of the infected people have died. (AP Photo/Mai Vireak)

Hul REaksmey, VOA Khmer

03 December 2015

(((

School of Vice: Tragic and devastating as this case is to his victims, he is a study in miniature when compared to the virus of mindless and deliberate destruction waged against the Khmer people and their country by the Hanoi-backed CPP regime within the last 30 years plus. The scope for malpractice in similar cases remain alarmingly vast and prevalent at every level of civil society and, in the majority of cases, are symptoms and by-products of the ruling party's overriding political agenda and the reciprocal patronage and protection it offers to its affiliates as bait and insurance against wrong-doings.

It was by way of like incentive-based "empowerment" schemes and promises of rank and status craved by so many of the disenchanted rural and urban youth in the 1970s that propelled so many of them to take up arms against their rulers, rather than, principally or necessarily, the "terror" of the American bombing campaign as insinuated by some CPP apologists. The largely ineffectual nature and impact of this random campaign has since been noted and attested to by the protagonists themselves, including the Vietcong guerrillas and some Cambodian leaders at the time such as the late prince Sihanouk who had spent time with his North Vietnamese allies in the Cambodian jungle.

)))

PHNOM PENH—

An unlicensed doctor who caused a mass outbreak of HIV in Battambang province through the re-use of infected needles has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Yem Chroeum, 55, was accused of reusing needles and syringes on patients in his unlicensed clinic, spreading the virus.

The Battambang court found him guilty of “running a clinic without a license from the Ministry of Health, intentionally causing HIV transmission to other people, and torture due to the deaths of victims that occurred in Sanke district’s Roka commune, Battambang province, from 1996 to 2014.”

Yem Chroeum was fined more than $1,200 and is barred from practicing healthcare.

In all, 119 people contracted HIV following services at his clinic, an investigation last year found. Many claimed he was a popular health care provider in their village.

PM defends Koh Kong sand dredging in letter

ppp Thu, 3 December 2015

Sen David

A ship dredges sand in Koh Kong earlier this year. Mother Nature

(((

School of Vice: Where there's paradise, there's CPP hand in destruction?

)))

Environmental activists have released a letter from Prime Minister Hun Sen to the National Assembly penned in response to allegations of illegal sand dredging in Koh Kong province.

In the letter, Hun Sen dismisses claims by activist group Mother Nature of foreign ownership of the two firms in question – Direct Access and International Rainbow – naming a Bun Chan Kresna and Dok Raden as the Cambodian owners of the companies. The letter was written in response to opposition MP Son Chhay’s request for clarification on the matter.

“Both companies belong to Cambodian nationals and have been allowed to do sand dredging in Koh Kong legally. Those companies do not belong to Vietnam and have not taken part in ‘anarchic’ dredging as Son Chhay said,” Hun Sen wrote.

The letter provided some details of the companies’ activities and backgrounds, going on to say that they did “not encroach on other places” outside of their licence areas and complaining that the firms’ work had been disrupted by Mother Nature protests.

It also set out an economic argument for the positives of river dredging, which it asserted had benefitted local communities.

“Besides, the government continues to monitor the companies’ activities to ensure they do not affect people.”

លោក សម រង្ស៊ី៖ លោក ហេង សំរិន គ្មានមូលដ្ឋានក្នុងការប្តឹងលោកនោះទេ

លោក សម រង្ស៊ី៖ លោក ហេង សំរិន គ្មានមូលដ្ឋានក្នុងការប្តឹងលោកនោះទេ
ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា
rfa 2015-12-03

ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ផ្ដល់បទសម្ភាសន៍ដល់អ្នកកាសែត នាទីស្នាក់ការកណ្ដាលបក្សរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ នៅថ្ងៃទី១១ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១៥។

RFA/Brach Chev

មេដឹកនាំគណបក្ស ប្រឆាំង លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ដែលកំពុងរស់នៅនិរទេសក្នុងប្រទេសបារាំង អះអាងថា លោកគ្មានអ្វីដែលត្រូវតទល់ជាមួយប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា លោក ហេង សំរិន ដែលប្ដឹងលោកពីបទបរិហារកេរ្តិ៍នោះឡើយ។

លោក សម រង្ស៊ី៖ «អត់ទេ អត់មានអីឆ្លើយទេ។ គ្មានអីឆ្លើយទេ។ ខ្ញុំបានផ្ញើព័ត៌មានទាក់ទងនឹងរឿងហ្នឹងជាទូទៅជាសាធារណៈ។ ខ្ញុំគ្មានអ្វីដែលត្រូវតទល់ទេ ព្រោះខ្ញុំបានបញ្ជាក់អស់ហើយតើក្នុងលិខិតរបស់ខ្ញុំ»។

កាល ពីថ្ងៃទី១ ខែធ្នូ តុលាការក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បានចេញដីកាកោះហៅលោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធានបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ តាមបណ្ដឹងរបស់លោក ហេង សំរិន ដែលប្ដឹងចោទលោក សម រង្ស៊ី ជុំវិញការសរសេរនៅលើទំព័រហ្វេសប៊ុក (Facebook) កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ថា "យើងចងចាំថា របបដែលកើតឡើងនៅថ្ងៃ៧ មករា ១៩៧៩ បានឲ្យតុលាការរបស់គេកាត់ទោសប្រហារជីវិតសម្ដេចព្រះមហាវីរក្សត្រ នរោត្ដម សីហនុ ដោយចោទព្រះអង្គថា ជាជនក្បត់ជាតិ"។

នៅ ក្នុងលិខិតចំហរមួយរបស់លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ដែលវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី ទទួលបានកាលពីថ្ងៃពុធ ទី២ ធ្នូ សរសេរថា អ្វីដែលលោកបានសរសេរនៅលើទំព័រហ្វេសប៊ុករបស់លោកកាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែវិច្ឆិកា នោះ គឺលោកចង់សំដៅទៅលើរបបដែលបង្កើតឲ្យមានថ្ងៃទី៧ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩ ហើយមិននិយាយចំឈ្មោះបុគ្គលណាមួយក្នុងការអត្ថាធិប្បាយ ឬខំមែន (Comment) របស់លោកនោះឡើយ។ លិខិតនោះក៏បានសរសេរដែរថា អតីតព្រះមហាក្សត្រ នរោត្តម សីហនុ បានមានព្រះបន្ទូលចំឈ្មោះលោក ហេង សំរិន ក្នុងវីដេអូឯកសារ ហើយដែលលោក សម រង្ស៊ី បានបង្ហោះផ្សព្វផ្សាយលើទំព័រហ្វេសប៊ុករបស់លោក។

"យើងទាំងអស់គ្នាត្រូវការយុត្តិធម៌" ជាប្រធានបទទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅខេត្តពោធិ៍សាត់

"យើងទាំងអស់គ្នាត្រូវការយុត្តិធម៌" ជាប្រធានបទទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅខេត្តពោធិ៍សាត់
ដោយ ជិន ជេដ្ឋា
rfa 2015-12-02

RFA/Chin Chetha

សកម្មភាពរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ និងបណ្ដាញសហគមន៍ភ្នំគុក ចូលរួមទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិលើកទី៦៦ នៅភូមិតាំងត្រពាំង ឃុំពេជ្រចង្វា ស្រុកបរិបូរណ៍ ខេត្តកំពង់ឆ្នាំង ថ្ងៃទី ១០ ធ្នូ ២០១៤។
RFA/Chin Chetha

អង្គការ សមាគម និងសហគមន៍ដែលគាំទ្រ និងលើកស្ទួយវិស័យសិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅកម្ពុជា តែងតែប្រារព្ធពិធីអបអរសាទរទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិរាល់ឆ្នាំ។ នៅឯខេត្តពោធិ៍សាត់ តំណាងសង្គមស៊ីវិល និងសហគមន៍ គ្រោងរៀបចំពិធីអបអរសាទរទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិ ១០ ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៥ លើកទី៦៧ ក្រោមប្រធានបទ "យើងទាំងអស់គ្នាត្រូវការយុត្តិធម៌" ហើយត្រៀមមនុស្សចូលរួមប្រមាណ ៥០០នាក់។

តំណាងអង្គការក្រៅរដ្ឋាភិបាល និងសហគមន៍មើលឃើញថា ការគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងដំណើរការអនុវត្តរបបលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យសេរីពហុបក្សនៅកម្ពុជា មិនទាន់ល្អប្រសើរនៅឡើយ។ នៅគ្រាដែលវិស័យសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងនយោបាយនៅមានបញ្ហានេះ មានមន្ត្រីរាជការ និងសិស្សនិស្សិតមួយចំនួនដែលបានឈប់សម្រាកពីការងារ ឬការសិក្សាក្នុងថ្ងៃទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិនេះ មិនទាន់យល់ច្បាស់ពីសិទ្ធិ និងកាតព្វកិច្ចរបស់ខ្លួននោះទេ។

មន្ត្រីសម្របសម្រួលនៃអង្គការលីកាដូ (LICADHO) ខេត្តពោធិ៍សាត់ លោក អេង ឈុនហាន មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ក្នុងដំណើរការគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ១០០ភាគរយ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា គោរពបានតែ ៣០ ទៅ ៤០ភាគរយប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ លោកថា កន្លងទៅ មន្ត្រីរាជការ ឬមេឃុំនៅតំបន់ដាច់ស្រយាលខ្លះ មិនបានយល់ដឹងពីទិវាសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិនេះទេ ដោយទៅរករឿងសួរនាំរកច្បាប់ទម្លាប់នៃការធ្វើពិធីជួបជុំ ដើម្បីអបអរទិវានេះ៖ «ធាតុផ្សំនៃការអនុវត្តលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និងសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស វាសំខាន់លើសិទ្ធិមូលដ្ឋានទាំងប្រាំ។ យើងបានចំណែកខ្លះវាមិនបានទាំងអស់ នៅបាត់បង់អាធាតុផ្សំសំខាន់ៗច្រើន។ បាត់បង់ដូចជា សិទ្ធិបញ្ចេញមតិ សិទ្ធិជួបជុំ សិទ្ធិតវ៉ា សិទ្ធិដាក់សំណើទៅឲ្យអាជ្ញាធរទទួលពិនិត្យ និងដោះស្រាយ ជាដើម»។

តុលាការកោះហៅលោក សម រង្ស៊ី រឿងបរិហារកេរ្តិ៍លោក ហេង សំរិន

តុលាការកោះហៅលោក សម រង្ស៊ី រឿងបរិហារកេរ្តិ៍លោក ហេង សំរិន
ដោយ ប្រាជ្ញ ចេវ
2015-12-02

ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី (ឆ្វេង) និងប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា លោក ហេង សំរិន។

RFA

តំណាងអយ្យការអមសាលាដំបូងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ចោទប្រកាន់ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី មួយករណីទៀតហើយទាក់ទងរឿងបរិហារកេរ្តិ៍ លោក ហេង សំរិន ប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា។ ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញារង លោក វង្ស ប៊ុនវិសុទ្ធ កោះអញ្ជើញ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី មកឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺនៅសាលាដំបូងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ នាព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១៦ ដើម្បីសាកសួរ។ ទាក់ទងរឿងនេះ អ្នកនាំពាក្យគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ថាបណ្ដឹងនេះជារឿងនយោបាយសុទ្ធសាធ ហើយគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ មិនតតាំងតាមផ្លូវច្បាប់ទេ គឺរកច្រកចេញតាមរយៈដំណោះស្រាយនយោបាយ។

តុលាការចេញដីកាកោះហៅ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១ ខែធ្នូ តាមបណ្ដឹងរបស់ លោក ហេង សំរិន ដែលប្ដឹងចោទ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ជុំវិញការសរសេរនៅលើទំព័រហ្វេសប៊ុក (Facebook) របស់ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ថា "យើងចងចាំថា របបកើតថ្ងៃ៧ មករា ១៩៧៩ បានឲ្យតុលាការរបស់គេកាត់ទោសប្រហារជីវិតសម្ដេចព្រះនរោត្ដម សីហនុ ដោយចោទព្រះអង្គថា ជាជនក្បត់ជាតិ"។

ដោយឡែកគណបក្សប្រឆាំង មិនបានបង្ហាញការព្រួយបារម្ភចំពោះដីការបស់តុលាការនេះទេ ប៉ុន្តែស្នើឲ្យតុលាការ និងស្ថាប័នពាក់ព័ន្ធ ស្វែងរកជនដៃដល់ផ្សេងទៀតដែលបង្កហិង្សាលើតំណាងរាស្ត្រគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ពីររូប។

អ្នកនាំពាក្យគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ ថាក្តីក្ដាំនៅតុលាការនេះ គឺគណបក្សកាន់អំណាចជាអ្នកចង។ ដូច្នេះ ទុកឲ្យគណបក្សនេះជាអ្នកស្រាយ ប៉ុន្តែគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ នៅតែរកដំណោះស្រាយនយោបាយ ឬវប្បធម៌សន្ទនានៃជំនួបកំពូលរបស់គណបក្សទាំងពីរ។ លោកបញ្ជាក់ថា ការបញ្ចេញមតិរបស់ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែវិច្ឆិកា មិនធ្ងន់ធ្ងរដល់ថ្នាក់ជាប់បណ្ដឹងនៅតុលាការនោះទេ បើធៀបនឹងការរិះគន់នានារបស់ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី កន្លងមក៖ «»។

Government Officials Increasingly on Facebook

In July, an estimated 2.9 million Cambodians were on Facebook, up from 1.7 million a year earlier.

Socheata Hean, OA Khmer

03 December 2015

PHNOM PENH—

Senior Cambodian government officials are using their smart phones while awaiting the return of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen from France at Phnom Penh International Airport, October 28, 2015. Government officials and state institutions have recently taken to Facebook to inform the public as the social media platform is becoming increasingly popular among Cambodian youth. (Hean Socheata/VOA Khmer)

The social networking website Facebook has grown increasingly popular with government officials, who use it to communicate with their constituents and to push their political positions to a younger audience.

Most ministries have a Facebook page, and Prime Minister Hun Sen has an official page, as well. The Hun Sen page, which has more than 1.4 million likes, contains information on the premier’s daily activities, speeches and reactions to political events.

Ouk Kimseng, an adviser to the Ministry of Information, said there is now a lot of news and information available on Facebook, compared to elsewhere. If pages are official, “people can know that the information is accurate enough,” he said.

Facebook allows a new kind of interaction between people and the government, which is an improvement, he said. “The government would take those suggestions from public for consideration,” he said.

It is free of charge and helps Cambodia catch up to the rest of the world, he added.

It’s also a boon to news organizations and journalists, said Kay Kimsong, editor-in-chief for The Phnom Penh Post Khmer. “We now can quote from those official Facebook pages, while we hardly quote directly from [the people behind them], especially opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he said.

តើនរណាខ្លះជាម្ចាស់ប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយនៅកម្ពុជា ?

FTU president claims leaders fired unfairly

ppp Wed, 2 December 2015

Pech Sotheary

Free Trade Union president Chea Mony talks to the media earlier this year in Phnom Penh. Heng Chivoan

A national garment workers union has asked the government to reinstate 15 of its local union leaders it claims were fired simply due to their union membership.

In a letter sent to the Ministry of Labour on Monday, Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, wrote that the 15 FTU unionists who have been fired separately since 2014 and were stationed in seven factories across the country were clearly discriminated against because of their status as leaders of local union chapters.

“I understand dismissals made when the garment sector is shaky or experiences a drop in orders, but the factory cannot just fire the leaders immediately,” he said.

The letter also demands unspecified compensation be paid for the leaders’ loss of work.

Mony warned that he would send the letter up to higher levels of government should it go unheeded, threatening a “huge demonstration” if nothing was done.

The sudden dismissal of union leaders is common in the garment sector, even though by law employers have to file extra documents to ask permission from labour inspectors first, said Moeun Tola, director of the labour program at the Community Legal Education Center.

“Another thing which we see is that sometimes labour inspectors make mistakes, and usually sign off without conducting any investigation,” he added.

MPs revisit Vietnam border pond issue

ppp Wed, 2 December 2015

Pech Sotheary

People inspect a Vietnamese-made pond on the Ratanakkiri province border earlier this year. ADHOC

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School of Vice: Is this man-made landmark providing another piece of "historical evidence" supporting Vietnam's claims to Cambodian territory?

Well, if this issue affects all of Cambodia, then all Cambodian citizens should be encouraged to learn about it through direct participation and involvement. Don't count on Phnom Penh and Hanoi to work out an agreement that would be just and equitable to Cambodia.

)))

Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers Mao Monivann and Son Chhay visited a disputed area on the border between Ratanakkiri’s O’Yadav district and Vietnam on Monday and urged the government to take action over several ponds allegedly dug by the Vietnamese in Cambodian territory.

Monivann said yesterday that the eight irrigation ponds in Ratanakkiri’s Paknhai commune have yet to be filled with earth as agreed upon by the two governments in June.

“If we keep allowing them to do this, it means that a country invades us, and we cannot let them look down on us . . . If Vietnam does not respect what we have suggested and what they have promised, the government should seek an international mechanism,” Monivann said.

Chhay, who met with the local ethnic Jarai communities, relayed their concern over loss of farmland to the Vietnamese due to government inaction.

Senior Minister for Border Affairs Var Kimhong said talks will resume later in December.

“There is no need for Son Chhay to go there; the government is working on it, but there is no result yet,” he said.

Vietnam gives Kingdom encryption lessons

ppp Wed, 2 December 2015

Taing Vida

Ministry of Interior secretary of state Em Sam An (left) talks with Vietnam’s defense minister, General Phung Quang Than, last week during a meeting. National Police

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School of Vice: Why is Vietnam so keen to have a stake in all these important state institutions and their intelligence, from trained "geographers" to the army and police? Even Cuba or Russia could have trained Cambodians better on developing all these vital state intelligence systems. And if they had asked me, I would have dispatched Ms Jendha to do the job for free!!

)))

The Vietnamese military has begun training Cambodia police in cryptography and encryption techniques as part of a national plan to protect “state secrets”.

Em Sam An, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior, signed a new agreement between the ministry’s cryptography department and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence last Thursday, according to a the National Police website.

The cryptography training has been accompanied by the installation by the Vietnamese military of secure networks for communication and data storage in key government departments dealing with policing, foreign affairs, defence and intelligence.

Kirt Chantharith, deputy National Police chief, said in a video posted on the police website that Vietnam had agreed to send cryptography experts to train police to encrypt and protect electronic data stored on government servers relating to strategic decision-making areas such as national security and international relations.

Officials yesterday were unclear as to whether the equipment provided by Vietnam would only be used for encrypting government data, or if it could also be used to spy on its recipients.

Ouk Sarot, director of the cryptography department of the National Police, said he did not think that Vietnam would have access to government data from the networks they had installed.

“Previously, Vietnam has trained us how to use code to encrypt information, and now some of us can do it by ourselves,” he said.

“This is aid and … Vietnam cannot access [sensitive] information, because we make it private. We will not use the same [encryption] codes they train us with. We will change them. I doubt they can access our information,” he said.

An opposition weapon neglected?

ppp Wed, 2 December 2015

Shaun Turton

Lawmakers from the Cambodia National Rescue Party pose for photos on the steps of the National Assembly in August 2014 after being sworn in to parliament at the Royal Palace. Vireak Mai

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School of Vice: What planet are these "analysts" from? Opposition law-makers have had their parliamentary immunity stripped, thrown into jail, savagely beaten right outside their place of work, and yet they are still expected to turn up for work as usual as if nothing remotely contradictory and antithetical to the letter and the spirit of the law, of which they are its sworn custodians and faithful adherents, has occurred?

Boycotting this perverted/hijacked law-making institution is also the clearest message of protest the Opposition will ever send out to the public and its constituencies as well as the rest of the watching world. Were any of these so-called analysts to find themselves in the shoes of Opposition legislators instead, ... well, your guess is as good as mine!

)))

In the face of a full-frontal political attack by the ruling CPP, the opposition has dropped what remains among their most powerful, though long-underutilised, weapons – their role as legislators, a veteran political consultant said yesterday.

For the third time this year, the Cambodia National Rescue Party on Monday boycotted a plenary session of the National Assembly.

The CNRP cited safety fears among reasons for the boycott, which allowed 66 Cambodian People’s Party lawmakers to pass next year’s budget, along with two other bills, without dissent.

“It is a mistake to boycott,” said Denis Schrey, the country director of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), who has worked with both the CNRP and CPP on parliamentary reform for more than four years.

“They should use every opportunity they have; I know they are of course afraid of security, I understand the reasons the atmosphere might be difficult.

“You have always means to do something. If they boycott, then they boycott. But they still should be constructive, even if the CPP doesn’t allow [their policy] changes, they can talk to the media and say ‘this is our proposal’.”

Warrants issued for Sok Hour 'conspirators'

ppp Wed, 2 December 2015

Meas Sokchea

Senator Hong Sok Hour is taken in handcuffs from the home of CNRP lawmaker Yon Tharo in Sen Sok district earlier this year. Photo supplied

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has ordered the arrest of two more opposition members, issuing warrants for the administrators of Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy’s Facebook page who are in hiding abroad.

Satya Sambath, 25, and Chong Leang Ueng, 20, are wanted in relation to a social media post, including a video, uploaded by Senator Hong Sok Hour to Rainsy’s Facebook page on August 12.

The duo, fearing arrest, fled to another country in the region in August together with Satya’s brother David Sambat, who is Sok Hour’s assistant, after Prime Minister Hun Sen alluded to “conspirators” in the Sam Rainsy Party senator’s case.

The group has since applied for asylum in the West. They are yet to receive a determination, an opposition source said yesterday.

CNRP spokesman Yim So-vann said the three men, according to their families, were “OK”.

According to the two warrants, signed by investigating judge Kor Vandy and dated November 19 but obtained yesterday, the pair is accused of incitement and conspiring to forge and use forged public documents.

In one warrant, Vandy, who could not be contacted yesterday, states police had confirmed the escape of “Satya Sambath or Sambath Satya” and there was enough information to order an arrest.

“Therefore, [the court] orders public forces to pursue an arrest and bring [the person with the] above name to allow Phnom Penh Municipal Court to take legal action,” it read.

King Sihamoni calls for climate action at COP21

ppp Wed, 2 December 2015

Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Segolene Royale, greets King Norodom Sihamoni as he arrives for the opening of the UN conference on climate change on Monday in Paris. AFP

King Norodom Sihamoni delivered an impassioned plea for a legally binding international climate change treaty in an address to the delegates of 195 nations and the world’s civil society on Monday night as the UN Climate Talks in Paris (COP21) opened.

“Climate change is the defining challenge of our time and we have started to experience its effects over the past few years,” the King declared in the opening salvo of a six-and-a-half-minute long speech, delivered in French.

Citing concerns over food security, poverty reduction and health issues, the King warned that if not addressed, climate change will compromise human development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted earlier this year.

“In Cambodia, as we speak, farmers are struggling with changing seasonal rainfall patterns and prolonged drought periods, which affect agricultural production and food security,” Sihamoni said, discussing natural disasters made worse by climate change.

“The 2013 floods … cost my country 2 per cent of GDP, affected almost 380,000 households in 20 of our 25 provinces, and claimed 168 lives – the majority of which were children,” he gravely intoned.

A recent UN study places the Kingdom among the top 10 countries most affected by weather-related disasters.

Golden memories ...

HIV in Cambodia

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Marie-Odile Emond

Cambodian staff members of an NGO explain to villagers how to prevent HIV and other diseases on World AIDS Day 2013. AFP

Next year, Cambodia will mark 25 years since its first HIV case was reported and its national AIDS response sprung into action, becoming one of the most successful in the region.

This movement, which united the royal government and civil society in a common goal, saved tens of thousands of lives and transformed the face of AIDS from one of fear, suffering and isolation to one of positive living, community leadership and engagement.

On World AIDS Day 2015, we can celebrate another year of progress: strategic planning, prioritising services focusing on key populations at higher risk, encouraging HIV testing and enrolment for HIV treatment, promoting knowledge and demand for services among and with communities, piloting innovations for prevention as well as for more integrated and cost efficient approaches for care and support, mobilising resources, improving strategic information and advancing human rights and gender equality.

Almost one year after a high number of HIV infections were suddenly reported in Roka commune, Battambang, 90 per cent of identified people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the community are on treatment and learning progressively to live positively with HIV.

This was possible thanks to tremendous and rapid mobilisation from the government at the national, provincial and local levels in partnership with civil society, including community organisations that provided the necessary services and support to the Roka community members impacted by HIV.

It is a long-term investment to accompany people living with HIV in Roka to remain on treatment every single day, protect their loved ones and ensure HIV does not impede on other aspects of their lives. Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination still make life challenging for people living with HIV.

សង្គមស៊ីវិលថ្កោលទោសពលរដ្ឋវៀតណាមប្រើហិង្សាវាយប៉ូលិសការពារព្រំដែនខេត្តស្វាយរៀង

សង្គមស៊ីវិលថ្កោលទោសពលរដ្ឋវៀតណាមប្រើហិង្សាវាយប៉ូលិសការពារព្រំដែនខេត្តស្វាយរៀង
ដោយ ថា កិត្យា
2015-12-01

១១-ឧសភា-២០១៤៖ ទីរួមខេត្តស្វាយរៀង។

RFA/Chum Rasy

(((

School of Vice: This is yet another incident that serves to underscore Cambodia's de facto political subjugation vis a vis Vietnam. Previously we learnt of Cambodian coastguards receiving heavy beatings from Vietnamese fishermen who strayed into Cambodian sea water at the time whilst doing their duties, and both these incidents involved premeditated attacks on, not Cambodian civilians, but authority officials, indicating just how much scorn with which these Cambodian authority figures are regarded by their counterparts and "good neighbours" to the east.

Imagine, as I have repeatedly pointed out, if these incidents had involved the reverse situation whereby it were the Vietnamese officials [or even civilians] who had been at the receiving end of the ill treatment! Even the recent show of immigration law enforcement through repatriation of a handful of illegal Vietnamese workers at some construction sites have been cited as evidence of the [anti-Vietnamese?] prejudice and pressure the Phnom Penh authorities have found themselves under from the Opposition! At least, it's good to learn the political sway and weight the bespoken Opposition nowadays command over the ruling regime...

If only these law enforcements extend to the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese still populating and polluting the Tonle Sap [Great Lake] which, in any reasoned opinion, poses a far greater threat to the country's collective livelihood, as well as a serious violation of its sovereignty and dignity. Be careful who you choose to dine with in Phnom Penh ...

)))

អង្គការសង្គមស៊ីវិល ថ្កោលទោសពលរដ្ឋវៀតណាម ដែលប្រើហិង្សាលើនាយប៉ុស្តិ៍ច្រករបៀង នៅខេត្តស្វាយរៀង ម្នាក់ឲ្យរងរបួសក្បាលជាទម្ងន់ ថាជាការមាក់ងាយច្បាប់ និងសមត្ថកិច្ចកម្ពុជា។ ការថ្កោលទោសនេះ នៅបន្ទាប់ពីឃើញកាសែតក្នុងស្រុកចុះផ្សាយ នៅថ្ងៃទី៣០ វិច្ឆិកា ថា ជនជាតិវៀតណាម ចូលមកវាយមន្ត្រីយោធាខ្មែរម្នាក់ឲ្យរបួសធ្ងន់នៅច្រករបៀងវរៈការពារព្រំដែនលេខ២០១ ស្ថិតក្នុងក្រុងបាវិត។

អង្គការការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សចំនួនពីរប្រចាំខេត្តស្វាយរៀង លើកឡើងថា អាជ្ញាធរកម្ពុជា មិនគួរដោះស្រាយសម្របសម្រួលគ្នាក្រៅប្រព័ន្ធច្បាប់នោះទេ ជុំវិញករណីពលរដ្ឋវៀតណាម ម្នាក់ ស្ទុះចូលមកវាយតប់លើនាយប៉ុស្តិ៍ច្រករបៀងវរៈការពារព្រំដែនលេខ២០១ ស្ថិតនៅភូមិតាបិប សង្កាត់បាវិត ក្រុងបាវិត។

ប្រធានសមាគមការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអាដហុក (ADHOC) ប្រចាំខេត្តស្វាយរៀង លោក ប្រាក់ សារ៉ាន់ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ប្រសិនបើករណីនេះធ្វើការដោះស្រាយគ្នាដោយមិនអនុវត្តតាមច្បាប់នោះ គឺនឹងបណ្ដាលឲ្យជាតិសាសន៍ដទៃ មើលងាយស្ថាប័នមានសមត្ថកិច្ច និងច្បាប់របស់កម្ពុជា តទៅទៀត៖ «នេះគឺជារឿងមួយដែលមិនគួរអត់ឲ្យទេ គួរតែអនុវត្តតាមច្បាប់ឲ្យបានម៉ឺងម៉ាត់ ពីព្រោះអីជាតិសាសន៍ដទៃមួយដែលមកវាយសមត្ថកិច្ចនៅក្នុងទឹកដីរបស់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ គេមើលទៅថា ប្រសិនបើយើងមិនបានអនុវត្តច្បាប់ឲ្យបានតឹងតែងទេ ឲ្យអ្នកហ្នឹងរួចខ្លួន គឺវាប៉ះពាល់ដល់កិតិ្តយសជាតិយើងខ្លាំងណាស់»។

កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៣០ វិច្ឆិកា កាសែតក្នុងស្រុកមួយបានចុះផ្សាយថា ជនជាតិវៀតណាម ម្នាក់ដែលស្រវឹងស្រា បានចុះពីលើម៉ូតូទៅវាយលោកអនុសេនីយ៍ឯក ម៉ុំ ដារា នាយប៉ុស្តិ៍ច្រករបៀង២០១ បណ្ដាលឲ្យរងរបួសក្បាលធ្ងន់ បន្ទាប់ពីលោកឃាត់ដើម្បីសួរនាំ និងពិនិត្យបែបបទរដ្ឋបាលកាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៩ វិច្ឆិកា។

អ្នកតំណាងរាស្ត្របក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិពីររូបទន្ទឹងរង់ចាំយុត្តិធម៌

Witness gives conflicting testimony at KRT

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon

Witness ‘2-TCW-918’ (left) gives his testimony before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia during Case 002/02 yesterday in Phnom Penh. ECCC

Conflicting accounts of conditions at the Trapeang Thma dam worksite from a former mobile work unit “commander” testifying anonymously were heard at the Khmer Rouge tribunal yesterday, as evidence hearings for Case 002/02 resumed after several weeks of adjournment.

The witness, identified only as “2-TCW-918”, was initially examined in a closed-door session due to confidentiality issues relating to cases 003 and 004 before the trial chamber decided to continue publicly later in the morning.

The witness testified that Ta Val, the dam worksite’s notorious overseer, had given him orders directly, but he yesterday recanted prior statements he made to the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) that linked Ta Val to the party centre’s chain of command.

“I cannot recall whether I mentioned anything about the centre or the central committee, however I made my own conclusion that Ta Val and Ta Hang were likely to receive instructions from the upper echelon,” he said.

The witness’s DC-Cam testimony also described a visit to the dam by defendant Khieu Samphan and the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk. However, upon cross-examination by prosecutor Dale Lysak, the witness altered his account.

“Ta Val . . . told us the person was Khieu Samphan, but at that time I did not recognise Khieu Samphan,” he said, adding that “[Samphan] is small build, different than the person I saw at that time, who was large build”.

“Khieu Samphan nowadays is not so tall,” he said.

Gains, pitfalls in HIV battle

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Sen David and Jamie Elliott

First lady and Cambodia Red Cross president Bun Rany hands a gift package to a man living with HIV on the weekend in Prey Veng province. Facebook

As nations around the globe mark World AIDS Day, the Kingdom’s first lady, Bun Rany, has appealed to Cambodians to do their part in helping the UN reach its goal of eradicating HIV entirely within 15 years. Local experts, however, say progress in some high-risk communities has stalled.

“All Cambodians and authorities should join together as part of the worldwide effort to get rid of HIV by 2030, through prevention work, protecting yourself, hurrying to hospital for treatment and not discriminating against people affected by the disease,” she said in a statement.

Rany, who also serves as president of the Cambodian Red Cross, added that Cambodia had made great strides in the fight against HIV, reducing the infection rate amongst people aged 15 to 49 from 1.6 per cent in 1998, to just 0.6 per cent this year.

She also said HIV rates amongst high risk groups had fallen dramatically in the past 20 years.

However, according to Marie-Odile Emond, Cambodia country director for UNAIDS, although infection rates had indeed come down amongst those most at risk, progress has now stalled.

“We seem to have reached a limit among key population groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people and intravenous drug users,” she said. “We have got to a lot of people, but those that remain are proving hard to reach because they are among the most marginalised, poor and fearful groups in society.”

‘Busy’ CPP pols in no rush to meet with CNRP

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Meas Sokchea

Kem Sokha (left) and Sar Kheng part ways after a meeting at the National Assembly in August. Heng Chivoan

(((

School of Vice: When these CPP "fat cats" claim they are too busy to talk with the Opposition as requested by the latter who represent about half of the known electorate, and presumably in order to resolve some of the gravest political crises and issues facing the entire nation and its future, you had better believe it. After all, the ruling PM himself rarely makes his appearance at the National Assembly, preferring instead to conduct most of his businesses with cronies over at his luxury golf course!

)))

Reversing a statement he made on Sunday, CPP lawmaker and spokesman Sok Eysan said a tentatively scheduled meeting between party leaders, including Interior Minister and senior CPP official Sar Kheng and CNRP acting president Kem Sokha, set for either yesterday or today had been cancelled because of work commitments.

“Because the leaders of Cambodian People’s Party are engaged in their duties to serve the nation and the people, they do not have a plan to meet with leaders of the [CNRP] in the National Assembly,” Eysan said, refusing to reveal a timeframe for negotiations.

“The culture of dialogue is still open as before, but because their work schedules are very busy, the [CPP leaders] do not plan to meet at this time.”

Responding, CNRP spokesman Yem Ponharith said the party agreed talks could wait for an “appropriate time”.

Sokha last week pledged to sit down and negotiate with the CPP to defuse tensions, with party president Sam Rainsy currently in self-imposed exile in France to avoid going to prison.

Rainsy, stripped of his lawmaker status on November 16, faces a two-year sentence over a 2011 conviction for defaming Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in 2008.

The case, long dormant and thought expunged, emerged on November 13 as political tensions swelled following the ousting of Sokha as the National Assembly’s first vice president and the gang-bashing of two opposition MPs outside parliament after a pro-CPP rally, a demonstration foreshowed by Prime Minister Hun Sen the night before.

Sok Hour loses appeal

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Taing Vida

Sam Rainsy Party Senator Hong Sok Hour’s lawyer, Choung Choungy, talks to the media at the Appeal Court in September. Hong Menea

The Appeal Court yesterday rejected a bid by Hong Sok Hour’s lawyer to secure the imprisoned opposition senator’s freedom and avoid being forced to hand over further evidence, including the lawmaker’s laptop.

Opposition lawyer Choung Choungy had appealed against an October 7 order by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to supply documents and electronic equipment as part of the ongoing trial of his client over a Facebook post, which has been adjourned pending the resolution of the request.

Choungy argued the defence would comply with the request, but only if his client was released on bail and able to gather and submit the material himself.

Prosecutor Yin Sokuntheary contested that Choungy’s appeal against the municipal court’s order was invalid, as Article 385 of the Criminal Procedure Code held that an appeal against an “interlocutory judgment” was only admissible if the case had finished.

Choungy disagreed with this interpretation, insisting that the court’s written order to supply more evidence explicitly mentioned that it could be contested at the Appeal Court.

Judge Plang Samnang shot down the appeal without offering a rationale.

Choungy said that the defence would consider taking their complaint to the Supreme Court.

Arrested on August 15, Sok Hour faces charges of forging a public document, using a forged public document and incitement to cause serious unrest, after he posted a “fake” section of a 1979 border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam on August 13, which stated the countries would dissolve their national borders.

Cranes, other endangered birds see numbers tick up

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Igor Kossov

Sarus Cranes preen themselves in Haryana, India. Photo supplied

As the rare Sarus Crane makes its annual return to Banteay Meanchey to nest for the dry season, wildlife experts said yesterday that they have noticed a growing population of these birds – along with more than a dozen other vulnerable species returning to a sanctuary in the province.

Bird flocks in the Ang Trapaeng Thmor conservation area – built atop a notorious Khmer Rouge worksite – have grown by 20 per cent per species, including among populations of the Greater Adjutant Stork and the Greater Spotted Eagle.

The Sarus Crane – which is the tallest flying bird in the world, and currently listed as “vulnerable” – has done even better. Some 850 cranes are now in the province, compared to just 200 in 2001.

“I can see many [birds] spreading out around the rice fields and the reservoir itself compared to the previous two or three years – not many birds around that area [back then], except a few nesting,” said Johnny Orn, director of the Sam Veasna Center, which works to preserve bird life in the Kingdom.

Hong Chamnan, a project manager with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), credited the gains, in part, to cooperation from locals. “People understand the situation for the birds – they protect them very well with community management committees,” he said.

Community education programs about the natural and economic value of wildlife have largely been successful in stopping local poaching, while a land-sharing arrangement has pleased both farmers and environmentalists around the sanctuary, according to WCS.

Child protection in schools under review

ppp Tue, 1 December 2015

Igor Kossov

A child walks through the schoolyard at Phnom Penh's Sothearos School earlier this year. A new Ministry of Education initiative aims to protect children from abuse in school.Vireak Mai

The Ministry of Education is working with NGOs to draft a policy document to protect schoolchildren from abuse at the hands of educators and fellow students, an NGO specialist told the Post yesterday.

More than 40 government and non-government representatives gathered in the capital on Friday to discuss the policy, which NGO Plan International Cambodia, drafter of the document, says may be finished “early next year”.

The policy will seek to improve teacher training, educate students on their rights and improve reporting mechanisms in schools.

“Violence in schools [is a] problem, according to earlier studies,” said Sovannary Ty, Plan International’s country child rights specialist.

A 2013 survey by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and UNICEF found that Cambodia’s children face routine abuse in their communities and schools, which triggered the government to create child-safety commitments for various ministries.

The Education Ministry is is currently collaborating with Plan International, the Child Rights Foundation and the Cambodia National Council for Children on the issue.

The draft policy discussed on Friday “will serve as an indispensable resource for teachers and schools to not only keep children safe, but also promote quality education”, Leang Seng Hak, the deputy director of the ministry’s teacher training department, said in a statement.

មូលហេតុសំខាន់ៗពីក្រោយបុណ្យអុំទូក យើងមិនគួរមើលរំលង

ជីវិតជោគជ័យរបស់លោក ចាន់ ថារិទ្ឋ

បទសម្ភាសន៍ក្រុុមយុវជនគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ

Inside the bubble with Obama in Paris

Reporter's Notebook

Inside the bubble with Obama in Paris

As US president heads to French capital for UN climate summit, his 2008 promise to heal the planet is sure to be broken.

29 Nov 2015

Nearly 150 world leaders, including Obama, will gather in Paris for the start of the UN climate change summit [Olivier Douliery/EPA]

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patty Culhane

White House Correspondent

As I write this, US President Barack Obama has just taken off for Paris and the UN Climate summit. I beat him here - after all he doesn't have to go through customs or anything so he travels faster than I do.

This is a very big deal to Obama. Getting an overarching worldwide agreement on climate change has been a central theme of his administration since he took office.

Remember the talk of calming seas when he became the Democratic nominee? Small problem - he's not going to keep that promise.

A recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that if all of the countries live up to their pledges to reduce greenhouse gases, the Earth will still warm 3.5 degrees Celsius by 2100.

Can world leaders reach climate change deal?

Without any action, the planet is expected to warm by 4.5C.

These scientists say the combined actions will in essence reduce the temperature by 1C.

That will not stave off the worst consequences of climate change. It's also an open question as to whether the countries will live up to their commitments.

Hurdles ahead

The Obama administration has been working hard to avoid this agreement being called a treaty. If it is a treaty, he would have to get two-thirds of the US Senate to agree to the terms.

យុទ្ធនាការបើកចំហព័ត៌មានពីវិស័យឧស្សាហកម្មនិស្សារណកម្មនៅ

Youths call for faster passage of alcohol law

Youths call for faster passage of alcohol law
ppp Mon, 30 November 2015
Pech Sotheary

Participants in a mock youth National Assembly hold a press conference yesterday regarding the National Assembly's draft alcohol control law. Pech Sotheary

A Cambodian youth group has urged the government to end its foot dragging over a law to impose an age limit on consuming and buying alcohol and other restrictions aimed at reducing drinking.

The failure of lawmakers to adopt the alcohol control bill, first drafted in 2008, was having a serious impact on the health of young people, and the law should be passed no later than March next year, according to the group, a mock youth National Assembly.

“Alcohol is causing many problems for young people,” assembly member Heng Kemhong said. “The risks include traffic accidents, domestic violence and more than 200 diseases.”

He added that the snail’s pace of the law’s progress may be a result of pressure from breweries.

“If the government and National Assembly don’t adopt the drafted bills, we will file a petition to the National Assembly,” Kemhong said.

Currently there are no age, advertising or other restrictions on the sale of alcohol.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the bill had reached the council on one occasion, but had been sent back to the Ministry of Health because it contained too many errors.

A Change of Guard

Friday, 4 December 2015

Thursday, 3 December 2015

Government Officials Increasingly on Facebook

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Tuesday, 1 December 2015