A father’s wish fulfilled [Princess Norodom Soma's father's wish has been fulfilled]

 
By Princess Soma Norodom (pictured above)

Phnom Penh Post
31 December 2012

When a person moves closer towards death, he may experience a surge of energy as he gets nearer. He may talk to loved ones, or ask for food after days of no appetite.

This surge of energy may be unnoticed, but it is usually a dying person’s final physical expression before moving on.

The main fear of death in most cases is due to a fear of the unknown.

On Sunday, my beloved father passed away. He was 77-years-old. And before he died, he had this surge of energy, witnessed by me and my cousins.

No matter how much you prepare for this moment, death arrives in its own time, and in its own way.

Then a dilemma arose, and it was one I was not prepared for. We had to decide whether to have the doctor remove the pacemaker from his chest. A pacemaker is a small device inserted in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms.

This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.

When the doctor pronounced him dead, the doctor and the nurse asked if I wanted them to take his pacemaker out.

I was still in a state of shock from his death, but had to suddenly decide if I want the doctor to cut my father open and pull out the pacemaker.

I called my sister in the US and told her the sad news, and also asked if I should have the pacemaker removed from his body. She did not know the answer.

Abhisit’s time almost up

Abhisit and his wife prostrated before the portrait of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

By Roger Mitton
Phnom Penh Post
 

It is the last day of the year and no one will be more glad to see the back of 2012 than Abhisit Vejjajiva, the former Thai prime minister and current leader of the opposition.

Last month, a committee appointed by the defence minister declared that the former PM had forged documents to avoid military conscription.

As a result, the government is seeking to strip him of the rank he was given when teaching at an army academy and wants to make him to repay his salary.

Worse followed at the start of this month when Abhisit was charged with murder over the death of a taxi driver shot by troops during the Red Shirt protests in Bangkok in May 2010.

Abhisit was prime minister at that time and he authorised the military to use lethal force, if necessary, to disperse the demonstrators.

More than 90 people were killed, and after a lengthy investigation, Abhisit and his former deputy, Suthep Thaugsuban, have been charged with “giving orders that led to the deaths of others with intent”.

In addition, the ruling Pheu Thai government has asked the Department of Special Investigation to check into alleged irregularities in the sale of rice when Abhisit was prime minister.

It appears that some officials, with or without his knowledge, may have violated the law against price collusion in the sale of rice and that this led to unfair competition in the bidding process.

As well, Abhisit and Suthep face allegations that they broke Thailand’s Political Party Act when they made flood compensation donations during their term in office.

As if all this were not enough, Abhisit’s Democrat Party is in disarray over who to choose as its candidate for the coming gubernatorial election in Bangkok.

The current city governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, is a Democrat and is keen to run again for a second term, but Abhisit and other party leaders regard him as far too wishy-washy and want to replace him.

They have sounded out the party’s No 2, Korn Chatikavanij, but he has spurned the call because his goal is to take over the No 1 slot and hopefully become the next premier.

Thai-Cambodia buses open a new era with new land connections on public transport

By Luc Citrinot
http://www.traveldailynews.asia
31 December 2012, 

 

Thailand and Cambodia launched the first direct bus services linking Bangkok with Siem Reap and Phnom Penh during the week end.

BANGKOK- First bus services between the two Kingdoms of Cambodia and Thailand had their debut on December 29, said the Transport Co., a Thai state enterprise under the Transport Ministry. The service includes the Bangkok-Siem Reap route, a 424-kilometre trip that takes about seven hours. The two countries will provide two trips a day. The fare will be 750 baht or US$25. The Bangkok-Phnom Penh service, covering 719 km and taking 11 hours, will run once a day with a fare of 900 baht or $30.

Air-conditioned buses will serve both routes, which will run through Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo province. Transport Co works in cooperation with Cambodian bus company Natthakarn Co. Both companies have large ambitions to boost connectivity between both countries. Transport Co plans to eventually provide as many as 20 trips a day on both routes if needed to meet the rising demand of travellers. The new bus routes will help accommodate an expected upturn in travel when the Asean Economic Community is launched in early 2016.

Hun Sen explains that the government has no ability to increase civil servants' salary [but he has the ability to make his family becomes millionaires into the next generations] សម្តេចនាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ពន្យល់​ពី​ការ មិន​អាច​តម្លើង​ប្រាក់ខែ​មន្ត្រីរាជការ ឲ្យ​ខ្ពស់ តាម​ចិត្ត​ចង់

ម្នាលភ្នែកមួយសារភាពថា  ខ្លួនគ្មាន​សមត្ថ​ភាពរកប្រាក់មកដំឡើងប្រាក់​ខែ  ជូន​មន្ត្រី​រាជាការ និង​គ្រូបង្រៀនបានឡើយ តែរក​សំរាប់​ក្រុមគ្រួសារ​របស់នាយធ្វើមហាសេដ្ឋី​តពូជបាន..

................................................

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party MPs joined the workers today (31/12/12) in protesting to demand a minimum wage increase from $61 to $150 per month.

(ថ្ងៃទី 30 ធ្នូ 2012,) | ដោយ: លី សិលា CEN

ខេត្តតាកែវ: ក្នុង​ពិធី​ចែក​ប័ណ្ណកម្មសិទ្ធិ​ដីធ្លី ដល់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ក្នុង​ស្រុក​ត្រាំកក់ ខេត្តតាកែវ កាលពី​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ទី​៣០ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ សម្តេច​តេជោ នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ប​បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា បើសិន​ជា​ត្រូវ​តម្លើង​ប្រាក់ខែ​មន្ត្រីរាជការ ប៉ូលិស​ទាហាន នោះ​ការ​កសាង​ហេដ្ឋារចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ​ផ្លូវ​ស្ពាន ប្រឡាយទឹក សាលារៀន និង​មន្ទីរពេទ្យ សម្រាប់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ នឹង​មិន​អាចធ្វើ​បាន​ទៀត​ទេ​។​

​សម្តេច​តេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ថ្លែងថា សម្តេច​ក៏​ចង់ឲ្យ​ប្រាក់ខែ​មន្ត្រីរាជកា​រ ទទួលបាន​ប្រាក់ខែ​ខ្ពស់​ផង​ដែរ​។ តែ​សំខាន់ ថា​តើ​យើង​បាន​លុយ​នោះ មកពីណា​?​។ សម្តេច ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ពន្យល់ថា រឿង​ប្រាក់ខែ​នោះ មាន​ពីរ​។ មួយ​នៅ​លើ​ក្រដាស់ និង​មួយ​ទៀត សាច់​ប្រាក់សុទ្ធ​។ បើសិនជា​សរសេ​រលើ​ក្រដាស់ មិន​ជា​បញ្ហា​ទេ​។ តែ​បើ​យក​ក្រដាស់​​អាណត្តិ​សាច់ប្រាក់​នោះ ទៅ​បើ​កលុយ​នៅ​រតនាគារ​ជាតិ គឺ​យើង​មិន​មាន​ប្រាក់ បើក​ទេ​។​

​មួយវិញទៀត សម្តេច​តេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា "​បើសិនជា​អ្នក​នយោបាយ ឃោសនា​សន្យា​តម្លើង​ប្រាក់ខែ​មន្ត្រីរាជការ​នោះ គឺ​គេ​នឹង​យកពន្ធ​ដី ហើយ​​ត្រូវតែ​តម្លើង​ពន្ធ ដើម្បី​តម្រឹម​ប្រាក់ខែ​។ អីចឹង​ទេ បើ​យើង​គិតតែ​មន្ត្រីរាជការ កងកម្លាំង​ប្រដាប់អាវុធ​តែ​ប៉ុន្មាន​សិប​ម៉ឺន​នាក់ តើ​ប្រជាជន ១៤ លាន​នាក់​ទៀត បាន​អី​?​។ ជា​ផ្លូវថ្នល់ ជា​ប្រឡាយទឹក ជា​សាលារៀន ជា​មន្ទីរពេទ្យ ជា​ថ្នាំពេទ្យ ជា​បរិក្ខា​ពេទ្យ បាន​អី​?​។ បើ​នាំ​គ្នា ហ៊ឺហា​តែ​សម្រាប់​មន្ត្រីរាជការ កងកម្លាំងប្រដាប់អាវុធ តើ​បាន​អី​? ប្រជាជន​បាន​អី​?"​។​

Hun Sen Encourages Cambodians to Emulate Chinese-Style Wealth [Yes, robbing from the poor to give to the rich to make the rich richer and the poor poorer]

Ly Yong Phat (holding the sugar) and Hun Sen (to his left) during the inauguration of the sugar refinery.

 

By Phorn Bopha 

The Cambodia Daily

December 30, 2012

Prime Minister Hun Sen encouraged Cambodians to strive for Chinese-style millionaire status as he inaugurated a sugar refinery located inside two controversial plantations belonging to CPP Senator Ly Yong Phat and his wife in Kompong Speu province.

“I have one clear policy in strengthening the capacity of local investors, and that is making Cambodians become rich,” Mr. Hun Sen said in a speech at the inauguration on Thursday.

“Let’s invest in small and big firms. Let’s make Cambodians become millionaires. Only in Cambodia are there no millionaires. In China there are many millionaires, so don’t think that a communist country has no millionaires,” the prime minister continued, adding that foreign investors should feel they have equal access to entering the market when competing with local enterprises.

Mr. Hun Sen said that promoting a wealthy class was the best way to help the poor.

“Make the bosses rich in Cambodia,” he said. “Because when there are problems-for example when people need help with flooding—our local investors contribute a huge amount of money.”

“If a country has no millionaires, where can the poor get their money from?” he asked, adding that he would like to see 500 millionaires doing business in the country.

One such businessman already doing work in Cambodia is Mr. Yong Phat, who the prime minister praised for employing more than 8,000 people at his new sugar refinery.

Appeal Court Takes Over Bundith Case

                                                              Picture of Chhouk Bandith.

By Saing Soenthrith and Dene-Hern Chen 

The Cambodia Daily

December 31, 2012

The prosecutor general of the Appeal Court has appealed against the Svay Rieng Provincial Court’s decision to drop all charges against the former Bavet City governor, the chief suspect in a shooting that left three female garment workers seriously injured.

Ouk Savuth, the prosecutor general, said yesterday that his appeal was filed on December 21, three days after the Svay Rieng Provincial Court decided to drop charges against Chhouk Bundith [Bandith], the former governor. Mr. Bundith had previously been charged with “causing unintentional injuries” for his role in the February shooting during a protest outside a shoe factory supplying the German sports brand Puma.

“We appealed against the Svay Rieng Provincial Court’s decision after it dropped the charge on the workers’ shooting on December 21, but no reporters asked me about it,” Mr. Savuth said.

“We are taking Mr. Bundith’s case for sentencing at our Appeal Court in order to find justice for the three victims,” he added, declining to elaborate further.

The provincial court prosecutor, Hing Bunchea, confirmed yesterday that the Appeal Court would take over Mr. Bundith’s case. “Our court clerk will hand over Mr. Bundith’s case to our Appeal Court on January 2,” Mr. Bunchea said.

The move from the Appeal Court is not connected to the December 19 appeal from the three victims against the decision by the Svay Rieng Provincial Court, whose handling of the case has incurred criticism from rights groups and international observers.

Cambodia battles to save rare Mekong dolphins

By Michelle Fitzpatrick | AFP

Enlarge PhotoAFP/AFP - This photo taken on December 6, 2012 shows Cambodians and foreign tourists on boats to spot dolphins along the Mekong river. There is a ban on hunting dolphins in the Mekong, but old habits die hard. Some 77 unarmed guards patrol the Cambodian stretch of the Mekong on the lookout for activities that could harm dolphins.

 

The sight of two dolphins twisting playfully in the murky waters of the Mekong river elicits barely stifled squeals of delight from a boatload of eco-tourists.

But a short distance upstream, river guard Pech Sokhan sighs as he holds up two large, tangled gill nets recently pulled from the murky water -- evidence old habits die hard despite a ban on the practice that ensnares many dolphins.
"We have to keep educating people every day," said Pech, one of 77 unarmed guards who patrol the Cambodian stretch of the Mekong river on the lookout for activities that could harm the dolphins.
Entanglement in gill nets -- vertical mesh nets left in the water for long periods -- is the main cause of death in adult Mekong dolphins, according to experts, who believe the grey mammals with distinctive blunt beaks are in imminent danger of extinction in the river.
Estimates for the number of remaining adult Mekong river freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins range from 85 up to 180.
Although there are no comprehensive studies, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature classes the species as critically endangered.
The dwindling population faces numerous challenges including unexplained high rates of calf mortality, as well as disease, inbreeding and habitat loss.
But "gill nets are the biggest of these threats," said WWF conservationist Gordon Congdon.

Convictions of Cambodian activists illustrate dire state of justice

By agency reporter 
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk

29 Dec 2012

The fabricated charges used to convict two housing rights activists in Phnom Penh’s Municipal Court confirms the dire state of Cambodia’s justice system and rule of law in the country, Amnesty International says.

On 27 December 2012 Yorm Bopha was sentenced to three years imprisonment for ‘intentional violence’, while late the previous day Tim Sakmony was found guilty of making a false declaration and given a suspended prison sentence.

The charges in both cases are fabricated and no credible evidence was presented at their trials, claims the internationally regarded human rights NGO.

“These shocking verdicts show why Cambodians have good reason not to trust their courts,” commented Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s researcher on Cambodia.

He continued: “Amnesty International has designated Tim Sakmony and Yorm Bopha as prisoners of conscience. They are being persecuted purely for their work defending the rights of those in their communities who have lost their houses through forced evictions.”

Yorm Bopha has actively defended the right to housing for her community at Phnom Penh’s former Boeung Kak Lake, where some 20,000 people have been forcibly evicted since 2008.

Tim Sakmony protested the violent forced eviction of 300 families in her community in Phnom Penh’s Borei Keila in January 2012 and called for provision of the alternative housing promised to them.

Cambodian justice experienced another setback today when the Appeals Court upheld the 20-year sentences of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Ourn who were convicted for the killing of trade union leader Cha Vichea in 2004 based on forced confessions.

“It is baffling how the Appeal Court could have arrived at its verdict in the Chea Vichea case given the lack of any new evidence and the fact that both of the accused have credible alibis,” said Abbott.

1000 hotel rooms in Kep fully booked during the New Year holiday បន្ទប់សណ្ឋាគារ ផ្ទះសំណាក់ជាង ១.០០០បន្ទប់ ត្រូវបានកក់ទុក ទាំងអស់

Sunday, 30 December 2012 ដោយៈ ដើមអម្ពិល (DAP)-ID: 009

កែប៖ បន្ទប់សណ្ឋាគារ និងផ្ទះសំណាក់ ជាង១.០០០បន្ទប់ នៅតំបន់ឆ្នេរទេសចរណ៍ ខេត្តកែប ត្រូវបានភ្ញៀវកក់ ពេញទាំងអស់ ដើម្បីចូលរួមអបអរសាទរបុណ្យឆ្លងឆ្នាំថ្មី ឆ្នាំសាកល ២០១២-២០១៣។ នេះបើយោងតាមការ បញ្ជាក់របស់ប្រធានមន្ទីរទេសចរណ៍ខេត្តកែប។

ប្រធានមន្ទីរទេសចរណ៍ខេត្តកែប លោក សោម ចន្តា បានថ្លែងនៅថ្ងៃទី៣០ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១២ថា សម្រាប់ថ្ងៃបុណ្យ ចូលឆ្នាំសាកល និងការឆ្លងឆ្នាំ២០១២ ចូលឆ្នាំ ២០១៣នេះ បន្ទប់សណ្ឋាគារ និងផ្ទះសំណាក់នៅក្នុងខេត្តកែបត្រូវបានភ្ញៀវទេសចរជាតិ-អន្តរជាតិ កក់ទុកទាំងអស់។

លោក សោម ចន្តា បានឲ្យដឹងបន្តថា ភ្ញៀវទេសចរជាតិ-អន្តរជាតិជាច្រើននាក់ បានមកកក់បន្ទប់នៅបឹងកាឡូក្នុង ខេត្តកែបជាង១.០០០បន្ទប់ សម្រាប់ពួកគេស្នាក់នៅ លំហែរកាយក្នុងអំឡុងពេលឆ្លងឆ្នាំចាស់ចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី ជាពិសេសកម្លាំងអាជ្ញាធរមានសមត្ថកិច្ច បានរៀបចំសន្តិសុខសណ្តាប់ធ្នាប់សាធារណៈ បរិស្ថាន យ៉ាងល្អមិនឲ្យមានបញ្ហាអ្វី កើតមានឡើងឡើយក្នុងឱកាសអបអរសាទរឆ្លងឆ្នាំសកលនេះ។

លោកបន្តថាទៀតថា សម្រាប់នៅក្នុងឆ្នាំនេះ ក៏មិនខុសប្លែកពីបណ្តាឆ្នាំមុនៗដែរ ចំនួនភ្ញៀវពុំមានការធ្លាក់ចុះនោះ ទេ នៅតែធ្វើមកដំណើរកម្សាន្តនៅ ក្នុងតំបន់ទេសចរណ៍នានា ក្នុងខេត្តកែប ទឹកដីតំបន់ឆ្នេរសមុទ្រ ដ៏មានសក្តានុ ពលមួយនេះ៕

Cambodian software developers have developed iPhone and iPad games called "Asva The Monkey" កូនខ្មែរបង្កើតហ្គេមជាលើកដំបូង

Cambodian software developers have developed iPphone and iPad games called "Asva The Monkey" .

http://youtu.be/kDn78YiNkkw

The Arab Spring's first constitution

Larbi Sadiki  Dr Larbi Sadiki is a Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics at the University of Exeter, and author of Arab Democratization: Elections without Democracy (Oxford University Press, 2009) and The Search for Arab Democracy: Discourses and Counter-Discourses (Columbia University Press, 2004). The new Egyptian constitution eliminates omnipotent presidency - the president is allowed only one re-election. If Morsi wins the next presidential elections, he will not be president for more than eight years [EPA] Al Jazeera - 30 Dec 2012 Almost invariably Western media have continued to describe the newly adopted Egyptian constitution "controversial". As far as institution-building is concerned, Egypt's fifth constitution is not devoid of positive content in terms of the rights enshrined in the new document. What are some of the key positives in Egypt's new constitution? First, a word is in order on aspects that should be avoided in Libya and Tunisia. Disenfranchising tactics Egypt's road to institution-building is illustrative of this most populous Arab state's status as a place of democratic explosion over the past 18 months: two referenda and three multi-stage elections, and Egyptians go to the polls again in February 2013 to elect a new parliament under a new constitution. By any standards, this is a democratic debut unparalleled in neighbouring Arab Spring states - Libya, Tunisia and Yemen. Nearly two-thirds of those who chose to vote endorsed the new constitution. The trend has been there for some time. So far, Islamists seem to be on an upward trend, prevailing in all elections for the lower house (People's Assembly), the lower house (the Shura Council), and two referenda, begun in March 2011 with the mini-constitution adopted temporarily under the backing of the now dissolved Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). The figures illustrate the polarisation in Egypt - and this is a common denominator in all Arab Spring societies. Revolutions cannot be expected to deliver harmony from the outset. It is a quality that must be earned through inclusive political processes, which are geared towards bridging all kinds of divides, including respecting some of them, confidence-building measures and broad coalitions. Two years is a footnote in the life of a great nation such as Egypt's in the midst of radical transformation. The cure of time is on the side of Egyptians.

Government Paid Cash to ‘Secession’ Leaders ["secession leaders" paid to frame Mam Sonando]

Supporters held posters of Mam Sonando outside the court where here sentenced to 20 years jail.

 

By Kuch Naren and Ben Woods 

The Cambodia Daily

December 30, 2012

Two men once accused of leading a so-called secessionist movement in Kratie province in May, and who later testified in court that popular radio station owner Mam Sonando had encouraged their rebellious actions, received money from the government to build new homes, a district official said.

Ma Chhang, 47, and Khat Saroeun, 42, were arrested and put on trial for their alleged roles in leading the so-called secession in Kratie’s Broma village. But both men had their sentences suspended, and were immediately freed from prison, after testifying against Mr. Sonando during their joint trial in October.

Even though he was overseas at the time of the alleged events, Mr. Sonando, 72, was jailed for 20 years for what the court said was his “instigation” of the Broma residents.

Though Mr. Chhang and Mr. Saroeun were initially named as “anarchy masterminds” by the Ministry of Interior in May, they have since received an undisclosed amount of money from the government, Chhlong district governor Soum Sarith said.

“Provincial authorities gave them [Ma Chhang and Khat Saroeun] cash for building proper shelters,” Mr. Sarith said. “Because their homes burned down [after they fled the village in May], we helped support them with cash for building new homes to live in and other materials,” Mr. Sarith said.

Chea Mony, younger brother of slain union leader Chea Vichea, announced that he withdrew all criminal complaints against the killers of his brother in order to ask the court to drop all charges against Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang who were believed to be scapegoats ប្អូន​ប្រុស​លោក ជា វិជ្ជា ឈប់​ស្វែង​រក​យុត្តិធម៌​ជា​ថ្នូរ​នឹង​ការ​ដោះ​លែង​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ

Chea Mony, younger brother of slain union leader Chea Vichea, announced that he withdrew all criminal complaints against the killers of his brother in order to ask the court to drop all charges against Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang who were believed to be scapegoats.

ដោយ ម៉ម មុនីរតន៍ 2012-12-30 RFA

ក្រុម​អង្គការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​​ថា ការ​សម្រេច​​របស់​សាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៧ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឲ្យ​លោក ប៊ន សំណាង និង​លោក សុក សំអឿន ជាប់​ទោស​ម្នាក់ ២០​ឆ្នាំ​សា​ជា​ថ្មី​ឡើង​វិញ​នោះ ​គឺ​ធ្វើ​​ឲ្យ​ប៉ះពាល់​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​ដល់​អនាគត​របស់​ពួកគេ។

RFA/Den Ayuthyea

២២-មករា-២០១០: ការ​ប្រារព្ធ​ខួប​៦​ឆ្នាំ​នៃ​ការ​បាញ់​សម្លាប់​លោក ជា វិជ្ជា អតីត​ប្រធាន​សហជីព​សេរី​កម្មករ នៅ​ក្នុង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ

ក្រុម​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល ក៏​បាន​គេ​រិះគន់​ថា ការ​ផ្ដន្ទាទោស​នោះ គឺ​គ្មាន​ភស្តុតាង​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ដើម្បី​ដាក់​បន្ទុក ក្រៅ​ពី​ភស្តុតាង​ដែល​មាន​ស្រាប់​នោះ​ទេ។

ទាក់ទង​បញ្ហា​នេះ លោក ជា មុនី ដែល​ជា​ប្អូន​ប្រុស​បង្កើត​លោក ជា វិជ្ជា អតីត​ប្រធាន​សហជីព​សេរី​កម្មករ​ដ៏​ល្បី​ឈ្មោះ ប្រកាស​ថា លោក​ឈប់​​ប្ដឹង​ទាមទារ​រក​យុត្តិធម៌​ឲ្យ​បង​ប្រុស​របស់​លោក​​ត​ទៅ​ទៀត​ហើយ។ ការ​លះបង់​ជំហរ​​របស់​លោក ជា មុនី នៅ​ពេល​នេះ គឺ​ដើម្បី​ស្នើ​សុំ​ឲ្យ​តុលាការ​ទម្លាក់​ចោល​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​លើ​អ្នក​ទាំង​ ពីរ​ឲ្យ​មាន​សេរីភាព​ឡើង​វិញ។

ក្រុម​អង្គការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល និង​មេធាវី​ការពារ​ក្ដី​ឲ្យ​លោក ប៊ន សំណាង និង​លោក សុក សំអឿន និយាយ​ថា ការ​សម្រេច​ដាក់​ទោស​អ្នក​ទាំង​ពីរ​​ដោយ​​ចៅក្រម​ជំនុំជម្រះ​សាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍​ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៧ ខែ​ធ្នូ បាន​ផ្តល់​នូវ​ភាព​អយុត្តិធម៌​ដល់​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ទាំង​ពីរ ខណៈ​​របាយការណ៍​នានា​បាន​រក​ឃើញ​ថា ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ក្នុង​សំណុំ​រឿង​មនុស្សឃាត​នេះ ​​គឺ​ជា​ឃាតក​សិប្បនិមិត្ត។

លោក អំ សំអាត ប្រធាន​ផ្នែក​បច្ចេកទេស​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​របស់​អង្គការ​ការពារ​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ លីកាដូ (Licadho) ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ការ​សម្រេច​​ក្ដី​របស់​សាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍​​នេះ គឺ​ជា​ការ​សម្រេច​ដែល​មិន​បាន​ផ្អែក​លើ​ភស្តុតាង​ដាក់​បន្ទុក និង​ធាតុ​ផ្សំ​ក្នុង​សំណុំ​រឿង​មួយ​នេះ​ទេ។

Civil society warned of social instability due to judicial injustice សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​ព្រមាន​ពី​អស្ថិរភាព​សង្គម​ដោយសារ​តុលាការ​អយុត្តិធម៌

Civil society warned of social instability due to judicial injustice, like Yorm Bopha's case and Sok Sam Oeun's and Born Samnang's case. 

ដោយ វណ្ណ វិចារ 2012-12-30 RFA

ការ​កាត់​ទោស​សកម្មជន​តវ៉ា​ដីធ្លី​នៅ​តំបន់​បឹងកក់ គឺ​អ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា ត្រូវ​បាន​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​ដែល​ឃ្លាំ​មើល​ដំណើរ​ការ​សវនាការ​ព្រមាន​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ​ឲ្យ​គិតគូរ​ពី​អស្ថិរភាព​សង្គម ព្រោះ​តែ​តុលាការ​អយុត្តិធម៌។

RFA/Morm Moniroth

ស្ត្រី​បឹងកក់​ម្នាក់​នេះ កំពុង​អង្គុយ​យំ​ក្បែរ​ជើង​របស់​សមត្ថកិច្ច​ដែល​ឈរ​ការពារ​មិន​ឲ្យ​ក្រុម​ អ្នក​គាំទ្រ​អ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា សម្រុក​ចូល​ទៅ​ខាង​ក្នុង​សាលា​ដំបូង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៧ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។

ស្រប​ពេល​នេះ​ដែរ អ្នក​ច្បាប់​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​បណ្ដុះបណ្ដាល​បន្ថែម​ពី​ក្រមសីលធម៌​ដល់​ ចៅក្រម ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញា ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​ចេះ​ធ្វើ​ការ​សម្រេច​សេចក្ដី​ប្រកប​ដោយ​យុត្តិធម៌។

សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល និង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​កម្ពុជា មួយ​ចំនួន​សំដែង​ការ​មិន​ពេញ​ចិត្ត​ជា​ខ្លាំង បន្ទាប់​ពី​ដឹង​ដំណឹង​ថា សាលក្រម​ស្ថាពរ​តុលាការ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ សម្រេច​ដាក់​ទោស​សកម្មជន​បឹងកក់ អ្នកស្រី យ៉ោម បុប្ផា និង​ស្វាមី ឲ្យ​ជាប់​គុក​ម្នាក់ៗ ៣​ឆ្នាំ និង​ពិន័យ​ជា​ប្រាក់​សរុប​ចំនួន ៦០​លាន​រៀល​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​ភាគី​ដើម​បណ្ដឹង។ ការ​សម្រេច​សេចក្ដី​នេះ​ ត្រូវ​បាន​មជ្ឈដ្ឋាន​អ្នក​ស្នេហា​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស ហៅ​ថា​ជា​ការ​សម្រេច​សេចក្ដី​ដ៏​ប្រថុយប្រថាន និង​មាន​ករណី​គួរ​ឲ្យ​សង្ស័យ​ជាច្រើន។

Protests for pay increase and social justice ការតវ៉ាត្រូវតែបន្តដើម្បីយុត្តិធម៌សម្រាប់ខ្លួន និងសង្គម

សហភាពសហជីពកម្ពុជា (CCU) និងនាំដោយលោក រ៉ុង ឈុន និង សម្ព័ន្ធសហជីពកម្ពុជា (CATU) ដឹកនាំដោយលោកស្រី យ៉ាង សុភ័ណ្ឌ បានដឹកនាំបងប្អូនកម្មករកម្មការិនីធ្វើបាតុកម្មអហិង្សា ទាម​ទារ​ដំឡើងប្រាក់ខែគោលពី ៦១ដុល្លារ ទៅ ១៥០ដុល្លារក្នុងមួយខែ នៅឆ្នាំ២០១៣ មានបងប្អូន​កម្មករ​កម្មការិនីចូលរួមជាង ៣០០នាក់ នៅសួនប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ។ តំណាងកម្មករចំនួន ២០នាក់ ដង្ហែរ ញត្តិទៅជូនខុទ្ទកាល័យនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី និង ជូនប្រធានរដ្ឋសភាជាតិ ៕

 

More than 10 Funcinpec government officials defected to the ruling CPP [No surprise as they try to secure their lucrative positions within the government]

Note: Ou Bunlong, originally from America, was a capable senator and rising star in the Sam Rainsy Party, but defected to Funcinpec in 2003 and now defected to the ruling CPP. Courtesy of http://sokheounpang.wordpress.com/.

Vox Populi: Why American investors did not invest in Cambodia?

The answer, according to the U.S Ambassador to Cambodia, is because of the lack of respect for human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia.

Re: U.S Ambassador: The reasons American investors did not invest in Cambodia is because of human rights and lawlessness issues in Cambodia

Economic sanction is the effective way to teach Cambodian ruler a lesson  

Anonymous said...

As long as the US markets are still open for Cambodia made products , China is very happy to monopolize the investments and Hun Sen doesn't really care about US investments either for he knows for sure that the US is indirectly helping the PPenh government with MFN ( Most Favored Nations ) status . All products , whether legal or not legal , are ended up in the US consumers' hands, eg. rosewood were illegally sold to Vietnam or China then it is used to make furnitures which are then sold for American living rooms ... Economic sanction is the effective way to teach Cambodian ruler a lesson.

27 December 2012 6:08 PM

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 Tough actions, and not words, is the only and best way to deal with Hun Sen

Anonymous said...

6:08 PM, I agree with you 100%. Many Cambodians, and especially Hun Sen and his supporters, forgot that America is Cambodia's biggest trading partner, importing about $3 billion of Cambodian-made garment, made possible by MFN (most favored nation) status. This status exempts or charges very little import tariff on goods imported from Cambodia. As a result, MFN status has drawn investors to Cambodia, especially Chinese companies, because America has imposed quota on imports from China.

So, indirectly, America's MFN has drawn investors to Cambodia anyway, so in Hun Sen's eyes, Cambodia doesn't need to do direct business with America or doesn't need direct American investments because the MFN has drawn investors from other part of the world already, notably China.

The only way to soften Hun Sen's dictatorial rule is to imposed travel sanctions on all Hun Sen's family and his cronies like what America did with members of the Burmese junta. That travel sanctions imposed on Burmese officials really worked. What America can do with Hun Sen's and his cronies is to not issue any visas to Hun Sen and his family and cronies found to have been the human rights abusers. America can also freeze their assets deposited in American banks around the world. If America failed to get tough with Hun Sen, he will never understand the diplomatic language and will still continue to practice human rights abuses and corruption in Cambodia. Tough actions, and not words, is the only and best way to deal with Hun Sen.

27 December 2012 10:07 PM

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Put sanctions first against Vietnam, Hun Sen's master

Anonymous said...

27 December 2012 10:07 PM,

Agree with you, but we have to be careful with the second Killing Fields coming from the secret Vietnamese agents. We are concerned.

U.S. Support for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal

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

As 2012 concludes, we should look back and celebrate the achievements of this remarkable year.  Relations between the United States and Cambodia continued to benefit from the dedicated work of government leaders, civil society, and business people on both sides of the Pacific.  In particular, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia took an important step toward realizing its promise of becoming a regional leader.  The two visits by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit, the participation of Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Retreat in Siem Reap, and the August visit of U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk for the U.S.-ASEAN Business Summit and ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting all underscored the United States’ commitment to ASEAN and Cambodia’s success.  For me personally, the visit of President Barack Obama to Cambodia was the high point of the year, and his participation in the East Asia Summit underscored the importance of our engagement with Asia.

A key thread running through these high-level visits was the U.S. focus on strengthening U.S. economic ties in the region.  As I have written in this column recently, Cambodia’s growing economy makes the country an important player in this effort, but I have also pointed out that Cambodia’s continued growth and future success depend on advances in the rule of law and protection of human rights.  Many of you have asked me how the United States is helping Cambodia in these areas, and one way we are doing so is through our support for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), known by most of you as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

The United States is committed to helping Cambodia achieve peace and reconciliation after the devastating 1975–1979 rule of the Khmer Rouge regime.  Cambodia has made commendable strides in reintegrating former fighters and transforming the country from the horrors of war.  Justice for the victims, however, has been difficult to achieve.  The ECCC seeks to hold the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime accountable and provide a measure of justice for victims through a partnership between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations.

The Thai government decided to issue work permits to 160,000 illegal Cambodia workers ថៃ​សម្រេច​ចេញ​ប័ណ្ណ​សម្គាល់​អត្តសញ្ញាណ​ដល់​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា​ជាង​១៦​ម៉ឺន​នាក់

The Thai government decided to issue work permits to 160,000 illegal Cambodia workers.

ដោយ ខែ សុណង 2012-12-29 RFA

ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា និង​ប្រទេស​ថៃ បាន​សម្រេច​ចេញ​ប័ណ្ណ​សម្គាល់​អត្តសញ្ញាណ​ហៅ​កាត់​ជា​ភាសា​អង់គ្លេស​ថា (ស៊ី.អាយ = CI) ដល់​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា ចំនួន​ជាង ១៦​ម៉ឺន​នាក់​នៅ​ប្រទេស​ថៃ ឲ្យ​ទៅ​ជា​ពលករ​ស្រប​ច្បាប់។

RFA/Sok Serey

ពលករ​ខ្មែរ​ចំនួន ២៤​នាក់ មក​ដល់​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា នា​អាកាសយានដ្ឋាន​អន្តរជាតិ​ភ្នំពេញ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៥ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១។

ក្រៅ​ពី​នេះ ភាគី​កម្ពុជា និង​ថៃ ក៏​បាន​សម្រួល​ឲ្យ​ក្រុម​ការងារ​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ​កម្ពុជា ផ្ដល់​លិខិត​ឆ្លង​ដែន​ដល់​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា ដែល​នៅ​សេសសល់​ទៀត​ផង។

មន្ត្រី​អង្គការ​ក្រៅ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ដែល​ធ្វើ​ការ​ក្នុង​វិស័យ​លើក​ស្ទួយ​ សិទ្ធិ​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​នៅ​កម្ពុជា បាន​សាទរ​ចំពោះ​ភាគី​កម្ពុជា-ថៃ ដែល​បាន​សម្រេច​ចេញ​ប័ណ្ណ​សម្គាល់​អត្តសញ្ញាណ​ដល់​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា ចំនួន​ជាង ១៦​ម៉ឺន​នាក់។

នាយក​ប្រតិបត្តិ​អង្គការ​ខារ៉ាម​កម្ពុជា (Caram) លោក យ៉ា ណាវុធ មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៩ ធ្នូ ថា លោក​ស្វាគមន៍​ចំពោះ​លទ្ធផល​នៃ​កិច្ច​ជំនួប​រវាង​ភាគី​កម្ពុជា និង​ថៃ ដែល​បាន​សម្រេច​ថា​នឹង​ចេញ​ប័ណ្ណ​សម្គាល់​អត្តសញ្ញាណ​ដល់​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា ចំនួន​ជាង ១៦​ម៉ឺន​នាក់​ឲ្យ​ទៅ​ជា​ពលករ​ស្រប​ច្បាប់។

លោក​ថា ការ​ធ្វើ​ដូច្នេះ គឺ​ជា​ការ​បង្ហាញ​នូវ​ឆន្ទៈ​នយោបាយ​មួយ​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​សហប្រតិបត្តិការ​រវាង​ កម្ពុជា និង​ថៃ ជា​ជាង​វិធានការ​ចាប់​បញ្ជូន​ពលករ​ខុស​ច្បាប់​មក​វិញ​ជា​រៀង​រាល់​ថ្ងៃ​នោះ៖ «ការ​ដែល​ធ្វើ​យ៉ាង​ហ្នឹង គឺ​វា​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ចំណេញ​ទាំង​សង​ខាង។ ទី​១ ពលករ​កម្ពុជា ក៏​មាន​ការងារ​ធ្វើ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ថៃ ហ្នឹង​ដែរ។ ប្រទេស​ថៃ ក៏​អាច​ចំណេញ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ក្នុង​ការ​ជួល​កម្លាំង​ពលកម្ម​ថោក​ពី​ប្រទេស​ កម្ពុជា ដែរ។ វា​ជា​យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ​មួយ​ហៅ​ថា​យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ​ឈ្នះៗ​ទាំង​អស់​គ្នា ជា​ជាង​យើង​ចាប់​បញ្ជូន​មក ហើយ​ថ្ងៃ​ក្រោយ​កម្ពុជា គួរ​តែ​រៀបចំ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​ចុះ​បញ្ជី​ដោយ​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ រៀបចំ​ចុះ​បញ្ជី​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​យើង​ឲ្យ​ហើយ ជៀសវាង​ចុះ​បញ្ជី ឬ​ធ្វើ​ឯកសារ​បញ្ជាក់​នៅ​ប្រទេស​គេ»។

Cambodia-Vietnam trade, investment see marked rises in 2012

Xinhua | 2012-12-29
By Agencies

Bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and Vietnam jumped to $3.3 billion in 2012, a 18 percent rise from $2.8 billion in 2011, according to a report provided by the Association of Vietnam Investment in Cambodia on Saturday.

Main products Vietnam exported to Cambodia included petroleum, construction materials, information technology devices and equipment, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, and consuming goods.

Meanwhile, Cambodia exported agricultural products including rice, corn, cassava, rubber latex and furniture to Vietnam.

The report also said that Vietnamese investment in Cambodia had reached $2.5 billion in 2012, up 25 percent from $2 billion in 2011, ranking Vietnam as the 5th largest investor in the country.

It added that 40.7 percent of Vietnamese investment went to agriculture, especially rubber plantation, 34.2 percent to energy, 10.5 percent to banking and finance, 6 percent to telecoms, 4 percent to aviation and the rest went to mining.

A bloody year for Southeast Asia's environmentalists

Francis Wade  Francis Wade is a Thailand-based freelance journalist and analyst covering Myanmar and Southeast Asia.

A murky "military-government nexus backed by powerful business forces is behind" silencing environmental movements.

The controversial Xayaburi Dam, the last of the Chinese cascade of seven dams and the first to be built on the Lower Mekong River, could eventually displace some 2,100 people [EPA]

“In Cambodia, Wutty's death and the subsequent dismissal of murder charges against his killers spotlighted the perils of challenging the development designs drawn up by its autocratic government and encouraged by foreign interests. The danger is that growing Chinese hunger for Southeast Asia's natural resources, coupled with resurgent western interest in the region could, over time, seal the fates of those who challenge the human cost of this drive.”

Al Jazeera - 29 Dec 2012

The year hasn't been kind to Southeast Asia's environmental defenders. Anti-copper mine protesters in Myanmar have been firebombed and Laotian journalists critical of major hydropower projects were silenced; in Cambodia, two activists, including famed anti-logging campaigner Chut Wutty, have been killed; in the Philippines, the number of land activists alone who were assassinated stands at six.

The levels of oppression are consistent with a global increase in the number of assassinations of activists, journalists and community workers who expose the ills of economic development - in 2009, according to research by Global Witness, 56 killings took place across the world; last year, 106 were slain.

Behind the campaigns to snuff out environmental movements in Southeast Asian countries lurk a murky military-government nexus backed by powerful business forces. The deaths this year in Cambodia and Philippines were "carried out by men in uniforms", said Global Witness in June, who were "acting on behalf of private sector interests and/or governments".

2 million passengers come to Siem Reap International Airport

Q. What's the first thing you do after stepping off the plane at an airport?

A. Wrong answer! No, you don't collect your luggage . . .  you join the dance class!

Jungle Bound - Angkor Cambodia 1930s

http://youtu.be/7f4cuxQynvY

A tour of the ancient Cambodian temples of Angkor Wat and Bayon in the 1930s. To purchase a clean DVD or digital download of this film for personal home use or educational use contact us at questions@archivefarms.com. To license footage from this film for commercial use visit: www.travelfilmarchive.com
Classical Dance Regalia of Cambodia

http://youtu.be/YxeXo8nEEII

A look through the costumes of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia throughout the Chaktumuk period. Most of these images are from the reign of King Sisowath and King Monivong. But not all are from the royal court. Circa 1900s~1940s
This video was made to give attention to the fine details, styles, and aesthetics of this period. Hopefully they will be restored. Many of the new costumes do not have the same finesse! Cambodia: 1937, A PEAK INTO CAMBODIA [EN]

http://youtu.be/kVkLy6Qnt3s

Cambodia World Expo 1878-2010 : Angkor & Royal Dance &Palace

 http://youtu.be/ZyknCr9d0Oc
Cambodia world expo begins since 1878 building a small part of Angkor Thom in Paris Expo then in 1889 Angkor Wat was built in Paris expo again. In 1906 France received King of Cambodia HM Sisowath and Royal Ballet. French Artist Rodin was in love with Cambodian Royal Dance so he followed and drew a lot of pictures and exposed in his Rodin Museum in Paris today.

ANGKOR WAT - FIRST EXPEDITION TO CAMBODIA 1880/81
First french expedition to Cambodia and Angkor Wat
Temples in 1880/81.
"Un Hiver Au Cambodge" by Edgar Boulangier

http://youtu.be/EgQXFkDjs60
Cambodia before 1930 

http://youtu.be/3ichNYm0TaA 

Real video of Sinn Sisamuth & Sos Math singing classical song at Angkor Wat

a classical dance song they sang for a khmer classical dance documentation in the 1960's.

http://youtu.be/JG79miu8hEY

China backs Cambodia's first oil refinery [Cambodia to build first oil refinery ]

File picture of an oil refinery. (AFP - Robert Sullivan)

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok Ann speaks to the media in Phnom Penh on February 3, 2012 (AFP/File, Hoang Dinh Nam)

Channel News Asia

 Posted: 28 December 2012

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia on Friday gave the green light to construction of its first oil refinery, a multi-billion-dollar Chinese-backed project, as the kingdom looks to tap its untouched offshore reserves.

Cambodia's oil and gas regulator approved a deal to allow SINOMACH China Perfect Machinery Industry Corp. and Cambodian Petrochemical Co. jointly invest $2.3 billion in the plant in the southwest of the country.

"We hope that we will have an oil refinery plant that can produce five million tonnes of oil products a year," Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said during the signing ceremony.

The plant is expected to start operating in late 2015.

Cambodia had hoped to begin pumping oil this month from offshore fields, but the start has been delayed indefinitely, according to government officials.

The country was feted as Southeast Asia's next petro-state after oil was discovered there in 2005, but production stalled amid apparent wrangling between the government and US energy giant Chevron over revenue sharing.

"We have been trying our best to develop the oil sector for years but without results," Sok An said, adding that the government was still in talks with Chevron.

Cambodia could be sitting on hundreds of millions of barrels of crude and natural gas, according to some estimates, but it remains unclear how much can actually be recovered.

Cambodia: Sham Court Cases Undermine Rights

Sacravatoons no 2381 : ” The plastic Killers “

Hun Sen Using Justice System to Crack Down on Critics

Image: google

Born Samnang right and Sok Sam Oeun left facing lengthy prison term for a crime many rights observers believe they did not commit. The Hun Sen regime has displayed a well established pattern of selectively assassinating civil rights critics and political opponents as a means of silencing dissenting voices from both political opposition and within civil society at large in blatant defiance of Constitutional stipulations concerning fundamental rights and political pluralism. The regime is happy to entertain the appearance of the enjoyment of such constitutional privileges whilst at the same time firmly putting a lid on developments perceived to pose substantive threats to its seat of power. In this respect and context of political exclusion and repression the regime differs little from its murderous predecessor in the seventies albeit in consideration of scale and intensity as well as, more expediently, in all manners of cosmetic concessions granted in light of universal outcry against one of the worst transgressors of human rights in history.  Any social and political "stability" the country has been experiencing has been paid for with this heavy price in liberty consistently denied and scores of many a dissenter's life and dreams violently crushed. This appearance thus of relative 'oneness' and "stability" characterised by lively presence of civil society representatives and actors; by polite dialogues  and pressure groups, has not been permitted to override the regime's claim to political office or its propensity to extinguish the first sign of danger posed to that effect. Cambodia's staged and specious civil society and political pluralism has been a win-win opportunity all round for the ruling Cambodian People's Party who dictates the terms of what it alone is at liberty to define as political culture, civil liberty, human rights and social development through varying means, ranging from punitive physical violence, judicial threat and manipulation to streamlining mass information by way of outright censorship. It may surprise many observers to learn that not only the idea of a "fledgling democracy" is a farfetched claim, but in real terms of political governance, culture and leadership Cambodia has consistently lacked behind many of its immediate neighbours, including Vietnam who is governed by a more collective decision-making approach even if that particular type of governance or leadership style is still part and parcel of a single party state arrangement - School of Vice

Inmates at infamous "S21" [Security 21] or Tuol Sleng incarceration centre made to pose for photograph before meeting their certain execution. The striking resemblance between this tortuous image and the one above may entail and reveal far more than mere coincidence in captured memory -School of Vice [image reproduced] 

“The Cambodian government has no shame in using the courts as an arm of oppression. Instead of protecting rights, Cambodia’s judiciary is being used to suppress dissent and undermine justice.”

Brad Adams, Asia director

DECEMBER 27, 2012

(New York) – Two criminal cases decided in Phnom Penh on December 27, 2012, demonstrate the Cambodian government’s flagrant misuse of the justice system to undermine rights, Human Rights Watch said today.

Cambodia’s Court of Appeals upheld 20-year-sentences against Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, convicted after a grossly unfair trial, for the 2004 murder of prominent labor leader Chea Vichea. In the second case, a trial court sentenced land rights activist, Yorm Bopha, 29, to three years in prison, along with members of her family on politically motivated charges for her efforts organizing peaceful protests against land evictions.

The government should facilitate a dismissal of the charges against the three defendants and promptly release them, Human Rights Watch said.

“The Cambodian government has no shame in using the courts as an arm of oppression,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of protecting rights, Cambodia’s judiciary is being used to suppress dissent and undermine justice.”

After the ruling, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who had been released from prison in 2009 after an international outcry, were taken into custody to serve the remainder of their sentences at Prey Sar Prison’s Correctional Center 1 in Phnom Penh.

“International pressure needs to be brought on Cambodia to reform,” Adams said. “Parties to the 1991 Paris Accords should not abdicate their commitment to take active and concrete action to address Cambodia’s dire human rights situation.”