Khmerization: September 2012

Sunday, 30 September 2012

Why the Obama Petition?

Please sign the petition on the link below and forward it to your network

S.V.P. Signez la pétition sur le lien ci-dessous et la faire suivre dans votre réseau :

http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-to-cancel-visit-to-cambodia-if-no-elections-reforms#share

30 September 2012
By Mu Sochua

President Obama is the standard-bearer of democracy. We ask him to exercise the greatest vigilance with regard to the poll. In November, President Obama will visit Cambodia because the country holds the presidency of ASEAN in 2012.

We ask President Obama to put 2 conditions to his visit:

The first is thorough reform of the body that administers elections in Cambodia, the National Election Committee (NEC). This organization should be non-partisan, but is in fact under the majority control of the ruling party, the CPP. The UN's Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, has recommended this reform, which has been refused by the government. As long as the NEC remains in its current form, there can be no fair elections.

The second is that opposition leader Sam Rainsy must be allowed to return to contest the elections. Mr.Sam Rainsy is the only credible rival to Hun Sen.

Kong Socheat

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - A Cambodian-Australian man dating Kong Socheat has decided not to marry the divorced actress as he does not want to take care of her two children, according to Angkor Thom.

The latest edition of the magazine quoted industry sources as saying that the man was over 40 and had been in love with the 32-year-old actress since she divorced in 2009.

Kong Socheat, who is also a TV presenter, had been married to a TV3 program manager for more than 10 years. While her former husband has since remarried, she is still waiting for a man who is prepared to accept her children.

"Not marrying is better than getting married," she was quoted as saying.

Kong Socheat meanwhile denied rumors that she was dating TV presenter Chea Vibol and a wealthy official.

Cambodian vegetable farmers forced to compete with Vietnamese rivals

PHNOM PENH, 30 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - Cambodian vegetable farmers say they are being forced to compete with more efficient farmers in Vietnam who use farming techniques to make their vegetables grow faster.

Farmers in Sambork Meas, a village on the Mekong River in Mokkompul commune in Bakkeng district in Kandal province, say massive imports of vegetables from Vietnam are shaking their incomes.

The farmers grow lettuce, cabbage, eggplant, kailan, ginger and other vegetables on their own land or land leased from others.

PHNOM PENH, 30 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - Actress Douch Sophea says she'll remarry only after her two-year-old son Ken Ken is older, according to the latest issue of Popular Magazine.

"I'll think about it again when my kid reaches five," she reportedly told the magazine in a rare public comment about her private life.

The magazine also said that the divorced actress refused to apologize for a recent tirade against the media during an appearance on the "CTN 21" show with actor Andy.

Douch Sophea condemned the media for taking her photos and writing negative stories about her.

Investing in Communities, Combating Human Trafficking

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

By William E. Todd

Thank you for your continued interest in this column and asking such intriguing questions. Please continue to send them to me at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov.

Recently, I read a very interesting article about businesses in Phnom Penh that invest in their communities, which made me think of a recent question I received – “What are the social responsibilities of corporations in communities where they operate?” In the United States and around the world, many businesses genuinely want to give back to the communities in which they operate, so they use a portion of their profits to fund projects and programs that benefit the broader society. We call these types of activities “corporate social responsibility.”

Yes, businesses must make a profit in order to survive, and the goods and services they produce keep the global economic engine running. However, many companies have learned that reinvesting a portion of their profits in the community pays unexpected dividends. These types of reinvestments can include grants to hospitals, partnerships with governments, scholarships, and donating emergency resources, to name just a few.

Golden memories

សំបួរមាស - Sinn Sisamouth

យីហ៊ុបប៉ៃលិន - Sinn Sisamouth

ថ្ងៃ១២កក្កដា - Sinn Sisamouth

Luxury with a conscience

September 30, 2012

The Melbourne Age, Australia

Relaxing on the water ... Song Saa Resort.

Out of the way and out of this world, Song Saa is all about eco-chic relaxation, writes Michael Gebicki.

When the launch that makes the 30-minute dash from Sihanoukville on Cambodia's southern coast ties up at the wharf at Song Saa, Greg Williams, the resort's Aussie general manager, is there to meet arriving guests. Williams is barefoot. Even at luxury resorts that put relaxation at the top of their three Rs, GMs do not usually get around barefoot, yet it is by such small signals that Song Saa telegraphs its intentions. Take off your shoes, kick back, chill out and enjoy. You've cast yourself off from the world and entered a calmer version of real.

I dine under the spreading limbs of a giant fig, lit by flickering candles.

Even time on Song Saa is different, an hour ahead of the rest of Cambodia, a subtle manipulation that gives you an extra hour of darkness for snoozing, and another hour of light at the end of the day. Not that it matters. Nobody wears a watch.

Sit back and relax ... Song Saa Resort.

Song Saa is the creation of Rory and Melita Hunter, a former adman and a stylist, and it has had an unusual gestation. En route from Australia to a job in New York, they stopped off in Cambodia and took a fork in life's road.

Sensing an opportunity, they began renovating and restoring French colonial buildings in Phnom Penh, creating luxury apartments for investors and expats who were trickling back to the Cambodian capital. And then one day they hired a boat, set off from Sihanoukville and found the tiny twin islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong. The location was ideal.

A major police reshuffle: Is there a power struggle within the ruling CPP?

Gen. Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh Police Commissioner is replaced by his deputy, Gen. Chuon Sovann. Gen. Touch Naroth becomes Commander of Bodyguard Unit at the Interior Ministry. Gen. Pol Pithey, promoted to director of Anti-Drug Directorate of Interior Ministry. Gen. Chuon Narin, director of Penal Police Directorate, will become Deputy Phnom Penh Police Commissioner.

The reshuffle was signed off by PM Hun Sen due to a request by Deputy PM and Interior Minister Sar Kheng. [Or Hun Sen forced Sar Kheng to agree?. It looks like Hun Sen is trying to surround Sar Kheng with his [Hun Sen's] loyalists!]

លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ ត្រូវបានផ្លាស់តំណែងពីស្នងការជំនួសដោយលោក ជួន សុវណ្ណ បច្ចុប្បន្នជាអគ្គស្នងការរង, លោក ជួន ណារិន្ទ ប្រធានការិយាល័យព្រហ្មទណ្ឌកម្រិតធ្ងន់ ដំឡើងជាស្នងការរងទទួលបន្ទុកព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ រីឯលោក ប៉ុល ភិធេយ្យ ដំឡើងជាប្រធាននាយកដ្ឋានប្រឆាំងការជួញដូរមនុស្សក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ។

Gen. Chuon Sovann លោកឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ផ្កាយបី ជួន សុវណ្ណ ដែលនឹងត្រូវមកចូលកាន់តំណែងស្នងការនគរបាលរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ

Gen. Touch Naroth លោកឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ត្រី ទូច ណារ៉ុថ ដែលនឹងត្រូវផ្លាស់ចេញពីតំណែងស្នងការនគរបាលរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ

Gen. Chuon Narin លោកវរសេនីយ៍ទោ ជួន ណារិន

លោក ជួន សុវណ្ណ ជំនួសលោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ តំណែង ស្នងការភ្នំពេញ លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ នឹងទទួលតំណែង ប្រធាននាយកដ្ឋាន អង្គរក្ស

Saturday, 29 September 2012 ដោយ ៖ សយ សុភាព -ID068 DAP News

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ យោងតាមមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល បានប្រាប់មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលព័ត៌មានដើមអម្ពិល នៅថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ ទី២៩ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ នេះថា រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា បានសម្រេចកែសម្រួលសមាសភាព ស្នងការនគរបាល រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ និងនាយកដ្ឋានអង្គរក្ស ដោយលោកឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ផ្កាយបី ជួន សុវណ្ណ អគ្គស្នងការរងនគរបាល ជាតិ បន្ថែមតួនាទីជាស្នងការ នគរបាលរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ជំនួសលោក ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ត្រី ទូច ណារ៉ុថ ហើយ លោក ទូច ណារ៉ុថ នឹងទទួល តំណែងជាប្រធាននាយកដ្ឋានអង្គរក្ស ក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ ជំនួសលោកឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ ជិន សារឿន។

ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរនេះ ជារឿងធម្មតាពុំមានបញ្ហាណាមួយផ្សេងនោះទេ។ សេចក្តីសម្រេចនេះ ត្រូវបានធ្វើឡើងកាលពី ថ្ងៃសុក្រ ទី២៨ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ ដោយសម្តេចតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីនៃព្រះរាជា ណាចក្រកម្ពុជា តាមសំណើរបស់ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ លោក ស ខេង ។

Advice to the Cambodia National Rescue Party

Re: Cambodian National Rescue Party hopes to win two seats in Svay Rieng province

By Yobal Khmer

Do you want to win? Take my advice CNRP...

Work header, layout your principle of your ideology. What is your goal!? Working to reach your goal, explain to anyone you come into contact with whether they are CPP supporters or undecided or stupid foe on the streets to vote for your party. Tell them the reasons why you want their votes.

Promise them something, but if you win you have to honor your promise. Tell them what the CPP clans did to your country, for example, land evictions, land grabbing, robbing from the poor giving to the rich or giving to it cronies, killing journalists to silence them, injustices perpetrated against for those who are not the CPP clans. Corruption are blown out of proportions, the justice system is biased in favor of their CPP clans only.

By Albeiro Rodas
The Asian Correspondence

Sep 28, 2012

It is likely possible, but not yet. At least it is what we can speculate from the present conditions. Oil production needs high responsibilities, big investments, zero corruption, infrastructure, environment compromises and a new legislation. Cambodia has much to do in all these conditions. It is expected that Chevron will receive a green light from the Cambodian government for a production permit. As gas and oil explorations are made in the off Cambodia’s coast, it adds a new situation: another territorial dispute with Thailand in a sea area of 26,000 square kilometers. As we know by history, the presence of oil and gas in a border territory dispute will bring high level interest of sovereignty. The fact of an oil and gas rich sea platform will heat the dispute if negotiators do not put peace over gain interests on the table.

We can see this study of Thai Captain Somjade Kongrawd: Thailand and Cambodia Maritime Disputes. He writes in page 5 of the Conclusions:

‘It would also need sufficient knowledge about the area in order that one can know which areas are full of oil and gas or less. However, for the present moment only the oil giants of Chevron, Amoco, British Gas, UNOCAL and BP may have this secret weapon. The clear information on resources would make negotiation much easier and avoid the bad luck which the final boundary decision may bring. Thai may end up in the wrong side of the line.’ – Somjade Kongrawd.

Of course, the wrong side of the line would be that part without gas or oil.

Cambodia’s 2013 election, a one-horse-race?

On September 26, 2012, opposition leader Sam Rainsy wrote to The Phnom Penh Post the following letter:

CAMBODIA’S 2013 ELECTION, A ONE-HORSE-RACE?

By Sam Rainsy

Letter to the editor of the Phnom Penh Post

In the article titled “Bring on one-horse race” in The Phnom Penh Post dated September 26, 2012, Prime Minister Hun Sen is reported as saying in a speech that an election without an opposition would be ''easy'' and that he will happily accept all the votes in 2013.

As we all know, nothing that is worth doing is easy. As children or young students, we don't, for example, retake the same exams year after year to relive the pleasure of passing them. Sportsmen will seek out the highest level of competition, rather than defeating the same old opponents. In our professional lives, we push, or are pushed, on to new challenges no matter how much we would like to rest on our laurels. We only ever achieve anything worthwhile when there is difficulty, or risk of failure, involved.

Khmer Krom Federation discusses human rights abuses by Vietnam with U.S officials ខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោមជួបពិភាក្សាជាមួយមន្ត្រីសភាអាមេរិកស្ដីពីការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស

ដោយ ម៉ៅ សុធានី 2012-09-29 Radio Free Asia
Listen to audio here.

មន្ត្រីសហព័ន្ធខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម កាលពីថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍ ទី២៧ ខែកញ្ញា បានជួបពិភាក្សាជាមួយមន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់ នៃសភាអាមេរិក ទទួលបន្ទុកផ្នែកគណៈកម្មការសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស ថំ ឡែនថុស៍ (Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of US Congress) និងមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ស្ដីពីស្ថានភាពរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស សិទ្ធិសាសនា និងវប្បធម៌ មកលើព្រះសង្ឃ និងខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម នៅក្នុងទឹកដីកម្ពុជាក្រោម។

នាយកផែនការនៃសហព័ន្ធខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម លោក ត្រាន់ ម៉ាន់រិន មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ក្នុងជំនួបនោះ តំណាងប្រតិភូខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម បានប្រាប់សមាជិកសភា និងមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការបរទេសសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ពីព្រឹត្តិការណ៍ចុងក្រោយដែលអាជ្ញាធរវៀតណាម បានធ្វើបាប និងគាបសង្កត់ព្រះសង្ឃ និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម កំពុងរស់នៅប្រទេសវៀតណាម។

លោក ត្រាន់ ម៉ាន់រិន៖ «យើងប្រាប់គេពីស្ថានភាពទូទៅថ្មីៗ នៅខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម មានករណី ៣ថ្មីៗ។ ទី១ ករណីលោកនៅវត្តតាសេក ត្រូវបានអាជ្ញាធរវៀតណាម បង្ខំឲ្យសឹក តែលោកអត់ព្រមសឹក។ ទី២ លោក ងៀ សន ដែលយួនចោទថាបានរំលោភយាយជីម្នាក់ អាយុជិត ៧០ឆ្នាំ នៅវត្ត។ ទី៣ លោក ចៅ ហេន ដែលទើបរួចពីគុក ដោយសារលោកឈឺធ្ងន់ ទើបខ្លាចស្លាប់ក្នុងគុក ទើបលែងលោក»។

(Courtesy photo) America Ferrera plays with children at the New Light Crèche in Kolkata, India.

Television » PBS documentary highlights efforts to stop abuse of women and girls.

By Scott D. Pierce

The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published 29 September 2012

When Meg Ryan agreed to participate in the PBS documentary "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide," she wasn’t entirely prepared for what she was getting into.

Traveling to Cambodia, Ryan met Somana Long, a young woman who had been sold into prostitution when she was 13 and who got pregnant shortly thereafter.

"That morning she gave birth to her baby," Ryan said, "and that afternoon she was expected to service a client. She refused, and they gouged her eye out."

It’s horrifying. Hard to watch. But the point of "Half the Sky" is not just the horrific trials women encounter around the world, it’s how they rise above them.

"You’ll see in the show this unbelievably beautiful spirit," Ryan said. "This incredible little face with no eye — this hole in her face from saying, ‘No.’ "

"Half the Sky" was inspired by the 2009 book of the same title by the husband-wife team of Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The authors chronicled sex trafficking, maternal mortality, sexual violence and oppression around the world.

Thai authority admitted Thai authority jailed 1400 and killed 30 Cambodians ទូតថៃថា អាជ្ញាធរខ្លួនបានចាប់ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរជាង១៤០០នាក់ដាក់គុកនិងបាញ់សម្លាប់៣០នាក់

ដោយ: មាស មុន្នី Saturday 29 September 2012 - Free Press Magazine

ស្ថានទូតថៃក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាបាននិយាយកាលពីម្សិលមិញ ថា រយៈពេលប្រមាណ៣ឆ្នាំនេះអាជ្ញាធរបស់ខ្លួនបានចាប់ជន កម្ពុជាយ៉ាងហោចណាស់ជាង១៤០០នាក់ដាក់គុក និង បានបាញ់សម្លាប់អ្នកដែលចោទថា បានលួចចូលកាប់ឈើក្នុងដីថៃខុសច្បាប់ចំនួន៣០នាក់ ។

ឯកអគ្គ រាជទូត ថៃ ប្រចាំ កម្ពុជា លោក Sompong Sanguanbun, Thai ambassador to Cambodia.

សំពង់ សានកាន់ប៊ុន ( Sompong Sanguanbun) ឯកអគ្គរាជទូតថៃប្រចាំកម្ពុជាបាននិយាយថា “ ការធ្វើរបៀបនេះគឺអាជ្ញាធរថៃ បានអនុវត្តតាមលក្ខណអន្តរជាតិជាសកល ទៅលើគ្រប់ជនជាតិ មិនមែនអនុវត្ត ទៅលើតែប្រជាជនកម្ពុជានោះទេ ហើយការបាញ់នេះ មិនមានបាញ់ដោយគ្មានមូលហេតុនោះទេ ខណៈដែល អ្នកប្រព្រឹត្តិទាំងនោះ បានបាញ់តបតមកវិញ ដូច្នេះអាជ្ញាធរថៃ មានភារកិច្ចមួយត្រូវការពារខ្លួន ហើយនៅពេលមានការប៉ះទង្គិចគ្នាបើមានអ្នករបួស គឺខាងភាគីថៃ បាននាំយកទៅព្យាបាលផងដែរ ” ។

Heng Marady

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Actress Heng Marady plans to end rumors that she's a lesbian by getting married next year, according to Popular Magazine.

The professional makeup artist for the Revelon program on CTN is said to be in a same-sex relationship with M Production singer Sim Thayna.

Heng Marady has appeared in several movies and music videos. She turns 29 in October but is not sure how she's celebrating since her friends usually arrange a surprise birthday party, the magazine said

Busty starlets to perform in Canada

Chhay Lydalen, left, and Kol Davy

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Busty starlets Chhay Lydalen and Kol Davy plan to leave for performances in Canada in early October, sources said.

Observers are eagerly awaiting details of the shows since both singers have come under fire from the Ministry of Culture for exceeding the bounds of Khmer female modesty.

Kol Davy seems to have heeded the warning, saying she wants to be modest and avoid having to flaunt her body to achieve fame.

Observers note that the Canadian tour will be the first time that two sexy female Cambodian stars perform together abroad.

Cambodia Is Seeking 2nd Statue [from America]

By RALPH BLUMENTHAL

The New York Times

Published: September 28, 2012

The Cambodian government has asked the United States to help it recover a 10th-century Khmer sandstone statue from the Norton Simon Museum in California. It says the work was looted from a Cambodian temple complex during the country’s political upheavals in the 1970s.

The request was revealed by prosecutors in federal district court in Manhattan on Thursday, during hearings involving a matching statue that the United States government has sought to impound from Sotheby’s. The sculptures, each five feet tall and 600 pounds, depict mythical warriors. The one at the Norton Simon, in Pasadena, Calif., has been on display since 1980, and although Cambodian authorities have long known it was there, they had not sought its return until now.

In the case involving the Sotheby’s statue, on Thursday, Judge George B. Daniels cast doubt on whether the government could prevail in its effort to seize the work, based on the filings it has made.

Opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua has appealed to US President Barack Obama to cancel his visit to Cambodia in November.

"Please don’t let a communist government consider his visit as support for human rights abuse and unfair elections," she said, calling for electoral reform.

US Embassy spokesman Sean McIntosh said the White House had not yet officially announced the visit.

During a visit to Phnom Penh in July, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Obama was "looking forward" to visiting Cambodia for the East Asia Summit in November.

Two media associations to work with Anti-Corruption Unit

PHNOM PENH, 28 September 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - The Anti-Corruption Unit says it will work with the Club of Cambodian Journalists and the Khmer Journalists Association to combat corruption.

Speaking at a UN workshop Thursday, Anti-Corruption Unit President Om Yintieng said the Ministry of Economy and Finance would award those who write stories about graft.

Pen Samitthy, president of Club of Cambodian Journalists, said his club would work hard to fight against corruption.

Om Chandara, president of the Khmer Journalists Association, praised the unit for choosing journalists as partners. "We will cooperate to combat corruption in society," he said.

Discover Vietnam and Cambodia on an amazing tour

Take a fascinating tour by land and river to discover the treasures of Vietnam and Cambodia, says Sue Rogers.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Photo: Fee payable on reproduction. No reproduction without consent of 4Corners Images

By Sue Rogers

Telegraph.co.uk

28 Sep 2012

^{`– Find out more about Luxury
Guided Tours}

From the vibrant cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to remote villages along the Mekong and the archaeological splendour of Angkor Wat, APT’s 17-day Vietnam & Cambodia Discovery tour takes you on a fascinating journey of history and culture.

Combining a luxurious land tour, a night on a romantic junk in Ha Long Bay and a top-class, seven-night river cruise, you will discover a vibrant, exotic culture, beautiful scenery and remarkable historical relics – including many places that are accessible only by water.

Award-winning APT has a wealth of experience in both guided touring and river cruising, so you can rely on the company to deliver an enlightening, all-inclusive adventure that combines the very best of both.

By Albeiro Rodas

The Asian Correspondence

Sep 29, 2012

We are less than four weeks of the tourist high season in Southeast Asia and Cambodia is optimist to continue its growing boom as an international destiny. The government expects an increase of 15 % in foreign visitors – about 3 million persons entering to the Kingdom of Wonder as it is called in the official tourist promotion. It is already gone the time when Cambodia was avoid as a black stain in the Indochina peninsula, with tourists passing in their planes from Bangkok to Saigon wondering how Cambodia would look like.

A group of Japanese tourists see Angkor Wat in early August 2012.

The tourist development has been also a progressive process. In the beginning foreign visitors came only to the Siem Reap Province, mostly in flights from Bangkok, seeing the temples, while staying in what was then a silent Siem Reap town without nightlife. Phnom Penh was the second stage of that growing as much as the city developed its infrastructure and, although its chaotic traffic – that becomes rather a fun for many -, the city of the four faces, as it was called in the past, has more attractions than what it is imaginable.

Then Cambodia became in the spam of few years a country for either backpackers or more exclusive visitors. Some of its small main towns began to resemble authentic cities: Battambang, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, casinos were built at its borders as guardians, becoming a direct form of foreign investment and job generators. The natural other time unexplored Cambodian beaches and islands got the attention of national and foreign investors to create from luxury resorts to nightlife streets.

Jennifer McIntosh
YourOttawaRegion.com
Sep 28, 2012
See pictures here.

Ratanak founder talks about international child sex trade

Brian McConaghy’s life was changed by a little girl he never met.

After being shelled and shot at on the Thai-Cambodian border, McConaghy ended up in a Cambodian refugee camp. He heard stories of a little girl named Ratanak, who died because the communist regime wouldn’t allow medicine in the camp to treat the injuries she received while working in the country’s child sex trade.
But it wasn’t that experience that led the forensic scientist with the RCMP to start Ratanak, the international charity that now rescues children who have been sold to pimps and brothels. It was the horror of watching seven young girls getting raped on video that forced him into action.
McConaghy had been working on the Willy Pickton prostitute murder file when he was asked by the Vancouver City Police department to watch a series of videos.
“I could walk away from the statistics of human trafficking,” he said. “But I couldn’t walk away from that. It changed me forever.”

President Barack Obama addresses the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 25, 2012.

By Kent Klein

September 28, 2012

WHITE HOUSE — The White House says President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in full agreement on wanting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The two leaders discussed the issue by telephone Friday, and the Israeli leader also was scheduled to do so with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

A White House statement says the president and the prime minister spoke as part of their regular consultations, and that Obama reaffirmed his “unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.”

The statement also says the two leaders noted their close cooperation and coordination on what it calls “the threat posed by Iran.”

The conversation followed Netanyahu’s meeting Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Cambodia featured in global video on housing and land rights

Dear Friends,

Today WITNESS and our global partners released the video People Before Profit about housing and land rights globally. The video features testimonies and footage from around the world - including Cambodia - about the human impact of forced evictions and land grabs. It tells the human experience before, during and after a forced eviction and the ways communities are responding and proposing alternatives. A version in Khmer is being developed.

Learn and share more information about the video: http://blog.witness.org/2012/09/people-before-profit/

Watch People Before Profit (English): youtube.com/forcedevictions

Watch People Before Profit (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Portuguese): http://youtu.be/L3tLioIVgfY

Share People Before Profit: by reposting on Facebook via witnessryan's wall, re-tweeeting on Twitter via @witnessryan and embedding the video to your website and blog

Host a Screening: email jackie [at] witness [dot] org or message her on Twitter @jackiezammuto

Translate People Before Profit online: email jackie [at] witness [dot] org or message her on Twitter @jackiezammuto

Rising Military Tensions Between China, Japan (Dispatch)

Stratfor East Asia analyst John Minnich discusses Japan's new defense priorities and how it affects China and the surrounding East Asian countries.

For more analysis, visit: http://www.Stratfor.com

Friday, 28 September 2012

Koh Tral is a Khmer island កោះត្រល់ជាកោះរបស់ខ្មែរ

Read: Koh Tral is a Khmer island.

លិខិតរបស់លោក ប្រេវីយេ បញ្ជាក់ពីព្រំដែនសមុទ្រខ្មែរ ដោយក្នុងនោះគាត់បញ្ជាក់ថាវាមិនមែនជាខ្សែព្រំដែនទេ តែគ្រាន់តែជាខ្សែរដ្ឋបាលប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ដូច្នេះកោះនេះនៅតែជារបស់ខ្មែរ មិនមែនដូច ហ៊ុន សែន និយាយឡើយ។

Sumner Redstone Donates $700,000 to the Cambodian Children's Fund

Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Sumner M. Redstone, chairman and controlling shareholder of Viacom and CBS, with his daughter, Shari, right, and granddaughter Kim in 2003.

28th September 2012

Beverly Hills, California, United States (Business Wire (Business Wire India)) Sumner Redstone today announced a grant of $700,000 to the Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF), a non-profit program that provides a wide range of critical health and educational services to impoverished and abused children in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh. This most recent gift brings Mr. Redstone's total commitment to CCF to $2.7 million. Mr. Redstone's initial $500,000 grant in 2007 established CCF's child rescue center, followed by gifts totaling $1.2 million in 2011.

The CCF is a community-based program that provides the city's most at-risk children with education, health care, nutrition and a play area, all within a secure environment. The Sumner M. Redstone Center cares for children of all ages and includes a nursery for children under three who are recovering from malnutrition, illness or have unsafe home lives; a day care center for three to six year-olds, many from impoverished and seriously disadvantaged domestic situations; and an education center with classes for children from age six through sixteen, who have no other education opportunities. The Center also houses a food program for the surrounding community children and a medical clinic.

Who holds legislative power in Cambodia? [The answer is Hun Sen]

The powers that rule

Friday, 28 September 2012

By Dr. Virak Prum,

Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Puthisastra

Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s Senate in session in April this year. Photograph supplied.

Is parliament the only branch of the Cambodian government endowed with legislative power?

Prior to the creation of the Senate, the Constitution pronounced on this with a very strong provision that read: “The National Assembly is the sole body endowed with the legislative power. This power shall not be transferred to any other organ or individual” (former Article 90).

I call this “the non-delegation provision”. However, in order to accommodate the creation of the Senate in 1999 as another legislative house, the deletion of this strict non-delegation provision seemed necessary.

I think the original non-delegation provision could have easily been saved with a little bit of rewording such as this: “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a National Assembly and Senate. This power shall not be transferred to any other organ or individual.”

Vietnam struggles to crack down on activist blogs

By Chris Brummitt on September 28, 2012

Le Quoc Quan, one of Vietnam's better-known dissidents and a leading blogger, works at his office in Hanoi, Vietnam on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. The Internet has become the principal staging ground for dissent in Vietnam, and its Communist rulers are trying to clamp down with new laws, stepped up arrests, intimidation and longer prison sentences. But so far, it’s a battle they are losing. (AP Photo/Na Son Nguyen) AP

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The 7-iron resting against the wall in Le Quoc Quan's office is for self-defense, not sport. The human-rights lawyer and blogger has not left home without the golf club since being beaten last month by iron-bar-wielding men he suspects were sent by the police.

If the assault was meant to silence him, it failed. Within days he was back online, and reporting about the incident.

The Internet has become the principal staging ground for dissent in Vietnam, and its Communist rulers are trying to clamp down with new laws, stepped up arrests, intimidation and longer prison sentences. But so far, it's a battle they are losing.

Facebook and other social networking sites are blocked here, but the state firewall is so flimsy that even schoolchildren know how to fiddle with computer settings to get around it. The government has announced bans on websites, only to see traffic to them skyrocket. Three bloggers were sentenced to prison this week — one for 12 years — but many others continue to pursue their causes.

Thailand and Cambodia test single visa

28 Sept 2012 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit

BANGKOK, 28 September 2012: A single visa for Thailand and Cambodia will be the test phase of a wider project that will offer a single visa for five of the ASEAN nations located in the lower Mekong River basin.

Suggestions that Thailand has ducked out of the five country single visa project are incorrect. Reliable industry sources confirmed Thailand and Cambodia were selected to test the system and generate feedback that will be evaluated and lead to a wider application including other Mekong Region neighbours, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Tourism Council of Thailand vice president, Thanate Vorasaran, told TTR Weekly, Thursday, that a single visa for travel between Thailand and Cambodia was part of an agreement signed in 2007 and was specifically identified as a pilot project.

According to the plan, a tourist obtains a visa at either the embassy of Thailand or Cambodia (first port of call) and the visa is then valid for visits to both countries.

The scheme is irrelevant to nationalities that already have visa-free entry for either Thailand or Cambodia, but it will assist those who would normally need to apply for visas at both embassies before starting their trip to Southeast Asia.

“Once the project is launched, it will make it more convenient for tourists to travel between two countries if they need to apply for visas for both countries.… however tourists have to pay a fee that covers entry into both countries.,” Mr Thanate explained.

No decision has been made on the mechanics or processing for the much wider single visa covering all five countries of the lower Mekong River basin.

There has been talk of a visa covering four countries known as CLMV (Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam). But the wider project that remains on the table also involves Thailand.

For the CLMV single visa, Mr Thanate said everyone would have to wait to see the outcome of the Thai-Cambodia project first.

“Although Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam tourism ministries made a statement to launch CLMV single visa earlier this month, it was just a declaration in terms of words and not based on the actual realities that exist.”

“Therefore, it was decided that the bilateral agreement on a single visa between Thailand and Cambodia was the first step and that would be the test case for further study.”

ការផ្អាក ជាបណ្ដោះអាសន្ន នូវការផ្ដល់ ដីសម្បទាន សេដ្ឋកិច្ច ធ្វើរហូត ទាល់តែ សម្ដេចចូលនិវត្ដន៍ ពីឆាកនយោបាយ

Friday, 28 September 2012 ដោយៈ ដើមអម្ពិល(DAP): ID-014 DAP News

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ សម្ដេចនាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បានប្រកាសថា ការផ្អាកជាបណ្ដោះអាសន្ន នូវការផ្ដល់សម្បទានដី សេដ្ឋកិច្ច នឹងត្រូវធ្វើក្នុងរយៈពេលវែង ហើយនិងបន្ដធ្វើដល់ពេល ដែលសម្ដេចចូលនិវត្ដន៍ ពីឆាកនយោបាយ។

ការដាក់បទបញ្ជា របស់ប្រមុខរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលខាងលើនេះ បានធ្វើឡើងក្នុងឱកាស ដែលសម្ដេចបាន អញ្ជើញជាអធិបតីភាពដ៏ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់ នៅក្នុងកិច្ចប្រជុំគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី ប្រចាំសបា្ដហ៍ នៅវិមានសន្ដិភាព កាលពីព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី ២៨ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ ។

Kem Sokha: The CPP destroyed natural resources more than previous regimes លោក កឹម សុខា៖ បក្សប្រជាជនបំផ្លាញធនធានធម្មជាតិជាងរបបមុនៗ

ដោយ ម៉ម មុនីរតន៍ 2012-09-28 Radio Free Asia

មន្ត្រីបក្សប្រឆាំង និងអង្គការមិនមែនរដ្ឋាភិបាល ចោទប្រកាន់គណបក្សគ្រប់គ្រងអំណាចបច្ចុប្បន្នថា ជារបបមួយដែលបំផ្លិចបំផ្លាញទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ និងធនធានធម្មជាតិរបស់ប្រទេសយ៉ាងច្រើនសន្ធឹក សន្ធាប់ ដែលមាននៅក្នុងអតីតកាល។

RFA/Uon Chhin

លោក កឹម សុខា អនុប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ក្នុងពិធីប្រគល់រថយន្តដឹកអ្នកជំងឺ និងសម្ភារៈការិយាល័យជូនពលរដ្ឋ នៅឃុំល្បើក ស្រុកឈូក ខេត្តកំពត កាលពីថ្ងៃចន្ទ ទី២០ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១២។

ប៉ុន្តែ លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ធ្លាប់បានថ្លែងជាសាធារណៈថា លោកនឹងភ្នាល់ដាក់ជីវិត ប្រសិនបើលោកទប់ស្កាត់ការកាប់បំផ្លាញព្រៃឈើនេះមិនបាន។

អនុប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ដែលទើបនឹងបង្កើតថ្មីអះអាងថា របបគ្រប់គ្រងក្រោមការដឹកនាំរបស់គណបក្សប្រជាជនបច្ចុប្បន្ន បានធ្វើឲ្យសម្បត្តិធនធានរបស់កម្ពុជា ត្រូវរងការបំផ្លិចបំផ្លាញ និងបាត់បង់ជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ ដែលផ្ទុយពីរបបដឹកនាំមុនៗ។

Boeung Kak Lake developer makes moves

Friday, 28 September 2012

By Shane Worrell

Phnom Penh Post

A view of the former Boeung Kak lake site on which Shukaku plans to build a large commercial and housing development. Photograph: Derek Stout/Phnom Penh Post

After months of inactivity that has fuelled questions about the company’s future, Boeung Kak lake developer Shukaku Inc has launched a recruitment drive, calling for at least half a dozen architects, engineers and other employees.

For months, all has been quiet at the filled-in lake from which thousands have been controversially evicted in recent years. Although the silence has raised questions over the future of the large-scale development, recent job advertisements seem to indicate the project remains on track.

Classifieds that sprang up on the employment website overseasjobs.com last week encourage foreign workers – preferably those who speak Chinese and English – to apply for positions including planning director, head of administration and senior business development manager.

Friday, 28 September 2012

By Meas Sokchea

Phnom Penh Post

A birthday bash in Beijing is being planned for King Father Norodom Sihanouk (pictured), who intends to remain in China for at least another month, his personal secretary said yesterday.

Returning from a visit to China, Prince Sisowath Thomico told the Post yesterday that the retired king will not be coming back to Cambodia in time to celebrate his 91st birthday on October 31.

“He is not ill; his health is fine. But he is just tired,” said Thomico. “King Father will celebrate his birthday in Beijing [instead]. There will be royal family meeting him there. Traditionally, Chinese high-ranking officials have taken flowers to offer to the King, as well.”

Cambodian students win international award

Friday, 28 September 2012

By Erika Mudie

Phnom Penh Post

Speakers hold the UBS Asia Pacific Regional Excellence Award. L to R: Kirill Mankovsky, Longdy Yi, Rami Sharaf, Makara Yi. Photograph supplied

Cambodian student members of the youth leadership group Association Internationale des Études en Sciences ÉconomiquesetCommerciales (AIESEC) celebrated yesterday for winning the UBS Regional Excellence Award.

The AIESEC is a global youth leadership organisation active in 113 countries and territories with over 80,000 members. Founded in 1948, it aims to develop the leadership capabilities of its members.

Here in Cambodia, the organisation offers its members the chance to go on international exchanges, internships and professional development opportunities. Earlier this year this Cambodian chapter hosted a Young Leaders Recruitment Fair & Youth to Business Forum and places them in organizations to develop their business skills.

How can direct flights between Cambodia and Kenya benefit Cambodia if only 141 Kenyans visit Cambodia per year?

Phnom Penh-Nairobi connection to boost the economy

Friday, 28 September 2012

Phnom Penh Post

By May Kunmakara

The Ambassador of African country Kenya, Richard Titus Ekai, told Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Wednesday that he would like to see direct flights between Phnom Penh and Nairobi.

Sok An met Kenyan Ambassador Ekai at his office to discuss the initiative regarding direct flights between the two countries.

He said that Cambodia has high potential in cultural and ecological tourism, according to Ek Tha, a spokesman for the office for the Council of Ministers.

Ekai said that details will be discussed by the relevant institutions before an agreement is signed.

More TV5Monde in Mongolia and Cambodia

By Pascale Paoli-Lebailly

Rapid TV News

28-09-2012

French-language network TV5Monde has renewed its carriage agreement with Mongolian operator Sansar Cable LLC, on which it has been transmitted since 1996.

At present Sansar carries more than 90 digital cable TV channels and offers a basic package and a premium package to more than 62,000 subscribers in the greater Ulaanbaatar area.
TV5Monde Asie is also widely available on Mongolian pay-tv platforms, including offerings such as Khiimore Cable, Unitel, SkyC&C and SBN, for an estimated total of 200,000 subscribing homes and a 69% penetration of the Mongolian pay-tv market.

Cambodia's minister for posts gets warm welcome [by Vietnam PM]

Updated September, 28 2012

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Cambodian Minister of Post and Telecommunications So Khun in Ha Noi yesterday.—VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam

HA NOI — (VNS) Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received visiting Cambodian Minister of Post and Telecommunications So Khun in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the reception, the PM spoke highly of the close and effective cooperation between Viet Nam's Ministry of Information and Communications and the Cambodian ministry over the past several years.

He expressed his wish for the sides to continue stepping up cooperation activities in various fields, especially personnel training, and sharing experience in lawmaking in the area of post and telecom management and development. He thanked Cambodia for creating favourable conditions for Viettel group to develop its telecommunications network in the country.

For his part, So Khun said that Cambodia wants to further strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in the information and communication sector and learn from the other country's experiences.

He affirmed that Cambodia would always welcome and create favourable conditions for Viet Nam's telecommunications businesses to implement their projects in the country. — VNS

Book details child's view of Cambodia killing fields

By Nick Olivari

NEW YORK,

Thu Sep 27, 2012

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

Not a complete stitch-up [ for the fortunes of the long-serving prime minister, Hun Sen]

The economy grows, but so does the opposition

Sep 29th 2012 |

The Economist

PHNOM PENH

UNDER dazzling white strip-lights a production line of young Cambodians stitch, iron and fold their way to the day’s target of 820 two-piece children’s pyjamas. These garments are destined for the shelves of Los Angeles, shop price $9.97. The workers, mostly women, start at 7.30am and could knock off at 4pm, but almost all stay for two hours’ overtime. There are about 1,300 workers at the Gawon Apparel factory on the outskirts of the Cambodian capital and they can produce up to 20,000 items of clothing a day—or 7.3m a year.

The factory is South Korean-owned and is one of about 375 across the country with an export permit. Garment-making is the country’s most important and dynamic industry. Together with 45 footwear companies and hundreds of subcontractors, the industry employs almost 500,000 workers, out of a population of barely 14m people. The shirts, blouses and trainers churned out by these factories account for 80% of the country’s exports and earn $4 billion of foreign exchange in a country with a GDP of just $13 billion. The success of the garment industry is an encouraging sign of new-found economic vitality in a country that emerged only 20 years ago from decades of Khmer Rouge terror, foreign invasion and civil war.

A man arrived home to see his wife sleeping with her lover, so he locked the door from the outside trapping the pair inside the house the whole night នាំប្រុសមក ដេកដល់ក្នុងផ្ទះ ប្តីតាមទាន់ចាក់ សោរពីក្រៅ ជាប់ក្នុងផ្ទះ រហូតដល់ទៀបភ្លឺ

Friday, 28 September 2012 ដោយ៖ ដើមអម្ពិល-គឹម ចន្ថា-ID-007 DAP News

ភ្នំពេញ៖ រឿងរ៉ាង ប្រពន្ធផិតក្បត់ ប្តីមួយបាន កើតឡើង បង្កឲ្យមានការ ភ្ញាក់ផ្អើល នៅក្នុងផ្ទះមួយ កន្លែង ដែលមានទីតាំង ស្ថិតនៅតាមបណ្តោយ ផ្លូវជាតិលេខ៥ ទល់មុខស្ថានីយ៍ ទូរទស្សន៍ស៊ីធីអិន ភូមិក្រោលគោ សង្កាត់ឫស្សីកែវ ខណ្ឌឫស្សីកែវ ក្រោយពេលដែល ស្រ្តីជាប្រពន្ធម្នាក់ បាននាំសាហាយ មកដេករួម រក្ស័ដល់ក្នុងផ្ទះ ប៉ុន្តែប្តីដឹង ហើយតាមទាន់ ក៏ចាក់សោរពីក្រៅ ធ្វើឲ្យស្រ្តីជាប្រពន្ធ ផិតក្បត់ប្តី និងសាហាយ របស់ខ្លួន ជាប់ក្នុងផ្ទះ រហូតដល់ទៀបភ្លឺ។

27 September 2012
By Mu Sochua

The petition went online Wednesday 26 September, 2012 at 8.30AM

It is now 8:37PM in Battambang.

Thursday 27 September, 2012.

Be among the first 500 signatories. We need another 111 signatures to declare our first victory. We more than reach the goal: 100 signatures/day.

We reached 383 in just over 24hours.!

Thanking all who believe that democracy is built with action and courage.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE AT:

http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-to-cancel-visit-to-cambodia-if-no-elections-reforms#share

Cambodian govt 'must push reforms'

Rasmei Kampuchea Daily

Published in The Thai Nation newspaper

September 28, 2012

The World Bank urged the Cambodian government yesterday to accelerate reforms while taking a participatory approach to its National Strategic Development Plan.

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

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

Dixon noted that the government now aims "to build the necessary foundations of a middle income country. The new development plan will "play a key role in building the foundation to meet such a commendable vision," she said, adding that development partners "stand ready to support the government.

Dixon said faster reforms were needed to "provide citizens high quality public service".

Kristof: Voices of the voiceless

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published 28 September 2012

When President Barack Obama made a landmark speech against modern slavery on Tuesday, many of us in the news media shrugged. It didn’t fit into the political narrative. It wasn’t controversial, so — yawn — it wasn’t really news.

But women like Sina Vann noticed. She’s a friend of mine who was trafficked as a young girl from Vietnam into Cambodian brothels — where she was regularly punished by being locked inside coffins with scorpions and biting ants. Now an anti-trafficking activist with the Somaly Mam Foundation, she sent me an exuberant email (in fractured English, her third language) with a message for Obama: "We are survivors here so proud of you, you are the big president in U.S. and you take action of trafficking. So you give victims from around the world have hope."

ICBC-U.S.' Citibank eyes business opportunities in Cambodia

M2 Communications

ENP Newswire - 27 September 2012

Release date- 26092012 - Citibank, one of the largest banks in the United States, is seeking for investment opportunities in Cambodia, a bank senior official said Tuesday.

During a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Keat Chhon on Tuesday afternoon, Darren Buckley, country head of the Citibank in Bangkok, expressed the bank's interest to invest in Cambodia and urged the country to issue ' sovereign bonds', Mey Vann, head of the Finance Ministry's financial industry department, told reporters after the meeting.

'In the meeting, Darren Buckley urged Cambodia to consider issuing sovereign bonds and promised to act as an underwriter for such bond trading in order to attract more foreign investors to Cambodia,' said Mey Vann.

Reporter beaten for story on logging [in Ratanakiri province]

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Sept. 27, 2012 (UPI) -- Cambodian military police say they are looking for three men, including a former police officer, suspected in the beating of a journalist

It's the third incident this month of assaults on journalists writing about illegal logging in the remote northeastern province of Ratanakkiri, The Phnom Penh Post reported Thursday.

Ek Sokunthy, a 42-year-old journalist for the weekly newspaper Ta Prum said he was beaten on the head and body Tuesday with a pistol and wooden stick in his home in the district of Andong Meas. His wife was pushed to the floor.

Tourists flock to Angkor Wat

By Mark Elliott,

The Travel Daily Media
27 September 2012, Thursday

Cambodia’s world famous Angkor Wat Temple saw a surge in visitors this year.

Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Approximately 1.3 million tourists travelled to the World Heritage Site through the first eight months of the year, a 31 percent rise compared with 1.04 million during the same period in 2011.

The majority of visitors are from neighbouring Asian countries, with South Korea, Vietnam, China, Japan and Thailand constituting the top five source markets.

According to a report by the Siem Reap provincial tourism department, Angkor Wat received 238,400 South Koreans, up 41 percent compared with the same period last year; 163,055 Vietnamese, down 13 percent; 110,500 Chinese, up 47 percent; 86,850 Japanese, up 16 percent; and 79,035 Thais, up 184 percent.

The rise in Korean and Chinese tourists is attributed to improved air connectivity, while the quelling of last year’s Cambodian-Thai border dispute has prompted resurgence in travel from Thailand.

Three people you should meet in Siem Reap

Published on Friday, 28 September 2012

The Malaya Business Insight

Written by ELLEN TORDESILLAS

Malaya Business News Online | Philippine Business News

‘One remarkable thing about Siem Reap: You don’t see any sign warning tourists about pickpockets because there are none.’

I NEVER cease to be awed by Angkor Wat.

The first time I stepped on the once- sacred grounds of the sprawling (covers an area of almost two hectares) the 2,000-year-old temple was an overwhelming experience. That was in 1987. I was with a group of journalists of different nationalities covering Southeast Asia. It was a side trip from our main coverage which was an interview with Cambodian officials led by Hun Sen, the former Khmer Rouge commander who abandoned the genocidal regime in 1977 and emerged as the leader of the Vietnamese-backed government in Phnom Penh. He is currently the prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Last week, I went back to Siem Reap with my friend, Marilyn Robles. For three days, we went temple-hopping, a total of 23 temples in three days. In the process of being enthralled by the distinct features of each temple, we met interesting persons.

One was Muk Moon, former monk and a resident of Angkor Wat.

A Change of Guard

Sunday, 30 September 2012

Saturday, 29 September 2012

Friday, 28 September 2012