Cambodia sees new space for democracy

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Freedom of expression in Cambodia has recently become more prominent both in the media and on social network. This reflects a new trend of expressing ideas, but it is still in its early stage and has not been used properly for the better yet as some take to this new culture to attack others instead.

The fact that people start heeding social and political issues and expressing their own opinions about them is a good sign of democratic growth in Cambodia. Regardless of their stance, opposition supporters, government supporters and neutralists alike seem to be fully aware of this new culture of expressing conflicting ideas, which is still young and fragile.

Generally, difference in points of view often stirs a stage for attacking others and causes them to consider others as enemies rather than merely people with different ideas, triggering a grave concern of disunity in society. Different opinions do not only occur in political context but also in academic field. In developed country, it is important to have diversified ideas from scholars because that is how new ideas are forged and used to gear development more rapidly.

Scholars are also valued in Cambodia; however, the problem lies in that those with high degrees tend to find it difficult to work together due to their different philosophy. Most of them cannot get along mainly because some of them consider themselves as a know-all and always look for opportunity to blame instead of providing constructive criticism.

Other scholars become victims of nepotism or cannot adapt to existing political stance while others are extremists and cannot accept ideas that are different from theirs. 

Extremism is also prevalent in politics and plays an important role in disintegrating our nation.

It is true that a country of highly educated people but unable to work together doesn’t differ from a country with low education. Similarly, a democratic country in which freedom of expressiongets out of control and causes disunity is no better than a non-democratic country.

CPP, CNRP agree not to grant NEC immunity

PHNO PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- The working groups of the Cambodian People's Party and Cambodia National Rescue Party agreed not to grant immunity to members of reformed National Election Committee, but the NEC members are protected by law, according to the joint statement issued Friday afternoon. 

The report was issued after a four-hour meeting on the amendment of Constitution's article 76 and creation of new chapter between the working groups led by Pen Panha for CPP side, and Eng Chhai Ieng for CNRP. 

The members of NEC could not be politicians, leaders of non-government, association, unions, or commerce companies. The NEC has autonomous budget for its operation. 

In case the two parties fail to establish and prepare the new NEC members, the existing NEC members have to operate their tasks, the report said. 

The CNRP agreed to take its seats to end about year-long boycott of parliament after the ruling party agreed to its reforms of NEC, TV license and other agreements. 

According to the political agreement reached between the two parties' top leaders on July 22, the reformed NEC has 9 members including four from CPP, four from CNRP and one is selected by consensus. The ninth members of NEC is LICADHO's director Pung Chhiv Kek who was recently agreed by Sam Rainsy and Hun Sen.

Dr. Pung Chiv Kek reacts to Facebook users who accused that she has sold out to Hun Sen after she was nominated as the ninth member of the NEC អ្នកស្រី ពុងឈីវកេក ប្រត្តិកម្មចំពោះអ្នកលេងFacebook

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said the arrests of three CNRP youths won't affect the ongoing negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties ​លោក​យឹម សុវណ្ណ​ ថាការចាប់ខ្លួន​សកម្មជន​បក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ មិន​ប៉ះពាល់​ដល់​ការចរចា​ទេ​​

ដោយ៖​ ឡាយ សាមាន​ | ថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ទី3 សីហា 2014 | VOD

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ

​មន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ  នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​អាទិត្យ​នេះ​ឲ្យដឹងថា ការចាប់ខ្លួន​សកម្មជន​គណបក្ស​របស់​ខ្លួន​ចំនួន​៣​រូប មិន​ប៉ះពាល់​ដល់​ការចរចា​ទេ តែ​គណបក្ស​នេះ​នៅតែ​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​អាជ្ញាធរគ​ណ​បក្ស​ប្រជាជន​ដោះលែង​អ្នក​ទាំងនោះ​។​

​អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ ប្រាប់ VOD នៅ​ថ្ង​អាទិត្យ​នេះ​ថា ការចរចា​នៅ​តែ​បន្ត​ទៅមុខ ប៉ុន្តែ​គណបក្ស​នេះ​នៅតែ​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យមាន​ការដោះលែង​សកម្មជន​បក្ស​របស់​ខ្លួន ព្រោះ​ពួកគាត់​គ្មាន​កំហុស​ដូច​អ្វី​ដែល​តុលាការ​ចោទប្រកាន់​នោះទេ​។ លោក​បន្តថា ការចរចា​នៅ​តែ​បន្ត ហើយ​ត្រូវតែ​បញ្ចប់​រៀបចំ​ក្របខណ្ឌ​ច្បាប់ ដើម្បី​អនុវត្ត​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ឲ្យបាន​ត្រឹមត្រូវ និង​មាន​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព​។​

ទោះយ៉ាងណា លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ មិន​ទាន់​បញ្ជាក់​ពី​កាល​បរិច្ឆេទ​ដែល​គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ជួបគ្នា​ជា​ថ្មី​នោះ​ទេ​។ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍​ម្សិលមិញ​នេះ ស្នងការ​នគរបាល​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ​ចុះ​ចាប់ខ្លួន សកម្មជន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ចំនួន ៣​រូប​រួមមាន លោក ឃិន ជំរឿន ប្រធាន​ចលនា​យុវជន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ និង​ជា​សមាជិក​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ជាប់ឆ្នោត​ខណ្ឌ​ច្បារអំពៅ លោក សាន គីមហេង ប្រធានចលនា​យុវជន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ខណ្ឌទួលគោក និង​ជា​សមាជិក​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ជាប់ឆ្នោត​ខណ្ឌទួលគោក និង​លោក នាង សុ​ឃុន ហិរញ្ញិ​កចលនាយុវជន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ខណ្ឌ​ច្បារអំពៅ​។​

​គួរបញ្ជាក់​ថា បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការចាប់ខ្លួន​យុវជន​ទាំង​បី​នាក់​នេះ ប៉ុន្មាន​ម៉ោង​ក្រោយមក គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ចេញ​សេចក្តី​ថ្លែង​ការ​ថ្កោលទោស គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ថា ប្រើ​តុលាការ​ដើម្បី​ដាក់​គំនាប​នយោបាយ ហើយ​អំពាវនាវ​ឲ្យមាន​ការដោះលែង​ជា​បន្ទាន់ដោ​យ​ឥត​លក្ខខណ្ឌ​។

Three Cambodian Opposition Leaders Held Over Freedom Park Protests យុវជន​បក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​៣​នាក់​ត្រូវ​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន​បណ្ដោះ​អាសន្ន​នៅ​គុក​ព្រៃស

Cambodian security guards clash with protesters pushing for the opening of Freedom Park in Phnom Penh, July 15, 2014.

 AFP

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Saturday accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of using the courts to intimidate the party after three of its youth leaders were arrested and seven lawmakers summoned for questioning over violent protests last month.

The accusation came 11 days after CNRP leader Sam Rainsy and Hun Sen forged a political compromise in which opposition lawmakers would end their boycott of parliament and the prime minister agreed to adopt electoral reforms following disputed general elections a year ago.

On Saturday, CNRP said in a statement that three Phnom Penh party youth leaders had been arrested for alleged involvement in the July 15 protest by CNRP supporters pushing for the reopening of Freedom Park in the capital Phnom Penh.

Forty people were injured after the peaceful protest escalated to violence when park security guards tried to pull down a banner hung by the CNRP calling on the government to reopen the park, the only place where protests were allowed in the capital before it was closed to the public in January.

The CNRP identified the three arrested leaders as Khin Chamrouen, 32, Neang Sokhun, 28, and San Kim Heng, 28, saying they were “accused of involvement in the violence” that left at least 40 injured outside Freedom Park.

On Friday, CNRP deputy chief Kem Sokha, seven party lawmakers and another opposition member were summoned by Phnom Penh Municipal Court investigating judge Keo Mony for questioning on Aug. 11 in connection with the violence. 

The seven lawmakers and one party member had earlier been detained for several days and charged with “insurrection” for their role in the protest.

Help Cambodia's garment workers, [UK] unions urge Business Secretary

Help Cambodia's garment workers, unions urge Business Secretary

UK clothing firms should be forced to make better checks on factory conditions, says TUC

MARK LEFTLY 

 

 

Sunday 03 August 2014

The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, must force British clothing companies to investigate whether garments sourced from Cambodia are made at factories with fair labour practices, the unions have warned.

Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the Trade Union Congress, has written to Mr Cable warning that "repression against workers taking strike action" is growing in Cambodian factories which are increasingly supplying the UK and Europe's demand for cheap clothing and footwear. The country's exports to the EU were worth nearly £1.1bn in the first 11 months of last year, up 31 per cent on the same period in 2012.

In January, H&M, Gap, Puma and Adidas were among a number of Western clothing groups that wrote to Hun Sen, the Cambodian Prime Minister, demanding that his government stop using violence against striking workers.

Five garment workers had just been shot dead while striking for higher wages, including one who was employed by a supplier to Puma.

"European-based corporations have a responsibility to ensure that workers' rights are respected in their supply chains," said Ms O'Grady's letter, which was also sent to the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, as the House of Commons broke for summer recess on 22 July.

Cambodia benefits from a preferential EU trading regime for particularly poor countries. However, a condition is that beneficiaries must guarantee fundamental labour rights, both in law and in practice.

The ‘hell’ of abuse in China

A woman sits in front of a microphone in Phnom Penh in June as she recounts her story of being sold into slavery through an arranged marriage in China. Heng Chivoan

Thu, 31 July 2014 Phnom Penh Post

Sean Teehan and Sen David

Shrinking down into her chair, an 18-year-old woman stared at her lap and wept yesterday after recounting her harrowing eight months as a trafficked bride in China, which ended in January when she escaped from her husband.

“My life was hell,” the teen, who asked not to be identified, said to a room of about 20 people at a news conference. “My husband forced me to have sex every day, and I was fed only rice and carrots.”

Like other victims in whose cases rights group Adhoc has intervened in 2014 – there have been 29 in all – the woman was talked into marrying into a Chinese family with hopes of a better life than the one she led as a garment worker in Kandal province.

Cases handled by Adhoc of women held captive in China after marrying a man there more than tripled in the first six months of this year over the same period in 2013, said Chann Sokunthea, the NGO’s head of women and children’s rights. Last year there were eight victims, four of whom were repatriated. Ten of the 29 women Adhoc have helped this year have returned to Cambodia.

With concerns growing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken the unprecedented measure of requesting – through the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh – that China no longer grant visas to single Cambodian women, spokesman Koy Kuong said yesterday. Staff at the embassy could not confirm the request.

In a report released yesterday, Adhoc calls for the Cambodian government to make concerted efforts to prevent the abuse that these brides suffer at the hands of brokers, husbands and families who treat them like slaves from the moment they arrive in China.

Among Adhoc’s recommendations to clamp down on the abuse are increased monitoring and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Cambodia and China. Officials here have said that such a document is being worked on.

The man who dares to sue Hun Sen got arrested! ចាប់លោក នាង សុឃុន នៅម៉ោង 2:30 PM រឿងប្តឹង ហ៊ុន សែន

គិតមកដល់ម៉ោងនេះយុវជនគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិរាជធានីភ្នំពេញត្រូវសមត្ថកិច្ចចាប់បាន3នាក់ហើយ! 

1.ឈ្មោះ ឃិន ជំរឿន ប្រធានយុវជនរាជធានីភ្នំពេញគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ!

2.ឈ្មោះ សាន គីមហេង ប្រធានយុវជនខណ្ឌទួលគោក គណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ!

3ឈ្មោះ នាង សុឃុន ហេរញ្ញឹកយុវជនខណ្ឌច្បារអំពៅ គណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ!

Neang Sokhun (top picture), the only man, after Mu Sochua, who dares to sue Hun Sen was arrested to today on dubious charges of instigating violence during the 15th July. Two other opposition activists, San Kim Heng who is president of CNRP Youth in Tuol Kork district and Khin Chumroeun, president of Phnom Penh CNRP Young wing, were also arrested.

A few months ago Neang Sokhun, who is a treasurer of CNRP Youth wing in Phnom Penh's Chbar Ampov district, sues Mr. Hun Sen in the Phnom Penh Court for ceding Koh Tral Island to Vietnam. His lawsuit against Mr. Hun Sen was dismissed and Sokhun remains free until now.

While three of the opposition youth leaders were arrested, 7 opposition parliamentarians and one activist were summoned to appear before the court on 11th August. The opposition CNRP has issued a statement condemning the arrests and the summons, calling it political intimidation and persecutions.

Khmernewstime - Mr. Neang Sokhun Filed a Complaint to Phnom Penh Court to Sue Hun Sen.

Khmernewstime - Mr. Neang Sokhun Filed a Complaint to Phnom Penh Court to Sue Hun Sen

Top: Neang Sokhun and Below: Mr. Khin Chumroeun.

Below: Mr. San Kim Heng.

Post by Special Reporter.

Sihanouk greeted by Kim Il Sung during his visit to North Korea on 22nd July 1971 សម្ដេចតាដែលបានយាងទៅទស្សនកិច្ចនៅកូរ៉េខាងជើង!

Post by Broskomhoch Lastboyunfake.

What is the intention of the CPP government for the arrests of opposition activists after it began negotiating with the opposition? "តើការចាប់ខ្លួនយុវជនគណៈបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ក្រោយការចរចាមានន័យយ៉ាងដូចម្តេច???"

Today, the CPP government ordered the arrests of 3 CNRP youth leaders on dubious charges of instigating violence during the protest on 15th July.

ការចាប់ខ្លួនយុវជនសង្គ្រោះជាតិក្នុងស្ថានភាព
បែបនេះអាចមានហេតុផលដូចខាងក្រោម÷

១- ជាការចង់សាកល្បងកម្លាំងអ្នកគាំទ្រគណៈ
បក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិក្រោយការចរចា។

២- ដើម្បីគេចចេញពីការទទួលខុសត្រូវក្នុងការ
ប្រើពួកបាតដៃទីបីឲ្យបង្កអំពើហឹង្សាលើអ្នកគាំទ្រ
បក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិហើយប្រើយុទ្ធសាស្ត្របង្វែកំហុស
លើអ្នកគាំទ្របក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិវិញ។

៣- មានបំណងបំបាក់ស្មារតីយុវជនដែល
គាំទ្រគណៈបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ។

៤- អាចយកជាចំណាប់ខ្មាំងក្នុងការចរចា
ដើម្បីដាក់សម្ពាធលើគណៈបក្សសង្គ្រោះ
ជាតិជាបន្តទៀត។

សំណួរ÷

១- តើគណៈបក្សប្រជាជនចរចាដើម្បីបញ្ចប់
បញ្ហាឬចរចាដើម្បីបង្កើនបញ្ហា?

២- ហេតុអ្វីបានជារដ្ឋាភិបាលមិនទៅចាប់អ្នក
បញ្ជានិងអ្នកប្រើអាវុធមកវាយពលរដ្ឋមុនតែ
បែជាមកចាប់អ្នកគ្មានអាវុធក្នុងដៃទៅវិញ?

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The results of the bipartisan meeting of the Task Force on Constitutional Amendments លទ្ធផលនៃជំនួបរវាងបក្ប្រជាជននិងបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិលោការធ្វើវិសោធនកម្មរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ

ឯកសារជាប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ / Historic document (4 photos)

០២ សីហា ២០១៤ / 02 August 2014 - Historic document

- កំណត់ហេតុនៃកិច្ចប្រជុំក្រុមការងារគណបក្សទាំងពីរ កាលពីរសៀលម្សិលមិញនេះ។
- Minutes of yesterday afternoon’s meeting between working groups of the two parties.
- Procès-verbal de la réunion entre les groupes de travail des deux partis qui a eu lieu hier après-midi.

Ohier Street, Phnom Penh in 1920 ទីប្រជុំជនក្រុងភ្នំពេញ លើដងវិថី"OHIER" ទសវត្សរ៏១៩២០

ទីប្រជុំជនក្រុងភ្នំពេញ លើដងវិថី"OHIER"
ទសវត្សរ៏១៩២០

រៀបរៀង៖ខមទេពី

Dr. Pung Chiv Kek reconsiders whether to become the ninth member of the NEC after after the two parties agreed not to grant immunity to all the NEC members [The CNRP proposed granting immunity to NEC members, but withdrew the proposal after the CPP rejected it] លោកស្រី ពុង ឈី​វ​កេក ពិចារណា​ឡើង​វិញក្នុងការ​ធ្វើ​ជា​សមាជិក គជប​

ដោយ៖​ ឡាយ សាមាន​ | ថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ ទី2 សីហា 2014, 

លោកស្រី ពុង ឈីវកេក ប្រធានអង្គការលីកាដូ (រូបថត៖ អេមី)

​ប្រធាន​អង្គការ​លីកាដូ លោកស្រី ពុង ឈី​វ​កេក កំពុង​ពិចារណា​ឡើងវិញ ក្នុង​ការចូល​ធ្វើ​ជា​មា​ជិកទី​៩ នៃ​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀបចំ​ការបោះឆ្នោត បន្ទាប់​ពី​គណបក្ស​ទាំងពីរ​ឯកភាព​គ្នា​សម្រេច​មិន​ផ្តល់​អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​ដូច​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​ដល់​សមាជិក​គជប​ថ្មី​នេះ​។​

​កាល​ពី​ម្សិលមិញ​នេះ ក្រុមការងារ​ជំនាញ​របស់​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ទាំងពីរ​បាន​ជួប​ពិភាក្សា​គ្នា រយៈពេល​ជាង ៤​ម៉ោង នៅ​វិមាន​រដ្ឋ​សភា ជា​លទ្ធផល គណបក្ស​ជាប់​ឆ្នោត​ទាំងពីរ ឯកភាពគ្នា សម្រេច​មិន​ផ្តល់​អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​ដូច​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​ដល់​សមាជិក​ គជប ​ថ្មី ដោយ​គ្រាន់តែ​ផ្តល់​សិទ្ធិ​ការពារ​ផ្លូវ​ច្បាប់ ឲ្យ​ដូចនឹង​ស្ថាប័ន​តុលាការ និង​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ធម្ម​ញ្ញ​។​

​អ្នកគ្រប់គ្រង​បច្ចេកទេស​ស៊ើបអង្កេត​នៃ​អង្គការ​លីកាដូ លោក អំ សំអាត ប្រាប់ VOD នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍​នេះ​ថា លោកស្រី ពុង ឈី​វ​កេក ប្រធាន​អង្គកា​រ​លីដូ កំពុង​ពិចារណា​ឡើងវិញ ថា​ចូលឬ​មិន​ចូល​ធ្វើ​ជា​សមាជិក គជប បន្ទាប់​ពី​បក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​បដិសេធ​សំណើរ​របស់​លោកស្រី​ក្នុង​ការផ្តល់​អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​ដល់សមាជិក គជប ដូច​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​។​

​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២២ ខែ កក្កដា គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ជាប់ឆ្នោត​ទាំងពីរ​បាន​ឯកភាព​គ្នា​បញ្ចប់​ជម្លោះ​នយោបាយ និង​ព្រមព្រៀងគ្នា​ដោយ​ជ្រើសរើស​សមាជិក គជប ចេញ​ពី​បក្ស​ម្ខាង ៤ រូប នឹង​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល ១ រូប​។ ក្នុងជំនួប​នោះ គណបក្សនយោបាយ​ទាំងពីរ​ឯកភាព​គ្នា​ជ្រើសរើស  ប្រធាន​អង្គការ​លីកាដូ លោកស្រី ពុង ឈី​វ​កេក ជា​សមាជិក គជប ទី៩​។

Most Powerful 500 Millionaires Made by the Policy of PM Hun Sen!

Kith Meng, chairman of Royal Group.

Who are the richest in Cambodia? How do they get to the top? And PM Hun Sen wants more of them

http://sochua.wordpress.com/2012/12/31/who-are-the-riches-in-cambodia-how-do-they-get-to-the-top-and-pm-hun-sen-wants-more-of-them/

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-encourages-cambodians-to-emulate-chinese-style-wealth-7028/

Prime minister Hun Sen has nothing to hide about his economic policy: making the richest richer and that communism is not so bad. He cites the example of millionaires in China.

In his speech, the PM tells the public about how to become millionaires in Cambodia. But the policy only applies to the selected ones. If you are at the bottom, just remain there or go down further and wait for these selected richest come to rescue you: rape you raw of your land so you can beg for mercy from the richest and the most powerful 500 millionaires made by the policy of PM Hun Sen.

And more: the Full Family Tree: http://www.globalwitness.org/library/cambodias-family-trees

Downloads?

Cambodia's Family Trees (Low Res): http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/cambodias_family_trees_low_res.pdf

Cambodia's Family Trees (Word Version): http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/070417_cambodias_family_trees_word_version.docRecommendations and Summary: http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/recommendations_and_summary_sml.pdf

Khmer - Cambodia's Family Trees Part 1 (Low Res): http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/khmerpart1lo_g_w_v7a.pdfKhmer - Cambodia's Family Trees Part 2 (Low Res): http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/khmerpart2lo_g_w_v7b.pdf

Who are the richest men in Cambodia? The top ones who are known to the public:

The Richest Man in Cambodia

http://phumyeung.blogspot.com/2009/12/richest-men-in-cambodia.html

The richest men in Cambodia or the most powerful economic in Cambodia:

List of Oknha,[a title given to persons who have made a very high charitable donation]in Cambodia. 

This list of Oknha is not ranked by their fortune, because we don't how much they have exactly but we know that all of these people are the key factor in Cambodia.

1. Kith Meng (Royal Group)

2. Kith Thieng (Royal Group)

3. Mong Reththy (Mong Reththy Group)

4. Sok Kong (SOKIMEX Co., Ltd)

5. Men Sarun (Men Sarun Co., Ltd)

6. Suy Sophan (Yeay Phan) (Phanimex )

7. Lao Meng Khin (Phanimex )

8. Khaou Phallaboth (Khaou Chully MKK Co)

9. Khaou Chully (Khaou Chully MKK Co)

10. Sy Kong Triv (KT Pacific Group)

11. Ing Bun Hoaw

12. Ly Yoong Phat (L.Y.P Group)

13. Sorn Sokna (Sokimex Group)

14. Phou Puy ( President of Commerce Chamber in Battambang)

15. Sang Than

16. Nang Sothy (Royal Phosphate Limited)

17. So Nguon ( So Nguon Transportation & Service Import Export Co., Ltd)

18. Ly Say Khieng (SKL Group Holding)

19. Sam Ang (Vattanac Bank)

20. Doung Chhiv (Doung Chiv Import and Export)

21. Kok An (ANCO Brother Co., Ltd)

22. Te Tain Por, (LTP Lien Phong International Investment Co., Ltd.)

23. Keo Maly (Takoe Chamber of Commerce)

Oknha is a prestigious title that any wealthy Cambodian aspires to hold. This award of honour was created more than ten years ago and is aimed at those, men and women, who contribute to the reconstruction and the development of the Kingdom. These men and women are mostly influential business people who are connected with the high circles of the ruling power and know, for some of them, how to use this title in order to obtain preferentialtreatment. 

On April 5th 1994, the two co-Prime Ministers at the time, Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen, signed a sub-decree concerning the creation of decorations aimed at local or foreign benefactors working on the welfare of Cambodia. Depending on the level of contribution paid to the Government, three types of medals are granted for national construction: gold, silver and bronze. The lucky recipients of a gold medal - that is when their donation, whether it be material or financial, exceeds US$100,000 - also receive the title of oknha.

According to Thien Mao, director or the Decorations Department of the Council of Ministers , 220 oknhas, among whom less than ten women, have officially received this honour which inspires respect within the Cambodian society. However, these figures are simply official and represent a large underestimation of the real figures. 

A title brought back to fashion

Miech Ponn, councillor for the Khmer Mores and Customs Commission at the Buddhist Institute , indicated that the title of oknha could be traced back in the history of Cambodia to the 15th century, under the reign of King Chao Ponhea Yat (1421-1462).

Going by his own research, Miech Ponn attested: “In the 15th and 16th centuries, oknhas were district and province governors as well as the king's personal councillors, in charge of royal, military, judicial and agricultural affairs”. He explained that this title was closer today to the usual “His Excellency” title which precedes the names of ministers and provincial governors. 

Time went by and the meaning of oknha was derived from its original sense. Nowadays, those who are granted this honorific acknowledgement are no longer those situated at the forefront of the country's political life but rather, as Thien Mao said referring to the 1994 sub-decree, major sponsors of the state in its effort to rebuild the country. 

A traditional Khmer house in Battambang, built in 1907 ផ្ទះខ្មែរបុរាណមួយខ្នងនេះបានសាងសង់ឡើងក្នុងឆ្នាំ១៩០៧ នៅឯខេត្តបាត់ដំបង

តើលោកអ្នកស្រលាញ់ ពេញចិត្ត និងគាំទ្រដើម្បីជួយថែរក្សាផ្ទះខ្មែរបុរាណអោយបានគង់វង្សយូរអង្វែងដែរឬទេ?។ ផ្ទះខ្មែរបុរាណមួយខ្នងនេះបានសាងសង់ឡើងក្នុងឆ្នាំ១៩០៧ នៅឯខេត្តបាត់ដំបង។

Do you love, appreciate and support to take care of our Khmer traditional houses? A traditional Khmer house in Battambang, built in 1907.

Minister of Finance asked National Bank to freeze the assets of four tycoons ឧកញ៉ា ៤ រូប ត្រូវបាន​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ ស្នើ​ឲ្យ​ធនាគារជាតិ បង្កក​ទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ​

The four tycoons are: Mrs. Suy Sophan, Mrs. Phu Siv Kheng, Mr. Ngin Mono and Mr. Norng Savuth.

(ថ្ងៃទី 1 សីហា 2014) | ដោយ: CEN

ភ្នំពេញ: ឧកញ៉ា ៤ រូប ដែល​ក្នុងនោះ មានឈ្មោះ​លោកស្រី ស៊ុយ សុផាន ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន ផាន​អ៊ី​មិច ត្រូវបាន​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ បាន​សរសេរ​លិខិត ស្នើ​ឲ្យ​ធនាគារជាតិ​នៃ​កម្ពុជា បង្កក​ទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ​។ លោក អូន ព័ន្ធមុនីរ័ត្ន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួង​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ក្នុង​លិខិត ទៅកាន់​ទេសាភិបាល​ធនាគារ​ជាតិ​ថា ការស្នើ​សុំ​ឲ្យ​ធនាគារជាតិ បង្កក​ទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ​នោះ មក​ពី​ឧកញ៉ា​ទាំង ៤ រូប ខកខាន​សងបំណុល ដែល​ជំពាក់​រដ្ឋ ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​ការដោះដូរ​ទីតាំង​អគារ​រដ្ឋ​។​

​    ​

អ្នកស្រី ស៊ុយសាផាន

​លិខិត​របស់​លោក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ បាន​បង្ហាញ​ឈ្មោះ​ឧកញ៉ា​ទាំង ៤​រូប ដែល​លោក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី បាន​ស្នើសុំ​បង្កក​ទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ រួមមាន​៖ លោកស្រី ស៊ុយ សុផាន ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន ផាន​អ៊ី​មិច លោកស្រី ភូ ស៊ីវ ខេង ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន Golden Century Import Export CoLtd លោក ឧកញ៉ា ងិន ម​នោ ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន មនោ​រតន ខន​ស្រា្ត​ក់​សិន និង​លោក​ឧកញ៉ា នង សាវុធ ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន សុវណ្ណ វឌ្ឈនៈ​។​

​លិខិត​ដដែល បាន​លើកឡើង​ថា ការស្នើសុំ​នេះ គឺ​ដោយសារតែ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​របស់​ឧកញ៉ា​ទាំង ៤​រូប ជាប់ជំពាក់​នឹង​ការទិញ​អចលនទ្រព្យ​ដែល ជា​សម្បត្តិ​រដ្ឋ ដូចជា ករណី​លោក​ស្រី ស៊ុយ សុផាន គឺ នៅក្នុង​ករណី​បង់ប្រាក់​លំអៀង​ពី​ការដោះដូរ​ទីតាំង​អតីត​នាយកដ្ឋាន​សម្ភារៈ របស់​ក្រសួង​សាធារណៈការ និង​ដឹកជញ្ជូន និង​ទូទាត់​បង្គ្រប់​ថ្លៃ​ទិញ​ផ្តាច់​អតីត​ដី​អង់​តែ​ន​ទូរទស្សន៍​ទួលគោក របស់​ក្រសួង​ព័ត៌មាន​។ 

​ដោយឡែក  លោកស្រី ភូ ស៊ីវ ខេង ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​ជុំវិញ​ករណី​បង់​បង្គ្រប់​ថ្លៃ​ទិញ​ផ្តាច់​ទីតាំង​អតីត​សណ្ឋាគារ​ជ័យ​ជំ​នៈ និង​អាង​ហែល​ទឹក ដែល​មាន​ទីតាំង​នៅក្នុង​ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង របស់​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ​។ ចំណែក​លោក ងិន ម​នោ គឺ​ករណី​ទូទាត់​ជា​ដំណាក់​ថ្លៃ​ទិញ​ផ្តាច់​ទីតាំង អតីត​សណ្ឋាគារ​មនោ​រម្យ របស់​សាលា​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ និង​បង់ប្រាក់​លំអៀង ថ្លៃ​ដោះដូ​ទីតាំង​ឃ្លាំង​ឱសថ​របស់​ក្រសួង​ការពារជាតិ​។ លោក​ឧកញ៉ា នង សាវុធ ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​ករណី​ទិញ​ផ្តាច់​ទីតាំង​អតីត​នាយកដ្ឋាន​វត្ថុ​បុរាណ របស់​ក្រសួង​វប្បធម៌ និង​វិចិត្រសិល្បៈ​។​

Villagers Blocked From Marching to Hun Sen’s House

BY SEK ODOM | AUGUST 2, 2014

About 160 villagers from Kratie province’s Snuol district were blocked Friday from marching on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house to call for intervention in their ongoing land dispute.

More than 20 Meanchey district security guards met the group at the gates of Samakki Raingsey pagoda, where they have been staying ahead of the planned march, blocking them from leaving the pagoda.

អភិបាលរងខេត្តក្រចេះមកជួបប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមានរឿងដីធ្លីមកពីស្រុកស្នួលដែលដេកស្នាក់នៅក្នុងវត្តសាមគ្គីរង្សីដើម្បីតវ៉ាទាមទាររកយុត្តិធម៌ 

At about 8 a.m., an hour after the planned start, a local official came to the pagoda to collect a petition from the villagers.

“Where is law for them to march?” said Meanchey deputy district governor Heak Chan Leang.

“I received [the petition] because City Hall didn’t want those villagers to annoy the city.”

Mr. Leang said a response will be provided within two weeks.

Villagers began arriving at the pagoda several weeks ago, and have repeatedly sought government intervention in their land dispute.

តំណាងអាជ្ញាធរក្រុងភ្នំពេញចេញមុខមកទទួលយកញត្តិពីប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមានរឿងដីធ្លីមកពីស្រុកស្នួលខេត្តក្រចេះដល់ក្នុងវត្តសាមគ្គីរង្សី The group claims that they have been farming the land since 2000, and are currently in a dispute with Horizon Agricultural Development over roughly 1,500 hectares of land, which the company wants to use for a cassava and pepper plantation.

According to villagers, the Kratie province land management department has offered 3 hectares of land to each family, an amount deemed insufficient.

“The land department in Kratie said they can give only three hectares to a family and will select it like a lottery. I have tried to farm for a living there for a long time, why do they offer only three hectares?” asked Din Saroeun, 39.

Immunity a Sticking Point In CPP-CNRP Agreement

BY KUCH NAREN AND LAUREN CROTHERS | AUGUST 2, 2014

Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Friday sent CNRP President Sam Rainsy a draft of the CPP’s amendment to the Constitution and election law, which notably excluded any reference to immunity for members of what would be the new election management body, CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said.

The latest draft came on the same day that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court summoned eight lawmakers-elect from the CNRP for questioning over their roles in an opposition-led protest at Freedom Park on July 15, during which dozens of security guards were beaten and injured.

The CPP draft was released a day after Mr. Rainsy sidestepped the joint-party working groups established to iron out the finer details of a deal made last week that would end an opposition boycott of Parliament, choosing instead to send his own version of a new constitutional chapter to Mr. Kheng.

Mr. Yeap said the drafts of both parties are “about 85 percent the same.”

Both the CPP and CNRP drafts contain provisions that the new election body would be financially independent, but only the CNRP proposal says that members of the body, which would be comprised of four members from each party and a ninth, independent chairperson, should be granted immunity from prosecution.

“The CPP working group led by His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, with roughly 30 legal experts, decided not to agree to the granting of immunity for the member of the National Assembly, [who would be part of the new election body],” Mr. Yeap said by telephone.

“Our legal experts had thoroughly studied all the existing laws, international laws and common laws, and we found that there are only two categories of immunity that exist: Firstly, immunity granted for legislative bodies—which means Parliament or the Senate—and secondly, there is diplomatic immunity, which is granted just for ambassadors.