Final Voter List at 8.12 Million, NEC Says

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

27 February 2008

The voter registration list for July's national elections has been finalized, with more than 8 million people expected to vote and hundreds of thousands of names dropped or added, officials said Wednesday.
About 587,000 names were cleaned from the registration lists in all 24 municipalities and provinces, and around 911,000 names were added, NEC President Im Suosdey said Wednesday.
"So the voter list for the next election 2008 is now up to 8.12 million," he said, adding that voters will be able to cast ballots at 15,254 stations nationwide.
The NEC made its final decision Tuesday and would move forward with the list, officials said at a press conference.
Opposition lawmaker Kuoy Bunroeun said during the press conference there was still a worry that legitimate voters have been cleaned from the NEC list.
"They will lose their right to vote and chose their representative," he said.
Im Suosdey said the NEC cleared even less names than have been estimated as "ghost names."
Muth Chantha, spokesman for the Norodom Ranariddh Party, expressed concern that ballots would be positioned in homes of villagers, leading to a loss of privacy, but NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said the boxes were to be set up this election in schools and pagodas.
Comfrel legal officer Kaing Sovanren recommended the NEC facilitate observers and take into consideration the neutrality of government officials, as well as considering complaints and the transmission of election information.
Im Suosdey said schedules were now being established for the recruitment of an election officer that would help concerned voters find their names on the registration list.
The period for political party registration will be from April 28 through May 12, he said.
The NEC is now looking for more than $6 million to help fund the election, which will cost an estimated $17 million.
The Cambodian government is paying at least $10 million.
Voter turnout for last year's commune elections was only about 70 percent of 7.9 million registered voters, and election monitors and other officials hope the national elections will see a better turnout--closer to the 89 percent who cast ballots in 2002.

Court Delays Terrorism Verdict of 3 Men

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

27 February 2008

Heng Reaksmey reports in Khmer (1.11 MB) - Download (MP3)

Heng Reaksmey reports in Khmer (1.11 MB) - Listen (MP3)

The Supreme Court said it will rule March 12 on the life sentences of three suspected terrorists who made their final appeals Wednesday.
Supreme Court Judge Chhim Siphal said the courts needed more time to discuss the cases of Abdul Azi Jaiji Chiming and Muhammad Yalaludin Mading, who are Thai, and Sman Esma El, who is Cambodian.
Kao Sopha, defense lawyer for all three men, told VOA Khmer he was confident the men would be released.
During their hearing, the men denied they had plotted terrorist acts against the British and US embassies in Phnom Penh.
Sman Esma El said he had been offered money and a position of power for confessing to the charges against him in 2003.
"I was convicted at the order of top senior officials," Muhammad Yalaludin said.
"I didn't come to destroy Cambodia, like what I have been charged for," Abdul Azi said. "May Allah damn me and my seven-distant relatives if I colluded with terrorists. May Allah damn those who have charged me, and may their bloodline meet bad luck."

Art Festival to Run Through Friday

By Nuch Sarita, VOA

Khmer Original report from Washington

27 February 2008

Nuch Sarita reports in Khmer (838 KB) - Download (MP3)

Nuch Sarita reports in Khmer (838 KB) - Listen (MP3)

Spotlight, an Asian arts festival that includes performances from a wide array of artists, will wind up eight days of performances in Cambodia Friday, organizers said.
The Spotlight festival includes performances, exhibitions, film, music and visual arts, including work from disabled artists.
Kong Nay, a blind chapei player often compared to US musician Ray Charles, played the opening event, which seeks to showcase the talent and diversity of many Asian artists.
The festival included a parade, with floats, motorcycle taxis and carriages, wheelchairs, cyclos and others.

Deputy PM attends Vietnam-Cambodia meeting on border co-operation

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung arrived in Cambodia on February 27 to attend and co-chair the fourth Vietnam-Cambodia meeting on development cooperation in border provinces held in Sihanoukville from Feb. 27-28.
After an official welcome ceremony, Deputy PM Hung exchanged views at a closed session with Cambodian Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on Vietnam-Cambodia bilateral ties and cooperation between border sharing provinces.
In the evening, Deputy PM Sar Kheng hosted a banquet for Deputy PM Hung his delegation.
At a senior officials meeting (SOM) held the same day, the two sides reviewed their cooperation in implementing agreements reached at the third meeting, which was held in Vietnam ’s An Giang province in 2006. They discussed measures to promote cooperation between border provinces in security, economy, culture, education, vocational training and health care.
The two sides approved contents of documents which will be presented at a plenary session on February 28. (VNA)

Fever pitches

CAMBODIAN CALLING The country’s classic rock rings true for Dengue Fever.
PHOTO: KEVIN ESTRADA

Dengue Fever revives the lost sounds of Cambodian pop.


On that fever-dream day in 1997, when Ethan Holtzman was headed to a hospital in Phnom Penh after a jaunt to Angkor Wat—his backpacking buddy suffering from dengue fever in the back of a pickup truck filled with Cambodian hitchhikers and blasting ’60s Khmer rock out the windows—he couldn’t have imagined that, eight years later, he’d be cauterizing some of that nation’s oldest wounds with searing jams of his own.
Holtzman and his brother, Zac, returned to Cambodia in 2005 with a far less virulent strain of Dengue Fever, the L.A. band they formed after injecting themselves with as many ’60s and ’70s Cambodian-pop cassettes and reissues as they could score. Fueled by the psychedelic-surf licks of Ethan’s Farfisa organ and Zac’s guitar, and funded as part of a documentary film (Sleepwalking Through the Mekong, slated for a DVD release later this year), the group barnstormed through the capital and countryside with its modern spin on golden-oldies Khmer rock—the first Westerners to resuscitate that form in the Southeast Asian country since the Khmer Rouge’s genocidal Communist regime of the mid-1970s.
It was an elliptical and profound moment: Many of Cambodia’s pioneering pop artists had been, conversely, influenced by the American psychedelic and garage rock they heard on Armed Forces radio during the Vietnam War. After Pol Pot came to power in 1976, the nation’s artists and intellectuals were targeted, their ranks nearly decimated. Today, though there are signs of rock’s resurgence, Cambodian popular music has lost much of its earlier edge, deflated by an oversaturation of karaoke-inspired bubblegum.
“I think it moved a lot of Cambodians. What we did brought people back to an era, especially the older folks that remembered it,” says Senon Williams, the band’s bassist. “I mean, we’re playing these songs that, in their heyday, were big, number-one pop songs, and they were completely wiped out. Some musicians survived by singing basically propaganda songs, but many just shut up or went into hiding, got rid of or destroyed their instruments. Some of the tunes survived, but I think the style we play encapsulates the original spirit of those songs more than the karoake-style renditions that are played today.”
It didn’t hurt that the group had enlisted a ringer, a bona-fide homecoming queen locals cheered for “Cambodianizing” her American bandmates.
The Holtzmans first heard their singer, Chhom Nimol, performing at the Dragon House, a supper club in Long Beach, California’s thriving Cambodian-immigrant community. It turned out Nimol and her sister and brother were celebrated members of a “Jackson 5–esque family of singers in Cambodia,” Williams says. “As soon as Nimol walked in, the other girls instantly came down with colds. It was like a comedy.”
Dengue Fever’s original impulse was to borrow from Cambodian-style performances, which entail several female singers taking turns on lead, and periodically exiting to make costume changes. “But as soon as Nimol started singing, we forgot about that,” Williams says. Still, the singer was initially wary of the band’s obsession with Cambodian music. “It became a race to get some legitimate shows so Nimol wouldn’t think we were crazy. Now, she complains sometimes, like a little sister might: ‘Oh, it’s so exhausting. I’m the star, and I gotta rock for every song!’ ”
Nimol sings mainly in Khmer, and her penchant for slow, sentimental ballads crops up here and there on Dengue Fever’s three albums, but it’s the band’s swirling, psych-spiked jams on which the ornamental filigree of her high-pitched voice really catches fire. Its latest release, Venus on Earth (M80 Music), features all original tunes (as opposed to the cover renditions of classic Khmer rock songs that populated previous albums). There’s also a more articulated balance of Cambodian pop and American psych-surf, liberally spiced with a wildly percolating blend of Middle Eastern melodic lines, Bollywood soundtrack, spaghetti-western horns, smoldering 007 torch themes and Martian go-go.
That multicultural interplay makes Dengue Fever unique, but also impossible to categorize as either a rock band or world-music act. It debuted the songs on Venus last fall in Seville at WOMEX, the planet’s biggest world-music conference, but the band’s equally at home in gritty indie-rock venues, Williams says.
“It’s good for us to be in this position where we can play a show with Jonathan Richman or with Baaba Maal,” he explains. “We are kind of straddling the line between. The rock scene could care less, ’cause we’ve got distorted guitars and a beat you can dance to. And at the same time, the world-music people might be realizing you don’t have to be in some kind of dashiki prints to play world music.”
Dengue Fever plays Empty Bottle Wednesday 27.

— Craig Keller

Cambodian soldiers to join military exercise in Bangladesh

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government will send its soldiers to join international military exercise in Bangladesh at the end of this year, National Television TVK reported on Wednesday.
The troops have started their training course with the support from the U.S. Command Fleet for the Asia Pacific region, Sem Sovanny, senior official at the National Defense Ministry, was quoted as saying.
He made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the training course, named the Universal Peace Cooperation for Pacific, in Udong district of Kampong Speu province.
"The Cambodian soldiers are trying to strengthen its capacity for joining the international mission," said TVK.
Last year, some Cambodian soldiers joined an international military exercise in Mongolia and some other went to Sudan to undertake humanitarian affairs such as mine clearance.
Editor: Yan Liang

Cambodia suspends to release alleged terrorists

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian Supreme Court here on Wednesday delayed to release verdict for three men charged with attempted murders of diplomats by suicide bombing and explosion against western countries' embassies in Phnom Penh.
Haji Chiming Abdulazi, 42, and Muhammady Alaludim Mading, 46, both Muslim from Thailand, as well as Cambodian Muslim Sman Esma El, 30, were already sentenced to life in jail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Appeal Court.
"We delayed to release verdict for the case and we will declare it on March 13," said Khim Pon, president of the Council of Judgment, after over four hours of hearing.
The trio were charged with planning to murder diplomats through suicide bombing and explosion against western countries' embassies in Phnom Penh, including those of United States, Britain and Canada, said prosecutor Chhoun Chantha in the courtroom.
"They were also linked with regional terrorist group the Jemaah Islamiyah," he added.
The group's leader, Hambali, was arrested by the Thai authorities in February 2004, after reportedly staying for six months in Cambodia, he said.
They were connected with international terrorism group the Al-Queda and their acts were of international terrorism, he said.
The Cambodian police authorities arrested the three men in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Chhoun added.
Editor: Yan Liang

Land price increase brings no benefit to the poor

25 February 2008

By Ky Soklim

Cambodge Soir Hebdo

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

courtesy of http://ki-media.blogspot.com

Families relocated to the Sok Sen village, in the suburb of Phnom Penh, 7 years ago, are starting to sell the plots of land given to them by the state. Poverty does not allow them to wait for further land price increase.Seven years ago, a blaze destroyed the shanty town located behind the Russian embassy in Phnom Penh. Then, the municipality transferred more than 300 families to the Sen Sok village, in Russei Keo district. Each family received a plot of land measuring 105-square-meter (15-meter-by-7-meter). At their arrival, hardship was indescribable: no infrastructure, no water, no electricity. The victims of the blaze lived in makeshift tents.At the time, land prices were not very high. Each 105-square-meter lot cost $200. At the beginning of 2008, the average price increases to $15,000 each, i.e. $143 per square-meter. However, between 7 years ago and now, 50% of the families already sold their land at cheap price, and more well-to-do people took over their lands.Built on former rice fields, Sen Sok is currently a modern community with wooden or brick homes. Duos Sereyvuth, the village chief of Sen Sok 4, regrets that the original land owners did not benefit from the development. He explained that the families had to sell their lands because of lack of everything.When these families lived in Phnom Penh, they could survive by working as motodoup, or through some small family owned businesses. Currently, traveling to downtown is very expensive due to the high price of gasoline. The lack of schools was also one of the reasons for the departure of these families. “After they sold their lands very cheaply, they returned back to Phnom Penh to live in shanty towns, or they rent an apartment,” the village chief claimed.Sok Thann who is in charge of the community of poor people in Sen Suosdey – a community consisting of huts built on state lands, located next to the Sen Sok commune – confirmed the sales of the lands by the poorest families in the community. His community accepted 40 such poor families. “I sold my land for $2,500 because I indebted myself for the wedding of my son,” 68-year-old Nguon Sem said. He now lives in Sen Suosdey.Not everybody sold their land, 60-year-old Nguon Tim was able to buy another plot of land. “It’s for my children and grandchildren,” Nguon Tim explained in front of his house. He had to make sacrifices: price steadily increased for several years, before zooming up when electricity lines were installed, a few months earlier. “Buyers come and go every day. Price increases by $1,000 daily for each plot of land,” Tim said. According to the latter, the buyers are mainly people from Phnom Penh.Land price in Phnom Penh’s commercial area costs more than $3,000 per square-meter, whereas this price was $400 in the 90s. In rural area, the trend of land price also follows this increase. However, poor people did not benefit from this boon. Some blame them for lacking patience, and for not waiting for the good timing before selling. These poor people replied: misery does not leave them with any other choice.

Cambodia leader cries for victims

Duch appeared in court on 3rd Dec. 2007.

===============================================The chief interrogator of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge has wept while visiting a prison he commanded where at least 14,000 people were killed.
Kaing Geuk Eav, also known as Duch, cried during the visit to the S-21 prison, a day after he wept while visiting a mass grave at Choeung Ek.
The visits were led by judges from a UN-backed tribunal which has charged Duch with crimes against humanity.
The Khmer Rouge are blamed for more than one million deaths in the 1970s.
Duch is the first of five senior Khmer Rouge officials to be charged by the tribunal, but a date for the trial has yet to be set.
Torture chambers
Both visits, described by officials as re-enactments, were closed to the public and the media, but a witness told the BBC that Duch cried on Wednesday when touring S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng.
A number of survivors - of only a handful to have left the prison alive - also wept as they took part in the visit.
WHO WERE THE KHMER ROUGE?
Maoist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979
Founded and led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998
Abolished religion, schools and currency in a bid to create agrarian utopia
Brutal regime that did not tolerate dissent
More than a million people thought to have died from starvation, overwork or execution
Tuol Sleng is now a genocide museum and is normally one of the busiest tourist attractions in Phnom Penh, says the BBC's Guy De Launey in the Cambodian capital.
For Duch's visit with dozens of investigating judges, police cordoned off the museum and the surrounding area.
Tuol Sleng was once a school, but the Khmer Rouge surrounded the outside with barbed wire and turned the classrooms into tiny cells and blood-spattered torture chambers.
Thousands of people were tortured there until they admitted to crimes against the revolution.
Youk Chhang, the director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which researches Khmer Rouge atrocities, said the site was a "living nightmare" for Cambodians.
On Tuesday, Duch wept while touring Choeung Ek, one of Cambodia's notorious killing fields, where some 16,000 people were killed and buried in shallow mass graves after being tortured at Tuol Sleng.
Reach Sambath, a tribunal spokesman, said Duch cried as he "explained what happened ... when he was the chief of S-21", the Associated Press news agency reported.
"We noticed that he was feeling pity, tears were rolling down his face two or three times," he said.
Duch was especially moved, he said, when he stood before a tree with a sign describing how executioners disposed of their child victims by bashing their heads against its trunk.
He is also reported to have cried when confronted by a pile of human skulls.
Duch was arrested and detained in July 2007.
Those also facing charges include Nuon Chea, second-in-command of the late Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, the former foreign and social affairs ministers Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith, and former head of state Khieu Samphan.

Vietnam, Cambodia Discuss Expressway Project

PHNOM PENH, Feb 27 Asia Pulse - An expressway linking the southern Can Tho city of Viet Nam to Phnom Penh capital city of Cambodia will be built to facilitate the economic development in the two cities.
To this end, Vietnamese and Cambodian authorities met in Phnom Penh on February 26.
The future 230km highway is estimated to cost US$20 million per km in the form of BOT (Build-Operate-Transform). It will have 110km running on the Vietnamese land from Can Tho city via An Giang province to Phnom Penh .
The road is designed to be 35 m wide and have 6 lanes, with two more lanes likely to be added in the second phase.
The section on the Viet Nam territory has been approved by the government for construction.
The Can Tho-Phnom Penh Expressway, once completed, will link the Mekong delta rice bowl of Viet Nam with Cambodia and go over to Bangkok of Thailand, promoting the socio-economic development for the Mekong delta region in the countries.
Cambodian Secretary of State Tram Iv Tek said the project is big and important to his countrys socio-economic development so it will be proposed soon to the Prime Minister for instruction.
(VNA)

Asian nations vie to become Cambodia's biggest foreign investors

Phnom Penh - China overtook South Korea as Cambodia's largest foreign investor last year, but Japan had shown an increased interest in investment as opposed to aid, a senior Cambodian economist said Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference in the capital, the secretary-general for the government's Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), Sok Chenda, gently chided Western nations for lagging behind Asian nations in foreign direct investment.
He said between 1994 to 2003 investment from Western nations made up just 15 per cent of the country's total, with 60 per cent coming from Asian nations such as Malaysia, China and Korea.
"I can't predict foreign investment figures for 2008 but I hope for even more. Prime Minister Hun Sen just returned from a visit to South Korea yesterday and we are hopeful that will generate renewed investment interest there," Chenda said.
"There is also new interest from other quarters, and especially Japan. Japanese investors have certainly now entered the doors of our home."
Approved foreign investments from 1994 to 2007 totalled 14.83 billion dollars, he said, with China accounting for 1.76 billion dollars of that total and South Korea 1.5 billion dollars.
Industrial investments made up 34 per cent of that total, followed by the service industry with 32 per cent.
Agriculture made up just 7 per cent, but Chenda said that was a promising area of growth and with a boom in global bio-fuel demand and the recently launch of several food processing factories in Cambodia it was expected to continue to grow.
However he admitted the less developed nation still faced obstacles, such as Cambodia's terrible balance of trade and lack of secondary industries, which meant container ships arrived full but often left with room to spare.
He also appealed to foreign governments to help Cambodia strengthen its ability to curb money laundering, pointing out that the country lacked an investment board to investigate potential investors thoroughly, such as the boards set up in Thailand and Japan.
"Competing regionally remains less than easy. Trading partners use the words 'friendly' and 'cooperation', but of course they always look after their own interests," he said.

S Korean President to visit Cambodia this year

Picture: L-R: Lee Myung Bak's wife, Hun Sen Lee Myung Bak, Bun Rany (Hun Sen's wife) during Lee's inauguration on 25th Feb. 2008.

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak will visit Cambodia sometime this year, at the invitation by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during their Monday meeting in Seoul, a senior official said here Tuesday.

Lee will visit Cambodia to strengthen the cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, economy and personal relations, Hor Namhong, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, told a press conference.

The press conference was held upon the return of a senior Cambodian delegation led by Hun Sen from the swearing-in ceremony of Lee Myung Bak in Seoul.

"The visit will bring about closer economic ties between the two sides to help develop Cambodia," Hor said.

Since Lee was former economic advisor for Hun Sen, the two men have had deep personal relations, Hor said, adding that this year is also the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

As the No. 1 foreign investor in Cambodia, South Korea is contributing large amount of money in the construction field in Cambodia, Hor said.

Source: Xinhua

Director Poeuv '02 Screens 'New Year Baby' at Smith

Hannah Leung

Socheata Poeuv '02 will hold a question-and-answer session tonight after the Southeast Asian Alliance's screening of her award-winning film, "New Year Baby."In the post Academy Awards rush - Cynthia Wade, a Smith alumna, snagged an impressive looking statuette for her film, "Freehold," - there should be another director on the buzz list-Socheata Poeuv, '02. Pouev is the director of "New Year Baby," a documentary that has already won numerous awards, including Amnesty International's "Movies That Matter" Human Rights Award and the Best Documentary at the 25th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Poeuv herself will be coming to Smith this Thursday, Feb. 28, for a question-and-and answer session after the screening of "New Year Baby." "New Year Baby" details Poeuv's journey to Cambodia to learn about her parents' life under the Khmer Rouge. Lasting from 1975-1979, an estimated 1.5 million people were killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Born on New Year's Day in a refugee camp in Thailand, Poeuv's family immigrated to the United States, where she spent her childhood. "New Year Baby" tells the story of Poeuv's family and their struggles in becoming "Americans." Socheata Poeuv, who received a B.A. in English in 2002, loved watching documentaries and PBS as a child-staple pastimes for many American children. Growing up in Texas, however, Poeuv lacked resources to contextualize her status as a Cambodian immigrant. Books and documentaries thus played a significant role in her search for roots. "I grew up in a place where Asian Americans didn't have much public space…One of my biggest influences was this documentary I saw when I was 16, called 'A.K.A. Don Bonus.' It was the only other documentary I've ever seen that was about a Cambodian immigrant living in America. It really influenced me, and made me think that maybe I could possibly make a film like this," Poeuv said. Another influence of Poeuv's is Art Spiegelman's "Maus," a comic book based on Spiegelman's parents' survival of the Holocaust. Poeuv said, "Spiegelman used comics to depict something serious. And I use animation in my film. His novel is what really gave me the idea. It reflects on many things, and for me, it really captures my experience of being a child of genocide survivors." Le said, "I [think] that Southeast Asia is the most forgotten or overlooked area of Asia. Smith provides a history course for almost every part of the world, but there's nothing on the history or culture of Southeast Asia. This film [provides an] opportunity to learn more about Cambodia, a country rarely talked about in history or humanities classes." While addressing larger issues of race, assimilation, and immigration, the film also touches on ubiquitous life issues, such as the sometimes tumultuous relationship between parent and child. In an observation that rings true to many, regardless of generation and culture, Poeuv said, "Young people are so busy all the time, they hardly sit down and ask their parents about family history. I'm really interested in promoting the idea of putting forth the patience and compassion in these relationships." Originally opposed to the film, her parents are now supportive. Poeuv said, "They travel with me now to present the film!" When asked if it was unnerving to constantly see herself on the big screen, Poeuv said, "In the beginning, I didn't want myself to be in the film. Eventually I realized that the American audience would really need a conduit. So I just filled that roll. I've been editing the film for so long that I've distanced myself. I talk about myself in third person after a while!" Having transferred to Smith, (she also spent a year abroad at Oxford), Poeuv notes the uniqueness of her Smith experience. "Smith has a very supportive community-from my professors and friends-there were just expectations that you would go on to go great things," said Poeuv. Asked about coming back to Smith for the first time since graduation, Poeuv said, "I'm excited! When they told me they were screening [the movie] at Seelye, I thought it was appropriate-I spent so much time there as an undergrad!"

Aside from promoting the film, Poeuv is also working on a non-profit organization, Khmer Legacies. This organization strives to create a visual history archive about the Cambodian genocide from the perspective of survivors, to then be used as an educational tool. Sandy Yu, '08, treasurer of Southeast Asian Alliance and an advocator for the screening of "New Year Baby" on campus, studied abroad at Cambodia this past summer. Yu saw first hand the impact that genocide continues to have, psychologically and politically, on the lives of Cambodian Americans and Khmers. "I wanted to share my experience and organize events [where] people can learn more about the economic, political and social situations in Cambodia and Southeast Asia. In high school, my world history teacher briefly talked about Khmer Rouge genocide and suggested that students watch "The Killing Fields" if [they] were interested in learning more. I wanted to learn about this history that was rarely discussed," Yu said. Yu was thrilled when she accidentally stumbled upon the movie, "New Year Baby."Yu said, "After I read the personal background and synopsis of the documentary on the website, I was truly moved by Poeuv's personal story. I was also inspired by [her] determination to create the nonprofit organization, Khmer Legacies, [which] encourages children to interview their parents, who witnessed the Khmer Rouge genocide¦

I was excited to find out that this award-winning documentary was directed by a fellow Smith student, Socheata Poeuv." Refreshments will be served prior to the screening of the film, at 6:45p.m. The film will start at 7p.m. Run time is approximately 80 minutes; a discussion with Poeuv will follow. For more information about the film, visit the official website, www.newyearbaby.net. Presented by Smith's Southeast Asian Alliance, this event is sponsored, in part, by the Alumnae Association of Smith College, Smith College Film Studies Program, Five College Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program, Student Government Association Lecture Fund and Sawyer Fund.

Cambodia Champs Chop Korean Second Tier Winners

Cambodian league champions Naga Corp FC denied Ulsan Mipo Dockyard back to back wins in their tour of Cambodia when they beat the latter 2-0 in a friendly which was played at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
A few days earlier, the club side from South Korea's second division had beaten the Cambodian national team 3-2 and they were looking to beat Naga Corp FC to complete their trip.
But in front of close to 10,000 fans, Naga Corp proved that they are worthy champions of Cambodian football when they staged a fightback to score two goals after the break for the win.
Chin Chum made the score sheet with the first goal in the 67th minute before Ernest Dipita added the winning lustre with the second goal of the afternoon six minutes to the end.
Ulsan finished top of Korea's national league in 2007 but refused to accept promotion.

Public Islamic Bank to step up operations

By Ellina Badri

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank Bhd’s (PBB) Islamic subsidiary, Public Islamic Bank Bhd, is expected to be in a position to explore the Islamic capital and international currency markets soon to keep up with the growth of the bank’s overall operations.
PBB co-chairman Tan Sri Thong Yaw Hong (pictured) said Public Islamic Bank was expected to continue growing in line with the bank’s overall growth, and it would be fully supported by the bank’s domestic operations.
PBB obtained Bank Negara Malaysia’s approval to carry out Islamic banking business through Public Merchant Bhd in 2006. The name change occurred last year.
Thong was speaking at PBB’s 42nd AGM here yesterday, which members of the press were allowed to sit in on, in lieu of a media briefing. The attendance of press in AGMs is not a usual occurrence and left those present yesterday privy to shareholder issues which are normally kept behind closed doors.
Thong said the bank was targeting to grow its branch network in China and Cambodia by three and six branches, respectively, this year towards achieving more than 15% contributions from its overseas operations in the near term.
He said the bank aimed to have its overseas operations grow in line with its domestic operations. It was currently pursuing strong growth overseas and would focus on increasing loans and deposit growth through increasing its branch network and adding more marketing personnel, Thong said.
The bank currently has 64, two and nine branches in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Cambodia, respectively.
In response to queries from the Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group, Public Bank senior general manager Leong Kwok Nyem said the bank expected revenue from its bancassurance tie-up with ING Insurance Bhd to increase three or fourfold in the financial year ending Dec 31, 2008.
On its Cambodian subsidiary, Cambodian Public Bank Ltd (Campu Bank), he said it would leverage on Campu Bank’s customer base to cross-sell its insurance products.

Students share culture on campus

The Marion Star/Bill SindenLeakena Phou, Hilliard, center, talks during the Color of Conversation, a panel discussion on diversity, Monday in the Guthery Community Room on The Ohio State University at Marion campus. At left is Maly Khean of Columbus and at right Brittany Crawford of Warren.

Color of Conversation suggests stretch in awareness

By KURT MOORE

The Marion Star

MARION - Five Ohio State University at Marion students participated in a frank discussion on race and diversity during a panel presentation at the Marion Campus on Monday.
Students Todd Nicholas, Leakena Phou, Maly Khean, Samatar Alinor, Andre White and Brittany Crawford served as panelists during Color of Conversation, a talk organized by OSUM diversity coordinator Shawn Jackson as part of Black History Month.
Participants came from a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds and spoke about what it was like to bring their different backgrounds to the Marion campus, including what could be done to make the campus more welcoming. The student panelists said they feel appreciated on the Marion campus but added that they feel people are not always accepting or understanding of other cultures. They suggested to faculty present at the event that professors should split students up into discussion groups during class and take other steps to make sure students interact with people other than those from their own high school or group of friends.
"Everybody just needs to split up and meet some
one from a different background," said White, an African-American student from the Canton area. "When you meet more people there is more stuff to do."
Khean and Phou spoke about what it is like to be Cambodian students on the Marion campus. Khean said she finds many people are unaware of other cultures.
"I say I'm Cambodian, and they say, 'What is Cambodian?'" Khean said. She said she tries to share her beliefs and culture with others.
Fewer than 10 people attended the event, which Jackson said may be partly because of conflicts with other campus events during the day. He said the panel discussion was the first of many similar attempts at fostering diversity including an international festival that is tentatively planned for May.
A similar event featuring community members was scheduled to be held Monday evening.
The events stretched beyond African-Americans to include people of other cultures. Jackson said he went beyond only including African-Americans because he believes fostering diversity in general is important during Black History Month.
"Black history is everyone's history," he said.
Reporter Kurt Moore: 740-375-5151 or kdmoore@marionstar.com

LA's Dengue Fever Lift Cambodian Pop

Recreating lost sounds, banking on collapsing boundaries
by Rachel Devitt
February 26th,
Picture: Dengue Fever in live performance. And you thought only indie-folk dudes could have prodigious beards.

Jaymz Eberly

It's symptomatic of our postmodern world that 1960s Cambodian acid-rock could produce feelings of nostalgia in twentysomething Americans. But Dengue Fever has spent the last seven years banking on just those kinds of collapsing boundaries: between nations, between eras, between ideas. The L.A. band has garnered considerable acclaim for making music awash in the sounds of Long Ago and Far Away—a Farfisa organ swells beneath piercing Khmer vocals, garage guitars sidle up to a slinky sax that might've escaped from an Ethiopiques album, and the whole concoction verily sweats with reverb and the heat of an evening in Phnom Penh.
"It's just instantly familiar, and it'll create nostalgia, but at the same time, it's completely new and fresh," says Dengue Fever's bassist, Senon Williams, of the Cambodian pop that originally inspired their sound. Brothers Ethan (keyboards) and Zac (guitar and vocals) Holtzman founded the band in 2001, after Ethan backpacked through the country and returned with a hefty collection of vintage Khmer pop. After Williams, saxophonist David Ralicke, and drummer Paul Smith joined, the band decided they needed a Cambodian singer, and they didn't have to go far to find one: Nearby Long Beach, where they held their auditions, is home to the world's second-largest Khmer-speaking community, and soon Chhom Nimol walked in. At the time, she was a recent immigrant working the Cambodian wedding circuit in the U.S. But back home, Nimol was a bona fide pop star.
The band's self-titled 2003 debut consisted primarily of covers of classic indigenous pop and rock tunes by artists like Pan Ron, Ros Sereysothea, and Sinn Sisamouth, who together comprise a crate-digger's pantheon—icons of a golden era when rock 'n' roll flowed freely from American military radio stations around the globe, inspiring local musicians to merge the surf and garage they heard with regional aesthetics. Like so many Cambodian musicians from that era, however, Sinn and Ros have also become pop martyrs: They disappeared during the rule of the genocidal Khmer Rouge, which banned all music that didn't glorify the regime.
For Nimol, then, the music she makes with Dengue Fever is truly nostalgic, a treasured artifact from a more peaceful era. The music she performed back home, however, was far removed from the band's Scooby-Doo guitars and psychedelic grooves. Today's Cambodian pop tends more toward heavily synthesized, hyper-sentimental soft rock—not the kind of stuff that typically gets music geeks trolling for MP3s. While the more vintage material has been coated with a dusty gloss of authenticity by natives and tourists alike, nowadays the preferred style is almost obstinately artificial. For example, a recent video by rising star Chhom Chorpom (no relation) features her lip-synching in front of a full band pretending to play the synth-sax melody and drum-machine beats of the recording.
Dengue Fever aren't huge fans of the stuff. "They only cover from other songs, like a Chinese melody, or Thai or Vietnam or Indian style," Nimol says of contemporary artists. "They only copy them." Of course, the same criticism could be leveled (and was, in fact, by preservationists at the time) against '60s Cambodian pop, which supplanted the country's traditional music with the four-piece ensemble and heavy backbeat of Western rock. But just as time and distance have allowed fans around the world to develop a new appreciation for that material, so, too, might today's Khmer pop eventually sound more palatable from a more nostalgic perspective. Cambodian record distributors seem to imply as much: Williams says new music often comes packaged with vintage-looking, psychedelic-era cover artwork.
Dengue Fever isn't completely throwing out the contemporary pop with the heavily perfumed bathwater, however. Venus on Earth, their third album, contains more English lyrics than their previous two efforts, but it also represents some of the band's most sentimental work. "Tiger Phone Card," for instance, spins a romantic duet between a Phnom Penh girl and a New York boy that, if it were in Khmer, could comfortably coexist with Chhom's pop repertoire. In fact, the entire band has toned down the time-machine vibe a little this time out, weaving bits of folk rock, Afrobeat, and even country into their trippy tapestry, even as they craft a cleaner, more focused sound.
"I just see us as a rock band," says Williams. "And having Nimol singing in Khmer is just part of the band. We just brought in these influences from everything, not just Cambodian music." In the years since Ethan took that backpacking trip, Dengue Fever has become a band of travelers rather than mere crate-diggers or cover artists, their music a translation of Cambodian pop rather than nostalgic shtick, and mindful of the ways that one might influence the other.
Dengue Fever play the Mercury Lounge March 4 (mercuryloungenyc.com), and Southpaw March 5 (spsounds.com).

Cambodian athletes face difficulties such as bad meals, low subsidy

26/2/2008

The Cambodian athletes are facing many difficulties such as bad meals, low subsidy and few coaches, which lead to poor achievements in international sports events, local media reported today.Cambodian athletes mainly come from poor families, so they were underfed from a child, the Cambodia Sin Chew Daily newspaper said, citing sports analysts.An athlete of the national team has only 15,000 riels (about US$3.75) per day as meal fees, some analysts said, adding that it should be increased to 25,000 riels (about US$6.25).Many athletes have to do part-time jobs because the subsidy of 120,000 riels (about US$30) a month is not enough for them to make a living, they said.As a result, the Cambodian athletes can not concentrate on their trainings therefore they are not able to get good scores in games, they added.In addition, Cambodian national teams can not afford to employ good coaches because of lack of money, the newspaper said.Meanwhile, Thong Khon, Cambodian Tourism Minister and President of the Cambodian Olympic Committee, said that the government will try to improve the training condition of athletes and help them to have better performance.Cambodia will be well prepared for the Southeast Asian Games in 2009 and the Asian Games in 2010 to win more medals, Thong Khon said.The Cambodian athletes have won 93 medals in all from various international sports events since 1993, including 18 medals in the Southeast Asian Games in 2007.

Samak asks army for full briefing on Preah Vihear

"Preah Vihear straddles the border with Cambodia in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket." Straddles? No, Preah Vihear is undeniably located inside Cambodia. It belongs to Cambodia. Full Stop.

WASSANA NANUAM
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has asked the army to give him a full briefing on Preah Vihear (pictured), an issue expected to be raised during his visit to Cambodia next week.
Preah Vihear is not on the agenda for Thailand, but an army source said it would likely be raised by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during his first meeting with Mr Samak.
The prime minister is scheduled to visit Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, on Monday and Tuesday after a two-day trip to Laos beginning on Friday.
Mr Samak made his request during a 40-minute meeting with army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda and supreme commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit at Government House on Monday, the source said.
Cambodia has asked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to declare the Preah Vihear Khmer temple ruins, called Khao Phra Viharn in Thai, a World Heritage site. Thailand opposes the idea because the border in the area has not been settled.
Unesco's stance is that the two neighbours must first settle their differences.
Mr Samak told Gen Anupong and Gen Boonsrang on Monday his government was still firm on seeing the area demarcated first, the source said.
Preah Vihear straddles the border with Cambodia in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket.
The two countries earlier planned to hold talks on the issue this month when Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok Ann was due to visit Bangkok. However, the trip has been put off.
The Foreign Ministry has made it clear the issue could be settled and would not be allowed to damage Thailand's ties with Cambodia.
Gen Anupong went to Cambodia yesterday to prepare for the prime minister's visit. He is due back today.
After Cambodia, Mr Samak is due to visit Burma on March 6-7.
Mr Samak told the two generals that all cooperation schemes with neighbouring countries initiated by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would continue. He wanted the army and the Foreign Ministry to coordinate on those projects.

Sam Rainsy: Ranariddh too unstable to unite with

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Rasmei Kampuchea

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

courtesy of http://ki-media.blogspot.com

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (pictured), who just returned from Australia on 26 February, showed a lack of interest in the call issued by Prince Ranariddh who agreed to an election to choose the president of a newly formed party, should Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha agree to unite with him. Sam Rainsy said that Prince Ranariddh’s standing is unstable and this caused difficulties in uniting with him.Sam Rainsy said the SRP permanent committee is currently holding a meeting to reflect on this proposal. “We are collecting information and all the proposals to reflect upon,” Sam Rainsy said. Nevertheless, Sam Rainsy added that the SRP does not pay too much attention to this issue, and the proposal made by the prince is nothing new.While the prince agreed to hold an election to choose the president for the would-be-formed party, should there be a union between the royalists and the democrats, Sam Rainsy is puzzled as to how this election would be held. He asked: “How do we organize it? What will be the rule?” He also said that he does not understand it very well yet.Along with the lack of interest in uniting with the prince, Sam Rainsy believed in the solid strength of his party, he said: “We believe in our own strength. Prince Ranariddh has an unstable standing and we are having difficulties uniting with.” Even though Sam Rainsy showed his faith in the solid strength of the opposition party, the recent defection of high-ranking party officials has caused some concerns in the SRP.However, Sam Rainsy said that he has a good grasp of the party grass root levels which do not pay attention to this issue. He added that the party grass root levels want the party leaders to have a strong standing. The party followers will not vote for any particular individual, but will vote only for the party as a whole.Sam Rainsy is not the only one uninterested in the prince proposal, Kem Sokha, HRP president, also is not paying attention to the request to form a union made by the prince. He even declined to participate in the forum organized by Mam Sonando on 25 February, to survey the intentions of the three parties (SRP, NRP, HRP) to unite with each other.Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, pointed out the importance of the union which will provide a stronger voice for the opposition. She said that, it is normal that discordance will lead to weakness. However, she cannot predict whether these three parties can unite with each others or not. However, she noted that among these three parties, only the NRP participated in the forum organized by Mam Sonando’s Beehive radio station to discuss about the union, and to answer questions asked by the public.Mam Sonando, Beehive radio station director, who came up with the forum idea, said that he cannot predict whether the 3 parties can unite with each other or not. He is only doing what the public want to see. He said: “For Cambodian politicians, you cannot predict about them. Only when they are about to die that they look for a monk (for a last rite). It’s only when their bodies can no longer accept intravenous injection that they remember the Dharma.”

A Tearful Duch Revisits 'Killing Fields'

Duch in his court appearance on 3rd Dec. 2007 (top) and a convoy that took Duch to revisit Tuol Sleng Prison on 26th Feb. 2008.

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

26 February 2008

Chun Sakada reports in Khmer (1.18 MB) - Download (MP3)

Chun Sakada reports in Khmer (1.18 MB) - Listen (MP3)

Jailed Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch cried several times Tuesday as he toured a notorious site of mass graves on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, a tribunal official said.
Duch, who has been charged with crimes against humanity, toured the Choeung Ek "killing fields," with tribunal judges, witnesses and lawyers, as part of proceedings against him.
"We saw Duch express his regret for the dead victims, and Duch's tears fell two or three times," tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said after the tour. "Before he left, he prayed for the dead victims, at the stupa of skulls, and he cried."
Duch and witnesses exchanged questions and answers in front of prosecutors, investigating judges and lawyers, Reach Sambath said, but he declined to give further details.
Thousands of Cambodians were buried at Choeung Ek after torture and execution, allegedly under the supervision of Duch, whose real name is Kaing Khek Iev, during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Skulls of the dead are piled within a glass-cased stupa at the "killing fields," now a popular tourist site.

$3 Billion Coastal Economic Zone to Open

By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

26 February 2008

Mean Veasna reports in Khmer (852 KB) - Download (MP3)

Mean Veasna reports in Khmer (852 KB) - Listen (MP3)

China's Gainxu Taixu company and Cambodia International Economic Cooperation Investment announced the opening of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone Saturday, which could employ as many as 80,000 workers.
The investment was seen as a significant step to reduce widespread unemployment and boost economic growth in Cambodia.
"One hundred percent of the products from this special economic zone will have to be exported," Prime Minister Hun Sen said during an opening ceremony. "I am convinced that the Cambodian economy will rise, finally employing more than 80,000 workers, as China has a lot of investments. And with the export, our economic value is high and increasing."
Not all are optimistic Chinese investment will benefit Cambodia in the long run.
"What China cares most about is land, which can be rented or sold to investors from other countries, and such a thing is not going to help our economy," said opposition lawmaker Son Chhay. "Thus, the government has to encourage investment from other countries, with honest investment and that have developed industry, such as Japan or the US."

Women Commune Officials Gather in Capital

By Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

26 February 2008

More than 300 female commune council officials started four days of meetings in Phnom Penh Tuesday, in an effort to improve their leadership skills.
The women, who came from four main political parties, are expected to meet with government officials, National Assembly members, foreign diplomats and other non-governmental agencies.
Cambodia has a very low number of women in political positions at all levels, according to the organization Silaka, which is supporting this week's meetings.
And even women in political positions lack the proper training and other capabilities, Silaka says.
Several participants said Tuesday they hoped to do work that would make them proud and would reduce discrimination.
Minister of Women's Affairs Ing Kunthaphavy said Tuesday a very low percentage of women sat in ministerial posts, and no woman has been placed as the governor of any province or district nationwide.

Brothers Charged With Attempted Murder

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh

26 February 2008

Chiep Mony reports in Khmer (1.35 MB) - Download (MP3)

Chiep Mony reports in Khmer (1.35 MB) - Listen (MP3)

Two brothers detained last week by Battambang provincial officials have formally been charged with attempted murder, following an altercation with a fishing lot owner.
The brothers, Chan Voeut and Chan Rin, who claim to be persecuted Sam Rainsy Party supporters, have been in jail since last Wednesday, when 60 demonstrators gathered in Battambang town on their behalf.
The two men were arrested after a fishing lot owner accused them of trying to kill him and being armed with a knife.
Sam Rainsy Party officials say the two men are being persecuted for their political support of the opposition.

Cambodian National Assembly approves ASEAN Charter

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian National Assembly here on Monday unanimously approved the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asia Nations) Charter.
"The ASEAN Charter will bring our country into the economic and social integration with other ASEAN countries and also into the ongoing process of globalization," said Pen Pagna, chairman of the legislation and justice committee of the parliament.
"It can help us rule by law and walk to democracy and development, too," he added.
The charter has 13 chapters with 55 articles. All ASEAN member countries have to ratify it.
The ASEAN Charter aims to transform ASEAN into a rules-based legal entity like the European Union and paves the way for closer integration within the group.
Under the charter, all ASEAN member states will have equal rights and obligations. They will also be legally entitled to sue one another.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999.
Editor: Du Guodong

Lee meets Cambodian, Mongolian, Uzbek leaders

Hun Sen (left) and Korean Presidet Lee Myung Bak (right).

By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak held a string of summit talks Tuesday with his counterparts from Cambodia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan, who all came to Seoul earlier this week to attend Lee's inauguration ceremony, for discussions on strengthening bilateral relations.

Meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lee stressed the need to enhance bilateral ties and asked for greater support of South Korean firms wishing to enter Cambodia's resource and construction markets.

Lee served as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government in 2000.

In his summit with Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Lee stressed the need for closer bilateral cooperation in the resource and energy sectors and offered to share South Korea's experience in urban development.

In response, Enkhbayar asked for closer cooperation with South Korea in the fields of bioengineering, IT and climate change.

Lee also held a summit with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in which they reconfirmed a bilateral strategic partnership signed in March 2006. They also evaluated visible outcomes in two-way cooperation in the exploitation of petroleum and natural gas.

All of the three visiting foreign heads of state asked Lee to visit their countries in the near future to follow up on bilateral cooperation projects. The new South Korean president responded favorably to the invitations.

ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)

President Lee Launches Energy Diplomacy

By Kim Yon-se

Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak started his ``energy diplomacy'' by holding a series of summits with leaders from natural resources-rich countries at Cheong Wa Dae Tuesday.Lee, who took office Monday, met separately with Cambodian President Hun Sen, Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar and Uzbek President Islam Karimov, all of whom attended Lee's inauguration ceremony. The Cambodian president called on Korea to expand investment in energy development, expressing gratitude for Korea's support in the Cambodian government's establishing a stock exchange.Lee asked the Cambodian leader to provide a favorable business environment for Korean companies, which have made inroads in construction and resource development.The new Korean President also agreed with Uzbek President Karimov, who has special interest in economic ties with Korea, to push joint ventures developing gas fields and to build a gas-chemical complex.Karimov also participated in a signing ceremony for an agreement between Korea Gas Corp. and Uzbekneftegas on establishing a joint venture and construction of the gas processing plant. He also visited GM Daewoo Auto & Technology's manufacturing plant in Bupyeong, Incheon.Lee expressed Korea's willingness to share its experience in economic development and expand substantial cooperation with Uzbekistan.The presidents of Korea and Mongolia agreed that the two countries will expand ties in information technology, biotechnology and energy.For energy-poor Korea, Mongolia offers stable access to cheap natural resources. Sharing historic, cultural and ethnic similarities, Korea and Mongolia have seen a rapid development in their relations since they established diplomatic ties in 1990. More than 20,400 Mongolians are currently living in Korea.``Today's summits are focused on strengthening ties in the energy-resources sector,'' presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. ``President Lee shared Korean companies' experience in resource development with other Asian leaders.''Lee also exchanged views on bilateral economic cooperation with other Asian countries in his meetings with former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla.He also met with Japanese Democratic Party Chairman Kan Naoto; Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev of Kazakhstan; and Harry Jenkins, speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.Korea has indeed been facing an urgent need to secure wider and larger energy supplies since the foreign exchange crisis in late 1997, when the country's overseas resource development industry began to shrink while oil prices surged.With energy diplomacy, however, the country has been expanding its investment in overseas developments.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr

I Am In The Hot Seat

It seemed that my editorial: "Corruption! Two Million Dollars Per Month Squandered By Mr. Hun Sen", posted in Ki-Media blog, has generated more controversies than I would have thought it would. And it seemed that me and Mr. Hun Sen are both in the hot seat here. Although Mr. Hun Sen has to cop more punches, I also received some punches as well. But this is a healthy debate and most of the criticisms directed at me are sensible and constructive. I do thank you to those who have corrected my fallacies in the article. Thanks to "anonymous 9:35 PM" for correcting the figures I've used. And thank to "anonymous 4:38 AM" for his facts about the sacking of the Australian Prime Minister in 1975. I must point out that when I wrote "ambiguous reason" I meant the PM had not committed any personal misconduct to warrant a sacking. Compared to the political crisis in Cambodia, the 1975 Australian political crisis was less serious. But in a fully functional democracy like Australia, a political mess must be cleaned up before it get too messy. The Australian minister who faced the sack is a state minister. It is rather insignificant for me to state whether he is a state or a federal minister. The fact is that he is an Australian minister who is facing the sack.

Coming back to the reactions from the readers to my article, I wish to post them all here for all to judge for themselves. Thank you to all.

Below are the comments in reactions to my article:

27 Comments:
Anonymous said...
These retarded gorilla bastards never had anything good to say or comment about their leader.
5:52 PM
Anonymous said...
I agreed with the article. In a fully functional democracy checks and balances are very important for good governance. Those who seemed to think that Mr. Hun Sen is infallable are advocating for the destruction of the Khmer nation. And 5:52 PM above is such one person- seemed to be an educated person but his language is thuggish. Like leader, like follower.(Like father, like son).
6:17 PM
Anonymous said...
Parliamentarians are not oblivious to the fact that the Prime Minister Hun Sen has hundreds of thousands of personal armed security personnel. If PM Hun Sen is to testify before senate, a lot of lives will be in jeopardy.
6:19 PM
Anonymous said...
PM always be a smart person does whatever he could to gain his political interest during his compagn for up coming election.I think PM has been building his population very well by bringing down his opponent parties.
6:48 PM
Anonymous said...
The ruling party has arguably survived numerous draconian trials and tribulations during political perfect storm and political civil war, yet managed to get the country moved forward with colossal developments and concurrently created jobs for the vast majority of Cambodian people throughout the country. However, these retarded gorillas --amateur political, economic and social pundits -- rather comment negatively to merely spur and spark derision and dissension for the country in lieu of utilizing their cooperative and concerted efforts to ameliorate the country.And -- I say: "Sorry, folks, we DO NOT need you!" "Stay OUT!"
7:09 PM
Anonymous said...
Yes but the rights was given to him by the people. So the people has the right too. Where is people power in our country?
7:12 PM
Anonymous said...
This chivava doggy can't count100 backward and wat to be prime minister,please step down let the knowledge able person take care this poor country dog,you ah hun sen just lead Cambodia to youn slavery that is it what I can see
7:30 PM
Anonymous said...
Why do we need to deal with these retarded anthropoid apes?
7:45 PM
Anonymous said...
Tell him that it's wrong by voting him out in July. Let's get ready Cambodia!
8:01 PM
Anonymous said...
អា បណ្ឌិតភ្លេចរៀន អត់ខួរ ឈ្មោះហ៊ុន សែន និង មី ប៊ុន រានី​ ហ៊ុន សែន ជា មេពុករលួយនាំមុខ នៅប្រទេស កម្ពុជា លើគំនរទុក្ខ រាស្ត្រ ដែលវេទនា អស់ដីធ្លី អស់ផ្ទះសំបែង បាត់បង់សិទ្ធិមូលដ្ឋាន (Basic human rights) ដោយសារ អា ហ៊ុន សែន។ អា អគ្គមហាសេវា បំរើដៃចោរ ក្បត់ជាតិ​ឈ្មោះហ៊ុន សែន ជាខ្ញុំបំរើយួន កាត់ដីអោយយួន។អា កូនទាហាន ខ្មែរក្រហម បំរើយួន ឈ្មោះ ហ៊ុន​សែន ជាអ្នក បញ្ជូន យួនខុសច្បាប់ អោយមកនៅប្រទេសខ្មែរ និង អោយសញ្ជាតិខ្មែរ ដល់ពួកយួនទាំងនោះ នេះពិតជា អំពើ មហាក្បត់ជាតិ របស់ អា ហ៊ុន សែន ដែល កំពុង លក់ដីខ្មែរ ដោយសន្តិវិធី ហើយ !!! កំចាត់ អាក្បត់ ជាតិ ហ៊ុន សែន ចេញទៅ !!!មើលផងដែរ អំពើ​ពុករលួយ និង អំពើ​ខោរឃៅ របស់ អាក្បត់ជាតិ ហ៊ុន សែន ៖http://cheavichea.wordpress.com/http://hengpov.wordpress.com/http://corruptionfamily.wordpress.com/http://hunsenmafia.blog.com/http://coupof56july.wordpress.com/
8:04 PM
Son Of A Farmer said...
My beloved Khmers!Forgive me for speaking nonsense!In order to defeat Samdech Dey DekCho Hun Sen, not only the opposite parties eventually unifying but also most people of Khmer in Srok Khmer conscientiously realize that enough is enough for a temple boy!
8:47 PM
Anonymous said...
Come on Khmerization, what are you talking about. You can't compare an evolving democracy with all its faults to democracy that has been around more than 200 years, more or less. And a smart guy (I guess you are a guy) like you should have looked at the figures before using them. The $2 million a month was for all advisers, not just for the seventy. So the annual total is $24 million for all of them. Your $360 million a year must have struck you as wrong by just looking at it. The whole budget is $1.5 billion for 2008. You should download the budget to see what the figures are like. Government salaries make up 3.2% of the GDP or around $265 million. So what are you talking about? The whole commentary is rather naive. And....the folks in Cambodia don't listen to you anyway.
9:35 PM
Anonymous said...
6:17 PM I've never considered myself an educated person, although I do have an infallible memory. Moreover, I've never received any formal education, but through self knowledge, I've elected to teach myself to learn how to learn to periodically keep myself informed about the world events, since I only die once.
10:05 PM
Anonymous said...
DOMOCRACY works in different ways. Any country can apply according to its preference. It doesnot matter how much the government spends money. It has 100% right.If people think that it is too high, then they stop supporting it. but if people still support, it is their choice.When we vote we think many things. Not just on money!
10:53 PM
Anonymous said...
Hun Sen never see himself as Cambodian leader! But he sees himself as Cambodian dictator and that is why he can do anything as a leader! There is no such thing as check and balance for him!
10:57 PM
Anonymous said...
I thiks that it is beter to putthese defecto to do farming so theycan learn what a human life is. these people have the oppotunities to serve khmers people but instead they are looking for easymoney only, because they are lazy.
11:22 PM
Anonymous said...
nOT ABOUT THE DEFECTORS DUDE WE ALL NEED TO SURVIVE IN THE LAWLESS COUNTRY!~THE FUCKING PROBLEM IS THE CPP AND aH KWACK HUN XEN!AH KWACH IS PROUD OF PHD WITHOUT LEURNING FROM VIETNAME? hASHASHAAJH!DO MAIE AH SAKER SI ACH!
11:46 PM
Anonymous said...
Here is the quote from the article:Chhay estimated the cost to the national budget of all the advisors to Hun Sen, Chea Sim, chairman of the CPP and President of the Senate, and Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, at $2 million per month. He estimated the three men have about 500 advisors.Don't just read the headlines, read the whole article. But, of course, you need a subscription to do that.And, by the way, not that I support the present government, but they can hire and fire whomever they like, as long as they are not high-ranking government employees. This is where Son Chhay is wrong. They may receive the same pay but as long as they do not have the title, which would entail appointment by the King, they don't need to be authorized. Of course, the redundancy of those advisers and the burden to the budget is another question.
11:52 PM
Son Of A Farmer said...
My beloved 11:52!Your brilliantly poliSickal analyzation is psychologically irrefutable! I am ashamedly speechless. What is our beloved King's duty? Be a deaf and blind stone?
12:54 AM
Son Of A Farmer said...
My beloved 11:52!Your brilliantly poliSickal analyzation is psychologically irrefutable! I am ashamedly speechless. What is our beloved King's duty? Be a deaf and blind stone?
12:55 AM
Khmer Young said...
Folks!Of course, our constitution is the best. And whenever Mr. Hun Sen is complying with the law, nothing wrong. But look at those advisers, what are categories to choose advisers? And what expert of their field?As we can notice, Hun Sen's advisers are people who can popularize Hun Sen name, or build public schools/bridges/temples by inscribed Hun Sen's name there.For example, a commentator guy in CTN, Mr.Chum Kosal, who has always manipulated neutral news to justify Hun Sen as the Khmer hero, sdach korn reborn again...etcThis kind of political maneuvering of Hun Sen surely reflects his dictatorship nature, and ignorance.Whoever are supporting this kind of political action deemed to destroy Khmer nation of both presence and future.KY
1:43 AM
Anonymous said...
politics, politics, whatever!!
1:59 AM
Anonymous said...
12:54 and or 54 since you so excited to pick on the king let I bring you in time!1)Read Cambodian's constitution about the King duty! Ask some one to read for you if you .... like Hun Sen! ask some ome to think and traslate for you if you....like CPP!2) Should you do like job description or go all over places like Hun Sen?3) No one can carry the whold world dude!4) do not blam the king like Ranarith do you part as a Cambodian brother!
2:39 AM
Anonymous said...
As long as the King see it peace, he will sign.
3:03 AM
Anonymous said...
Folks, the King has no power, he is a figurehead.
3:25 AM
Anonymous said...
Hey Motherfuckers, you spend your money your way, and we spend it our ways, alright?
3:46 AM
Anonymous said...
Dear Khmerization.In 1975, an Australian prime minister, Mr. Gough Whitlam, was sacked by the Governor-General due to a very ambiguous reason.Gough Whitlam was sacked because of constitutional crisis NOT ambiguous reason. Paragraph below is extract from the Australian National Archives.When the non-Labor-dominated Senate attempted to block legislation supporting the government’s reform agenda, Whitlam sought – and was granted – a double dissolution. His government was returned in the 1974 double dissolution election, but a combination of ministerial ineptness and personal rivalries over the next 12 months caused the government’s popularity to wane. Then the Malcolm Fraser-led Opposition delayed the passage of the Budget supply bills in the Senate in 1975, and the government fell into crisis. It ended only when the Governor-General, John Kerr, controversially dismissed Whitlam’s government, and installed Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister, pending a double dissolution election.As of this week an Australian minister is facing the sack after he appointed his friend to a high paid government job.Are you talking about the Federal or State Government?
4:38 AM

Duch taken to Choeung Ek's Killing Fields

Cambodian police officers block a road at Choeung Ek killing field in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. The former head of a notorious Khmer Rouge torture center was moved to tears Tuesday when he was taken by Cambodia's genocide tribunal to the scene of his alleged crimes, a mass grave site at Choeung Ek, one of the country's notorious 'killing fields.' (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Choeung Ek Memorial Monument

A mass grave site containing some thousand human skulls is seen behind a stupa, or religious monument, at Choeung Ek killing field in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. The former head of a notorious Khmer Rouge torture center was moved to tears Tuesday when he was taken by Cambodia's genocide tribunal to Choeung Ek, the scene of his alleged crimes, a mass grave site that was one of the country's notorious 'killing fields.' (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)