A (mis)guide on CSR and Trade Agreement application in the Cambodian garment industry

29 September 2014 | by Juan Antonio Pavon Losada, European Public Affairs

cambodia-177-campaign

Workers claims for a fair living wage.

CCHR President Ou Virak commented on January that “While many of the political demonstrations which have taken place over the last few months have been met with restraint from the security forces, there is an increasingly clear link between the excessive use of force by security forces and the protection of big businesses of Cambodia”. Of the 25 cases where we noted excessive use of force, 21 were related to strikes by garment workers or protests over land. Previous non-violent strikes aimed to the Cambodian government in early 2014 ended up in a military crackdown and thus riots. Five garment workers were shot dead, one still missing after 9 months and more than 30 were injured and they were not the first for the sector. A ban on public assembly was also put in place with 23 labour leaders arrested.  The International Labour Organization (ILO) said it was “deeply disturbed” by the continuing violence in Cambodia. While military interventions might mean stability for foreign interests and investment, it has created fear for Cambodia’s garment workers. Since a great share of investors and final consumers are European, I think it may be needed to take a look into the situation to figure out what is going on.

Cambodia should not accept refugees from Australia: Sam Rainsy

The Cambodia Herald, 29-Sep-14 11:21AM

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy said that Cambodia should not have signed a deal with Australia to accept refugees to live in Cambodia.

Cambodia should not have accepted the refugees from Australia because they are not goods for being exported or imported by any country, Sam Rainsy, president of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said in an interview with Australian ABC TV.

"I thought that it was not right when Cambodia accepted the deal because they are not goods. They are human being," he said.

Regarding the controversial refugee deal with Australia, the Ministry of Interior held a news conference on Monday to explain the deal.

At the news conference, Foreign Affairs secretary of state Long Visalo said that the refugees will settle temporarily in Phnom Penh when they are transferred from Australia.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on the same day defended the settlement of refugees in Cambodia, saying that the deal based on voluntary principle.

Land-grab victims from Banteay Meanchey protest in Phnom Penh - reported by William and Leakana

Post by យុវជនខ្មែរមហានគរ Khmer Youth Empire.

Post by Willaim Guang.

Authority puts one more CNRP's member in jail សមត្ថកិច្ច​ចាប់ខ្លួន​សមាជិក​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​បក្ស​សង្គ្រោះជាតិ​ម្នាក់ទៀត​ដាក់គុក

លោកស៊ុំ ពុទ្ឋីក្រុមព្រឹក្សាខណ្ឌច្បាអំពៅមកពីគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិត្រូវបានសមត្ថកិច្ចរបស់លោកហ៊ុន សែន ចាប់ខ្លួនកាលពីព្រឹកមិញនៅវេលាម៉ោង០៧:៣០ព្រឹកនៅចំណុចស្ពានអាកាសក្បាលថ្នលដោយមិនដឹងមូលហេតុអ្វីនៅឡើយទេ

Like

មន្ត្រី​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា​សមត្ថកិច្ច​បាន​ចាប់ខ្លួន សមាជិក​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា ខណ្ឌ​ច្បារអំពៅ របស់​ខ្លួន​ម្នាក់​ឈ្មោះ លោក ស៊ុំ ពុទ្ធី បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​កាន់​តុលាការ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ ទី​២៩ ខែ​កញ្ញា។

ភរិយា​ជនសង្ស័យ និង​ក្រុមការងារ​បក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​អះអាង​ថា លោក ស៊ុំ ពុទ្ធី ត្រូវ​តុលាការ បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​ឃុំខ្លួន​បណ្ដោះអាសន្ន នៅ​ពន្ធនាគារ​ព្រៃ​ស នៅ​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ​នេះ។

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ មន្ត្រី​នាំ​ពាក្យ និង​ជា​សមាជិកសភា​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​ឲ្យ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី ដឹង​ថា​កម្លាំង​សមត្ថកិច្ច ពិតជា​បាន​ចាប់ខ្លួន​សមាជិក​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ខណ្ឌ​ច្បារអំពៅ គឺ​លោក ស៊ុំ ពុទ្ធី​ពិតមែន​។ ប៉ុន្តែ​លោក​មិនទាន់​ធ្វើ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ ជុំវិញ​ការ​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​នេះ​ទេ។

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ បន្ត​ថា​រហូតមកដល់​ពេលនេះ ក្រុមការងារ របស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ កំពុង​ពិនិត្យ​ទៅលើ​ការ​ចាប់​ខ្លួន លោក ស៊ុំ ពុទ្ធី ដោយ​យកចិត្តទុកដាក់​៖ «ខ្ញុំ​មិនទាន់​ធ្វើ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ​ថា​ម៉េច​ទេ ពីព្រោះ​ខ្ញុំ​រង​ចាំ​ស៊ើបអង្កេត ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ពី​ហេតុផល ថា​ហេតុអ្វី​គេ​ចាប់ខ្លួន​គាត់​សិន។ ដរាបណា​មិនទាន់​ដឹង​មូលហេតុ​ច្បាស់លាស់​ទេ យើង​ធ្វើ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ​ទៅ វា​អត់​សុ​ក្រឹត្យ ។ អ៊ីចឹង​ចង់​ប្រមែ​ប្រមូល​ព័ត៌មាន​ឲ្យ​អស់ ថា​តើ​គាត់​ជាប់​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​រឿង​អី​ឲ្យ​ពិតប្រាកដ»។

ទាក់ទិន​បញ្ហា​នេះ មន្ត្រី​អង្គការ​ពារ​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​មួយ​ចំនួន មាន​សមាគម​អាដហុក (Adhoc) និង​អង្គការ​លីកាដូ (Licadho) ជាដើម ក៏​មិនទាន់​ដឹង​មូលហេតុ​នៃ​ការ ចាប់ខ្លួន​លោក ស៊ុំ ពុទ្ធី នេះ​ដែរ​ដោយ​គ្រាន់តែ​ដឹង​ថា ជនសង្ស័យ​រូប​នេះ ត្រូវ​តុលាការ​បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​ឃុំខ្លួន​បណ្ដោះអាសន្ន​នៅ​ពន្ធនាគារ​ព្រៃ​ស នា​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ​នេះ។ មន្ត្រី​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​ទាំងនេះ អះអាង​ថា​កំពុង​តាមដាន ជុំវិញ​ករណី​ចាប់ខ្លួន​នេះ។ ព្រោះ​យល់ថា​ការ​ចាប់ និង​ការ​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន មន្ត្រី​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​រូប​នេះ​ធ្វើឡើង​ឆាប់រហ័ស​។

ភរិយា លោក ស៊ុំ ពុទ្ធី គឺ​អ្នកស្រី ម៉ាក ចន្ទ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា រហូត​ដល់​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ ទី​២៩ ខែ​កញ្ញា ទើប​មាន​ក្រុមការងារ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ប្រាប់​ថា​ស្វាមី​គាត់ ត្រូវ​សមត្ថកិច្ច​ចាប់ខ្លួន ហើយ​ត្រូវ​បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​ឃុំ នៅ​ពន្ធនាគារ​ព្រៃ​ស។ អ្នកស្រី​មិន​ដឹង​មូលហេតុ​នៃ​ការ​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​នេះ​ទេ៖« គេ​ឲ្យ​ដំណឹង​ថា​គេ​ចាប់ខ្លួន​គាត់ ក៏​ផ្អើល​ឆោឡោ​ឡើង​ទៅ »។

Consumerism Is Booming In Cambodia After Embrace Of Once-Forbidden Capitalism

Chy Sila, CEO of CBM Corporation, holds his mobile phone while driving a car in Phnom Penh

PRAK CHAN THUL

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Chy Sila has come a long way since he invested his $US500 life savings in a small shop in Cambodia’s capital to sell bootleg music and pirated movies.

Fast-forward 16 years and Cambodians are now watching the films he distributes not on scratchy DVDs but in a $US5 million multiplex theatre, a joint venture with Thailand’s Major Cineplex and the centrepiece of a new mall owned by Japanese retail giant Aeon that drew 2 million visitors in its opening month.

The 39-year-old former tour guide, university dropout and son of a mechanic is one of the biggest success stories in a country that was for years Southeast Asia’s war-torn, aid-dependant basket case.

Though poverty is still rife in the countryside, an urban boom and robust growth fuelled by garment manufacturing for brands such as Nike and GAP has given rise to a growing consumer class that earns triple the average income.

“We see there’s a lot more buying power than before,” said Chy Sila as he took a bite from a croissant and sipped cappuccino at one of the bakeries run by his CBM Corporation, Cambodia’s biggest food and beverage firm.

“People can afford to pay so now’s the time, we’re ready for big brands to come here… Materialism is in peoples’ hearts, what you wear, what you drive, represents what you are.”

Vietnam sentences six for holding teen ransom in Cambodia

By Do Truong, Thanh Nien News

Phan Thi Kim Oanh, who provided loans to Vietnamese gamblers at Cambodian casinos, at a trial in Binh Duong Province on September 24, 2014. Her accomplices in the abduction of an innocent teenager sit behind her. Photo: Do Truong

A court in the southern province of Binh Duong sentenced six people to up to six years in jail last week for kidnapping an innocent teen and holding her for ransom in Cambodia.

Four of the defendants Nguyen Xuan Cuong, 23, Hong Minh Trung, 24, Nguyen Thi My Nguyen, 16, and Nguyen Thi Nhu Linh, 16, were Binh Duong locals who began gambling at Cambodian casinos in December 2012.

The men did not attend school or have jobs.

They hooked up with Phan Thi Kim Oanh, 40, who provided transportation and loan services for Vietnamese gamblers in Cambodia.

Oanh agreed to bring the girl across the border and arrange things so that she would believe she was in enormous gambling debt.

Gambling of all kinds is illegal in Vietnam, where casinos are only open to people with foreign ID cards or passports.

Oanh, Trung and Cuong received six years in jail each for organizing the abduction, Nguyen three years and Linh two and a half years.

Vo Van Lam, 31, who was Oanh’s right-hand man, was handed five and a half years.

Oanh will stay out of jail until her child is three years old.

According to the indictment, the four joined To Hong Tham, 15, to hang out at guest houses in Binh Duong in March last year, but they ran out of money, so Tham offered to help them bring her friend, a local secondary student, to Cambodia and into their debt trap.

NEC amendment: Changes to constitution on agenda

Mon, 29 September 2014

Vong Sokheng

The National Assembly will vote this week on a proposal to reform the National Election Committee (NEC) to make it a constitutional institution, a key prerequisite of the deal that ended the country’s political deadlock.

A press release issued on Friday by the National Assembly’s General Secretariat listed “proposals of draft laws related to electoral reform” as one of several agendas up for debate when parliament sits on Wednesday.

Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang said the new NEC would be a constitutionally mandated body that would differ from the current NEC because “it will need to have a consensus between the CPP and CNRP”.

“I think that when the bill is passed it will improve the electoral environment,” Chhay Eng said, adding that he hoped it would go through without “any problem”.

Ruling party lawmaker Chheang Vun said the principle of both parties was “to improve the process of democracy and power of the people”.

Contact author: Vong Sokheng

Hun Sen defends refugee deal with Australia

The Cambodia Herald, 29-Sep-14 02:44PM

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday defended refugee deal with Australia, saying that the acceptance of foreign refugees to live in Cambodia is based on voluntary principle.

His comment came after recent protests against the Cambodian and Australian governments over the deal to have refugees who sought asylum in Australia transferred to Cambodia.

"Normally there are protests against the refugee deal in any other countries like in Australia and Cambodia," he said at a graduation ceremony for Build Bright University held at Koh Pich center.

"The acceptance of refugees to live in Cambodia is based on voluntary principle, not by force. We ask them [refugees] whether they want to live in Cambodia. If they do, we accept them," he said.

"It is an international obligation," he told the ceremony.

Cambodia and Australia signed a controversial deal on refugee settlement last Friday during a visit of Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.

The numbers of refugees to be sent will be determined by Cambodia. Cambodia will not take in all 1,000 refugees.

Letters to the editor: What Australians say about the Cambodian-Australian refugee deal?

Cambodia pay-off can only be seen as a bribe

The Melbourne Age
September 29, 2014

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng hold a flute of champagne after signing a deal to resettle refugees from Australia to Cambodia. Photo: Getty Images

On Friday Immigration Minister Scott Morrison signed a deal with Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng ("Ministers silent on details of $40m Cambodia 'pay-off', September 27).

Surely the $40 million is nothing more than a bribe for the Cambodian government to accept the secret deal, since the details have been withheld from the Australian people.

Since one aspect is known, that only those who are deemed to be refugees who voluntarily choose to be resettled in Cambodia will go there, what happens if not one of them makes that choice? What happens to the $40 million? Does Australia get it back?

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison recently signed a deal with Cambodia to resettle refugees there. Photo: Andrew Meares

Mila Yates Valentine

Australia's plans to send refugees from Nauru, which is bankrupt, to Cambodia is the last straw in the actions of a desperate and immoral government ("Fears for refugee children's future", September 26). It is well known that Cambodia is one of the most corrupt countries in the world – millions of aid dollars disappear each year. 

We travelled to Cambodia two years ago and were appalled at the plight of families who lived on the streets of Phnom Penh, begging for scraps from the high fenced-off restaurant diners, many of whom were corrupt government officials, driving apparently unregistered Lexus 4WDs while the rest get about on old bicycles or walk. Graft and corruption is a way of life there. Our tuk-tuk driver had to pay extra bribes to ensure that his son was able to study at a senior high school level.

We donate annually for a water tank for Cambodian schools as well as to help pay for school children's dental care but we donate via the Buddhist Library, the only aid organisation that we can trust to deliver the aid where it is needed.

What possible hope is there for refugees, having to compete with the local Khmer people for jobs, the limited healthcare which comes at the cost of a bribe to the right officials, in a culture which is totally alien to them and which will do nothing to assist them to integrate. If the Cambodian government can't and won't help its own people, why would they assist refugees?

Eva Johnstone Marrickville

The beauty of Kampot, Cambodia (2013)

Mass Demo against Vietnamese government Oct. 1- 5

 It's not late to donate. If you could not participate in person, you could participate
by contributing your generous donations... It's also an act of patriotism. ~KKC

Children are very innocent at this age. Please teach them not to fall in love with fame, 
money or power, so they will stay innocent for ever. Otherwise, they will repeat the 
footstep of most human: craving for fame, money and power. These three things are 
the road to destruction. You cannot serve with a pure heart once you have one of these 
three things in mind. Buddha left the kingdom to become a beggar to serve all sentient
beings. I too, will always follow the path of the Buddha to serve all sentient beings 
till my last breath. ~Jendhamuni

សេចក្តីអំពាវនាវស្វែងរកថវិកាសម្រាប់រៀបចំមហាបាតុកម្ម ដើម្បីការពារប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្តខ្មែរ និងកិត្តិយសប្រជាជាតិខ្មែរ នៅថ្ងៃទី០១, ០២, ០៣, ០៤, និងទី០៥ ខែតុលា ព.ស.២៥៥៨ គ.ស.២០១៤

Appeal for funds to help Mass Demonstration resuming on OCT 01 - 05 to protect Khmer history and a national honor of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

"No Suffering is greater than the loss of Kampuchea Krom and becoming an ethnic minority on own land."


NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE.

រៀបចំដោយសហគមន៍ខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម និង សម្ព័ន្ធយុវជនខ្មែរដើម្បីប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ
Organized by KKC and KYAD (The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community and Khmer Youth Alliance for Democracy)

Donations: If you wish to donate, please contact Mr. Thach Setha
Phone: 012 90 88 82
E-mail: thachsetha13@gmail.com
You can transfer your donations via Western Union under Thach Setha's name.
It’s fast and lower transferring fees.


For overseas residents, please contact:
Sina Son 267.242.3608
Vithi Kim 864.491.1991
Sakal Kim 978.596.5126
E-mail: kkcpressoffice@yahoo.com.

Your donations will reach the organizing committee at the exact amounts without transferring fees deduction.

Protecting the Areng forest from destruction

Alejandro Gonzales-Davidson and his environemntalist friends chained themselves in protest against the planned the dam-construction in the Areng region, which they say will destroy Cambodia's pristine and last forests.

Buddhist monks and political activism in Cambodia

• Milton Osborne
• Previous Posts

29 September 2014, The Interpreter

In Cambodia, a country of remarkable ethnic unity (close to 95% of the population is ethnically Khmer) and with the religion of Buddhism dominant, religious extremism has been absent. What is new and notable is the emergence of political activism among some Buddhist monks. 

Over the past year there have been frequent reports of Cambodian Buddhist monks taking part in anti-government demonstrations.

Some of these demonstrations are linked directly to protests mounted by supporters of the Cambodian National Rescue Party headed by Sam Rainsy, and others to such issues as garment workers' wages and calls for the protection of environmentally threatened forests. Very recently, Buddhist monks have been among those protestingagainst the agreement reached between Australia and Cambodia for the transfer of asylum seekers to Cambodia.

By comparison with the role of monks in Sihanouk's Cambodia during the 1950s and 1960s, when the Buddhist sangha was largely passive, or to a limited extent supportive of the ruling regime, such contemporary political activism offers a marked contrast with the past.

Bahraini-Cambodian relations reviewed

Manama, Sept. 28. (BNA) – His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa received at the Gudaibiya Palace today the Minister of State and Special Adviser to the Cambodian Monarch Prince Sisowath Tesso, and reviewed with him ways to bolster bilateral economic, cultural and tourism cooperation.
HRH Premier affirmed the kingdom's keenness on consolidating ties with friendly Cambodia in various fields, and developing joint cooperation at all levels.

He pointed out that Bahrain and Cambodia boast similar tourism and culture potentials that can be used to support the kingdom's policies to upgrade its cooperation with the ASEAN group, in general, and Cambodia, in particular.

The Cambodian Official expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH Premier for his keenness on enhancing bilateral relations, affirming his country's desire to bolster joint ties for the common benefits of the two friendly peoples.

In Cambodia, A Close Friendship With The PM Leads To Vast Wealth For One Power Couple [Is Hun Sen the most corrupted leader in the world?]

Megha BahreeContributor

FOLLOW

I write about business and development in India and its neighborhood.

full bio →

This story appears in the October 20, 2014 issue of Forbes Asia.

In summer 2013 Pal Liv, a farmer in Cambodia’s Pursat Province, 140 miles north of the capital Phnom Penh, watched as maybe ten men came on tractors and pulled up the bananas, rice, beans and corn he had planted. A larger contingent, some armed and others with badges, supervised the destruction. Nearly half his 3.5 hectares was seized. By Pal’s telling, it wasn’t the first time that his parcel and his living had been carved up–and by the Pheapimex Group, a company with powerful owners and connections.

A similar thing had happened three years before, he says. That time the men had moved in on what Pal says were 10 hectares belonging to him. His crops were surrounded by what he describes as a forest that he and his family tapped for resins and fruits. The company logged the trees for timber.

Farmer Pal Liv, seen with his grandchildren, is no longer able to make ends meet, his land carved up by Pheapimex. (credit:© Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom for Forbes)

Pal, 55, has tried to scramble back, as he also did after the Khmer Rouge took his original family homestead in the late 1970s. Land rights in the country have been in flux since. Following his first brush with Pheapimex, in a period when the Cambodian government was under pressure to respect customary possessions, he was able to get his title to the 3.5 hectares. Now that’s been shaved to 2, and he can’t make ends meet.

Khmer Krom schedules five-day anti-Vietnam protest next month

Photo/RFA

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association and the Khmer Youth League for Democracy will hold anti-Vietnam protest from 4-8 October, according to Thach Setha, president of the association. 

In a letter Friday to Phnom Penh governor Pa Socheat Vong, Thach Setha said around 2,000 people will rally at the Freedom Park every day for five days before marching along the streets in Phnom Penh to express their opinion in front of Vietnamese Embassy, and present petitions to foreign embassies as well as national institution. 

We will hold the protest because there is no yet apology letter from the Vietnamese government to Cambodian people, Setha said.

Phnom Penh City Hall hasn't yet responded or granted them permission. 

Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association and the Khmer Youth League for Democracy have staged a series of anti-Vietnam protests to demand apology and recognition of Kampuchea Krom history from Vietnam after a Vietnamese spokesman claimed recently that Kampuchea Krom, now in southern part of Vietnam, has been Vietnamese territory a long time ago, and France never detached the land to it. 

So far the Vietnamese Embassy spokesman Trang Van Thung hasn't appeared to make public apology over his comment which provoked outrage among Cambodian people. 

Helping Cambodians to Learn English

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

Before coming to Cambodia as the U.S. Ambassador I spent several months studying the Khmer language in the United States with my teacher Samphey Iep.  Having learned several languages including Khmer, I have an appreciation of the work that is required to learn a new language.  This week I received a question from Banroath in Battambang, who writes, “I heard that the U.S. Embassy has English language scholarships.  Why do you think it is important for Cambodians to learn English?”

When I first arrived in Cambodia over two years ago, I was struck by the number of Cambodians who already spoke English and who wanted to practice with a native speaker – from businessmen to tuk-tuk drivers.  To me, this shows that Cambodians understand and appreciate the ways that English can help to drive this country’s economic and social development. 

I truly believe that English is the indispensable language of the 21st century.  You don’t have to take my word for it – just look around the world.  According to statistics, there are approximately 400 million English language learners in China alone.  In Singapore, school lessons are taught almost entirely in English starting in primary school.Children in Europe are starting to learn English at an increasingly early age.  What do all of these places have in common?  They all know that speaking English is the key to global competitiveness.

English is the language of global business.  According to the Harvard Business Review, an increasing number of multinational companies such as Airbus, Nokia, and Samsung are using English as the common corporate language in an effort to improve communication and performance across geographic borders.  Here in Southeast Asia, English will be the common language of the ASEAN Economic Community when it is introduced in 2015.   English is also the most common language on the Internet, and according to one estimate 80-90 percent of all scholarly articles are written in English.

Lawmakers Say Constitutional Change to Be Passed Next Week

BY KUCH NAREN | SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

The National Assembly will convene on October 1 to vote on an amendment to the Constitution that will make the National Election Committee (NEC) a constitutionally mandated and independent body, according to lawmakers from the ruling CPP and opposition CNRP.

The vote is the first step in a long list of reforms outlined in the July 22 agreement between Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP President Sam Rainsy, who agreed to end the opposition’s 10-month boycott of the assembly in exchange for an overhaul of the electoral system and more powers for the opposition within parliament.

The National Assembly’s 13-member permanent committee met on Friday to set the agenda for next week’s plenary session, according to National Assembly spokesman Chheang Vun, a

CPP lawmaker and head of the assembly’s foreign affairs commission.

“The third agenda item for the plenary session is to approve the amendment of the Constitution to make the National Election Committee a constitutional body,” said Mr. Vun.

Also on the agenda will be a draft 2015 budget for the National Assembly and an agreement on cultural cooperation between Cambodia and Russia, he added.

Mr. Vun said that the CPP’s 68 lawmakers, who hold a majority in the 123-seat parliament, would vote for the constitutional change, which will alter article 76 of the Constitution and add a new chapter pertaining to the country’s electoral commission.

“There is no reason not to support it,” Mr. Vun said.

“So we will vote [for it] because it is the spirit of the two parties to be united and work together for the country’s interest and to make people feel peace in their mind.”

Chieng Vun deceived land grab victims [Beware of the sting in the tail in CPP pledges]

Land grabbing issues - VC-CPP's lingering shame

Hun Sen Quits Smoking, Chides His Security Detail

BY KHY SOVUTHY | SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

After 10 failed attempts over the past 14 years, Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday announced to a crop of new university graduates that he had finally overcome one of his greatest vices.

“For one year, I have struggled,” he told the graduates of Chamroeun University of Poly-Technology at the ceremony on Koh Pich island. “But I have not been struggling with a person or with nature, I have struggled with myself.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks to graduates of Chamroeun University of Poly-Technology at a ceremony on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich on Thursday. (Siv Channa/The Cambodia Daily)

“I can announce today that I have been successful. I have stopped smoking cigarettes,” he told the students.

For years, Mr. Hun Sen has opined on his battle with nicotine in public speeches. In March, when he announced his latest campaign to quit, he scolded Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Commander Pol Saroeun for never having his own cigarettes. On Thursday, he took another jab.

“The person who wants to follow me and stop is Pol Saroeun, but he is not able to stop,” Mr. Hun Sen said. “Also, [Phnom Penh Governor] Pa Socheatvong attempted to stop, but he still cannot stop.”

The prime minister told the graduates that he pitied his wife for having to deal with the constant smell of cigarettes and that a critical turning point in his quest to quit came when a sub-decree that would ban smoking in public spaces passed his desk.

He said he sent the sub-decree back to the Health Ministry, unsigned, because he liked to smoke at Council of Ministers meetings.

“If I have to leave the meeting room to smoke a cigarette, would there be someone there to listen to me?” he said.

Cambodian king returns home after medical checkup in Beijing

 

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (3rd R, front) and his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath (4th R, front) arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sept. 27, 2014. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath, arrived here Saturday after spending a month in Beijing, China for a routine medical checkup. (Xinhua/Photo)

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath, arrived here Saturday after spending a month in Beijing, China for a routine medical checkup.

At the Phnom Penh International Airport, the royal family was cordially greeted by President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Sam Rainsy, lawmaker and president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party and other senior officials.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo was also present at the ceremony.

During his stay in China, besides a medical checkup, the king had met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and both sides spoke highly of longstanding friendship relations between Cambodia and China and pledged to further enhance ties for the benefits of the two countries and peoples.

Cambodia refugee deal: UNHCR, Amnesty International condemn refugee resettlement arrangement

ABC

Scott Morrison toasts the signing of the arrangement with Cambodian interior minister Sar Kheng.

International human rights organisations have rounded on the Federal Government's deal to resettle refugees on Nauru in Cambodia.

Protesters clashed with riot police outside the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh as Immigration Minister Scott Morrison yesterday signeda memorandum of understanding which would allow refugees in detention on Nauru to settle in Cambodia.

The agreement stipulates refugees will only be sent on a voluntary basis, with the number of refugees accepted to be determined by Cambodia, whose interior minister said the government only wanted to take four or five refugees to begin with.

The Australian Government has made a $40 million aid down payment and will also pay for associated costs for housing and educating refugees who go there. Mr Morrison said he does not know the total cost of the arrangement.

In a statement, Mr Morrison welcomed the signing of the deal, saying "those found to be in genuine need of protection will now have the opportunity and support to re-establish their lives free from persecution".

"As a party to the Refugees Convention, Cambodia, while making countless efforts to develop the country after the civil war, is demonstrating its ability and willingness to contribute positively to this humanitarian issue," he said.

But Amnesty International called it "a new low in Australia's deplorable and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers".

"In January the Australian Government condemned Cambodia's human rights record at a UN human rights hearing, but will now relocate vulnerable refugees, possibly including children, to the country," spokesman Rupert Abbott said.

[Australia's] Morrison's Cambodia toast 'crass, sickening': Greens

An awkward toast: Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng. Photo: Omar Havana

Toasting his Cambodian "dirty deal" with Champagne was a crass and sickening move by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, the Australian Greens say.

Mr Morrison signed a memorandum of understanding with Interior Minister Sar Kheng in Phnom Penh on Friday to allow refugees processed on the Pacific island of Nauru to resettle in Cambodia.

Afterwards, the pair toasted their deal with Champagne.

"A number of those found to be in genuine need of protection will now have the opportunity and support to re-establish their lives free from persecution," Mr Morrison said in a statement.

"As a party to the Refugees Convention, Cambodia ... is demonstrating its ability and willingness to contribute positively to this humanitarian issue."

But the Greens say the deal is a "fundamental failure" and a $40 million bribe to corrupt government that will unleash human misery.

Celebrating such a deal was in poor taste, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"We've got Scott Morrison popping Champagne corks as if it's some kind of 21st celebration. It's crass, it's sickening.

"On budget night we had Joe Hockey dancing, and now we have Scott Morrison popping Champagne corks after signing a dirty deal with one of the most corrupt and poorest nations on Earth," Senator Hanson-Young told reporters on Saturday.

"A deal that will condemn families to a lifetime of danger and misery."

The Phnom Penh signing got off to a rocky start when Mr Morrison arrived late and a tray of glasses was accidentally tipped over.

After the toast, no questions were taken from waiting media.

Speaking later to ABC's Lateline, the minister brushed off suggestions that the toast was in bad taste.

"This is a standard protocol in Cambodia - I'm not going to disrespect my host," Mr Morrison said.

The opposition has labelled the deal a complete farce that will see only a handful of refugees resettled.

"It is no wonder Scott Morrison refused to answer questions (at the signing)," opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles said in a statement on Saturday.

The deal is voluntary and only applies to asylum seekers on Nauru who are found to be refugees.

Mr Morrison hopes some will be resettled before the end of the year.

Australia will give Cambodia $40 million in extra assistance over the next four years in return.

The United Nations refugee agency says it is "deeply concerned at the precedent" and has urged Australia to reconsider.