Vendors in Takeo say they want to go back to their former stalls

Friday, 31 July 2009
By May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Despite alleged threats from district officials, Takeo vendors protest prohibitively high cost of stalls in newly renovated and upgraded market.

ABOUT 300 vendors from Tonloab market in Takeo's Kirivong district demonstrated in front of the market Thursday to press for the right to continue to sell their goods there, vendors told the Post on Thursday. Vendors said they planned to bring their case to Prime Minister Hun Sen despite authorities' attempts to intimidate them.

"We protested because we want to sell at our old location," said San Sokhom, 49. "The market owners broke their promise."

San Sokhom said the market's owners announced plans to modernise the market three years ago, including installing an improved drainage system and a new roof. When the market reopened a month ago, the owners were charging between US$5,000 and $12,000 for a small store, pricing the vendors out of their old locations.

Nguon Sovann, another vendor, said she and others had been relegated to peddling their wares along a nearby street since they had been "kicked out".

"They only let us sell along the road. It makes a traffic jam every day," she said.

Nguon Sovann accused the Kirivong district governor of threatening her husband at gunpoint for demonstrating.

"At about 9pm on Wednesday, the Kirivong district governor came with a gun to my house and pointed it at my husband's head. The governor said my husband was the protest leader who persuaded vendors to protest," she said.

Kirivong police chief Meas Sophoan and Kirivong district governor Teuk Songlim declined to comment. Ni Hen, an owner of Tonloab market, could not be reached.

Nguon Sovann denied rumours that the vendors planned to burn down the market, saying they would seek help from Hun Sen instead.

"We are not crazy. We will not burn down the market. If we don't have any settlement here, then we will go to Prime Minister Hun Sen's house to ask for help," she said.

Even though commune officials met with vendors after the demonstration, vendor Nhen Pros said they believed their demands were not being taken seriously by the authorities.

"They asked us to go to the commune office, but they didn't talk about our suggestions," he said. "They only talked about their plan to ask vendors selling along the road to let them continue to pave the road."

"We did not agree because they would cheat us again," he added.

Legal body to force out elder judges, prosecutors

Friday, 31 July 2009
By VONG SOKHENG
The Phnom Penh Post

But some say their absence could strain the court system.

ATOTAL of 27 senior judges, prosecutors and provincial court chiefs are set to retire following a meeting Wednesday of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy (SCM), which has enacted a little-used law mandating compulsory retirement at age 60.

Sam Pracheameanith, Cabinet chief in the Ministry of Justice and assistant secretary general of the SCM, said Wednesday that the retirements would be made official once a royal decree was issued by King Norodom Sihamoni, who chairs the council.

"Retirement is a part of [the government's] judicial reform programme, which aims at improving the judicial services in the Kingdom. It will not affect the current work of the courts," he said.

The Kingdom's 1999 Co-Statute on Civil Servants lists 60 as the mandatory retirement age for all government employees and civil servants, but the law has never been fully implemented for judicial officials.

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Election monitor calls for voter list reforms

Friday, 31 July 2009
By VONG SOKHENG
The Phnom Penh Post

LOCAL election monitor Comfrel has called on the National Election Committee (NEC) to reform the system of voter registration to ensure all eligible voters are able to cast their ballots in the 2012 commune council elections and 2013 national elections.

According to a report issued by Comfrel Thursday, 440,000 eligible voters, most of whom voted in the 2003 national election, could not cast their ballots in last July's national elections because they were unable to find their names on voter lists or locate the correct polling stations.

"We found irregularities after the July 2008 election and call for the NEC to make reforms in order to ensure that eligible voters' right to cast their ballots without unnecessary obstacles or difficulties is upheld," Comfrel executive director Koul Panha told the Post Thursday.

He said the report's findings would be submitted to parliamentarians, political parties and the NEC.

The report, based on surveys of 8,678 eligible voters in all 24 provinces and municipalities, found that the names and addresses of 18.5 percent had disappeared from the voter lists during the 2008 election.

Tep Nytha, secretary general of NEC, said Thursday that he had not yet received an official report on voter lists and registration, but he said the NEC would study the report and evaluate possible methods for improving the election process.

"We cannot accept all the requests made by civil society groups because they are far beyond the ability of the NEC," he said.

But Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker Kouy Bunroeun said the government, the NEC and political parties must have the "political" will to amend the law in order to improve the election process.

In last year's national election, the ruling Cambodian People's Party won 90 of the National Assembly's 123 seats. The SRP took 26 seats, the Human Rights Party three seats and the Norodom Ranariddh Party and Funcinpec two seats each.

A changing of the editorial guard

Friday, 31 July 2009
By Michael Hayes
The Phnom Penh Post

In the jungle: a fatigued editor-in-chief during a kouprey hunt in Mondulkiri province in March 1994. Photo by: Michael Hayes

The Post's founder remembers what made the newspaper great - and what will keep it so.

TODAY is my last day as The Phnom Penh Post's editor-in-chief, a position that I have held now for 17 years and 21 days since the first issue of the Post was published on July 10, 1992.

I had actually decided on my title six months earlier and put it on business cards after my older brother Jack explained what the choices were when I was in the process of setting up the paper. I didn't have a clue myself, so he explained the options.

I remember asking him: "Hey Jack, you studied journalism. What should I call myself? Chairman or president or ... what?" Demonstrating the deep affection only a guy can have for his kid brother, he replied: "You numbskull! What are you - a complete moron? You'll be publisher of course, and then if you want to control the content you should be editor-in-chief as well."

There was a lot to be learned in those early days.

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The end of an era as Hayes bows out

Phnom Penh Post founder and Editor-in-Chief Michael Hayes, whose 17 years at the helm of the paper ends with today’s issue, is pictured this week surrounded by some of the Post’s iconic front pages. Photo by: ROSS DUNKLEY

Friday, 31 July 2009
By ROBERT CARMICHAEL
The Phnom Penh Post

SEVENTEEN years after he and Kathleen put out the first issue of the Phnom Penh Post, founding Publisher and Editor Michael Hayes is leaving. It genuinely marks the end of an era.

I met Michael in 2001, when he offered me the managing editorship of the Post. He needed a replacement in a hurry since his first choice, based in New Zealand, had stopped returning his calls.

The Post had a great team then, and it does today. It is fair to say the paper has been lucky with the quality of its staff over 17 years.

That was seldom the case with money, leading to Michael being fondly nicknamed "Oknha Coupon" in reference to the necessity of handing out restaurant vouchers to top up the wages of his dedicated staff.

Over almost two decades the Post covered iconic moments in Cambodia's history. It survived tough times, some money-related, others political. There is no doubt his drive, enthusiasm and integrity steered it through the worst.

Many local and foreign journalists who started on the Post have gone on to greater things. Their successes are testament to the achievement that is the Post. Much of that credit belongs to Michael.

He leaves the Post in great shape as it continues along the rocky road that is Cambodia's media environment.

Robert Carmichael was managing editor of the Post from 2001 to 2003.

Related Story

NYC Bar presses PM on reports of lawyer intimidation, threats

Thursday, 30 July 2009
By Georgia Wilkins
The Phnom Penh Post

Hun Sen told to investigate reports that lawyers are being threatened with criminal charges.

THE New York City Bar Association has urged Prime Minister Hun Sen to investigate reports that lawyers defending opposition members and calling for an investigation into corruption allegations at the Khmer Rouge tribunal are being intimidated and harassed.

In a letter addressed to the prime minister dated July 17 and obtained by the Post Wednesday, the association outlined concerns that attorneys working in Cambodia, including three international lawyers, were being threatened with criminal charges.

"The Association is alarmed by recent criminal charges levied against attorneys in Cambodia following their public commitments to provide legal services to certain individuals," said Patricia Hynes, the association's president.

"We urge you to take appropriate action to guarantee that those lawyers ... are not subjected to threats, intimidation, prosecution or disciplinary action for practicing their profession," she added.

The association said the lawyers facing particular harassment included those "offering legal assistance to opposition members of the National Assembly and to indigenous communities disputing land claims", as well as international lawyers representing former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea at the Khmer Rouge tribunal who have repeatedly called for an investigation into kickback allegations at the court.

"We ... request that you immediately investigate these reports of intimidation and harassment to ensure that all lawyers are free to represent their clients," Hynes said.

Defence team 'troubled'

Andrew Ianuzzi, a legal consultant for the Nuon Chea defence team, said he hoped the prime minister responds to the letter, which he said addressed serious claims.

"Like the New York City Bar, we're troubled by the recent increase in the use of the Cambodian judiciary ... to silence legitimate criticism of the current government," he said.

Council of Ministers spokesperson Phay Siphan said Wednesday that he had not seen the letter and was unable to comment.

Tuol Sleng footage will not be shown at trial: judges

A still from a film of S-21 that judges said Wednesday could not be used as evidence. Photo by: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DOCUMENTATION CENTRE OF CAMBODIA

Thursday, 30 July 2009
By Georgia Wilkins and Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

Controversial footage filmed by Vietnamese troops after the Khmer Rouge fled the capital will not be permitted as evidence.

JUDGES at Cambodia's war crimes court on Wednesday decided against allowing the use of footage of Tuol Sleng prison shot by Vietnamese troops in 1979 as evidence in the trial of the prison's former chief, Kaing Guek Eav, citing time restrictions and concerns that the footage would be repetitive.

Defence lawyers for the accused had previously argued that the authenticity of the footage, which was donated in December by the Vietnamese government, has never been verified.

Prosecutors have said they believe the footage, which shows infants and children in poor health being removed from the compound, is necessary to demonstrate inhumane conditions at Tuol Sleng.

"It is undisputed that the conditions of detention at S-21 were inhumane," judges said in a filing Wednesday.

"The footage is likely to have little impact upon the trial and is in substance repetitious as a means of establishing these facts."

Judges added that "a number of supplementary investigations" would be necessary to prove the credibility of the footage.

"The chamber considers that verification of the reliability of this footage, a precondition for its use as evidence, is unlikely to be obtained within a reasonable time," they said.

Footage 'superfluous'

The footage is purported to show the prison immediately after it was discovered by Vietnamese forces.

Prosecutors had hoped to use the footage to prove that children had been detained with their parents, but judges said the testimony of a man who claimed to be one of the boys in the footage provided sufficient evidence of this.

"In view of the testimony of [child survivor Norng Chan Phal] and other witnesses ... this footage is superfluous to establish that children of arrested cadre were also brought to S-21," the judges said.

Defence lawyer Kar Savuth told the Post Wednesday that he believed the court had made the right decision.

"The reason I do not want to use this video [in the trial] is because most parts of it have been invented," he said. "The trial should be based on real facts, not invented ones."

Spencer Cryder, a legal associate for the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which first obtained the archival footage, said Wednesday that the decision reflected the general tendency of tribunal judges to resist supplementary investigations.

"The trial chamber's decision on the S-21 video did not address the root issue - the investigative inertia that exists during the [tribunal's] trial phase," he said.

"Only the trial chamber can order additional investigations during the trial phase. However, the chamber did not order such an investigation."

Govt campaign turns back the clock on press freedom

A man walks past newsstands on Street 51 in Phnom Penh. Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Thursday, 30 July 2009
By Sebastian Strangio and Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post

PRESS freedom is in its worst state in Cambodia since the early 1990s, say reporters for the country's independent and opposition newspapers, who argue that the current crackdown against government critics risks bringing the country full circle to the repressive environment of the 1980s.

Despite having a press that is freer than Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, journalists say the current campaign against "disinformation" - which has already forced the closure of one paper and imprisoned the publisher of another - could set the country back 15 years.

"I used to write 100 percent of the truth, but now I've reduced it to about 30 percent," said Tes Vibol, the publisher of Khmer Student News, an independent and self-funded weekly newspaper.

Tes Vibol said he had been sued before, but that the courts had always cleared him of the charges because his stories were fair and objective.

"Those charges were all dropped because I had documentary evidence," he said.

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New figures show large decline in tourism arrivals to Cambodia

Thursday, 30 July 2009
By Chun Sophal and Ith Sothoeuth
The Phnom Penh Post

Ministry releases full data for arrivals for first six months with Vietnam the only country to see increased tourist numbers among top six nations

THE Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday released its full figures for the first six months of the year, showing an overall decline in the numbers of foreign visitors.

The number of South Koreans visiting Cambodia dropped more than any other, down one-third from 160,400 to 106,300.

The numbers of tourists from other key visitor nations such as Japan, China, Thailand and Australia were also down between one-quarter and 10 percent.

On Tuesday the ministry released partial figures showing that Vietnamese nationals now comprise the largest number of foreign tourists, with numbers up 40 percent to 147,700, while also issuing data for tourist arrivals from South Korea, previously the No 1 visitor to the Kingdom.

The ministry warned that the effect on employees in the industry was pronounced. In a survey of 72 hotels the ministry determined that between a third and a half of jobs had been cut at 12 hotels, and that working hours had been reduced by the same proportion at the remaining 60 hotels.

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We expect that the number of tourists ... will leap later this year.

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Around 300,000 Cambodians work in the tourism sector, with "between 50 and 60 percent" employed at hotels, guesthouses and other tourist accommodation.

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Trade drops 30pc with Thailand and Vietnam

Traders at the border with Thailand bring goods back into Cambodia at Poipet. Trade with Thailand fell 31 percent in the first five months compared with the same period last year. Photo by: Holly Pham

TRADE In free fall

• 31pc decline in trade with Thailand in first five months
• $633.17m in trade recorded
• 30pc drop in trade with Vietnam during same period
• $520m in trade up to May

Source: Vietnam and Thai embassies

Thursday, 30 July 2009
By May Kunmakara and Nguon Sovan
The Phnom Penh Post

Trade with bordering nations falls sharply in first five months compared with last year, say embassies in Phnom Penh

TRADE volumes between Cambodia and each of its larger neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, dropped sharply in the first five months of 2009 compared with the same period last year.

Figures obtained by the Post from the trade desks of the Thai and Vietnamese embassies in Phnom Penh show overall trade was down around 30 percent in each case. Cambodia runs a trade deficit with both nations.

"In the first five months of 2009, Cambodia-Thailand trade volume was worth US$633.17 million - if compared to the same period of last year of $922.89 million, it dropped 31 percent," the Thai customs report stated.

Trade between the two nations consists almost entirely of imports by Cambodia, with just $18.9 million of the total this year comprised of exports. Those exports were primarily agricultural products, secondhand garments, recyclable metals and fish.

Cambodia's imports of $614 million from Thailand were petrol, consumer products, building materials and cosmetics.

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Stock exchange needs $9m in IT equipment

Thursday, 30 July 2009
By Soeun Say
The Phnom Penh Post

KRX says that necessary computer software is being developed now in South Korea

CAMBODIA'S forthcoming stock exchange will require at least US$9 million in computer equipment, according to estimates by the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX), the body that will operate the Kingdom's new bourse.

Hong Sok Hour, general director of the CSX, told the Post Wednesday that the Korean side of the joint venture would pay for the necessary IT equipment.

"So far we have not yet finalised the total official cost, but we have estimated at least $9 million," he said, adding that it was still also unclear from which company the equipment would be sourced.

Korea Exchange (KRX) will hold a 45 percent stake in the Cambodian stock exchange with the Ministry of Economy and Finance taking the remaining 55 percent.

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"If we don't have this, no one will trust the stock market in Cambodia."

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Inpyo Lee, project manager of KRX, said Wednesday that the "software [was being] developed by [South] Korea right now", without elaborating further as information on the project "is confidential".

IT infrastructure is a vital component in the development of the exchange, he added.

"We must have a strong information securities network system," said Phu Leewood, secretary general of the National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NIDA). "If we don't have this, no one will trust the stock market in Cambodia."

NIDA has already dedicated a team to work on this system as a support structure ahead of the launch of the exchange.

"We have cooperated with the Japanese government and [South] Korean government to prepare IT infrastructure for the forthcoming stock exchange," he said, adding that NIDA would start a training course on the new IT equipment.

In February, the KRX with the government launched a mock trading computer system to help train Cambodia's future traders in placing bid and offer orders on the exchange. The $10,000 system was specially designed for Cambodia.

Hong Sok Hour said Wednesday that despite the February launch of the system, training using the program had only started a month ago.

Cambodia approves sub-decree of co-ownership regulations

PHNOM PENH, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Council of Ministers on Friday approved a sub-decree of new co-ownership regulations, allowing legal ownership of individual apartments or condominium ownership, which paves the way for a law allowing foreign ownership of some property.

The new co-ownership regulations will make it possible to own units within a larger building without having title to the land it's on, according to the press release from the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers which was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"Its objects will guarantee to protect rights of legal holders in apartments or condominiums for co-ownership," it said, adding that it will facilitate to management work of co-ownership of apartments and co-owners who live in the apartments or condominiums.

Moreover, the new regulations will also facilitate co-ownership for sale, exchange, donation, in-heritage, permanent rent, and collateralizing of the private parts as personal ownership. The sub-decree, with seven charters and 27 articles, has large coverage for exercising all kinds of the apartments and condominiums across the country.

"This sub-decree will be applied in the country soon and local people who bought the houses in the apartments, condominiums and skyscrapers blocks will know about the rights and ownership," Nun Pheany, spokeswoman for Ministry of Land Management, Urban planning and Construction, told Xinhua.

The foreigners have not had rights to own Cambodian land or housing so far. They could rent for doing their business or staying only, she stressed.

"In the near future, we will have a law on the foreign ownership of Cambodian land and housing. My ministry and Ministry of Justice are discussing to compose that draft law in accordance with our constitution," she said.

"By that law, the foreigners, perhaps, could own above the first floor for apartments or condominiums, even though, we need to discuss more details," she said.

However, Nun Pheany said the foreigners would not be allowed to buy the land near borders with neighboring countries because it could affect national sovereignty and which is also prohibited by the law.

She said that when foreign title law is to be approved, it will help increase the foreign investment and contribute to economic growth in the country.

Editor: Li Shuncheng

Cambodian authorities continue evictions despite numerous condemnations

Phnom Penh (Cambodia). 04/10 2008: Borei Keila families with HIV/AIDS, who were to receive social housing, had lived under an eviction threat for two years ©John Vink/ Magnum

31-07-2009
By Laurent Le Gouanvic
Ka-set

Despite repeated condemnations from civil society and international community, the list of victims of forced evictions in Cambodia has kept growing. In July, several removal operations took place in Phnom Penh. After the residents of Dey Krohom in central Phnom Penh, whose houses were smashed to dust in January, their neighbours in Group 78, located in the Tonle Bassac area, were forced to leave their homes on July 17th. Similarly, several dozen families in Borei Keila, the majority of which carry HIV/AIDS and require healthcare, were relocated in successive rounds to the outskirts of the Cambodian capital in unsatisfying conditions, according to local NGOs. Again, protests multiplied, whether from the World Bank, donor countries, international media or online networks, while authorities continue to turn a deaf ear.

Déjà-vu

A video, shot in the morning of July 17th in the area known as Group 78 in Phnom Penh, and broadcast on the website of Cambodian human rights organisation Licadho, leaves an impression of déjà-vu: the same dusk bluish light, the same noises of tearing down corrugated iron, the same images of dozens of young workers in red shirts and equipped with pickaxes and bars as during the eviction on January 24th of Dey Krohom residents. But this time, no cries or violence: most of the approximately sixty families of Group 78 resigned themselves to leave and dismantled themselves their wood and metal houses, before security forces and hired workers intervened. The previous day, according to Licadho, they had ended up accepting a compensation of 8,000 dollars, supposed to allow them to find new housing. In the morning of July 17th 2009, human rights activists who were present reported that only a few resisting families had not taken down their houses. After a few hours of negotiations, they yielded as well, for an ultimate compensation of 20,000 dollars, Licadho specified, except for one family who allegedly refused to leave until the end and therefore saw their house be torn down against their will.

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Bright prospects for VN’s exports to Cambodia

Friday, Jul 31,2009

SGGP

Made-in-Vietnam goods are taking the lead among Cambodia’s imports and Ho Chi Minh-based exporters have posted a robust year-on-year growth of 44 percent in January to July, pointing to a bright future for Vietnam’s exports to the market, the city People’s Committee deputy chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Hong, said in a recent meeting.

Workers at a Vinamit’s factory that produces dried jackfruit, one of the company’s exports to Cambodia. In the past several months, Vietnam’s exports have been at the top of Cambodia imports. (Photo: SGGP)

Three years ago, Vietnamese goods ranked third in Cambodia, after Thailand and China, but the situation has changed, with Vietnam surpassing both countries.

This is partly due to concerns revolving around China’s food hygiene and safety, while Thailand and Cambodia have had some diplomatic issues.

Of Vietnamese exports to Cambodia, many registered sharp growth, like instant noodles – which increased as much as 66 percent – in the past few months.

Cheap prices is the leading competitive factor in Cambodia, as local people’s income remains low, so goods of reasonable quality with low prices will obtain a firm foothold in the market, the HCMC Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) said.

The range of Vietnamese exports to Cambodia has continuously expanded, including seafood, fruit and vegetables, instant noodles, iron and steel, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, plastics, garment and textiles, cosmetics, cleansers, fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural machinery and equipment, the center said.

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Platform 2010: A Voice Against Violence

July 31, 2009
By Matt Reichel
OpEdNews

I intentionally started my campaign for the U.S. House in Illinois's 5th District early so as to address some of the deficiencies from my effort earlier this year. My friends, volunteers, supporters and dissuaders have given sharp praise in some domains and offered prescient criticism in others. For both, I am deeply grateful.

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Among the praise I have received are compliments on my ability to articulate my message elegantly and understandably, to not waver or panic in front of a microphone or television camera, and to stand firm on the issues that mean most to me. I have also been told that I have broad appeal for someone who is unequivocally to the left, as is attested by my concerted effort to reach out to anti-war conservatives, for example.

The criticisms I have received are that often I can come off as too negative or angry. In reviewing video and images from the campaign earlier this year, I must admit that I have given off a negative aura on several occasions. I whole-heartedly agree that it is important that I don't allow my valid criticisms of mainstream politics affect my personal demeanor: that I don't let my anger at greedy bankers affect my overall composure.

Another criticism is that I get too caught up in the individual issues and fail to package them into a coherent vision for the future of this country. In this realm, I must admit that I too often assume that people know where I am coming from. Many activists in my midst have read many of the same authors and tend to get their news from similar sources and have generally supported similar candidates and political movements. However, in running for Congress, it is necessary that I reach outside of my base and appeal to the vast majority of Americans who are not political junkies.

Rather than merely trash mainstream politicians for being shills for banks, insurance companies and military contractors, I should explain precisely what sets me apart, and what values I will espouse as an elected member of Congress:

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Sex slave tells story to stop trafficking

Woman on campaign to end global child prostitution

31st July 2009
By TAMARA CHERRY
SUN MEDIA

TORONTO -- In the years after Somaly Mam was stolen from the streets of Cambodia and sold into the sex trade, she ran to several people for help but got none.

More than two decades later, she hopes that by sharing her tale around the globe, others will be moved to give the countless faces of the flesh trade the help she so desperately needed.

Mam doesn't know her birth name -- she was orphaned as a young child.

She doesn't know her exact age, but figures she is about 39 and was "12 or 13" when she was sold by a man posing as her grandfather into years of slavery.

During an interview yesterday in front of Metropolitan United Church, where she, The Body Shop and Beyond Borders launched a campaign to stop sex trafficking, Mam said she didn't know what a brothel was either -- before she was forced to work in one.

Mam, who has rescued thousands of children from the sex trade in Cambodia, is travelling the globe with The Body Shop, which promises to donate a chunk of money from every bottle of Soft Hands Kind Heart cream sold in Canada to the Somaly Mam Foundation and Beyond Borders, the Canadian affiliate of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes).

"We are also human beings, even if we are victims," Mam said. "Who wants to be a victim? Who wants to be sold in a brothel? Who wants to have all the clients rape you every night? Who wants it? No one wants it."

Beyond Borders president Rosalind Prober said she hopes the Stop Sex Trafficking campaign will spread "the message of hope" for the countless victims within our borders.

"We have always said that we were a country of freedom, a country of growth and prosperity, but you can't have that when our most vulnerable group, our children, are being exploited and that's being accepted," said Winnipeg MP Joy Smith, who is pushing the federal government to create a national strategy to combat human trafficking and pass a bill that will mean minimum five-year sentences for child traffickers.

"We don't want to launch a campaign that upsets people so much that they just switch it off," The Body Shop spokesman Shelley Simmons said. "We want them to know that with Somaly's organization and ECPAT, there are solutions."

China deserves status of market economy

Beijing, July 31-- In the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue that ended on Tuesday, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan urged the US, among other things, to recognize China's status as a market economy.

The status of market economy is important as it relates to the anti-dumping cases in international trade disputes. When China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, it made a great concession in the form of agreement to treatment as a non-market economy (NME) for up to 15 years.

A country that is subject to anti-dumping investigations is classified as either a "market economy" (ME) or a "non-market economy" (NME). Russia was recognized as a ME in 2002. Currently China is in the NME league together with Albania, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam.

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Then and Now: ស្ពាន​រតនៈ​សម្បត្តិ

July 28, 2009
http://sopheak.wordpress.com/

Treasur Bridge or Dragon Bridge 1900 and 2009. Photo by Sopheak.

Cambodia will pay 1.5% annual interest to Thailand

THAI-CAMBODIAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES

Pattaya, July 30 (PDN): as part of the resurrected Silk Route Project, key countries en route are pledged to help their less privileged neighbours develop their road and rail networks. Cambodia currently qualifies and is to be recipient of a Bt1.4 billion soft loan from the Thai government to improve Highway Route 68 from Kralanh to Samrong and O-Smach.

This highway is located the subsection designated GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion), connecting SW Cambodia to Eastern Thailand. On July 28, the Thai Cabinet approved the Bt1.4 billion loan, which was originally proposed in 2008, in the form of a ‘soft loan’ whereby Cambodia will pay 1.5% annual interest, with a grace period for the first 10 years, and will begin repaying the principal after 2019. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva is also interested in strengthening and expanding existing bilateral co-operation, especially by opening more border crossings with Cambodia to boost cross border trade.

Previously, the Thai government provided another soft loan of Bt1088 for the improvement of Route 48, the 150 km-long highway betwen Koh Kong- and Sre Ambel, including four bridges en route. Route 48 is also a key tourist route, the improvement of which will boost trade, speed intercommunication and strengthen social networking ties.

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Some customers are shipping freight from Cambodia to Thailand by road

Published: 31/07/2009
Writer: NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG
Bangkok Post

Bureaucratic revamp to cut logistics costs
Customs to become 'business facilitator'

Major breakthroughs in the restructuring of the State Railway of Thailand and a revamp of the Customs Department are expected by next month, as parts of a government move to cut the cost of logistics in Thailand.

The Customs Department restructure will transform the agency from a revenue collector into a facilitator for business operators, Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit said yesterday.

"The Customs Department has performed a lot better, but it still has room for further upgrading to help improve the investment climate and lift the kingdom's competitiveness," Mr Pradit said, speaking at conference on logistics in the Asean region.

"Within next month, or by early September at the latest, there will be a major change at the Customs Department to make this Finance Ministry unit a facilitator and service provider for exporters and importers."

The minister did not provide details of the restructuring but said the idea was catalysed by talks with logistics and tourism organisations, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and some foreign chambers of commerce.

"Logistics costs in Thailand are very high, accounting for 19% of gross domestic product at present. Besides, we need to prepare for the implementation of the Asean Free Trade Area and more free trade areas in the near future," said Mr Pradit.

The long-delayed restructuring of the loss-ridden SRT must be pushed ahead to improve the state enterprise's efficiency, he said.

"The proposed changes to the SRT are a restructuring, not the privatisation that the union is afraid of," Mr Pradit said.

"The government must be brave enough to make the decision and SRT management has to explain this issue clearly to its employees."

Alan Miu, country manager of TNT Express Worldwide (Thailand), agreed that improving Thailand's customs procedures and integrating them with other Southeast Asean nations are seen as crucial developments by international logistics providers.

"A single agency in charge of every customs procedure, like the one in Singapore, has not yet been established here in Thailand," Mr Miu said.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, TNT has a 7,500-kilometre Asian road-freight network covering Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

It takes four to five days to ship products from southern China to Thailand by road. Road freight charges are 20% lower than by air, he said.

Some customers are shipping freight from Cambodia to Thailand by road, to make use of the cheaper and more efficient air freight services at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"We have seen demand slowly coming up from customers to change from air to road transport this year as they have become more cost conscious during economic hardships," Mr Miu said.

Freight volumes shipped on TNT's Asia road network rose by 30% year-to-date compared with the same period last year. Most goods were electronic and automotive products, as well as semi-finished machinery.

Political Sacravatoons: " Sath Yuki-Yukear Forever "

Cartoon by Sacrava (On the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com/)

This is a Khmer folk tales in the Projum Roeung Preng Khmer. There were 2 friends lost in the jungle, were very frightened to sleep next to each other and fighting to get place in the middle. This is impossible because only 2 persons there so they came up with an idea which is to sleep head to head as they can touch and comfort each other. They finally fall to sleep after using the blanket to cover themselves from top to toes. It was the Rabbit who found them in perfect time whilst trying to deal with many animals that want to challenge him over his scam and conned acts. The animals cannot identify the 2 sleeping men who snored very loud. The rabbit declared this is the YUKI YUKEAR, a special animal sent by haven to protect the jungle and look after all animals that live there. All animals then ran away from the men failed to check the real fact that they are just the 2 scary clowns and allowed the rabbit to cheat them again and again.

The rabbit character in the folk tales is usually a very selfish and opportunist being. He doesn't care about the consequences caused by his scams...and many think that he is cleaver but only to serve his own benefit.

Hanoi is the rabbit in Cambodia.

Japan donates Cambodia more than $33 million

The signing ceremony: Mr. Hor Namhong (R) and the Japanese ambassador (L).

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

Japan has provided a $33 million financial grant to Cambodia for road and infrastructure developments.

The grant agreement was signed by Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Japanese Ambassador Mr. Katsuhiro Sinohara on Thursday morning 30th.

The grant was for the developments of three projects. One is the upgrade of National Highway One. Two is for the construction of Centre for Marine Agri-Business and, three, is for the development of a clean water system in Memot District im Kampong Cham province.

The signing ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

UK Embassy Upset by Financial Times Report

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
30 July 2009

Cambodia’s British Embassy sent a letter to the Financial Times Wednesday, criticizing the daily paper’s reporting earlier this week on a government crackdown on dissenters.

In an article headlined “Cambodia Cracks Down on Dissenters,” the London paper reported on an opposition newspaper’s closing, following the threat of a government lawsuit, as well as defamation cases against two opposition lawmakers.

“I think the internal affairs of a sovereign country cannot cause concern to other countries in the region,” British Ambassador Hor Nambora (picture) wrote the editors.

Regarding a legal suit brought by Prime Minister Hun Sen against opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua, Hor Nambora said the prime minister was within his legal right to “defend and protect his reputation.”

Koy Kuong, a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Wednesday he considered the publication of the Financial Times story an attack on “the honor of Cambodia.”

However, Yim Sovann, Sam Rainsy Party spokesman, said Wednesday the letter and statements were more evidence the ruling party Cambodian People’s Party never admitted its faults.

“I call on the government to recognize the truth and improve the situation of the country, to avoid the condemnation of international and Cambodian people,” he said.

Response to The The Financial Times July 27, 2009

Mr. Barber
Number One Southwark Bridge
London SE1 9HL
GREAT BRITAIN

Dear Mr. Barber,

Re: “Cambodia cracks down on dissenters” written by Mr. Tim Johnston

I was disappointed by your coverage “Cambodia cracks down on dissenters” which appeared on 26 July‘s issue of the Financial Times and, it is a very serious damaging report which I totally refute. Also, I do not recognise your correspondent’s allegation that a domestic issue of a sovereign country could cause any concern in the region.

On the contrary, Cambodia is a democracy which is fully committed to creating a modern and responsible civil society and those plays an increasingly prominent role in the national and international affairs and, recently, as you are well aware; the United States announced that it would give $161 million in aid this year to lower Mekong countries, including Cambodia.

Mr. Tim Johnston would have been well aware that under Cambodia's 1992 penal code, it is a criminal offence to spread disinformation and publish allegations which are both libellous and defamatory. By filing a formal complaint against Mrs. Mu Sochua, the Prime Minister has only exercised his legal rights in seeking to defend and protect his reputation. This is really no different from the situation in the UK where individuals have the right to sue for slander or libel if they feel their reputation has been impugned or besmirched.

Sadly to say that the quality of the professional standards and matured opposition parties in Cambodia is not always as high as it might be. I also wish to make clear that the Royal Government of Cambodia is entirely separate from the country's judicial system and is not involved in its decisions in any way.

Your correspondent seems unable to distinguish between government's policies and voluntary activity conducted by some people affected by the syndrome of “Martyrdom” certainly under political pressure and the principled conduct of core policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in a manner that reflects the values of the growing society in its attention devoted to the Cambodian people and the social and economic environment.

Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen stated that political stability and social security appeared to be the main factors of growing progress in the social and economic development in Cambodia. The people of Cambodia now benefit from an ever-improving legal framework; and you should be aware that Prime Minister Hun Sen is fully in favour of a free press and freedom of expression for all in Cambodia, including newspapers which represent rival parties and interest groups.

Democracy and human respect relies on education and the country's own culture and tradition, on generally well understood and supported by the people of Cambodia.

Certainly, there is a lot more discussion to come and I would welcome any occasion to challenge your correspondent on this issue. I appreciate if the content of this letter could be broadly circulated.

With kind regards



Hor Nambora
Ambassador of Cambodia to the Court of St James’s
London, United Kingdom

Minister Prepares for Border Discussions

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
30 July 2009

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Thursday urged border committees from Cambodia and Thailand to find a resolution to the ongoing border dispute between the two neighbors.

Hor Namhong made his remarks ahead of a joint border committee meeting scheduled in Bangkok next week, where he will meet with his counterpart Kasit Phiromya.

Hor Namhong told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he would push for a resolution to the crisis, which has claimed seven lives in military skirmishes over the past year, and would seek to have the disputed border demarcated.

Thai soldiers entered a disputed area in July 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, which had just been listed as a World Heritage site. The incursion sparked a massive build-up of troops on both sides, and several rounds of talks have failed to resolved the problem.

Var Kimhong, head of Cambodia’s border committee, said the Cambodia side will request from Thailand “a clear date” for the joint committees to find suitable places for border demarcation.

Cambodia and Thailand have approved more than 30 out of 73 sites where markers need to be placed along 805 kilometers of border, he said.

Cambodian FM to visit Thailand in early August on border issues

PHNOM PENH, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand will have a meeting of multi-committee in Bangkok to push the measurement for border demarcation, a senior official said on Thursday.

"I will go to Thailand for the meeting of multi-committee on August 3 and 4," Hor Namhong (picture), deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation told reporters after the signing ceremony of receiving over 33 million U.S. dollars grant aid from Japanese government at his ministry.

"I will require Thai side to continue discussion on the border issues and the Border Committee from both countries will meet soon to discuss on the measurement of the border to plant border posts," he added.

"The situation at areas near Preah Vihear temple is calm now, and Thai troops are deployed on there soil," Hor Namhong said. "There are no tension at the border, not like the media reported," he stressed.

At the same time, Hor also thanked Thai government cabinet for its approving on Tuesday to provide 41.2 million U.S. dollars for road improvement projects in Cambodia. The fund will be used to build Road 68 near border with Thailand, which will help facilitate the trade and tourism between the two countries, he noted.

Moreover, Cambodia and Thailand will open more border gates to push and facilitate the trade and tourism, he said.

Cambodia and Thailand share over 800 km-long borders. The troops from both sides have some confrontation since July 15, 2008, mainly near 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

Editor: Anne Tang

Foreign Ministry: Cambodia's oil concession doesn't affect Thailand

BANGKOK, July 30 (TNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Cambodia's concession granted to a French company to explore petroleum in the disputed maritime area will not affect Thailand's rights over the areas.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Vimol Kidchob said the ministry is now verifying information after Cambodia reportedly granted oil exploration rights to the French company Total in the overlapping zone in the Gulf of Thailand.

"Any concession granted by the Cambodian government would not affect the rights of Thailand," Mr Vimol said, "as both countries agreed in 1975 that any concessionaire would not be allowed to explore or develop petroleum resources in the disputed maritime zone unless Thailand and Cambodia successfully resolve the dispute."

Director-General Kurujit Nakhonthap of Thailand's Department of Mineral Fuels said the two governments must negotiate on how to deal with the 26,000 square kilometre overlapping maritime area.

Mr Kurujit said the Thai government once granted exploration licences to Chevron and PTT Exploration and Production in 1971, but four years later the licences were suspended as the dispute has yet been settled.

Regarding the concession given to Total, Mr Kurujit said, the rights to explore petroluem will be possible only when the two countries reach an agreement over the area first.

Meanwhile, the People's Assembly of Thailand (PAT), led by activists Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Admiral Bannavit Kengrian went to Government House to submit a letter urging Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to preserve Thailand's rights over the overlapping maritime area and protect Thailand's sovereignty.

They cited the World Bank and International Monetary Fund studies which earlier estimated that there are about 2 billion barrels of oil reserves, and more than 10 trillion cubic metres of natural gas reserves in the disputed area.

"If the government remains indifference, we will file a complaint to the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission charging that government for negligence of duty for its failure to protect national sovereignty," Adm Bannavit said.

He said his group urged the Thai government to protest to Cambodia to make it clear that Thailand opposes its neighbour's move. (TNA)

Controversial video moved from Siamese PM's website

Original posted by Sokpheak's Blog at: http://sopheak.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/
Click here to watch video in detail...

New York Bar Asks Hun Sen To Ensure Lawyer’s Freedom

July 30, 2009
By Douglas Gillison And Yun Samean
The Cambodia Daily

Adding to a groundswell of concern about the freedom to practice law in Cambodia, the New York City Bar Association called on Prime Minister Hun Sen this month to guarantee the right of lawyers to defend clients of their choosing.

“The association is deeply concerned that attorneys in Cambodia are being subjected to threats and intimidation, tacitly condoned by the government, for their work to ensure that the rule of law is applied fairly and evenly throughout the country,” Bar President Patricia Hynes, a former federal prosecutor, wrote in a July 17 letter.

Recent legal and administrative actions taken against lawyers for government detractors have drawn heated criticism in the international press this month and a caution from Leandro Despouy, UN envoy for judicial independence.

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada in June also wrote to Mr Hun Sen expressing concern after the government brought criminal defamation charges against Kong Sam Onn, who subsequently resigned as attorney for SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua in a defamation lawsuit against the premier.

In her letter, Ms Hynes said the New York Bar, which maintains a committee on international human rights, was calling for an immediate investigation into the reported political intimidation of lawyers in Cambodia.

“In particular, we urge you to take appropriate action to guarantee that those lawyers offering legal assistance to position members of the National Assembly and to indigenous communities disputing land claims, as well as those lawyers calling for an investigation of corruption allegations in the ECCC are not subjected to threats, intimidation, prosecution or disciplinary action for practicing their profession,”said the letter.

The letter was also sent to both US senators form New York, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillinbrand, the latter of whom sits on Senate subcommittees for foreign aid, East Asian affairs and human rights.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith could not be reached on Wednesday. However Chiv Songhak, president of the Cambodian Bar Association, said Cambodian lawyers suffer no undue pressure.

“We don’t belong to any political party. We don’t express political or religious views,” he said. “The government doesn’t influence any lawyers.”

New York is far from Phnom Penh, he added. “They don’t know about Cambodia”

* Prak Siem--"Siamese Money"--Khmer Poem by Son Samrach

Please click on Khmer poem to zoom in. Khmer Poem by Son Samrach (On the web at http://kamnapkumnou.blogspot.com/)

Sondhi: Says PM [Abhisit Vejjajiva] is ‘acting like a child’

Sondhi calls on PM to sack Patcharawat
PM accused of being 'weak and immature'

Writer: MANOP THIP-OSOD AND THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Published: 30/07/2009
Bangkok Post

Sondhi Limthongkul has taken Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to task for failing to dismiss national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon.

Mr Sondhi's People's Alliance for Democracy blames Pol Gen Patcharawat for the slow progress in the investigation into the attempted murder of Mr Sondhi on April 17.

Mr Sondhi yesterday told reporters that if the police could not arrest a suspect in the attempted murder of a person of his profile, the nation might be in trouble.

He said Mr Abhisit and other people in important positions could also become assassination targets.

The PAD leader criticised Mr Abhisit for lacking the maturity of a leader by failing to remove Pol Gen Patcharawat as police chief.

If the prime minister decided not to transfer Pol Gen Patcharawat to strike a compromise with the military and political groups, the decision would probably backfire on his future, Mr Sondhi said.

"Mr Abhisit acts like a child who has no leadership at all," he said.

Mr Sondhi also questioned why Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who supervises national security, did not support the removal of Pol Gen Patcharawat.

He said Mr Suthep knew well that police had remained idle while red shirt demonstrators stormed the venue of the the Asean summit in Pattaya in April, forcing its postponement.

Mr Sondhi said the team assigned to kill him in Bangkok consisted of 13 officers from the special operations unit Task Force 90 in Lop Buri and one policeman.

The murder attempt was a collaboration between the military and the Department of Special Investigation, he alleged.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said his group feared the Sondhi case was being deliberately delayed while scapegoats were being sought.

The alliance believed the investigation was being manipulated.

He said the PAD had hoped Mr Abhisit would help remove obstacles in the investigation.

But it could well turn out Mr Suthep himself was the obstacle, he said.

PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan yesterday also urged the government to put up a fight against Cambodia's attempt to claim petroleum deposits worth 4trillion baht in the Gulf of Thailand near Koh Kud in Trat province.

He said Cambodia based its claim on a map attached to a joint communique signed by convicted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with Phnom Penh on June 19, 2001.

The PAD found that instead of the entire deposits belonging to Thailand, they have now become part of an overlapping territory which Cambodia could claim.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday defended Mr Suthep's role in the Thai-Cambodian Joint Technical Committee on Maritime.

He said Mr Suthep had what it takes to defend the national interest.

Journalist groups appealed for financial donations to help jailed editor

Mr. Hang Chakra talked to the press before his arrest.

Source: Khmer Sthapana newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

The Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM) and the Association of Democratic Khmer Journalists are launching an appeal for the support of the jailed editor, Mr. Hang Chakra, who was sentenced to jail term for publishing a series of articles about corruption by officials working under Deputy PM Sok An.

The groups were asking for financial, material and food supports for the jailed editor's family as well as to pay for the 9 million riels ($2,500) fines imposed by the court.

Mr. Sok Sovan, president of the Association of Democratic Khmer Journalists, said Mr. Hang Chakra fell sick sometimes while in jail and some of the donations will be used to purchase medicines for his illness. Parts of the donations will be used to pay the 9 million riles fines and to support his children who, without him, have no other sources of incomes to survive.

Mr. Sok Sovan said his association is making an effort to seek an intervention from the government for Mr. Hang Chakra's release.

However, Mr. Phay Siphan, spokesman for Deputy PM Sok An, the plaintiff against Mr. Hang Chakra, said the case has gone out of the plaintiff's hands. It now rests with the court, he said.

Mr. Hang Chakra had instructed his lawyer to lodge an appeal against his sentence, but few hope his appeal will be successful.

Donations can be made at CCIM Office at: No. 14A, Street 392, Boeng Keng Korng I, Khan Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh or call 090 580 130.