UN Prosecutor Says ‘Clouds’ Hang Over Tribunal

Andrew Cayley, the international prosecutor for the tribunal, who is currently in the US, spoke to VOA Khmer while giving a talk at Rutgers University, in New Jersey. (Photo: VOA Khmer)

Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

“Are they serious about justice, or are they simply going through the motions to have what appears to be an experience, and to spend $150 million, possibly $250 million, in contributions from the world in the pursuit of justice?”

The international prosecutor for the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal says all the cases before the court need to be properly considered to lift the “cloud” currently hanging over it.

The court is preparing for its biggest trial to date, for four jailed regime leaders, but it has faced a rash of criticism in recent months over the investigating judges’ handling of two more cases at the court.

The international investigating judge announced his resignation last month over repeated statements by top officials in opposition to cases 003 and 004, and two international judges issued a harsh criticism for the investigating office’s improper handling of court documents related to both cases.

“It is certainly a problem,” Cayley told VOA Khmer in an interview this week at New Jersey’s Rutgers University, where he was holding a talk. “I warned people a while back that if cases 003 and 004 were dealt in that way they were being dealt, we would end up in this situation with fairly critical judgments.“

Investigating judges now must defend their work, he said.

“That’s why the law has to be followed,” he said. “Because then you don’t have to end up constantly explaining why things are being done as they are. Then you don’t end up with people having to resign in the midst of investigations or cases.”

Cases 003 and 004 accuse five senior Khmer Rouge members of atrocity crimes, but their full prosecution would require more indictments, something Prime Minister Hun Sen has said would create instability in the country. Those statements and others, echoed by Cambodian judges, have led to wide criticism that the court is under political pressure to put the cases to an end.

Both cases “need to come to some kind of legitimate conclusion,” Cayley said. “There needs to be due process. The law needs to be followed. The rules need to be followed. Otherwise it’s going to create a huge mess in the court. And nobody wants that on the national side or on the international side.”

Case 002, which charges Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith with atrocity crimes, including genocide, will see its first substantial hearing later this month.

“The commencement of Case 2 is going to be an issue that keeps everybody very busy,” Cayley said. “It’s a case that needs to move forward. I hope that it will lift some of the clouds that are hanging over the court in respect to cases 003 and 004.”

Case 002 will be the most complicated to date for the court, which has only tried Kaing Kek Iev, better known as Duch, for his role as supervisor of Tuol Sleng prison.

Cayley said he believes the case against the four leaders is strong, “because of the size and scope of the crimes that were committed.”

“There is documentary evidence that links them with the crimes on the ground including publications of the Khmer Rouge, and including other documentary evidence,” he said.

“Ultimately, it’s for the judges to decide whether or not these three individuals are connected with the crimes,” he added. “They’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. The prosecution has what’s called the burden of proof. We have to proof these crimes and their connections to them beyond a reasonable doubt. But I have every confidence that we will prove our case at trial.”

Once that case begins, however, the tribunal will still be dealing with pressure to reclaim legitimacy in the eyes of a growing number of critics.

“I find it very disappointing, and I hope​​ that the people at the court are very committed to this, as are people in the government,” said Alex Hinton, an expert in genocide and human rights at Rutgers. “I hope people can come together and reach an understanding that things must proceed in accordance with international standards.”

Sophal Ear, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in the US, speaking personally, said, he had filed as a civil party complainant to seek “truth” and “retributive justice.”

Allegations of misconduct at the court affect its credibility, he said. “Are they serious about justice, or are they simply going through the motions to have what appears to be an experience, and to spend $150 million, possibly $250 million, in contributions from the world in the pursuit of justice?”

Sophal Ear said the court could regain confidence from people by moving forward on Cases 003 and 004.

“The actions of the Khmer Rouge tribunal ought to be based on a legal basis, and not on a political basis,” he said. “And right now it appears that things have proceeded on a political basis.”

Tribunal and government officials maintain that the court has not been under political pressure and is working to complete its work independently.

Sophal Ear spoke at Bard College in New York, where he was scheduled to give a presentation on the tribunal to students and professors.

Peter Maguire, a trustee at the college who organized the talk, said the UN must “finish what they’ve started.”

“I am shocked by how slow they’ve gone, especially when they know they have a limited time,” he said. “They know they have limited resources. They know they have limited political will. My feeling would be that they would be pushing as quick and as hard as possible to complete the trial of the senior leaders. And they haven’t.”

អ្នកសង្កេតការណ៍ ​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែ រក្រហម​មាន​មតិ​ផ្សេង​គ្នា​អំពី​មុខនាទី​ស ាលាក្តី – Observers have diverging opinions on the KRT’s role

លោក Peter Maguireដែល​ជា​​អ្នក​ឃ្លាំ​​​​​​​​​​​​មើល​ការ​កាត់ទោស​មេដឹកនាំ​ខ្មែរក្រហម ​នេះ ជា​ច្រើន​ឆ្នាំ​មក​ហើយ​នោះ​យល់​ថា​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​នេះ​មាន​តួនាទី​តែ​មួយ​ គត់។ (រូបថត៖ វីអូអេ ខ្មែរ)

ថ្ងៃអង្គារ, 01 ខែវិច្ឆិកា 2011
ដោយ ប៉ូច រាសី វីអូអេ ខ្មែរ | រដ្ឋ New Jersey

«មុខ​នាទី​របស់​ពួកគេ​គឺ​កាត់ទោស​ពួក​មេដឹកនាំ​ ខ្មែរ​ក្រហមជាន់​ខ្ពស់។ នាយក ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន​ បាន​បញ្ជាក់​យ៉ាង​ច្បាស់​ហើយ​ថា លោកមិន​ចង់ឲ្យ​មាន​ ការ​កាត់ទោស​ត​ទៅ​ទៀត​ទេ។ និង​គ្មាន​ករណី​០០៣ និង ០០៤ទេ»។

ខណៈ​ដែល​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរក្រហម​កំពុង​រៀបចំ​បើក​សវនាការ​លើ​អង្គ​សេចក្តី​ ដើម្បី​ជំនុំ​ជម្រះ​សំណុំ​រឿង​ ០០២ ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​នួន ជា ខៀវ សំផន អៀង សារី និង​អៀង ធីរិទ្ធ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២១​​ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា​ខាង​មុខ​នេះ អ្នក​សង្កេតការណ៏​សាលាក្តី​ខ្លះ​នៅ​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក​យល់​ថាសាលាក្តី​នេះ​គួរ​ តែបញ្ចប់​ត្រឹម​ករណី​០០២​ នេះ។ ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ទៀត​យល់​ថា​សាលា​ក្តីនេះ​គួរ​តែបន្ត​ការស៊ើប​អង្កេត​របស់ ​ខ្លួន​ក្នុង​ករណី០០៣ និង ០០៤ បើ​មិន​ដូច្នោះ​ទេ និង​មិន​មាន​យុត្តិធ៌ម​ពេញលេញ​ជូន​ជន​រងគ្រោះ​របប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​ទេ។​ អ្នកសង្កេត​ការ​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​នៅ​សរអា​មាន​មតិ​លាយឡំ​គ្នា​អំពី​មុខ​ នាទី​របស់​សាលាក្តី​នេះ។ អ្នក​ខ្លះថា​សាលាក្តីនេះ​គួរ​ផ្តោត​តែ​លើ​មេដឹកនាំ​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​៤​នាក់​តែ​ ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​បាន​ហើយ។​ចំណែក​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​ទៀត​ជជែក​ថា​តុលាការ​នេះ​គួរ​កាត់ទោស​ មនុស្ស​មួយ​ចំនួន​ទៀត។

ចំពោះ​លោក Peter Maguireដែល​ជា​​អ្នក​ឃ្លាំ​​​​​​​​​​​​មើល​ការ​កាត់ទោស​មេដឹកនាំ​ខ្មែរក្រហម ​នេះ ជា​ច្រើន​ឆ្នាំ​មក​ហើយ​នោះ​យល់​ថា​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​នេះ​មាន​តួនាទី​តែ​មួយ​ គត់។

«មុខ​នាទី​របស់​ពួកគេ​គឺ​កាត់ទោស​ពួក​មេដឹកនាំ​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហមជាន់​ខ្ពស់។ នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន​ បាន​បញ្ជាក់​យ៉ាង​ច្បាស់​ហើយ​ថា លោកមិន​ចង់ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​កាត់ទោស​ត​ទៅ​ទៀត​ទេ។ និង​គ្មាន​ករណី​០០៣ និង ០០៤ទេ។ ដូច្នេះ​យើង​ចាំ​សង្កេត​មើល​ថាតើ​ពួកគេ​អាច​បញ្ចប់​ករណី​០០២ មុន​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ស្លាប់​អស់​ឬ​ទេ។ បើសិន ​ជា​ពួកគេ​បរាជ័យ​មិន​អាច​បញ្ចប់​ករណី​០០២ មុន​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ស្លាប់​អស់​នោះ ការកាត់ទោស​ទាំង​អស់​នេះ និង​ជា​បរាជ័យ​មួយ​ទាំងស្រុង​ហើយ។»

ថ្លែង​នៅ​មុន​សន្និសិទ​ស្តីពី​ច្បាប់សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​អន្តរជាតិ​ នៅ​មហា​វិទ្យាល័យ​ Bard នៅ​រដ្ឋ New Yorkលោក Macguire និយាយ​ថា​ការ​បន្ថែម​ករណី០០៣​និង០០៤​ និង​ធ្វើឲ្យ​សាលាក្តី​ក្លាយ​ទៅជា​​សត្វដំរី​ដែល​មាន​មាឌ​ធំ ហើយ​បោះ​ជំហាន​យ៉ឺតៗ។

លោក Douglas Irvin ជា​និសិ្សត​ថ្នាក់​បណ្ឌិត​ផ្នែក​កិច្ចការ​ពិភពលោក នៅ​សាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ Rutgers នៅ​រដ្ឋ New Jersey​នៃសរអា និងជា​អ្នក​ស្រាវជ្រាវ​របស់​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​ឯកសារ​កម្ពុជា។ លោក​យល់ថា​ករណី​០០២ មាន​សារះ​សំខាន់​ជាងគេ ពីព្រោះ​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ទាំង​បួន គឺ នួនជា ខៀវ​សំផន អៀង​សារី និង អៀងធីរិទ្ធ ជា​មេដឹកនាំ​ជាន់ខ្ពស់ នៃ​របប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម។

«បើ​សិន​ជា​ធ្វើ​ទៅ​មាន​ជោគ​ជ័យ នៅ​ក្នុង​ទស្សនវិស័យ​របស់​អសប ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា​ជាការ​គ្រប់គ្រាន់​ហើយ។ ហើយ​ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា​ការបន្ត​ហួស​ពី០០២ មិន​សំខាន់​ដូច​ការធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ជោគជ័យ​ក្នុង០០២​ទេ។ មូលហេតុ​នោះ​គឺថា បើគេ​ចេះ​តែ​បន្ត​កាត់ទោស​ជារៀង​រហូត​នោះ គេ​និង​មាន​មនុស្ស​ជា​ច្រើន​នាក់។ វា​មិន​មាន​ប្រយោជន៏​ទេ។ ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា​អ្វី​ដែល​មាន​តម្លៃ​នោះ​គឺ​និមិត្តរូប គឺការ​យក​អ្នក​ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ​ថ្នាក់ខ្ពស់ មក​កាត់ទោស ហើយ​សង្ឃឹម​ថានិងរក​ឃើញ​ថា​ពួកគេ​មាន​ទោស។»

ប៉ុន្តែ​នាង Mary Orsini ដែល​ជា​និស្សិត​ច្បាប់​នៃ​សាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ Rutgersដែល​ធ្លាប់​បាន​ធ្វើ​ការ​ស្រាវ​ជ្រាវ​អំពី​រឿង​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម ​នៅ​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​ឯកសារ​កម្ពុជា មិន​យល់​ស្របទេ។ នាង​ថ្លែង​ថា​ការ​បញ្ចប់​ត្រឹម​ករណី​០០២ និង​នាំឲ្យ​ខ្វះ​ភាព​ពេញលេញ​ក្នុង​ការ​រក​យុត្តិធ៌ម​ជូន​ពលរដ្ឋ​កម្ពុជា។

«ទោះ​ជា​អ្នក​ខ្លះ​គិតថា​អសប​គួរតែ​ផ្តោត​ទៅលើ​ករណី​តែ២​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ក៏​ដោយ អ្វី​ដែល​សំខាន់​គឺ​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​តុលាការ​នេះ​ផ្ចុងផ្តើម​ឡើង​ដំបូង មាន​ការពិភាក្សា​គ្នា​ថា យ៉ាង​ហោច​ណាស់​ក៏កាត់​ទោស ពី១០ទៅ​១៥​នាក់​ដែរ។ ការបញ្ចប់​ដោយ​កាត់ទោស​តែ៥​នាក់​បែប​នេះ មិន​មែន​ជា​គោលដៅ​ដំបូង​របស់​តុលាការ​នេះទេ។»

នាង Elena Lesley ជា​និស្សិត​នៃ​កម្មវិធី​កិច្ចការ​ពិភពលោក​នៃ​សាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ​Rutgers។ នាង​ធ្លាប់​ធ្វើការ​ស្រាវជ្រាវ​អំពីរឿង​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរក្រហម តាម​រយៈ​អាហារ​រូបករណ៍​Fullbright ។ នាង​ជឿថា​សាលាក្តី​គួរ​ស៊ើបអង្កេត ករណី០០៣​និង០០៤។

«ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា​គេ​គួរ​ធ្វើ​កិច្ចការ​ទាំង​ពីរ។ ខ្ញុំ​មិន​ជឿ​ថា​គេ​គួរ​អនុញ្ញាត្តិ​ឲ្យ​តុលាការ​ដួល​រលំ​ដោយសារ​រឿង​ ចម្រូងចម្រាស់​ពាក់ពាន់​និង​ករណី០០៣​និង​០០៤​ទេ។ ខ្ញុំគិតថា​ករណី​ ០០២ សំខាន់​ណាស់​ ហើយ​ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា​ការបន្ត​ដំណើរការ​ទៅ​មុខ​ទៀត​ក៏​ជា​ការ​សំខាន់​ដូចគ្នា ពីព្រោះ​គ្មាន​មូលហេតុ​រឹង​មាំ​អ្វី​សម្រាប់ការ​មិនបន្តទៅមុខ។»

លោក Andrew Cayley ជាសហ​ព្រះរាជ​អជ្ញា​អន្តរជាតិ​ក្នុង​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​។ ថ្មីៗនេះ​លោក​បាន​ថ្លែង​ទៅ​កាន់​និស្សិត​ច្បាប់​​នៅ​សាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ Rutgers អំពី​រឿង​សាលា​ក្តី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម។ ហើយ​ក្នុង​បទ​សម្ភាសន៍​ជាមួយ​វីអូអេ​សម្លេង​សរអា លោក​ថ្លែង​ថា​លោក​យល់​ថា​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​ចង់​បោះ​ជំហាន​ទៅមុខ​ដើម្បី​កសាង​ ប្រទេស​ឡើង​វិញ។ ប៉ុន្តែ​លោក​ថា​ករណី​០០៣​និង​០០៤​បាន​ចាប់ផ្តើម​ឡើងមុន​ពេល​លោក​ចូល​ធ្វើការ ដូច្នេះ​លោក​ថា​លោក​មាន​ភារៈកិច្ច​ដើម្បី​អនុវត្តិ​តាម​ផ្លូវ​ច្បាប់ ទោះ​ជា​អ្នកខ្លះ​គិត​ថា​ករណី​០០២សំខាន់ជាង​ក៏ដោយ។

«ត្រូវ​តែ​មាន​ការស៊ើបអង្កេត​មួយ។ ចៅក្រម​ស៊ើបអង្កេត​ត្រូវតែ​ពិចារណា​អំពីភស្តុតាង​ហើយ​បន្ទាប់​មក​ត្រូវ​ តែមាន​បញ្ជា​ឲ្យ​លប់​ចោល​ឬឲ្យ​ធ្វើ​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់។ នេះជា​ការចែង​នៅ​ក្នុង​វិន័យ។ គ្មាន​វិធី​អ្វី​ផ្សេង​សម្រាប់​ដោះស្រាយ​ករណី​ទាំងពីរ​នេះ​ទេ។»

សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរក្រហម​និយាយថា ការស៊ើប​អង្កេតក្នុង​ករណី០០៣ និង០០៤ កំពុង​តែ​ធ្វើជា​បន្ត​ដោយ​មិន​បញ្ចាក់​ប្រាប់​ឈ្មោះ​ជន​មន្ទិល​សង្ស័យ​ ទេ។ប៉ុន្តែ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ឯកសារ​សម្ងាត់​របស់​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរក្រហម​ដែល​វីអូអេ​ បាន​ទទួល ករណី​០០៣ ​និង០០៤ ពាក់ពាន់​និង​មេបញ្ជាការ​យោធា​ជាន់ខ្ពស់ និង គណៈ​តំបន់​មួយ​ចំនួន​នៃរបប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម៕

Cambodia floods bring mounting disease toll

A young girl with dengue fever during recent floods in Cambodia. Photograph: John Macgregor/cwars.org

Thousands of people have been left stranded in dire conditions by the heavy monsoon rains that have caused devastation around south-east Asia

Tuesday 1 November 2011
Mark Tran
guardian.co.uk

Thousands of people are encamped with their farm animals on tiny strips of land surrounded by floodwaters in Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia.

John Macgregor, an aid worker who has been accompanying teams delivering food and water to Battambang, described the area as a vast inland sea where conditions are dire and malnutrition is common.

“Diseases are becoming more common and yesterday our doctors diagnosed the first cases of cholera. People are sleeping in extended family groups on rush mats which sit on the mud, under strips of clear plastic. Ducks, chickens, dogs and cats are often in there with people – a factor in the mounting disease toll,” said Macgregor, communications director of Cambodian War Amputees Rehabilitation Society (CWARS) from Phom Penh, the Cambodian capital.

CWARS delivered food to 6,000 people and its medical teams treated 1,600 patients in seven days.

“We drove for six hours – the roads are wrecked from rain – then waded through floodwater for half an hour, then got a boat for about an hour,” Macgregor said. “Much of northern Cambodia has become a vast inland sea – an astonishing sight. We travelled by boat for an hour at a time between bits of dry land.”

Like other countries in the region, Cambodia has been hit by heavy monsoon rains that have overwhelmed swollen rivers, dams and canals, causing the worst flooding in decades. It is estimated that 250,000 people in the three worst-affected provinces are inundated and without aid.

According to the UN, more than 20 provinces in Thailand – one third of the country – are under water. Twelve provinces are on high alert, including Bangkok, and around 2.4 million people have been affected countrywide; 700,000 are estimated to be children. In Cambodia, 17 out of 23 provinces continue to be flooded while 250,000 people have been affected in Vietnam. Half a million people have been affected in Laos, with damage to more than 64,000 hectares (158,000 acres) of farmland, while 254,400 people in the Philippines have felt the brunt of a series of typhoons.

Many flood victims have been children. In Vietnam’s Mekong delta, 49 of the 57 deaths since August have been children, according to the national flood and storms control department. In Cambodia, at least 80 children have died, while more than 50 have been killed in Thailand, all mostly from drowning, according to the UN.

In Battambang, Macgregor saw a canoe carrying three children overturn. “They started to drown. The villagers, who couldn’t swim, threw them some of our empty water containers and they were saved,” he said.

Children have made up around a quarter of the nearly 800 deaths reported since July across Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines, according to the UN. Every year, an estimated 240,000 children aged up to 17 die mostly because they have never learned to swim.

That annual number is roughly equal to the total deaths from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but day-to-day water deaths attract little attention.

The floods have also taken a heavy economic toll: in addition to the damage to Thailand’s rice crop, the market is concerned about typhoons hitting production in the Philippines, the world’s biggest importer until last year, and seasonal floods in Vietnam’s Mekong delta.

Cambodian government criticised over domestic worker complaints

Cambodian domestic working migrants say the Malaysian government failed to protect them from exploitation.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Australia Network News

An amnesty report reveals that Cambodian police officers in collusion with recruitment agencies may have placed domestic workers in risk of being exploited when travelling to Malaysia.

Human Rights Watch spokesperson Jyotsna Poudyal says Cambodian authorities and the Malaysian government have failed to protect migrants in the female-dominated industry from abuse.

“Cambodian women and girls experience abuse at each step of the migration process,” she told Radio Australia’s Connect Asia program.

“The Cambodian government has failed to regulate [recruitment agencies].”

Jyotsna Poudyal says that tens of thousands of Cambodian women and girls, coming mainly from poor, rural backgrounds, travel to Malaysia for work because there is a lack of job opportunities in Cambodia.

“There is lack of regulation and monitoring of these private agencies,” she added.

“We did find that there was some collusion between police officers with the recruitment agencies, and that just heightens the risk and exploitations.”

Villagers seek NGO help in land disputes

Tuesday, 01 November 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

About 300 villagers from four districts in Kandal province embroiled in land disputes yesterday requested that rights workers file a complaint against several private companies they claim had used the courts to threaten residents.

Residents from seven villages in Ponhea Leu, Kien Svay, Kandal Stung and Takhmao districts accompanied 84 village representatives to request that staffers from rights group Adhoc intervene with firms including SKD Factory and Heng Apiwat Development.

“We wonder why we filed a complaint to the court and did not get any action, and why we got arrest warrants,” 50-year-old villager Kouy Chan Thorn, from Ponhea Leu district, said.

He claimed that 134 families from his village had been involved in a dispute over 155 hectares of land since 1995. Three villagers had been detained in jail since February and six had fled to avoid arrest.

Villager Sam San, 67, from Kien Svay district, said he had filed complaints, but villagers still had warrants issued for their arrests.

Provincial governor Chhun Sirun told the Post he had not seen complaints from the villagers, and that they needed to officially lodge complaints rather than make accusations.

Representatives from SKD and Heng Apiwat could not be reached for comment.

Adhoc senior monitor Chan Soveth said yesterday 31 people from the seven villages had been issued with arrest warrants and three had been detained in prison.

Media Rights group: Cambodia and Malaysia must protect domestic workers

Nov 1, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh – Thousands of Cambodian domestic workers in Malaysia are at risk of a range of abuses including physical and sexual violence, a prominent rights group said Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch said Cambodia and Malaysia must act to ensure women are properly protected, and called on both countries to ratify the International Labour Organization’s domestic work convention, which protects workers from violence and exploitation.

Jyotsna Poudyal, HRW’s women’s rights researcher, said Cambodia’s migration policy showed Phnom Penh wanted to promote labour migration, but was noticeably less keen to protect those women who went abroad.

‘The government should stop abdicating responsibility to unscrupulous recruitment agencies and clean up exploitation and abuse,’ she said, adding that a comprehensive migration law was needed.

The New York-based group said very few of the 28 Cambodian women and girls it had interviewed held a positive view of their experience. None had received their full salary, and nearly half reported physical or psychological abuse. One was raped by her employer.

HRW’s report, titled ‘They Deceived Us At Every Step’, also found a litany of abuses by the firms that recruit the women in Cambodia such as underage recruitment, forcible confinement in training centres, cash advances that lead to debt bondage, and misleading information about what the work would entail.

Women and girls also encountered significant problems once they arrived in Malaysia. The most common complaints involved excessive working hours of up to 21 hours a day, no rest days and insufficient food.

In October Cambodia announced it would suspend sending domestic workers to Malaysia after numerous reports of abuses.

Recent news reports have revealed close links between recruitment firms and Cambodian officials in the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior.

An estimated 300,000 young people enter Cambodia’s job market each year, but there is little formal work to be had in-country, forcing many to deal with recruitment agencies or people smugglers.

At least 40,000 Cambodian women and girls have been sent to Malaysia as domestic workers since 2008.

Rights groups have long complained that foreign maids in Malaysia lack protection under its labour laws. Cambodia’s suspension could exacerbate Malaysia’s on-going labour shortage, and comes on the heels of a similar ban instituted by Indonesia two years ago.

Legal Protections Sought For Cambodian Domestic Workers in Malaysia

Cambodian maid Hok Pov, 31, cries as she speaks during an interview in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (August 16, 2011) (Photo: AP)

Maids from Indonesia who used to work in Malaysia sit at the temporary shelter for abused maids at the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur. (Reuters File Photo)

November 01, 2011
Robert Carmichael | Phnom Penh
Voice of America

Human Rights Watch is calling for new legal protections for the thousands of Cambodians who work in Malaysia as domestic workers. Rights workers say both countries must do much more to prevent an array of abuses including physical and sexual violence.

Abuse

Human Rights Watch workers interviewed 28 women who were employed as domestic workers. Nearly half reported suffering physical or psychological abuse from their employers.

Another three said they were raped – one by her employer.

The common theme is a lack of assistance or legal protection in Malaysia for the thousands of Cambodian women working there.

Human Rights Watch says in Cambodia well-connected recruitment firms forcibly confine women in poor conditions in training centers for months before sending them abroad.

Recruitment firms provide cash advances to families, as well as food and livestock, driving the women into debt bondage. And they charge huge training fees, which takes the women months to work off.

Deceived

The title of the report, “They Deceived Us At Every Step”, conveys the scale of the dangers the women face, says Human Rights Watch’s women’s rights researcher Jyotsna Poudyal

“The report is basically a comprehensive account of what happens when women decide to travel from Cambodia to Malaysia,” said Poudyal. “So it documents the abuses and exploitation at each step of the migration process. Our concerns are basically about women who decide to migrate must be protected, and this report looks into the recruitment steps, and then comes up with concrete recommendations of what could be done to improve the situation.”

Exploitation

Human Rights Watch says as a first step Malaysia and Cambodia should abide by and then ratify the International Labor Organization’s convention on domestic workers, which protects workers from violence and exploitation.

Poudyal says Phnom Penh must draft a comprehensive migration law that addresses issues such as debt bondage, child recruitment and other abuses common to the recruitment side of the industry.

About one-third of the Cambodian population lives below the poverty line, and there are very few jobs available locally for the estimated 300,000 young people who enter the labor market each year. That means conditions are ripe for exploitation, and unscrupulous recruitment firms have taken advantage.

Role of media

After media reports highlighting the serious abuses of Cambodian women in Malaysia, the Cambodian government last month announced a halt to sending domestic workers to Malaysia.

But Poudyal says besides the suspension, which is most likely temporary, Phnom Penh has shown little interest in tackling the problem.

“From our point of view it seems that the government is keen to promote migration, but at the same time extremely reluctant to extend basic protections to its workers,” added Poudyal. “So I would say that if Cambodia is serious about being a big exporter of labor then they have to resolve these issues in the long term.”

The abuses can begin even before the workers arrive in Malaysia.

Recent raids on recruitment centers in Cambodia have revealed a litany of abuses, including girls as young as 14 being trained for domestic work in Malaysia. False documents are used to get around the requirement that they need to be 21.

But government action is complicated by the fact several recruitment firms are owned by relatives of those tasked with policing them in the labor and interior ministries.

Human Rights Watch says Phnom Penh must prosecute any and all companies and individuals involved in abuses.

Recruiters

And, Poudyal says Malaysia must overhaul its labor law, which currently excludes domestic workers.

“So we are calling on the Malaysian government to revise those laws so that domestic workers are protected, as well as strengthening the legal assistance for workers who might have been trafficked, who are in a situation of abuse, and then basically revising the sponsorship system which ties the worker to an employer,” said Poudyal. “So for instance, if the worker flees abuse, then very likely she would be arrested or deported.

Two years ago Indonesia barred its citizens from working in Malaysia after reports of similar abuses. That action forced Malaysia to ensure that Indonesian domestic workers were awarded protections.

But Cambodians are currently excluded.

Human Rights Watch says that needs to change. Since 2008 at least 40,000 Cambodian women and girls have been sent to Malaysia to work as domestic servants.

One young woman the group interviewed said she was made to work 22 hours a day, was beaten and kicked by her employer and his wife, and was never paid.

None of the 28 women interviewed said they had received their promised salary in full. Most said they received wages that were far lower, while some reported receiving nothing at all.

Former King Makes Rare Appearance

Norodom Sihanouk (C) speaks during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Oct. 30, 2011. (AFP)

2011-10-31
RFA

“We still see the Cambodian people are scared to talk about things. Let’s unite and cease discrimination based on political party affiliation,” said a moto-taxi driver in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s ex-monarch calls for national reconciliation during a public appearance in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s former king Norodom Sihanouk has highlighted the need for increased national unity as he made a rare appearance before tens of thousands of Cambodians on Sunday to mark the 20th anniversary of his return from exile.

The estimated 40,000 supporters, most of whom were younger students, cheered energetically outside the Royal Palace as Sihanouk delivered his first public remarks since returning Thursday from nearly three months of medical treatment in Beijing.

The revered former king, who turned 89 years old on Monday, or 90 years old by Cambodian reckoning, was joined at the podium by his son King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen while addressing the crowd Sunday.

He said that despite his continued health problems, he would remain in his home country and requested that China dispatch physicians to assist him in the event that he should require medical care.

Sihanouk has suffered from colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension.

He also called on Cambodians to work around their political differences to aid in the development of the country.

“Not in as ambitious a way as the superpowers, but we just want people to recognize that we are united as a country, which will show our strength,” he said.

“We are moving forward in any number of fields, so let us join hands to develop what is [regarded as] the supreme interest of our nation.”

Welcome words

Those who gathered welcomed the words of the former king, whose turbulent rule saw him twice exiled and twice returned to the throne before abdicating to his son in 2004, citing ill health and old age.

“We still see the Cambodian people are scared to talk about things. Let’s unite and cease discrimination based on political party affiliation,” said a moto-taxi driver in Phnom Penh.

A university student, who did not provide his name, said the former king’s return brought a sense of calm and optimism to the people.

“Our king is here, so we are comfortable. When he is away—think about when we’re away from our parents. How do we feel?”

Minister of Women’s Affairs and cabinet member Ung Kuntha Phavy said that Cambodia had already benefited from increased cooperation across party lines.

“Through unity and cooperation, we have already begun to improve the development of the economy.”

Tumultuous history

Sihanouk first ascended Cambodia’s throne in 1941 and ruled until shortly after guiding the country to independence in 1953. He abdicated to his father and became prime minister in 1955 after an overwhelming victory in the parliamentary elections.

In 1960, after the death of his father, Sihanouk was officially designated Head of State. He managed to keep Cambodia out of the Vietnam War by playing different political factions off of one another, but was deposed by then-Prime Minister Lon Nol in 1970 while traveling outside of the country.

The former king relocated to Beijing and allied with the communist Khmer Rouge which overthrew the U.S.-backed Lon Nol regime in 1975.

The group sought to turn Cambodia into an agrarian utopia, but devastated the country through economic mismanagement and purges that led to the death of nearly 2 million people.

Sihanouk became a voiceless prisoner in his own palace until a Vietnamese invasion removed the Khmer Rouge from power in 1979 and he returned to exile. The Vietnamese withdrew from Cambodia in 1989 leaving a pro-Vietnamese government in place under the lead of former Khmer Rouge cadre Hun Sen.

The former king returned to Cambodia from China in 1991 and was restored to the throne in 1993, but was marginalized by Hun Sen with threats to abolish the monarchy. He served until abdicating to his son Norodom Sihamoni in 2004 due to health problems.

Joint praise

Nonetheless, Sihanouk praised Hun Sen Sunday for his “tireless work and achievements” in developing the country during his time in power.

“Also, I admire the government of Cambodia and the parliament for their joint efforts to develop the nation,” he said.

Hun Sen also said Sunday that he welcomed what he described as Sihanouk’s idea of national reconciliation.

“Under the former king’s leadership and along with the government, a win-win policy was implemented that has brought us full peace and national reconciliation,” Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen said the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) was determined to protect the monarchy, the Constitution, political stability and work towards national reconciliation.

“The CPP and the government have always expressed high respect, love, gratitude and loyalty to the [King Father] as the father of unity and the national reconciliation,” Hun Sen said.

Reported by RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Hassan Abukasem. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

Generals Detained In Drug Raid

Cambodian military police display equipment used to make methamphetamine outside Phnom Penh, June 2, 2009. (AFP)

2011-11-01
RFA

Anti-drug police nab two Cambodian officials for methamphetamine.

Cambodian authorities have arrested two military generals linked to a “major” drug trafficking ring, police said Tuesday, as the country’s anti-narcotics task force battles internal corruption and increased trade in stimulants across the Mekong region.

National police spokesman Gen. Kirth Chantharith said Lay Virak and Khun Rouen, both active duty two-star generals who also work as advisors within the defense ministry, were detained Monday while exchanging nearly 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant.

Police also arrested two suspected drug traffickers and seized two AK-47 assault rifles in the raid, which came 10 months after another high profile arrest triggered intensive investigations.

Kirth Chantharith said the men were arrested after nine months of surveillance, sending a strong message to would-be traffickers on the determination of investigators.

“We have more than doubled our efforts to suppress the drug trafficking business after the arrest of [former deputy director for the National Authority for Combating Drugs] General Meuk Dara,” he said.

General Meuk Dara was arrested in January, along with two senior police officers, and charged with accepting bribes in drug cases.

“All government officials, regardless of their rank, are dealt with by our law enforcement whenever they break the law.”

Acting head of the anti-drug department at the Ministry of Interior General Khieu Samon said Tuesday that the raid had broken up a “sophisticated network” of drug traffickers.

“After we received approval from the state prosecutor, we cooperated [with other agencies], obtained evidence, and arrested the suspects. We are now building a case according to the law,” he said.

Khieu Samon said his department is still searching for other members of the network.

The “successful” raid was welcomed by various groups, including the Cambodian rehabilitation center Association to Help Drug Addicts.

“While there are plenty of drug users in Cambodia’s rural areas, trends in drug abuse and availability often emanate from Phnom Penh and other major cities,” association director Meas Sovann said.

Speed on the rise

Cambodia became a popular trafficking point for methamphetamine (amphetamine’s parent drug) and other narcotics after neighboring Thailand toughened its stance on illegal drugs in 2002.

But amphetamine-type stimulants have emerged as the primary illicit drug threat across the board in East and Southeast Asian countries in recent years, displacing plant-based drugs such as heroin, opium, and cannabis, according to a September report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In four countries of the Greater Mekong subregion—Laos, Burma, Thailand, and China—there was a four-fold increase in methamphetamine pills seized—from 32 million to 133 million—in just three years between 2008-2010, according to UNODC.

At the same time, the amount of amphetamine produced in the region has increased dramatically. Using the proxy indicator of laboratories seized, UNODC said the number of amphetamine labs seized in Southeast Asia grew nearly 10 fold from 49 in 2005 to 458 in 2009.

Cambodia’s latest arrests also come as ministers from China and Southeast Asian nations agreed on Monday to take joint action to secure transportation along the Mekong River after 13 Chinese sailors were brutally murdered in the region in an incident some say has links to the amphetamine trade.

The Oct. 5 attacks occurred in the notorious “Golden Triangle” drug smuggling area straddling the borders of Burma, Thailand and Laos.

The sailors were found with their hands tied behind their backs, blindfolded with adhesive tape and shot or with their throats slit, according to Chinese and Thai media.

Their bodies were found near Chiang Rai in northern Thailand and among the recovered cargo were nearly a million amphetamine tablets worth 100 million baht (U.S. $3.22 million).

Nine soldiers from Thailand thought to be linked to a Burmese drug kingpin have been detained as suspects in the killings.

Reported by Sok Serey for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Vuthy Huot and Hassan Abukasem. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

Rainsy asylum claim

Kong Kiet and wife working during their stay in Thailand

Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said yesterday a Cambodian man and his family had gained political asylum in the United States after escaping arrest three years ago when he stepped forward to allege electoral fraud by the ruling party during the 2008 national ballot.

In a statement yesterday, Rainsy said Kong Kiet, of the capital’s Meanchey district, along with his wife and three children, had not been a registered voter during the 2008 election, but “CPP-controlled authorities” had given him and others money and fake identification, allowing them to cast ballots for the CPP at polling stations.

“Because he dared to publicly expose the truth and to . . . . testify in the complaint that the SRP lodged against the CPP authorities, the police came to arrest Mr Kong Kiet, who luckily managed to escape,” Rainsy said, adding that Kong Kiet and his family had lived in a “neighbouring country” before attaining asylum.

Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said he did not know who Kong Kiet was and denied that CPP leaders had ordered the NEC or local authorities to do anything illegal during elections.

“We see that this is just defamation against the ruling party,” he added.

Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee, said he was also unaware of the case and that the SRP had never filed a complaint to the NEC.

But senior SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua was quick to refute the last assertion, pointing out that the complaint in question had been publicly posted on opposition-related news blog KI-Media and that she clearly remembered the case.

“[Sam Rainsy] made a nat-ionwide appeal for people who had been given wrong identification to come forward, and Mr Kiet was one of the people [who did].

“They wanted to arrest him,” she said. “I remember so well because Mr Rainsy spent a lot of time nailing down these irregularities.”

Mu Sochua added that the credibility of voter lists was crucial with commune elections looming

“Mr Kiet’s case was not an isolated one,” she said. “That’s why we want a fundamental review of the system.”

US embassy spokesman Sean McIntosh could not be reached for comment on Kong Kiet’s status.

Indonesia ‘ready’ to send border observers

A Cambodian soldier at the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple in February. (Photo by: Heng Chivoan)

Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Cheang Sokha and Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Nearly three months after Yingluck Shinawatra was sworn in as new Thai Prime Minister, heralding a rosy new era in relations with Cambodia, both sides are making baby steps toward resolving the long-running Preah Vihear border dispute.

Indonesian Foreign Minister and Association of South East Asian Nations chair Marty Natalegawa told reporters recently his nation was ready to send border observers to the troubled area.

The Cambodian government said it had been training 400 police expected to be deployed in the area around the Preah Vihear temple after troops have been withdrawn.

Natalegawa said the “dynamic” new Thai government had brought about a positive environment conducive to resolving the dispute, which sparked fierce clashes in February and April that left at least 28 people dead.

“So, I am waiting for both the Thai government and Cambodian governments, how they proceed to end the problem and how ASEAN can help,” Natalegawa told reporters at the 2011 Journalists Visiting Program in Indonesia on October 17.

“If the Thais and Cambodians need the observers to be sent, we are ready . . . In whatever way, we will be there to help them.”

Lieutenant General Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for Cambodia’s National Police, said yesterday a one-and-a-half month training program on national and international laws, including heritage conventions, had recently been completed by tourist, heritage and border police.

“We don’t know when we will deploy those individual officials. It is a preparation to comply with the government’s policy and the ruling of [the International Court of Justice],” he said.

“We are focused on the history of the Preah Vihear temple, culture, the territorial sovereignty and the strategy of ensuring security.”

Thai government spokeswoman Titima Chaisang said the Ministry of Interior held a meeting yesterday about an ICJ ruling handed down in July that ordered the establishment of a demilitarised zone around the 11th-century temple.

However, she said no details had been released from the closed-door meeting, the outcome of which will likely be raised at a November 8 cabinet meeting.

The decision from the United Nation’s highest court also demanded the immediate deployment of independent ASEAN observers to protect the temple from any further potential damage.

It followed an April 28 request from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government that the ICJ issue an interpretation of its 1962 decision, which granted territorial sovereignty over the Hindu temple to Cambodia.

Cambodia also requested the ICJ rule on provisional measures to safeguard the temple.

The decisions came at a low time in the neighbouring country’s relations, with Prime Minister Hun Sen later describing his dealings with then-Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva as a “nightmare”.

Since the election of Yingluck’s Pheau Thai party, relations have improved, punctuated by high-level visits to Cambodia from new Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa and Yingluck’s fugitive brother, the ousted former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

In September, government officials from both countries played a historic football match at Olympic Stadium in which Prime Minister Hun Sen scored a goal before being subbed off.

However, no significant concrete steps have yet been taken to implement the provisional demilitarised zone. General Srey Doek, military commander of division 3, which is stationed near Preah Vihear, said he had yet to receive any order to withdraw his forces from the area.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DAVID BOYLE

S&P Credit rating drops … due to concerns over unstable political environment

Cambodia has to pay dearly because of Hun Xen’s rule (Photo: Xinhua)

Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Liam Barnes
The Phnom Penh Post

Standard & Poor’s yesterday downgraded Cambodia’s sovereign credit rating, pointing to what it said was an unstable political environment and low per capita income.

These constricting factors, in addition to the country’s highly dollarised economy and reliance on international donors, led the rating agency to lower the Kingdom’s long-term sovereign rating to B from B+, Agost Benard, an S&P credit analyst, told the Post yesterday.

“As a result of our new rating methodology introduced in June, we reassessed Cambodia’s rating, placing greater emphasis on per capita income and political environment and quality.”

S&P believes the weaknesses of the “political score” in its review of the Kingdom include ineffective institutions and governance and a lack of ability in transferring political power, according to Benard.

“[Cambodia has an] untested succession mechanism and a corollary key-man risk,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s 26-year run as prime minister of the country.

Although these negative factors are expected to be long-standing issues, even with a general election slated for next year, an improvement on the fiscal front could benefit Cambodia’s credit rating in the future, Benard said.

“If revenue-generated capacity is increased, reliance on international donors declines, and more money is spent on human and physical infrastructure, the Kingdom may be upgraded in the future.”

Benard said another factor weighing negatively on S&P’s assessment of the Kingdom’s political score was the continuing arrears on sovereign debt to Russia and the US, “which indicates a weak debt-payment culture”.

But the impact of the downgrade on a country like Cambodia was expected to be negligible, he said.

“Cambodia is not part of the internat-ional bond market, has no commercial external debt and all funding needs are taken care of by concessionary loans. So the rate cut is unlikely to have a material impact on the cost of funds.”

Although the Kingdom’s long-term sovereign credit rating, which assesses the credit horizon for more than a year, was lowered by a notch, the short-term rating, assessing less than 12 months, remained at B, according to the S&P statement released yesterday.

S&P defines B-grade debt as speculat-ive, saying a country with such a rating is “more vulnerable to adverse business, financial and economic conditions but currently has the capacity to meet financial commitments”.

The United States-based financial service company also downgraded the US in August – a move experts said would have both positive and negative effects on Cambodia.

ANZ Royal Bank chief executive Stephen Higgins told the Post in August the effects of the US debt downgrade might ripple out to Cambodia, even though the Kingdom’s economy was “booming” at the moment.

But he yesterday emphasised the lack of impact Cambodia’s sovereign downgrade would have on the financial sector.

“The significance is fairly limited, given that Cambodia doesn’t currently have access to public markets and there are no bond issues,” Higgins said.

“However, on the margin, it may cause some potential investors to re-assess their position, if they don’t take time to look at the fundamental reasons [to invest in Cambodia].”

Higgins said the sector was not overly concerned by credit ratings, “considering the recent debacle”– a reference to credit agencies’ role in the US sub-prime mortgage crisis.

“Rating agencies have hardly covered themselves in glory in recent years. People should take their ratings with a pinch of salt.”

Although she could not be reached for comment yesterday due to the national holiday, National Bank of Cambodia director-general and spokeswoman Nguon Sokha in August echoed Higgins’ sentiments.

“Ratings give some indicat-ion of the strength of the economy, but we should not 100 per cent rely on that,” she said, adding that the government had no immediate intention to issue sovereign bonds.

Cambodia/ Malaysia: Domestic Workers Face Abuse

A collection of photographs displayed in the office of a maid agency in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. These photos picture migrant workers and their families receiving upfront cash loans as “incentive” for migrating to Malaysia. Migrants must work in Malaysia without a salary for six to seven months in order to repay these loans, along with the exorbitant recruitment and training fees owed to labor agents. (Jyotsna Poudyal/Human Rights Watch)

Extend Labor Protections to Migrant Women and Girls at Home, Abroad

October 31, 2011
Human Rights Watch

“Cambodia has been eager to promote labor migration but reluctant to provide even the most basic protections for migrant women and girls.” – Jyotsna Poudyal, women’s rights research fellow

(Phnom Penh) – The Cambodian and Malaysian governments’ failure to regulate recruiters and employers leaves Cambodian migrant domestic workers exposed to a wide range of abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today. Tens of thousands of Cambodian women and girls who migrate to Malaysia have little protection against forced confinement in training centers, heavy debt burdens, and exploitative working conditions.

The 105-page report, “‘They Deceived Us at Every Step’: Abuse of Cambodian Domestic Workers Migrating to Malaysia,”documents Cambodian domestic workers’ experiences during recruitment, work abroad, and upon their return home. It is based on 80 interviews with migrant domestic workers, their families, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, and recruitment agents. The report highlights the numerous obstacles that prevent mistreated women and girls from obtaining justice and redress in both Cambodia and Malaysia.

“Cambodia has been eager to promote labor migration but reluctant to provide even the most basic protections for migrant women and girls,” said Jyotsna Poudyal, women’s rights research fellow at Human Rights Watch. “The government should stop abdicating responsibility to unscrupulous recruitment agencies and clean up exploitation and abuse.”

Since 2008, forty to fifty thousand Cambodian women and girls have migrated to Malaysia as domestic workers. Some recruitment agents in Cambodia forge fraudulent identity documents to recruit children, offer cash and food incentives that leave migrants and their families heavily indebted, mislead them about their job responsibilities in Malaysia, and charge excessive recruitment fees.

Domestic workers told Human Rights Watch that agents forcibly confine recruitsfor three months or longer in training centers without adequate food, water, and medical care. Some labor agents coerce women and girls to migrate even if they no longer wish to work abroad. Workers who escape from the training centers face retaliation for escaping or for failing to pay debts related to the recruitment process.

The husband of a domestic worker who escaped from a training center told Human Rights Watch:

The representative from the company said if my wife doesn’t return he will auction this house and land. And if the auction is not enough, they will arrest me and put me in jail.

At times collaboration of government officials with private recruitment agencies makes it almost impossible for workers to seek effective redress, Human Rights Watch found. One domestic worker said that two women had attempted suicide in a training center in Cambodia after the agency refused their request to return home.

The agency then held a meeting with all recruits. Two police officials were there.

“The police officials told us that if we [attempted to] commit suicide, then they would put us in jail,” one of the workers said. “They also said that we should never try to escape. Even if we escape, the police will find [us] and we will still be sent to Malaysia.”

In the first successful prosecution of a recruitment agency, a Cambodian court in September 2011 sentenced a manager of the VC Manpower recruitment agency to 13 months in prison for illegally detaining child workers. However, the government has failed to arrest and prosecute other recruitment agents involved in similar abuses, and it has not revoked the license of a single recruitment agency.

“While the conviction of one abusive agent in Cambodia is a step forward, it remains an exception,” Poudyal said. “The Cambodian government should put an end to systematic exploitation of domestic workers by ensuring that all agents are held accountable for their acts.”

Once in Malaysia, Cambodian women and girls often have to surrender their passports to their agents or employers, making it harder for them to leave if they are mistreated. Many work for 14 to 21 hours a day without rest breaks or days off. And many are forcibly confined to their work places, are not given adequate food, and are physically and verbally abused. Some have been sexually abused by their employers. None of the workers Human Rights Watch interviewed said they had received their full salary.

Malaysian labor laws exclude migrant domestic workers from key protections, such as a weekly day of rest, annual leave, and limits on working hours. Immigration laws tie a domestic worker’s residency to her employer, so the employer can terminate a domestic worker’s contract at will and refuse permission to transfer jobs. These policies restrict domestic workers’ ability to seek redress and to change employers, even in cases of abuse, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch documented cases in which the combination of deception and indebtedness during recruitment, forced confinement, unpaid wages, and threats of retaliation for escaping or failing to pay debts amounted to forced labor, including trafficking and debt bondage. Abused workers often turn to the local agents of their recruitment companies, since they are typically the only contact the worker has in Malaysia, but may face intimidation and a return to the same abusive employer.The Cambodian embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, has also returned workers, including those who experienced sexual and physical abuse, to their recruitment agency or employers.

The Cambodian government should introduce a comprehensive migration law, strengthen monitoring of recruitment agencies, and imposesignificant penalties when violations occur, Human Rights Watch said. The Malaysian government should revise its labor and sponsorship laws to strengthen protection for domestic workers. Both countries should increase support services for abused workers, including legal aid and psychosocial services.

Human Rights Watch also urged Cambodia and Malaysia to ratify the International Labour Organization Convention on domestic work. The treaty obliges governments to ensure decent working conditions, to impose a minimum age requirement for domestic work, and to protect domestic workers from violence and exploitative recruitment practices.

“When the Cambodian embassy in Malaysia sends abused workers back to their recruitment agencies, it is putting women who have suffered tremendously at risk of further abuse,”Poudyal said. “Cambodia and Malaysia should ratify the new ILO Convention on domestic work, but they should start applying its provisions even before ratification is completed to safeguard the rights of domestic workers.”

Selected accounts from victims and their families interviewed for the report:
The real names of the speakers have not been used to protect their identities.

Sorn Srey Leak, a domestic worker, described her experience at the training center:

Two weeks after I started living in the training center, I fell sick. I called my mother and asked her to bring money and pay back the loan so that I [could] return home. But the company asked my mother to pay them $450. We were penniless. How could we pay the money?

Chain Channi, a domestic worker who started work each day at 5:00 a.m. and was not able to go to sleep until 3:00 a.m., never got a chance to rest. She described her experience at her employer’s house in Malaysia:

If I finished my job quickly, my boss made me clean the house again. The wife of the employer shouted and beat me every day. She kicked [me], slapped me, pulled my hair and beat me all over my body… The employer also beat me with his hands and kicked me. I never received my salary.

Thy Thip, age 16 and a prospective domestic worker, recalled her experience during her recruitment in Cambodia:

I told the broker that I am still under age. The broker told me that because of my physical appearance, I look older than my real age, and being under age will not be a problem. I applied to work in Malaysia to earn income for my family, which is very poor.

Sok Sen described what happened after his wife ran away from a training center:

She wanted to return home but the agency demanded that she pay them $1,000… I tried to find her but I don’t know where she is… The representative from the company said if my wife doesn’t return he will auction this house and land. And if the auction is not enough, they will arrest me and put me in jail.

វេទិកាគណបក្សសិទ្ធិមនុស្សត្រូវរំខាន [--Local Public Forums of Human Rights Party have been disturbed]

«ព្រឹក​មិញ​នេះ ​សកម្មជន​លោក​បាន​រៀបចំ ​ហើយ​ប៉ូលិស​បាន​មក​ឃាត់​មិន​ឲ្យ​រៀបចំ​រោង​ដើម្បី​ធ្វើការ​ជួបជុំ​នោះ​ទេ។ ​តាម​ប្រសាសន៍​របស់​ជំទប់​ទី​មួយ​ថា​ ថ្នាក់​ខេត្ត​ដែល​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​បាន​ទាក់ទង​ទៅ​ពីរ​ថ្ងៃ​មុន​ហ្នឹង​ លោក​ជំទប់​ហ្នឹង​ថា​មិន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​ណា​មក​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព​ក្នុង​ទឹក ​ដី​របស់​គាត់​ទេ»។

ថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ, 31 ខែតុលា 2011
ដោយ ហេង រស្មី វីអូអេ ខ្មែរ | ភ្នំពេញ

ក្រុម​មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍​​បាន​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ថា ​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​ធ្លាប្រជុំ​ ស្រុក​កោះអណ្តែត ​ខេត្ត​តាកែវ ​ខាង​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ​បាន​ប៉ុនប៉ង​រារាំង​មិន​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​សម្តែង​មតិ ​ដោយ​បានចោទប្រកាន់​ថា ​វេទិកា​នេះ​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​ដោយ​ឥត​ច្បាប់។

គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​របស់​លោក​កឹម​ សុខា​ត្រូវ​រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​សម្តែង​មតិ​មួយ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍​ នៅ​ឃុំ​ធ្លាប្រជុំ ​ស្រុក​កោះអណ្តែត​ ខេត្ត​តាកែវ ​ក៏​ប៉ុន្តែ​អាជ្ញាធរ​បាន​ព្រមាន​ថា ​មិន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​​រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​នេះ​ទេ។

លោក​អ៊ូ ​ច័ន្ទរិទ្ធិ​ អ្នក​តំណាង​​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ បាន​និយាយ​ថា ​លោក ​សាត់ ​សយ ​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​ធ្លាប្រជុំ ​ខាង​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ​បាន​ព្រមាន​ចំៗ​ថា ​មិន​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ធ្វើ​សម្មភាព​ណា​មួយ​ នៅ​លើ​ទឹក​ដី​របស់​លោក​ ក្រៅ​ពី​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ទេ។

លោក​បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​បាន​ជូន​ដំណឹង​ទៅ​អាជ្ញាធរ​ឃុំ​រួច​ហើយ​កាល​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​ ២៥​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ ​ដើម្បី​រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​សម្តែង​មតិ​នេះ។

«ព្រឹក​មិញ​នេះ ​សកម្មជន​លោក​បាន​រៀបចំ ​ហើយ​ប៉ូលិស​បាន​មក​ឃាត់​មិន​ឲ្យ​រៀបចំ​រោង​ដើម្បី​ធ្វើការ​ជួបជុំ​នោះ​ទេ។ ​តាម​ប្រសាសន៍​របស់​ជំទប់​ទី​មួយ​ថា​ ថ្នាក់​ខេត្ត​ដែល​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​បាន​ទាក់ទង​ទៅ​ពីរ​ថ្ងៃ​មុន​ហ្នឹង​ លោក​ជំទប់​ហ្នឹង​ថា​មិន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​ណា​មក​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព​ក្នុង​ទឹក ​ដី​របស់​គាត់​ទេ»។

លោក​សាត់ ​សយ ​ប្រធាន​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ​ធ្លាប្រជុំ ​បាន​ច្រាន​ចោល​ទៅ​នឹង​ការចោទ​ប្រកាន់​នេះ​ ដោយ​លោក​បាន​និយាយ​ថា ​លោក​មិន​បាន​រារាំង​ ការ​រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​សម្តែង​មតិ​របស់​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​នោះ​ទេ។

«មាន​នណារ​គេ​ឃាត់​ គេ​ឃាំង​អី»។

លោក​ហេង​ វីរៈ​ ជំទប់​ទី​ពីរ​ ឃុំ​ធ្លាប្រជុំ​ខាង​គណបក្ស​សម ​រង្ស៊ី ​បាននិយាយ​ថា ​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​មិន​មាន​ទីស្នាក់ការ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ឃុំ​នេះ​ទេ ​ដូច្នេះ​អាជ្ញាធរ​មិន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​ទេ។

«បើ​យើង​មាន​ស្នាក់ការ ​គណបក្ស​យើង​អាច​ឃោសនា​បាន​ ឬក៏​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​នៅ​ស្នាក់ការ​គណបក្ស​យើង​បាន។ ​ដូច​យើង​មិនទាន់​ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ឃោសនា​អីញ្ចឹង​ ហើយ​យើង​ធ្វើ​អញ្ចឹង​វា​ដូច​ឃោសនា​អញ្ចឹង»។

លោក​ណុប ​សុវណ្ណ ​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​ប្រចាំ​ខេត្ត​តាកែវ ​បាន​និយាយ​ថា​ ជា​ទូទៅ​គណបក្ស​បាន​ជូន​ដំណឹង​ទៅ​អាជ្ញាធរ​ខេត្ត​ស្តីអំ​ពី​ការ​រៀបចំ​ វេទិកា ​ឬក៏​ការ​រៀបចំ​ការ​ប្រជុំ​ផ្សេងៗ​ ហើយ​យើង​មិន​ចាំបាច់​សុំ​ច្បាប់​អនុញ្ញាត​អ្វី​បន្ថែម​ទៀត​ទេ។

លោក​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា​ ការ​រារាំង​នេះ​ គឺ​ជា​ការបំបិទ​សិទ្ធិ​សេរីភាព​មួយ​ទៀត ​ក្នុង​ការចូលរួម​សកម្មភាព​​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ។

«គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ ដែល​កំពុង​កាន់អំណាច​សព្វ​ថ្ងៃ​នេះ ​មាន​ការ​គាបសង្កត់​ទៅ​លើ​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ដទៃ ​ដែល​កំពុង​តែ​រៀបចំ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​នេះ។ ​ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា​ ‏គេ​គំរាម​យើង​ឈប់។​ គេ​គំរាម​ យើង​ឈប់។​ យើង​ឥតអាច​ធ្វើ​អ្វី​ជូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​បាន ​មិនអាច​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​គោល​ការណ៍​គណបក្ស​ជូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​បាន​ទេ»។

លោក​ជាម​ យៀប​ អ្នក​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​ខាង​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ​បាន​និយាយ​ថា​ គណបក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច ​មិនមាន​គោល​ការណ៍​ទៅ​គំរាម​កំហែង​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ណាមួយ​ទេ។​ លោក​បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ​ប្រសិន​បើ​ការរៀបចំ​វេទិកា​ណាមួយ​គោរព​ទៅ​តាម​ច្បាប់​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ទេ ​អាជ្ញាធរ​មិន​រារាំង​ទេ។

«មើល​ប្រធានបទ​យើង​សារ​ឡើងវិញ​ ​ព្រោះ​ថា​ យើង​ត្រូវ​ប្រាប់​ពី​មូលហេតុ ​ឬ​ពីគោលបំណង​និង​ សំណើ​ច្បាស់់លាស់​អំពី​ការ​ប្រជុំ​ហ្នឹង។ ​អាហ្នឹង​យក​ទៅ​គេ​ពិនិត្យ​តាម​ហ្នឹង។ ​កាលណា​ធ្វើ​ទៅ​ដោយ​គ្មាន​ការ​ប៉ះពារ។ ​អាហ្នឹង​គេ​នឹង​អាច​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ»។

លោក​ចាន់​ សាវ៉េត​ មន្រ្តី​ឃ្លាំមើល​ការ​រំលោភ​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​របស់​សមាគម​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​អាដហុក ​បាន​និយាយ​ថា ​សិទ្ធិ​សេរីភាព​នៃ​ការ​ជួបប្រជុំ ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ការពារ​ដោយ​រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ ​ហើយ​ការ​រារាំង​ណាមួយ​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ ​គឺ​ជា​ការរំលោភ​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​របស់​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ។

«ស្នើសុំ​ឲ្យ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល ​ក៏​ដូច​ជា​អាជ្ញាធរ​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​ទាំង​ឡាយ ​គួរតែ​គោរព​សេរីភាព​នេះ ​ឲ្យ​បាន​មុតមាំទៅ ​ហើយ​នាំ​គ្នា​គោរព​សេរីភាព​នេះ​ឲ្យ​បាន​មុតមាំ​ទៅ​ ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ប្រទេស​យើង​អាច​មាន​ការវិវត្តន៍​ទៅ​មុខ​ អាច​ជា​លទ្ធិ​ប្រជា​ធិបតេយ្យ​ពេញ​បរិបូរណ៌។ ​ក៏ដូច​ជា​ការគោរព​សិទ្ធិ​ពេញ​លេញ ​ដែល​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​យើង​ទាំង​អស់​គ្នា​ទាមទារ​ចង់​បាន​បាទ»។

លោក​ចាន់ ​សាវ៉េត​បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ទៀត​ថា​ នេះ​មិនមែន​ជា​លើក​ទីមួយ​ទេ​ ដែល​អាជ្ញាធរ​បាន​រារាំង។ ​កន្លង​មក​អង្គការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល ​និង​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​មួយ​ចំនួន​តែងតែ​រងការ​រំខាន​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ​ ក្នុង​ការ​រៀបចំ​វេទិកា​សម្តែងមតិ ​ឬក៏​ការ​ជួប​ប្រជុំ​ផ្សេងៗ៕

តុលាការចេញដីកា ចាប់ខ្លួនបណ្ឌិត ស៊ន់ ភក្ដី ពីបទក្លែងបន្លំឯកសារ សាធារណៈ [--Arrest warrant issued against Dr. Sun Pheakdey, a former advisor of Chea Xim]

Sun Pheakdey

Monday, 31 October 2011
ដោយ ៖ ស៊ន សុភក្ដ្រ
DAP-news

Synopsis: On 15 September 2011, the Kandal police received an arrest warrant from the Kandal provincial court to arrest Dr. Sun Pheakdey for falsification of public documents. Sun Pheakdey is well known for cheating and the king issued an order to remove his title of advisor to Chea Xim. A few years ago, he was also involved in a cheating case where workers wanting to work in South Korea had to pay several hundreds of dollars of bogus fees. On 15 September 2011, the cops raided the “higher” education center owned by Sun Pheakdey and they arrested a number of employees working there for faking student identifications.

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ កម្លាំងនគរបាល ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល បានទទួលដីកា បញ្ជាពីចៅក្រមស៊ើប អង្កេត សាលាដំបូង ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល ឱ្យតាម ចាប់ខ្លួន បណ្ឌិត ស៊ន់ ភក្ដី ពីបទក្លែងបន្លំឯកសារ សាធារណៈ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ ២០១១ ដែល ប្រព្រឹត្ដទៅនៅ ភូមិដើមមៀន សង្កាត់ដើមមៀន ក្រុងតាខ្មៅ ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល ។

សូមបញ្ជាក់ថា បណ្ឌិតស៊ន់ ភក្ដី ដែល ល្បីល្បាញ ក្នុងអំពើឆបោករូបនេះ កាលពី ពេលកន្លងទៅ ត្រូវបានព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ត្រាស់ បង្គាប់ដកតួនាទីជាទីប្រឹក្សាសម្ដេចប្រធាន ព្រឹទ្ធសភាជា ស៊ីម ។

យោងតាមដីកា បង្គាប់ឱ្យចាប់ខ្លួនរបស់ ចៅក្រមស៊ើប សួរសាលាដំបូងខេត្ដកណ្ដាល លោកកេង សុម៉ារិទ្ធ ចុះថ្ងៃទី២៤ ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ដែលមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលព័ត៌មានដើម អម្ពិលទទួលបាននៅថ្ងៃចន្ទទី៣១ ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ បានបញ្ជាក់ថា ឈ្មោះស៊ន់ ភក្ដី ភេទប្រុស អាយុ៤៨ឆ្នាំ មានទីលនៅបច្ចុប្បន្ន ក្នុងភូមិដើមមៀន សង្កាត់ដើមមៀន ក្រុង តាខ្មៅ ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល ត្រូវចោទប្រកាន់ពី បទក្លែងបន្លំឯកសារសាធារណៈ ប្រព្រឹត្ដ ទៅកាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ បទល្មើស ដែលមានចែងឱ្យផ្ដន្ទាទោសតាម បញ្ញត្ដិមាត្រា៩២៩ នៃក្រមព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ ។

យោងតាមដីកាខាងលើ បានបង្គាប់ទៅ ភ្នាក់ងារមានសមត្ថកិច្ចឱ្យចាប់ខ្លួនឈ្មោះស៊ន់ ភក្ដី ដើម្បីចៀសវាងជននេះ បំផ្លាញភស្ដុតាង គៀបសង្កត់សាក្សី ឬកៀបសង្កត់ជនរងគ្រោះ និងដើម្បីបញ្ចប់បទល្មើសកុំឱ្យកើតឡើងជា ថ្មី ។

សូមបញ្ជាក់ថា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ កម្លាំងនគរបាលខេត្ដកណ្ដាលជា ច្រើននាក់ បានចុះទៅដល់សាលាអប់រំ ជាន់ ខ្ពស់ របស់បណ្ឌិតស៊ន់ ភក្ដី ដោយឃាត់ខ្លួន បុគ្គលិកមួយចំនួនពីបទក្លែងបន្លំធ្វើអត្ដសញ្ញាណដល់កូនសិស្ស ។

បណ្ឌិតស៊ន់ ភក្ដីនេះ ក៏ធ្លាប់មានរឿង អាស្រូវកាលពីប៉ុន្មានឆ្នាំមុនផងដែរ បន្ទាប់ពី ជននេះបានបោកប្រាស់ពលករ យកលុយរាប់ រយដុល្លារជាថ្នូរនឹងការផ្ដល់ឱកាសមួយទៅ ធ្វើការនៅប្រទេសកូរ៉េ ប៉ុន្ដែទីបំផុតសុទ្ធតែ ជាការបោកប្រាស់ ។ អំឡុងការចុះបង្ក្រាប របស់សមត្ថកិច្ចខេត្ដកណ្ដាល នៅសាលាអប់រំ ជាន់ខ្ពស់ ក្នុងសង្កាត់ដើមមៀន ជនសង្ស័យ រូបនេះ មិនបាននៅកន្លែងកើតហេតុនោះទេ គឺរត់គេចខ្លួនបាត់ ហើយបច្ចុប្បន្នមិនដឹងស្ថិត នៅទីណានោះទេ ខណៈកម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ច ជំនាញ កំពុងតាមចាប់ខ្លួន ៕

Acid Attack Law Falls Short, Groups Say

Nov Rey, 50, an acid attack victim, looks on as she waits to sing during a performance by traditional Cambodian musicians, file photo. (Photo: AP)

Monday, 31 October 2011
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“The law must have strong punishment for acid attackers to reduce acid attacks in Cambodia.”

Rights groups and other officials say the government has not gone far enough in drafting a law on acid attacks, by failing to include provisions for the treatment of victims or to ascribe punishments to those who hire attackers.

Acid attacks are a common form of retribution in Cambodia, often ordered by powerful men or women and carried out by hired assailants.

Rights groups say about half of the draft’s 27 articles need to be improved before the law is passed. The National Assembly expects to pass the law next week.

Horng Lairapo, head of the legal unit for the Cambodian Acid Survivors Network, said the law should provide permanent treatment support for attack victims, rather than just “primary treatment.”

The group now helps about 345 attack victims, he said.

Most victims often need lifelong treatment, he said. Each treatment can cost up to $1,000, he said, and a victim may need as many as 20 treatments.

Mu Sochua, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said she supported permanent treatment for victims at state-run health centers or hospitals.

“Injuries by acid attack affect human beauty and feelings,” she said. “So the national budget must respond to these problems.”

Am Sam Ath, lead investigator for the rights group Licadho, said the state needs to train professional medical doctors for the effective treatment of acid burns, particularly in health centers and state hospitals.

Cheam Yiep, a lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, said the draft law in fact allows for further treatment of victims, where severe cases would be moved to provincial hospitals for “long term treatment.”

Som Bunnarith, a 40-year-old who was blinded by an acid attack in 2006, allegedly by a jealous wife, said he was happy there will now be a law to support victims.

“The law must have strong punishment for acid attackers to reduce acid attacks in Cambodia,” he said. “I want the law to punish acid offenders very seriously.”

However, Am Sam Ath said the law falls short because it does not have provisions to punish the people who order acid attacks.

“Articles 14 to 24 state the punishments for the direct acid attacker, but we do not see punishment for the acid attack conspirator or initiator,” he said. “We’re urging the National Assembly to rethink these articles.”

The law calls for between two to five years for assailants, but Son Chhay, an SRP lawmaker, said this was not enough.

Cheam Yiep said conspirators would also be punished, even if there is no language in the law, according to the constitution.

Kim Leng, a 27-year-old attack victim who suffered burns along her right hand, neck, chest and thigh, after she ended an engagement, said the law must provide more punishment.

“I want the acid attacker punished by more than 30 years in prison,” she said.

Cambodia Flood Victims Receive Food, Supplies

Monday, October 31, 2011
CBNNews.com

Severe flooding in Cambodia now affects 17 of the country’s 24 provinces.

Volunteer teams from CBN International are working to get relief packages to victims.

Many of the aid recipients are farmers. The roads surrounding their remote villages are too flooded to allow them to reach food and other supplies.

Volunteers have distributed more than 3,000 relief packages, along with one ton of rice.

CBN is also providing a group of 35 orphans with daily meals. They’re living in temporary facilities until the flooding recedes.

Cambodia to borrow more for flood damage, rice plans [-Phnom Penh is facing severe economic problem?]

Monday, Oct 31, 2011
Reuters

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia could borrow US$1.1 billion (S$1.37 billion) from other countries in 2012, 75 per cent more than this year, to help repair infrastructure damaged in flooding and support efforts to increase rice exports to 1 million tonnes by 2015, a senior official said on Monday.

Cheam Yeap, chairman of the Finance Commission, said the borrowing, which has to be approved by parliament, would come in the form of concessionary, 40-year loans at low interest rates.

He declined to say which countries might offer the loans but said that of Cambodian’s current debt of around $8 billion, some $6 billion was owed to its closest ally, China. Another $1.5 billion is owed to Russia and $317 million to the United States, he added.

Cheam Yeap said the draft 2012 budget, which also has to go before parliament, includes provisions for new spending of $2.69 billion, up from $2.4 billion this year.

As part of efforts to generate more revenue, the government in the poor Southeast Asian country intends to impose a tax on real estate and is looking at plans to start issuing bonds.

Cambodia is forecast to export 180,000 tonnes of rice in 2011, more than three times last year’s volume.

State Logistics Agency’s Search for Rice in Cambodia

Monday, 31 October, 2011
TEMPO Interactive

Jakarta:The Indonesian government does not only rely on countries like Vietnam and Thailand for rice supply. The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) also looks for supply in other countries which has sufficient reserves. Bulog CEO Soetarto Alimoeso said that his office is currently exploring the possibility to sign rice imports contract with Cambodia.

“We’ve gone through all [procedures]. I even have signed a contract with the Cambodian Trade Ministry,” Soetarto told TEMPO on Sunday. Soetarto said that he had met the Cambodian ambassador to Indonesia in order to discuss about cooperation in short-term and long-term rice provision.

Bulog considers Cambodia to have more than sufficient rice reserves. The country’s overproduction reached 2 million tonnes while there are only 14 million citizens in the country.

FEBRIANA FIRDAUS | GUSTIDHA BUDIARTIE

Sihanouk: The great survivor turns 89

31 October 2011
By Milton Osborne
The Interpreter

“It is true that I have been an authoritarian head of state …” – Norodom Sihanouk

There surely is no greater survivor among international political figures of the past and present centuries than Norodom Sihanouk, now titled the King Father of Cambodia, who turns 89 today, or 90 by Cambodian reckoning. He returned to Phnom Penh last week after three months of medical treatment in Beijing and vowed never to leave Cambodia again.

Over more than half a century Sihanouk has been king (he has abdicated twice), prime minister and chief of state of his country. Ousted in a coup in 1970, he became the nominal head of the Khmer Rouge-dominated National United Front of Kampuchea fighting against the Khmer Republic. He was then briefly chief of state of Pol Pot’s Democratic Kampuchea.

Severing his ties with the Khmer Rouge after that regime’s overthrow in 1979, he finally returned to mount the Cambodian throne again in 1993 after playing a predictably complex role in the negotiations that led to the settlement of the Cambodian problem. He abdicated for the second time in 2004.

Born into the Cambodian royal family in 1922, Sihanouk never expected to become king. He was plucked from relative obscurity as a student at a colonial lycee in Saigon by the French and placed on the throne in 1941 at a time of deep crisis in their colonial possessions in Indochina.

The French felt sure they could manipulate the shy 19 year-old and until almost the end of the Second World War the French were largely correct in their estimation. But from 1946 they found they were dealing with a different man. He proved to be, as a French general observed and Sihanouk has never ceased to quote, ‘a madman of genius.’

I offered my own judgments on Sihanouk’s career up to 1994 in an unauthorised biography published in 1994 (Sihanouk: Prince of Light Prince of Darkness), but on this notable occasion Sihanouk’s unusually introspective judgment of himself in his memoir, Souvenirs Doux et Amers, published in 1981, is worth quoting:

It is true that I have been an authoritarian head of state, or more exactly a blend of Sukarno of Indonesia and Nasser of Egypt. But I have never been in the same class as Amin Dada of Uganda or Macias N’Guema of Equitorial Guinea, even less their undisputed master of cruelty, Pol Pot of Democratic Kampuchea. Neither have I been this insignificant and feckless ‘little king’ depicted by some right-wing French newspapers, which see me as a kind of ‘negro king’…with yellow skin…Quite simply, I am a man. With his good points and his bad. I am neither more or less virtuous than my brother men, created in the words of ‘Genesis’, in the image of God, but having to assume the inheritance of original sin.

Vietnam, Japan nuclear project intact despite Fukushima

nam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (L) is welcomed by his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda prior to their talks at Noda’s official residence in Tokyo October 31, 2011. REUTERS/Toru Yamanaka/Pool

TOKYO Oct 31 (Reuters) – Japan and Vietnam on Monday reaffirmed their plan to build a nuclear power plant in the Southeast Asian country using Japanese technology, even as Tokyo still struggles to put the world’s worst nuclear accident in 25 years under control.

Last October, energy-hungry Vietnam accepted Japan as a partner in the construction of two nuclear reactors in Ninh Thuan province in central Vietnam.

But in March, a massive earthquake and tsunami knocked out the cooling functions at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, 240 km (150 miles) northeast of Tokyo, triggering fuel rod meltdowns, explosions and radiation leakage.

A joint statement, released after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, said Japan was committed to enhance nuclear safety by sharing lessons learnt from the Fukushima accident.

“The Vietnamese side, welcoming such Japan’s efforts, … expressed its strong desire for the provisions of nuclear technologies from Japan,” the statement said.

“The Japanese side expressed its intention to provide Vietnam with the technologies that represent the world’s highest level of nuclear safety,” it added.

Exporting social infrastructure, such as high-speed railway systems and nuclear power generation systems, is a pillar of Japan’s ruling Democratic Party’s growth strategy.

But the Fukushima accident shattered the public’s trust on the safety of nuclear power generation and raised doubt over such strategy.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)