Friday, September 18, 2009

MFAIC Dismisses Mu Sochua’s Remarks

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) on Wednesday criticized remarks recently made by Mu Sochua, a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker (SRP), at a US at human rights commission.

The MFAIC rejection came following Mu Sochua’s claim that human rights and democracy in Cambodia is worsening. She alleged that the kingdom’s court system is not just, as she lost a defamation case against Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

MFAIC Secretary of State Uch Borith revealed details of a meeting with the US ambassador in Phnom Penh about Mu Sochua’s remarks.

“According to the ambassador, it was not a formal and bilateral talk between Mu Sochua and US Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton [but] was just a meeting by chance in the street, out of the office,” he told reporters.

“Mu Sochua had asked the US Government to send a delegation to Cambodia to study and investigate democracy and human rights in Cambodia, but the response from the US foreign minister was negative,” he claimed. Uch Borith stated that the opposition lawmaker’s remarks would have no effect on cooperation between the US and Cambodia. “It means Mu Sochua told lies, not only to the Cambodian people, but also to the world,” he said.

The minister clarified that the security of Mu Sochua will be ensured. “If our Government was a dictatorship, she could not have left Cambodia.”

The Commission of Foreign Affair, International Cooperation, and Infor- mation of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) on Monday dismissed remarks made by Mu Sochua, a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker (SRP ), at the Human Commission of Tom Lantos.

“Removing the parliamentary immunity of Mu Sochua and Ho Vann followed by Article 80 and 88 of the Cambodian Constitution and Article 8 to 12 of the 2006 Lawmaker Statute,” noted the NA statement.

“We reject and dismiss the remarks of Mu Sochua,” the statement said. “Sam Rainsy himself did not acknowledge election result and refused to attend 9 commissions of the NA.”

The NA disagreed with Human Right Commission of Tom Lantos, which apparently only invited Cambodian opposition officials, not allowing members of the Cambodian Government to attend. This action, said the NA, showed that the event was undemocratic and unbalanced. It could put strain on the relationship between Cambodia and US.

Meanwhile, the NA welcomed and supported US Assembly Foreign Affair Commission Director Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, saying he knew the real democracy of Cambodia.

After she lost her case against premier Hun Sen at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Mu Sochua filed with the Appeal Court, and then travelled to the US to try to publicize the situation in Cambodia.

Source: dap-news.c0m

Thailand denies Cambodian burned alive

The Thai Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denied that their armed forces burned a Yun Rithy, a Cambo- dian citizen, alive after catching him cutting down trees illegally on the Thai border.

The Thai rejection came following a diplomatic note from Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) sent to the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. The note asked for clarification of details related to the case.

Thai Ministry Spokesman Vimon Kidchob on Tuesday was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying that the his ministry had checked the report with the Border Affairs Department under the Supreme Command and found it “baseless.”

“Thai soldiers fired bullets into the sky near the border in Surin on Friday last week after finding about eights Cambodian teenagers were sneaking into Thai territory to cut down trees,” Vimon was quoted. “The report was misunderstanding and Thai soldiers did not use force in the incident,” she said.

However, Koy Kuong, Cambodian MFAIC spokesman, told DAP News Cambodia that, according to information published by the Bangkok Post, the denial was not a formal Thai Government statement so the Cambodian MFAIC could not clarify details of it. “Before we sent the diplomatic note to Thailand, we thought deeply,” Koy Kuong added.

Oddor Meanchey Inspection Chief Chhen Sivuth said it was clear that the Cambodian citizen was killed by being burned alive after being shot by Thai soldiers.

“Yun Rithy was killed by burning alive while another named Mao Khloueng was serious injured in the abdomen and is now staying at a provincial hospital,” he confirmed.

The Cambodian MFAIC on Tuesday sent a diplomatic note to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, complaining about “inhumane acts,” a reference to the alleged burning to death of one Cambodian citizen, according to the MFAIC diplomatic note.

Source: dap-news.com

Cambodia Wants to Become Member of Global Heritage Cults Committee: Sok An

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An invited all ambassadors to Cambodia to join a meeting to vote for Cambodia to become a member of the Global Heritage Cults Committee (GHCC) on Monday. VIPs and Prime Minister Hun Sen´s intimates will also attend the meeting, a cabinet officer said.

Sok An said at the meeting that Cambodia has never before had a member of the GHCC, a branch of UNESCO. “We hold this meeting to vote for Cambodia to become a member of the GHCC.”

There 13 files to support Cambo- dia’s bid to become a GHCC member, he said, including details of the UNESCO registering of the Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear temples.

“We will send Cambodia candidates to Paris, London, and New York to find supporters,” Sok An said.

“There are 20 countries who supported Cambodia as a candidate member of GHCC including India, Burma and other nations.”

Source: dap-news.com

Japan to Donates US$163,218 to Cambodia

In order to promote and improve Cambodia’s economic and social development, the Government of Japan will donate a total of US$ 163,218 though two Japanese NGOs projects, according to a Wednesday statement from the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh.

The statement said that, under the Japan’s economic cooperation frame- work and the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects, the Govern- ment of Japan will provide the US$163, 218 total.

“US$75,817 will be provided by PH-Japan Foundation for the Project for Improving Maternal and child-Health Services in Kampong Thom Province,” the statement said.
“US$87,401 will be provided by Japan League on Developmental Disabilities (JLDD) for the Project for Supporting People with Intellec-tual Disabilities by Community Approach (Phase II),” the statement added.

“US$87,401 will be provided by Japan League on Developmental Disabilities (JLDD) for the Project for Supporting People with Intellec-tual Disabilities by Community Approach (Phase II),” the statement added. The grant aid agreement will be signed between Kuroki Masafurni, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the representatives of the recipient organizations at the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh on Thursday.

The Japanese Government has provided thousands of million dollars to Cambodian government in order to promote and improve development in all fields, aiming at reducing the poverty of Cambodian citizens.
Source: dap-news.com

Monday, September 14, 2009

Robbery Suspects Arrested with 6 Guns

Phnom Penh: Phnom Penh Penalty Police arrested two men, who were suspected of robbing the previous gold shop in Phnom Penh and other province. Police confiscated six Ak rifles and guns in the cracking down.

Cooperating with Tuolkork district police, they also arrested a souse in connecting to the receiving the robbed properties on Saturday afternoon in Tuolkor district’s Toek La Ork III commune. Chea Chantha, 38, and his wife Kao Sophea, 30, are the gold merchant in Hengly market. Police are searching for their accomplices.

Source: Khmer News

Cambodian commanders met Thai foreign Minister in border areas

Mr. Kasit (R) toured the Sombok Khmum areas.

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

Cambodian commanders have met Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya at Sombok Khmum near Preah Vihear temple during his visit to the areas on Sunday 13th September.

Mr. Kasit arrived at the areas at 10:30 am, met Gen. Chea Dara, Commander-in-Chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, toured Sombok Khmum areas and toured the market location burnt down by Thai rockets during the fighting on 3rd April, 2009 and left at 11:30 am. He did not visit Wat Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda.

In relations to border issues, Gen. Chea Dara said Cambodian troops had been instructed to defend every inch of Cambodian territories. Likewise, Cambodia does not need even one inch of Thai territories, he said.

Gen. Chea Dara said he and Gen. Srey Doek as well as other Cambodian generals have been instructed by Prime Minister Hun Sen to give a warm welcome to Mr. Kasit and his delegation.

Source: Khmerization

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Thai soldiers burnt one Cambodian alive and seriously wounded another one

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

A group of Thai soldiers, parachuted from a helicopter, have reportedly shot at 12 Cambodians, wounding two, of which one was burnt to death alive.
Mr. Chhin Sivuthy, director of Inspectorate of Ouddor Meanchey province, said the 12 Cambodians went foraging for food and to work to remove logs for Thai traders in the border areas. Suddenly on the morning of 11th September, a Thai helicopter from Forestry Department flew over the areas and dropped a group of soldiers. The soldiers immediately began shooting at the Cambodians, wounding two. One wounded Cambodian, 18 year-old Mao Kloeng, has been rescued by his friends, while the second wounded person, 16 year-old Yon Rith was arrested and reportedly burnt alive. "In the crackdown, two Cambodians were seriously wounded. One was rescued back into Cambodian territories by his friends, but unfortunately the second person, who was unable to escape, was arrested by Thai soldiers. They poured petrol over his body and burnt him alive", he said.
Mr. Chhin Sivuthy said that after the Thai shooting, 50 Cambodian border soldiers rushed to the scene to help those Cambodians attacked by the Thai soldiers. They found the almost unrecognisable charred body of 16 year-old Yon Rith in the areas.
Mr. Chhin Sivuthy added that during the search for the Cambodians who have been attacked by the Thai soldiers, those 50 heavily armed Cambodian soldiers found 6 houses built by Thai soldiers in the areas considered "disputed". The Cambodian soldiers demanded the Thai soldiers to dismantle those houses and move out of the areas by Monday 14th September. If not, they will launch the attack.
Source: Khmerization

PM: No sovereignty loss

Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 13/09/2009
Thailand has not lost any territory in the disputed Thai-Cambodian border area near Preah Vihear temple, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) insisted.
The premier said in his weekly broadcast programme on Sunday that the joint statement between Thailand and Cambodia on the listing of the ancient temple as a World Heritage site had been revoked by then foreign minister Tej Bunnag.
"As a result, both countries have no treaty on this issue," Mr Abhisit said.
He said the government will not do anything to make Thailand lose its sovereignty.
"The government does not want misunderstandings and conflicts to erupt as they would damage both sides. The continuing disputed border problem will be solved through peaceful means to prevent it from affecting the bilateral ties between the two countries," he said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also understood the situation, Mr Abhisit said.
Since there were communities, markets and roads in the disputed border area, both Thai and Cambodian people had been residing there peacefully for a long time, he said.
Tension mounted after military forces from both sides were dispatched to the area, and the situation should be restored to normal, he said.
Source: Khmerization

Kasit still friend with PAD

Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 13/09/2009

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya (pictured) insisted he and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) were not in conflict.
Earlier, the yellow-shirt PAD accused the foreign minister of failing to protect the country's terrority adjacent to Preah Vihear temple.
Mr Kasit said before visiting the area around the disputed Thai-Cambodian border near the ancient temple on Sunday morning that he had invited PAD core members for a meeting so he could explain his work an the border situation to them.
On the yellow-shirt supporters' plan to gather near Preah Vihear on Sept 19, he said they have the right to do so, and believed police and military forces would be able to maintain peace and order during the demonstration.
"The purpose of this visit is to meet people in Si Sa Ket. I will give moral support to the soldiers at the disputed border area," the minister said.
The government will continue to follow the framework agreement with all neighbouring countries to bring about peace, he said.
Source: Khmerization

FM: Thailand's stance on Preah Vihear temple unchanged

BANGKOK, Sept 13 (TNA) - Urging activists of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who plan to gather at the ancient Preah Vihear temple Saturday to demand Cambodian civilians and military to leave the contested area around the temple to not approach the issue emotionally, Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said Sunday that the border problem between the two countries must be solved through “peaceful means.”

Reiterating that the Thai government’s stance regarding the ancient temple remains unchanged, Mr. Kasit said the problem must be solved at the negotiating table by strictly following agreements made by the two countries and the United Nations charter.

“It is not proper to use emotions, feelings or excessive patriotism,” said Mr. Kasit, adding that the two countries are brothers.

PAD supporters earlier urged the Thai government to push back Khmer soldiers and civilians from occupying the contested 4.6 square kilometre contested zone surrounding the 11th-century temple. Mr. Kasit said the group has a right to express its opinion, while the government has a duty to promote positive international relations and reasserted that the border issue must be solved by peaceful means.

Mr. Kasit said before leaving to inspect areas around the temple that if the PAD gathers at the contested area, Thai police or military would provide security for them.

The ruins of the temple belong to Cambodia, but the most practical entrance begins at the foot of a mountain in Thailand, and both sides claim portions of the surrounding territory.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear itself belongs to Cambodia.
Tensions flared along the border in July 2008 after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) granted Cambodia’s ancient temple status as a World Heritage Site status. (TNA)
Source: Khmerization

Cambodian-Chinese friendship benefits two peoples

by Xinhua writers Zhang Ruiling, Lei Bosong
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China have brought continued benefits to the two peoples, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured).
The two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1958 under their then leaderships -- His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, he said in a recent written interview with Xinhua.
"Until now, the Cambodian people always consider the relations a valuable legacy of the two leaders," he said, adding that "such good relations have been constantly strengthened by their succeeding leaders and their peoples.
"He said the Kingdom of Cambodia have always staunchly adhered to the one-China policy and regard Taiwan and Tibet as inalienable parts of China.
Hun Sen said that over the recent years, there have been frequent exchanges of high-level visits between both countries. "And as for myself, since 2004, I, as a Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, have paid eight visits to China," he said.
"Obviously, such visits have further strengthened the friendship" between the two countries and promoted their economic, trade, culture and tourism cooperation.

He noted that China has provided huge financial assistance in the forms of grants and loans for major infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and hydro power stations.

From 1992 to June 2009, China's financial aid to Cambodia has totaled some 923 million U.S. dollars, Hun Sen said.He also congratulated China on the 60th anniversary of its birth which falls on Oct. 1.

Editor: Chris

Cambodian PM: China's growth locomotive for regional development

by Xinhua writers Zhang Ruiling, Lei Bosong

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- China has made itself a locomotive for regional growth through its efforts to combat the world economic crisis, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured).
"It is obvious that the Chinese leaders are far-sighted in having China integrated into the global economy, which is in fact contributing to regional and world development," he said in a recent written interview with Xinhua.
Hun Sen said he believed China's success has been due to a gradual and consistent reform. "I think China has made a right strategy in participating in the global economy with a continued improvement of its institutions and productivity," he said.
While many countries around the world are having recessions, China's economy remains remarkably stable, Hun Sen said. This showed that the development model and economic policy of China are more effective than some of the developed economies, he added.
"All economic activities worldwide are, in fact, having direct or indirect links with China, and China thus played an important role in ensuring development across the Asian region," he said.
The transparency of the Chinese economic policy is another reason why it has maintained growth and built confidence among investors.
He congratulated the country on its 60th anniversary of its birth which falls on Oct. 1.
Editor: Wang Yan
Source: Khmerization

HK rally over Chinese 'assault'

Journalists have led a march in Hong Kong protesting against alleged police beatings of three reporters covering recent unrest in western China.

Demonstrators held placards reading "respect press freedom" and "reporting the news is not crime". The three TV journalists say that they were punched, kicked and tied up before being detained for three hours.
The alleged assaults took place during a protest in Urumqi in western China's Xinjiang province on 4 September.

At the time, thousands of Han Chinese were protesting over a spate of stabbings with syringes blamed on attackers from the region's Uighur Muslims.
Riot police used tear gas to quell the protests, which came amid heightened tensions between Han Chinese and Uighurs.

Footage of the rough treatment endured by the journalists shocked officials and the general public in Hong Kong, reports the BBC's Vaudine England.

In a subsequent news conference, a senior Xinjiang official Hou Hanmin expressed regret for the journalists' treatment - but blamed them for stirring unrest.

She also accused the reporters - TVB senior reporter Lam Tsz-ho, his cameraman Lau Wing-chuen and Now TV cameraman Lam Chun-wai - of working without permits.
'Over the line'

Simmering ethnic tensions have erupted into violence in Urumqi

Sunday's protest was called by the Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) and was backed by several news outlets in the city - which enjoys relative press freedom compared to the Chinese mainland.

Scores of protesters, many wearing black, marched on the local offices of Chinese central government.

"This time the authorities are over the line," HKJA chairwoman Mak Yin-ting told the gathering, according to AP news agency.

"They did not only beat reporters, but blamed them for inciting the public disorder.

" Democrat politician Lee Cheuk-yan said he believed Chinese security services wanted to intimidate the usually feisty Hong Kong press pack.

"I think they are starting to squeeze the Hong Kong press and to harass Hong Kong reporters so in the future they will be more worried about reporting inside China," he said.

The Chinese government has been struggling to restore calm in Xinjiang since riots in July, the worst ethnic unrest in the country for decades.

On Saturday, a court sentenced three people to up to 15 years in jail in the first trials over the syringe attacks.

The court did not give the defendants' ethnicity but their names suggested they were from the Muslim Uighur minority.

Source: BBC News

UNESCO Registers Toul Sleng

Written by DAP News Administrator
Saturday, 12 September 2009

The Tuol Sleng Museum of Cambodian Genocide (pictured), well-known all over the world for its grim exhibits relating to torture and thousands of killings at a former school during the brutal Pol Pot regime, was registered by UNESCO as Global Documentary Heritage on Friday.
Toul Sleng, used as a detention centre 1975-79 and designated as S-21, holds 4,186 prisoner ‘confessions’, 6,226 biographies of prisoners and 6,147 photographic prints, according to an archive officer.
Secretary of UNESCO for Cambodia Tann Theany told DAP News Cambodia that the new Cambodian generation should be educated about the sorrows inflicted upon Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge years, as well as make sure the world never forgets the tragedy.
“All archives are kept in the museum,” she stressed. Director General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura announced the inscription of documentary heritage on the recommendation of experts during a three day meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Program in on July 31, 2009 in Bridgetown.
Cambodia’s Toul Sleng Museum Archives, the Royal Archives of Thailand and Madagascar, Anne Frank’s Diaries in the Netherlands and the Santa Fe Capitulations in Spain were also added to the register, Koichiro added.
“This bring the total number of inscriptions to 193 items since 1997.”S-21 imprisoned over 15,000 people in the 1975-79 Pol Pot regime, according to the Toul Sleng archives.

Vietnamese products compete in Cambodia


Photo: vietnewsonline
Vietnamese products now have good opportunities to expand in Cambodia, as consumers there tend to choose Vietnamese products over those from Thailand and China.

Vietnamese products now hold the second largest market share in Cambodia after Thailand. 400 Vietnamese businesses, most of whom specialise in trade, finance or manufacturing, have invested in the country.
Vietnam’s major exports to Cambodia include instant noodles, plastic products, tobacco, confectionery, seed corn, household products, and vegetables, while it imports materials for textiles and garments, automobile parts, timber and rubber.
Bilateral trade turnover has been rising by about 40 percent every year, totalling US$1.7 billion in 2008. It is expected to reach US$2 billion in 2010. Export turnover sees a much greater increase than import.
The overall worth of Vietnamese products consumed in Cambodia reached US$988 million, surpassing products from China and Thailand. The nine products with the biggest turnover include steel for construction, agricultural machinery, fertilizer, plant protection chemicals, household products, processed agricultural products, dairy products, seafood and re-exported petrol.
According to Cambodian businesses, in terms of quality and prices, Vietnamese products are in no way inferior to Thai products. Some food products are even fresher when arriving in Cambodia due to the shorter distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh.
A delegation of experts from the Business Studies and Assistance centre (BSA) and Business Studies Center of the Sai Gon Tiep Thi newspaper recently came to Phnom Penh and Battambang and surveyed 500 retailers to study the competitiveness of Vietnamese products versus Thai and Chinese products.
The survey includes 3 stages, the first of which began in May. During this stage BSA has studied the business environment and policies and interviewed successful Vietnamese distributors in Cambodia.
The results show that Vietnamese products in the Cambodian market are cheap and their quality is acceptable. Vietnam has built the trademarks of a number of high-quality products which have become quite popular in Cambodia.
By contrast, Cambodian people have recently become cautious about substandard products originating from China.
In fact, Chinese products have not yet been much sought after in this market, while Thai products are beyond the reach of most Cambodian people.
According to Truong Cung Nghia, Director of the Truong Doan Market Research Company, Vietnamese products are not nicely packaged as Thai products and even have no desciption in Khmer language.
In addition, Vietnamese trademark advertising is failing to create a strong impression on Cambodian customers and secure a foothold for Vietnamese products in the Cambodian market.
Experts say that to penetrate the Cambodian market, businesses should establish a distribution network for export products, promote the advertisement of Vietnamese trademarks, ensure business prestige and introduce more products to Cambodian retailers. If new products are introduced, customers should be allowed to sample these products. Currently, a number of Vietnamese entrepreneurs are keen on setting up new businesses in Cambodia to distribute their products to Cambodian consumers.

Blog List