2012-9-1-7 CAM.DAILY-PP Post-DAP by otc communication

ASEAN Economic Ministers agree to deepen integration efforts

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Saturday, 01 September 2012 10:11 DAP

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- ASEAN economic ministers agreed on Friday to deepen the bloc's integration efforts towards realizing an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, officials said. Speaking in a press briefing on Friday evening after the week- long 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and related meetings, Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said the meetings were wrapped up successfully and the ministers agreed to "deepen ASEAN integration" in order to achieve an ASEAN economic community in 2015. He said that on its way to an ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, the bloc is still facing a number of challenges or local sensitivity that needs to be addressed. "But we believe that with sound political input, some more political wills to be expressed by the leaders, those hesitations would be erased and would be less and less challenges for us to achieve the goal," said the minister, also the chair of 2012 ASEAN. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN secretary-general, said that ASEAN has done well in terms of soft infrastructure such as agreements, protocols, and various elements of cooperation and coordination among member states. "So far, ASEAN has ratified about 72 to 73 percent of all the major instruments of cooperation among ASEAN," he told the press briefing. "Our remaining challenges are how to implement every of those instruments, and how to translate the regional ASEAN commitments into the national agenda implementation, rules, laws and regulations." He expressed his confidence that ASEAN will be able to achieve an ASEAN Economic Community on schedule thanks to ASEAN's joint commitment and help from dialogue partners. Indonesia's Trade Minister Gita Wijrawan said on the sidelines of the meeting on Tuesday that a joint commitment will make ASEAN be able to overcome those challenges. "The scorecard has revealed a good percentage of the items ASEAN has fulfilled and completed towards the community building, but there is still a lot of work to be done," he said, adding that ASEAN needs to basically engage with private sectors and put more focus on connectivity. After the week-long meetings, the economic ministers expressed their satisfaction with ASEAN's economic growth of 4.7 percent last year despite the heightened uncertainties in the global economy, according to a joint media statement on Friday. They said that the positive but moderate economic growth was underpinned by resilient domestic demand, strong macroeconomic fundamentals, sound balance sheets of banks and the corporate sector, and on-going structural reforms since 1997. "We are confident that our economic expansion would remain healthy this year, with projected GDP growth of between 5.2 percent and 5.9 percent," the ministers said in the statement.

9/7/2012 12:09 PM

ASEAN Economic Ministers agree to deepen integration efforts

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The ministers were also pleased to note that ASEAN's merchandise trade grew at 16.8 percent from 2.05 trillion U.S. dollars in 2010 to 2.39 trillion U.S. dollars in 2011 despite the slowdown global trade, with intra-ASEAN trade remained strong at 598 billion U.S. dollars. They said Japan was the top export destination, followed by China, the European Union, and the United States. At the same time, export and import in services grew by about 10 percent in 2011. Travel, transportation, other business services, and financial services continue to be the top services export sectors. They were also pleased that ASEAN maintained its position as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), which reached 89.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2011. The European Union remained the top source of FDI to ASEAN, accounting for approximately 25 percent of total inward FDI to ASEAN. Japan and the United States were the second and third largest source of FDI, altogether accounting for 22.5 percent in total. Intra-ASEAN investment grew at 23 percent in 2011, reaching 17. 5 billion U.S. dollars which accounted for 19.7 percent of total inward FDI into ASEAN. In addition, they agreed to remain vigilant against downside risks such as further contraction of external demand caused by the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone, fiscal problems in some developed economies, tighter global financing conditions, higher oil prices, and volatile global capital flows. Founded in 1967, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

9/7/2012 12:09 PM

ASEAN, Canada adopt trade, investment work plan

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Saturday, 01 September 2012 10:08 DAP

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The first consultations between the ten ASEAN Economic Ministers and their Canadian counterpart were concluded here on Friday, adopting the ASEAN-Canada trade and investment work plan 2012-2015 to promote bilateral economic ties, according to a joint statement. The meeting was co-chaired by Cambodia's Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh, the chair of ASEAN in 2012, and Canada's Minister of International Trade Ed Fast. The statement said that the ministers tasked senior economic officials to develop and implement the activities under the work plan with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation as well as promoting trade and investment between ASEAN and Canada. "The work plan will set the stage for deepened economic ties through a forward looking agenda," it said. The ministers also welcomed the establishment of the Canada- ASEAN Business Council, which will serve as the channel for business-to-business dialogue to raise awareness of trade and investment opportunities in ASEAN and Canada. They expressed confidence that the council could also eventually serve as the channel for future governmentto-business engagement aimed at seeking private-sector inputs on further enhancing ASEAN-Canada economic relations, it said. According to the statement, the bilateral trade between ASEAN and Canada grew by 10 percent last year. Canada became the seventh largest source of foreign direct investment in ASEAN with investment from Canada to ASEAN reaching 900 million U.S. dollars last year.

9/7/2012 12:10 PM

U.S., Cambodia to explore possibility of investment treaty

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Saturday, 01 September 2012 10:10 DAP

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced Friday that the United States and Cambodia have agreed to begin exploratory discussions on a potential bilateral investment treaty, according to a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. The announcement followed a meeting here between Kirk and Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh, the chair of the 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and related meetings, which were opened on Monday and lasted until Friday. "Experts in the United States and Cambodia will now discuss our respective investment policies and investment agreements to determine key similarities and differences, with an eye to sharing approaches and opening further discussions based on the U.S. model text for bilateral investment treaties," said the press release. "A bilateral investment treaty between the United States and Cambodia would encourage investment by improving investment climates, promoting market-based economic reforms, and strengthening the rule of law," Kirk said. "Our decision to explore this possibility highlights progress made by Cambodia in fostering a policy environment that treats private investment in an open, transparent, and non-discriminatory way." A bilateral investment treaty provides binding legal rules regarding one country's treatment of investors from another country.

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9/7/2012 12:09 PM

Human trafficking rise prompts action | National news

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Human trafficking rise prompts action Monday, 03 September 2012 Sen David 0

Migrant workers are returned to Cambodia by Thai immigration police at the Poipet border crossing in Banteay Meanchey province. National police have vowed to further strengthen efforts to fight trafficking following the arrest of more than 100 people in connection with such crimes this year. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post Human and sex trafficking complaints had increased markedly this year, with police vowing to redouble their resources to fight the rampant crimes, officials said at a summit on Friday. Mok Chito, head of the General Secretariat of the National Police Commissioner’s central judicial department, said 113 people had been arrested in the first eight months of 2012 for involvement in human and sex trafficking rackets. A total of 315 trafficked Cambodians have been repatriated so far – 181 were maids, mostly from Malaysia, Chito said. “Of these victims of human trafficking, 10 were sent directly through a recruitment firm and five through a training centre,” he said. “Their rescue was the result of joint co-operation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cambodian embassies and NGOs.” The other 134 repatriated workers, including fishermen, had been trafficked to countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea. The number of arrests, Cambodians repatriated and complaints filed to police about international human and sex trafficking – 370 – had all increased from 2011, Chito said. He would not say to what extent the figures had climbed, but said there was a marked increase on last year’s numbers. Chito’s comments followed a General Commissariat of National Police meeting on Friday at which this year’s figures were reported and officials discussed better ways of combating human and sex trafficking.

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9/7/2012 3:30 PM

Human trafficking rise prompts action | National news

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Ministry of Interior secretary of state Chou Bun Eng said there were plans to form an inter-ministry committee to further crack down on trafficking. “People are continuing to believe what brokers are telling them,” she said. To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at david.sen@phnompenhpost.com “They try to escape authorities, which is why all our efforts must continue to be used to combat trafficking at a local and national level. This will still take a long time.”

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9/7/2012 3:30 PM

Ministry issues nationwide weather warning | National news

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Ministry issues nationwide weather warning Monday, 03 September 2012 Phak Seangly 0

A boy uses an inner tube to help him navigate through floodwater in Kandal province last October. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post Wild winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash floods could be in store for the northern highlands and lower Mekong delta areas, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology said in a nationwide weather warning issued on Saturday. The announcement alerted 17 of Cambodia’s 23 provinces to the worrisome weather patterns being caused by low air pressure along the Mekong and in northern areas of Cambodia. Individuals living in mountains, areas below sea level and near waterways must take extra precautions in the face of potential flash floods, the ministry warned. The ministry extended the warnings through tomorrow for heavy rain and thunderstorms. Kim Savoeun, chief of Kampong Cham’s agricultural department, expressed distress about flooding in his province. “Flooding in Kampong Cham last year destroyed rice, crops, construction and took the lives of people,” said Savoeun. “We are worried about the upcoming flood but provincial authorities have held meetings to combat the flood.” However, not everyone predicted to be affected by the heavy rains is worried, and in some drought-stricken areas, the rain could come as a relief. “Such rain is a good thing and saves almost 10,000 hectares of rice that is in need of water,” said Uk Keoratanak, a spokesperson for Banteay Meanchey provincial hall. According to the National Committee for Disaster Management, storms this year have destroyed 193 homes, killed 20 and injured 59. To contact the reporter on this story: Phak Seangly at seangly.phak@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:29 PM

Ministry issues nationwide weather warning | National news

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With assistance from Rachel Will

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9/7/2012 3:29 PM

PM talks peace in bid to secure UN SC seat | National news

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PM talks peace in bid to secure UN SC seat Monday, 03 September 2012 Bridget Di Certo 0

Prime Minister Hun Sen has requested the support of the 120 Non-Aligned Movement countries for Cambodia’s bid at a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council. Speaking in Tehran, Iran, on Friday, where this year’s NAM summit is being held, the premier called for the “invaluable support of all members of NAM” for Cambodia to succeed in its first attempt to win a seat on the Security Council. “Cambodia continues to support the expansion of both permanent and nonpermanent membership of the UN SC, with the purpose to make the council more transparent and effective,” Hun Sen said to the delegations, which represent about 60 per cent of seats at the General Assembly that will vote next month for nonpermanent Security Council seats. Cambodia, whose only competition for the Asian seat is Bhutan, has been working hard to secure the seat, and touts its history as a proprietor of peace as a winning characteristic. To contact the reporter on this story: Bridget Di Certo at bridget.dicerto@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:31 PM

Police Blotter: 3 Sep 2012 | National news

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Police Blotter: 3 Sep 2012 Monday, 03 September 2012 Phnom Penh Post 0

Inept drug trafficker foiled by regular traffic A suspected drug trafficker delivered himself straight into the hands of police on Friday when he crashed his truck into a house in the Chbar Mon district of Kampong Speu. Unable to untangle himself from the unfortunate wreck, the 32-year-old was met by local police summoned by the unhappy homeowner. While inspecting the truck, officers discovered an illegal substance that caused the truck’s driver to make a sudden break for it. He didn’t get far, however, and was promptly arrested, admitting to the trafficking. He was subsequently taken to court. Kampuchea Thmey Daun Penh’s 12 slowest sex workers arrested Twelve sex workers allegedly soliciting in a park in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district were scooped up by police in a mass arrest on Friday. Police said the women regularly offered their services in the park, despite occasional crackdowns by the law. A number of women evaded the group arrest by fleeing, and those picked up were sent to the Ministry of Social Affairs. Deum Ampil It takes a village to beat up a motorbike thief A 28-year-old alleged moto thief took on the wrong town when he opportunistically revved up an unlocked vehicle whose owner had left the key in the ignition on Friday. The thief was spied by a vigilant neighbour, who decided to chase the suspect and his score. Eventually, the indefatigable neighbour caught up with the thief and exacted his own justice. Other residents in Kampot town joined in on the vigilante action, ticking off the unlucky thief in no uncertain terms. Police were called and the culprit now faces court. Koh Santepheap Brutally beaten victim arrested as suspect A Chamkarmon resident who witnessed three hoodlums brutally bash a man decided to do the neighbourly thing and call the police, only to see the victim picked up as well. The three gangsters had brazenly accosted the victim on a moto, laying into him without any apparent fear of being seen. Upon the arrival of the police, the attackers were duly cuffed, but authorities were equally interested in their battered victim, who was also arrested and now faces court. Kampuchea Thmey Woman sent to court for killing abusive spouse A 28-year-old woman allegedly did away with her brutish husband after he assaulted her at their home on Thursday. The man was hitting the bottle and arrived home in a savage state, turning on his wife with his fists. The woman grabbed a knife and stabbed him, killing him instantly. She admitted the incident to police and was sent to court. Koh Santepheap Translated by Sen David

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9/7/2012 3:33 PM

Police seize 2,000 yama tablets | National news

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Police seize 2,000 yama tablets Monday, 03 September 2012 Khoun Leakhana 0

Anti-drug authorities from the Ministry of Interior seized 2,000 methamphetamine pills and arrested three suspects in a Phnom Penh bust over the weekend. Khieu Saman, director of the ministry‘s anti-drug department, said yesterday the men had been arrested near the Srah Srong restaurant, on National Road 6A in Russei Keo district. The accused were allegedly carrying in their car a bag of 2,000 pills of “yama”, an amphetamine-type stimulant. Authorities chased the car and fired shots in the air to warn it against fleeing further. Saman said the suspects had confessed to the crime, but police were still searching for accomplices. To contact the reporter on this story: Khoun Leakhana at leakhana.khoun@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:33 PM

Report urges Better Factories to do more | National news

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Report urges Better Factories to do more Monday, 03 September 2012 Chhay Channyda 0

A worker cuts cloth at a factory owned by Tai Yang Enterprises in July. The factory has been plagued by frequent protests recently. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post Better Factories Cambodia must name and shame garment factories that abuse the labour law if it is to transform Cambodia into an ethical sourcing option, a report on the International Labor Organization initiative says. Better Factories should make monitoring reports public, according to the 10 Years of the Better Factories Cambodia Project report, released on Thursday by Clean Clothes Campaign and Community Legal Education Center. “Current reporting performances are a glaring step backward from the level of transparency the program started with. Between 2001 and 2006, the BFC did actually publicly report factory names and compliance levels,” the report states. Although Better Factories has significantly improved factory working conditions during its decade here, its program must be improved if it is to have a lasting effect, the report adds. Better Factories, which monitors 374 garment factories and nine shoes factories, should also pressure the government to charge factories that break the law, hold international buyers more accountable for working conditions and monitor sub-contractors. Moeun Tola, president of CLEC, said that because Better Factories’ biannual reports didn’t mention names, employers who were mistreating workers could continue to do so. “[Better Factories] found 300 cases [of mistreatment] from many factories, but [details] are only in the report back to the factory – not the [public] synthesis report,” he said. “The government is also unaware of these cases.” Jill Tucker, chief technical adviser of Better Factories Cambodia, said the report had focused on the perspectives of union representatives and workers and had not involved many factory owners. “But I understand [the issues]. I’m not saying we have no more improvement to make, because we do.” Tucker said factory managers were often visiting Better Factories to undergo training in how to improve their

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9/7/2012 3:31 PM

Report urges Better Factories to do more | National news

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factories. To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com With assistance from Shane Worrell

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9/7/2012 3:31 PM

Two officials sacked over land ‘graft’ | National news

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Two officials sacked over land ‘graft’ Monday, 03 September 2012 Kim Sarom 0

Kampong Chhnang authorities had sacked the Teuk Phos district governor and police chief after subordinate officers accused them of conspiring to sell almost 300 hectares of state-owned forest land to a private company, provincial officials said yesterday. According to a Kampong Chhnang official who declined to be named, Ou Sakhorn and Kem Sareth, the governor and police chief of Teuk Phos respectively, were dismissed after multiple subordinates alleged that Sakhorn had used their names to divvy up and sell land in Thnol Keng and Preach Chruov villages, then pocket the proceeds. But provincial police commissioner Ath Khem denied the dismissal stemmed from the graft accusations, saying that it was simply a routine “rotation for government officials”. Sakhorn and Sareth could not be reached for comment, nor could Kampong Chhnang provincial governor Touch Marim. The anonymous official added Sakhorn had been suspended in 2006 over a 106-hectare land dispute. To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Sarom at sarom.kim@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:32 PM

Cambodian authorities to deport Pirate Bay co-founder | National news

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Cambodian authorities to deport Pirate Bay co-founder Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Cheang Sokha 0

Gottfrid Svartholm Warg (L) and Peter Sundin from Pirate Bay in Stockholm, on February 15, 2009, give their views on the eve of their trial. Cambodian authorities have agreed to deport Warg from the country today. Photograph: AFP Photo/Scanpix Sweden/Fredrik Persson Cambodian authorities have agreed to deport Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm Warg from the country in the immediate future, the deputy police commissioner confirmed today. General Sok Phal said he met with Swedish authorities this morning and, due to the lack of an extradition treaty between the two kingdoms, Sweden requested the deportation of Svartholm Warg. “We will use the Immigration Law against him to deport him out of our country and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng will sign on the deportation request letter from the police commissioner soon,” Phal told the Post. “We will have to just deport him, wherever he goes, we don’t know, but he has to be out of Cambodia,” Phal added. Svartholm Warg was arrested last Thursday by Cambodian authorities last Thursday at the behest of Sweden, which has an international arrest warrant out for its citizen, and is currently being detained at the Ministry of Interior’s immigration department. Svartholm Warg was convicted in 2009 of illegal filesharing through his bittorrent website. To contact the reporter on this story: Cheang Sokha at sokha.cheang@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:24 PM

Lao dam breaks ground | National news

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Lao dam breaks ground Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Shane Worrell 0

Xayaburi dam construction site in northern Laos. Photograph: Phnom Penh Post A waterfall has been blasted less than two kilometres from the Cambodian-Lao border, beginning work on another unapproved hydroelectric dam on the Mekong river, environmental group International Rivers claimed yesterday. Pianporn Deetes, the Thailand campaign coordinator for International Rivers, said she had learned of the excavation work, near Khone Falls, the largest in South East Asia, during a recent visit to Champasak province, where the Lao government proposes to build the Don Sahong hydroelectric dam. “Villagers reported that the dam builders have already blasted a waterfall near the [dam] site,” she said, adding this happened late last year. “Lao officials have told the villagers that they will not be allowed to fish with Ly fishing gear [large bamboo traps] in the area beginning in 2014.” Currently, fish are able to migrate downstream through Laos and into Cambodia through the 50- to 100-metre-wide Hou Sahong channel year-round; however, the Lao government will block this migration avenue, diverting fish through an alternative five metre-wide passage where the blasted waterfall had been. “The dam’s construction, and the end of Ly fishing, is a major concern because local people depend so heavily on fishing for their livelihoods,” Deetes said. Although much less powerful than the proposed 1,285 megawatt Xayaburi dam in northern Laos, Don Sahong, which could have a capacity of 380 megawatts, would also threaten Cambodian fishing communities downstream because of its potential to block the Hou Sahong channel, the only section of the Mekong that fish pass through during the dry season, IR said. The Malaysian company Mega First Corporation is contracted to build Don Sahong, but fellow Mekong River Commission states Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand have not agreed to the project – a requirement under a 1995 pact. Ame Trandem, Southeast Asia program director for IR, said the Don Sahong dam would be disastrous for the Mekong river’s fisheries: “Like the Xayaburi dam, the impacts would be trans-boundary.”

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9/7/2012 3:25 PM

Lao dam breaks ground | National news

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Villagers living near the Don Sahong dam site had reported that Mega First had blasted the waterfall in order to create a small fish passage, she said. “The Lao government should immediately clarify the current status of the Don Sahong dam and provide an update on the channel excavation work that has occurred in the Khone Falls,” Trandem said. When contacted yesterday, a Mega First Corporation employee who declined to give his name said construction of the dam was a long way off. “We have definitely not begun building this dam,” he said. “We haven’t even appointed a contractor.” The company had not undertaken any work at the site and still needed approval for the project from the MRC, he said. “There will be nothing until the end of next year.” Trandem said she was concerned the Lao government would say work at the site was “preparatory”, as it had with work at the unapproved Xayaburi dam. Cambodian National Mekong Committee secretary-general Te Navuth said he was shocked to hear of work at the Don Sahong site. “We understand this project is one of 11 planned on the [Mekong’s] main stream . . . but I am surprised to hear this name mentioned now,” he said, adding that he had received no recent information about it. The Lao ministries of foreign affairs and water resources and environment could not be reached for comment. To contact the reporter on this story: Shane Worrell at shane.worrell@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:25 PM

Maids’ mother told to drop complaint: NGO | National news

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Maids’ mother told to drop complaint: NGO Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Sen David 0

Cambodian worker return from Malaysia. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post The recruitment firm HRD Company had allegedly threatened the mother of two sisters working as maids in Malaysia, pressuring her to withdraw her NGO complaint seeking help in repatriating her daughters or risk having all communication with them cut, a rights group said yesterday. Pov Chhan, 50, from Kampong Cham’s Kampong Siem district, filed a complaint with the Community Legal Education Center on Saturday after the second anniversary of the expiration of her daughters’ contracts, saying she had not heard from them, nor had they returned home. “[On Sunday], the company called me by phone. They said: ‘You are so poor, if you file a complaint, you will not get any money from us’,” Chhan said yesterday. “But I really do not want money; I just want my two daughters back home safely. I did not get their salary ever, not even 100 riel.” Chhan said she had heard from her daughters only twice since they left at the beginning of 2010, and both times the sisters had been distressed. “They called one time seeking help. One said she had been beaten and the other one was ordered to work as a maid for many houses,” she said. “They said they wanted to come back home, but they were not allowed.” Moeun Tola, head of the labour program at the Community Legal Education Center, said the NGO was investigating Chhan’s complaint and the allegation that HRD Company had threatened her to drop the complaint. When contacted yesterday, an HRD Company representative, who declined to be named, would not comment on the allegation, but said he would pass on the information to his superiors. Phnom Penh will host a regional conference today on migrant labour standards and human rights.

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9/7/2012 3:26 PM

Maidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mother told to drop complaint: NGO | National news

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To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at david.sen@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:26 PM

PM secures US billion steel project from Chinese | National news

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PM secures US$2 billion steel project from Chinese Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Chhay Channyda and Rachel Will 0

Steel tubing used for scaffolding sits outside a construction site supporting a billboard showing the Beijing city skyline on September 2, 2012. Hun Sen secured a $2 billion industrial park project by Chinese company Delong Holding Group that was agreed upon by Cambodia’s premier yesterday. Photograph: AFP Photo/Mark Ralston Prime Minister Hun Sen has returned home from his trip to China a wealthier leader having secured upwards of US$2.5 billion in Chinese investment and loans over the next year alone, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The package includes a $2 billion industrial park project by Chinese company Delong Holding Group that was agreed upon by Cambodia’s premier yesterday, minister attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Economy and Finance, Aun Porn Monirath, said at a press conference at Phnom Penh’s airport upon Hun Sen’s return yesterday afternoon. “The industrial park consists of a logistics section, electricity plant, steel factory, sea port and human resources training centre,” Porn Monirath said, adding the steel factory would have the capacity of producing three million tons of steel per annum. Porn Monirath said the Cambodian premier had flagged Preah Sihanouk province as a no-go zone for the development of the project, which includes a sea port of undefined magnitude. The company would cooperate with Cambodian investment officials to facilitate the large-scale project and “the selection of a proper location excluding Preah Sihanouk province, which the government has designated as a domestic and international coastal area”, Porn Monirath said, repeating the premier’s words. Hun Sen had acknowledged the environmental sensitivities associated with such an “immense” project, slated to employ 10,000 Cambodians, and had accordingly sought to preserve the “beauty” of popular tourist destination Sihanoukville. This would mean the $2 billion sea port and industrial steel manufacturing park would have to be built along the

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9/7/2012 3:24 PM

PM secures US billion steel project from Chinese | National news

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coast in any of Kep, Kampot or Koh Kong provinces. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao also granted Hun Sen’s request of annual concession loans of between “300 to 500 million US dollars” for the next five years, Porn Monirath said. The request had received a “positive response” from China during the high-level bilateral talks between the two leaders while Hun Sen was in China for the China-Eurasia Expo being held in Urumqi of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Wen also agreed to additional 2012 financing of 150 million yuan [about $24 million] for Cambodia to work on seven infrastructure development projects. So far this year, Cambodia has spent $420 million in Chinese loans on four infrastructure projects, according to Porn Monirath. In respect of the South China Sea row that has consumed the ASEAN agenda, the Chinese president lauded Cambodia’s role as ASEAN chair in handling the “ASEAN-China framework”. “China showed its firm stance to solve the sea problem with regional countries in a peaceful and diplomatic way based on legal procedure for the interests of peace, stability and regional development,” Porn Monirath said. Highlighting the success of the Non-Aligned Movement summit, Porn Monirath said that Iran, China and North Korea had pledged their United Nations votes to Cambodia’s bid at a nonpermanent seat on the Security Council for 2013-2014. China and Cambodia have mutual interest in strengthening their political ties, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies fellow Pavin Chachvalpongpun told the Post yesterday. “China wants to expand its sphere of influence in Burma, Thailand, and through Indochina, China has done this successfully through its political leadership and soft power, and also through the work of the private sector,” Chachvalpongpun said. “And Cambodia has a lot of interest in strengthening the relationship with China, Cambodia wants more foreign policy choices rather than relying on Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia can use this power against other powers in its own interest. “With the rise of China and ongoing competition in Asia, Cambodia is wise to play equal to key powers, and maybe Cambodia might move closer to China,” he added, highlighting the decline of US political power in the region since the mirror decline of the Cold War. Next year marks the 55th anniversary of China-Cambodia diplomatic relations and the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship, Cambodian state news noted yesterday. To contact the reporters on this story: Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com and Rachel Will at rachel.will@phnompenhpost.com With assistance from Bridget Di Certo

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9/7/2012 3:24 PM

Police Blotter: 4 Sep 2012 | National news

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Police Blotter: 4 Sep 2012 Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Phnom Penh Post 0

Dancefloor battle gets real in Pursat province Four drunk men came close to committing murder on the dance floor on Friday when they began swinging an axe at a couple of partygoers in Pursat’s Krakor dictrict. Their victims, both in their early 20s, had previously argued with the gang, who took the gripe too far, lunging at the head of one and hacking into the neck of the other, who had tried to intervene. The badly injured men fell to the floor while the hot-headed party-poopers rode off into the night. Police are still searching for the suspects. Kampuchea Thmey Backsliding ex-con gets busted again An ex-con appears to have gone back to his old ways, say police in Siem Reap, who rai-ded the man’s hotel room for drugs on Saturday. Police observed the suspect’s comings and goings in Cambodia’s number-one tourist town, before entering his hotel and finding two small packages of yama. Two alleged accomp-lices, also with less than honourable records, had been arrested for stealing motorbikes. Kampuchea Thmey Cops pick up muddy rice farmer for fighting dirty A muddy farming spat – or rather, a splat – came to a head on Thursday when a 36-year-old rice farmer allegedly attacked a 55-year-old woman after an argument over dirt. The suspect and the woman were working in neighbouring rice paddies when soil from the man’s dyke tipped over into the woman’s field. The woman and her daughter abused the messy farmer, who responded by knocking the mother in the head with a stick. The man fled, but was arrested soon afterwards. Koh Santepheap Cold case comes calling for mobile-phone thief A mobile-phone thief who robbed a woman at knifepoint three years ago undoubtedly thought he had got away with his crime. But, the 27-year-old worker’s past came back to haunt him on Saturday, when he was spotted by police, who identified him as a wanted man and put him under arrest. The man was sent back to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which had issued a warrant for his arrest back in 2009. Case closed. Nokorwat Jealous beau cuts in on dance – with a cleaver A man who unwittingly stood on a lover’s toes at a dance learned just how much love hurts – especially when a cleaver’s involved. The 24-year-old victim was dancing with a girl at a party in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district, sparking the jealousy of the girl’s cleaver-wielding boyfriend. The boyfriend stepped in, hacking at his head, hand and leg. The victim was hospitalised in critical condition. The attacker is still at large. Koh Santepheap Translated by Phak Seangly

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9/7/2012 3:29 PM

Still no motion on union law | National news

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Still no motion on union law Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Shane Worrell and Mom Kunthear 0

A proposed trade-union law would give tuk-tuk drivers and other informal workers the right to unionise and collectively bargain. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post As the latest draft of Cambodia’s long-awaited trade-union law sits idly at the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Labour officials have turned to outsiders to help hasten its enactment, a union advocate said yesterday. Dave Welsh, country director of the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, said ministry officials had asked his organisation to lobby senior ministers to approve the law, which has been in their hands in draft form since November. “Officials involved in this law have approached us and asked for our support,” he said. Welsh said he would continue campaigning for the law to be introduced and was surprised at the lack of movement on the issue, especially after recent calls for action from Prime Minister Hun Sen, the US government and the “highest officials tasked with drafting the law”. The trade-union law, in its latest form, would give the Kingdom’s informal workers, such as tuk-tuk drivers and motodops, the right to unionise and bargain collectively for better conditions. “It’s one thing to draft a draconian law like [the first draft was] and not be able to get it introduced, but when you’re on the verge of drafting a progressive labour law and suddenly you go silent, it suggests you’re having second thoughts,” Welsh said. Moeun Tola, head of the Community Legal Education Center’s labour program, said it was best that the government took the time to get it right. “We have not seen the latest changes since the latest draft with the [unions],” he said. “I think maybe we need more time to consolidate and discuss. But the law needs to be much better than the current [labour] law.”

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9/7/2012 3:26 PM

Still no motion on union law | National news

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Ke Sok Sidney, adviser to the Minister of Social Affairs, said he believed it would be better and wanted it to be introduced soon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This law is strict for unions, workers and employers alike,â&#x20AC;? he said. Oum Mean, secretary of state at the Ministry of Labour, said he was not aware of any recent developments. Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said he could not comment on the trade-union law. To contact the reporters on this story: Shane Worrell at shane.worrell@phnompenhpost.com Mom Kunthear at kunthear.mom@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:26 PM

Sweden wants Pirate Bay co-founder extradited | National news

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Sweden wants Pirate Bay co-founder extradited Tuesday, 04 September 2012 Cheang Sokha and Justine Drennan 0

Pirate Bay co-founders Peter Sunde (L), Gottfrid Svartholm Warg (C) and Fredrik Neij leave court after the last day of arguments in their copyright trial in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2009. Photograph: Reuters Swedish officials were expected to arrive in Phnom Penh late last night or early this morning to deliver documents relating to the conviction of Pirate Bay co-founder Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, who received a one-year prison sentence in 2009 for illegal file-sharing. National Police spokesman Lieutenant-General Kirt Chantharith told the Post yesterday the Swedish delegation would present Cambodian authorities with the paperwork to request an extradition. “The Swedish officials will bring the documents related to the crimes committed by Svartholm Warg. They will show us the documents and we will have to examine that,” Chantharith said. Anders Jörle, head of Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs press office, confirmed that the international warrant for the recently arrested Swedish national called for his extradition to Sweden. “Yes, we want him extradited, wherever he is,” Jörle said. Tom Abrahamsson, head of administrative and consular matters at the Swedish embassy in Phnom Penh, said embassy staff had visited Svartholm Varg while he was held at the Ministry of Interior, but had not spoken with him since he was transferred to the immigration department and did not know his exact location. “It seemed he was being treated well and had no complaints,” Abrahamsson said, adding that the embassy would remain in touch with him. Svartholm Warg failed to attend an appeal hearing in Sweden in 2010 at which his sentence, and a multi-milliondollar fine payable by him and three other co-founders of Pirate Bay, was upheld. The international warrant for his arrest was issued later that year. To contact the reporters on this story: Cheang Sokha at sokha.cheang@phnompenhpost.com

9/7/2012 3:28 PM

25 Cambodians killed, 89 others injured by landmine in 7 months

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Tuesday, 04 September 2012 13:03 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday reported 114 landmine casualties in the first seven months of this year, representing a decrease of 4 percent compared with the same period last year, according to a report from the Cambodian Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Victim Information System. During the January-July period this year, 25 people were killed, down 7 percent compared with the same period last year, said the report. At the meantime, 89 others were injured or amputated, down 3 percent. It recorded that 61 percent of the victims were men, 31 percent were boys, and 8 percent were women and girls. Cambodia is one of the world's worst countries affected by mines as the result of almost three decades of war and internal conflicts from the mid-1960s until the end of 1998. According to the report, since 1979 to July 2012, landmines had killed 19,644 people and injured or amputated 44,487 others.

9/7/2012 12:04 PM

Cambodia hosts regional conference on women migrant workers' rights

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Tuesday, 04 September 2012 13:02 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The two-day regional conference on human rights instruments, international labor standards, and women migrant workers' rights was held here on Tuesday, aiming at ensuring the protection of women migrant workers and to guarantee their access to justice, according a joint media release on Tuesday. The conference brought together around 120 delegates, including 35 government officials from 12 countries of origin and destination of women migrant workers across Asia, as well as representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN), non-governmental organizations, trade unions, recruitment agencies, and women migrant workers themselves, the press release said. The forum was co-organized by the United Nations Women, Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, Ministry of Women's Affairs, and Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cambodian Minister of Labor and Vocational Training Vong Sauth said the conference would involve a dynamic exchange of good practices, and will develop concrete next steps to strengthen national migration management frameworks to truly empower women migrant workers. "The conference aims at discussing ways to ensure the protection of women migrant workers and to guarantee their access to justice," he said. Currently, Cambodia has 124,889 laborers been working legally in Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan. Those migrant workers have sent home about 200 million U.S. dollars a year, according to the Ministry of Labor.

9/7/2012 12:00 PM

Cambodia, Iran agree to strengthen economic cooperation

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Tuesday, 04 September 2012 09:57 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Iran had agreed to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in economics, trade, investment and culture, a Cambodian senior official said Monday. The verbal agreement was made between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Aug. 30 when Hun Sen attended the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement on Aug. 30-31 in Iran. "Both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties, especially in economics, trade, investment and culture," Aun Porn Moniroth, secretary of State at Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance, told reporters. He said the two leaders advised both sides' officials to discuss and set out practical measures to boost the cooperation. "The two leaders also agreed to boost cooperation in oil and gas. In this sense, Iran will help Cambodia in human resources development," said Moniroth. Besides, Iran promised to support Cambodia's candidacy as the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the 2013-2014 term.

9/7/2012 12:05 PM

Cambodian PM's visit aims to enhance ties with China

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Tuesday, 04 September 2012 09:57 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The two-day visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to China had brought closer relations and cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment and health between the two countries, said a Cambodian senior official on Monday. Hun Sen visited Urumqi of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China on Sept. 1-2 in order to attend the 2nd China- Eurasia Expo. Speaking to reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport on Monday upon the premier's return from China, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economy and Finance Aun Porn Moniroth said that during in Urumqi, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sept. 2. "The talk was held in a close and deep atmosphere with the spirit of friendship and close cooperation," he said. In the meeting, Wen pledged to continue helping Cambodia in developing physical infrastructures, which are the key elements for social and economic development, he said. Wen also pledged to promote agriculture cooperation between the two countries and would encourage more Chinese companies to invest in rice processing plants in Cambodia, added Moniroth. In addition, he pledged to assist Cambodia in health sector through human resources training and combating any forms of epidemics. As the year 2013 is the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia diplomatic relation, the two premiers agreed to organize events to celebrate the anniversary. Wen said Chinese government decided to invite 100 Cambodian youths to visit China next year. Moreover, Wen expressed his appreciation to Cambodia, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for its important role in maintaining the overall situation of friendly relations between China and the ASEAN. He expressed China's stance in expanding closer cooperation with ASEAN and other countries in the region for the goal of peace, stability, harmony and development. Meanwhile, Hun Sen expressed his profound and sincere thanks to China for generous assistance and fruitful cooperation with Cambodia. He also thanked China for fully supporting Cambodia's candidacy for the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the 2013-2014 term. The premier asked China to consider lending Cambodia between 300 to 500 million U.S. dollars a year in order to enable Cambodia to use it for the development of infrastructures and irrigation system. Wen agreed in principle with this proposal, said Moniroth.

9/7/2012 12:01 PM

Cambodian PM's visit aims to enhance ties with China

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Besides meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with Ding Liguo, executive chairman of the board of Delong Holdings Group, on Sept. 1. According to Moniroth, Ding Liguo told the premier that the firm planned to invest 2 billion U.S. dollars in an industrial zone and a steel plant in Cambodia. The plant could be capable to produce up to 3 million tons of steel a year, he said, adding that the ambitious project could create up to 10,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Hun Sen voiced his support for the project, advising the firm to look for a proper location in Cambodia for the investment and recommending the company to give high attention to environment impact.

9/7/2012 12:01 PM

India launches commerce office in Cambodia for trade, investment prom...

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Tuesday, 04 September 2012 09:54 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The office of the Indian Chamber of Commerce was officially launched here on Sunday to promote economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries. The commerce office is to act on behalf of Indian business organizations and individuals for business facilitation, regulatory exchange as well as to promote India-Cambodia economic and bilateral relations, said a press release at the launching ceremony. "It will act as the platform to guide Indian investments into Cambodia," said the press release. Speaking at the event, Debasish Pattnaik, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, said the office was to be a liaison between Cambodia and India business houses and representing the private sector by showcasing the multiple opportunities both countries have to offer to each other. "Our goal is to offer access to resources and network opportunities for anyone interested or active in investment or trade amongst Cambodia or India," said Pattnaik, who is also vice chairman and CEO of a Cambodia-based D&D Pattnaik Group of Companies. Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Dinesh K. Patnaik said the commerce office would help strengthen and promote trade and investment relations between the two countries. According to the figures from India's Embassy to Phnom Penh, the total trade between India and Cambodia was 72 million U.S. dollars in 2011. Of the amount, India exported to Cambodia was 64 million U.S. dollars. In terms of investment, last year, India's private investment in Cambodia was 85 million U.S. dollars in sugar plantation, sugar factory, power plant, and rice milling facility. "I believe that with the presence of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here, the bilateral trade and investment will be growing in multiple folds in coming years," Pan Sorasak, Cambodian secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, said at the event.

9/7/2012 12:03 PM

Sweden wants Pirate Bay co-founder extradited | National news

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Justine Drennan at justine.drennan@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:28 PM

ADB has a long road ahead after big flood | National news

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ADB has a long road ahead after big flood Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Rosa Ellen 0

A woman from Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district washes clothing in floodwater during nationwide floods last year. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post A breached flood protection dyke near Prey Ven city that, had it burst during the disastrous 2011 flooding, would have added a further 30,000 to the almost 52,000 households evacuated, is one project nearing completion in Cambodia’s Flood Damage Emergency Reconstruction Project. But the Asian Development Bank-driven project is in it for the long haul, with about 524 kilometres of roads to fix and 26 irrigation systems across six provinces still waiting for repair. As of June, just over 10 per cent of the work had been completed, one per cent short of the project target. Peter Brimble, deputy country director of the ADB Cambodia Resident Mission, said national and rural road damage caused by the flooding was worth more than $320 million and was still depriving people of a means of transport and a living. “Clearly this was a major trauma for the Cambodian economy,” Brimble said. “We basically became a part of the government’s response.” A road engineer for the ADB said rural roads faced multiple problems with flood-affected soil. Two contracts had already been awarded for provincial roads, three more competitive bidding contracts were yet to be filled to repair another 179 kilometres of damaged rural roads. Brimble said that the ADB was working with five government agencies in different phases of the project but another partnership would likely be forged with the National Committee for Disaster Management, for future flood management programs. This stage would not be financed by loans but rather grant funds and focus on building the capacity of the NCDM to prepare for future floods. To contact the reporters on this story: Rosa Ellen at newsroom@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:18 PM

ASEAN forum to tackle migrant worker safety | National news

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ASEAN forum to tackle migrant worker safety Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Sen David 0

One of the biggest challenges to protecting Cambodian migrant workers is the sheer distance between their homeland and the countries they are working in, Ministry of Labour officials said yesterday. A pattern has emerged in which brokers lure more and more Cambodians away from traditional border-country migration to far-flung places like Korea and Indonesia, said Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Vong Soth during a preliminary regional conference ahead of the ASEAN forum on migrant worker protection to be held in Phnom Penh next month. “I urge ASEAN labour ministry members to hurry and prepare protection documents as soon as possible to release a declaration to protect migrant workers,” he said, adding that bilateral memoranda of understanding were also crucial instruments. ASEAN “plus countries” such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Korea and Hong Kong, many of which have bilateral migrant worker agreements and frameworks with Cambodia, also sent representatives to attend the two-day conference. Emphasising the need for these bilateral arrangements with countries that are more distant from Cambodia, Ministry of Women’s Affairs Secretary of State San Arun, singled out Malaysia’s feet-dragging on a migrant worker MoU. “Even though Malaysia delays to meet with us to draft an MoU to combat human trafficking, we still try to do it by meeting face-to-face to speed up this job to protect our residents,” she said, pointing out that such sidelines meetings were scheduled for the ASEAN labour forum next month. “The ASEAN forum next month is a good time for ASEAN members to join together to protect migrant workers, because migration-related issues cross into other countries, not just one country,” she said. According to a report from the National Police Commissioner, 113 people have been arrested in the first eight months of 2012 for involvement in human and sex trafficking rackets. A total of 315 trafficked Cambodians have been repatriated so far – 181 were maids, mostly from Malaysia. To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at david.sen@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:22 PM

Boeung Kak woman arrested | National news

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Boeung Kak woman arrested Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Claire Knox 0

Lous Sakhorn (in blue shirt) leaves Phnom Penh Municipal Court with other villagers from the Boeung Kak lake community yesterday following his release. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post Prominent Boeung Kak villager and protester Yorm Bopha was yesterday jailed in Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison, after she and her husband – en route to check for their names on a voting register – were pounced on by police in plain clothes in what her husband claims was a set-up. Outside a building housing Srah Chork commune’s electoral roll, 29-year-old Bopha and her 56-year-old husband Lous Sakhorn were arrested at about 9am by 10 policemen, who shoved them into an unmarked car and sped away, according to witness Doung Kea. About 100 villagers who gathered outside Daun Penh police station maintained they had not been informed of an August 29 arrest warrant handed down by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Te Samnag – a response to an alleged act of intentional violence committed on August 7. “The accused suspects escaped after the court issued the warrant… to ensure the suspects are judged fully they must be arrested,” Samnag told the Post. While her husband was released at about 3pm, Bopha was ushered away to Prey Sar prison to await her trial for Article 218: intentional violence. Sakhorn said he and his wife had never received the warrant and a Srah Chork police officer had phoned them several days ago, asking them to check their names on the electoral roll. “When we arrived, they arrested us without any official documentation … they then accused us of leading people to fight authorities,” he said. He said that at 11am he asked to call his neighbour to collect his children from school, but was denied. Bopha was a vocal presence at protests for the Boeung Kak 13, a group of women arrested during May 22 eviction

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9/7/2012 3:19 PM

Boeung Kak woman arrested | National news

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protests. They were charged two days later with disputing authority and trespassing on land awarded to ruling Cambodian People’s Party senator Lao Meng Khin’s development firm Shukaku and sentenced to between one and two and a half years in prison. The women were released on June 27 but still carry the burden of guilty convictions. Tep Vanny, one of the Boeung Kak 13, said the latest arrests were an obvious attempt to threaten their recent calls for the demarcation of 12.44 hectares of land that Prime Minister Hun Sen pledged to them just over one year ago. Housing Rights Task Force communication official Long Kim Heang said the arrest and warrant were a new, illegal tactic to scare Boeung Kak women into silence. Opposition Sam Rainsy Party MP Mu Sochua said she would act immediately against the arrest and would again lobby US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to intervene. “This is a psychological and physical threat – this kind of pressure should not be mounted on a victim,” she said. To contact the reporters on this story: Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Claire Knox at newsroom@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:19 PM

Dredging licences up for grabs | National news

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Dredging licences up for grabs Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Meas Sokchea 0

A sand dredging boat pours sand onto a barge in the Mekong near Phnom Penh in June. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post The government has granted contracts to three unnamed private companies to invest in dredging operations along parts of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, but is withholding the companies’ names and information on the specific areas for the large-scale projects. Lim Kean Hor, the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, told the Post yesterday that nine companies placed bids on the projects and three were selected. Local businesses, environmental groups and communities have resisted river dredging projects, claiming they negatively erode riverbanks and riverbeds Last month residents of Kien Svay district’s Koh Prak village said that a length of shoreline more than 500 metres long and five metres wide crumbled into the river, swallowing up and threatening homes nearby. But Kean Hor said the ministry would play a larger regulatory role in these new ventures. “I believe there won’t be any more problems because doing it like this, the Ministry of Water Resources is a controller of the technique,” Kean Hor said. “If [the companies] do not listen [to us] we will take the money,” he said, referring to deposits required when submitting a bid. Representatives of environmental groups contacted by the Post yesterday had not heard about the licences and said they could not comment. Son Chhay, an opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker who follows environmental issues, said that before the government allows any company to dredge it must perform environmental impact assessments through an independent committee. To contact the reporter on this story: Meas Sokchea at sokchea.meas@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:18 PM

Human-rights vision in bullet points | National news

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Human-rights vision in bullet points Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Thik Kaliyann and Bridget Di Certo 0

The final preview to Cambodian civil society of the highly anticipated ASEAN Human Rights Declaration was a one-and-a-half-page bulleted list, drawing the ire of human-rights advocates who have long called for ASEAN to end the culture of secrecy. A forum held in Siem Reap yesterday, attended by about 60 NGO representatives, judges, police, court officials and students, was led by Om Yentieng, president of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee. “Now we would like you to read the landmark document, and if you have any ideas to add or you disagree with the points of the document, please let us know,” he said, adding that he would return feedback to the Cambodian committee before the declaration was finalised and endorsed by ASEAN members in November. The bullet-point list is divided into broad categories of rights, such as civil, political, economic and cultural rights, and lists the type of rights in note form. “Human rights are still the problem for the ASEAN community,” Yentieng conceded, pointing to the consultation meeting as satisfactory stakeholder engagement to alleviate concerns about transparency. But rights organisations that have criticised ASEAN over the declaration’s secrecy said the attempt to engage fell well short of expected standards. “Bullet points is not transparency. How can you comment on bullet points?” Cambodian Centre for Human Rights president Ou Virak said. “Clearly, nobody is going to photo-copy the actual draft and distribute it, so you have to ask: what are the reasons behind trying so hard to keep it secret? “This kind of process, in my view, makes them look like a laughing stock.” Amnesty International, which has repeatedly called for greater transparency in the drafting of the declaration, said it was disappointed only leaked versions, summaries and bullet points were made available. “In a semi-legal text of such importance, whether an ‘or’ is used or an ‘and’ can make a world of difference to the scope of a human right. Therefore, a half-page bullet-point list is not sufficient,” Amnesty legal adviser Dr Yuval Ginbar said. “There is too much catering for the interests of governments at the expense of human rights.” Yesterday’s list included the oft-criticised contextualisation of human rights within regional and national settings, but also called for “no double standard and politicisation in the realisation” of human rights. To contact the reporters on this story: Thik Kaliyann and Bridget Di Certo at newsroom@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:22 PM

Landmine casualties down for 2012 | National news

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Landmine casualties down for 2012 Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Rachel Will 0

A sownward trend in landmine casualties has continued in Cambodia, data released yesterday by the Cambodian Mine Victims Information System shows. In a statistics report released yesterday, CMVIS details landmine removal and deaths related to unexploded ordnances this year. According to the report, 25 people were killed, down 7 per cent from the same period last year. In the first seven months of this year there were 114 casualties. “According to the statistics we’ve been seeing there has been a downward trend for years in landmine casualties,” Clare O’Reilly, program officer at Mines Advisory Group, said. “A lot of the kind of accidents we’ve been hearing about are farmers and agricultural communities; people newly clearing areas with heavy machinery are the victims we’ve seen recently,” she said. Casualty figures showed an annual downward trend from 2007-2009 and while 2010 spiked slightly, the 286 recorded casualties that year are nowhere near peak casualty years in the ’90s, such as in 1996 when 4,320 were reported. A total of 19,644 people have been killed from landmine explosions since 1979 or the end of Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia. To contact the reporter on this story: Rachel Will at rachel.will@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:21 PM

Pirate Bay co-founder days from deportation | National news

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Pirate Bay co-founder days from deportation Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Cheang Sokha and Justine Drennan 0

Pirate Bay co-founders Gottfrid Svartholm Warg (L) and Peter Sunde arrive for their trial at Stockholm’s city court in 2009. Photograph: Reuters Co-founder of Pirate Bay and Swedish national Gottfrid Svartholm Warg will be deported from Cambodia imminently, a high-ranking official confirmed yesterday. Deputy police commissioner Sok Phal said that after meeting with Swedish authorities yesterday, Cambodia had agreed to deport Svartholm Warg, 27, who was arrested by Cambodian police last Thursday and has received a year-long jail sentence and multimillion dollar fine in Sweden for violation of copyright law. “We will deport him under our Immigration Law,” Sok Phal said, adding that Minister of Interior Sar Kheng will sign a letter from the police commissioner requesting the deportation, which will take two or three days. Cambodia’s immigration law states that “expulsion shall have to be carried out within seven days, after an official decision is made by the Minister of Interior; except only when upon there is a court decision to cease instantly such implementation”. As to where Svartholm Warg will go, “we don’t know, but he has to be out of Cambodia,” Sok Phal said. According to National Police spokesman Kirt Chantharith: “We don’t have an extradition treaty with Sweden, so when we kick [Svartholm Warg] out, whatever way Swedish authorities take him is up to them.” Cambodia lacks direct flights with Sweden, so Chantharith said Swedish authorities will escort Svartholm Warg to a neighbouring country that does. The Swedish authorities will then have to negotiate his transfer to Sweden. According to UN materials, Sweden has extradition treaties with seven countries, none of which are Cambodia’s Southeast Asian neighbours. Sok Sam Oeun, legal expert and Cambodian Defenders Project director, said that Cambodia could have chosen extradition even in the absence of a formal extradition treaty with Sweden.

9/7/2012 3:20 PM

Pirate Bay co-founder days from deportation | National news

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Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, recommended that Cambodia go with this option over deportation to ensure due process. When asked about the news of Svartholm Wargâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impending deportation, officials at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Embassy in Phnom Penh declined to comment. To contact the reporters on this story: Cheang Sokha at sokha.cheang@phnompenhpost.com Justine Drennan at justine.drennan@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:20 PM

PM will hand-deliver titles | National news

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PM will hand-deliver titles Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Chhay Channyda 0

Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks yesterday on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post Prime Minister Hun Sen will personally deliver land titles to residents in Kratie province’s Snuol district on September 21 following the completion of the land measuring mission by volunteer youth there. “I will go to Kratie’s Snuol district to distribute land titles for these residents for the first time. They are not provisional but complete land titles for ownership,” Hun Sen said during a graduation ceremony held at Koh Pich yesterday. “Today all granted land titles following the measurement are declared complete, so the people in all those areas don’t need to face a transitional period,” the premier continued. Just three months ago, some 2,000 student volunteers were dispatched across the country to measure land for families who claim to live in areas overlapping economic and other land concessions, though the success of how this would be implemented has been a point of conjecture since the ambitious plan was announced. According to the premier’s order, land titles have been granted in three forms of disputed land: concession land granted to private companies since 2000, economic land concessions and state land covered by forest that has been designated as such since 2002 and which residents have occupied since. Hun Sen again touted the ambitious figures: 1.2 million hectares of land measured across 178 communes for 350,000 families, but since the project began, only 10 per cent of the disputed land has been measured. The completed land measurements in Snuol district have, as required, have been posted at the district hall for the past month for villagers or companies to lodge objections, Hun Sen highlighted, so the land titles given to villagers would be complete with no other avenues for protest. Men Vanna, Snuol district governor, said he is preparing 930 land titles to issue to the residents living in Srae Cha and Pi Thnou commune.

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9/7/2012 3:20 PM

PM will hand-deliver titles | National news

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The land in these two communes involves state land and economic land concession of the CIV private company. Six hundred families will be granted land titles,â&#x20AC;? he said, explaining that often one family would receive more than one land title for houses and farming plots. Kratie-based Adhoc observer Samrith Vanna said the measuring project in Kratie had gone smoothly in Snuol district, although it was continuing in Chhloung district. In his speech, Prime Minister Hun Sen also said he will publish 200,000 copies of the basic principles on land and sea border issues with Vietnam that he presented in his marathon five-hour speech to the National Assembly on August 9. To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:20 PM

Police Blotter: 5 Sep 2012 | National news

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Police Blotter: 5 Sep 2012 Wednesday, 05 September 2012 Phnom Penh Post 0

Park-based drug dealer gets parked in detention Police on patrol in Kandal’s Sa’ang district had doubts on whether to question a young man patiently standing in the park on Sunday. After observing their subject exchange items with another park loiterer, however, their doubts fizzled away. The 19-year-old had 17 packages of yama on him and little option but to admit the nature of his shady outdoor activities. He now faces court. Koh Santepheap Peace shattered as gang attacks man with bottle A factory worker in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district is lucky to be alive after four fellow workers allegedly set upon him with a broken bottle on Monday. Police said the man’s attackers were responding to an accusation by the victim, who was cursing them for an unknown grievance. The gang, who can’t be accused of bottling up their feelings, savagely beat the unfortunate victim until police arrived on the scene and sent him to hospital. All four were arrested and sent to court. Deum Ampil Two hands to massage, a third to pinch wallet A Daun Penh chicken seller paid more than he wanted for a massage after five million riel vanished from his pocket while his back was being turned and kneaded. The weary vendor stopped by the massage shop to work out some achy ailments and deposited his clothes – and cash – by the store’s window. A wandering hand pocketed his money and took off. The man shouted for help but the nimble thief was safely out the door. Kampuchea Thmey Foreigners get drunk, tuk-tuk gets smashed A tuk-tuk driver may have reason to feel seriously ripped off by foreigners this week. A car allegedly driven by four drunks from overseas ploughed into him at night. The tuk-tuk driver was thrown from his bike and seriously injured after the car drove wildly down the road, narrowly missing other road users, police say. The tuk-tuk driver was sent to hospital and the car, and its less-than-sober occupants, were detained. Rasmey Kampuchea Kampot burglar found four days after the fact A local police investigation into a burglary in Kampot’s Teuk Chhou district came up trumps this week, despite four days passing since the incident. A resident was home alone when the 20-year-old thief allegedly sneaked into the home and pulled out a knife. After handing over the household valuables, the terrified victim watched helplessly as the thief escaped. Police had their own suspicions and were able to track down the man, who denied the crime. But authorities say they have the proof, and have sent him to court. Kampuchea Thmey Translated by Sen David

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9/7/2012 3:23 PM

Sweden grants 59.4 mln USD aid to Cambodia for social development

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Wednesday, 05 September 2012 16:20 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Government of Sweden on Wednesday signed up to provide 400 million Swedish Kronor (59.4 million U.S. dollars) to Cambodia for causes of democratic development, human rights, education, and climate change for two years, said a Cambodian senior official. The agreement was signed between Cambodian deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Finance, and Ambassador of Sweden to Cambodia Anne Hoglund. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Keat Chhon said the two- year grant aid would make a significant contribution to promoting sustainable development and accelerating poverty reduction in Cambodia. He, on behalf of the Government of Cambodia, expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Sweden for the assistance. "Cambodia considers Sweden as a highly valued development partner and we will make every best effort to ensure that the aid be utilized effectively in an efficient and transparent manner," he said. Hoglund said that Sweden is committed to strengthening bilateral ties with Cambodia and hoped that the assistance would help strengthen democracy, human resources development and environment protection in the country.

9/7/2012 11:58 AM

Cambodian government imprisons second land-activist in two days | Nat...

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Cambodian government imprisons second land-activist in two days Thursday, 06 September 2012 Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Shane Worrell 0

Tim Sakmony speaks to reporters outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court. She was later sent to Prey Sar prison. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post A 65-year-old woman who has spent months sleeping under a staircase at Borei Keila yesterday became the second land-rights activist sent to Prey Sar prison in little more than 24 hours. Phnom Penh Municipal Court investigating judge Ly Leabmeng questioned villager representative Tim Sakmony for almost five hours before charging her with incitement and ordering her to be locked in pre-trial detention, her defence team said. “This court doesn’t offer any justice for the poor,” fellow Borei Keila resident Ath Samnang, one of about 100 supporters outside the court, said as she watched her friend being driven off in the direction of Prey Sar. The jailing of Sakmony, who was summonsed last week after an incitement complaint by Suy Sophan, the owner of Borei Keila developer Phan Imex, came one day after Boeung Kak village representative Yorm Bopha was detained and jailed on charges of intentional violence. Bopha, 29, and her husband, Lous Sakhorn, 56, were arrested by 10 plain-clothed police officers and shoved into an unmarked car on Tuesday while going to check their names on a voting register, a witness said. Sakhorn and Bopha, a well-known activist, were both charged with intentional violence, it emerged yesterday, but only Sakhorn was released, while Bopha, a mother of one, was sent to Prey Sar to serve pre-trial detention. Residents of both communities say the charges against their respective representatives are ambiguous and the court has failed to explain exactly what the women are supposed to have done wrong. Boeung Kak and Borei Keila have become high-profile battlegrounds for housing and land rights in the face of large-scale developments. Sakhorn said he and Bopha had recently intervened when villagers were beating up a thief at Boeung Kak, but had not committed any act of violence.

9/7/2012 3:13 PM

Cambodian government imprisons second land-activist in two days | Nat...

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“Because my wife is an activist who regularly demands that the authorities demarcate land, I believe they may have used this incident to accuse her,” he said. “Both of us have been charged with intentional violence – but why did the judge detain my wife and release me?” Rights groups and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party yesterday condemned the jailing of the two women, describing it as another crackdown on dissent. “Each time someone from Borei Keila or Boeung Kak is arrested now, we have to treat it as suspicious,” Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights said. “The court certainly lost some credibility with the arrest of the 13 Boeung Kak women.” The rash sentencing of those women – after a three-hour trial without a lawyer on May 24 – drew international headlines and the attention of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who urged Cambodia to release them. The women’s two-and-a-half-year jail terms for their involvement in a land protest was reduced and they were freed on June 27, but this week’s arrests showed the government was still using the courts to silence opposition, SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua said. “It is not going to be just these two – I heard they are targeting more people,” she said, adding Bopha had effectively been kidnapped rather than arrested. “The government is totally going down the wrong track and the consequences will be detrimental to the image of Cambodia.” Am Sam Ath, technical adviser for rights-group Licadho, said Sakmony’s arrest was an example of Phan Imex trying to silence the villagers. “I think the company is using the court system to [stop protests],” he said. Sakmony was among a group of more than 20 women and children detained during a land protest in the capital on January 11 and sent to Prey Speu social affairs centre. The women and children were held for a week without charge before climbing the walls, in the presence of Sochua, and fleeing in tuk-tuks. Sakmony was one of the many Borei Keila villagers evicted from their homes on January 3 when a demolition team led by Phan Imex and backed by municipal police destroyed remaining houses at the site. Many, including Sakmony, have since spent their nights sleeping under stairs close to a rubbish dump, where UN Special Rapporteur Surya Subedi visited in May. Court officials, government spokesmen and Sophan could not be reached for comment yesterday. To contact the reporters on this story: Khouth Sophak Chakrya at sophakchakrya.khouth@phnompenhpost.com Shane Worrell at shane.worrell@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:13 PM

Complaint to ADB cites decline in housing, food, education | National news http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012090658539/National-ne...

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Complaint to ADB cites decline in housing, food, education Thursday, 06 September 2012 Shane Worrell and Bridget Di Certo 0

Families have fallen into poverty and children have dropped out of school due to deficiencies in the Asian Development Bank’s rehabilitation of Cambodia’s railway system, according to a complaint filed to the bank’s compliance review department. According to David Pred, managing associate for NGO Inclusive Development International, families forced to relocate to make way for the project had lodged the complaint to ADB’s Compliance Review Panel, claiming ADB had undercut families and the project had left many unable to provide for their families. “The ongoing failure of ADB to comply with its policies has meant that vulnerable families who previously hovered just above the poverty line have now been made destitute by a botched resettlement process and can no longer meet basic needs,” Pred said. The ADB partnered with the Cambodian government to manage the US$143 million railway rehabilitation project of more than 650 kilometres of dilapidated or destroyed railway. In all, more than 4,000 families across the country have been affected by the project, with about 1,200 of those required to relocate. According to the complaint, families’ standards of housing, food and education had declined since their relocation. Pred’s NGO said that families who had to relocate to make way for the project received an average of $757.50 in compensation, however the cost of constructing a “basic adequate 4-x-4-metre stilt wooden house is at least US$1,925.75”. Compliance review was a “serious process”, the bank’s Compliance Review Panel’s Associate Secretary Geoffrey Crooks said yesterday. “Such a review would focus on ADB procedure: did ADB do what it should have done in accordance with policies and procedures?” Crooks said, emphasising that the request for review had not yet been found eligible. If a review is approved, it could take up to more than a year for a thorough review, Crooks said, adding that each review was dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Eang Vuthy, a representative of Equitable Cambodia, said that the human misery and poverty catalysed by the botched relocations was affecting old and young. “It seems that girls, in particular, are dropping out [of school],” he said, adding there were relocation issues across the country. To contact the reporters on this story: Shane Worrell at shane.worrell@phnompenhpost.com Bridget Di Certo at bridget.dicerto@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:10 PM

Donors must be assertive | National news

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Donors must be assertive Thursday, 06 September 2012 Ou Virak 0

Humanitarian aid arrives in Cambodia last October during nation-wide floods that caused devastating damage to crops and infrastructure and resulted in dozens of deaths. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post The spotlight is squarely back on the responsibilities and strategies of donors – if, indeed, it ever went away. In their opinion piece in The Phnom Penh Post on August 24 (“Better nutrition, better future”), Annette Dixon of the World Bank, British ambassador Mark Gooding and Australian ambassador Penny Richards discuss the scourge of malnutrition in Cambodia in the context of what the World Bank and its bilateral donor partners can achieve in terms of aid and development effectiveness. In fact, there are ways in which donors can be more strategic across the board. Once again, donors such as the World Bank are engaging directly with the Royal Government of Cambodia by contributing pooled financing, which is then distributed to specific programs. If donors are to engage again with the government – rather than working directly with civil-society organisations and networks – they should consider three key points in order for aid and development effectiveness to have any chance of success. First, donors can raise standards by creating competition for donor funding, just as non-government organisations currently compete. For each civil-society funding call, countless NGOs compete for the same funds. Ensuring open competition means the most effective NGOs will be successful – and the beneficiaries will be the Cambodian people the funding is intended to help. Open competition could be established by donors deciding to fund the government at the departmental or local level rather than at ministerial or Council of Ministers level. Donors can dictate such terms, because it is their citizens’ money that is involved. In reality, the Cambodian government is a conglomerate of multiple groups rather than one amorphous body, and

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9/7/2012 3:17 PM

Donors must be assertive | National news

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donors should be brave and begin treating it as such. Second, creating competition between governmental departments would play its part in establishing the requisite levels of transparency that are essential to any aid program’s success. Complete transparency throughout the implementation process of aid programs can also be ensured if donors use their muscle to apply pressure, gain leverage, and attach conditions to funding in line with international principles of development effectiveness. Without transparency, there are no guarantees as to how donors’ money is being spent. NGOs are always beholden to various safeguards, checks and balances, such as outlining planned programs in advance, submitting detailed action plans at the outset, and providing regular donor reports throughout the program. There is no reason why donors cannot insist on the same terms for governmental funding. As part of this drive for transparency and accountability, donors could insist that civil-society organisations are incorporated in program structures as on-the-ground monitors from the very outset – for example, in relation to the joint monitoring indicators agreed between donors and the government in connection with the latter’s pending land policy and law on land management and urban planning. Donors could also undertake strict vetting procedures to approve funding – which should then be made public to be properly effective. Third, if donors encounter resistance to their requests, or if their demands are not respected, they should consider walking away. But this is always the position of last resort. The ultimate losers in this situation are inevitably the Cambodian people – the very people donors are trying to help. Donors, however, have a responsibility to their own countries, to their own people – and to their own taxpayers. In these bleak times of gloomy financial forecasts, threats of double-dip recessions and the continuing euro crisis, it is admirable that people, NGOs and governments in better-off countries continue to help those who are less fortunate. But it is never justifiable – let alone when purse strings all over the world are being tightened to the extent they are now – to throw good money after bad. After 20 years of not having control over their own money, it’s time for donors to adjust their thinking and their strategies, and ensure their funding is properly targeted. If the Cambodian government can adjust to the realities of the global financial slowdown and respect the wishes of donors, there’s no reason why donors, civil society and the government cannot work collaboratively and effectively together to create a better future for Cambodia and its people. The money is still there, but it’s time to spend it wisely. Then Cambodia can become a shining example to donors and donor recipients around the world – a beacon of aid and development effectiveness to which others can aspire. Such a shift would also mean that donors would be able to look their people in the eye and reassure them that their money was being well spent. Otherwise, given the economic situation, it won’t be long before people begin taking matters into their own hands and demanding that their hard-earned cash is spent elsewhere. And who could blame them? Ou Virak is the president, and Robert Finch the legal consultant, of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights

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9/7/2012 3:17 PM

Maid ban to remain until safety improves | National news

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Maid ban to remain until safety improves Thursday, 06 September 2012 Joseph Freeman 0

A migrant worker trained to work as a maid in Malaysia stands behind the front gate of a recruitment firm in Phnom Penh last year. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post The ban on sending Cambodian women for employment as maids in Malaysia will be lifted once certain safety and training precautions for workers are established, a senior government official said yesterday. Seng Sakada, the director general of the Ministry of Labour, said that his office is developing procedures, such as pre-departure training for workers, and sending them to the International Labor Organization in Bangkok for review. Three of six precaution mechanisms have already been completed. “When everything is complete for our domestic workers, we will lift the ban,” Sakada said, speaking at the Phnom Penh Hotel as a two-day conference that focused on rights for women migrant workers came to a close. Malaysia remains at the forefront of gender-based migrant worker issues in Cambodia. Of the 315 trafficked Cambodians who have been repatriated so far this year, 181 were maids, and most were from Malaysia. The general picture painted by officials at the end of the conference was that Cambodia is confronting issues facing migrant workers, but that much work is still to be done. “We are forming a working group with the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to find ways, because we know there is a lack of procedure to manage the flow of workers going overseas,” said Chou Bun Eng, secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior. Sakada said that it is difficult for the government to help workers who travel across the border illegally. “We need to encourage documented workers, with passports and insurance,” he said. “If they are illegal, then how can we address it?” He also seemed to chide journalists in the room for seizing on negative experiences of migrant workers, saying they

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9/7/2012 3:13 PM

Maid ban to remain until safety improves | National news

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only made up for a fraction of Cambodians travelling abroad for employment. “Don’t use bad stories,” he said. “Please, think about our [economic] benefits,” he added, saying that tens of thousands of Cambodians find jobs outside of the country’s borders. To contact the reporter on this story: Joseph Freeman at joseph.freeman@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:13 PM

Military prepares for rescues ahead of flood season | National news

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Military prepares for rescues ahead of flood season Thursday, 06 September 2012 Kim Yuthana 0

Soldiers and military police practise rescue techniques in preparation for the upcoming flood season yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post More than 300 soldiers and officers from the Ministry of National Defence and the military police conducted a joint military exercise yesterday at the Navy’s headquarters in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district to practise rescue techniques ahead of the upcoming flood season. Lieutenant-General Sum Samnang, secretary-general of the logistics department at the Ministry of National Defence, said the purpose of conducting the military exercise was to ensure the forces’ readiness to come to the aid of Cambodians in flood-prone areas of the country. “The military exercise was very significant for the Royal Military Armed Forces in making pre-arrangements to save the people vulnerable to floods,” he said. According to Samnang, in addition to the 320 participants, seven ambulances, 26 speedboats and 16 trucks were used in simulated emergency situations of reviving drowned people, rescuing stranded villagers and advanced medical treatment techniques to treat critical injuries. Samang added that all the branches of the Ministry of National Defence, including the infantry, navy and air force, were well prepared to fight flooding. In 2011, hundreds of Cambodians were killed in some of the worst flooding in a decade. According to the National Disaster Management Committee, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced, and thousands of hectares of rice fields were damaged. According to NCDM figures, so far this year storms have destroyed nearly 200 homes, injured nearly 60 people and killed 20. To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Yuthana at yuthana.kim@phnompenhpost.com

9/7/2012 3:11 PM

Pay delay frustrates disabled community | National news

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Pay delay frustrates disabled community Thursday, 06 September 2012 Bridget Di Certo 0

A disabled man who earns a living as a beggar uses a hand-pedalled bicycle to get around Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post More than one year after the government passed legislation to bring in a pension for people with disabilities living in poverty, a preliminary committee to workshop how to locate such disabled people has still not been formed, officials said yesterday. “It is not yet effectively implemented,” Department of Welfare for Persons with Disabilities adviser Nhem Sareth told the Post yesterday. “We still have to form a committee to identify and issue ID cards to those persons with disabilities,” he said, saying that the process to select officials to join the committee was 80 per cent complete. In June last year, the government enacted a sub-decree to support “poor persons with disabilities”, which would entitle disabled persons living below the poverty line to between 10,000 and 20,000 riel [US$2.50 and $5] monthly stipends. Sareth said the tardy implementation was because his department had been preoccupied with higher priority initiatives, such as an employment framework and policy for disabled people and drafting an interministerial circular on reasonable accommodation. However, too much drafting and policy work, and not enough action was a source of disappointment among the disabled community, Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisation Executive Director Ngin Saorath said. “It is a very small amount of money promised, but it is better than nothing, and a good step to show development … but we wish for the process to be quicker. Members are always asking about this,” Saorath said. The vast majority of disabled people living in Cambodia were unemployed and relied solely on the charity of their families and NGOs to get by. “And for those who are disabled by being blind, they can hardly ever get support because if you are blind or have

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9/7/2012 3:12 PM

Pay delay frustrates disabled community | National news

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low vision, society does not care for you,â&#x20AC;? Saorath said. Disability statistics vary substantially Saorath said, with estimations ranging from eight to 15 per cent of the Cambodian population being affected. He said that while the government had received praise for parliament deciding to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, this decision needed to be passed through the senate to the King, and back down to parliament, which would then send the decision to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon before ratification was complete. To contact the reporter on this story: Bridget Di Certo at bridget.dicerto@phnompenhpost.com

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9/7/2012 3:12 PM

Police Blotter: 6 Sep 2012 | National news

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Police Blotter: 6 Sep 2012 Thursday, 06 September 2012 Phnom Penh Post 0

Father-son time turns drunken and violent A plastered father and son duo proved age is just a number as the two drank together Sunday night and then picked a fight with a woman in Banteay Meanchey’s Poipet town. The father, 45, and his 18-year-old son drunkenly argued with the woman, 45, until she fled to her home. The duo then proceeded to destroy her property in an alcoholinduced rage, chopping trees and a ladder on her property. The woman has since filed a complaint and the pair admitted to the crazy act, blaming it on their disorderly state. Nokorwat Obvious exchange outs careless embezzler A slick-fingered worker in Pursat’s Krakor district stole US$2,000 from his employer on Sunday. Failing to keep a low profile following the deed, the thief attempted to exchange the large sum in a local market on Monday. Police nabbed the suspect following the transparent transaction. The 28-year-old man admitted to the crime and the money was returned to its rightful owner. Documents have been prepared to send the suspect to court. Koh Santepheap Neither borrower nor lender be in Battambang A woman accused of cooking the books in Battambang town was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of evading a US$2,300 debt. The 32-year-old woman borrowed the sum from another lady but never returned the money. The provincial court summonsed the suspect to appear, but she refused, forcing police to arrest her. The suspect confessed the slight, saying that she lent the money to another villager for interest but was not paid back either. Nokorwat Man answers traffic citation with a machete A man with a serious case of road rage attacked traffic police on Monday in Kampong Chhnang town. The suspect, 31, was apprehended by police for failing to use rear mirrors and a helmet. He then returned on the back of a motor taxi, machete in hand, to attack the police. He was arrested immediately and sent to court for violation of traffic laws, among other violations stemming from his incensed behaviour. His bike was taken into police custody. Koh Santepheap Shaky man abruptly dies; drug OD suspected A 20-year-old man died after experiencing a bad case of the shakes Tuesday while exiting a moto taxi in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district. A bystander reported to police that he suspected the freewheeler died of a drug overdose owing to his unusual behavior after the ride ending near Wat Phnom. The man died immediately following the erratic behaviour. Police are still searching for the motodop who transported the shaky suspect. Kampuchea Thmey Translated by Phak Seangly

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9/7/2012 3:16 PM

Prisons ‘overflowing’ with pre-trial inmates | National news

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Prisons ‘overflowing’ with pre-trial inmates Thursday, 06 September 2012 Rachel Will and Chay Channyda 0

Prison overcrowding and pre-trial detention times remain an interconnected issue in Cambodia, with a backlog of prisoners causing court dates to be delayed. Further, an estimated 15,000 people remain in prisons built to accommodate 8,500 individuals, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in Cambodia. To combat such judicial ills, the Cambodian Court of Appeal and United Nations Human Rights representatives kicked off a three-day training session yesterday in an effort to improve judicial operations and protection of children’s rights in the legal system. The 118 participants travelling from all provinces congregated in Phnom Penh for the first meeting of its kind, according to James Heenan, representative of the OHCHR, to gather prison directors, court presidents and chief prosecutors to improve the judicial process. President of the Appeal Court You Bunleng said that skewed communications caused gross confusion in the judicial system, especially when it came to pre-trial detention. “We have lack of information sharing among the court, prison and human rights NGOs,” said Bunleng. “Some cases have been heard by the Appeal Court but the information does not reach prisons or the filing documents are not kept properly.” The Cambodian Center for Human Rights’ monitoring project has also revealed a disappointing track record in court operations. “People are being held for very long periods and in some sense the crime can be minor and the pre-trial detention is serving as punishment,” Ou Virak, president of CCHR, said. Since August, the Ministry of Justice has provided more than 50 additional judges and deputy prosecutors to courts across the country in a bid to decrease long waits for court hearings and ensure effective trials. “The new judges reduce the backlog of cases,” Sam Prachea Manith, director at the Ministry of Justice, said yesterday, complimenting the effectiveness of increasing human resources in the judicial system. To contact the reporters on this story: Rachel Will at rachel.will@phnompenhpost.com and Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com With assistance from Meas Sokchea

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9/7/2012 3:15 PM

Backgrounder: Operating, negotiating FTA agreements with APEC econ...

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Thursday, 06 September 2012 12:56 DAP

VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) are striving to forge a regional free trade facility to be known as FTAAP (Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific). The following is operating and negotiating FTA agreements with APEC member economies. Operating FTA agreements: NAFTA - signed in December of 1992 and known in full as the North American Free Trade Agreement, it has removed taxes on products traded between Canada, Mexico and the United States; it also protects copyright, patents and trademarks; it was updated with the North American Agreement on Environment Cooperation. APTA (Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement) - signed in 1975 as the longest standing preferential trade agreement among developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, it is aimed at promoting economic development and cooperation through the adoption of mutually beneficial trade liberalization measures; the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement bloc includes Bangladesh, China, India, South Korea, Laos, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Philippines; the accord opens to all developing members of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific. AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area) - signed in January of 1992, it covers all 10 ASEAN members of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and is aimed at increasing ASEAN's competitiveness as a production base through elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers. TPP - signed in 2005, it is known in full as the Trans-Pacific Partnership which is a multilateral free trade accord that strives to liberalize the economies of the Asia-Pacific region; it originally included Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. Now negotiations have been underway to include more countries from the region. Negotiating FTA agreements: AEC - fully known as the ASEAN Economic Community, it is aimed at achieving a single market for free movement of goods, services, capital and skilled laborers among the ASEAN members. EAFTA - or East Asia Free Trade Agreement or ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea), it is aimed at forging a free trade area among these economies. CEPEA - or Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia or ASEAN+6 (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea), it is aimed at forming a free trade area.

9/7/2012 10:28 AM

Cambodia, UNESCO sign agreement to continue safeguarding Angkor W...

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Thursday, 06 September 2012 12:57 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Government of Cambodia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday signed an agreement on safeguarding of the Angkor Wat Temple, one of the World Heritage sites. The deal was inked between Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, and Anne Lemaistre, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia. The two-year phase II project will be focused on the restoration of an extension span of the moat embankment at the Angkor Wat Temple, said Rome University's Professor Valter Maria Santoro, head of the Italian technical mission for stone consolidation in the temple. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Sok An said that the second phase project will cost 250,000 U.S. dollars including 200, 000 U.S. dollars granted by Italian government and 50,000 U.S. dollars by Cambodian government. He said that Italian government, through UNESCO, has involved in helping safeguard the Angkor Wat Temple since 1994. "The continuous support signifies a further cooperation among Cambodia, UNESCO and Italy," he said. Sok An said currently, Cambodia has been collaborating with 14 countries and 28 international teams in implementing over 60 different projects to preserve, safeguard and develop the temple. Anne Lemaistre said, "UNESCO is proud to help Cambodia in the preservation and conservation of the World Heritage site of Angkor. " Angkor archeological park was inscribed in the World Heritage list on Dec. 14, 1992. It is the country's largest cultural tourism destination; it is located in Siem Reap province, some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The site had attracted 1.06 million foreign tourists in the first six months of this year, up 35 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Tourism Ministry.

9/7/2012 10:23 AM

Cambodia sees slight decrease in rice export in 7 months due to price c...

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Thursday, 06 September 2012 15:59 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had exported 89,800 tons of milled rice in the first seven months of this year, a 2.6 percent drop from 92,200 tons at the same period in a year ago, showed the statistics from the Ministry of Commerce's Camcontrol Department on Thursday. However, the revenues from the export had increased by 23 percent to 63.4 million U.S. dollars during the January-July period this year thanks to rising rice prices in the international market. Officials said that the decline in export quantity was due to tough competition in prices with other countries. "The decline in export is due to tough price competition in the global market," said Khuon Savuth, chief of the Camcontrol Department's statistics division. "More importantly, we notice that the prices of Vietnamese and Indian rice are cheaper than us. " Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that rice export would see growth again this year thanks to a newly signed rice agreement between Cambodia and Indonesia. Indonesia signed last week to buy at least 100,000 tons of rice a year from Cambodia. Lim Bunheng, president of Loran Import-Export Company and Rice Exporter Association, said that the market for Cambodian rice this year is not very good because India has sold off about 4 million tons of its rice stocks. Cambodia's milled rice has been exported mainly to European markets and the United States, South Korea, Japan and China. The Southeast Asian nation produced some 8.25 million tons of paddy rice last year. With the amount, it's estimated that there is around 2.5 million tons of milled rice left over for export this year. In August, 2010, the government launched the rice export promotion strategy, aiming at exporting one million tons of milled rice by 2015. Last year, the country exported some 170,000 tons of milled rice, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

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9/7/2012 10:22 AM

Chinese language plays more significant role in global communications:...

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Thursday, 06 September 2012 15:58 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese language has been playing more important role in global communications thanks to China's growing economy and expanding diplomatic relations around the globe, a Cambodia's senior official said Wednesday. "Currently, Chinese language has not only gone popular in Cambodia, but also in the United States and Europe," Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, said during the inauguration of a 5-storey building at a Chinese Chong Zheng Kindergarten in Phnom Penh. "There is increasing movement of learning Chinese language because more Chinese people have been doing business abroad, so the language is very important to communicate in business and foreign learners are easy to find jobs," he said. Sok An said that in Cambodia, there are numerous Chinese schools including the Confucius Institute in Cambodia, which was established in December, 2009. "This is a pride of bilateral relations between Cambodia and China," he said. "More Chinese learning in Cambodia will bring closer people-to-people connection between Cambodia and China." Chinese is the second most popular language after English in this Southeast Asian nation. Li Zhigong, political counselor at China's Embassy to Cambodia, attributed the rapid growth of Chinese language studies to Cambodian government's support. "We thank the government of Cambodia for its openness policy in education. This gives opportunity for Chinese descendents living in Cambodia to learn and promote Chinese language and culture," he said. "The more Cambodian people learn Chinese language, the deeper and stronger ties between China and Cambodia," he said. Chinese schools have been mushrooming in this country in recent years. Currently, there are 57 Chinese schools with more than 40, 000 students throughout Cambodia, according to the Chinese Association in Cambodia. The figure doesn't include local private schools that offer part-time Chinese language courses.

9/7/2012 10:24 AM

Investment from China vital to boost Cambodia's economic development

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Monday, 06 August 2012 10:39 DAP

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Investments from China and other foreign countries are very important to spur Cambodia's economic development, Heng Samrin, President of Cambodia's National Assembly, said Monday. His remarks were made during a meeting with Cheng Zhaohong, general manager of Shandong Shantui Construction Machinery Import- Export Company, on the occasion that the firm opened a branch in Cambodia. Heng Samrin said that the presence of Shantui Company in Cambodia reflected Chinese investors'trust on Cambodia's political stability and favorable business environment. "The firm's presence will help further enhance trade and investment ties between Cambodia and China," he said, pledging to provide support to the company to operate here successfully. Cheng Zhaohong said that Shantui Company is one of the largest manufacturers of construction machinery and the largest producer of bulldozers. He said the firm's decision to expand to Cambodia because it saw that the country has much room to grow in construction and agriculture. Bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and China was 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2011. The two countries have vowed to double the volume within the next 5 years. On the investment side, China is the largest investor here. According to a report of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, from 1994 to 2011, the country had received investments worth 8.91 billion U.S. dollars from China.

9/7/2012 12:11 PM

Angkor Wat receives 0k for preservation | National news

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Angkor Wat receives $250k for preservation Friday, 07 September 2012 Chhay Channyda and Justine Drennan 0

Temple conservation projects are thriving as Angkor Wat nears its 20th anniversary of its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site later this year, heritage representatives said yesterday. “I could not imagine that after almost 20 years I would see this same level of enthusiasm and dedication,” said UNESCO country director Anne Lemaistre after representatives from the Cambodian Apsara Authority and UNESCO’s Cambodia office agreed to put US$250,000 toward ongoing preservation of the world-famous temple complex. This agreement will initiate phase two of a repair and maintenance project started in 2005 by an Italian government-funded team that has worked on temples in the area since 1994. Deputy Prime Minister and Apsara National Authority President Sok An said after the signing that $200,000 will come from the Italian government, and $50,000 will come from the Cambodian government. The project will repair the flood-damaged west embankment of Angkor Wat’s moat and a staircase by the moat, said Valter Maria Santoro, head of Italy’s temple maintenance technical mission. Santoro headed to Siem Reap as soon as the meeting ended to continue what Lemaistre called “a life-long commitment”. Lemaistre said she has seen such engagement from all of Angkor Wat’s restoration teams, which according to Sok An have come from 14 countries and 28 organisations to work on more than 60 projects since 1993. “It’s really a partnership now,” Lemaistre said, noting that the addition of Cambodian experts to the project “increases the ownership of Cambodia”. Lemaistre praised Italy for its commitment in the face of its financial crisis, though Santoro noted that their contributions have decreased in recent years. According to Sok An, Cambodia is more than ready to host the 37th annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee next year.

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9/7/2012 3:00 PM

Courts tools in fight against dissent: NGOs | National news

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Courts tools in fight against dissent: NGOs Friday, 07 September 2012 Shane Worrell and Khouth Sophak Chakrya 0

Cambodia's courts were being used as weapons in the government’s quest to silence land protesters, right groups claimed yesterday. Licadho, Equitable Cambodia and the Housing Rights Task Force were among a coalition of NGOs to condemn the pre-trial detention of Yorm Bopha and Tim Sakmony, who were locked in Prey Sar prison this week after being charged in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. “Ever increasing is the use of criminalisation and pre-trial detention to silence the decent voices of victimised communities, their representatives and human-rights defenders,” Yeng Virak, executive director of the Community Legal Education Centre, said. “This is a systematic, repeated and consistent tactic that is in violation of the fundamental and constitutional rights of all Cambodians.” Boeung Kak village representative Yorm Bopha, 29, was arrested by plainclothed officials on Tuesday and charged with intentional violence with aggravating circumstances, related to a thief being beaten at Boeung Kak. She denies involvement, and her lawyer, Ham Sunrith, said he would urge the court to hear her case as soon as possible. Borei Keila evictee Tim Sakmony, 65, who the Post reported yesterday as being charged with incitement, had actually been charged with making a false declaration to try to secure an apartment at Borei Keila, Licadho senior adviser Am Sam Ath said. “[Sakmony] admitted to receiving a flat from the company and said she had protested to demand a flat for her disabled son,” he said, adding a guilty verdict could carry two years’ jail and a US$985 fine. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the government did not interfere in the courts and court officials were “held to their own account”. “The opposition party is always insulting us about this [alleged interference], but the courts are entirely independent,” he said. Siphan said senior ministers had left Boeung Kak alone since Prime Minister Hun Sen signed a sub-decree last August granting villagers 12 hectares of land, adding it fell to the municipal authority to demarcate that land.

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9/7/2012 3:04 PM

Kingdom and Qatar to form labour watchdog | National news

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Kingdom and Qatar to form labour watchdog Friday, 07 September 2012 Sen David and Shane Worrell 0

Cambodia's next step in allowing workers such as maids and builders to travel to Qatar will be to create a committee with the Arab state to ensure their safety is protected, a senior labour official said yesterday. The Senate on Wednesday supported an agreement between the two countries that should clear the way for Cambodians to travel to Qatar to work in a variety of industries. Oum Mean, secretary of state at the Ministry of Labour, said the two countries would form a committee to examine the conditions Cambodian migrant workers will face in Qatar. “[This] committee, which has officials from Cambodia and Qatar, will discuss safety, risks to employees, the types of jobs Cambodians can fill, how many workers should be sent and which firms will be eligible to send workers,” he said. The welfare of Cambodian migrants has been in the spotlight since the government put a ban on allowing women to travel to Malaysia as maids following a series of abuse cases. A long-awaited memorandum of understanding between Cambodia and Malaysia is yet to materialise. Moeun Tola, head of the Community Legal Education Center’s labour program, said the government could learn a lot from the treatment of Cambodian maids in Malaysia when implementing the agreement. “The government has to be careful,” he said. “Firstly, there is the question of the quality of this [agreement] and then there is the question of the implementation.” Tola said Cambodia needed a strong body of labour experts in its embassy in Doha to monitor workers’ conditions. “There should be regular inspections,” Tola said. “They should be carried out once every month or once every two months, and monitors’ reports should be available to civil society and made public.” The government should also consider the types of workers sent to Qatar, he added. “Unskilled workers and less knowledgeable migrant workers often pick up the high-risk jobs,” he said. “Those people should be given the opportunity to get jobs [in Cambodia].” An Bunhak, chairman of the Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies, could not be reached yesterday.

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9/7/2012 3:02 PM

Police Blotter: 7 Sep 2012 | National news

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Police Blotter: 7 Sep 2012 Friday, 07 September 2012 Translated by Sen David 0

Thieves worse for wear after cops unravel case Two men driven by material concerns robbed premises in Banteay Meanchey’s Poipet district last Wednesday, taking off with 500 items of clothing. The victim, a clothes seller, had his stock packed up and ready for delivery when the alleged thieves broke in. After an investigation, police knocked on the door of the suspects to find the stolen goods. The pair could not explain the mountain of clothing in their house and were sent to court. Koh Santepheap Fruit of loins nabbed for fruits of illegal labour A suspected moto thief, who police say has been nicking off with the odd bike since 2009, has shown that at least he is a good son. The 29-year-old was found visiting his mother in Kandal’s Takmov district after fleeing Kandal from three years of suspected involvement in a moto-thieving gang. After investigating for more than a year, local police found him back home and put him under arrest. Kampuchea Thmey Victim discovers love is about timing your run A poorly timed seduction ended in tears when the object of affection’s husband came home, none too happy with the daytime match. The wife said she was merely talking with a friend but the jealous husband was not convinced, beating his 33-year-old rival until he required hospitalisation. Police in the Sen Sik district were called and kept the man for questioning. Deum Apil. Thugs, but not phone, charged after attack A man in Stung Treng’s Talaborivat district could possibly be regretting his decision not to lend a thug his phone recharger on Wednesday. After his request was turned down, the cell-less gang-member allegedly came back with five mates and exacted unreasonable revenge on the man and three of his friends, leaving all with serious injuries. Luckily, police intervened in time and sent the six to court. Rasmey Kampuchea Crime network wireless after cops catch crooks Four members of the same family seen selling 39 kilograms of wire stolen from a factory were an easy catch for police in Preah Sihanoukville this week. The alleged thieves broke into a factory at night, making off with the heavy loot and then selling it. After spotting them spruiking the haul, police had no trouble in uncoiling the crime and sent them to court. Kampuchea Thmey

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9/7/2012 3:07 PM

Tribunal judges rule to declassify documents | National news

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Tribunal judges rule to declassify documents Friday, 07 September 2012 Joe Freeman 0

Khmer Rouge tribunal judges have made public more than 1,700 documents collected during the investigation into the landmark first case against Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, the former chairman of the detention centre S-21. The Supreme Court Chamber ruled that 1,749 previously “confidential” and “strictly confidential” documents would be declassified, the public affairs section announced yesterday. The figure constitutes only a portion of the 12,000 that were under consideration by judges. According to a statement released by the court, the now-public documents include the confessions of victims, witness statements and cadre biographies. The remaining part of the trove are going into the case files of cases 002, 003 and 004, and will be reviewed at “the end of the proceedings to which they concurrently pertain”. Tribunal spokeswoman Yuko Maeda said that an archival unit will go through each of the declassified documents to prep them for posting online, after which members of the public will have access through the website. That process should take two to three weeks.

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9/7/2012 3:05 PM

Villagers cry foul after swarms of flies increase | National news

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Villagers cry foul after swarms of flies increase Friday, 07 September 2012 Mom Kunthear 0

Plague proportions of flies have been swarming Kandal province’s Thmey village lately to the point that resident Po Lin said he needs a mosquito net to eat his meals. Otherwise, he claimed, the unwelcome insects will land on the food in packs. “A week ago, some children in the village and my son got diarrhoea because they ate food without avoiding the flies,” he said, shooing away flies in mid-conversation. Along with thousands of people in three other villages in Kampong and Kandal provinces, Lin believes that an unsanitary local chicken farm is a breeding ground for the horde of winged pests. The three-year-old farm is owned by Prak Kola, a Ministry of Interior official, according to Svay Song, the Oknha Tep village chief in Kampong Speu province. Song told the Post yesterday that he and local environmental officials inspected the chicken farm after villagers began plans to petition the provincial governor. While at the location, he said that flies stuck to his clothes “like honey”. The representative promised to clean up the operation. The owner could not be reached for comment yesterday.

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9/7/2012 3:06 PM

Largest hydropower station on Mekong River starts operation

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Friday, 07 September 2012 11:01 DAP

PU'ER, Yunnan, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The largest hydropower station on Lancang River in southwest China's Yunnan Province -- known as the Mekong River in southeast Asia -- went into operation Thursday with its first power generating unit up and running. The Nuozhadu hydroelectric station, located in the city of Pu'er, is China's 4th largest of its kind. It will be installed with nine same-size generating units with a total capacity of 5.85 gigawatts. All the units will be put into operation by 2014, thus enabling the station to generate 23.9 billion kwh of electricity on average each year. By churning out clean energy, the station will help save 9.6 million tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 18.8 million tonnes each year. The dam of the Nuozhadu station is 261.5 meters high, the highest in Asia and the world's third highest. As one of the seven planned hydropower projects on Lancang River inside China, the station will increase the electricity supply and optimize the energy mix and also help flood control and water use downstream, said Yunnan governor Li Jiheng. The Lancang River, or Mekong River, rises on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before spilling into the South China Sea. The river's China section has an estimated 32 gigawatts of exploitable water power resources as it flows through high mountains and valleys, with a huge drop in height at some points. During the hydropower development, China has paid great attention to the protection of the river valley ecosystem and environment as well as water allocation along the river valley. In recent years, many contractors and research institutes have conducted investigations with overseas counterparts on the impacts of hydropower development on downstream regions. The research results showed that the water flow in the river's China section accounted for only 13.5 percent of the river's total, making the country's hydropower development have little impact downstream. "First, the water flow inside China has a small share of the whole river valley; Secondly, hydropower generation doesn't consume water," said Ma Hongqi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "So the hydropower development on the upper reaches has very limited impact on the water flow downstream." Meanwhile, the dam stores water during the flood season and releases it during the dry season, which could help ease both flooding and drought in the countries downstream, Ma said. Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Co., Ltd., which runs the hydropower station, has also made efforts to protect the ecosystem and the fish in the river.

9/7/2012 11:55 AM

Largest hydropower station on Mekong River starts operation

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Wang Yongxiang, chairman of Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower, said the company has set up botanical gardens of rare plants and animal saving stations and also has taken measures to ensure zero emissions at the hydropower project.

9/7/2012 11:55 AM