130610-The Post English

Thailand’s commitment to democracy questioned

page 18

Issue NUMBER 1643

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MONDAY, june 10, 2013

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Former S-21 prisoner Chum Mey (left) addresses a crowd of thousands during a protest against Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Kem Sokha at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park yesterday.

Sreng Meng Srun

A protest like few others Vong Sokheng and Shane Worrell

A

N ESTIMATED 10,000 people protested in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park yesterday, calling for Cambodia National Rescue Party vice-president Kem Sokha to apologise for his alleged comments regarding the notorious Tuol Sleng interrogation centre.

Prior to the protest, the government had gone to lengths to stress that any public demonstration would be “independent”.

Thousands turn out against CNRP deputy But the sight of security guards telling people how to hold signs, men with walkie-talkies waving people back onto village-owned trucks and a police spokesman confirming authorities had provided transport, food and water to protesters hinted at involvement on myriad levels.

Led by Tuol Sleng survivor Chum Mey, 83, protesters, some holding signs that described Sokha as a cow-

ard, called on the lawmaker to apologise for allegedly saying the Tuol Sleng interrogation centre was staged by the Vietnamese.

“I will absolutely not allow someone to rewrite history while I’m alive,” Mey told the crowd over a loudspeaker.

“Kem Sokha’s speech was not the truth.” Sokha has denied making the statement, saying his words were edited and taken out of context.

National Police spokesman Kirt Chantharith said yesterday that local authorities had provided supplies and services to protesters, but had not encouraged any to join.

“I am not clear about the exact number of trucks, but at least a hundred trucks as well as food, water and toilets were provided by relevant authorities,” he said.

A statement from protesters

opened with disclaimers that the mass demonstration was neither political nor a bid to gain benefits from the government.

“Our goal is to protest against this individual, Mr Kem Sokha, whose clear intention is to ease the sanctions of top leaders of Kampuchea Democratic Regime and to defraud the reality of Cambodian history once again,” the statement says. “We just need [Sokha] to go and light incense and

The Post wins big at SOPA awards

Zoos’ unnatural selection

England strike first blow

NATIONAL – page 5

WORLD – page 17

SPORT – page 25

Continues on page 4

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

National

Lawmakers’ firing irks US Abby Seiff

A

FTER three days of silence from Cambodia’s biggest governance donors over the firing of all 27 opposition lawmakers, the US late Saturday night became the first to publicly comment on what had transpired, condemning the move and calling for the legislators’ reinstatement.

“The United States is deeply concerned by reports that the Permanent Committee of the Cambodian National Assembly, made up entirely of members of the ruling party, has expelled opposition lawmakers from the National Assembly,” reads the statement by US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

On Wednesday, the 12-mem-

ber committee voted to strip the posts of 29 parliamentarians from the Sam Rainsy Party, Human Rights Party and now-defunct Norodom Ranariddh Party, claiming they had broken the law by joining new parties. All 29 lawmakers had been absorbed into other parties earlier this year following mergers of both the royalist and opposition parties.

Legal analysts have denounced the firings, calling them a breech of the “spirit” of the law, while the opposition party has said the move effectively nullifies the National Assembly – which requires at least 120 members as per the constitution.

In an email sent yesterday, UN special rapporteur Surya Subedi said he too was concerned by the development.

“The move coming so close to the elections to the National Assembly is not helpful ... There should be a level playing field for all political parties to compete in the elections. Cambodian democracy would be weaker without an effective opposition in the National Assembly.”

The US appears to agree, noting that: “such a decision starkly contradicts the spirit of a healthy democratic process.”

“Stripping the salaries and parliamentary status of opposition party legislators deprives the Cambodian people of their voice and hurts the democratic process in Cambodia,” the statement continued.

Repeated requests for comment from Australia, France and the EU have gone unanswered. The countries are

among Cambodia’s biggest governance development partners, and have sunk millions of dollars over the past two decades into improving Cambodia’s democratic institutions.

From 2009 until now, the US government alone has disbursed more than $50 million in funds earmarked for democracy, human rights and governance, according to State Department data.

Asked whether the US would consider suspending aid if the lawmakers are not reinstated, embassy spokesman Sean McIntosh, said it was “the wrong question”.

“The focus here is on the democratic process and the action taken by the National Assembly ruling majority does not help the process,” he said.

NEC urges non-violent election Sen David

THE National Election Committee has warned members of the public against violent clashes while campaigning for the national elections next month, while City Hall announced a

of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights.

“I think there will be some violence, but I’m hoping that it will be minor and not systematic,” Virak said yesterday.

But Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said

All the parties must not use any violence against each other while campaigning ban on campaigning in certain areas of the city.

“All the parties must refrain from using any violence against each other while campaigning,” Som Chandyna, a member of National Election Committee, said in a Friday meeting announcing the start of the month-long campaign period, which will kick off June 27.

In the past the NEC has warned people against using violence ahead of national elections, said Ou Virak, president

despite the government warning, he doubted there would be much violence during the leadup to the July 28 vote.

“The ruling party, the [Cambodian People’s Party] is mature enough [to avoid violence]”, Siphan said yesterday.

The city of Phnom Penh, meanwhile, has issued a letter banning campaigning in certain parts of the city in the run-up to the elections.

A letter sent to the Ministry of Interior on Thursday and released yesterday said the

selective banning will maintain public order and avoid creating traffic jams.

“Phnom Penh municipality issued a ban on campaigning in some areas in order to ensure the campaign is held with security, safety; all parties are to avoid [creating] traffic jams which disturb residents, as well as tourists,” said Long Dimanche, a City Hall spokesman.

From June 26 until July 26, campaigning will be banned on Norodom Boulevard from the Independence Monument to the Angdong stoplight; Russian Boulevard; Monivong Boulevard from the PKC stoplight to the former Chinese hospital stoplight; Sihanouk Boulevard from Sothearos Park to the former Chinese hospital stoplight; Mao Tse Teoung Boulevard

from the Chenla stoplight to the Tep Phan stoplight; Tep Phan Street from the corner of Monivong Boulevard to the Neang Kong Hing stoplight; Sothearos Boulevard from the corner of Street 154 to Sihanouk Boulevard; and Soramarith Boulevard as well as the street around the Royal palace.

Campaigning will also be banned from six downtown areas, including the streets around Central Market, O’Russey market, Olympic market, Tuol Tompong market, Depo market and Deum Kor market.

The city also banned campaigning from public areas including Royal Park, Men field, Independence Monument, Yeay Penh statue, Ngoy statue and Hun Sen Park. ADDITIONAL REPORTING

BY SEAN TEEHAN

Workers sit beside police officers during a protest in front of the Sabrina Garment factory in Kampong Speu earlier this month. reuters

Bail requests denied for all eight unionists Mom Kunthear

THE Kampong Speu Provincial Court has denied bail for eight unionists accused of instigating violence at the Sabrina Garment factory last Monday.

Kao Ty, the defence lawyer for the five Free Trade Union officials and three other FTU members, said yesterday that judge Cheum Rithy had denied the bail request he submitted last Thursday, explaining that the case was still under investigation.

“The judge said they need time to complete some legislative procedures for calling the plaintiffs,” he said.

The court had told him he could appeal the decision, Ty added.

Kampong Speu Provincial Court judge Cheum Rithy said yesterday that he had not approved the bail request because significant work remained in questioning plaintiffs.

“It is difficult because there are more than 4,000 plaintiffs on this case,” he said, asserting that almost all the other workers at the factory opposed releasing the unionists.

Rithy said he had just begun questioning witnesses who

were present for last Monday’s demonstration, during which participants in a 4,000-person strike for better benefits and wages entered the factory and clashed with workers who had not joined the strike, prompting police and military officials to intervene.

The clash caused significant property damage and injured a least 23 people, including nine police officers.

The following day, the majority of strikers returned to work, while about 500 continued demonstrating for the release of the unionists as well as for their initial demands of better benefits and wages.

Nhean Sokny, 23, one of the demonstrators, said yesterday that hundreds of workers would gather in front of the factory today and march to the court and demand the eight workers’ release.

“If they don’t agree, a big strike will happen again,” Sokny said.

Susan Chen, president of the Sabrina factory, has appealed in local media outlets for the Cambodian government “to firmly uphold the rights of law-abiding bona fide investors such as Sabrina factory”.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Request for Applications-Protection Grant Winrock International (WI) is a non-profit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock strengthens the capacity of women, children, youth, and civil society organizations to actively participate in local and national development and to transform their societies. Winrock is now implementing a fouryear Counter Trafficking in Person phase II project (CTIP II) funded by the USAID. Winrock is pleased to announce a Request for Applications under the category of Protection (Grant Maximum is USD100,000) to improve victim service support to survivors of all forms of trafficking in persons. This grant will support local and international NGOs to develop and execute protection activities to improve implementation of service provision for survivors of all forms of trafficking in human beings and best interest of victims.

We are seeking candidates to fill the positions of sale.

RESPONSIBILITY: - Communicate with current and new clients - Present and get feed back to and from clients - Make an appointment with new clients to show the service and products

Eligibility Requirements: a) NGOs registered and operating in Cambodia are eligible. b) Prior victim service provision experience and demonstrated success in working on the human trafficking issue; prior victim identification experience with women, children and men victims of trafficking, and prior experience with repatriation is required. c) Prior experience with livelihood, income generation, reintegration and follow up d) Prior victim care experience within shelters or communities based care e) A grant may be awarded to a single NGO, or to a coalition of NGOs within a region, with a lead NGO handling the fiscal reporting, based on detailed specificity of who does what and who is paid for what. f) Project funds may be used – as appropriate – for staff and operational costs, transportation, printing and publishing, or other direct project costs and all funds must be spent in Cambodia.

Submission: Please submit your proposal to WI Cambodia: Phnom Penh Center, Building F, Room 787, Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh, Tel: 023 212 334/6 or by email: tpin@field.winrock.org by June 21, 2013 at 5:30pm.

Detailed RFA for this grant can be obtained by request via email to meng.seang@field.winrock.org

REQUIREMENTS: - Age 18-25 - Sale - Able to communicate in English and/ or Chinese - Good communication - Honest with the team HOW TO APPLY: If any students or Staffs interested in the above position, don’t hesitate to send us your CV. Contract: Shop’s number: 023 211254 / 092 858895 / 016 627888

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

National Attack on woman

Trio charged in gang rape of waitress

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hree students were charged yesterday with the gang rape of a 29year-old waitress in Phnom Penh following their arrest last Wednesday.

The students – Riem Mono, 18; Put Keara, 24; and Kim Phnanha, 22 – were having a late dinner and drinks at a restaurant on National Road 1 on Wednesday where the 29year-old victim was working as a waitress.

According to a Meanchey police officer who wished to remain anonymous, the three men allegedly invited the waitress to come dancing with them but instead drove her to a nearby farm where they each raped her twice, even after being warned she was living with HIV/AIDS. Afterwards, they left her there.

The victim was able to walk to file a report at 3am on Thursday. The suspects were arrested that day and are now in Prey Sar prison.

Neither the suspects nor their defence lawyer could be reached for comment yesterday regarding the accusations.

BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

Bus companies’ role in crashes called out Sen David

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HE Ministry of Public Works and Transport has warned four bus companies that unless they cause fewer traffic deaths this year than last year, they will be shut down.

Chan Dara, deputy general director of the Transport Department, said in a meeting at the National Police station on Friday that Rith Mony, Capitol, Paramount Angkor Express and GS had been issued warning letters because they were responsible for the highest number of fatalities last year.

Deaths on the road have

been rising each year and surged in 2012.

“If those companies are still causing the most road deaths this year like last year, they will face closure,” Dara said. “We warned them to avoid any traffic accidents.”

According to a report from the Cambodia Road Traffic and Victim Information System, transportation companies were involved in the deaths of 1,966 of the 15,660 people reported to have died from traffic accidents last year.

National Police deputy director Yon Chunny recommended the companies re-examine their employees’ driving skills

in accordance with traffic laws.

“We suggest to them to ensure their passengers’ safety is a priority,” he said.

Chunny said most traffic accidents were caused by speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and neglect of traffic laws. He also suggested that each bus be equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Sam Vichet, a service assistant at Rith Mony Transport, said after receiving a warning letter from the government the company had come up with strategies to avoid accidents.

“The company is further strengthening the safety of the passengers who choose

An overturned goods truck is seen in Mondulkiri province last week. hong menea

Rith Mony by demanding all drivers learn traffic law and all buses be checked at the transportation department before driving,” Vichet said.

Phann Sopheap, director of Capitol Company, said the company checks their 180 buses before driving each day,

but accidents happen anyway.

“We did not want to have crashes, but it is accidental,” Sopheap said. “We strengthen our bus technique every day, but in 2012 many traffic accidents happened. We know in some cases our company did not cause the accident.”

Prepare for heavy coastal storms to strike, ministry warns Mom Kunthear

Heavy monsoon rains, strong winds and lightning will hit coastal areas between Tuesday and Sunday, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology warned yesterday.

Minister Lim Kean Kor

appealed for all local officials and residents, particularly in districts near the ocean, to be on the alert for the storm and avoid sea travel in the coming days.

“We ask fishermen and tourists who want to travel to the islands to be careful for

these six days,” said Oum Rina, director of the Meteorology Department.

He added that his department expected sea level to rise between one metre and 2.5 metres during the storm.

Although storms tend to peak at the beginning and end

of the rainy season each year, the heavy rains, wind and hail that had hit by late May had already killed at least 16 people, injured 68, destroyed more than 1,000 houses and damaged more than 5,000.

In a relatively dry 2012, by contrast, storms had caused

10 deaths and 60 injuries and destroyed about 700 houses by late May. Keo Vy, cabinet director for the National Committee for Disaster Management, has said storm damage this year has been “a lot more serious” than last year.

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

National

Koh Ker statues set to arrive on Tuesday Justine Drennan

TWO 10th-century Cambodian statues that New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has agreed to repatriate will arrive in Cambodia on Tuesday, Ek Tha, spokesman for the Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit, said yesterday.

Last month, the Met decided to return the life-sized Kneeling Attendants after finding sufficient evidence that they had been looted from the Koh Ker temple complex in the 1970s.

“After more than 30 years of being away from their homeland, finally the two statues will return home,” Tha said. The statues will arrive just in time to be displayed in Phnom Penh’s Peace Palace during UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meetings from July 16 to 27, he added.

Following the meetings, which mark Cambodia’s first chairmanship of a UN committee, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts would decide on the statues’ permanent location, Tha said.

Thousands rally against CNRP Continued from page 1

apologise to the victims of Tuol Sleng prison. How difficult can it be? Why did Mr Kem Sokha refuse to do so?”

Opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said Sokha had not apologised because he had not made the comments in the first place. “[He] maintains his stance.

He denied the accusations,” she said.

Sochua added that she was with Sokha in Kampong Cham for the speech in question

last month. “You can’t expect someone to accept guilt for a crime he never committed.”

After the demonstration, representatives went to CNRP headquarters in Tuol Kork district, where Mey presented a petition to Sochua and other CNRP representatives.

The opposition lawmaker said she respected the group’s right to protest, but had heard claims some had been paid to take part.

She added that Phnom Penh municipal police chief Choun Sovann had helped Mey to

Thousands protested at Freedom Park yesterday in a demonstration mirrored by smaller ones across the Kingdom. pha lina

CNRP headquarters. “We want to have this kind of treatment for all.

“The head of police can’t show himself as facilitating one group over another,” she said.

Chan Soveth, senior monitor for rights group Adhoc, said the protest was unusual in that people were fully allowed to exercise their freedom without “pressure”.

“It was the type of demonstration that has never happened before,” he said, adding that many protesters seemed to have been given food, water and transport.

But Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, insisted the government had not “sponsored” the events.

“To do that, we would be taking the money from the national budget. We haven’t done that,” he said.

The only efforts authorities made, he said, was to ensure their citizens were safe during the event.

At Freedom Park, protester Chim Samuon, 50, from the capital’s Russey Keo district, said village officials had asked her to join the demonstration.

“But no one forced me to come. We have gathered here to ask Kem Sokha to apologise to

Thousands demonstrated yesterday against comments allegedly made by opposition CNRP leader Kem Sokha. vireak mai

the victims of Tuol Sleng prison because his words brought back suffering to Cambodian people,” she said.

In a statement, the Association of Victims of Democratic Kampuchea (Ksem Ksan), of which Mey is president, distanced itself from the event.

“This action of Mr Chum Mey runs counter to the spirit of the association, whose aims are to seek justice for the victims via the court . . . and to oppose any attempts to divide the country,” the statement says.

The protest in Phnom Penh was mirrored by smaller ones across the country. Local rights groups Licadho, Adhoc and the Community Legal Education Center estimated that between

12,500 and 30,000 people demonstrated nationwide.

In Kampong Cham, Sokha’s electorate, about 3,000 took to the streets, though Sokha himself was campaigning in Kampot, Sochua said.

After the decision of the National Assembly’s permanent committee to strip the status and salaries of opposition MPs last Wednesday, the controversial Khmer Rouge crimes denial law passed through at record speed last Friday.

In a statement sent on Saturday, self-exiled CNRP leader Sam Rainsy said the treatment of opposition lawmakers created the “preconditions for a civil war” and equated to “an institutional coup d’état”.

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

National

Post wins big at SOPA Awards Post Staff

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Twenty-four Chinese nationals legally residing in Phnom Penh were arrested over the weekend in another raid on an internet scamming ring in the capital. photo supplied

Two dozen netted in two VoIP scam raids Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

IN TWO separate incidents over the weekend, local and military police arrested 24 Chinese nationals allegedly involved with extorting money over the phone from people in China.

Military police, in collaboration with local police and a prosecutor from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, raided three rental villas in Sen Sok, Russey Keo and Tuol Kork districts on Friday and Saturday, said Brigadier General Kheng Tito, spokesman for the military police.

“They were the members of the group of Chinese kidnappers who had threatened and extorted money from the people in China and Taiwan via [Voice over the Internet Protocol] telephones from Cambodia,” Tito said. “They were accused of threatening, and now are still being questioned by our military police at the national military police headquarters in Phnom Penh.”

Law enforcement officials suspect the 24 people arrested are connected with a VoIP scam, using the internet to make phone calls from Cambodia to China from ostensibly Chinese

phone numbers. Scammers then typically use various techniques – including threatening the victims – in order to trick them into sending money to Cambodia.

Since the beginning of the year, a total of 90 Chinese nationals have been arrested in connection with similar alleged scams in Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh, Tito told the Post last week.

Fourteen of the alleged scammers were arrested on Friday afternoon in Sen Sok and Russey Keo districts, Tito said. The other 10 people were arrested at a luxury rental villa in Tuol Kork district’s Boeung Kak II commune at about 11am on Sunday.

The arrests came only a week after local and military police raided a villa in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district and arrested 24 Chinese nationals and three Cambodians who were allegedly connected to a similar VoIP scam.

According to a Ministry of Interior report, from 2010 until June 2013, about 600 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals were arrested for allegedly extorting money from people in China and Taiwan via VoIP from Cambodia.

he Phnom Penh Post has continued its stellar track record at the annual Society of Publishers in Asia awards, taking four awards including journalist of the year.

The three top awards and one honourable mention took the Post’s tally of international accolades to 16 in the past five years.

The awards were given on Thursday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in the locally published, Englishlanguage category for newspapers or magazines with a small circulation.

Most notably, May Titthara

won the journalist of the year award for excellence for his vast and intrepid body of work in 2012 that saw him almost constantly travelling and taking significant personal risks to apply tough scrutiny to the rich and powerful in Cambodia.

Tom Brennan and Don Weinland won the business reporting award for excellence for their story Leopard’s fishy business, which shone light on the manoeuvrings of a private investment fund that allegedly sank a seafood processing venture for its own financial gain.

May Titthara, David Boyle, Derek Stout, Vireak Mai and Sen David also took an award for excellence in the breaking news

Post CEO Chris Dawe (left) accepts a SOPA award. cheang soKHa

category for coverage of the Bavet shoe factory shootings, a case that remains unresolved and highly controversial.

For uncovering details of a still unreleased corruption probe by the Global Fund into alleged

kickbacks and malfeasance by government fund recipients, Abby Seiff and David Boyle received an honourable mention in investigative reporting.

Post English-language editorin-chief Alan Parkhouse said he was proud of his staff and the recognition they had received.

“I am particularly proud that one of our Cambodian reporters, May Titthara, won the top prize for one of the best reporters in the region,” he said. “To win so many prizes in such a tough competition shows what a quality product we have and is the result of great teamwork in our newsroom.”

The Post’s sister paper The Myanmar Times took home three awards.

Boeung Kak resolution speeds on Khouth Sophak Chakrya

RESPONDING to a new plan put forward by members of the Bo­eung Kak community and NGOs last month, Phnom Penh Municipal Hall announced on Friday that it had drawn up a list of all families who remain excluded from the 12.44 hectares Prime Minister Hun Sen allotted the community in 2011.

Municipal Hall spokesman Long Dimanche said officials were preparing to send the list to Phnom Penh governor Pa Socheatvong for approval.

“We do not yet know the next step,” he said. “It has been very difficult to verify the numbers.”

City Hall’s list includes 73 families, but community members have previously stated that only 63 families were excluded.

To resolve this discrepancy, community representative Tep Vanny said municipal officials should post the new list in each village involved in the dispute.

“This will let the villagers verify [the list] together to avoid them accusing each other of increasing their number of families,” she said.

She added that some of the newly listed families had never

been seen protesting with the rest of the community.

“But we still appeal to the authorities to find a solution for them, just in case they are real victims,” she said.

Nget Khun, 72, one of the villagers waiting for land, was optimistic that municipal officials were seeking a solution.

“But if this continues, I will protest until I die,” she said.

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

National

Rights groups say denial law a threat to freedom Meas Sokchea

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IGHTS groups said yesterday they believed the controversial Khmer Rouge crimes denial law, which was rammed through the National Assembly last week, would be used to freeze free speech in the run-up to the July elections.

On Friday, the law passed unanimously and with no debate by CPP lawmakers during a specially convened session of the National Assembly.

The law makes denial of crimes committed during Democratic Kampuchea an offence punishable by up to two years in prison and by fines of up to $1,000. Similarly, people can be punished for glorifying, opposing, downplaying or refusing to recognise the crimes that occurred under the Khmer Rouge, while legal entities – including companies and political parties – can be punished if their representatives are found guilty.

Rights monitors said they were doubtful many prosecutions would arise from the law, given that denial is all but nonexistent in Cambodia, but said

they believed the law would instead be used to silence opposing voices.

“I don’t expect anything serious to take place or prosecutions to take place, but what this does for the Cambodian public is to further create fear for expressing one’s opinion,” said Cambodian Center for Human Rights president Ou Virak.

His comments were echoed

by Amnesty International’s Cambodia researcher, Rupert Abbott, who said the speed with which the law was passed raised questions as to its intention.

“The law was passed in record time, with apparently little or no consultation [ . . . ] and through a national assembly from which opposition members had been expelled on mass,” he wrote in an email, adding that it appeared “incompatible” with Cambodia’s freedom of expression obligations.

Of the 86 ruling party and Funcinpec lawmakers present Friday, none offered pushback on the highly criticised law.

Instead, after each of the brief, five articles were read out, lawmakers stood up to praise the law their party had drafted a

week ago and, at times, to share their own suffering under the Khmer Rouge.

No opposition members were present. All 27 Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party lawmakers were stripped of their elected posts Wednesday by the National Assembly’s CPP-controlled permanent committee.

While National Assembly ruling party lawmakers insisted Friday that the law was created to protect the survivors of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said he had little doubt the legislation was, in fact, politically motivated. “They’re trying to create an environment where the opposition is very careful about how they talk about the Khmer Rouge,” he said yesterday.

With campaigns for the July 28 election beginning, Panha said the law’s passage shifts the focus from more pressing issues in the Kingdom and creates an “environment of fear”. “It will affect the fairness of the election coming up.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SEAN TEEHAN AND ABBY SEIFF

Brutality of KR beyond compare: Schanberg Justine Drennan

IN HIS last day of testimony for the Khmer Rouge tribunal on Friday, former New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg said he had witnessed the brutality of war before 1975 but was still shocked by the Khmer Rouge’s capture and evacuation of Phnom Penh.

Schanberg had previously covered the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and the Vietnam War, and reiterated that as a seasoned journalist he had no doubt the Khmer Rouge, rather than the general ravages of war, were primarily to blame for Cambodia’s suffering.

Just before the Khmer Rouge entered the city, Schanberg said, he was “at a hospital where victims were being brought in – amputees, children . . . I spoke to them. They told us they were victims of the Khmer Rouge, and the fighting. Bodies were piled up, the floors were slick with blood.”

“The doctors at that point didn’t have any more gloves to do surgery and cleaned their hands in a bowl with alcohol after every surgery. We would see cardboard boxes

with limbs thrown in them.”

Victor Koppe, co-counsel to Nuon Chea, told Schanberg he had “never been in a war, as you have been” but said at least one foreign couple had seen the city’s fall to the Khmer Rouge in a positive light.

A book by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman, which has been widely criticised for denying Khmer Rouge culpability, states that Chou Meng and Shane Tarr joined the other remaining foreigners at the French embassy after being turned back from accompanying the Cambodian population into the countryside.

According to Chomsky and Herman, the couple wrote: “When it became clear that we had no sensational stories to tell of mass executions, rape, pillage and suicides many of these journalists became quite disappointed.”

“I had a couple of conversations with them,” Schanberg said, “and they said that everything that we had seen wasn’t true . . . They said because we continued to disagree with them, they were going to report us to the Khmer Rouge leadership.”

police blotter Young moto thief gives himself up for a steal A 22-year-old man ended up with more than a traffic ticket on Friday when police in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district caught him redhanded trying to steal a motorbike. While monitoring the area for traffic law violations, they nabbed a big item ticket when they spied the thief starting to make off with the bike. They quickly caught the man, who admitted to the attempted theft. Koh Santepheap

Necklace-snatch duo don’t make it all too far TWO reported thieves appeared home free, until police arrested them at their home on Saturday. One of the suspects drove a motorbike in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district, while the other, riding on the back, snatched a necklace off a victim who was getting some exercise with a walk in the park. The 19-year-old and 20-year-old women made it home, but shortly after arriving there, police showed up and the dynamic duo swiftly confessed. Kampuchea Thmey

Drunk driver flees after pedestrian is injured

Job Vacancy Center Manager

Employment Opportunities Initially established in 1996 as a project of International HIV/AIDS Alliance, KHANA operated as an NGO from 1997 and was officially registered as a local NGO in 2000. Since then it has operated as a linking organization of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and is so far a leading non-governmental organization in Cambodia that has made outstanding contributions to the HIV response. KHANA’s work has been made possible through support from USAID, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, European Commission, World Food Programme and AusAID. We are now seeking qualified Cambodian nationals for the following vacancies: Technical Support HUB Business Manager Purpose of position: The TS Hub Business Manager is expected to deliver technical support to countries in the region as necessary and the share of working time spent delivering technical support is expected to grow to approximately 50%.

Key Responsibilities: Technical Support Hub Business Manager is responsible for the development of the Hub as an effective and efficient technical support provider providing quality technical support to organizations in Cambodia and in the region in the following thematic areas: HIV prevention, care and treatment or impact mitigation, health systems strengthening, organisational development, strategic information, M & E, financial management, knowledge management, resource mobilization, training. TS Hub Business Manager will be responsible for effective and targeted marketing and branding of the TS Hub services. Help to develop, train and quality-assure a team of technical support providers who will deliver technical support The TS Hub is committed to ensuring evidence based programming to inform best practice in South-East Asia and the Pacific Selection Criteria: Essential:  Proven experience, excellence and credibility in marketing and business development and technical support provision.  Experience of working in more than one country in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.  Sound business oriented background/experiences.  5-year experience in public health, development or other relevant sectors.  Experience in mentoring and coaching staff.  Proven experience in designing, developing, implementing and monitoring interventions.  Experience of networking and representation at national or international levels.  Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  Able to travel extensively within the region.  Self-motivated, proactive, flexible and effective team worker.

Desirable:  Experience of working with civil society and with vulnerable populations.  Extensive donor liaison experience.  Ability to oversee and manage TS Hub finances  Experience of managing projects and budgets  Relevant post-graduate qualification For more information about the job specifications, required qualifications and detailed job descriptions, please visit KHANA’s website at www.khana.org.kh.

Interested candidates must apply online via www.khana.org.kh(Employment Opportunities Section) by17 June 2013 at 5 p.m.Only short-listed candidates will be notified for further process. Applications via email or hard copies will not be considered. th

KHANA is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from appropriate qualified people from all sections of the community. Qualified people living with HIV, MSM, disabled people and women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Marie Stopes International (MSI) is a market-focused results oriented social business that uses modern management and marketing techniques to provide quality family planning and reproductive health services in over 40 countries world-wide. Marie Stopes International Cambodia (MSIC) was established in 1998 and currently operates seven reproductive health clinics, outreach services in 18 provinces nationwide and distributes three social marketing products. MSIC is looking for passionate, talented and committed Cambodians to fill the role of Center Manager based at Kampong Thom Clinic.

Key Responsibilities:  Responsible for managing the medical team and other clinical team members and overall management of the center  Able to perform existing sexual and reproductive health services in the center within your capabilities;  Achieve key indicators in accordance with the annual set plan  Ensure high quality service included facilitate the QTA assessment both internally and externally  Planning, reporting, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation of the clinic performance  Liaison with government counterparts included PHD director, OD/ RH directors and other health staffs for referral services and networking in the center location and a representative of MSC with other stakeholders; Skills and Experience:  A minimum of 5 years experiences in managing Maternal and Child Health centre; experiences in Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health program  Extensive experience in Obstetric and Gynecological care  Experience in supervising a medical team in performing quality clinical service

Please visit http://www.mariestopes.org.kh/Career.html or contact our Human Resources Team for a detailed job description.

Interested and qualified candidates should send applications (CV and a cover letter), stating current and expected salary to Marie Stopes Head Office, Address: #12Eo, St.41, (Village No. 10), Sangkat Tonle Basac, Khan Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh, Email: hrd@mariestopes.org.kh, Tel: 023 994 082/083.

MSIC is an equal opportunity employer and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Closing date for applications is 14th June, 2013.

A competitive salary scale will be offered to the successful candidate.

A DRINK-driving hit-andrun accident left a 24-yearold man with serious injuries in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. After wetting his whistle at a local bar, the driver allegedly hit the pedestrian, who was walking along the road. When police arrived at the scene, the driver had already fled. The victim suffered injury to his leg and was taken to the hospital. Kampuchea Thmey

Stabbing of stepdad worth it even with nab A 25-year-old man got both mad and even when he allegedly stabbed his stepfather for abusing his mother.

Police arrested the suspect in Kampong Cham’s Prey Chor district on Saturday after the stabbing left his stepfather seriously injured.

The suspect admitted to the crime, saying he couldn’t stand seeing his mother mistreated almost every day.

Deum AMpil

Getaway thief doesn’t wind up very far away IN ANOTHER case of justice delayed, police arrested a burglar a day after he allegedly broke into and robbed a house. The suspect was apprehended in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district after allegedly stealing construction tools and money when the homeowner was away. The alleged thief got away, but police knew his identity and arrested him at his house the next day.

KOH SANTEPHEAP

Translated by Sen David

7

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Business Indicative Exchange Rates as of 7/06/2013. Please contact ANZ Royal Global Markets on 023 999 910 for real time rates.

USD / KHR

EUR / USD

AUD / USD

NZD / USD

GBP / USD

USD /CNY

4,090

1.3239

0.9539

0.7983

1.5593

6.1352

USD / JPY

96.8

USD / HKD

7.7626

USD / SGD

USD / THB

1.2417

30.57

Gem event promises to sparkle Joe Freeman

Summer harvest

Vegetable farmer Mourn Savy waters heads of lettuce at his farm in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district in May.

heng chivoan

Mobile call prices could fall Rann Reuy

THE Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) is considering lowering minimum mobile phone costs in the country to ward off price wars that could send operators into bankruptcy, a senior official said.

Lay Mariveau, first member of the TRC, told the Post in a recent interview that the TRC invited the International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency

specialising in the industry, to study the Kingdom’s telecom markets and mobile phone call prices earlier this year.

He said the ITU suggested that the lowest price at which operators can compete with each other is 2.5 cents or 2.6 cents, around two cents lower than the prices spelled out in an inter-ministerial prakas – or government order – signed in 2009 to tackle long-standing disputes over price-dumping.

According to the 2009 prakas,

the minimum cost for customers within a network is set at 4.5 cents per minute, while the minimum for cross-network calls is 5.95 cents.

The TRC plans to hold a meeting with the eight telecom operators after the July 28 national elections to discuss minimum prices, Mariveau said, adding that the move could prevent telecommunications providers from being crushed under the weight of stiff competition.

“We [want to] protect the in-

vestors of the eight companies from collapsing,” he said, blaming the costly, complicated, and ongoing Mfone bankruptcy case on the same competitive practices.

“We don’t intervene [in] the price, we let all mobile companies to compete with each other, but we ask them to respect fair competition,” he said.

The ITU declined to comment yesterday, and representatives from providers Smart, Beeline and Cellcard did not

immediately respond to phone calls and emails from the Post.

Experts say an oversupply of providers has contributed to price dumping, but that the crowded market may shrink.

In an interview in April, Cellcard CEO Ian Watson said that over the next 18 months, the market will consolidate, leaving only three or four players.

“I think we’ll be there; I think Viettel will be there; I think Smart will be there. And maybe a smaller niche player.”

Officials are predicting an increase in visitors and a glitzy showcase when the 5th Cambodia Gems and Jewelry Fair opens this Thursday in Phnom Penh.

Set in the Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre, the four-day event is drawing buyers and traders to Phnom Penh amid a burst of energy in the country’s growing precious stones industry.

Kep Vutha, with the bureau of trade exhibitions in the Ministry of Commerce, said there will be a mix of local and international dealers. But the emphasis will be on Cambodia, whose companies account for 48 of the 78 signed up.

An official with the state promotion department who declined to be named said the event will provide a platform for local businesses.

“The Cambodian gem and jewellery fair is a high-standard event, and this one should be considered at an international standard,” the official said.

In recent years, Cambodia has tried to position itself as a player in the industry. Intertek, a London-based checker of rare gems, set up the country’s first laboratory in 2011 to help regulate the trade, and in March, construction on a diamond-polishing factory and training centre for luxury jewellery brand Tiffany & Co began in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone.

United Nations World Food Programme – Cambodia VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT VA Number: 2013-05 Deadline for application: 21 June 2013 On behalf of the Humanitarian Response Forum (HRF, a forum for international NGOs and UN agencies for emergency preparedness and response in Cambodia), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking applications from international candidates to fill the following position: Position title: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Coordinator Number of position: One Type of Contract: International Consultancy Duration: Six months Duty Station: WFP Country Office, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the co-chairs of the HRF (the country directors of ActionAid and WFP, respectively), the Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:      

Manage the overall process of strengthening preparedness levels of the HRF; In consultation with relevant stakeholders, coordinate and facilitate the review and finalization of sector-specific HRF contingency plans, and ensure consistency across sectors; Assist in and facilitate an emergency desktop simulation exercise; Work closely with the UN Resident Coordinator’s office (UNRCO) in finalizing the HRF’s emergency communications and reporting plan; Organize and facilitate HRF meetings; and Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications and experience: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in political or social science, international studies, public administration or other relevant. Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, preferably including a coordination function with multiple stakeholders (e.g. government, international NGOs and UN agencies). Experience working in Southeast Asia is preferable.

Applications along with a mandatory completed UN Personal History Form (P11) and a detailed CV with copy of education certificate should be delivered to the WFP Human Resources Unit, WFP Cambodia House 250, Road 63, Phnom Penh, faxed to # 023- 218 749 or e-mailed to Cambodia.Application@wfp.org.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The applications will not be returned.

Women are encouraged to apply. Equally qualified female candidates will be given preference. A detailed job description is available on request from the WFP reception/ information desk or download from the link: http://67.23.238.138/~cambodia/Jobs/ World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. WFP has been providing food assistance in Cambodia since 1979. WFP Cambodia’s activities focus on education, nutrition and productive assets and livelihood development. In 2012, WFP supported almost 1 million people in Cambodia.

8

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Business

Bangladesh exports rise 15 per cent

Fuel is future for Myanmar

Ruma Paul

yanmar’s opening to foreign investment has been compared to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the start of an economic growth story to emulate Vietnam. How those views pan out will be largely decided by natural gas.

Exxon Mobil Corp, Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Oil India Ltd are among 59 global energy companies lining up for a share of Myanmar’s estimated $75 billion bounty of the fuel, according to the country’s energy ministry.

While oil and gas have been pumped for decades, investment largely dried up during almost five decades of military rule that ended in 2012.

Wedged between energyhungry China and India, Myanmar needs more investment to explore its gas potential.

Energy and industries such as agriculture need a combined $320 billion until 2030 to help the economy achieve eight per cent annual growth, a report last week by McKinsey Global Institute forecast.

“People see Myanmar as a frontier market,” Melinda Tun,

BANGLADESH’S exports rose 15.43 per cent in May to $2.54 billion from a year earlier thanks to stronger clothing sales, the Export Promotion Bureau said on Sunday, even as the country reviews safety standards at factories after two deadly incidents.

Garment exports totalled $19.3 billion for the 11 months ended in May, nearly 12 per cent more than a year earlier.

The sharp increase comes as the government weighs industry reform after the collapse in April of the Rana Plaza factory complex killed 1,129 people. A fire at another factory last year killed 112.

The incidents have put the government, industrialists and the global brands that use the factories under pressure to reform an industry that employs four million and generates 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s export earnings.

Total exports in the first 11 months of Bangladesh’s JulyJune financial year were $24.32 billion, compared with $21.97 billion over the same period the previous year. REUTERS

Rakteem Katakey and James Paton

M

Petrol station attendants refuel a motorist’s vehicle at an MMTM station in Yangon yesterday. bloomberg

a senior associate at law firm Baker & McKenzie, said on June 4. “If you can get a firstmover advantage you could be well set for years. It sits between the two most populous economies in the world.”

The nation’s transition to democracy in 2012 prompted the US to ease sanctions last May. Concerns about government transparency and ethnic violence persist among investors in Myanmar, which is hosting a three-day World Economic Forum on East Asia that concluded Friday.

Myanmar has 7.8 trillion

cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, according to BP Plc data, worth about $75 billion at benchmark prices for gas futures traded in the UK. The US Energy Information Administration estimates the country, also known as Burma, had 10 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves and produced 421 billion cubic feet of the fuel in 2011. The reserves are 1.9 per cent of known deposits in the Asia Pacific, according to the EIA. Sanctions, a lack of technical capacity, opaque regulatory policy, and insufficient invest-

ment by foreign firms have significantly impeded the country’s efforts to realise its oil and gas production potential, the EIA said on its website.

While US President Obama praised Myanmar’s progress toward democracy after a meeting with President Thein Sein on May 20 at the White House, he expressed “deep concern” about violence against ethnic and religious minorities and said abuse of human rights needs to stop.

The country exported its first barrel of oil in 1853. It now has 16 foreign companies working on 17 onshore exploration blocks and 15 exploring or producing in 20 offshore blocks, all in partnership with the state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, the World Economic Forum said in a report this month.

Energy and mining together is the fourth-biggest contributor to Myanmar’s gross domestic product, with agriculture being the largest at $21.2 billion, according to McKinsey.

Myanmar’s economy may grow 6.75 per cent this fiscal year, driven by natural gas sales and investment, according to the International Monetary Fund. BLOOMBERG

Sector has power to transform Nanchanok Wongsamuth

BUSINESS leaders are optimistic Myanmar’s progress in the telecommunications sector will help to create new entrepreneurs.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, the chairman and group chief executive of Bharti Enterprises Ltd, said he believes Myanmar is off to a good start, with the government determined to use the power of information and communications technology for transformation.

“It will ensure people will have mobile bank accounts, mobile education and thousands of entrepreneurs developing around this ecosystem,” he said yesterday at the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

Telephone costs in Myanmar are now six US cents a minute, but Mittal said the cost should settle at two or three cents.

Shane Aung Thu, a vicechairman and co-founder of Redlink Communications Co, said not only is hard infrastructure important but also soft infrastructure, as the use of modern technology is the central pillar of all development.

BANGKOK POST

9

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Markets Business

Robust recovery continues May Kunmakara Analysis

C

AMBODIA’s economy is on track to maintain its robust recovery thanks to a cocktail of private sector and government efforts. In 2012, the Asian Development Bank estimated that gross domestic product grew at a rate of 7.2 per cent, an increase from a 2011 International Monetary Fund figure of 6.5 per cent. After suffering from the fallout of the global economic downturn, GDP growth is surging back.

Kang Chandararot, president of the Cambodian Institute for Development Study, attributes much of the success to agricultural production, public investment in infrastructure and recoveries in both the garment and tourist sectors.

“The government role is a leading force, while the private sector followed as business confidence was not strong after the downturn [of 2008 and 2009],” he said.

The ADB predicts 7.2 per cent growth in 2013 and 7.5 per cent in 2014, figures that are largely contingent on a steady recovery of markets in the European Union and United States.

Contributing factors for growth include Cambodia’s exports, consumer spending and the diversified flow of foreign direct investment, which reached $1.5 billion in 2012. In its 2013

Construction labourers work on the new Chroy Changvar Bridge in Phnom Penh last week. hong menea

outlook, the ADB expects the industrial sector to expand by more than 10 per cent as EU demand for Cambodia’s products increase, thanks to preferential access to the market under the Everything but Arms initiative.

The ADB report says that export volume of garment and footwear products to the US may also rise in coming years.

Valued at $2.2 billion, Cambodia’s tourism sector continues to thrive. In 2012, Cambodia welcomed more than

3.6 million tourists, a 24 per cent rise when compared with 2011.

The export of milled rice in 2012 was about 200,000 tonnes, and is expected to be greater this year. The value of construction projects approved by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction last year, at a time when the sector was facing the threat of labour shortages, was $2.1 billion – double the amount the year before.

Both the government and the pri-

vate sector are making collective efforts to diversify the country’s exports while actively seeking new ways to market the Kingdom’s products, from its temples to its rice.

There is, however, more to be done.

Hiroshi Suzuki, Chief Economist of the Business Research Institute for Cambodia, is positive about sustaining growth through the evolution of Cambodia’s manufacturing base, instead of relying on the garment sector.

Suzuki says Cambodia is attracting Japanese investment in automotive parts and electronics manufacturing.

“This type of foreign direct investment is the most important key for development in many Asian countries,” he said.

Moreover, as Cambodia looks toward integrating economically with other ASEAN member states, it has to play catch up when it comes to electricity supply, transport efficiency and infrastructure development.

Some analysts have also warned of unequal development.

“Cambodia’s economy is still fragmented, (there is) no broad-base growth . . . and it is led by unfair competition,” said Chandararot when asked about the challenges for Cambodia’s future growth.

Despite the shortcomings, observers believe that Cambodia’s economy will keep heading in a positive direction over the short and long term.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DANIEL DE CARTERET

Milled rice exports up 127 per cent Sorn Sarath

CAMBODIAN milled rice exports increased by more than 100 per cent during the first five months in 2013 compared with the same period the year before, according to data from the Council of the Development of Cambodia.

The figures showed that milled rice exports reached 146,854 tonnes at the end of May, an increase of 127 per cent when compared with the 64,581 tonnes sent out in the first five months of 2012.

Kim Savuth, president of milled rice exporter Khmer Food Co Ltd and chairman of the Federation of Cambodia Rice Exporters, said the increase was a big surprise.

“We encourage the famers to increase plantation of fragrant rice to keep [the high level] of exports,” he said.

In contrast to some neighbouring countries, Cambodia has big potential for so-called fragrant rice. “Only Cambodia and Thailand can produce fragrant rice. [But] our fragrant rice is $100 to $150 per tonne cheaper than in Thailand – that is our potential.”

10

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Business

In brief Japan’s Abe to unveil tax-cut plan in the fall

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday the government would decide on tax cuts in the fall to encourage companies to boost capital expenditure as part of sweeping reforms to revive the economy from nearly two decades of stagnation. The government will also work on legislation to scrap regulations hampering corporate research and investment and secure passage in parliament in autumn, he said. “We’d like to decide on bold tax cuts for capital expenditure in autumn,” Abe told NHK. REUTERS

US payrolls rose by 175,000 last month

AMERICAN employers took on more workers than forecast in May as the world’s largest economy weathered the impact of higher taxes and federal spending cuts.

Payrolls rose 175,000 after a revised 149,000 increase in April that was smaller than first estimated, Labor Department figures showed on Saturday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a gain of 163,000. BLOOMBERG

China exports down Apple potentially

debuting iPhone trade-in program

Xin Zhou

C

HINA’S trade, inflation and lending data for May all trailed estimates, signalling weaker global and domestic demand that will test the nation’s leaders’ resolve to forgo short-term stimulus for slower, more sustainable growth.

Industrial production rose a less-than-forecast 9.2 per cent from a year earlier, and factory-gate prices fell for a 15th month, National Bureau of Statistics data showed yesterday in Beijing. Export gains were at a 10-month low and imports dropped after a crackdown on fake trade invoices while fixed-asset investment growth slowed and new yuan loans declined.

The data add pressure on President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to shore up growth less than three months into their tenure, after first-quarter expansion unexpectedly slowed. While the figures boost the case for easing monetary policy or approving more spending, the leaders’ room is limited by rising home prices, financial risks and overcapacity.

“Growth remains unconvincing and the momentum seems

Peter Burrows

New trucks manufactured by Chinese automaker Chery are parked before being loading for export in Lianyungang last week. reuters

to have lost pace in May,” said Louis Kuijs, chief China economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Hong Kong. “While we still do not worry too much about growth in 2013 ending up significantly lower than the government’s comfort zone, on balance this weekend’s data is likely to strengthen the calls for a more expansionary macroeconomic policy stance.”

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News last month trimmed economic-expansion forecasts for the April-June period to a median projection of 7.8 per cent from an 8 per cent pace forecast in April.

Li told provincial leaders on

Saturday that while growth is still relatively fast and within a reasonable range and employment is stable, “complicated factors” are ahead and must be closely monitored, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi said at a California summit with US President Barack Obama that “we have full confidence in sustained and healthy long-term economic development” and that risks and challenges are controllable.

Industrial production compared with the median estimate for a 9.4 per cent increase, with growth the weakest for a January-May period since 2009.

BLOOMBERG

www.pwc.com/kh

A lifetime opportunity IT Assistant

Due to continued growth PricewaterhouseCoopers (Cambodia) Limited are looking for an IT Assistant to join our team of highly motivated professionals.

Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in IT related subject • Sound knowledge of a broad range of IT equipment (servers, desktops, notebooks , printers, scanners etc.) and hardware • Sound knowledge of a broad range of operating systems and applications • Minimum of 2 year’s experience in a related field Responsibilities • Manage and troubleshoot workstations, helpdesk activities, WAN & LAN maintenance, security backup, virus protection and phone/fax system • Install, maintain and administer IT operations and application systems • Provide IT support functions for all in-house users • Provide IT training to all in-house end-users when required • Perform general administrative tasks

APPLE Inc is starting an i­Phone trade-in program this month aimed at getting users to upgrade to the iPhone 5 and turn in older models, people with knowledge of the plans said.

Apple has teamed up with Brightstar Corp, a mobilephone distributor, to run the exchange program, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn’t publicly announced the plan.

Brightstar also handles tradeins for AT&T Inc and T-Mobile US Inc, as well as other carriers and device makers, amid brisk demand for refurbished iPhone 4s and 4Ss in emerging markets. By offering money for older smartphones, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook is seeking to entice consumers to upgrade to the latest models, part of the company’s

mates that 20 per cent of US consumers buying a smartphone this year will do so using a trade-in, up from 11 per cent in 2011.

Until now, Apple paid little attention to the refurbished iPhone market. That’s changing as Apple’s growth has slowed in recent quarters.

Samsung Electronics Co became the best-selling smartphone brand in the US in May, T Michael Walkley, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity Inc, wrote in a report this week.

Apple sold 37.4 million units of the iPhone in the latest quarter, compared with 35.1 million a year earlier. Apple shares have declined 38 per cent from a record in September, weighed down by investor concerns that the company’s era of rapid growth, fuelled by the 2007 debut of the iPhone, may be over.

While Cook has said some “game-changer” consumer

This will help them sell more phones, because it will lower the consumer’s out-of-pocket expense efforts to reignite sales growth and combat declining shares.

“This will help them sell more phones, because it will lower the consumer’s out-ofpocket expense,” said Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics LLC in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Amy Bessette, a spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, and Patrick Foarde, a Brightstar spokesman who works for Ketchum Inc, declined to comment.

AT&T is currently paying as much as $200 for working i­Phone 4s and 4Ss, which could let some customers buy an entry-level iPhone 5 for no money down. Ganot esti-

electronics products are in development, Apple is still trading at a 13 per cent discount to Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung on a price-to-earnings basis, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Apple shares rose less than 1 per cent to $441.81 at the close in New York, leaving them down 17 per cent this year.

Samsung has become a market leader by offering smartphones based on Google Inc’s Android mobile operating system, which captured 75 per cent of the market in the first quarter, compared with 17 per cent for phones running Apple’s iOS software, according to IDC. BLOOMBERG

Fixed Deposit Interest Rates Cambodian

Financial Institutions

On Deposits 3 Months

6 Months

USD

RIEL

USD

RIEL

USD

RIEL

Prasac

5.50%

6.50%

6.50%

7.50%

8.00%

9.75%

ABA Bank

3.50%

N/A

4.50%

N/A

5.50%

N/A

ACLEDA Bank

2.50%

5.00%

3.75%

6.00%

5.00%

7.00%

ANZ Royal Bank

1.45%

3.50%

2.75%

4.00%

3.75%

5.50%

Bank of India

2.25%

N/A

3.00%

N/A

4.00%

N/A

Cambodia Asia Bank

As of JUNE 7, 2013

12 Months

3.50%

N/A

4.50%

N/A

5.50%

N/A

Cambodia Mekong Bank 2.75%

N/A

3.25%

N/A

3.50%

N/A

Cambodian Public Bank 2.25%

N/A

3.25%

N/A

4.00%

N/A

Canadia Bank

2.50%

5.00%

3.50%

6.00%

4.75%

7.00%

Maybank

2.25%

N/A

3.25%

N/A

4.25%

N/A

Maruhan Japan Bank

2.00%

2.00%

3.00%

3.00%

4.50%

4.50%

pwc.careers@kh.pwc.com

RHB Indochina Bank

2.75%

4.00%

3.50%

5.00%

4.75%

6.00%

SBC Bank

3.00%

N/A

3.50%

N/A

4.50%

N/A

PricewaterhouseCoopers (Cambodia) Limited 35 Sihanouk Boulevard, Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh.

Tel: (023) 218 086, Fax: (023) 211 594

Union Commercial Bank 3.50%

N/A

4.50%

N/A

5.50%

N/A

Interested candidates should send their CV together with a cover letter to

Deadline for applications is 30 June 2013

11

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World Questions over data mining reach over to Australia, N Zealand UNEASE over a clandestine US data collection program has rippled across the Pacific to two of Washington’s major allies, Australia and New Zealand, raising concerns about whether they have cooperated with secret electronic data mining.

Both Canberra and Wellington share intelligence with the United States, as well as Britain and Canada. But both Pacific neighbours now face awkward questions about a US digital surveillance program that Washington says is aimed primarily at foreigners.

In Australia, the conservative opposition said it was “very troubled” by America’s socalled PRISM program, which newspaper reports say is a topsecret authorisation for the US’s National Security Agency (NSA) to extract personal data from the computers of major Internet firms.

The opposition, poised to win September elections, said it was concerned that data stored by Australians in the computer servers of US internet giants like Facebook and Google could be accessed by the NSA, echoing fears voiced in Europe last week over the reach of US digital surveillance in the age of cloud computing.

Australia’s influential Greens Party called on the government to clarify whether Canberra’s own intelligence agencies had access to the NSA-gathered data, which according to Britain’s Guardian newspaper included search history, emails, file transfers and live chats.

“We’ll examine carefully any implications in what has emerged for the security and privacy of Australians,” Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr said in a television interview yesterday, when asked whether Canberra had cooperated with Washington’s secret initiative.

Both countries are members of the so-called “five eyes” collective of major Western powers collecting and sharing signals intelligence, set up in the post-war 1940s.

In New Zealand, internet filesharing tycoon Kim Dotcom, who is fighting extradition to the United States on charges of online piracy, took to Twitter on Sunday to highlight what he alleged was the role of NSA surveillance in his own case,

and the cooperation of New Zealand’s spy agency.

“The New Zealand GCSB spy agency was used to spy on my family because all surveillance was available to American agencies in real time,” he tweeted, referring to the Government Communications and Security Bureau.

“My case against the spy agency in New Zealand will show the degree of cooperation with the NSA.” A New Zealand government spokeswoman declined to comment yesterday when asked if the GCSB cooperated with the NSA programme.

“We do not comment on security and intelligence matters. New Zealand’s intelligence agencies are subject to an oversight regime, which we are looking to strengthen.”

A New Zealand watchdog in September last year found that the GCSB had illegally spied on Dotcom, founder of file-sharing site Megaupload, intercepting his personal communications ahead of a raid on his home in early 2012 by New Zealand police, who acted on a request from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. That raid was also ruled to have been invalid.

Australia’s spy and law-enforcement agencies want telecoms firms and internet service providers to continuously collect and store personal data to boost anti-terrorism and crime-fighting capabilities – a controversial initiative that one government source said would be even more difficult to push through now, after news of the secret US surveillance of internet firms.

The underpinning legislation has been the subject of almost three years of heated closeddoor negotiations with companies most affected and last year was referred to a parliamentary intelligence oversight committee after drawing “big brother”– styled criticism from lawmakers and rights libertarians.

Australia’s government, in developing the legislation, has drawn on similar laws used in Europe since 2006, but where it has also run into legal difficulties in some EU member countries like Germany, where it was judged unconstitutional. REUTERS

Head of South Korean delegation for an inter-Korean working-level talks, Chun Hae-sung (right) greets his North Korean counterpart Kim Song-hye upon the latter’s arrival at the ‘Peace House’ on the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone, north of Seoul yesterday. REUTERS

Calm at truce village N

ORTH and South Korea held their first official talks for more than two years yesterday, seeking to set up a highlevel meeting in Seoul after months of tensions and threats of nuclear war.

The working-level discussions – weighed down, as always, by decades of mutual distrust – were held in the border truce village of Panmunjom where the armistice ending the 1950-53 Koran War was signed.

“The overall atmosphere was ... calm and the discussion proceeded with no major debate,” the South’s Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-seok said after the morning session between the two, three-person delegations.

In the afternoon, the two heads of delegation held further rounds of discussions.

The talks were aimed at agreeing a framework for what would be the rivals’ first ministeriallevel meeting since 2007 – tentatively scheduled to be held in Seoul on Wednesday.

The agenda there will focus on restoring suspended commercial links, including the Kaesong joint industrial complex that the North effectively shut down in April as

tensions between the historic rivals peaked.

“Today’s talks were purely preparatory, so there was little room for dispute,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

“We’ll get a better sense of where things really stand on Wednesday,” Yang said.

Yesterday’s talks came about after an unexpected reversal on Thursday from North Korea, which suddenly dropped its default tone of high-decibel belligerence and proposed opening a dialogue.

South Korea responded swiftly with its offer of a ministerial meeting in Seoul, the North countered with a request for lower-level talks first and – after some relatively benign to-andfro about the best venue – yesterday’s meet in Panmunjom was agreed.

In a further signal of intent, North Korea on Friday restored its official hotline with the South, which it had severed in March.

The move towards dialogue has been broadly welcomed – given the threats of nuclear war that were being flung around in April and May – but there is sizeable scepticism about Pyongyang’s intentions.

“The North Korean offer has all of the hallmarks of Pyongyang’s diplomacy,” said Stephan Haggard, a North Korea expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

“Pyongyang is ‘sincerely’ and ‘magnanimously’ inviting the South to fix, and pay for, problems of the North’s own creation,” Haggard said.

It was the North’s decision to withdraw its 53,000 workers in early April that closed Kaesong.

The North also wants to discuss resuming tours by South Koreans to its Mount Kumgang resort. These were suspended after a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean tourist there in July 2008.

Kaesong and Mount Kumgang were both significant sources of scarce foreign currency for North Korea, which is squeezed by UN sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons programme.

There are also suggestions that Pyongyang was playing to a specific audience by proposing talks just before US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping sat down for their crucial summit in California.

China, the North’s sole major ally and economic benefactor, has been under US

pressure to restrain its neighbour and has pushed Pyongyang to drop its destabilising strategy of confrontation.

On Saturday, Obama and Xi closely consulted on North Korea’s recent nuclear brinkmanship, and agreed to work together on the “denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula, US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said.

Analysts say South Korea will approach talks with Pyongyang with a caution born of long experience.

President Park Geun-Hye, who took office in February with a promise of greater engagement with Pyongyang, has welcomed the initiative.

But she remains adamant that any substantive dialogue can only take place if the North shows some tangible commitment to abandoning its nuclear weapons programme.

North Korea has been equally emphatic in declaring its nuclear deterrent is not up for negotiation.

It was the North’s nuclear test in February – and subsequent UN sanctions – that triggered the recent crisis that saw Pyongyang threaten both the South and the United States with preemptive nuclear strikes. AFP

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World

In brief Riots raise pressure on Erdogan’s government

TURKISH rioters yesterday burned tyres and hurled fireworks at police who fired back tear gas in unrelenting protests against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The new clashes raised pressure on Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted conservative government after he ordered an end to the protests, which have thrown up the fiercest challenge to his decade of rule. Tens of thousands poured into the streets in Istanbul, cradle of the 10 days of unrest, as well as in the capital Ankara, the major western city of Izmir and the city of Adana in the south. AFP

South Africans praying for health of Mandela

SOUTH Africans prayed for Nelson Mandela as he spent a second day in hospital on yesterday suffering a lung infection that has sparked worldwide concerns for the ailing peace icon. Mandela’s latest health scare was splashed across the front pages of local newspapers but government officials have released no updates since announcing he was hospitalised in Pretoria early Saturday in a “serious but stable” condition. AFP

Germany battles flood threat T

HOUSANDS of emergency workers, troops and volunteers in Germany battled yesterday against central Europe’s worst floods in over a decade, while the swelling Danube put Budapest on high alert.

Rising flood waters in Germany have forced mass evacuations in what one lawmaker termed a “national catastrophe”.

As Hungary braced for a deluge in its capital, bolstering sandbag barriers as the Danube is expected to reach historic levels, German rescuers focused on the eastern city of Magdeburg.

Vast areas around the city were covered in a sea of brown water, sparked by recent torrential rains, which have washed down the Elbe River system from the Czech Republic.

The water level in Magdeburg reached 7.45 metres in the morning, up from the usual level of around two metres and worse than massive floods that struck the region in 2002, local authorities said.

Despite frantic efforts to secure it, a dam broke yesterday south of the city at the point where the Elbe meets the Saale tributary, the local crisis command said, urging

tems have killed at least 18 people, including 10 in the Czech Republic.

Ironically, the sun was shining brightly above Germany’s flood zone, forcing the thousands packing sandbags and helping evacuees to ask for supplies of sun block and insect repellent against mosquitos.

More townships were evacuated around the Elbe

One cannot imagine how much remains to be dealt with

A BMW during floods from the nearby Danube River in Fischerdorf, a suburb of the eastern Bavarian city of Deggendorf yesterday. REUTERS

the remaining 150 residents in the region to quickly seek high ground.

Almost 3,000 residents were evacuated from Magdeburg’s Rothensee district, where hundreds of army troops struggled to reinforce a dyke protecting

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a crucial electricity facility.

President Joachim Gauck yesterday went on a tour of the flood-hit states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, where in vast areas only roofs and tree tops stick out of the water and the only access is by boat or helicopter.

“One cannot imagine how much remains to be dealt with,” said Gauck in view of the massive clean-up, after joining a church service in the city of Halle.

So far the floods on the Elbe and Danube river sys-

Job Announcement GIZ is a federally owned enterprise and supporting the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development.

We are seeking candidates for the position of an Advisor-Cooperation with ASEAN supreme audit institutions, located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, one of the German Technical Cooperation Projects financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development supports ASEANSAI, the association of supreme audit institutions of all ASEAN member states.

The supreme audit institutions play a key role in ensuring transparency in public finances and improving the monitoring of government action. As external financial audit institutions, they make a positive contribution towards the efficient and effective use of public funds to provide state services. They are a key element of good financial governance.GIZ cooperates with the regional organization of ASEAN supreme audit institutions (ASEANSAI) with the objective to strengthen all audit institutions in the region.

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Professional Experience  At least five years of work experience in managing complex multi-stakeholder projects, financial planning and management  At least five years of work experience in negotiating complex contracts, preferably contracts between government/ public entities and private entities, and acquisition of clients and managing businessrelations with clients  Experience in working in multinational teams and in an international environment Other Qualifications  Very good proven management skills, ability to steer complex projects with different stakeholders  Good working knowledge of computer programs (e.g. MS Office)  Language skills: Fluent in written and spoken English  Self-motivated, result-oriented and ability to integrate well into the team Applicants who meet the requirements should send:  A cover letter briefly describing and justifying how they meet the above mentioned requirements  An updated CV (Certificates should not be included with the application)  Most recent recommendation letters from the previous employers If you are interested, please do not hesitate to apply until 20June 2013.

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town of Barby. Some of the 8,000 residents of the nearby town of Aken were taken to safety on military armoured personnel carriers and ambulances.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government was planning a crisis meeting with state premiers to assess how the cost of the disaster will be shared, the Leipziger Volkszeitung daily reported today.

“We’re dealing with a national catastrophe,” Gerda Hasselfeldt, lawmaker for the conservative Christian Social Union, who chairs a group of states in the Bundestag, told the newspaper. AFP

13

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World

Karzai gives deadline to UK Dylan Welch

A

FGHAN President Hamid Karzai demanded on Saturday that Britain hand over within two weeks more than 80 prisoners of war being held in a British base in the south, saying the detention was against Afghan law and a breach of sovereignty.

The issue of prisoner transfers is an irritant in the relationship Karzai has between his Western backers, and has become more pronounced as the NATO-led international force prepares to pull out most of its troops by the end of next year.

Last month, a British legal firm said the detention of up to 85 Afghans for as long as 14 months in the Britishcontrolled Camp Bastion in Helmand province was in breach of British and international law.

The British government has cited concerns about Afghanistan’s treatment of detainees and denied that claim.

On Saturday, Karzai’s national security adviser, Rangin Datfar Spanta, wrote to the British Embassy in Kabul and asked for the detainees to be

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai speaks in Kabul yesterday.

handed over by June 22, said a statement from Karzai’s spokesman, Aimal Faizi.

“Continuing the detention of Afghan nationals by British forces will be a violation of our national sovereignty and our country’s laws,” Faizi said.

The British embassy said

REUTERS

in a statement it had not yet seen Karzai’s message as of yesterday morning. Britain, it said, “fully supported” transferring detainees as quickly as possible to Afghan custody, but wanted assurances they would be treated well.

“It has been the threat of

UK court action that has prevented us from transferring detainees to the Afghan authorities since last November,” the statement said.

“In resuming the transfer of UK captured detainees to Afghan custody, we must be satisfied that they do not face

a real risk of serious mistreatment or torture.”

Britain it said had been working with Afghanistan as a priority “to identify a safe transfer route”.

Foreign rights groups occasionally accuse the Afghan state of using torture and abuse, while Kabul says Western nations rely on questionable international legal principles to detain Afghans without access to Afghanistan’s courts.

Numerous countries fighting in the US-led war in Afghanistan continue to hold Afghan detainees. Last month Australia, which operates a force in the southern province of Uruzgan, announced it was suspending transfers of prisoners to an Afghan facility due to allegations of mistreatment.

In November, British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond imposed a ban on transferring suspects to Afghan forces due to concerns over ill treatment. He added that the detainees were suspected of killing British troops and planting roadside bombs.

Camp Bastion houses about 30,000 staff and is the largest British military base in Afghanistan. REUTERS

Hunt on for survivors after boat capsizes THIRTEEN people were confirmed dead and dozens missing after a suspected people-smuggling boat sank off Australia’s remote Christmas Island, authorities said yesterday.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said aerial surveillance of a debris field of wood and life jackets had spotted 13 bodies and a full-scale hunt – involving 15 ships and 10 aircraft – was under way for survivors.

“This is a search and rescue, trying to find people alive,” Clare told reporters, describing the incident as “another terrible tragedy, another terrible reminder how dangerous these journeys are”.

When the drifting boat was first spotted by a border protection aircraft on Wednesday, Clare said officials “identified approximately 55 people on the deck of the vessel, mostly adult men but also a small number of women and children”.

The navy vessel HMAS Warramunga was sent to intercept the boat on Thursday but it had disappeared, and aerial searches turned up no sign until Friday, when Clare said a “submerged hull” was seen. AFP

14

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World Cartoonist resigns after uproar over comic strip A PHILIPPINE cartoonist has quit after a controversial joke about homosexuality in his popular comic strip angered conservative quarters in the Catholic country.

“Sorry I dishonoured you. I resign,” Pol Medina Jr said in short letter to Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, editor-in-chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a copy of which was circulated on social media yesterday.

Medina’s resignation ends 25 years of his popular Pugad Baboy (Nest of Pigs) strip in the Inquirer, one of the Philippines’ most widely circulated and influential broadsheets.

The Inquirer apologised last week for what it said was an “offensive” June 4 issue that criticised the hypocrisy of homophobic Christians.

The strip also suggested all the “beautiful” students and some nuns at a leading Catholic girls school were lesbians.

The school, St Scholastica’s College, threatened to sue the paper and demanded an explanation as to how editors allowed the joke to go to print.

The paper said the strip was originally submitted in April, but was rejected. An apparent mix-up led to its publication.

Medina could not be imme-

diately reached for comment yesterday, but in an interview with ABS-CBN television, he said he was hurt when his strip was axed despite a sincere apology. “My resignation is the ultimate expression of regret,” he said.

More than 80 per cent of Filipinos are Catholics and, while homosexuality is tolerated in the democratic country, the church remains a powerful force.

The Pugad Baboy comic strip has been offering stinging commentaries on life in the Philippines through the eyes of a community composed of obese characters since 1988.

The Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) said it regretted Medina’s treatment by the Inquirer and warned it was a “threat to freedom of expression.”

“This can set a dangerous precedent for other publications and media institutions in similar situations,” spokesman Renan Ortiz said.

The group noted the strip “served not only as a source of humour but also satire and relevant social commentary” that even poked fun at dictator Ferdinand Marcos. AFP

Modi man of the moment at party meet

C

ONTROVERSIAL Indian politician Narendra Modi was chosen yesterday to front the main opposition’s campaign for general elections in 2014, boosting his chances of becoming the nation’s next prime minister.

Modi, chief minister of the thriving state of Gujarat for more than a decade, was selected to head the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election panel, despite opposition from some of his senior colleagues.

The Hindu nationalist BJP, the main opposition in parliament, named Modi after a two-day meeting of the national executive called to prepare for elections due in May. “I have today appointed the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi the chairman of the election campaign committee,” BJP president Rajnath Singh said at the meeting held in the coastal state of Goa. Modi, a hardline Hindu nationalist, said he was “hon-

oured and extremely grateful” for the support, in a message on official Twitter.

“Senior leaders have reposed faith in me. We will leave no stone unturned,” he wrote.

The post is seen as a stepping stone for Modi in his quest to be named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, despite concerns that he would be seen as a divisive figure over his failure to stop deadly anti-Muslim riots in 2002.

Modi has painted himself as a pro-business reformist who can revive the fortunes of the world’s largest democracy by defeating the ruling centreleft Congress party.

Congress is hoping for a third straight victory in the elections but its coalition government has been hit by a string of graft scandals and a slump in economic growth.

In his new role, Modi will have to canvass for votes around India, forge strategies to attack the secular Congress and attempt to build support

India’s Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi during a political rally in Ahmedabad in December. AFP

for his candidacy as premier.

He will need to win the backing of senior BJP members as well as the party’s regional coalition partners before he can gain the candidacy. Some members have expressed doubts over his ability to steer votes away from Congress, an analyst said.

“Modi will be a divisive candidate; he is a divisive figure even within his own party, where it’s mainly the radical Hindu faction that supports him,” said BG Verghese of the

Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi.

“Once you look past the hype, the cards are stacked against him. The BJP’s partners will have a hard time supporting a man who will struggle to win in any state where Muslims are a large enough minority,” he said.

Polls show significant support for Modi among the urban middle class who are frustrated with the Congress party, which has been in power since 2004. AFP

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THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World

Court jails relative of top Chinese dissident A CHINESE court yesterday sentenced the brother-inlaw of jailed Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in prison on charges of fraud in a case that rights activists have called another example of official retribution on the Liu family.

Supporters of Liu Hui say his case was trumped up, aimed at thwarting the increasing

I absolutely cannot accept this.

This is simply persecution attention by the rights community on the plight of Liu Xia, who has remained under effective house arrest since her husband Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel prize in 2010.

The court in Huairou, a onehour drive northeast of Beijing, convicted Liu Hui, a manager in a real estate company in the southern city of Shenzhen, on charges of defrauding a man called Zhang Bing of three million yuan ($490,000) with another colleague, lawyer Mo Shaoping told reporters.

“As Liu Hui’s defence attorney, I definitely do not approve of this verdict, because we see

this fundamentally as a civil issue, and it fundamentally does not constitute criminal fraud. Also, there is not sufficient evidence,” Mo said.

Liu Hui has maintained his innocence, according to his lawyers.

In a rare statement to media, a weeping Liu Xia told reporters from the front passenger seat of her car as she drove away from the courthouse that she was extremely angry with the verdict and vowed to launch an appeal.

“I absolutely cannot accept this. This is simply persecution,” she said. “This is completely an illegal verdict.”

Liu Xia said she had “completely lost hope” in the government. “I can’t even leave my house.”

After about two minutes, security forced journalists away from the car, which moved off.

Liu Hui was out on bail last September, but then arrested again in January after several rights activists and foreign reporters forced their way past security guards late last year to visit Liu Xia, one of his other lawyers, Shang Baojun, said before the verdict. REUTERS

Trial of former minister begins

C

HINA’S former railways minister, Liu Zhijun, went on trial yesterday charged with corruption and abuse of power, state media said, in a case demonstrating President Xi Jinping’s resolve to crack down on pervasive graft.

State radio said the trial had begun at a Beijing courthouse under heavy security. If found guilty, he could face the death penalty or life in jail.

Liu was formally charged in April with abuse of power, taking bribes and malpractice.

He took advantage of his position and helped 11 people to either get promotions or win contracts, accepting 64.6 million yuan ($10.53 million) in bribes from them in return between 1986 and 2011, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

While railways minister, Liu helped Ding Yuxin, the chairwoman of a Beijing investment company, and her relatives win cargo and railway construction contracts, “breaking regulations and playing favouritism” to allow Ding and her family to “reap huge profits”, the report added.

“Liu’s malpractices have led to huge losses of public assets and of the interests of

China’s former railways minister, Liu Zhijun, attends trial for charges of corruption and abuse of power at a courthouse in Beijing in this still image taken from video yesterday. reuters

the state and people, and he should be subject to criminal liabilities for bribe taking and abuse of power,” Xinhua said.

State television showed pictures of a downcast Liu standing in the dock answering questions and looking at a screen upon which evidence against him was being displayed.

The trial may be over quite quickly, judging by similar

graft cases in the past, and the verdict will likely come out within the next two weeks or so.

While Xi has said anti-corruption efforts should target low-ranking “flies” as well as powerful “tigers”, few highranking violators have been probed since Xi became president in March.

China’s railway system has faced numerous problems

over the past few years, including heavy debts from funding new high-speed lines, waste and fraud.

The government has pledged to open the rail industry to private investment on an unprecedented scale.

The ministry suffered a big blow to its image when a crash in 2011 between two high-speed trains killed 40 people. REUTERS

16

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World

Less formality as Xi, Obama attend talks

X

i Jinping and Barack Obama ended their first US-China summit on Saturday, forging a rapport and policy understandings, if not breakthroughs, on North Korea, climate and cyber issues.

The presidents spent eight hours together over two days, in intimate groups with staff, over a dinner of lobster and steak, and strolling through the lush gardens of a California desert oasis, in a casual departure for Sino-US ties.

It was the first US-China summit since Xi, 59, assumed full power in March and Obama, architect of a rebalancing of US diplomacy towards Asia viewed with suspicion in Beijing, embarked on his second term.

Both sides wanted to loosen the formality of US-China talks – and appeared to succeed: at one point Obama and Xi, finding common ground as politicians, sketched respective visions for where they hoped to

take their nations.

By the time Xi left on Saturday, US officials said, the two men had talked bluntly about a new flashpoint, cybersecurity, chided North Korea’s nuclear grandstanding and agreed to a joint push on climate change.

US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said the talks were “uniquely informal”, “constructive”, “wide-ranging”, and “positive” for a vital relationship that is often prickly.

Chinese state counsellor Yang Jiechi said the leaders did not “shy away from differences”, including US arms sales to Taiwan and Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. Obama and Xi agreed to work together to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, following nuclear and missile tests and wild warnings of atomic warfare from North Korea.

They achieved “quite a bit of alignment” on the issue, Donilon said, and praised recent steps by Beijing to quietly re-

US President Barack Obama (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, on Saturday.

buke inexperienced North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Obama meanwhile made clear that a rash of suspected Chinese cyber attacks on US commercial property and military technology would be an “inhibitor” to relations.

Donilon said that Xi “acknowledged” how important the issue was to Washington, and left California in no doubt where Obama stood.

The leaders also offered direc-

tions to working group officials from both sides due to sit down to discuss cyber issues in July.

On Friday, Obama called for common “rules of the road” on cybersecurity.

“It’s critical, as two of the largest economies and military powers of the world, that China and the United States arrive at a firm understanding.”

Xi said he wanted “goodfaith cooperation” on the issue, but stood his ground, say-

ing China was also “a victim of cyberattacks”.

In a more tangible outcome from the talks at the Sunnylands retreat once patronised

by Frank Sinatra and Richard Nixon, the White House said Obama and Xi agreed to a joint effort to combat climate change, specifically the production of “super greenhouse gases” or HFCs. The gases are used in air conditioners and refrigerators

AFP

and China – by far the largest producer of HFCs – had until recently resisted efforts by the United States and other nations to scale back emissions of the gases.

But it agreed in April to end HFC production by 2030 as part of a $385 million assistance package by wealthy countries under the Montreal Protocol, which was set up to fight the depletion of the ozone layer.

AFP

17

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

World

Unnatural selection at zoos Tunya Sukpanich

F

ROM the caged ape on the roof of Bangkok’s Pata shopping mall to the kickboxing chimpanzees at Safari World in Chiang Mai, animal advocates have long been appalled by what takes place at Thailand’s private zoos.

These complaints have been amplified in recent years as wildlife-themed attractions filled with exotic beasts to draw in tourists have multiplied across the country.

Responsible authorities usually conduct inspections following complaints, but only rarely do these result in any serious action being taken against the operators of privately run zoos, aquariums and animal parks.

There are rare exceptions, such as the raids conducted at two large snake farms in Chiang Mai carried out earlier this year. But for the most part, as one animal welfare activist said, most cases just get lost in the legal system.

It’s a situation that infuriates an activist who cites the example of a zoo in the northeast that was raided several times after DNA evidence showed tiger cubs were not the offspring of tigers legally owned by the zoo. The facility’s owner was also linked to other cases of tiger smuggling.

When asked for comment, the owner of the zoo referred the writer to his lawyer, who did not return our calls.

An official with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division of the Royal Thai Police confirmed to Spectrum that the case is going through the legal process. While the official said that the licence would be revoked if the zoo owner was found guilty, this kind of legal limbo upsets the activist.

“Why are such people allowed to set up zoos in the first place?’’ they said.

Zoos gone wild The 1992 National Wildlife Conservation Act mandates that permission from the Parks Department is required to open a private zoo. It also stipulates that operators must report to the department the number of animals of all species at their zoos, and all births and deaths. Similarly, aquarium operators must get a permit from the Fisheries Department and all licences must be renewed every five years.

In practice, these regulations are regularly flouted. Speaking at a recent conference on the subject, Theerapat Prayoonsit, deputy director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said zoos regularly open without the required licences.

Parks Department records indicate that there are 40 legally operated private zoos in Thailand, while the Fisheries Department says there are 30 legal private aquariums.

Sophon Damnui, chairman

of the Thai Zoo Association, said there are about 30 private zoos registered with his association.

“But many private zoos, especially the new ones, have not registered – the actual number must be much higher,’’ he said.

In the past, the Zoo Association had more members because small facilities were operated either by municipal organisations or temples registered with it.

At the conference Theerapat said that both legal and illegal zoos have been the subject of complaints that they fail to meet standards of safety, hygiene and providing an appropriate environment for the animals in their care.

The location of zoos is also a major concern. Private zoos located near populated areas could pose a danger in the event of animals escaping.

Indeed, with facilities located near wildlife conservation areas, such as national parks and animal reserves, there is both the fear of poaching and the possibility of zoo animals passing on infections to creatures living in the wild.

Real examples of this issue are the four tiger zoos and small elephant park located near Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Participants at the conference agreed that buffer zones should be established between zoos and wildlife conservation areas.

Sophon, however, warned against tarring all private zoos with the same brush.

“We cannot jump to the conclusion that every private zoo acts illegally,’’ he said It’s important to remember that many zoos, government and private, are authorised to breed endangered species as part of wildlife conservation program, Sophon said.

“However, any that have been proven to be in possession of illegal wildlife must face the penalties.’’

Even state-operated facilities can get into legal difficulties. Viwek Sookaid, director of Songkhla province’s large government-run zoo, said it had been through a legal tussle with the Parks Department’s conservation office because a villager had donated a pair of flat-headed cats (Prionailurus planiceps).

The cats are a local species threatened with extinction and listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’s Appendix I, which prohibits trade in any form. (Permission to import CITES-listed animals requires approval from the body’s offices in Thailand).

After much legal wrangling, the court granted the zoo authority to take care of the cats and it has since developed a successful breeding program.

No place to call home Several private zoos fail financially and are forced to close. When they do, then the question of what to do with the animals housed

A tiger performs in 2010 at the private Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Thailand’s Chonburi Province, nearly 100 kilometres east of Bangkok.

t h e re b e c o m e s p re s s i n g .

Viwek said that when private zoos close their owners will sometimes trade their animals with other privately run facilities. However, some animals, such as bears and gibbons, can be difficult to re-house as many private zoos lack the necessary enclosures.

“So they end up turning to the government zoos,’’ Viwek said.

He said the facility he runs in Songkhla is frequently approached by private and municipal zoos – which also frequently close down due to a lack of funds – looking to donate animals.

“We can usually accommodate some of the animals, as long as they have the proper identification documents, but we generally turn most of them down because we’re already overstocked with that particular species,’’ he said.

“We can’t just keep accepting more and more animals when we don’t have the facilities or budget to care for them.’’

This problem is compounded by officials also having to deal with animals seized in raids on trafficking gangs. This means they are often reluctant to shut down private zoos as they lack places to relocate the animals once they do.

Finding a replacement home has certainly been a problem for Bua Noi (little lotus), the female gorilla who lives at Pata shopping mall.

She was bought by the roof-

top zoo in 1987, four years after a male gorilla had become its star attraction. Now aged about 30, Bua Noi has spent the past eight years living alone after her partner died in 2005. Over the years there have been several attempts to relocate her to a more appropriate home.

Sophon said that, on one occasion, he and an official at Khon Kaen Zoo tried to have her moved there.

“We thought she would be much happier in a bigger enclosure. And we even talked to a foreign zoo about finding her a mate.’’

Unfortunately for Bua Noi, the plan fell through when it was discovered that the soil at Khon Kaen Zoo contains a microorganism that causes illness in primates.

So for the time being at least she remains in a too-small enclosure at a shopping mall in central Bangkok.

Whale woes For beluga whales, a life in captivity generally means an untimely death.

According to studies, these mighty mammals often live for 50 or 60 years in the wild. In aquariums and marine parks, they seldom make it to 30.

Despite these shocking statistics, belugas, or white whales as they are also known, remain highly sought-after by the operators of oceanthemed tourist attractions.

An attempt last year by the Safari World Marine Park in Bangkok to import six be-

lugas reignited the debate in Thailand on the ethical and ecological implications of using wild animals for entertainment.

Local conservation groups launched a campaign demanding that the Fisheries Department decline Safari World’s application for a permit to import the creatures.

They reasoned that keeping them in captivity would shorten their lives.

The white whales had been captured in Russian waters, where their numbers have been steadily falling over recent years.

According to the website of global charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC): “Beluga populations in Russia have been decimated by overhunting, and the same populations are targeted for capture, preventing their recovery.’’

Safari World has for many years operated a popular marine mammal show, which includes whales and dolphins. But of the four belugas it imported from Russia in 2008, just one is still alive, WDC said.

As for the intended replacements, they are now in new waters. Tired of waiting for approval from the Fisheries Department, the Russian supplier sold them on to an aquarium in China.

But the issue remains unresolved. Unless unchecked, Safari World and attractions like it will continue to seek to bring belugas and other exot-

REUTERS

ic mammals into the country because, for them, it’s good business.

While belugas are protected under the US Marine Mammal Protections Act, they are not considered a seriously endangered species. They are, however, listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, which means companies need a special permit to export or import them.

But it’s not just belugas that are of concern to animal rights groups in Thailand and abroad. In recent years, government-run zoos here have come under growing pressure to restrict the purchase of exotic animals of all types.

Two years ago, animal rights activists and the general public staged a protest against Chiang Mai Zoo after hearing of its plan to import a pair of polar bears as its new star attractions.

The zoo reportedly spent 70 million baht ($2,283,850) on an enclosure for the bears, and even brought in a colony of king penguins to provide “company’’ for them.

As a result of public pressure, however, the zoo eventually abandoned the idea, though there have been rumours that officials at the Zoological Parks Organisation of Thailand, a body under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, have discussed the possibility of reviving it. Time will tell.

BANGKOK POST

18

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Opinion www.phnompenhpost.com

editorial personnel Publisher Ross Dunkley Editor-in-Chief Alan Parkhouse Managing Editor David Boyle Editor-in-Chief Post Khmer Kay Kimsong Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Chief of Staff Cheang Sokha Deputy Chief of Staff Chhay Channyda National News Editor Chad Williams Deputy National News Editor Abby Seiff Deputy News Editor Vong Sokheng Business Editor Joe Freeman Business Editor Post Khmer May Kunmakara Property Editor Rupert Winchester Foreign News Editor Dan Besant Sports Editor Dan Riley Pictorial Editor Kara Fox Lifestyle and 7Days Editor Poppy McPherson Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Pan Simala Special Projects Officer Stuart Alan Becker Chief sub-editor Michael Philips Sub-editors Emily Geminder, Shane Worrell, Stuart White, Joseph Freeman, Justine Drennan, Joe Curtin, Julius Thiemann, Rosa Ellen, Claire Knox, Daniel de Carteret, Anne Renzenbrink Reporters Meas Sokchea, Mom Kunthear, Khouth Sophak Chakrya, May Titthara, Khuon Leakhana, Kim Yuthana, Roth Meas, Ung Chamroeun, Sen David, Phak Seangly, Rann Reuy, Buth Reaksmey Kongkea, Chhim Sreyneang, Sieam Bunthy, Lieng Sarith Photographers Vireak Mai, Sreng Meng Srun, Heng Chivoan, Pha Lina, Hong Menea Regional Correspondent Roger Mitton Web Editor Leang Phannara Webmasters Seng Sovan, Uong Ratana, Horng Pengly Siem reap bureau

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Thailand’s tenuous support of democracy questioned Regional Insider Roger Mitton

S

AM Rainsy, Cambodia’s opposition leader and former finance minister, is not a man you would want your sister to marry.

Though still boyishly handsome and stylish, he is outspoken, arrogant and very smart. Such men tend to rise meteorically, then self-destruct before gaining real power.

That said, despite self-imposed exile in France to avoid an 11-year jail sentence he claims is politically motivated, it is still too early to write off Rainsy, 64, as a recent incident in Bangkok proved.

Last Wednesday, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand planned to host an event at which Rainsy would discuss poverty, corruption and injustice in Cambodia.

Given past conflicts with mediasuppressive Thai governments, the FCCT stressed that it was not sponsoring Rainsy’s visit and that “responsibility for program content was solely that of the event organiser”.

The organiser’s name, however, was not revealed, although it was stated that the event would feature the launch of Rainsy’s new autobiography, We Didn’t Start the Fire: My Struggle for Democracy in Cambodia.

The book recounts his early days in Phnom Penh, his family’s expulsion, the Khmer Rouge regime, the Vietnamese occupation, and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s control of the country since 1985.

The choice of Billy Joel’s infamous vocal rant, We Didn’t Start the Fire, for the book’s title aptly reflects Rainsy’s precocious nature.

But in truth, he cannot be blamed for the infernos that have ravaged this poor country over the past century, although he has sparked his own share of heated incidents.

Another one happened last week when he arrived in Bangkok from South Korea and was told by immigration officials that he was not welcome in Thailand.

The ostensible reason was because of fears that Rainsy would badmouth

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy in Washington in May. The self-exiled Rainsy was denied entry into Thailand last week, and was reportedly told he would not be allowed back until after the Cambodian election. AFP

Hun Sen’s government ahead of next month’s national elections.

“We do support democratic rule, but on the other hand we do not support other people using our country to attack others for political gain,” said the Thai foreign ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol.

It could be pointed out that criticising the government is an opposition leader’s job and that many of them have visited Thailand in the recent past and done that without any problem.

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang spring to mind, as do Singapore’s Chee Soon Juan and James Gomez, and Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi. Indeed, Rainsy himself visited Bangkok last November and did not curb his enthusiasm for excoriating

Hun Sen’s “reign of the mafia in a banana kingdom”.

So what has changed? Well, there is that general election here on July 28 and Hun Sen wants to take no chances that his bête noir’s Bangkok speech might sway voters at home.

And as press reports have highlighted and as Rainsy himself noted, Hun Sen is known to be friendly with the exiled former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whose younger sister Yingluck is the present PM. So, it is widely presumed, a word from Hun Sen to Thaksin to Yingluck and Rainsy is denied entry until after the end of July.

It was not only silly, but also pointless since he went ahead with his talk to the FCCT via Skype from Singapore, which happily welcomed him – as, earlier, had Indonesia, Malaysia,

Myanmar and the Philippines. And it was counter-productive, since the “victimised” Rainsy reaped greater publicity and kudos for himself and his party in the run-up to the election.

In his spiel, Rainsy said the Cambodian poll would be a farce, that Hun Sen was a coward who was afraid of the opposition and that his inevitable victory should be considered illegitimate.

In the past, the bristly Hun Sen has responded with similar wild allegations, such as warning of “civil war” if Rainsy’s side won the election.

Of course, the opposition will not win. On that, both men concur.

There will be no electoral fire in Cambodia next month. Like Rainsy’s visit to one of the neighbours, it will not be permitted.

19

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Lifestyle Festival’s silver screen legacy A Bennett Murray

FESTIVAL celebrating more than 100 years of cinematic glory came to an end last night at Chaktomuk Theatre, after uniting hundreds of Cambodians in appreciation of international silver screen classics.

Organised by Bophana Audiovisual Centre in conjunction with the France-based NGO Technicolor Foundation, the nine-day Memory! film festival showcased local and foreign films by filmmakers ranging from Georges Méliès to late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

In the spirit of heritage, the films were mostly screened in the Chaktomuk Theatre on Sisowath Quay, which was designed by acclaimed Khmer architect Vann Molyvann in the 1960s.

Thanks to additions made for the festival, the theatre is now equipped with 35mm projectors that can be used for future screenings.

Séverine Wemaere, founder of Technicolor, said the festival exceeded expectations. “This is a country where there is very little access to film heritage and films on large screens. I wouldn’t say there’s a need for

Hundreds of Cambodians, including many young film fans, attended the screenings.

it – that would be arrogant – but once you put [Cambodians] in the situation, they are curious, and they want more.”

The festival attracted Cambodians young and old, as well as delegations from 16 countries – and King Norodom

Sihamoni, who attended the opening screening of one of his father’s films.

According to co-organiser Giles Duval, from French heritage non-profit Groupama Gan Foundation, each film brought in about 200 people. “Some-

VANN CHANNARONG

times, we had maybe 40 or 50, but sometimes we had 300 or 400,” he added.

There are plans to repeat the festival next year in Cambodia, Wemaere said, using the quantity of high-quality equipment which had been shipped over.

“We brought almost two tons of equipment by sea from France, because we don’t have enough money to buy new materials,” she said.

Chea Sopheap, an archivist and research analyst at Bophana, said the projectors will breathe new life into Chaktomuk Theatre.

“The structure is a very beautiful Khmer design, and one of the only historical buildings in Phnom Penh. We should remember and keep this building alive.”

So too, the lost works from the Cambodian “golden era” must be remembered, said Wemaere.

“There were about 400 films made then, maybe more. But if you speak about the negatives that would allow us to make screenings here now, there are less than 10 remaining.

“Everyone must keep searching, and the filmmakers are not always here to ask. Some filmmakers went abroad with prints, some are still in the country. Even some high-end archives don’t know all of what they have in their collections.”

For Duval, Memory! is just the beginning.

“This festival is just a seed, and it needs water,” he said.

Dog saves abandoned baby in Thailand Sunthon Pongpao

A PEDIGREE Thai dog carried a plastic bag containing a new-born baby girl believed to have been left in a roadside dump back to its home last week, saving her from inevitable death.

Sudarat Thongmak said the twoyear-old male, a Bangkaew named Pui, took the white plastic bag from a site in tambon Sala Loi in Tha Rua district to the house and barked loudly to get attention.

Sudarat, 12, heard the noise and was the first to see the baby.

After hearing the dog barking she went down the stairs and discovered the bag on the patio.

She opened it and was shocked to find a new-born baby with its umbilical cord still attached. It

was clearly very weak and she ran to get her mother, Pummarat, and her father, Kummerd. The parents rushed the baby to Tha Rua hospital.

Pummarat said Pui always wanders around the community, especially a wood grove near the house. She and her husband believe the dog found the bag there.

The baby was given oxygen and other treatment and is now in a stable condition. She weighed 2.2kg, hospital officials said. They believed she was born prematurely, at around seven-and-ahalf months. She was later transferred to Phranakhon Sri Ayutthaya hospital.

District chief Withit Pinnikorn has asked village and tambon

chiefs to find the baby’s mother.

Pol Lt Col Sophon Boonluea of Tha Rua police station, launched a preliminary investigation in the community and workers in adjoining warehouses. But police have not found a woman suspected of being the mother of the baby, he added.

Pummarat contacted the district Red Cross office to indicate her intention to adopt the baby as Sudarat is her only child. The office will not make a decision until the girl is in a satisfactory condition and police complete a probe into the case.

Pui the dog received a leather collar and a certificate from the Red Cross office of the district as a token of appreciation for its clever behaviour. bangkok post

Pui, the two-year-old dog.

Sunthorn Pongpao/ bangkok post

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Miss World axes bikinis for Indonesia CONTESTANTS at this year’s Miss World beauty pageant will not wear bikinis in the parade in a bid to avoid causing offence in Muslimmajority Indonesia, organisers have confirmed.

The 137 women taking part in the September contest will swap bikinis for more conservative attire, such as traditional sarongs, for the beach fashion section. The contest is being held on the resort island of Bali, where foreign tourists flock in their millions and the beaches are packed with women sunbathing in skimpy swimwear. afp

Justin Bieber signs up for Branson space trip

THERE is a place where no customs officials will query your monkey, where your tour bus won’t be raided for drugs. And that’s where Justin Bieber is going.

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The Bafta-winning British star of An Education is the producers’ top choice but is by no means certain to take the role, and other actors are being considered. the guardian

20

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Travel PREAH SIHANOUK - SIEM REAP Flighs Days Dep Arrival K6 130 1-3-5 12:55 13:55

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE FROM PHNOM PENH Flighs

Days

Dep

TO PHNOM PENH Arrival

PHNOM PENH - BANGKOK Daily

12:05

01:10

K6 721

Daily

02:25

03:30

Daily

06:40

08:15

PG 931

Daily

07:55

09:05

PG 932

Daily

09:55

11:10

TG 580

Daily

07:55

09:05

TG 581

Daily

10:05

11:10

PG 933

Daily

13:30

14:40

PG 934

Daily

15:30

16:40

FD 3616

Daily

15:15

16:20

FD 3617

Daily

17:05

18:15

PG 935

Daily

17:30

18:40

PG 936

Daily

19:30

20:40

TG 584

Daily

18:25

19:40

TG 585

Daily

20:40

21:45

PG 937

Daily

20:15

21:50

Daily

BEIJING - PHNOM PENH 08:00

16:05

Daily

14:30

20:50

DOHA - PHNOM PENH ( Via HCMC)

QR 605

1.2..5.6

22:35

05:15+1

QR 604

1.2..5.6

08:00

21:00

QR 603

..34..7

15:50

22:25

QR 602

..3.4..7

01:25

14:20

Daily

08:00

11:40

CZ 6059

2.4.7

12:00

13:45

CZ 6060

2.4.7

14:45

18:10

CZ 323

Daily

19:05

20:50

09:40

13:00

Daily

17:30

20:35

VN 841

Daily

HO CHI MINH CITY - PHNOM PENH

VN 841

Daily

14:00

14:45

VN 920

Daily

15:50

16:30

VN 3856

Daily

19:20

20:05

VN 3857

Daily

18:00

18:45

PHNOM PENH - HONG KONG 1.2.4.7

11:25

15:05

KA 208

1.2.4.6.7 08:50

10:25

KA 207

6

11:45

22:25

KA 206

3.5.7

14:30

16:05

KA 209

1

18:30

22:05

KA 206

1

15:25

17:00

KA 209

3.5.7

17:25

21:00

KA 206

2

15:50

17:25

KA 205

2

19:00

22:35

PHNOM PENH - INCHEON Daily

23:40

06:40

KE 689

Daily

18:30

22:20

OZ 740

Daily

23:50

06:50

OZ 739

Daily

19:10

22:50

PHNOM PENH - KUALA LUMPUR

5J - CEBU Airways.

MH - Malaysia Airlines

2 Tuesday

AK - Air Asia

MI - SilkAir

3 Wednesday

BR - EVA Airways

OZ - Asiana Airlines

4 Thursday

CI - China Airlines

PG - Bangkok Airways

5 Friday

CZ - China Southern

QR - Qatar Airways

6 Saturday

FD - Thai Air Asia

QV - Lao Airlines

7 Sunday

FM - Shanghai Air

SQ - Singapore Airlines

K6- Cambodia Angkor Air

TG - Thai Airways | VN - Vietnam Airlines

This flight schedule information is updated about once a month. Further information, please contact direct to airline or a travel agent for flight schedule information.

AIRLINES

KUALA LUMPUR - PHNOM PENH

AK 1473

Daily

08:35

11:20

AK 1474

Daily

15:15

16:00

MH 755

Daily

11:10

14:00

MH 754

Daily

09:30

10:20

MH 763

Daily

17:10

20:00

MH 762

Daily

3:20

4:10

20:05

06:05

PHNOM PENH- PARIS

PHNOM PENH - PARIS 20:05

06:05

PHNOM PENH - SHANGHAI 2.3.4.5.7

1 Monday

INCHEON - PHNOM PENH

KE 690

FM 833

KA - Dragon Air

HONG KONG - PHNOM PENH

KA 207

2

COLOUR CODE

2817 - 16 Tigerairways

HANOI - PHNOM PENH

PHNOM PENH - HO CHI MINH CITY

AF 273

AIRLINES CODE

GUANGZHOU - PHNOM PENH

CZ 324

VN 840

AUTHORITIES in the Dutch drug tourism hub of Maastricht are striking back after cannabis cafés staged an open revolt by selling marijuana to foreigners in defiance of a controversial ban.

The battle has been fought on the streets, in the courtroom and in the media as authorities struggle to enforce a law aimed at ridding the streets of stoned tourists, with foreigners previously accounting for two-thirds of the coffee shops’clientele.

Coffee shops in Maastricht, a Roman city of 120,000 conveniently wedged between the borders of Belgium and Germany, were emboldened following a court ruling on April 25 that city authorities should not have ordered the closure of one of its best-known hangouts for getting high.

The Easy Going was ordered shut last year after it was caught selling to tourists.

Members of the Maastricht Coffee Shop Association (VOCM), comprising 13 of the city’s 14 coffee shops resumed selling to tourists in May. But police raids, seizures, closure orders and prosecutions followed, and after the latest police bust at four coffee shops last weekend, all 13 VOCM member have now shut.

At the root of the chaos is a controversial law introduced in 2012 requiring coffee shops to cater only for Dutch residents in the hope of addressing the downsides of drug tourism – traffic jams, street dealing and late-night partying.

But a new, more left-wing government said in November that individual city authorities could decide whether to apply the law affecting some 650 establishments nationwide.

Most Dutch cities, including those in Amsterdam, said they did not want to apply the law, while Maastricht and other southern cities said they would do so.

“Following a recent judge-

CZ 323

PHNOM PENH - DOHA ( Via HCMC)

PHNOM PENH - HANOI

ment, the incorrect idea has spread that coffee shops can once more sell to foreigners,” the Maastricht public prosecutor said in a statement.

Eight coffee shop owners and employees are due in court on June 12 for having sold drugs to non-residents, with more prosecutions expected to follow.

Maastricht’s coffee shops are waiting impatiently for the outcome of those cases, hoping for a clear legal precedent.

Last Friday, police busted four clubs – Maxcy’s, the Missouri, Club 69 and Lucky Time – and arrested four staff members as well as confiscating their merchandise, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

A 14th coffee shop, which is not part of the VOCM, remained open.

Before being shut down, the VOCM had said it did not want to “discriminate” and indeed would lose too much business by complying with the law, since foreigners account for 65 per cent of their clientele.

“This business of closures is a big joke, they’re playing the victim,” Maastricht city council spokesman Gertjan Bos told AFP. “The coffee shops are clever.”

But VOCM head Marc Josemans said: “If governments in neighbouring countries took responsibility in terms of soft drugs, none of this would be necessary.”

He declined to discuss the matter further.

City spokesman Bos said the new law had slashed the number of drug tourists coming to Maastricht from 1.5 million to under 400,000 a year.

But he admits that the number of illegal street dealers has not gone down and that they are selling more aggressively than before. The VOCM says the number of street dealers has gone up.

“We can’t prove it, but we think that some street dealers are employed by coffee shops themselves,” to undermine the law, Bos said. afp

Arrival

PG 938

PHNOM PENH - GUANGZHOU

Nicolas Delaunay

Dep

K6 720

CZ 324

Coffee chaos as one Dutch city flouts drug ban

Days

BANGKOK - PHNOM PENH

PHNOM PENH - BEIJING

Small bags of marijuana sit on a table in Barney's coffee shop in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, before the ban was imposed. afp

Flighs

SIEM REAP - PREAH SIHANOUK Flighs Days Dep Arrival K6 131 1-3-5 11:20 12:20

19:50

AF 273

2

SHANGHAI - PHNOM PENH 23:05

PHNOM PENH - SINGAPORE

FM 833

2.3.4.5.7 19:30

22:40

SINGAPORE - PHNOM PENH

MI 601

1.3.5.6.7

09:30 12:30

MI 602

1.3.5.6.7 07:40

08:40

MI 622

2.4

12:20

15:20

MI 622

2.4

08:40

11:25

3K 594

1.3.6

12:35

15:55

3K 593

1.3.6

10:40

11:50

3K 599

2.4.7

17:25

20:25

3K 591

5

18:45

20:00

3K 592

5

20:45

23:45

3K 591

5

18:45

20:00

MI 607

Daily

18:10

21:10

MI 608

Daily

16:20

17:15

2817

1.3

16:40

19:40

2816

1.3

15:00

15:50

2817

2.4.5

09:10

12:00

2816

2.4.5

07:20

08:10

Air Asia (AK) Room T6, PP International Airport. Tel: 023 6666 555 Fax: 023 890 071 www.airasia.com

Cambodia Angkor Air (K6) PP Office, #90+92+94Eo, St.217, Sk.Orussey4, Kh.7Makara, PP, Cambodia.

Tel: 023 881 178/77-718-333 Fax: (+855)-23-886-677 E: mai@royalaviationexpert.com

Qatar Airways No. 296 Blvd. Mao Tse Toung (St. 245), Ground floor, Intercontinental Hotel PP Tel: +23 42 40 12/13/14 www.qatarairways.com

Jetstar Asia (3K) PP: No. 333B Monivong Blvd.

Myanmar Airways International Tel: 023 220909.Siem Reap: No. 50,Sivatha Blvd.Tel: 063 964388 #90+92+94Eo, St. 217, www.jetstar.com Sk. Orussey4, Kh. 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

T:023 881 178 | F:023 886 677 www.maiair.com

Dragon Air (KA) #168, Monireth, PP Tel: 023 424 300 Fax: 023 424 304 www.dragonair.com/kh

Cebu Pacific (5J) Phnom Penh: No. 333B Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 219161 Siem Reap: No. 50,Sivatha Blvd.

Tel: 063 965487 E-mail: cebuair@ptm-travel.com www.cebupacificair.com

Tiger airways G. floor, Regency square, Suare, Suite #68/79, St.205, Sk Chamkarmorn, PP Tel: (855) 95 969 888 (855) 23 5515 888/5525888 E: info@cambodiaairlines.net

SilkAir (MI) Regency C,Unit 2-4,Tumnorb Teuk, Chamkarmorn Phnom Penh Tel:023 988 629 www.silkair.com

2817

6

14:50

17:50

2816

6

13:00

14:00

2817

7

13:20

16:10

2816

7

11:30

12:30

09:10

11:35

PHNOM PENH SORYA BUS TRANSPORT SCHEDULE INTERNATIONAL ROUTES

TAIPEI - PHNOM PENH

PHNOM PENH -TAIPEI BR 266

Daily

12:45

17:05

PHNOM PENH - VIENTIANE

BR 265

Daily

VIENTIANE - PHNOM PENH

VN 840

Daily

17:30

18:50

VN 841

Daily

11:30

13:00

PP-HO CHI MINH DEPATURE

HO CHI MINH-PP

QV 920

Daily

17:50

19:10

QV 921

Daily

11:45

13:15

6:45, 8:30, 11:45

6:45, 8:00,11:30

PP-BANGKOK

BANGKOK-PP

6:30

6:30

PP-PAKSE,VIENTIANE

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21

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Entertainment NOW SHOWING

Rohingya @ Meta House

platinum cineplex

Award-winning photojournalist Greg Constantine has spent seven years photographing the Rohingya community in an effort to draw attention to their plight.

EPIC A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is taking place. She bands together with a rag-tag group characters in order to save their world – and ours. Featuring Colin Farrell and Beyonce Knowles.

9:15am, 1pm

Stripped of their citizenship in 1982, the Rohingya are a stateless community, unwanted, not only in their homeland of Burma but also everywhere else.

Meta House, Sothearos Bvld, 4pm

FAST & FURIOUS 6 Hobbs has Dom and Brian reassemble their crew in order to take down a mastermind who commands an organisation of mercenary drivers across 12 countries. Payment? Full pardons for them all.

3:45pm, 8:20pm

Yoga @ Yoga Phnom Penh A lunchtime yoga class offers a chance to stretch out, relax and refresh after the weekend. Yoga Phnom Penh have linked up with ARTillery Café so you can place an order before class to have a healthy meal delivered to the door before the end.

BULLET TO THE HEAD After watching their respective partners die, a New Orleans hitman and a Washington, DC, detective form an alliance in order to bring down their common enemy.

7:15pm NOW YOU SEE ME An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

11am

Yoga Phnom Penh, #172 z2 Norodom Bvld, 12:15pm

Greg Constantine’s photo exhibition on the plight of the Rohingya in Mynamar is on at Meta House. PHOTO SUPPLIED

TV PICKS

legend cinema EPIC (See above.)

12:15pm FAST AND FURIOUS 6 (See above.)

9:45am, 2:20pm, 6:45pm, 9:10pm STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organisation, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon.

9:15pm

10:05 - SHALLOW HAL: A shallow man falls in love with a 300-pound woman because of her “inner beauty”.

FOX MOVIES

Every Monday, Phnom Penh’s favourite mobile pizza chefs, ‘Katy Peri’s Peri Peri Chicken and Pizza’, station themselves at the gates of alternative music venue Showbox. A night of fast food, and indie tunes.

12pm - CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2: Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt return as heads of the Baker family who, while on vacation, find themselves in competition with a rival family of eight children. FOX MOVIES

Show Box, #11, Street 330 6pm

4:35pm - LOCKOUT: A man wrongly convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the US is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president’s daughter from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates. FOX MOVIES

Tom Riley plays the title character in Da Vinci’s Demons. BLOOMBERG

Pizza @ Showbox

7pm – DA VINCI’S DEMONS: Written by David S Goyer, the series follows the “untold” story of Leonardo da Vinci during his early years in Renaissance Florence.

FOX MOVIES

Margaritas @ Riverhouse Margaritas of every flavour are on offer at this Phnom Penh institution tonight – even better is that they’re two-for-one all night. As for the soundtrack, DJ Narata will mash up classic songs.

Riverhouse Lounge, corner of Sisowath Quay and Street 110 8:30pm

Thinking caps “WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW” ACROSS

DOWN

1 5 10 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 25 28 29 30 31 34 38 39 40 41 42 44 46 47 48 49 52 56 57 58 59 60 61

32 33 35 36 37 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 53 54 55

Uproar Earn points One ___ time Bibliographical abbr.

Command Like a stuffed shirt What a skydiver may have Oolong, for one Eliminates, gangster-style Desert refuge Iota “___ Arrow” (Travolta film) Most recent Bing, bang or boom Face-to-face exam Present Hack Make a romantic pronouncement “Dig in!”

Local nonstudent Sign in a store window Western chasers Declare All thumbs Dab with absorbent paper Cold-sounding hot dish Goya subject the Duchess of ___ Kind of rule Starry-eyed sentiment Mars’ counterpart Dressing spot Cookie on a sundae, perhaps Office necessity Muse appropriate for this puzzle Traffic caution

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 17 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31

Knight fight Instrument among the reeds Opera star “___ to Billie Joe” Architectural underside Skill “What are the ___?”

Gun, as an engine Before, old school Bring a smile to one’s face City with a shroud?

Long, long time Dracula’s heartfelt dread ___ and aahs Hangmen’s needs Healthy Like a pretty lass Houston university Bank deposit Length x width, for a rectangle People person’s skill Not a soul Fit for the front page Successfully contend with difficulties State with conviction “Don’t get ___ out of shape!”

Kind of bomb or clock “Dress for Less” chain In need of GPS Whines Light ratio in astronomy Go parasailing Job Energize Not pulling any punches Applaud Color that’s Latin for “water” Loamy fertilizer Blue Bonnet, e.g.

Opposite of suck “I ___ you one” “Neither” counterpart “H-E-L-P!”

Friday’s solution

Friday’s solution

22

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Lifestyle

Chhim Sreyneang Social Life Manager

Opening @ Feel Good

Toch Davy from Feel Good Marc Adamson, managing director, Kerry Ann Burke, executor, Chy Meath, managing director and José A Rivera

Lyn Say, Aris Hana, and Trina

Iv Vanthan and Chhoeung Sopheap

Khun Davuth and Prum Hol

Tim and Sopheak

Chan Nat Eou and Scott from Feel Good

Feel Good, a new café dreamed up by international and local business people who promise to “make people the heart of its success”, held its grand opening on May 31. Guests explored the Street 136 eatery, in between sampling sushi and canapés on the house.

Sayon Din and Juan

Ratha Yi and Rotha Leang

Khum Bundith and Som Vutha

Netherlands @ Intercon

Dr Wolfgang Moser, ambassador of the German embassy, Audrey Tugendhat and Sheila Scopis

Gui Anvanith, GM of FTB Bank, with Henk Cor Van Der Kwast

Van Baal, regional director Asia of Zi Argus, and Chandary Keo

Eric Meerman, managing director at GE Healthcare, Doung Christoph and Thomas A McNichols

Gerjan Lennips and Bun Youdy

Ros Aline, GM of Red Apron, with Ong Art and Assadej ChalohaSamphoas Phal kornkid

Gavin Batcheler, Jean Loi and Anne Cunningham

Pily Wong, Country Manager of Microsoft and Philippe Thai, Assistant Vice President of Hong Huot

Finn Viggo Gundersen, general manager at ENVO TECH and Jim Gramberg, CEO at Crowbar Consultants

Han Rutten, director of Intra Menno Van Essen and Jurry Broekman, sales Co, with Bert Cesar, executive director of NTCC manager for Local Adventures

Ayub Yulianto, sales and marketing manager @ Cambodiana Hotel and Sethy Thon, centre manager @ Regus

Marc Devriendt and Ros Monin, chairman of National Arbitration

Peter Brongers, CEO BMW Cambodia, Linda Janthewee and Frank Van Baal

Yun Yuthana, sales operation manager and Vinh Sovan Chanda from Celliers D' Asie

Sunt Uppaputthangkul and Marc Dehertogh, managing director of Faber Flags Asia

Cheese, wine and chit-chat were on the cards last Tuesday evening at the InterContinental Hotel as the newly created Netherlands Cambodian Chamber of Commerce held its first business meeting in a sophisticated setting. Co-founder and President Peter Brongers made sure the night, which attracted teams from a number of companies and organisations in Phnom Penh, ran smoothly.

23

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Lifestyle

Socheata and Sontery Social Life Team

Live Free @ Diamond Island

Bruce Adam, Rob Matteo, Steve Wornes Samnang Neak

MSB (Member Sport Bike) Group

Cartoon Emo Group Miss Live Free

It was all about the open road, the wind in your face, and the roar of an engine on Diamond Island last week as motorbike fans gathered for Live Free, Ride Free. The motoring night, on May 31, saw enthusiasts fawn over bikes of all kinds, from all over the country, as well as high-octane performances from a live Filipino band.

Leakhena Nov

ALL PHOTOS: PHA LINA

Chhay Gektieng and Nout Sima

Rong Chanseylanvan. Leakhena Nov,Khon Lyda and Ngorn Phanarath

F Magazine issue launch @ Topaz Fashion monthly F Magazine marked the launch of their Vision & Noir edition at Topaz restaurant on Friday. The issue features chic black dresses and designer attire from the clan who will show their collections at this month’s Phnom Penh Designers Week 2013, from June 13-15. Cambodian celebrities, models and designers with an international fanbase enjoyed canapÊs and red wine at the French restaurant on Norodom Boulevard.

Vandy Ros and friends Sngoun Lopes, Rolin and Lina Hak

Nino Ellison and Racje Fuller

Nita and Molika

Chea Vannarith and his wife

Soun Daroth and Kimvy

Sendra Sothea, Kanary Sros and Buo Vanary

Sun Dara Voleak and Claude Garrigues

Gilles Sainsily and Isam Oumazza

Prak Sivantha and Peng Visal

Julie Schray, Sokha Lim and Joseph

Antoine Seguin and Christine Chheav Kimhorng and Peng Gauthier Tasl

24

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Sport Serena takes French Open title Kevin Mitchell

S

erena Williams, 32 in September, is reaching levels that even she probably did not contemplate in the dark hours of her health and injury malaise in recent years. It is not inconceivable that her straight-sets victory over Maria Sharapova on Saturday to add a second French Open title to her collection of 15 grand slam trophies may prove to be the beginning of another remarkable phase of her career.

And that is an opinion that comes from an impeccable source, an American whose first-round exit here last year shocked tennis. “I really enjoy every moment that I’m out there,” Williams said.

“I always said that I felt like I have never played my best tennis. I have said that for years, that I feel like I can do better. I definitely want to go out at my peak. That’s my goal.

But have I peaked yet? And losing in the first round last year definitely helped me realise I have no points to defend, nothing to lose. Honestly, I just was more relaxed this time.”

Only Steffi Graf, with 22 major titles, and Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, each with 18, are ahead of her on the open-era honours board of women’s tennis, and there are no signs that the blood clot on her lung in 2010 that almost cost Williams her life has had any lingering effect on her health.

She is as strong and ambitious as ever she was, perhaps more so, and joins Navratilova, Evert, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Ann Jones and Virginia Wade as slam champions over 30.

The fact that the 6-4, 6-4 victory in an hour and 46 minutes was her 13th straight win over Sharapova in nine years does not demean the

USA’s Serena Williams celebrates her victory over Russia’s Maria Sharapova at the end of their French tennis Open final match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.

achievement. The world number two is one of only a handful of players capable of giving Williams a game, alongside Victoria Azarenka, who beat her in Doha, her last defeat in 2013, and who took a set off Sharapova in the semi-finals.

In her excitement, the new champion might have meant to say in

French during her brief victory speech on court either “I can’t believe it”, or “it was incredible”, but it came out: “I am incredible” — “Je suis incroyable”. Actually, who could argue with any of that?

Sharapova paid tribute to Williams, conceding she had been outplayed, but could not resist a

little dig at her tormentor when asked about the differential in their serves. She would hit the ball at that speed if she were as big, she said – to which Williams replied: “I’m actually a little shorter than Maria.”

The final was too prosaic, too predictable to generate even mild hysteria, but Paris, Serena’s adopted

AFP

home – “a place where I feel myself,” she says – rose to acclaim her with respect and enthusiasm, in stark contrast to the hooting and howling reception she received here in her notorious 2003 match against Justine Henin. It has been some journey, with a few miles left to travel. THE GUARDIAN

Blackhawks beat Kings to reach final of Stanley Cup

Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane celebrates after scoring the game and series winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings. REUTERS

The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in double overtime on Saturday to win the Western Conference title and join the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Kings, last season’s NHL champions, had tied the game with just 10 seconds left in regulation, but Patrick Kane completed his hat-trick with the winning goal at 11:40 of the second overtime period.

Chicago, who won the Presidents’ Trophy for scoring the most points in the regular season, will host the Stanley Cup opener on Wednesday at the United Center.

Kane took a pass from Jonathan Toews on a two-onone breakaway and rifled the puck past Kings’ netminder Jonathan Quick to seal the Blackhawks place in the Final

against Boston, who swept Pittsburgh 4-0 to win the East.

“I knew it was coming as soon as he picked up the puck,” Kane said of the winning goal. “Johnny made a great pass and I just tried to get it off as quick as I could.”

Kane’s second, which put Chicago 3-2 up with less than four minutes to play in the third period, looked set to be the winner but the Kings stunned the home crowd when Mike Richards found the net with less than 10 seconds left on the clock.

Kane said the Blackhawks struggled to regain the momentum after the late Kings goal.

“That was so emotional, you start thinking about that when it goes in, you’re 14 seconds away from going to the Finals

and I think that kind of stuck with us for that first overtime,” he added.

“They had the momentum after that point but for us to stick with it in the first overtime and end up winning the game – it’s just huge.

“We didn’t have the same jump but after we got over it, it was nice to close it out, for sure.”

The Final will pit 2010 winners Chicago against 2011 champions Boston.

Andrew Shaw said the Blackhawks would soak in the win but already had their minds on the Bruins.

“It’s unbelievable, it’s surreal.

It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, but all the excitement in the room, we have got to compose that,” Shaw said.

“We have a big series ahead of us with a great team. The boys are going to bring the intensity and energy we had tonight and it’s going to be a great series.”

Chicago got off to the best possible start, defenseman Duncan Keith sending in a long-range shot that sneaked between Quick’s pads after less than four minutes.

One of the NHL’s top goalies, Quick was beaten again two minutes later when Kane scrambled the puck home for his first goal of the night.

But the Kings would not down without a fight and got a shorthanded goal from Dwight King midway through the second period before Anze Kopitar put the puck away on a powerplay early in the third to tie the score at 2-2. REUTERS

25

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Sport

Bryans win record 14th doubles title in Paris

American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan won a record 14th Grand Slam men’s doubles title on Saturday when they defeated French pair Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut in the French Open final. The Bryans, who won their first title in Paris in 2003, triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a final which ended with Mahut in floods of tears. The top-seeded American brothers won their 13th title at the Australian Open in January to go level with the record of John Newcombe and Tony Roche.

AFP

Stevenson stuns Dawson with a one-punch TKO

Australia’s Mitchell Johnson just survives a run-out attempt by England’s Jos Buttler (right) during the ICC Champions Trophy group A match at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

REUTERS

England strike first blow

E

ngland struck the first blow at the start of an eight-month campaign against Australia involving 26 matches in all three formats of the game by winning their Champions Trophy Group A game in Birmingham on Saturday.

The hosts defeated their oldest enemy in their opening match of the eight-nation 50-overs competition by 48 runs in advance of back-toback Ashes series and four limitedovers series.

James Anderson became England’s leading one-day wicket taker when he dismissed Mitchell Marsh for five. It was his 235th wicket, putting him one ahead of Darren Gough.

“He’s great bowler,” England captain

Alastair Cook told Sky Sports. “He just keeps getting better and better.”

Australia, set 270 to win on a good batting pitch, gave a lacklustre performance and fell steadily behind the required run rate after taking the field without their injured captain Michael Clarke.

Shane Watson, their best one-day batsman, survived a hard chance to Cook off Stuart Broad but still made only 24 from 40 deliveries. His opening partner David Warner was out for nine and Phil Hughes was lbw to Joe Root for 30 trying to force the pace with an ill-judged pull shot.

Stand-in captain George Bailey was the top-scorer with 55 and his dismissal in the 40th over spelt the end

of Australia’s victory hopes. England rallied after a middle-order collapse to reach 269 for six on a slow pitch with Ravi Bopara (46 not out) and Tim Bresnan (19 not out) adding 56 from 41 balls in an eighth-wicket partnership.

They reached 168 for the loss of only Cook (30) but wickets quickly tumbled.

Man-of-the-match Ian Bell topscored with 91 off 115 balls and Jonathan Trott made 43, but none of the other specialist batsmen made any impact.

Root went for 12, Eoin Morgan was bowled for eight and Jos Buttler, England’s most dangerous one-day batsman, made only one.

“It was a little bit frustrating,” Cook said. “But I always thought 270 was going to be enough.”

On Friday, West Indies struggled to a nervous two-wicket victory over Pakistan in their opening Champions Trophy Group B match after dismissing their opponents for only 170 on a good Oval pitch.

Man-of-the-match Kemar Roach was the West Indies’ hero, hitting the winning boundary after ripping through the Pakistan top order once Dwayne Bravo had won the toss and elected to field.

Pakistan today face South Africa, who lost by 26 runs to India on Thursday, in a match that gets under way at 4:30pm Cambodian time. REUTERS

Three Lions back up for Country tour game Three squad members will play their second consecutive tour match in four days as the British and Irish Lions take on New South Wales/Queensland Combined Country in Newcastle tomorrow.

Lock Richie Gray, winger Alex Cuthbert and utility Stuart Hogg were named yesterday to start for the Lions, with explosive Welsh winger George North also getting a start after coming off the bench in the tourists’

22-12 win over the Queensland Reds on Saturday.

Irish star Brian O’Driscoll will reunite with Welshman Jamie Roberts in the centres for the first time since their four games during the 2009

British and Irish Lions’ Richie Gray (right) tackles Queensland Reds’ James Hanson during their rugby union game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday. REUTERS

Lions tour to South Africa including the first two Tests.

O’Driscoll will captain the Lions for the second time on tour, while replacement props Alex Corbisiero and Ryan Grant will make their first Lions appearances after joining the squad as replacements for repatriated forwards Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins.

“The Reds game was always going to be a big challenge and I was delighted at the victory and the way we were tested,” head coach Warren Gatland said of Saturday’s bruising encounter with the Reds.

“It was a very physical match, as we knew it would be. We now move on to Newcastle and another challenge.

“This team to play Country includes three players – Richie Gray, Alex Cuthbert and Stuart Hogg – who are starting their second game in a row, plus another, George North, who came off the bench early against the Reds.

“This is the nature of Lions tours as we adapt to injuries and playing twice a week.”

Scotland’s Hogg, who played at fullback against the Reds,

will switch to fly-half to partner Ireland’s Conor Murray in the halves for the Country game.

Tour manager Andy Irvine paid tribute to the Quade Cooper-led Reds for giving the Lions such a stern tussle in Brisbane.

“We are delighted to have kept our unbeaten record intact. We were pushed all the way by an extremely skilful and committed Reds team that played some brilliant intuitive rugby,” Irvine said.

“However, I was incredibly proud of the way we responded and how we defended right to the bitter end. The win will be a tremendous boost to our confidence for the forthcoming Test series.

Irvine said he expected another tough match tomorrow, saying there was “no doubt that the Combined Country players match will regard the game as their cup final”.

“But we are getting stronger each week, combinations are starting to take shape and we will be determined to head for Sydney [Saturday’s match against the NSW Waratahs] with another win.” AFP

Adonis Stevenson stopped Chad Dawson with a single, swinging left-hand punch at 1:16 of the first round in Montreal on Saturday to capture Dawson’s World Boxing Council light heavyweight world title.

Stevenson, a Haitian-born Canadian who at 35 has fought just 22 professional fights, underscored his reputation as a knockout artist as he improved to 21-1 with 19 wins inside the distance. “You understand why people don’t want to fight me now?” a beaming Stevenson said as he clutched his championship belt. Stevenson had stepped up in weight to take the fight. AFP

Palace Malice outruns field in Belmont Stakes

Palace Malice, running without the blinkers that hindered a previous performance, won the Belmont Stakes ahead of Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow and Kentucky Derby champion Orb on Saturday. Palace Malice, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, was one of a record five horses saddled by trainer Todd Pletcher for the third leg of thoroughbred horse racing’s Triple Crown at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Considered one of the best two-year-olds in Pletcher’s barn last year, Palace Malice lost six of his first seven starts. “I kept saying I know there’s a big one there; I felt like he had a big one in him,” said Pletcher, who recorded his second Belmont win. BLOOMBERG

Marlins need 20 innings to top Mets, Jays play 18

The Miami Marlins needed 20 innings to defeat the New York Mets 2-1 on the same day the Toronto Blue Jays went 18 innings to top the Texas Rangers 4-3 in Major League Baseball. The Marlins-Mets contest on Saturday was six innings shy of the recordholding Brooklyn DodgersBoston Red Sox game, which was played to a 1-1 tie until it was called for darkness after 26 innings on May 1, 1920, said the Baseball Almanac. The extra-inning games yesterday follow a 16-inning 7-5 victory by the Chicago White Sox against the Seattle Mariners on June 5. BLOOMBERG

Saturday’s Results Rugby Internationals

Japan 18 Wales 22 New Zealand 23 France 13 Argentina 3 England 32

26

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Basketball

Warriors touch off Pate 310 HS Manjunath

E

xtra Joss Warriors lived up to their name and found that extra ounce of energy in the waning moments of an intensely contested game to down a gutsy Pate 310 by the shortest of margins 61-60 in their Cambodian Basketball League tie at Beeline Arena on Saturday.

In a lively affair that featured the Warriors’ size and Pate’s speed, the finish came down to a foul on Ley Denestrossa and, on his two free throws, hinged the outcome with just one second left.

The sides had battled all the way to a dead-even 60 until that game changing moment. Denestrossa missed the first to bring more drama and anxiety to the climax but, to a collective sigh of relief in the Warriors troupe, he basketed the second.

That winning point boosted his personal tally to an impressive 30. Fred Babida’s eight points was the next best for the Warriors. Sok Tour toiled hard for Pate, emerging as their top scorer at 15, with support coming from Taing Peng Kuy (11 points).

Size advantage in the paint was Warriors main weapon, while Pate, conceding so much on height,

relied on their speed of foot and good shooting rate. After the Warriors led 26-24 at half-time, Pate’s strong third quarter showing had hauled them back to lead 45-40 at the end of the third.

In the opening game of the day, the all-Chinese Galaxy touched off the Post Buffaloes 51-48. Kelvin Chau turned the first quarter into a one-man show, scoring nine of a 13-2 lead for Galaxy. Buffaloes could count only one basket from Gino Gicqueau.

Galaxy seemed to suffer from a power outage in the second and Buffaloes began to steadily tick the scoreboard thanks to the efforts of Ryan Baker and Jay Roden, who carried a pre-game leg injury to the court.

At 21-all, the second half opened up for both sides, but the final moves by Ah Jie and Wang Gen made that crucial difference in favour of Galaxy.

Kelvin Chau top scored for Galaxy with 20, with Ah Jie contributing one less. For the Buffaloes, Jay Roden (19 points) and Ryan Baker (15) stood out.

Phnom Penh Dragons were consumed by CCPL Heat 40-54 in a game that was marked by loads of fouls called by the two referees.

In fact, the number was a staggering 64, which accounted for

twenty per cent more than the two previous games combined, reducing the game to more of a free-throw contest.

The Heat were decidedly better than the Dragons from the line.

The Dragons could manage to basket only 18 from 40, while Heat had a markedly healthy rate in the conversions.

With field baskets hard to come by it was no surprise that the half time score was a near-equal 18-17. But what seemingly turned the game away from the Dragons was the fourth foul called on Dragons centre Erik Laughlin after 13 minutes of play, a setback the team could hardly recover from.

Kim Ran (17 points) and Chan Sephal (11) came out good for Heat, while Laughlin (10), Regis Martin (9) and Leng Seng (8) were Dragons top three scorers. “[The] fourth foul called on Erik Laughlin at the beginning of the second quarter completely changed the configuration of the game for us. I had to keep him on the bench for the decisive moments of the game,” Dragons coach and CBL coordinator Michael Dibbern told the Post.

“We never found our rhythm on quick transitions and to our set offence the Heat stood up well too.”

Joshua Schmitz (centre, yellow) of the Extra Joss Warriors shoots under pressure from Pate 310 players during their CBL game at Beeline Arena on Saturday. SRENG MENG SRUN

Job Announcement The Phnom Penh Post, is an independent media company in Cambodia and is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of reporter as follows: Khmer Reporter: 1 position Job requirements: -

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or an equivalent degree At least threes years’ experience in journalism Must be able to speak and write articles in both Khmer in English Computer litraty (must be able to type Khmer Unicode well) Female candidates are highly encouraged Age 25 to 40 He/she will be required to serve on the National News Desk of both the Khmer and English Newspapers - Candidates must have no political agendas, no bias, no nepotism or discrimination - Must be fully aware of and obey all the codes and ethics for journalism - Available to work in a high pressure environment Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and CV to the human resource office of The Phnom Penh Post at the below address: Post Media Co. Ltd, #888, Floor 8, Building F, Phnom Penh Center, Corner of Sothearos and Preah Sihanouk boulevards, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh or through email address: jobs@phnompenhpost.com; Tel: 023 214 311 or Fax: 023 214 318 Deadline: June 17, 2013 Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Successful People Read The Post.

United Nations

Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization

World Heritage Convention

27

THE PHNOM PENH POST June 10, 2013

Football Villarreal promoted back to the top flight

Villarreal have been promoted back to the Primera Division at the first time of asking as they beat promotion challengers Almeria 1-0 at El Madrigal on Saturday night.

With both sides locked on 74 points before kick-off, the winner would join Elche in being automatically promoted, and Jonathan Pereira got the crucial goal for the hosts 10 minutes into the second half. Defeat for Almeria means that they will now have to go through the playoffs if they are to return to the top-flight for the first time since the 2010-11 season. AFP

Swiss snatch last-gasp win over defiant Cyprus

Svay Rieng’s Khounla Boravy (left) heads the ball over Senate’s Chhun Mesa during their Metfone C-League game yesterday. SRENG MENG SRUN

Ministry of National Defence’s Pok Siya (left) kicks the ball past Phnom Penh Crown’s Bin Thierry during their Metfone C-League match at Olympic Stadium yesterday. SRENG MENG SRUN

Boeung Ket stunned by BBU; Svay Rieng smash up Senate HS Manjunath

B

oeung Ket Rubber Field suffered from a self-inflicted wound as the defending champions presented a Metfone C-League game on a platter to Build Bright United at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Boeung Ket substitute Ly Mizan’s own goal as late as the 81st minute condemned them to a 1-0 defeat, ending the Kampong Cham side’s 11-game unbeaten streak.

Last week’s draw against second from bottom Asia Europe University was more of an irritant for Boeung Ket, but the loss to BBU was

a clear body blow. Visibly upset by the turn of events, coach Prak Vuthy, however, played down the loss, contending that the team’s resolve to reach the summit was unbreakable.

Despite taking just one point from the past two games, Boeung Ket still enjoy a four-point cushion at the top of the standings over their closest rivals Svay Rieng, who trounced lowly Senate 9-0 yesterday to get to within four points of the leaders.

The rout included five strikes from national team hitman Khoun Laboravy, along with a brace from Prak Mony Udom and one each from Muong Makara and Lay Raksmey.

Earlier yesterday, seasoned forward Khim Borey produced a 50th minute goal for Phnom Penh Crown to help the former champions level up at 1-1 against a resurgent Ministry of National Defence after the Army men had shot into an early lead.

Meak Chhordaravuth drove MND into a fifth-minute lead, but Crown’s persistence eventually paid off when the experienced Khim Borey levelled the score.

Crown had a few more prominent chances to possibly end on a brighter note but MND were equally stoic in holding out.

Crown hold clear third in the standings ahead of Naga-

Corp who could only manage to split points with Asia Europe University at the Old Stadium on Saturday.

Its a travesty that Asia Europe University continue to ramble in the rear despite putting up some fighting displays against well-heeled teams.

The University-backed side was the first to wrestle a point out of Boeung Ket – no easy task by any means – and on Saturday AEU again threw a scare at two-time champions Naga before the game ended 1-1.

African signing Oriola Adeseye gave AEU a 35th minute lead, and Naga, this year’s Hun Sen Cup winners, whose league season hasn’t been go-

ing the way the team would have wished, were clearly in some discomfort until Chun Chum got the leveller a minute before regulation time.

In Saturday’s Olympic Stadium action before Boeung Ket’s shock defeat, National Police Commissary got the measure of Kirivong Sok Sen Chey 2-0, with both goals coming in the first half.

Police grabbed the early initiative when Sok Va scored in the 15th minute. Say Visal doubled the lead seven minutes later and for the rest of the way the Police had to just carry out sentry duties around their goal even though Kirivong tried desperately hard to close the gap.

hurt Ethiopia continue resurgence Mourinho La Liga football,

Congo, Ivory Coast and Tunisia took giant leaps on Saturday towards winning their World Cup qualifying groups, although they were all overshadowed by the exploits of a resurgent Ethiopia.

A 2-1 victory in Botswana for Ethiopia means they are also in line to secure a place in the final phase of the African preliminaries if they win again next weekend.

First-half goals from Getaneh Kebede and Saladin Seid, his fourth of the campaign, kept Ethiopia top of Group A with 10 points from four matches.

They are two points ahead of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, their next opponents.

Ethiopia qualified for the 2013 African Nations Cup after an absence of more than three decades and proved difficult opponents in the finals.

South Africa beat the Central African Republic 3-0 to keep alive their hopes in a match played in neutral Cameroon because of the precarious situation in Bangui, where the government was recently overthrown by rebel fighters.

Congo and Tunisia lost their 100 per cent records, but away draws inched them closer to winning their respective groups.

Giant defender Christopher Samba withdrew on the eve of the game but Congo held neighbours Gabon to a 0-0 draw in Franceville to earn a six-point lead over their second-placed opponents in Group E. Third-placed Burkina Faso, on three points, can close the gap when they play in Niger on Sunday.

A late equaliser from Fakhreddine Ben Youssef gave Tunisia a 2-2 draw at

closest challengers Sierra Leone and a five-point lead in Group B. The Tunisians can clinch top spot by winning in Equatorial Guinea next weekend. REUTERS

Friday’s Results Libya 0 Congo DR 0 Sudan 1 Ghana 3

Saturday’s Results

Botswana 1 Ethiopia 2 Central African Rep 0 South Africa 3 Zambia 4 Lesotho 0 Gabon 0 Congo 0 Angola 1 Senegal 1 Uganda 1 Liberia 0 Sierra Leone 2 Tunisia 2 Cape Verde Isl 2 Equatorial Guinea 1 Gambia 0 Ivory Coast 3 Morocco 2 Tanzania 1

claims Iniesta

Jose Mourinho did more harm than good to Spanish football during his controversial three-year tenure as coach of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was quoted as saying yesterday.

Portuguese Mourinho quit Real three years before the end of his contract after a 2012-13 campaign without major silverware and has returned to former club Chelsea.

His stint in the Spanish capital was overshadowed by a series of ugly incidents and he alienated a significant section of Real’s own fans when he benched club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, a Spain teammate of Iniesta’s. REUTERS

Substitute Haris Seferovic ended 90 minutes of frustration for Switzerland by scoring a last-gasp goal to give them a 1-0 win over defiant Cyprus in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. The two sides looked set for their second goalless draw in the group until Xherdan Shaqiri slipped a pass through the Cyprus defence and Seferovic nipped in to lift the ball over goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides. The Swiss, attempting to qualify for their third successive World Cup, went four points clear of Albania in Group E, regarded as the easiest of the nine European groups. REUTERS

Italy, Norway show U21 class as England go out

Italy and Norway outclassed Israel and England at the European U21 Championships on Saturday to virtually wrap up Group A. Italy, who beat England 1-0 in the first game, are top with six points with Norway second on four. Israel still have a slim chance of advancing but England are out after a 3-1 loss to Norway. Italy booked passage to the semi-finals by crushing hosts Israel 4-0. REUTERS

Friday’s Results 2014 World Cup Qualifiers

Bolivia 1 Venezuela 1 Iceland 2 Slovenia 4 Finland 1 Belarus 0 Argentina 0 Colombia 0 Latvia 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 Rep of Ireland 3 Faroe Isl 0 Armenia 0 Malta 1 Liechtenstein 1 Slovakia 1 Costa Rica 1 Honduras 0 Paraguay 1 Chile 2 Croatia 0 Scotland 1 Jamaica 1 USA 2 Albania 1 Norway 1 Montenegro 0 Ukraine 4 Belgium 2 Serbia 1 Czech Republic 0 Italy 0 Austria 2 Sweden 1 Portugal 1 Russia 0 Azerbaijan 1 Luxembourg 1 Panama 0 Mexico 0 Peru 1 Ecuador 0 Moldova 1 Poland 1 Lithuania 0 Greece 1 International Friendly Spain 2 Haiti 1

Saturday’s Results 2014 World Cup Qualifiers Switzerland 1 Cyprus 0

International Friendlies

Estonia 1 Trinidad & Tobago 0 Indonesia 0 Netherlands 3

Tonight’s fixtures International Friendlies

Oman v Bosnia-Herzegovina 10pm Croatia v Portugal – 12:30am