KI Media: “Exploding watermelons in China: a new terrorist tool?” plus 24 more |
- Exploding watermelons in China: a new terrorist tool?
- Defence ministers to meet
- Wrangling ahead in Case 003
- Tapping into Cambodia's talent [-Trouble ahead for Hun Xen's regime?]
- Premiere of FACING GENOCIDE in Cambodia at Meta House this Wednesday, 18 May 2011
- A lack of real human rights [-Shame on CPP Om Yentieng!!!]
- How to get rid of the CPP: Lesson from a CPP follower
- Oh Sat Mohori - Poem in Khmer by Sy Salen
- Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy's upcoming visit to Philadelphia, PA
- Hun Sen prevents temple resolution
- Southeast Asian Slums Network For Housing Rights
- Elderly K.Rouge suspect loses court appeal
- Love conquers all !
- My rights, my responsibility (Constitution) series
- Khmer soldiers along the border call for aid [-Hun Xen does not provide for them?]
- WFP’s Seng Kunakar to be released today
- CCHR Press Release : CCHR welcomes the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and calls on all people to respect the human rights of LGBT people
- Khmer Guardian: The RCAF Generals' fitness
- In Turbulent Week for Tribunal, Rising Concerns
- "Case 3 Case 4 Yuon-Sen Preung Ktup" a Poem in Khmer by Hin Sithan
- Rob Hamill’s Civil Party Application to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Cases 003 and 004 rejected by Co-Investigating Judges Siegfried BLUNK and YOU Bunleng
- Tribunal Announces Initial Hearing for Case 002
- Cambodia Readies for More Peacekeeping Training
- Cambodia scrubs Thai trade show
- Landmine clearance work impeded by border conflict
| Exploding watermelons in China: a new terrorist tool? Posted: 17 May 2011 05:56 PM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLW7JUGfn9I  | ||||
| Posted: 17 May 2011 05:53 PM PDT
Cheang Sokha The Phnom Penh Post Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh is set to carry out sideline talks with his Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwon at a regional summit starting tomorrow, in the latest diplomatic effort to follow April's deadly border clashes. Ta Banh is set to leave for Indonesia today to take part in the two-day Association of Southeast Asean Nations defence ministers' summit in Jakarta. Lieutenant-general Chhum Socheat, spokesman for Ministry of Defence, said yesterday that "as planned the two defence ministers will meet" in talks mediated by ASEAN chair Indonesia. He would not reveal specific topics to be tabled but said the ASEAN meeting would review developments in the region, including security issues. The talks follow a series of high-level meets between both sides after deadly fighting broke out at the Thai-Cambodian border in both February and April. The latest hostilities claimed at least 18 lives. Earlier this month, Cambodia's Foeign Minister Hor Namhong met with Thailand's Kasit Piromya to set out a six-point plan to allow neutral observers to the border. Although the agreement was brokered, Thai officials have repeatedly quibbled over the terms of reference for their deployment and have asked for Cambodia to withdraw its troops from territory adjacent to Preah Vihear that is claimed by both sides. Cambodia has strongly rejected the demand. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Hun Sen blasted it as "irrational and unacceptable" for a foreign country to demand the withdrawal of troops from what Cambodia sees as its territory.  | ||||
| Posted: 17 May 2011 05:43 PM PDT
Tuesday, 17 May 2011 James O'Toole The Phnom Penh Post "Without the international pressure, there will not be a Case 003, period." - Ou Virak Disagreements at the Khmer Rouge tribunal over its controversial third case came into focus amid a flurry of activity at the court last week, though a number of legal steps remain before such disputes can be finally settled. Last week, international co-prosecutor Andrew Cayley issued a statement saying that the alleged crimes set out by prosecutors in their submission for Case 003 "have not been fully investigated". The statement followed an announcement from the court's co-investigating judges last month stating that they considered their Case 003 investigation closed. They failed to interview the suspects in the case and to conduct substantial field investigations during their probe, however, prompting critics to charge that a dismissal of the case had been pre-planned amid government pressure. Cayley therefore listed a series of additional investigative steps he said he planned to request that the judges perform, as he is permitted to do under court rules. Among these requests were the questioning of the suspects, further examination of alleged crime sites and additional interviews with witnesses. While the suspects in the case remain officially confidential, court documents reveal them as former Khmer Rouge navy commander Meas Muth and air force commander Sou Met. Cambodian co-prosecutor Chea Leang did not sign onto her foreign colleagues' initial request in 2009 that the case be investigated, and she reiterated her opposition last week, saying in a statement that the suspects in the case fell outside the court's mandate to investigate "senior leaders" and those "most responsible" for Khmer Rouge crimes. Should Cayley's investigative requests be rejected by the judges, he has the right to appeal to the court's Pre-Trial Chamber. In a 2009 ruling on the disagreement between Cambodian and foreign prosecutors over whether Cases 003 and 004 should be investigated, the Pre-Trial Chamber failed to reach a supermajority decision, with the three Cambodian judges arguing against the cases and the two foreign judges coming out in favour. In the absence of such a supermajority, by court rules, the cases moved ahead. Should the investigating judges reject Cayley's Case 003 requests, the Pre-Trial Chamber may again be asked to weigh in. In the event that the chamber is again divided on foreign vs. Cambodian lines, however, it is not clear how the matter will be resolved, said Clair Duffy, a trial monitor with the Open Society Justice Initiative. "In relation to requests for further investigative action, there are no precise provisions that say exactly how this will proceed," she said, though she added that considering the tribunal's laws "as a whole", "the presumption is always in favour of an investigation proceeding or a prosecution proceeding". In a document posted online last week and titled "Frequently asked questions about Case 003", however, the court's public affairs section noted that the Pre-Trial Chamber has in the past given the investigating judges "broad discretion to decide requests for investigative actions". "The Pre-Trial Chamber can only overturn [the investigating judges'] decision if the appellant can demonstrate that the decision made by the Co-Investigating Judges was based on grave errors," the public affairs section said. So far, it does not appear that Cayley's Case 003 requests have been well-received; a source at the court said last week that the investigating judges were considering initiating contempt-of-court proceedings against the Briton in relation to his disclosures of the investigation details. Duffy said she believed such proceedings were "highly unlikely" to move forward because court staff are granted immunity from legal proceedings in relation to their work under the law establishing the court. This immunity, she said, would likely need to be waived by both Cambodian and UN officials for action against Cayley to move ahead. Under court rules, however, the investigating judges are empowered to issue warnings and deal with misconduct internally in addition to their option of referring such issues to the United Nations or Cambodian authorities. However these matters are resolved, the larger issue of whether the Cambodian government will reverse its long-standing opposition to Cases 003 and the still-pending 004 remains. In response to Cayley's statement last week, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith repeated a warning to the court's international staff about these cases, saying those interested in investigating them should "pack their bags and return home". Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, said last week that he believed it was still possible for the international community to convince the government to allow the additional cases to proceed. Given that donors may be unwilling to apply such pressure if it means providing several more years of funding to the tribunal, however, he added that prospects looked grim. "I'm doubting whether this Case 003 could proceed because of not just the Cambodian government, but there's this sense of donor fatigue," he said. "Without the international pressure, there will not be a Case 003, period."  | ||||
| Tapping into Cambodia's talent [-Trouble ahead for Hun Xen's regime?] Posted: 17 May 2011 05:37 PM PDT
Tuesday, 17 May 2011 Liam Barnes The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia's economy may be recovering from the global financial crisis, but experts point to continuing challenges finding higher-paid employment for the country's young population. Some 65 to 70 percent of the domestic labour force is employed in subsistence agriculture, but with about 48 percent of the Kingdom's population currently under 20 years old, according to the United States Commercial Service's 2011 Doing Business in Cambodia Guide, demand for higher-paying employment is expected to only increase. "The economy is not able to generate enough jobs in the formal sector to handle the large number of entrants to the job market," the report said. "This dilemma is likely to become more pronounced over the next decade since Cambodia suffers from a large demographic imbalance." University of Cambodia business and economics lecturer Chheng Kimlong said the domestic economy's absorption capacity for labour was limited at present. Some 20,000 to 25,000 students graduate every year, often facing trouble gaining suitable employment. "The demand for [skilled] labour is not very high, and people compete for fewer and fewer jobs," he said, adding much of the employment available at present was for unskilled workers in growth sectors such as garments and agriculture, where wages tend to be low. Cambodia's garment industry was hard hit by the world economic crisis. During 2009, the Ministry of Commerce had estimated 70,000 workers lost their jobs and 70 factories closed their doors. But the industry, which accounts for some 85 percent of the Kingdom's total exports, has shown signs of revival. Garment exports increased in value by an annualised 45.5 percent in the first quarter of 2011, ministry statistics show. With increased production, the garment industry has ramped up its demand for labour, according to the International Labour Organisation National Co-ordinator Sophorn Tun. "Employment has reached pre-crisis levels, with approximately 320,000 people now working in the garment industry," he said. ILO figures show the garment sector was one major contributor to a 3.3-percent rise in employment across the Cambodian economy last year, with a total of 190,000 jobs being created. Some garment workers expressed strong job satisfaction. Houn Phama said she began work at Health Source Garment Factory one week ago. She had worked with her family as a farmer, before moving to Phnom Penh a year ago to work as a hairdresser. However, that employment had not earned her enough money, much of which she says she sends to her family. After starting at the garment factory, her income has risen. "I now earn S$61 per month, and want to work here forever," she said. However, other workers said they were keen to pursue more lucrative employment, though added they faced many challenges seeking jobs with higher wages. "I would like to go back to school, but I can't afford it," said Sokhat Soupaou, a 21-year-old garment worker at the same factory. "I need to support myself and my family back home. I have no hope of getting promoted as I don't have the knowledge or the skills," she said. While the high number of unemployed graduates may be a problem, the ILO's Sophorn Tun said the main challenge facing the domestic labour market "is to provide a competent work force". "The ILO is trying to assist the government in addressing productive employment for the estimated 300,000 youth expected to enter the market [per year]," he said. Improving the skill sets of Cambodian labourers is a gradual process, but could ultimately pay benefits to the workers, and to businesses, which often cite an underdeveloped labour market as a hurdle to further economic growth. Organisations such as Society of Human Resource Management and Productivity work within manufacturing industries to improve productivity and improve the skills of floor operators. "We attempt to improve local workforces, providing workers with the skills to apply for mid-management positions, of which 80 percent are currently taken up by foreigners," said SHRMP Director Mona Tep. The organisation tends to target unemployed, high-school educated workers. Workers with less education and less money are often at a disadvantage to improving their skills, she said. "Our three-month classes cost $500, which unfortunately, informal and low-skilled workers cannot afford. We did offer evening classes, but some workers lack confidence in their abilities and are unaware of potential opportunities," said Mona Tep. She added: "Sometimes the bridge is too high for them to take the leap." Although opportunities exist higher up in the garment sector, experts highlighted several other industries as providing opportunities for higher-paying work. The tourism sector, which saw 15 percent growth last year, according to United Nations Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2011, now requires more highly qualified employees, Cambodian Hotel Association President Luu Meng said. "A growth in competition within the industry means more qualified people and professionals are being hired," he said. "It's women who tend to be hired, as they are usually better qualified and work to a more consistent level than men." He added that as the standard of employers improved, it was only natural that the average wage increased in tandem. Another sector that appears to be gaining momentum through its appeal to a younger generation is the advertising industry, according to Kevin Britten, CEO of higher-end recruitment agency Top Recruitment. "Young people are attracted to the industry because they understand what products the consumer desires," he said. "After all, it's these youngsters who spend their money on most of these products." Britten stated industries such as advertising could take off due to their appeal, but he said the government needed to provide training to young workers so they could compete for work in these emerging sectors. But for workers at the lower end of the labour pool, some say they see the answer outside of Cambodia. In the case of young garment worker Phorn Sreythoch, Korea offers better prospects. "I won't be working at this factory much longer. I have passed a Korean language exam and will move [to South Korea] in September," she said. "I plan to work in the agricultural sector, and maybe progress into the service industry, but until then I will continue to save my money." ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY PHAK SEANGLY AND JEREMY MULLINS  | ||||
| Premiere of FACING GENOCIDE in Cambodia at Meta House this Wednesday, 18 May 2011 Posted: 17 May 2011 05:14 PM PDT
 What: "FACING GENOCIDE" NEW FILM ABOUT KR LEADER KHIEU SAMPHAN When: WED, 18/05 at 7PM Where: META HOUSE PHNOM PENH IS THE GERMAN CAMBODIAN CULTURAL CENTER. Address: #37, St. Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Pehn. Cambodia Tel: (+855)10 312 333 Email: mesterharm@gmx.net Synopsis: Khieu Samphan was one of the closest collaborators of Pol Pot and the one the fronted the KR movement. He has succeeded in living his life without being held accountable for the Khmer Rouge crimes, until his arrest in 2007. Swedish filmmakers D. Aronowitsch & S. Lindberg have followed him two years before his arrest. FACING GENOCIDE (94 mins, 2010) is a search into the personality of Khieu Samphan. The film gives insight into his mindset and his close relation to Pol Pot. It is a unique story about an ex-leader, the time before his arrest and before he is put on trial. Film is presented by lawyer/book author Theary Seng, one of the film's protagonists.  | ||||
| A lack of real human rights [-Shame on CPP Om Yentieng!!!] Posted: 17 May 2011 03:54 PM PDT    "We want an independent human rights committee that is accountable and not a mouthpiece of the government that is part of the problem."  By Mu Sochua Letter to The Phnom Penh Post The very troublesome remark made by Mr Om Yentieng reported in The Phnom Penh Post article Beatings no human rights violations, on May 12, 2011, points to the lack of neutrality, of independence and legitimacy of the Cambodian Human Rights Commission that is chaired by the closest advisor to prime minister Hun Sen. It is worth entioning that this same advisor represents Cambodia in the ASEAN Committee on Human Rights. Even criminals should not be subject to police beatings and brutal assaults. To deny that the beatings of women, children and the elderly in front of the office of the governor are violations of human rights further diminishes the credibility of this national institution in charge of reporting and addressing human rights in Cambodia. These Boeung Kak lake residents were seeking peaceful solutions to their community sold by the government? One of the women who were detained by the police suffered a miscarriage two days later. On May 8, eight female workers were injured by anti-riot police as they requested fair compensation for lost wages at the June factory. Assaults on women not only violates their human rights, but it can lead to other more severe social consequences as it can give the wrong message that such abuse is acceptable. When condoned and not condemned, it can become a norm. Silencing of the victims is as serious as the act of violence itself. What reports have been filed by the Cambodian Human Rights Committee on the use of anti-riot police that use deadly weapons against victims of land grabbing? What about villagers detained against their will with no legal representation? What about the confessions they are forced to sign for crimes they have not committed? Let us remind Mr Om Yentieng that Cambodia is a signatory to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and to all other United Nations conventions that protect and promote human rights. The positions this high ranking official holds are not a privilege and they come with full responsibility and accountability to the people of Cambodia. The honour for that official comes with a clean performance, integrity and courage to defend human rights. It is shocking and unacceptable that those who have already been deprived of their fundamental rights should have to face such excessive and denigrating abuse such as brutal violence and the total lack of accountability. State violence against civilians continues with full impunity in Cambodia. Tactics to spread fear, threats, the use of a biased judiciary and blaming the opposition for incitement are all symbolic of a form of governance that has very little tolerance for criticism and poor commitment to the protection of human rights. Cambodia needs to move forward and each step must be taken to put an end to darkness when fear is a part of the people's daily lives. We want an independent human rights committee that is accountable and not a mouthpiece of the government that is part of the problem. Mu Sochua, MP, Sam Rainsy Party  | ||||
| How to get rid of the CPP: Lesson from a CPP follower Posted: 17 May 2011 03:11 PM PDT An anonymous reader wrote:  I am so glad this website is working again because, without cursing the opposition in Cambodia for one day, I don't seem to be able to eat at all. What can you learn from this comment by a CPP follower?
 KI-Media: To keep it is a gain, To get rid of it is still a gain. CPP: Damned if you do, Damned if you don't  | ||||
| Oh Sat Mohori - Poem in Khmer by Sy Salen Posted: 17 May 2011 02:19 PM PDT
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| Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy's upcoming visit to Philadelphia, PA Posted: 17 May 2011 02:09 PM PDT   PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release 11:00 AM EST, May 17, 2011 Contact: Chea Meas Tel: (215) 833-3669 To: All Media and Public at Large From: SRP Chapter of Pennsylvania We would like to inform our colleagues, supporters and the public at large of the upcoming visit of H.E. Sam Rainsy to Philadelphia on Friday, May 27th, 2011. Sam Rainsy is the President of the Sam Rainsy Party, the largest opposition party in Cambodia, and an elected Member of Parliament for Kompong Cham province. In 2009, he led residents living on the border in a protest against Vietnam, as they claimed that the neighboring nation was illegally encroaching on Cambodian territory. Because they physically returned border markers to where they legally belong, Rainsy was charged with racial incitement and the destruction of public property. The Cambodian Parliament stripped his constitutionally-guaranteed immunity from prosecution, and went so far as to bar him from his seat in the Parliament. In 2010, he went into self-exile in France, and says that he will let the court try him in absentia, as the charges against him are politically motivated. You are invited to spend an evening with Rainsy to hear updates on his current efforts for reform in Cambodia, and to ask questions about the future of the country. This is a rare opportunity to have direct access to one of the leading figures of the opposition in Cambodia. Date: Friday - May 27, 2011 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Preah Buddha Rangsey Temple 2400 South 6th Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 If you would like more information or to schedule an interview with Sam Rainsy, please call Chea Meas at (215) 833-3669 or e-mail samrainsyparty.usa@gmail.com _______________________________ SAM RAINSY PARTY OF PENNSYLVANIA INTEGRITY - HONESTY - JUSTICE 1800 South 15th Street 1st Floor Philadelphia, PA 19145 (USA) Email: samrainsyparty.usa@gmail.com Website: http://www.samrainsyparty.org Skype: SRP-PA  | ||||
| Hun Sen prevents temple resolution Posted: 17 May 2011 01:58 PM PDT
May 18, 2011 A. Gaffar Peang-Meth PACIFIC DAILY NEWS I learned during my service in the Khmer People's National Liberation Front from 1980-1989 that the Thais are fearful of sharing Thailand's borders with Vietnam and they would be happy to have Cambodia as a buffer between the two countries -- a reason Bangkok supported the Cambodian resistance elements that opposed Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia.  I have written several columns in this space about the Feb. 4-7 border fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops related to the long-standing dispute regarding sovereignty over areas surrounding the 11th century Temple of Preah Vihear, a temple awarded to Cambodia in a June 15, 1962, ruling by the International Court of Justice."It was not the first armed conflict on the border dispute around the Preah Vihear Temple, nor will it be the last," I wrote, and "If both armies don't withdraw their trigger-happy troops, new rounds of armed conflict are waiting to happen." It's a matter of common sense. As fanatics on both sides trade vitriolic barbs, parties on both sides have accumulated documents and maps purporting to show to whom the temple belongs. I was impressed with the vast knowledge some of those people hold about the history of the temple and the ICJ's verdict. Then I realized it was not what they know but how they think that causes voices of reason to give way to loud, unproductive emotional rhetoric. I read with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Thai academics call on their government to accept that the temple is Khmer, was built by Khmers and belongs to Khmers. Then I saw Cambodian expatriates' petitions and rallies condemning the Thai "invasion." Some Cambodians would not accept any mention of a "disputed area" and cast you as an enemy if you persist in use of the phrase. Premier Hun Sen loves this: talk of Thai aggression/invasion reliably rallies Cambodians to fight the Thai invasion and deflects attention from other concerns. It takes two to make war or peace. Thai Premier Abhisit has been under fire from the so-called Yellow Shirt political movement, whose adherents brought him to power and who now think he's not up to the task to "win" the temple for Thailand. The next election is around the corner for Abhisit in July. Meanwhile, the Thai military is concerned that it might lose influence in Thai politics. Cambodian Premier Hun Sen, too, is less than two years away from his own election, and domestic problems have not abated. His restless people needed to be pulled into line. Hun Sen has found it useful to deflect Abhisit's insistence on bilateralism by pushing for regional or international -- United Nations -- involvement in resolving this crisis. He wanted Indonesian observers posted on the border, but Thailand refused. Hun Sen beats the drum of nationalism loudest to meet the emotional needs of his people and draw their attention from other problems confronting him. On April 22, the deadly border fighting resumed. Initial skirmishes with small arms at Ta Krabey and Ta Moan to the west of Preah Vihear ended with an exchange of Thai artillery barrage and Cambodian BM-21 rockets that rained over each other's territories. Reports say a Thai military aircraft flew overhead and Thai troops used cluster bombs, which are banned by over 100 countries. And, of course, each side accused the other of shooting first -- as if this would absolve them for causing losses of lives and creating property damage and hardship for residents on both sides of the border. On April 27, self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy circulated an "open letter" declaring that the Hun Sen government "must step down so that Cambodia may avoid war and territory losses with both Thailand and Vietnam." Rainsy accused the Hun Sen regime of using the conflict with Thailand in the west as a "political ploy to divert the attention and the anger of the Khmer people from the aggression by Vietnam in the east, ... and from its systematic corruption when it associates itself with dubious foreign companies to grab lands ... and to plunder our national riches." Two days later, the Hun Sen government said it has asked the ICJ to clarify its 1962 verdict. Until the clarification arrives, the question of keeping the two neighbors from fighting a war is primary. Even after the deaths of 20 troops and the displacement of up to 85,000 villagers on both sides of the border, Abhisit and Hun Sen, who held talks in Jakarta under the mediation of Indonesia's president, refused to withdraw their troops. According to one press report, during the ASEAN ministerial meeting on May 6, ASEAN officials were surprised by Premier Hun Sen's and his foreign minister Hor Nam Hong's belligerent attack on Thailand as an "aggressor." As host, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa stepped in to stop Hun Sen's verbal assault before irreparable damage was done. I learned during my service in the Khmer People's National Liberation Front from 1980-1989 that the Thais are fearful of sharing Thailand's borders with Vietnam and they would be happy to have Cambodia as a buffer between the two countries -- a reason Bangkok supported the Cambodian resistance elements that opposed Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. So, when Hun Sen appointed a Thai political fugitive, former Premier Thaksin Sinawatra, as economic advisor to the Cambodian government, Hun Sen directly challenged the Abhisit government. In addition, Hun Sen has all but placed Cambodia at the disposal of the Hanoi regime, a further threat to Thailand that no doubt contributes to the uncompromising vehemence of the Thai government's position regarding the disputed border territory. No solution to the Thai-Cambodian border problem can be found so long as Hun Sen remains at the service of Vietnam, a country Thailand continues to consider a regional threat. A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam. Write him at  | ||||
| Southeast Asian Slums Network For Housing Rights Posted: 17 May 2011 09:38 AM PDT
Anthony Kuhn National Public Radio (USA) Fast economic growth in many countries often carries a high price for some of the poorest residents: Vast slums are cleared by urban planners and commercial developers, sometimes by force. But there's a growing international movement of activists who are fighting for slum-dwellers' housing rights. Phnom Penh: A Rising Lake Workers pump sand and water into Phnom Penh's Boeung Kak Lake in the heart of the Cambodian capital. Residents say developers are doing this to force them out of their ramshackle homes in exchange for minimal compensation. Glassmaker Cham Phutisak looks helplessly at the mud gushing toward his house. "We residents are living through great difficulties now. The sand and water are flooding our homes," Phutisak says. "We are afraid we might be electrocuted in the water or bitten by poisonous insects." Residents say the developer behind this project is a senator from the ruling party, backed by Chinese investors. Community organizers have lobbied the U.N. and launched protests in Phnom Penh and at Cambodian embassies overseas. In recent weeks, protesting lake residents have clashed with riot police. But activist Tuol Srey Po says it's hard to unite the frightened residents. She's part of a loose alliance of nongovernmental organizations called the Four Regions Slum Network. "Some people are afraid of joining our network. They moved away, feeling our efforts were as futile as trying to break a rock with an egg," Po says. "Cambodia has only just recovered from civil war, and they don't want to face death again." Manila: Slum Dwellers Want Autonomy Neighbors chat and children play as the fetid green waters of the Estero De San Miguel flow by their shacks. Community organizer Filomena Cinco shows visitors around. "Around maybe 200 meters from here is the passage to Malacanang Palace, where our president lives," Cinco says. "That's why the government wants this community to be demolished and be relocated in a far, far place." The government also wants to clean up the estero, or canal, to prevent flooding. But residents don't want to move, says Cinco, because their jobs are here. The community has hired architects to draft renovation plans for the neighborhood. Cinco says that if the government approves the plan, the community will come up with funding. "There are slum dwellers who really want to develop themselves, to upgrade their places," Cinco says. "The slum upgrading is the best for them because they know what they want and let the people decide what is best for them." Denis Murphy, executive director of the NGO Urban Poor Associates, has lobbied Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, who has declared a moratorium on demolishing the slum. Murphy says activists here are inspired by the tactics of Saul Alinsky, the activist who organized Chicago's slums in the 1930s. He says the slum dwellers carry a clear political message for city hall. "Look, we are hundreds of thousands of urban poor people here, squatters," he says. "If we're on your side, governing the city is much easier. If we're the enemy, you'll have no end of problems. "Every time you want to do something, we'll oppose it." Bangkok: A Transitional Period In Bangkok, farmers and slum dwellers are camped out in front of the old parliament. There are so many demonstrations going on , it's hard for this group to find an empty street corner. Nutchanart Thantong, a Four Regions Slum Network activist, says the upcoming Thai elections present her group with an opportunity to press its cause. "At the moment, it's a transitional period and it's a good time to inform the current government that if they don't solve the problem, they surely won't get our vote," Thantong says. Civil society groups, fighting to make sure development does not come at the expense of the poor, may be taken for granted elsewhere. But their survival has been hard won under authoritarian and post-authoritarian governments in Southeast Asia.  | ||||
| Elderly K.Rouge suspect loses court appeal Posted: 17 May 2011 08:59 AM PDT
AFP PHNOM PENH — Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court said on Tuesday it had rejected a request to free ailing former Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary from custody ahead of his genocide trial. Judges said the continued detention of the 85-year-old, who was a foreign minister during the regime's "Killing Fields" era, was necessary to prevent him from fleeing. One of the few public faces of the secretive movement, Ieng Sary faces charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, in relation to two million deaths from starvation, overwork and executions between 1975-1979. "The Trial Chamber rejects the accused's request for release," a statement from the court said, adding that "he shall remain in detention until the Chamber's judgment is handed down". The decision was widely expected because the release of the high-profile suspect would have caused an outcry in Cambodia. Ieng Sary's defence lawyers argued earlier this month that their client's detention was illegal because his case had not been heard before the end of a court "deadline". But judges dismissed the argument using a different interpretation of the timeline. Ieng Sary's trial -- alongside his wife and ex-social affairs minister Ieng Thirith, "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea and former head of state Khieu Samphan -- will begin on June 27 with an initial hearing, the court said Monday. All four have now unsuccessfully sought release from custody. They have been held at a purpose-built detention facility near the court since their arrests in 2007. Their highly-anticipated trial, the tribunal's second, is expected to be long and complex with all four disputing the charges against them. Aged between 79 and 85, the former regime leaders suffer from various health ailments, fuelling concerns that not all of them will live to see a verdict. Ieng Sary has been hospitalised several times for a heart condition. In its landmark first case the court in July sentenced the notorious former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, to 30 years in prison. The case is now under appeal. Led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Marxist Khmer Rouge regime emptied cities and abolished money and schools in a bid to create an agrarian utopia.  | ||||
| Posted: 17 May 2011 07:18 AM PDT The way of peace is the way of love. Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things. - Peace Pilgrim  | ||||
| My rights, my responsibility (Constitution) series Posted: 17 May 2011 07:14 AM PDT Article 140- New (previously Article 121 and as amended March 1999): The King, the Prime Minister, the President of the National Assembly, 1/10 of the members of National Assembly, The President of the Senate, or 1/4 of the members of Senate may send draft laws adopted by National Assembly to the Constitutional Council for review before promulgation. Internal rules of the National Assembly, Internal rules of the Senate and other organizational laws shall be sent to the Constitutional Council for review before their promulgation. The constitutional council shall decide within thirty days (30) at the latest whether the above laws and internal rules of the National Assembly or the Senate are constitutional.  | ||||
| Khmer soldiers along the border call for aid [-Hun Xen does not provide for them?] Posted: 17 May 2011 12:36 AM PDT  By Hang Savyouth Radio Free Asia Translated from Khmer by Soch Click here to read the article in Khmer Cambodian soldiers who are currently defending Cambodian borders in Oddar Meanchey province called on the government to provide them with food and equipments. Some Cambodian soldiers stationed along the war operation zones in Oddar Meanchey province and who are on war alert to defend Cambodian borders along the Dangrek Mountain in Chub Koki zone, Ampil commune, Banteay Ampil district, are calling on government officials to heed their cases and to provide them with aid. These soldiers are currently on the frontline and they are facing with severe shortage, both in terms of food and in terms of material so they may build shelters during rainy season. A Cambodian soldier stationed along the border said on Sunday 15 May that his group, which is defending the fighting frontline, does not receive much food and fresh meat. As for their lodging inside the trenches, they also lack sleeping equipments and roof materials to protect them from rain. The Cambodian soldier above said: "First, [there are problems] with food for soldiers who are stationed along the border next to Thailand. I am staying 15 to 20m from the border with Thailand, I am at the very frontline. Since the event [clash in Oddar Meanchey with Thai troops], we received fresh pork meat about two times only. … When it rains at nighttime, we sleep on straw right on the ground. We cannot hang hammocks because we are on the alert line."  | ||||
| WFP’s Seng Kunakar to be released today Posted: 16 May 2011 11:16 PM PDT
17 May 2011 Everyday.com.kh Translated from Khmer by Soch On 17 may 2011, an employee of the UN World Food Program (WFP) will be freed after spending 6 months in jail and paying a fine of 1 million riels ($250) after he was accused of distributing leaflets defaming the government. Seng Kunakar, the accused man, is 44-year old. He works for the UN WFP and he was arrested by the internal security cops of the Ministry of Interior at the beginning of December 2010. The court immediately sentenced him to 6 months in jail time and fined him 1 million riels after he was accused of distributing information defaming the government because he printed information from KI-Media on the Internet.  | ||||
| Posted: 16 May 2011 10:33 PM PDT CCHR Press Release: Stand Up for the Human Rights of LGBT People (in Khmer) http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/55597570?access_key=key-1vopczjy50yhc8jh4t0l CCHR Press Release: Stand Up for the Human Rights of LGBT People (in English) http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/55597645?access_key=key-20ugwvlxeo5y88n1m1sq Dear All, CCHR PRESS RELEASE, Phnom Penh, 17 May 2011 Stand up for the human rights of LGBT people CCHR welcomes the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and calls on all people to respect the human rights of LGBT people The Cambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR") welcomes the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (the "IDAHO"), a day on which events are organized all around the world to celebrate diversity and to call for respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") people everywhere. The key message of the IDAHO is that homophobia and transphobia – rather than homosexuality and diversity – bring shame to society and should be fought. As CCHR documented in its 2010 report, Coming out in the Kingdom: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Cambodia, LGBT people throughout Cambodia currently suffer from discrimination, abuse and even violence. They are ostracized by their families, denied job opportunities, discriminated against in the workplace, victimized by the police, and prevented from meeting freely and expressing themselves in public and with each other. LGBT people are human beings like everyone else, and therefore have the right to be treated equally. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the various international human rights treaties that Cambodia has ratified, and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia all prescribe human rights for all – without exception. Everyone should recognize this fact, and respect LGBT people as they do others. Ou Virak, President of The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), an independent, non-aligned, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia, comments: "Cambodia has labored for far too long under the misapprehension that LGBT people are somehow different to 'normal people' and therefore don't have the same rights as others. It is high time that everyone recognizes that LGBT people are entitled to the same human rights as everyone else, and that the Cambodian government promotes a culture of acceptance and respect for all. A thriving society is strengthened by its diversity." CCHR encourages everyone to wear a rainbow krama to celebrate the IDAHO and to show their respect for LGBT people in Cambodia. CCHR has designed rainbow krama – the colors of the international Gay Pride movement – which are available for purchase from our office in Phnom Penh. For more information, please contact Ou Virak via telephone at +855 (0) 12 40 40 51 or e-mail at ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org. -- The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is a non-political, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia. For more information, please visit www.cchrcambodia.org.  | ||||
| Khmer Guardian: The RCAF Generals' fitness Posted: 16 May 2011 09:55 PM PDT | ||||
| In Turbulent Week for Tribunal, Rising Concerns Posted: 16 May 2011 09:50 PM PDT Reporters, VOA Khmer Phnom Penh and Washington Friday, 13 May 2011
A disagreement between the Khmer Rouge tribunal prosecutors over whether more investigation is needed in a controversial case has rekindled worries over whether the UN-backed court will meet its mandate. Victims of the regime, who were supposed to be well-integrated into the workings of the court, have meanwhile begun complaining more frequently they are dissatisfied with their roles in the court and their treatment by it, threatening the legacy of a tribunal that was initially seen as a model of international justice and reconciliation for mass atrocities like genocide. International prosecutor Andrew Cayley said in a statement this week the investigating judges for the court need to go back and re-investigate so-called Case 003, which involves two unnamed suspects. He also urged the court to name the suspects publicly and inform them they are under investigation. His counterpart, Chea Leang, however, said in her own statement this week she did not believe the two suspects ought to be considered "most responsible" for the crimes of the Khmer Rouge and therefore do not fall under the mandate of the court. The public division between the two prosecutors highlights longstanding splits within the hybrid court, along with accusations of political interference from the prime minister, as victims, lawyers and other observers questioned whether it will be able to perform its functions. "Its hard to deny there is governmental interference," said Lao Monghay, an independent researcher and political analyst. "Because the position of the Cambodian government and the position of the Cambodian co-prosecutor are not different, and sometimes they use the same words." Tribunal officials said Friday the remarks between the prosecutors were nothing more than disagreements over legal matters. Such a disagreement cannot, however, stop a request for further investigation, the officials said. The tribunal has only tried one suspect, torture chief Duch, and is preparing for a second case, for four jailed leaders. Cases 003 and 004 would require further arrests of five more Khmer Rouge cadre. "From what we do know, there has been no field investigation carried out in these cases," said James Goldston, executive director of the US-based Open Society Justice Initiative. "Nor have any of the suspects been questioned, which would seem to fall far short of what is required [for the court] to comply with international standards for criminal investigation." Goldston has been sharply critical of apparent political interference in the court's work, especially in statements by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is adamantly against any further indictments by the court. Goldston said this week OSJI monitors in Cambodia were reporting concerns that the outcomes of those cases had been "pre-determined." "If confirmed, these reports would undermine both the appearance and reality of independence and impartiality, two qualities which are central to the integrity of any court," he said. The perception of political interference in the court, which only stood up in 2006 after years of wrangling between the UN and Cambodia, along with reports of corruption, kickbacks and mismanagement, have shaken the faith of some in its ability to independently dispense justice. "In the end, the UN will jump when Prime Minister Hun Sen tells them to jump," said Peter Maguire, a US law professor and author of "Facing Death in Cambodia." "Their submission is a well-established fact at this point." He called the court "dysfunctional" and talk of any further trials "premature." The tribunal has been an experimental mix of international and Cambodia staff, prosecutors and judges, hosted in the country where mass atrocity crimes were committed and with an aim of national reconciliation. Maguire said that in the end if the court fails to try four leaders already in custody—Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith—before they die, it will have proven itself "a farce that should never be attempted again." Whether those four can be tried is one question. And whether more should be further investigated, indicted and tried is still another. David Tolbert, a former UN representative to the tribunal, said this week there appeared to be "strong arguments" those suspects in cases 003 and 004 are "most responsible" for the crimes. "We will see what happens," he said in an interview. The court has so far refused to identify five suspects in those two trials. However, scholars and civil party complainants have named those whom they believe to be most likely: Su Meth, commander of the Khmer Rouge air force; Meas Muth, commander of its navy; Im Chaem, a district chief; Ta An, a regional commander in Kampong Thom province; and Ta Tith, a regional commander in Takeo province. Contacted by phone Tuesday, Im Chaem, who now lives as a commune leader in the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anglong Veng, in Oddar Meanchey province, said she was not concerned about an indictment. "Prime Minister Hun Sen said he would protect me," she told VOA Khmer by phone. "He said only five will be allowed brought [to trial], and said, 'Don't worry, you won't be allowed to be brought anywhere,' so one has confidence in his word. He seems to have maintained his word consistently, making the people warm to him." Im Chaem was alluding to concerns that further indictments would stir the long-dormant regime, many of whom folded into the government in 1998 after promises of amnesty for their crimes under the Khmer Rouge. She said she has never been questioned by anyone from the tribunal, but maintained she had done nothing wrong while during the regime's rule. "I was commanding, under leadership," she said. Meas Muth—who retired only a year ago with the rank of major general, as an adviser to the Ministry of Defense—also warned of instability, were he to be arrested and brought to trial by the court. Former subordinates would rise up, he said, including those who are currently soldiers along the border, where Cambodia is currently undergoing a military standoff with Thailand. "I see it like this," he said in a phone interview Tuesday: "Because the situation along the border is not good, and national development is not moving well, then if we are stirred up it will more or less impact the feeling of some troops that are in [the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces], who are standing as a fence along the border." He too denied any personal responsibility for the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, saying he had "struggled" for preservation of the nation. Such positions by former Khmer Rouge highlight the concerns for the Cambodian government, said Hang Chhaya, executive director of the Khmer Institute for Democracy. "They have to be careful, because ex-Khmer Rouge soldiers are still out there," he said Friday. "They don't want to touch their feelings, because Case 003 could be related to the civil war's end in 1998." Dissatisfaction with the court Victims of the Khmer Rouge, meanwhile, are growing increasingly disillusioned with the court. In its first guilty verdict, the court sentenced Kaing Kek Iev, the Tuol Sleng prison chief better known as Duch, to a commuted 19 years in prison. It offered little in the way of reconciliation, putting the names of only some of his victims on the court's website and offering copies of Duch's testimony to the public. Many people whose family members were among more than 12,000 tortured at the prison and later executed, and handful of survivors, were not happy with the seemingly light sentence and meager compensation. Disillusionment has only grown, as tribunal officials have further limited participation of civil parties in court proceedings. On Thursday, Seng Theary, a US-based lawyer who has emerged as a leader of victim participants and a vocal critic of the court, called for the dismissal of several top tribunal officials. In a public statement, she called for the UN's top representative at the court, Knut Rosandhaug, and its investigating judge, Siegfried Blunk, to resign because they had failed to adequately include civil participants. That followed a court announcement on April 29 that investigating judges had "concluded" their investigation into Case 003, which procedurally should have given 15 days to prosecutors and civil parties to review the case and request further investigation. However, because defendants in that case have not been publicly named, civil party lawyers said they could not properly engage in the proceedings. OSJI's Goldston said the April 29 notice did not apprise victims of how they could be a part of the case, a lapse he called "troubling." "For a variety of reasons, victims of crimes under investigation in cases 003/004 should have ample information and opportunity to participate," he said in an e-mail. "We are hopeful that the court will grant the international co-prosecutor's stated request to extend the period within which victims must file applications to be heard." Tolbert, the former UN representative who now heads the International Center for Transitional Justice, said the victims' needs had been mishandled. It would be a "travesty," he said, if the victims were limited in their participation by such an approach. Cayley, the international prosecutor, has requested an extension for victims to file for the upcoming cases by six weeks, but even that falls short, said Nou Leakhena, who has helped gather US-Cambodian victims for participation in the trial. "The deadline set by the international prosecutor is not realistic," she told VOA Khmer. "He should be serious about this. This is like playing around with the victims, undermining their mental vulnerability." Meanwhile, she said that Cayley and Chea Leang are supposed to be representing victims against the defendants, not arguing publicly. "Why don't they agree with each other?" she said. "This raises suspicion that the court is under political influence." Added together, there is lingering doubt among some tribunal observers that cases 003 and 004 will come to a conclusion, which would mean the court, after many years and millions of dollars, would have only tried five people at most. "Before, we thought it was just an issue of independence," Long Panhavuth, program officer for the Cambodia Justice Initiative, told "Hello VOA" Thursday. "And now it moves to [an issue] of neutrality and especially relates to the integrity of some international staffers. Some have not fulfilled their roles and obligations to ensure they provide justice and the court's independence and impartiality." Some issues were not coming from the government or Cambodian side, he said, "but from the internationals directly." He did not elaborate. Issues that should have been solved long ago are coming to the fore, he said, at "the last minute," which threatened the proceedings for cases 002, 003 and 004.  | ||||
| "Case 3 Case 4 Yuon-Sen Preung Ktup" a Poem in Khmer by Hin Sithan Posted: 16 May 2011 09:32 PM PDT   | ||||
| Posted: 16 May 2011 09:27 PM PDT 
PRESS RELEASE - HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND, 16 MAY 2011: On 12 May 2011, I received a letter rejecting my civil party claims in cases 003/004. I am very disappointed in the reasons given for the rejection of my civil party claims. In light of the Co-Prosecutor's Press Release informing the public about the scope of investigations in Case 003, it is clear that crimes against my brother are under judicial investigations, namely, the "Capture of foreign nationals off the coast of Cambodia and their unlawful imprisonment, transfer to S-21 or murder". Despite this, the Co-Investigating Judges (CIJs) have, in essence, determined that I am not a "victim", contrary to the recognition and acknowledgment of my personal, direct and psychological harm in Cases 001 and 002 where the Trial Chamber and the CIJs, respectively admitted my civil party claims. In a bizarre twist, one of the two Co-Investigating Judges, Cambodian Judge YOU Bunleng, ruled in my favour and accepted me as a civil party for Case 002. Yet for some reason he has done a u-turn for case 003 even though the criteria for admissibility under the Internal Rules in Cases 001, 002 and 003 are essentially the same and should be consistently applied. The other CIJ for Case 003 is German Judge Siegfried BLUNK. It is an incomprehensible schizophrenic decision and the reasons given are completely nonsensical. In both cases 001 and 002, the court had found that I had established direct and personal harm, within the scope of investigations. Given the "confidential" classification of the decision – which in itself is baffling – I can only say that it appears the decision is based on political convenience rather than a proper application of the law. The conduct of Cases 003 and 004 appear to be politically influenced and the actions of the CIJs are an affront to the principles behind the establishment of this Tribunal. They are an affront to victims who have suffered from mass and serious crimes in Cambodia. Given the outrageous and unfounded grounds for a rejection, this decision will be appealed. For further information please contact Rob Hamill +64 (0)274 936677 or rob@wave.co.nz  | ||||
| Tribunal Announces Initial Hearing for Case 002 Posted: 16 May 2011 09:19 PM PDT The Trial Chamber will consider 1,094 witnesses, experts and civil party applicants to participate in this case. Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer Phnom Penh Monday, 16 May 2011
The Khmer Rouge tribunal announced Monday it will have an initial hearing for four regime leaders in detention on June 27, paving the way for its second trial ever. The four-day hearing into Case 002 will be to consider the number of witnesses and experts who will participate in the trial, preliminary objections and possible reparations for victims, said Nil Nonn, head of the tribunal's Trial Chamber. The Trial Chamber will consider 1,094 witnesses, experts and civil party applicants. So far, more than 2,000 alleged victims of the regime have applied to take part in the trial, but that number will be winnowed down by the June hearings, after which the participants will be put together in groups to be jointly represented at trial. Full trial hearings for leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith could start as soon as August, he said. The four are facing atrocity crimes charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. "It's a crucial, historical case for the Khmer Rouge tribunal," government spokesman Phay Siphan said. "The government highly appreciates the efforts of the Khmer Rouge tribunal." Chhang Youk, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which has done instrumental research for the tribunal, said Monday's announcement marked the beginning of the trial. He too called the trials "historical," adding, "the Cambodian people should follow it and observe."  | ||||
| Cambodia Readies for More Peacekeeping Training Posted: 16 May 2011 08:54 PM PDT Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer Phnom Penh Monday, 16 May 2011
Military forces from the US and Cambodia, are training in Cambodia this week, to better coordinate peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, officials said Monday. More than 400 personnel will take part in training exercises that begin Wednesday in Kampong Speu province and run through May 27. About 140 US personnel, 375 Cambodians and support teams from Indonesia, Malaysia and Mongolia are taking part, Ken Sosavoeun, deputy director for the National Center for Peacekeeping, a military agency, said. Following training, Cambodian personnel will rotate through UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan, Lebanon, Chad and Central Africa, he said. "We are focusing on the management of peacekeeping and humanitarian missions," said Chhum Socheath, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. The soldiers will work together to better coordinate command structures, rescue missions, and engineering projects, such as hospitals, schools or houses, he said. "I think that this exercise is very importance to increase the cooperation between US and Cambodian military forces," he added, "We have an experience and knowledge sharing at each other between US and Cambodian military forces." This exercise is secondly 2011 Angkor Sentinel, after Cambodia held Angkor Sentinel in 2010 as part of US-sponsored Global Peace Operations Initiative, aiming to develop the UN peacekeeping capacities of developing countries.  | ||||
| Cambodia scrubs Thai trade show Posted: 16 May 2011 08:43 PM PDT 17/05/2011 Bangkok Post The Cambodian government has postponed a Thai trade exhibition set for Thursday due to concerns about safety after border conflicts between the two countries. Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh sent a letter dated May 13 to the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh to contact organisers to defer the Thailand Trade Exhibition 2011 until a "more favourable time comes", the Phnom Penh Post quoted him as saying. The event had been set from Thursday to Sunday at the Diamond Island Convention Centre in the Cambodian capital. The minister's decision was influenced by the Thai army's export ban on fuel and other strategic products to Cambodia from the Chong Chom checkpoint in Kap Choeng district in Surin province over fears they could be used for military purposes by Cambodia amid border tension between the two nations. "I am of the opinion that this is not the right time to promote Thai products in Cambodia. We cannot guarantee the reaction of Cambodian visitors to such an exhibition after such bad behaviour," Cham Prasidh was quoted as saying. More than 100 exhibitors had planned to show their products at the event. Ties between the two countries have been strained after the border clashes in April on the disputed border in Surin and Si Sa Ket. The central issue is the overlapping area of 4.6 square kilometres near Preah Vihear Temple opposite Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket. Yesterday villagers in Phanom Dong Rak district in Surin prepared for evacuation and some left for other areas following rumours that Cambodian soldiers would attack Thai army positions. An army officer said soldiers had sent a message to all villages telling villagers and border traders to calm down. They were guaranteed Thai soldiers were on alert and showed no complacency on the border situation, the officer, who requested anonymity, said.  | ||||
| Landmine clearance work impeded by border conflict Posted: 16 May 2011 08:38 PM PDT 17/05/2011 Wassana Nanuam Bangkok Post The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is being blamed for contributing to delays in military operations to clear landmines from border areas. The Royal Thai Armed Force's Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) recently released a statement saying it had managed to remove mines from about 40% of the 3.6 million square metres targeted. The mines were removed during TMAC operations between October and March this year. About half of the land still littered with mines is located on the border near Preah Vihear temple where skirmishes have been persisting. The landmine areas are divided into four zones, each of which is under the control of a different mine sweeping unit. The first zone consists of about 810,000 square metres in the border area in Sa Kaeo province. Only 362,169 square metres of the zone has been cleared. The second zone also covers 810,000 square metres in the eastern provinces of Trat and Chanthaburi where 511,140 square metres has been cleared. The third zone covers 1.2 million square metres along the border in Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Only 355,227 square metres of this area has been cleared. The last zone covers 810,000 square metres on the Thai-Lao border in Phetchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Nan and Phayao and the Thai-Burmese border in Chiang Rai. TMAC has cleared 322,870 square metres in this zone. TMAC head Lt Gen Annop Sirisak said there were several factors delaying landmine clearance operations in the border areas, including the prolonged territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and border unrest.  |
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