KI Media: “Cambodia Lagging in Response to Climate Change: Expert” plus 24 more |
- Cambodia Lagging in Response to Climate Change: Expert
- Cambodian Government Uses NGO Law to Silence Critics
- Dalai Lama calls for more freedoms for Chinese
- On the leaders - Opinion by Anonymous
- Hun Sen's father receives a knighthood
- Vann Nath's Funeral Schedule
- Paris Peace Agreements Demonstration in Geneva
- CITA's letter to Im Sithy, the minister of Education, Youth and Sport
- AusAID defends handling of Cambodian railway project
- Respects paid to S-21 survivor Vann Nath
- Maternal mortality rate remains high
- CCHR Press Release Corrections to Khmer Version: Officials and armed police disrupt human rights training event for second time in one month
- Monk told to bar workshop
- Union calls time for voters to register
- Hun Xen pushes Cambodian intellectuals to produce their own songs: Here are our entries
- 2011 Dragon Boat Festival this weekend at Philadelphia, PA
- 20th Paris Peace Agreement Rally
- The art of buttering up in the Kingdom of Wonder: Hun Neang, Dechor's father, receives an Oknha title from Sihamoni
- Closing Order of Case 002 against Senior KR Leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith
- Land-grabbing letter hits [corrupt regime's] nerve
- Dum spiro, spero - By Peauladd Huy
- Illegal mining is sprouting like mushrooms
- Cambodia should depend on herself rather than depending on foreign aid
- Opposition officials warn that they would sue election officials
- Boy has oral surgery in run-up to heart procedure
| Cambodia Lagging in Response to Climate Change: Expert Posted: 07 Sep 2011 05:19 PM PDT
Men Kimeng, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC "No one other than the government is responsible for the issue of climate change." Cambodia remains vulnerable to climate change, and its limited adaptability could mean more woes for the poor, an environmental expert said Monday. The country's perpetually weak infrastructure means there is little it can do to mitigate the flooding and other natural disasters associated with a changing climate, said Lay Khim, an environment specialist for UNDP, as a guest on "Hello VOA." "In addition, there is insufficient information about the weather that could be used by farmers for cultivation," he said. The UNDP and Ministry of Environment issued a report last week that identified four key areas that will require coordinated efforts if the country is to build up its resilience to climate fluctuations, including the management of water resources and agriculture and protection of the nation's forests and fisheries. Its water resources are currently poorly managed, and there are few planning mechanisms to assess its options for irrigation and hydropower, for example. "The risks associated with [water] development in Cambodia and across the Mekong basin, particularly for inland capture fisheries and food security, are extremely high," the report said. The report urged more action at the grassroots, rather than national, level, to lessen the impact of climate change. Pol Ham, a spokesman for the opposition Human Rights Party, said Monday the loss of forest cover to land concessions has sped up the impacts of climate change. "No one other than the government is responsible for the issue of climate change," he said. Lay Khim said each country must take some responsibility in mitigating climate change, by preserving natural resources like their forests. However, he said, each country must weigh its options. "In developing countries it's a choice, because they need resources and land for economic development," he said. However, he added, "each country must make decisive and long-term decisions to ensure that these decisions on resource use or in other fields helps them prepare for climate change."  | ||||
| Cambodian Government Uses NGO Law to Silence Critics Posted: 07 Sep 2011 05:10 PM PDT
 Wednesday, 07 September 2011 Siena Sofia Magdalena Anstis Toward Freedom A second case is that of Seng Kunnaka. In December 2010, Kunnaka, an employee of the World Food Program, was convicted on a charge of criminal incitement under the new Penal Code for printing and sharing material from KI-Media, an online blog that aggregates information critical of the government. He was sentenced to six months in jail and a $243 fine. In late July the Cambodian government released a third draft of its highly contentious Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Law). A number of provisions in the law have the potential to impair the activities of human rights and civil society actors in the country. The draft law, in a likely violation of freedom of expression which is protected both in the Cambodian Constitution and the ratified International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), makes it mandatory that any group of Cambodians (including clubs and networks) operating as a non profit in Cambodia register with the government. These bodies also have to fulfill a number of complex and technical registration requirements. If they fail to do so, the government has a 'legitimate' excuse to prevent them from operating. The Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), a human rights organization operating across Cambodia, dubs this approach the "tyranny of the technicality" and believes it is likely that the government will use this power to shut down entities advocating for human rights or reporting on government corruption. For 'informal networks' or loosely associated groups of individuals like farmers and taxi drivers, who do not have the means to open bank accounts or have formal office addresses, these requirements could severely impair their ability to register. It may force a majority of them to operate illegally, rendering them even more vulnerable. These networks are key partners in the development process, providing first-hand information on the situation of at-risk groups in the country and assisting international donors who continue to fund about half of the Cambodian government's budget. While these concerns may seem speculative, there have already been a number of recent situations foreshadowing what is to come. For example, the Ministry of Interior, without any clear justification, arbitrarily closed an NGO called Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT). A few weeks before, the NGO had published a report finding that the compensation offered by the government to households affected by a government railway project and slated for resettlement was too low. LICADHO's director, Naly Pilorge, perhaps best summarized the overall effect of the NGO Law were it to pass: "Everything that would happen to informal networks under the draft law is already happening now [like STT being shut down]. If the law passes, it legalizes these restrictions." Repression through new laws Activists believe the NGO Law is representative of a larger trend by the Cambodian government to use 'repressive' legislation to impair freedom of expression and assembly. During his recent unofficial visit to the country, Frank La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, dubbed this emerging Cambodian style of governance a "legal dictatorship." Surya Subedi, the current UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, has called it a "legal offensive." Along with the NGO Law, the new Penal Code and the Law on Peaceful Assembly also facilitate this trend of repression through the courts in Cambodia. Commenting on the Penal Code, the Cambodian Minister of Information, Khieu Kanharith, said: "Before, using the argument of 'freedom of expression' and opposition party status, some people could insult anybody or any institution. This is not the case now." Human rights bodies in Cambodia are particularly concerned by the possibility that Penal Code provisions like incitement to commit a felony and defamation will be indiscriminately used to silence activists in the same way the crime of disinformation under the former UNTAC Criminal Code was applied. Two recent cases justify this concern: A LICADHO staff member was charged with incitement during his appeal hearing in July. Originally charged with disinformation for distributing anti-Vietnamese pamphlets, the judge not only violated international fair trial standards, but also clearly affirmed that the court believes that this type of political leafleting can actually constitute an act to cause unrest in Cambodia or 'incitement.' A second case is that of Seng Kunnaka. In December 2010, Kunnaka, an employee of the World Food Program, was convicted on a charge of criminal incitement under the new Penal Code for printing and sharing material from KI-Media, an online blog that aggregates information critical of the government. He was sentenced to six months in jail and a $243 fine. The third 'repressive law', the Law on Peaceful Assembly, is primarily giving the authorities a means to isolate and neutralize protests. The law provides for the creation of "Freedom Parks" across Cambodia. These parks are assigned zones for peaceful protests of up to 200 people. They are typically isolated from heavily trafficked areas. Authorities use the existence of these parks as an excuse to disperse peaceful assemblies not happening within their confines. As Seng Sokheng, a representative from Boeung Kak Lake, explained: "The Freedom Park [in Phnom Penh] is to be used by people protesting but it is a small place and only a small number of people can go to the Park and express themselves. It's not really something that can help because people can't go into the streets or go march elsewhere to get attention of the public or the relevant government institutions. When we want to go into the streets to express our rights, we are faced with arrests." In addition to creating Freedom Parks, the law essentially requires that the authorities approve any public protest. There are also indications that the law applies to private meetings. Article 14 of the law stipulates that a written notification with signatures or thumbprints and identification cards for three leaders of the peaceful assembly shall be required when the peaceful assembly is to be held "at the places of private property (…)". In its report on freedom of expression in Cambodia, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) reported a case where authorities prevented teachers from meeting in a private residence by saying they required permission to do so. Trade union leaders also face similar harassment. "The authorities often prevent us from meeting [workers in the provinces], including threatening workers from participating in this kind of meeting," said Sar Mora, head of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers' Federation (CFSWF). As journalist Elizabeth Becker wrote recently in the New York Times, despite the Paris Peace Agreements, UNTAC and continued development support, the situation in Cambodia is bleak: "Cambodia today is essentially ruled by a single political party with little room for an opposition, has a weak and corrupt judiciary, and the country's most effective union leaders have been murdered." It is also disconcerting that officials like La Rue, believe that the enactment of 'repressive legislation' is part of a regional trend. A grassroots campaign While civil society actors have largely exhausted both domestic and international mechanisms in an attempt to curb these activities, there are signs that a popular movement around the government's repressive behavior is stirring. Groups suffering from land rights evictions in both rural and urban areas are increasingly joining forces and coming to Phnom Penh to protest together. This type of collaboration inspires lawyers like Sunrith Ham, who works with LICADHO. "How can you change injustice? How can you change the attitude of the government? Hope comes day to day, from the people. It does not come from institutions or the policymakers," said Ham. Mass mobilization has already had some success in Cambodia. In 2008, for example, over a million people thumb printed a petition lobbying for an anti-corruption law. However, the likelihood of this succeeding is dependent on continued international support to these groups, as well as donors taking decisive action (like the World Bank seems to have done) against the Cambodian government. Siena Anstis is a Swedish-Canadian law student (BCL/LLB McGill University 2013), freelance journalist and development communications consultant currently based in Montreal, Canada. She recently completed a legal internship with the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights in Phnom Penh. Previously, she worked with Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach (BOSCO) in Northern Uganda and the Aga Khan Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. Recipient of the 2009 Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Journalism and Development Award, she has written about ICT4D, human rights and other social issues in Syria, Cambodia, Kenya, Uganda and Kosovo. She is also founder and advisor for Women of Kireka, a women's cooperative in Kireka, Uganda and Project Diaspora team member.  | ||||
| Dalai Lama calls for more freedoms for Chinese Posted: 07 Sep 2011 04:51 PM PDT
Thursday, September 08, 2011 AFP "If you are a believer, you must not indulge in corruption" - Dalai LamaMONTREAL — Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday called on China to allow information to flow more freely and to create an independent judiciary. A quick transition in China from communism to democracy "would create many problems," he said during a visit to Montreal. For now, "what China needs," he said, "is free information and an independent judiciary." The leader, whom Buddhists believe to be the reincarnation of a past lama, fled Tibet following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. He later founded the government in exile in Dharamshala, northern India. He says he is seeking greater rights for Tibetans and accepts China's rule. But Beijing insists he is a "splittist" trying to divide the country, and has called him a "wolf in monk's clothing." At the World's Religions After September 11 conference in Montreal, the Dalai Lama also warned against corruption in India. He recalled recently meeting a student and a businessman in Mumbai, both of whom lamented that "one cannot survive ... cannot make business without corruption." "If you are a believer, you must not indulge in corruption," he said. The Dalai Lama also chided Chinese communism for having "no ethics" and warned against mining in the Himalayas. "You can change political mistakes, but for ecology it is more difficult," he said.  | ||||
| On the leaders - Opinion by Anonymous Posted: 07 Sep 2011 04:44 PM PDT   | ||||
| Hun Sen's father receives a knighthood Posted: 07 Sep 2011 04:07 PM PDT  Source: DAP News Hun Neang, the 90 year-old father of Prime Minister Hun Sen has received a knighthood from King Sihamoni. Today, Wednesday 7th September, King Sihamoni has signed a royal bestowing Hun Neang a knighthood with the royal title of "Neak Oknha Moha Peakdei Saporisphokeathipadei" (The most loyal and the most generous lord). The royal decree says that Mr. Hun Neang has made physical contributions, moral contributions and generous financial contributions to Buddhism, the nation, as well as many achievements such as generously helping the poor and the destitute throughout the country. The royal decree bestowing the knighthood was delivered to Mr. Hun Neang's hospital bed at Calmette Hospital by Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol. Read article in Khmer below: លោកព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ មហាឧបាសក ហ៊ុន នាង ទទួលគោរមងារ ពីព្រះមហាក្សត្រ Wednesday, 07 September 2011 17:01 ដោយ ៖ ដើមអម្ពិល E-mail Print PDF ភ្នំពេញ ៖ លោកព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ មហាឧបាសក ហ៊ុន នាង ដែលជាបិតាបង្កើតរបស់សម្ដេច នាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ត្រូវបានព្រះករុណា សម្ដេចព្រះបាទ បរមនាថ នរោត្ដម សីហមុនី ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ នៃព្រះរាជាណា ចក្រកម្ពុជា បានប្រោសប្រទានគោរមងារថ្មី សម្រាប់សកម្មភាពសប្បុរសធម៌នានា ដែលលោកព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ បានធ្វើកន្លងមក ។ យោងតាមព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យ ដែលឡាយ ព្រះហត្ថលេខា ដោយព្រះមហាក្សត្រខ្មែរចុះ ថ្ងៃទី០៧ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ បានឱ្យដឹងថា លោកព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ មហាឧបាសក ហ៊ុន នាង ត្រូវបានព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ប្រោសព្រះរាជទានគោរមងារជាអ្នកឧកញ៉ាមហាភក្ដីសប្បុ រិសភោគាធិបតី ។ នៅក្នុងព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យ បានឱ្យដឹងទៀតថា លោកព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ មហាឧបាសក ហ៊ុន នាង បានបរិច្ចាគកម្លាំងកាយ ចិត្ដ និងទ្រព្យធន ប្រកបដោយសទ្ធាជ្រះថ្លា ដ៏ជ្រាលជ្រៅបំផុត បូជាចំពោះព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនា និងសង្គមជាតិ និងបានជួយកសាងសមិទ្ធិផលនានា ជួយឧប ត្ថម្ភដល់ជនក្រីក្រ គ្មានទីពឹងទាំងឡាយប្រកប ដោយមហាសប្បុរសធម៌ មនុស្សធម៌ដ៏ឧត្ដុង ឧត្ដមនៅទូទាំងព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា ។ ពិធីព្រះរាជទាន ព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យប្រោស ព្រះរាជទាន គោរមងារថ្មីជូនដល់លោក ព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ មហាឧបាសក ហ៊ុន នាង ដែល មានជន្មាយុ ៩០ឆ្នាំ បានធ្វើឡើងនៅថ្ងៃទី៧ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ នៅមន្ទីរពេទ្យកាល់ម៉ែត ទីដែលលោកព្រឹទ្ធាចារ្យ កំពុងសម្រាក ព្យាបាលជំងឺ ហើយលោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង គង់ សំអុល ជាអ្នក អាន និងប្រគល់ព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យខាងលើនេះ ៕  | ||||
| Posted: 07 Sep 2011 12:36 PM PDT
Chers Amis, Pour rendre hommage à Vann Nath vous pouvez venir vous recueillir auprès de son cercueil, chez lui, toute cette semaine. Voici l'adresse : 33B, rue 169, Sangkat Mittapheap, Khan 7 Makara, à l¹est du Ministère de la défense nationale. Samedi 10 : Bainsokol, cérémonie bouddhiste à 15h, chez Vann Nath. Dimanche 11 : La cérémonie de la crémation. RDV à la maison de Vann Nath à 7h Départ du convoie à 8h Crémation à 13h30 Lieu : Pagode Wath Kambol, Khan Dangkor Prenez la route nationale n°4, 300 m après le tribunal CETC. La famille de Vann Nath et moi-même, nous vous remercions pour tous les messages de soutiens et de condoléances. Sincèrement, Rithy Panh ------------ Unofficial English translation: Dear Friends, To honor Vann Nath, you can come to visit his remain at his home all week long. Here is the address: 33B, Street No. 169, Sangkat Mittapheap, Khan 7 Makara, East of the Ministry of Defense. Saturday 10 September: Baingskol Buddhist ceremony from 3PM at Vann Nath's house. Sunday 11 September: Cremation ceremony. Meeting at Vann Nath's house at 7AM Funeral proceeding will leave at 8AM Cremation at 1PM Location: Wat Kambol Pagoda at Khan Dangkao (Take National Road No. 4, 300m after the ECCC building) Vann Nath's family and I would like to thank you for all your support and condolence messages. Sincerely, Rithy Panh  | ||||
| Paris Peace Agreements Demonstration in Geneva Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:58 AM PDT      | ||||
| CITA's letter to Im Sithy, the minister of Education, Youth and Sport Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:42 AM PDT    | ||||
| AusAID defends handling of Cambodian railway project Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:25 AM PDT Reports from local NGOs have been critical of an AusAID funded project in Cambodia Thursday, September 08, 2011 Joanna McCarthy, Canberra Radio Australia News The Australian Government's overseas aid program has defended resettlement policies relating to a controversial railway refurbishment in Cambodia. It comes after non-government organisations in Cambodia reported some resettled families had been intimidated, received meager compensation and were forcibly moved to sites without power or water. Australia has contributed about $US21.5 million to the $US141 million project. An AusAID spokeswoman said Cambodia was responsible for resettlement procedures under the funding agreement, which states that no one will be made worse off. AusAID said most people affected currently live in dangerous and unsanitary conditions along the railway and would be significantly better off once the project is completed. The spokeswoman said Australia had repeatedly made it clear to the Cambodian Government that it expected it to honour its agreement to protect the rights of those being resettled.  | ||||
| Respects paid to S-21 survivor Vann Nath Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:21 AM PDT
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 Thomas Miller and Phak Seangly The Phnom Penh Post "He wanted to show that in Cambodia, there was a real Pol Pot regime, because the next generation – some of them – they don't believe it" - Vann Chanarong Family and friends of artist and Tuol Sleng survivor Vann Nath gathered at his home in Phnom Penh yesterday to pay their respects and lay his soul to rest. Vann Nath, one of just a handful of people known to have survived the infamous prison, died on Monday at the age of 66. He fell into a coma last week after suffering a cardiac arrest. Kith Eng, the painter's widow, said she would remember Vann Nath for the way he treated his family and the suffering he endured. "He was a really good husband ... In the family, he paid respect to everyone," she said. "I really had a deep sympathy for him. Pol Pot arrested him, tortured him and then he had these kinds of diseases until the end of his life. He told me that it was like he had a sin since he was young ... He should not have received this suffering in life." Vann Nath's 21-year-old son, Vann Chanarong, said his father's efforts to pass on his experience under the Khmer Rouge regime served as a "testimony for the next generation". "He wanted to show that in Cambodia, there was a real Pol Pot regime, because the next generation – some of them – they don't believe it," he said. Vann Nath survived a year at Tuol Sleng, where perhaps 14,000 people were sent to near-certain death, by painting portraits of Pol Pot. He was freed after the Vietnamese invasion in 1979, and returned to the prison later that year to portray its torturous conditions in his now-famous paintings. Lon Dara, Vann Nath's son-in-law, said the family was not sure yet what they would do with the gallery, but said the paintings were still for sale. Representatives from the French and Japanese embassies and staff from the Khmer Rouge tribunal also paid their respects yesterday. By the time the monks were chanting and the late afternoon rain had settled into a steady rhythm, a letter of condolence from Prime Minister Hun Sen and first lady Bun Rany arrived with a donation. The first couple said they shared in the "indescribable sadness" brought by Vann Nath's passing, and paid homage to his historic role. "Vann Nath played an important historic role at the present time through offering testimony without exhaustion in order to help the next generation remember and prevent the return of the cruel genocidal regime," Hun Sen said. "My wife and I wish that Vann Nath's spirit rests in a peaceful place."  | ||||
| Maternal mortality rate remains high Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:09 AM PDT Wednesday, 07 September 2011 Sen David and Kristin Lynch Uong Ratana The Phnom Penh Post High maternal mortality rates are threatening Cambodia's ability to achieve its Millennium Development Goal of 250 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2015, officials and rights workers said yesterday. Speaking at a conference on women in the capital yesterday, Minister of Women's Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi said that improving the maternal mortality rate posed a formidable challenge to Cambodia. "Maternal mortality rates are still high [in Cambodia] compared with other countries in the region," Ing Knatha Phavi said. Ros Sopheap, executive director of NGO Gender and Development for Cambodia, said at the conference that last year there were 461 deaths per 100,000 live childbirths, which represented an increase from the 2008 rate of 437 deaths per 100,000 live births. "Mothers are dying during childbirth because of a lack of health services, midwives and medicine even though maternal health care services are improving," she said. Ros Sopheap added that the number of births supervised by skilled birth attendants was increasing and that more women were seeking prenatal health care. Kum Kanal, director of the National Maternity and Child Health Centre, said that maternal mortality was "not improving". "We're still experiencing difficulties, despite our best efforts to provide access to proper health care," he said.  | ||||
| Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:05 AM PDT Dear all Please find attached CCHR Press Release: Officials and armed police disrupt human rights training event for second time in one month in, corrections have been made to the Khmer Version. The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) issues a press release outlining intimidation tactics used by authorities and police armed with AK-47s at a human rights training event conducted by CCHR and the Natural Resource Protection Group (NRPG) today, 7 September, in Mean Rith commune,Sandan district, Kampong Thom Province. The event was the first conducted in Kampong Thom since provincial police chief Phan Sopheng was quoted in an article in The Cambodia Daily accusing CCHR and NRPG of "inciting" communities through the provision of human rights training and threatening to seek the suspension of the two groups by the Ministry of Interior. Thanks and Regards -- The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is a non-aligned, 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. http://www.box.net/shared/gua8111iyav5fnak59t9 http://www.box.net/shared/jo5finldfcfzz75kkiaq  | ||||
| Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:58 AM PDT
Monk told to bar workshop Wednesday, 07 September 2011 15:02 Uong Ratana The Phnom Penh Post A chief monk who granted permission for two NGOs to hold a legal education workshop at the Kiribotaram pagoda, in Dang Kambit commune, Kampong Thom province, has retracted his invitat-ion after warnings from the commune chief. This development comes the day after Kampong Thom provincial authorities reportedly threatened to prevent the NGOs holding workshops providing legal education to villagers whose livelihoods are threatened by economic land concessions in the Prey Lang forest. Authorities reportedly told the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights and the Natural Resource Protection Group that their workshops could provoke unrest against private investors. Venerable Yin Net, chief monk of the Kiribotaram pag-oda, explained that he had initially allowed the workshops to be conducted at his pagoda, in Sandan district, but the commune chief had subsequently banned them. "It is not from me, it is the commune chief," Yin Net said. Cambodian Centre for Human Rights project co-ord-inator Chhim Savuth said Kampong Thom province's Sandan district governor had imposed the ban. "I think they might be doing something bad in that area, so they don't want the villagers to understand about the law," Chhim Savuth said. Despite the threats, the workshops would go ahead at the Meanrith commune today and the Dang Kambit comm-une tomorrow, he said. "They accused us of urging villagers to go against the government on providing economic land concessions to private companies, but we just teach villagers to understand the law," he said. Rights groups yesterday decried what they called more allegations and threats against CCHR and NRGP, saying they were the latest developments in an ongoing crackdown on civil society groups in Cambodia. "These allegations and threats against CCHR and NRPG are without any basis and are the latest evidence of a deeply disturbing trend in Cambodia whereby the government is clearly seeking to silence the voices of civil society and the general public," CCHR president Ou Virak said in a press release. "In this instance, we see provincial officials wrongly citing the law as a means to prevent the legitimate efforts of ordinary people to inform themselves of their rights in Cambodian and international law. "This is a daunting prec-edent and, with the NGO law on the horizon, the ominous spectre looms whereby officials are given free rein, and an appearance of legitimacy, to make such arbitrary moves in an effort to silence those they purport to represent." Sandan district governor Sim Vanna could not be reached for comment yesterday. Kampong Thom province deputy governor Ouch Sam On declined to comment.  | ||||
| Union calls time for voters to register Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:12 AM PDT Wednesday, 07 September 2011 Kim Yuthana The Phnom Penh Post The Free Trade Union has asked the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training to ensure that factory management allows employees time off to return to their home towns and villages to verify that their names are registered on voters' lists for next year's commune elections. FTU president Chea Mony wrote to Vong Soth on Monday, urging him to ensure that workers were given time off to fulfil their duties as citizens and vote. They will need to verify their names are on voters' lists, or register if they have just reached the voting age, during the time set by the National Election Committe, which ends on October15, he said. He called on the minister to ensure managers took into account the distance between their factories, most of which are located near Phnom Penh, and the hometowns of the employees, who come from all over the country. Vong Soth could not be reached for comment, but the ministry's secretary of state, Oum Mean, said the ministry was already doing what Chea Mony had requested and that it was working closely with the NCE. "We are preparing letters to send to factories and enterprises within the week. We did not do this at the request of any union," Oum Mean added. A report from the NEC on August 13 said the number of people entitled to vote was almost nine million, but only 87 per cent of those eligible had registered. Anyone 18 or older is eligible to vote.  | ||||
| Hun Xen pushes Cambodian intellectuals to produce their own songs: Here are our entries Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:09 AM PDT Hun Xen's Heroism, click on the control below to listen to the song Glory of the Kingdom of Wonder នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីជំរុញឲ្យបញ្ញាវន្តកម្ពុជាផលិតបទចម្រៀងដោយខ្លួនឯង Wednesday, 07 September 2011 16:21 សែន ដាវីដ The Phnom Penh Post ភ្នំពេញៈ ប្រមុខរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា នៅថ្ងៃពុធនេះ បានជំរុញកវីនិពន្ធ តន្ត្រីករ និងអ្នកនិពន្ធទំនុកភ្លេង ឲ្យស្វែងរក និងផលិតបទចម្រៀងដោយខ្លួនឯង ដោយមិនចម្លងពីបរទេស ខណៈពេលវប្បធម៌បរទេស កំពុងតែវាយលុកលើយុវជនកម្ពុជា។ នៅក្នុងលិខិតមួយផ្ញើជូនជនរួមជាតិទាំងអស់នៅក្នុងមហោស្របតន្ត្រីថ្នាក់ជាតិ លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បានថ្លែងថា៖ «យើងមិនគួរឲ្យវិស័យតន្ត្រីនេះបាត់បង់ដោយសារតែសកម្មភាពអសកម្មណាមួយ និងការចម្លងស្ទើរតែទាំងស្រុងពីបរទេសនោះទេ ដែលនោះគឺជាទម្លាប់អាក្រក់ពឹងផ្អែកទៅលើបរទេស ហើយធ្វើឲ្យបាត់បង់អត្តសញ្ញាណជាតិខ្មែរ។ ដូច្នេះ គ្រប់ក្រសួងទាំងអស់ បញ្ញាវន្ត អ្នកនិពន្ធ ត្រូវតែរួមគ្នាអភិរក្សវិស័យតន្ត្រីរបស់យើង»។  | ||||
| 2011 Dragon Boat Festival this weekend at Philadelphia, PA Posted: 07 Sep 2011 07:56 AM PDT  2011 Dragon Boat Festival this weekend at Philadelphia, PA CELEBRATE ASIAN TRADITION AND CULTURE! Calling all Philadelphia residents and prospective visitors. Join us for the Southeast Asian Dragon Boat Festival on September 10th, 2011! Don't miss this rare, wonderful opportunity to enjoy an exciting boat race at picturesque Penn's Landing while learning and experiencing the unique customs and survival stories associated with the Southeast Asian Community. Admission is free and open to the general public. When: Saturday, September 10 · 11:00am - 5:00pm Where: Penn's Landing Great Plaza, Columbus Blvd. at Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA More Information: http://www.southeastasiandragonboatfestival.org/  | ||||
| 20th Paris Peace Agreement Rally Posted: 07 Sep 2011 07:47 AM PDT   | ||||
| Posted: 07 Sep 2011 07:43 AM PDT   | ||||
| Posted: 07 Sep 2011 02:13 AM PDT In light of the start of trial hearings beginning on 27 June 2011 of Case 002 against the surviving Khmer Rouge senior leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith, KI Media is posting installations of the public document of the Closing Order of Case 002. The Closing Order of the Co-Investigating Judges forms thebasic document from which all the parties (Co-Prosecutors, Co-Lead Lawyers for all civil parties, Defense Lawyers) will be making their arguments before the Trial Chamber judges (one Cambodian President, 2 Cambodian Judges, 2 UN judges). Up until now, the hearings involving these four surviving senior Khmer Rouge leaders have been in the Pre-Trial Chamber over issues of pre-trial detention and jurisdictional issues. Beginning in June 2011, the Trial Chamber will hear the substantive arguments over the criminal charges (e.g. genocide, crimes against humanity, penal code of 1956). Available in Khmer and French. Contact the ECCC for a free copy. CLOSING ORDER of Co-Investigating Judges You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde 15 September 2010 S-21 Detention conditions Prisoners arrived in S-21 almost daily in groups and at all times of the day or night.1905 The Special Unit escorted them into the prison, usually handcuffed and blindfolded.1906 The prisoners were then registered by the Documentation Unit.1907 They then had to provide biographical information1908 and a summary of their answers was prepared.1909 Generally, they were not informed of the reasons for their arrest. Upon arrival, the prisoners were also photographed.1910 They were then escorted to their cells by the guards.1911 The prisoners were locked up practically 24 hours per day.1912 The detention centre had small individual cells1913 and collective cells holding 20 to 30 detainees, and possibly more. In the collective cells, the prisoners were shackled and chained to one another by their feet.1914 Women detainees were not shackled,1915 except for those who were resisted.1916 Couples and families, including children, were separated.1917 All of the prisoners were under constant watch by armed guards1918 and received very strict instructions to avoid any escape attempts.1919 Although a number of former guards have stated that they were not allowed to strike detainees,1920 this rule was not always followed.1921 1922 1923 Prisoners were not allowed to talk amongst themselves or to the guards. Upon arrival at S-21, they were forced to strip to their underwear.1924 They were prohibited from exercising, or from leaving their cells.1925 The prisoners had no beds,1926 and most of them had to sleep on 1927 1928 the bare concrete floor. Many detainees suffered greatly from mosquito bites. The detainees were not authorized to wash themselves under adequate conditions of hygiene,1929 and "washing up" consisted of spraying the room with water, using a hosepipe from the doorway.1930 Confined to their cells, detainees urinated and defecated in the jerry-cans and ammunition boxes provided.1931 1932 1933 Food was insufficient and inadequate, and the prisoners were malnourished. Only guards and important prisoners were better fed than the others.1934 These conditions caused significant physical deterioration1935 and a number of prisoners died as a result.1936 Duch explains that decisions regarding food were made by the "higher echelon" and that he was not allowed to change the set rations. According to him, the practice of denying the detainees food was based on deliberate CPK policy.1937 Many of the prisoners suffered from illnesses and wounds. Basic medical care1938 was provided by a small "medical" team,1939 which had not studied medicine, and worked without the supervision of doctors.1940 Many prisoners who needed urgent medical assistance were left uncared for, or were given inadequate treatment.1941 Medicine stocks were extremely limited, and when there were any at all, the medicines were manufactured locally by unqualified persons.1942 S-21 employees also conducted medical experiments on prisoners.1943 A small number of detainees were forced to work within the S-21 premises. They were employed in the mechanics' and artists' workshops, working long hours, under the constant watch of guards, without freedom of movement and under the threat of punishment if they failed to produce what was considered satisfactory work.1944 Witnesses state that there was a slight improvement in their food, and their general detention conditions, once they began to work.1945 Prisoners lived in constant fear of being punished, taken away, beaten, interrogated and executed.1946 The living conditions described above led to the death of detainees in many instances.1947 Some prisoners also attempted to commit suicide because of these 1948 conditions.  | ||||
| Land-grabbing letter hits [corrupt regime's] nerve Posted: 07 Sep 2011 01:56 AM PDT Wednesday, 07 September 2011 Meas Sokchea The Phnom Penh Post SRP lawmakers also highlighted land concessions awarded to prominent figures tied to the ruling Cambodian People's Party. These included concessions in Kampong Speu province granted to Phnom Penh Sugar Company, run by ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat, and concessions awarded to Pheapimex Group, owned by the wife of CPP senator Lao Meng Khin, and KDC International, which is run by the wife of Industry, Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem. The government yesterday lashed out at a letter sent by opposition lawmakers to the World Bank that urged the bank to increase pressure on the government to end forced evictions, land grabbing and threats against community members involved in land disputes with well-connected companies. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers had no authority to ask international organisations to interfere with government decisions. "This shows that the [SRP] do not understand the law. They sit in parliament and if they see something improper they must debate with the Royal Government because [people] voted for them to sit in parliament," he said. The World Bank suspended loans to Cambodia at the end of last year due to the eviction of villagers at Boeung Kak lake. In a letter addressed to World Bank country manager Qimiao Fan on Monday, 13 SRP lawmakers detailed numerous land concessions granted by the government to private companies that they claimed had resulted in land grabbing, forced evictions and threats against local residents. "We would like to inform the Country Manager of the World Bank in Cambodia that the actions of land grabbing, forced evictions, threats and pressures on people from the authorities of government are not only occurring to those people living in Boeung Kak Lake, but are also widespread practices within all provinces," the letter said. SRP spokesman Yim Sovann, who signed the letter, said yesterday that the SRP lawmakers had done nothing unusual, saying it was common practice for opposition members to communicate with international organisations. Last month, World Bank country director Annette Dixon said the bank did not expect to provide any new lending to Cambodia until an agreement was reached with residents of Boeung Kak lake. In 2008, the land dispute at Boeung Kak lake drew national attention when construction for an upscale commercial and housing development began flooding surrounding villages, with rights groups stating that more than 20,000 people faced relocation. Earlier this month, the remaining residents were promised land titles within a 12.44-hectare relocation site set aside by Prime Minister Hun, though some residents remain cut out of the compensation deal. World Bank spokesman Bou Saroeun said yesterday that the bank had received the letter from the SRP, but declined to comment further. In the letter, SRP mentioned concessions granted to two Vietnamese companies in Prey Long forest – which spans sections of Kampong Thom, Kratie, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear provinces – a 36,000-hectare concession to a Chinese company in Koh Kong province as well as concessions granted to companies in 11 other provinces. "The land concessions that we have emphasised in this letter, involve a large number of people who have been forcefully evicted or are currently facing the prospect of forced evictions, some of whom have no alternative homes and others [who] have been arrested and unjustly detained," the letter said. SRP lawmakers also highlighted land concessions awarded to prominent figures tied to the ruling Cambodian People's Party. These included concessions in Kampong Speu province granted to Phnom Penh Sugar Company, run by ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat, and concessions awarded to Pheapimex Group, owned by the wife of CPP senator Lao Meng Khin, and KDC International, which is run by the wife of Industry, Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem. The letter calls on Qimiao Fan to "assert more influence to cease the actions of land grabbing, forced evictions, threats and pressures … just as the World Bank recently assured for the villagers in the Boeung Kak lake".  | ||||
| Dum spiro, spero - By Peauladd Huy Posted: 07 Sep 2011 01:50 AM PDT While I breathe, I hope. To sense abandonment is a disease uncured. I lived at the mercy of my keeper; it's hard pleasing her, this keeper of my destiny. What fate lifted up resembled the same bits and pieces of yesterday. At sunset, I felt light pangs sweeping in my chest. The loneliness found nested advanced from courtship to laying eggs. I must hurry before new wings hatched up and crowded out that old terror. By now, old memory roused up a little more each day; young wings grew strong flapping away topsoil. Not long to the next layer and, the next should unearth my poor dead mother. I must see to it alone. This journey felt old: that I, a full-pledged pro, with the rights to boast the wears and tears by my eleventh year of life-travel. I'd more than recognized that the high of wanton to belong had long passed its manic phase. Small pangs spritzed big words for the gods for tomorrow, since today was a lost hope. The sun ripened the sky. Another day was gone and another day to wait. A child closed her eyes in a make-believe world; she reminded the gods of recent words had long forgotten by men. How many more times to say this? How many more ways to wring out the old feelings of being left behind? A dull gray suppressed after the sun left. When everything was dark, I confronted gently the horrible absence, not at all passing blames. How many more days the gods had absented themselves. In this vast blackness behind my closed eyes, again, I evoked and begged fate to hand over the rest of me. I made best between me and my idols. Now it's all up to her.  | ||||
| Illegal mining is sprouting like mushrooms Posted: 07 Sep 2011 01:44 AM PDT Synopsis: Several mining operations are taking place in Mondulkiri under the supervision of Chinese technicians and workers. Some of these mines have been in operation in the past 6 years. However, it is unclear whether these operations are legal or not. Officials from the ministry of mining and energy indicated that more than 120 exploration licenses were issued, however, only 2 to 3 companies are allow to start the mining operation. Therefore, it appears that companies who hold exploration licenses continue to use them to continue their illegal mining operation. Currently, Chinese companies are mining for gold and platinum in Chikreng district, Siem Reap province. Villagers in the mining areas were evicted from their homes and fields. Mining operations are usually accompanied by a drop on the quality of life due to pollution of soil, water and forests. http://www.box.net/shared/fkqr9zmkz5ujh6y2f0zp  | ||||
| Cambodia should depend on herself rather than depending on foreign aid Posted: 07 Sep 2011 01:29 AM PDT Synopsis: Cambodia delayed the donor countries meeting by claiming that these countries are facing economic woes, on the other hand, about 10 organizations, including Freedom House, Human Rights Watch and Global Witness, called on donor countries to rethink their aids to Cambodia. Ky Sok Lim's editorial called on Phnom Penh to stop depending on foreign aids and to stand by itself instead. Aid is good when the country is poor and needs development. However, at a time when Cambodia can stand up by herself, she should reduce the amount of loans and depend less on aid as some aid would tie up Cambodia's hands. For that, Cambodia must expand its economy. [KI-Media Note: In order to expand the economy, corruption must be dealt with. Most of all, Cambodia needs leadership to steer her to the right path of democracy and equitable economic prosperity. With Cambodia tied up under the yoke of cronyism, equitable economic expansion cannot take place]. http://www.box.net/shared/40i1ukjy5ehzaommu74z  | ||||
| Opposition officials warn that they would sue election officials Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:51 PM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFITn9L8tTo&feature=player_embedded  | ||||
| Boy has oral surgery in run-up to heart procedure Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:21 PM PDT
09/06/2011 By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA) LOS ANGELES - Bunlak Song, an impoverished Cambodian boy in the United States for life-saving heart surgery, was "a little cranky" but otherwise in good health after oral surgery in advance of the heart procedure. Bunlak had four teeth extracted and several teeth filled Tuesday at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The boy needed the dental procedures done before the heart operation to guard against infection from his teeth affecting the heart. Peter Chhun, whose Long Beach nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries is sponsoring the 3-year-old boy, said the dental work went well and Bunlak remains on schedule for a Sept. 23 heart operation. The boy suffers from a hole in his heart called a ventricular septal defect, as well as several less severe heart defects. Because the boy can't receive the needed surgery in his home country, the nonprofit brought him to the United States for surgery. Here, the defect would typically be fixed in the first year of a child's life. Because Bunlak hasn't had treatment, his lungs have been damaged and he is a high-risk patient. Without surgery, his lungs would become irreparably damaged and he would likely live a life of declining health and die prematurely. greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562- 499-1291  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from KI Media To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
