KI Media: “Reduced news updates during Pchum Ben” plus 24 more |
- Reduced news updates during Pchum Ben
- KMS 20th Anniversary of Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia of October 23,1991
- Major flooding in Cambodia: VOA News
- Two More Monks Self-Immolate [in Tibet]
- Emergency Session Held Over Ongoing Flooding
- Many in Electorate Don’t Understand System: Monitors
- Hun Xen mulled the idea of exchanging Yellow Shirts Veera and Ratree behing closed doors?
- Cambodian workers for Viet companies cannot join Pchum Ben celebration
- Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge Tribunal Draws New Criticisms [-Travesty of justice saga drags on in Phnom Penh]
- Cambodia's Internet speed compared to the rest of the world
- Urgent measures taken by the Council of Ministers due to flooding situation in the country
- 97 people killed by floods in Cambodia
- Cambodia flooding death toll approaches 100
- Red Shirts bus accident in Siem Reap
- Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm temples flooded
- Jatuporn: Veera, Ratree will be freed [-Hun Xen's gift to Puea Thai?]
- Floods kill 158 in Thailand, 61 in Cambodia
- Last of the elephant riders
- Petition support request by Anonymous
- The Viets release water from 2 dams causing flood in 2 Ratanakiri districts
- Cambodia: A place for pioneer investors [... if you can stomach forced evictions, paying bribes, violating human rights, etc...]
- Where in the world is (are) the owner(s) of KI-Media?
- 10 Cambodian dishes you've got to try
- Training course on Logical Framework Approach (LFA)
- China boasting lack of ASEAN concensus to confront China?
| Reduced news updates during Pchum Ben Posted: 28 Sep 2011 09:18 PM PDT Dear Readers, During the Pchum Ben holidays, news updates on KI-Media will be reduced somewhat. Please have a pleasant holiday with your loved ones and, if you can, please stay dry. Happy Pchum Ben! KI-Media team  | ||||||||||
| KMS 20th Anniversary of Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia of October 23,1991 Posted: 26 Sep 2011 02:29 PM PDT Dear Compatriots Please visit this 4th conference for 20th Anniversary of Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia of October 23, 1991. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wESeABjCIfs You 'll receive soon the
Sincerely Khmer Mchas Srok  | ||||||||||
| Major flooding in Cambodia: VOA News Posted: 26 Sep 2011 02:23 PM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGEklsX3i9A  | ||||||||||
| Two More Monks Self-Immolate [in Tibet] Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:44 PM PDT
 RFA Tibetan monks at Kirti monastery protest Chinese rule in a 'desperate' act. Two more Tibetan monks from Sichuan's troubled Kirti monastery have set fire to themselves, Tibetan sources and rights groups said on Monday. One of them, Lobsang Kalsang, 18, was identified as the brother of Phuntsog, who died in a self-immolation protest against Chinese rule in March, marking an anniversary of unrest three years before. The two monks were "rescued" by police shortly after setting fire to themselves in Ngaba county, in southwestern China, China's official Xinhua news agency said. Quoting a statement from the Ngaba county government, the agency said the incident happened at 11.22 a.m. local time on Monday. The two monks, Lobsang Kalsang and Lobsang Konchog, left the monastery after morning prayers on Monday, said Kanyag Tsering, a monk living at the Kirti branch monastery in exile in Dharamsala, India, citing sources in Tibet. The monks arrived at around 10:30 a.m. at a major intersection in Ngaba township, the same spot where Phuntsog had set fire to himself in March. "They were wrapped in heavy cloaks," Tsering said. "They sat down together for a short time ... They then rose, held up a Tibetan flag, embraced each other, and shouted slogans calling for the return of the Dalai Lama and for freedom for Tibet." "After this, they took off their cloaks, moved into the road, doused themselves in gasoline, and set themselves on fire," he said, adding: "They then ran down the road, shouting slogans." Death not confirmed Chinese police arrived and took the two monks away in a police truck, he said. "Bystanders said that one of the monks appeared to be still alive, but that they couldn't be sure of the condition of the other one," he said. Unconfirmed reports said though that one of the monks had died on Monday. Xinhua news agency said however that the two had only suffered "slight burns" and were in stable condition. It said the suicide attempt was under further investigation. The U.K.-based rights group Free Tibet said the two months were "estimated to be aged between 18-19 years old." "The monks called for religious freedom and 'Long live the Dalai Lama' before they self-immolated," the group said in a statement on its website. Mounting pressure Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said the self-immolation was likely linked to mounting pressure on the monastic community at Kirti, which was besieged by security forces and subjected to multiple detentions and "political re-education" sessions following Phuntsog's death. "This is now the fourth act of self-immolation in six months, an unprecedented trend, underlining the growing desperation among some young Tibetans," Brigden said. "Today's tragic news does now suggest that some young Tibetans are using desperate measures to draw attention to the situation inside Tibet," she added. The group called on the international community to urge China to show a restrained response to the recent self-immolation attempts. In New York, the rights group Students for a Free Tibet said it would stage protests outside the United Nations as Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi prepared to give a speech on Monday. "China's violent repression in Tibet, especially against our religious institutions, has become so unbearable that these monks took truly desperate action," the group's executive director Tenzin Dorjee said in a statement on Monday. "China must immediately withdraw security forces from Kirti Monastery and across Tibet, and stop the ongoing harassment and torture of our monks," he said. The incident marked the fourth attempt at self-immolation by Tibetan monks inside China since the beginning of the year. "We call on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to publicly and vigorously raise this incident with the Chinese Foreign Minister," Tenzin Dorjee said. A hard line Chinese authorities typically take a hard line on suicide protests, often prosecuting the protester's friends and family and beating those who attempt it. Last month, a court in neighboring Barkham (in Chinese, Maerkang) county sentenced another monk, Lobsang Tsondru, 46, to jail for "intentional homicide," accusing him having prevented the badly burned Phuntsog from getting medical treatment. Two more Tibetan monks were sentenced to jail by the court soon afterwards for "aiding and abetting" Phuntsog's death. Phuntsog died in hospital, triggering protests and prompting a clampdown by Chinese authorities around Kirti monastery. Phuntsog was the second monk at Kirti to set himself on fire since the anti-Chinese riots in Lhasa of March 2008, the bloodiest in Tibet in 20 years. Beijing has rejected calls from a U.N. human rights panel to provide information about the whereabouts of more than 300 of Kirti's monks who remain unaccounted for since the monastery was raided in April. Reported by Righden Dolma for RFA's Tibetan service and by Ding Xiao for the Mandarin service. Written in English by Luisetta Mudie.  | ||||||||||
| Emergency Session Held Over Ongoing Flooding Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:36 PM PDT Provincial governors have been ordered to stay in the countryside to deal with the flood. Monday, 26 September 2011 Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh Prime Minister Hun Sen called an urgent cabinet meeting on Monday, gathering senior officials and provincial leaders to deal with ongoing flooding that has killed at least 60 people and inundated tens of thousands of homes. Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters outside the meeting at the Council of Ministers that the government was trying to ensure that famine did not follow the flooding, which have continued since August. Provincial governors have been ordered to stay in the countryside to deal with the problem, he said, as efforts are being coordinated between local authorities and the Cambodian Red Cross. Flooding has affected 90,000 families across 14 provinces, killing at least 34 children and destroying some 200 homes, the National Committee for Disaster Management said Monday. Khieu Kanharith said that no foreign assistance was being sought currently, but he appealed for volunteers. Other priorities are to make sure rice and other agricultural production can begin in earnest when the water levels recede and that post-flooding diseases are mitigated.  | ||||||||||
| Many in Electorate Don’t Understand System: Monitors Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:31 PM PDT Monday, 26 September 2011 Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
A high number of Cambodian voters do not understand the electoral process, while others distrust the electoral system, observers say, as registration for next year's local elections continue. In forums conducted last year in three provinces and the capital, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights found a high number of people were not convinced elections ensured equal participation and were wary of the National Election Committee. Cambodia is preparing for commune elections in 2012 and national parliamentary elections the year after. Kuoy Bunroeun, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said the election process is difficult for many Cambodians, while the National Election Committee has not done enough to inform the electorate. "We must prepare a fair election system to provide the possibility for people to have full rights in registration and voting rights," he said. With 460,000 of 470,000 potential new voters registered, NEC Secretary-General Tep Nitha said Monday that people seem to understand the process. "New eligible voters always go to register, because of their understanding," he said. "And more importantly, people in new resettlements are going to register. It means that they know their rights and roles in participating in the elections and the democratic process." However, Hang Puthea, executive director for the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the National Election Committee must strengthen its work until the public can accept the committee's management of the process. "In relation to the knowledge of elections, Cambodians still need more training," he said. "That means people will not clearly understand the election process, and they still have a distrust of the election system."  | ||||||||||
| Hun Xen mulled the idea of exchanging Yellow Shirts Veera and Ratree behing closed doors? Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:26 PM PDT Jail move not a precursor to early release 27/09/2011 King-Oua Laohong & Manop Thip-Osod Bangkok Post Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, two Thais in jail in Cambodia for spying, cannot be released early under prisoner exchange or prisoner transfer programmes, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok says. Thailand and Cambodia do not have a prisoner exchange pact, only a transfer programme which allows each country to transfer inmates to serve their remaining jail terms in their homeland, Pol Gen Pracha said. Under a prisoner transfer, he said, inmates can be sent home to serve out their terms if their transgressions do not concern national security. But they must serve one-third of the sentence first. Veera and Ratree's cases do not match with these conditions, he said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen raised the exchange idea during informal talks with Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa in Phnom Penh last week. Veera, co-leader of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, and Ratree, his secretary, were sentenced to eight and six years respectively in jail after being convicted of espionage by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after being arrested for trespassing on Cambodian territory on Dec 29 last year. So far, Bangkok has not asked Phnom Penh to send any Thais to serve their jail terms in Thailand, but Phnom Penh has requested that four inmates, all of whom face drug trafficking charges, be sent back to Cambodia. Only two, who have already been convicted, were qualified. There are now 39 Thai inmates in Cambodian prisons while there are 2,200 Cambodian prisoners in Thai jails. Of these. just 590 are considered as fulfilling the transfer agreement criteria. Pol Gen Pracha said the only way to bypass the regulations to release the two Thai nationals was by seeking a royal pardon from Cambodia's king. Phnom Penh has said a royal pardon could be granted only for inmates who have served two-thirds of their terms. But Pheu Thai list-MP Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday Veera and Ratree are likely to be granted royal pardons soon.  | ||||||||||
| Cambodian workers for Viet companies cannot join Pchum Ben celebration Posted: 26 Sep 2011 07:07 AM PDT កម្មករខ្មែរធ្វើការឲ្យវៀតណាមមិនបានទៅចូលរួមបុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌទេ ដោយ រដ្ឋា វីសាល 2011-09-26 RFA Synopsis: About 500 to 600 workers at the Vietnamese Dac Lac rubber company, located in Bousra commune, Pechreada district, Mondulkiri province, did not receive compensation from the company for the Pchum Ben celebration. Without this pay, the workers cannot travel to their villages to celebrate the Pchum Ben season. An administrator of the Viet company recognized that the payment is late, but the workers indicate that this company always pay the workers late. កម្មករចម្ការកៅស៊ូនៃក្រុមហ៊ុនវៀតណាមមួយឈ្មោះ ដាក់ឡាក់ មានទីតាំងនៅឃុំប៊ូស្រា ស្រុកពេជ្រាដា ខេត្តមណ្ឌលគិរី ប្រមាណពី ៥០០ទៅ៦០០នាក់ មិនបានបើកប្រាក់កម្រៃពលកម្មពីក្រុមហ៊ុនដើម្បីទៅចូលរួមបុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌទេ។ អ្នកយកព័ត៌មានវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី លោក រដ្ឋា វីសាល រាយការណ៍ឲ្យដឹងនៅថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ២៦ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ថា កម្មករប្រមាណ២០ ក្នុងចំណោមកម្មករទាំងអស់បានប្រតិកម្មថា ពូកគេនឹងខកខានមិនបានទៅស្រុកកំណើតជួបជុំក្រុមគ្រួសារ ដោយសារតែក្រុមហ៊ុនមិនបើកប្រាក់។ កម្មករមួយរូបសុំមិនបញ្ចេញឈ្មោះមានប្រសាសន៍ឲ្យដឹងថា កម្មករភាគច្រើនខ្លះបានខ្ចីប្រាក់គេ ខ្លះលក់គ្រឿងសម្ភារៈផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនដើម្បីយកប្រាក់ធ្វើដំណើរទៅស្រុកកំណើត ដោយមិនបានបើកប្រាក់ពលកម្មតាមកាលកំណត់ក្នុងរយៈពេលពីរសប្ដាហ៍ត្រូវបើកម្ដង ៖ "ហួសពីថ្ងៃបើកហើយ អត់បើកឲ្យទៀត។ ត្រូវធ្វើពីរអាទិត្យគេបើកអានេះជិតមួយខែហើយថ្ងៃនេះ ថ្ងៃម្ភៃប្រាំ ម្ភៃប្រាំមួយហើយអត់បើកលុយឲ្យទៀត។ ខែបុណ្យខែទានហើយកម្មករបង្ខំហើយក៏គេអត់បើកដែរ។ ខ្លះអត់មានលុយមានកាក់អី នៅហ្នឹងរកតែលុយទិញអីហូបមិនបានផង ពួកខ្ញុំដើរចាប់កាចែចាប់អីហូប"។ មេការគ្រប់គ្រងកម្មករនៃក្រុមហ៊ុនដាក់ឡាក់ គឺលោក ទឿង ក្នុងបទសម្ភាសតាមទូរស័ព្ទបានបំភ្លឺករណីនេះ។ លោកមានប្រសាសន៍ទទួលស្គាល់ថា ក្រុមហ៊ុនពិតជាយឺតយ៉ាវក្នុងការផ្ទេរប្រាក់បើកសម្រាប់កម្មករពិតមែន។ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែក្រុមហ៊ុនបានផ្ដល់ប្រាក់សម្រាប់កម្មករខ្ចី ២០ម៉ឺនរៀលជាសោហ៊ុយធ្វើដំណើរទៅស្រុកកំណើតជាបណ្ដោះអាសន្នបានមួយចំនួនធំហើយ។ លោកបន្តថា នៅថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ឬថ្ងៃអង្គារសប្ដាហ៍នេះនឹងមានប្រាក់សម្រាប់បើកឲ្យកម្មករហើយ។ យ៉ាងនេះក្ដី ក្រុមកម្មករអ្នកតវ៉ាបញ្ជាក់ថា នេះមិនមែនជាលើកទីមួយទេ ដែលក្រុមហ៊ុនវៀតណាមនេះមិនបានបើកប្រាក់កម្រៃទៀងទាត់តាមការកំណត់ គឺជាច្រើនលើកក្រុមហ៊ុននេះតែងភូតភរកម្មករ ហើយប្រសិនមានអ្នកតវ៉ា អ្នកនោះនឹងត្រូវក្រុមហ៊ុនបញ្ឈប់មិនឲ្យធ្វើការងារតទៅទៀត៕  | ||||||||||
| Posted: 26 Sep 2011 06:55 AM PDT September 26, 2011 Robert Carmichael | Phnom Penh Voice of America In Cambodia, there is continuing controversy about the United Nations-backed court aimed at prosecuting members of the former Khmer Rouge government. The tribunal is the first of its kind to allow victims of specific crimes to participate. Prosecution of Khmer Rouge members German Judge Siegfried Blunk --who was appointed by the United Nations -- and his Cambodian counterpart, You Bunleng, first drew criticism in April for closing down the investigation into the court's third case against two senior Khmer Rouge military leaders suspected of thousands of deaths. Much of their international staff resigned after the case was shelved. While Case Three is still under consideration by the court, judges are now determining which victims can participate as civil parties. Applications rejected The judges recently rejected the applications of at least three people seeking to participate as victims. One is a Cambodian woman whose husband suffered hard labor and was then executed by the Khmer Rouge. In their rejection, the judges said her claimed psychological harm was "highly unlikely to be true". They also defined the requirement of "direct" harm so narrowly as to exclude anyone other than the actual victim. The applicant's lawyer is Silke Studzinsky, who describes the ruling as outrageous. Speaking on Skype, Studzinsky explains why she has appealed. "None of the reasons has any legal basis. The first reason expresses that our client is only an indirect victim and (is) therefore rejected," Studzinsky said. Studzinsky says that is "nonsense" since indirect victims were permitted in the tribunal's first two cases - in fact her client was a civil party in those cases, which makes this rejection even harder to comprehend. Reasoning called into question Anne Heindel is a legal advisor with the genocide research organization in Phnom Penh called the Documentation Center of Cambodia. She says the reasoning in the rejection of the civil party applicant failed to meet the minimum standards. "Again it's just the convoluted legal reasoning. It's a clearly outcome-driven process. It doesn't meet the minimum standards of legal reasoning, and, honestly, it's the worst reasoned order I've ever read," Heindel said. Heindel accuses the judges of applying legal standards that do not fit with the court's jurisprudence, or any other legal authority applying to civil parties. She says it seems that they are trying to exclude anyone who was not a direct victim from taking part. "And, it's clear and well established that immediate family members are recognized as victims and can participate in these circumstances," Heindel added. "So there's no precedent anywhere that supports the legal reasoning of this decision." Case Three More than 300 people applied to be accepted as civil parties in Case Three. The judges have refused to say how many of those applicants have been accepted or rejected. Although the judges involved in the case have largely declined to defend their decisions, court officials say it is still premature to pass judgment on its work. Lars Olsen is the legal communications officer for the tribunal. He spoke, earlier this month, at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. "The legacy and the final judgement over whether this court was worth the money, the efforts, the resources, will have to wait until we have seen the end of it," Lars said. "And, then, you know, basically what happened, what was the end game, and then was it all worth it. Until then, we are just speculating." When asked about the latest controversy about the judges' decisions, Olsen says those decisions are subject to appeal and that process is underway. While the Khmer Rouge victims are working with the court, outside observers are appealing to the United Nations to investigate the work of the co-investigating judges. Outside observers monitoring tribunal The Open Society Justice Initiative, which has been monitoring the tribunal since its creation, has issued harsh criticisms of the decisions, saying they violate basic legal norms and call into question the independence and competence of the investigating judges. Clair Duffy is a trial monitor for the Open Society Justice Initiative. She has called for the United Nations to investigate the court. "Most recently there's been a whole string of decisions coming out of the Office of the Co-Investigating Judges that don't meet basic requirements or adhere to international standards or even comply with the court's own prior jurisprudence," she stated. This is the second time the OSJI has appealed to the United Nations for an investigation, but so far the U.N. has given no indication that it plans to do so. Martin Nesirky, a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said by email that the United Nations expects the judicial process to be free from external interference. He wrote that the U.N. would not comment on issues under judicial consideration including the civil party appeals. Nesirky did not reply to a question asking whether the U.N. appointed Judge Siegfried Blunk retains the support of Ban and U.N. headquarters.  | ||||||||||
| Cambodia's Internet speed compared to the rest of the world Posted: 26 Sep 2011 06:45 AM PDT Which Nations Have the Best Relative Internet Speed? My Gamma Numbers Shine a Light on Some of the Stars Sep. 26, 2011 By Roger Strukhoff Sys-con.com The US, by contrast, has a Gamma Number of only 25. Meanwhile, impoverished Cambodia has a Gamma Number of 252 - ten times that of the US. The country's average Internet speed is only 20% that of the US, but its per-person income is only about 2% of the US. It punches a lot harder with its limited resources. History has already recorded that unrealistic - even ridiculous - business models burst the dot-com bubble at the turn of the century. I've always thought slow Internet connections in the United States were at least as culpable. The "Worldwide Wait" was a reality for most consumers in those days, and the US was driving what was then thought to be a New Economy. Today, the Web, led as much by social networking as by eCommerce, is a global phenomenon. The US still dominates in creating companies, whether in social networking or cloud computing. But the nations of the world are getting more, and faster, connections. Who is leading the world, and how does the US rate today? Look at the Numbers Rolling, 30-day stats put together by Seattle-based Ookla show the US lagging behind the world leaders. Ookla monitors average and peak bandwidth levels from the around the world, from servers in Chicago. The company notes that the numbers are based on all types of connections - cable, DSL, T- lines, and satellite. So these numbers present a rough picture only - your mileage may vary depending on what sort of connection you have. What's of most interest to me is to see how the regions of the world compare, and to tease out the developing nations in particular that seem to be doing a good job in deploying high-speed connections. Bandwidth is part of infrastructure these days, as critical as roads, water, and electricity for leaders who want to develop their nations. It's also critical to those highly developed nations that wish to remain competitive, who don't wish to go into decline by dint of creaking infrastructure. It will surprise no one to see the Scandinavian and Baltic nations, along with South Korea, leading the world. Conventional wisdom is that it's easy to bring fast service to highly urbanized countries such as this. Time to Correlate But I'd like to go beyond those numbers and correlate wealth with bandwidth. It makes intuitive sense that poorer nations can't afford to deploy a lot of high bandwidth or that their people could pay for it. But how well are poorer, developing nations doing based on their per-person income? What sort of "pound-for-pound" punching power do they have? We can start by simply dividing average Internet speed in kilobits-per-second (Kbps) by per-person income as expressed in US dollars. Lithuania has an average Internet speed of 14,431Kbps (14.4Mbps) and an average per-person income of $11,141 (according to World Bank figures.) South Korea has an average Internet speed of 28,660 Kbps (28.7Mbps) with an average income of $17,100. Dividing the one into the other, Lithuania and South Korea get 304Kbps and 138Kbps per $100 in income, respectively. Let's pick a nice Greek letter, and designate the results as "Gamma Numbers" of 304 and 138, respectively. The US, by contrast, has a Gamma Number of only 25. Meanwhile, impoverished Cambodia has a Gamma Number of 252 - ten times that of the US. The country's average Internet speed is only 20% that of the US, but its per-person income is only about 2% of the US. It punches a lot harder with its limited resources. Cambodia has an average speed of 2,000 Kbps (2.0 Mbps), and one has to wonder what percentage of that bandwidth is used by government and business, and what percentage of the country's population has personal access to any Internet service. But among its economic peers, Cambodia seems to be a bright light. Shining a Light My goal, first with my initial Tau Index last year, and now with these Gamma Numbers, is to uncover the bright lights - the stars - that may otherwise be obscured by a surface-level look at raw statistics. They're not meant to have the scientific precision of sending something to the moon, but rather, are meant as a starting point in the journey to find out what's really going on in the nations of the world. I'm putting together a report with dozens of factors to reveal the world's bright lights when it comes to Cloud Computing. I'm publishing the report at a small Web 2.0 event here in Manila in early November, then at the very large Cloud Expo coming up in Santa Clara. It seems that Gamma Numbers cannot follow a straight-line projection; Sweden, for example, would have to average almost 100Mbps per connection to equal Cambodia's Gamma Number. Ridiculous? Or not? Today's reality is these numbers follow a curve that flattens out as nations get wealthier; I think they always will, even as overall speeds increase. So here is a look at selected countries by region, with a few top performers in each. Several things pop out that I'll discuss in a follow-up article. My advice for now: these are the places in each region to visit if you want to develop your business or invest your money. GAMMA NUMBERS Western Europe Sweden - 68 Portugal - 64 Netherlands - 59 Notes Germany - 42 UK - 29 Eastern Europe Ukraine - 228 Lithuania - 197 Romania - 173 Latvia - 167 Bulgaria - 162 Americas Honduras - 58 Brazil - 54 Chile - 45 Notes Canada - 30 Mexico - 30 United States - 25 North Africa/Middle East Morocco - 64 Jordan - 52 Notes Israel - 24 Egypt - 23 Saudi Arabia - 18 Iran - 5 Sub-Saharan Africa Kenya - 211 Nigeria - 41 South Africa - 29 Note These are the only Sub-Saharan African nations for which I have complete info. Am working to improve this. Northern Asia South Korea - 105 China - 52 Japan - 51 Southern Asia Vietnam - 311 Cambodia - 252 Thailand - 73 Notes India - 52 Don't have complete numbers for Taiwan. Working on it.  | ||||||||||
| Urgent measures taken by the Council of Ministers due to flooding situation in the country Posted: 26 Sep 2011 06:40 AM PDT    | ||||||||||
| 97 people killed by floods in Cambodia Posted: 26 Sep 2011 06:37 AM PDT 2011-09-26 Xinhua PHNOM PENH - Floods hit Cambodia since last month has killed at least 97 people, a government official said on Monday. Phay Siphan, spokesman of the council of ministers, said at least 97 people, including a British national, have died. Cambodia's Council of Ministers on Monday held a special meeting to take measures to deal with the Mekong River and flash floods inundating most parts of the country. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister Hun Sen. Speaking after the four-hour meeting, the government's spokesman and information minister Khieu Kanharith said the meeting was to deal with the facing issues of floods and post- flood rehabilitation. "For the facing issues, the cabinet decided not to let any person die of hunger during the floods--the cabinet decided to allocate 200 million riels ($50,000) and rice to ten worst affected provinces to help the victims," he said. The cabinet also instructed all provincial governors not leave their provinces on overseas trips or trips to Phnom Penh during the flooding period and advised them to closely cooperation with the Cambodian Red Cross to help the victims, he added. Kanharith said that the cabinet also advised all local authorities to help re-grow rice and other crops at the flood-damaged areas and prepared budget to rehabilitate damaged roads after the flood. To date, 90,300 families in 15 flood-hit provinces have been affected, about 170,000 hectares of rice fields have been submerged and more than 300 schools were closed, according to Keo Vy, communication officer of National Committee for Disaster Management. "As of Monday, the Mekong River flood has been receding, but very slow, and we're still keeping close watch on the situation, " he said.  | ||||||||||
| Cambodia flooding death toll approaches 100 Posted: 26 Sep 2011 06:30 AM PDT Sep 26, 2011 DPA Siem Reap, Cambodia - Nearly 100 people in Cambodia died in weather-related incidents in the worst floods in a decade, officials said Monday. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said more than 100,000 families had been affected by flooding and around 40,000 hectares of rice fields inundated. 'The focus right now is on emergency food,' he said. 'And on relief centres where people can resettle.' He said 77 deaths had been reported in four provinces, with 'at least 97 dead' nationwide. The government expects more heavy rain for the next three days. The centre of Cambodia's tourism capital Siem Reap - home to the Ankor Wat temple complex - was underwater Monday after the city's river burst its banks. Helicopters were used to lift around 200 tourists from the Banteay Srei temple after floodwaters cut the access road Thursday. Cambodia's rainy season typically runs from June until October.  | ||||||||||
| Red Shirts bus accident in Siem Reap Posted: 26 Sep 2011 01:15 AM PDT
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| Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm temples flooded Posted: 26 Sep 2011 01:11 AM PDT The following are flood photos taken by Hang Savyout of RFA on 25 September 2011.
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| Jatuporn: Veera, Ratree will be freed [-Hun Xen's gift to Puea Thai?] Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:59 AM PDT 26/09/2011 Bangkok Post Imprisoned Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon are likely to be granted royal pardons soon and be set free by the Cambodian government, Pheu Thai party list MP Jatuporn Prompan said on Monday. Mr Jatuporn, a core member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said that during his visit to Cambodia along with other MPs and red-shirt leaders for the weekend football match he heard that the Thai government had asked Cambodia to grant a royal pardon to Veera and Ratree. The two are serving sentences in Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh after being found guilty of spying and illegal entry. Mr Jatuporn said he understood the Cambodian government had agreed to take steps under Cambodian law to give them a royal pardon. It was not known when they would be pardoned, but he believed it would be soon, Mr Jatuporn said.  | ||||||||||
| Floods kill 158 in Thailand, 61 in Cambodia Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:56 AM PDT BANGKOK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The death toll from flooding in Thailand since mid-July has risen to 158, while 61 people have died in neighbouring Cambodia in the past two weeks, authorities in the two countries said on Monday. More than 2 million acres of farmland in Thailand are now under water, an area 11 times the size of Singapore. "Twenty-three provinces in the lower north and central Thailand are under water and nearly 2 million people have been affected by severe floods and heavy rain," Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said. Flooding has also affected the capital, Bangkok, which sits only two metres above sea level. The Chao Phraya river has overflowed into roads in some areas, although the authorities have reinforced its banks to prevent serious flooding. The Meteorological Department warned 39 provinces, mostly in central and northeast Thailand, to be ready for possible flooding and heavy rain in the coming week. Thailand's main rice crop of the year is normally harvested from October. According to media reports, some farmers have started harvesting early to try to get their crop in before floods hit, which could result in lower yields. Some may be unable to harvest properly because fields are inundated. Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter. It is forecast to produce 25.1 million tonnes of unmilled rice in the main crop, up from 24 million last year. Its monsoon season usually runs from August to October. After a teleconference with governors in flood-hit areas, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said 40 billion baht ($1.2 billion) was expected to be used in long-term projects for flood prevention, but she gave no detail of the projects. In Cambodia, Keo Vy, deputy information director of the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC), said the death toll in provinces along the Mekong River and Tonle Lake was likely to rise once provincial authorities submitted new reports. "The worry now is about a lack of food, and the health of people and animals," Keo Vy said, adding that 163,000 hectares (407,000 acres) of rice paddies and 63,000 homes were under water. NDMC Vice-President Nhim Vanda said flooding in August had already damaged rice paddies around the country. "The damage is now double," Nhim Vanda said. "We are worried that the water will go down slowly, which will destroy rice that is already planted." Cambodia produces around 7 million tonnes of unmilled rice a year at the moment. Very little of it is directly exported. A great deal goes over the border to Vietnam to be milled and re-exported. (Reporting by Jutarat Skulpichetrat in Bangkok and Prak Chan Thul in Cambodia; Editing by Alan Raybould)  | ||||||||||
| Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:53 AM PDT
In Cambodia, amidst exotic wildlife and temple ruins, hill tribes still tame and work with elephants. But for how long? 26 September, 2011 By Adam Bray CNN Go It's early in the morning and my motorbike guide is driving me two hours northeast from Ban Lung, the capital of Ratanakiri, toward the Vietnamese border. My quest is to find the last of Cambodia's elephant riders. These indigenous highlanders have captured, tamed and worked with wild elephants for 2,000 years, but their traditional ways -- and the elephants at the heart of their culture -- are quickly disappearing. From an estimated wild population of around 500 elephants in this area in 2001, this has now halved to about 250. There were known to be 162 domesticated elephants in 2002, and this is likely to have significantly fallen too. We pass plantations of black pepper, cassava, coffee and rubber. The Vietnamese, who have stripped most of the old growth jungle on their side of the border, are now logging these areas and planting vast rubber plantations. This means ancient tribal lands are being lost and elephant habitats and the traditional livelihoods of indigenous people are being eliminated. I am told by villagers that in decades past it was not uncommon for a village to have a dozen or more elephants. Now most villages have none, and those that do only have a few. Fearsome warriors of antiquity Northeastern Cambodia's indigenous peoples include the Cham, Krung, Tampuan, Kavet, Steing, Pnong, Kachok, Brau, Ede, Lao, and Jarai. Only the Jarai, Ede, Krung and Pnong still actively work with elephants. The Jarai, whom I was hoping to meet, were once members of the multi-ethnic kingdom of Champa. The Champa Kingdom was the historical nemesis of ancient Angkor (the Khmer kingdom that once ruled Cambodia). As renowned elephant riders and the guardians of Cambodia's northeaster uplands and Vietnam's Central Highlands, it was the Jarai who likely led the armies of Champa, from atop their elephants, in battles against the temple cities of Angkor in the west. Reintegration and assimilation We turn down a dirt track leading through a grove of cashew trees and into the Jarai village of Kah Vuh. Thatched Jarai stilt-houses stand on either side, with tall ceramic jars of rice wine and baskets strewn on the porches. Smaller huts stand beside them (built for unmarried girls) and tiny shelters, built by bachelors, perch high on stilts in the forest canopy. The Cambodian government is working hard to integrate indigenous groups into modern Cambodian society through better education, medical and financial aid. Tribal children are taught Khmer (the national language) in school, since each group speaks its own unique language. All of this has the unfortunate side effect of diluting tribal cultures. We head to the back of the village where we find the chief's wooden stilt-house. Here my guide introduces me to a 20-year-old elephant tamer named Tol. Tol is wearing a heavy sweatshirt despite the heat. As I swat a mosquito, my guide mentions that Tol was getting over a bout of malaria. I have a lot of sympathy. I am getting over dengue fever. A tractor you can eat "He is a 45-year-old male -- he still has his tusks," Tol begins as he leads us into the jungle to meet his elephant. "We cut the tusks every five years. We sell the ivory to the Vietnamese. We get about US$10,000 each time," he says. There is a thriving illicit trade in ivory, rhino horn and other endangered species product in Vietnam. The money the villagers can earn from is equivalent to five years' salary in a regular job. "Elephants are expensive to buy now. We traded 35 buffaloes for this elephant. That's worth about US$14,000." There's a blast of air and a deep rumble as we push through the cashew trees. A nervous elephant sways several meters away, with a hind foot chained to a tree root. Also on CNNGo: 5 best Cambodian beaches "He's all alone now. He had three females but they all died of old age," says Tol. "The nearest elephant is in the next village." As we talk the elephant's trunk runs up and down my body. I reach out to touch his trunk but he steps back. "What's his name?" I ask. Tol looked puzzled. "Just 'Elephant.'" He pauses. "We don't name them. They are as vital to our livelihoods as a tractor. They can haul a cubic meter of lumber right on top of their back. They can also go places that tractors can't, and they never break down. But they are not pets." "What do you do with them when they die?" "We eat them," smirks Tol, "Just like a cow, goat, buffalo or any other farm animal." I'm a little taken aback, expecting some syrupy Disney-esque sentiment about mutual reliance and spiritual connection between the Jarai people and their elephants. Tourists as baggage "The Jarai tradition of working with elephants is dying out" says Tol. "I learned to work with elephants from my father, and he from his father. Now most people grow big rubber plantations along the highway and use heavy machinery instead. They don't want to work in the jungle and they don't need elephants." It appears that tourism may actually prolong both the existence of Cambodia's elephants and the tribes' tradition of working with them. Elephant trekking led by Pnong villagers to waterfalls out of Sen Monorom (Mondulkiri Province) has become particularly popular. As tourism develops in northeastern Cambodia, more villages may likewise rediscover the traditions that particularly attract tourist dollars. However, the time for observing the original ways of the indigenous peoples and their elephants is growing short. getting there It is possible to reach Ban Lung (the capital of Ratanakiri) by bus from Siam Reap (Cambodia), Pleiku (Vietnam), and Si Phan Don (Laos). However, the easiest route by bus from Phnom Penh, with Phnom Penh Sorya Transport (tel: +855 23 210 859; www.ppsoryatransport.com) for US$12. The journey takes 12 hours. Sen Monorom, the capital of Mondulkiri, is about half-way on the journey. It is a good base from which to explore. Adam Bray has contributed to more than 15 guidebooks to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and has written (and in many cases provided photography) for publishers such as DK Eyewitness, Insight Guides, Thomas Cook, ThingsAsian, Berlitz and Time Out. He is fluent in Vietnamese and speaks a smattering of other local languages, including Cham and Khmer.  | ||||||||||
| Petition support request by Anonymous Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:45 AM PDT Dear friends, I wanted to let you know about a new petition created on We the People, a new feature on WhiteHouse.gov, and ask for your support. Will you add your name to mine? If this petition gets 5,000 signatures by October 24, 2011, the White House will review it and respond! We the People allows anyone to create and sign petitions asking the Obama Administration to take action on a range of issues. If a petition gets enough support, the Obama Administration will issue an official response. You can view and sign the petition here: Here's some more information about this petition: Investigate and announce the National Economic and Stability Reformation Act (NESARA) to the American people. N.E.S.A.R.A. reformation includes, but is not limited to: Debt-forgiveness (zero-out) on all Credit Card, Auto, Personal, Educational, and Mortgage Loan Debt as a remedy for years of Bank Frauds. Creates a U.S. Treasury Bank System; Absorbs the Federal Reserve; Issues new precious metals backed currency. Permanently eliminates Inflation. Abolishes the IRS. Tax Collections. Creates a Sales Tax Revenue on non-essential new items only to fund legit government operations. Restores Constitutional Law; Retrains public servants to uphold Constitutional Law, including law enforcement, the courts and the remaining government agencies. Websites:  | ||||||||||
| The Viets release water from 2 dams causing flood in 2 Ratanakiri districts Posted: 26 Sep 2011 12:41 AM PDT 25 Sept 2011 By Ratha Visal Radio Free Asia Translated from Khmer by Soch On Sunday 25 September 2011, water level on the Sesan River rose and caused flooding in two districts in Ratanakiri province. The Cambodian authority accused the Vietnamese dam of releasing water from its hydroelectric dam along the Sesan River. Mrs. Noy Sokhan, a villager in Malik commune, Andong Meas district, said that she noted the water level rising and starting to flood houses and crops on Saturday night and during the night, the water level rose between 30 and 50 centimeters (1 to 2 feet). She added that the district authority announced to the residents living the river to be careful during the beginning of this week because there would be a water release from the Viet dam between 15 and 20 September 2011. "Now, it's flooding. Houses along the river are flooded. The potatoes, the corn and bean crops along the river are all flooded. The flood just started last night at about 11PM. People were gathering their belonging and loaded their boats since 11PM. Last night the flow was quick, now it slowed down somewhat, but the water does not recede yet." Ou Lang, the director of the Cambodian Water Resources department, confirmed that the Viets plan to release more than 500-cubic-meter of water from its hydroelectric dam along the river. He added that flooding from the Sesan River is not much of a concern because the water level is still much lower than the alarm level set at Veunsay measuring station (sic!) ---------- វៀតណាមបើកទំនប់វារីអគ្គិសនីបណ្ដាលឲ្យទឹកជន់លិច២ស្រុកនៅរតនគិរី ដោយ រដ្ឋា វីសាល 2011-09-25 RFA ទឹកទន្លេសេសាន្តនៅខេត្តរតនគិរី នៅថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ទី២៥ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ បានជន់លិចភូមិឃុំប្រជាពលរដ្ឋចំនួនពីរស្រុក។ អាជ្ញាធរខ្មែរបានចោទថា គឺដោយសារប្រទេសវៀតណាមបើកបង្ហូរទឹកទំនប់វារីអគ្គិសនីនៅខ្សែទឹកខាងលើ។ អ្នកស្រី ណយ សុខាន់ ជាប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរស់នៅឃុំម៉ាលិក ស្រុកអណ្ដូងមាស។ គាត់កត់សំគាល់ថា ទឹកចាប់ជន់លិចភូមិ និងផលដំណាំនៅវេលាយប់ថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ ហើយក្នុងរយៈពេលមួយយប់ ទឹកទន្លេឡើងកម្ពស់ពីសាមសិបសង់ទីម៉ែត្រ ទៅហាសិបសង់ទីម៉ែត្រ។ អ្នកស្រីបន្តថា ក្រុមអាជ្ញាធរស្រុកបានប្រកាសប្រាប់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរស់នៅតាមដងទន្លេឲ្យប្រុងប្រយ័ត្នកាលពីដើមសប្ដាហ៍នេះថា នឹងមានការបើកទំនប់វារីអគ្គិសនីចំនួនពីរពីប្រទេសវៀតណាម ចន្លោះពីថ្ងៃទី១៥ ដល់ថ្ងៃទី៣០ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ នេះ ៖ "ឥឡូវលិចហើយលិចផ្ទះតាមដងទន្លេ ហើយដំឡូងអីពោតសណ្ដែកអី តាមដងទន្លេហ្នឹងលិចអស់ហើយ ទើបលិចពីយប់មិញចាប់ពីម៉ោងដប់មួយមក។ពេលនោះជ្រួលរៀនអីវ៉ែអីវ៉ាន់អ្នកខ្លះជញ្ជូនទូកជញ្ជូនអីតាំងពីម៉ោងម៉ាដណ្ដប់។ ពីយប់មិញលឿង ឥឡូវរាងយឺតបន្តិច ប៉ុន្តែនៅតែឡើងអត់ស្រកទេ"។ ប្រធានមន្ទីរធនធានទឹក គឺលោក អ៊ូឡាង បានបញ្ជាក់ដែរថា វៀតណាមមានគម្រោងរំដោះទឹកប្រមាណជាង ៥០០ម៉ែត្រគីប ពីទំនប់វារីអគ្គិសនីនៅតំបន់ខ្សែទឹកខាងលើ។ លោកបន្តថា ទឹកជំនន់ក្នុងទន្លេសេសាន្តពេលនេះមិនមានអ្វីគួរឲ្យព្រួយបារម្ភទេ ពីព្រោះកម្រិតទឹកនៅទាបច្រើនពីកម្រិតទឹកប្រកាសអាសន្ននៅស្ថានីយវាស់ទឹកស្រុកវ៉ឺនសៃ៕  | ||||||||||
| Posted: 25 Sep 2011 11:20 PM PDT September 26th, 2011 Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CNN) – The most common image of Cambodia is the land of ancient temples and budget travelers. There's now something else putting Cambodia on the map: foreign investors. Cambodia's devastating recent history set the country back a generation. From 1975-78, the Communist Khmer Rouge killed intellectuals, destroyed the education system and pushed for an agrarian society that required families to be uprooted and separated. By the end of the terror, between 1.7 million to 3 million Cambodians are estimated to have died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. The Vietnamese occupation that followed and civil war between a weakened Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian government also stripped the country of stability for another two decades. Today the country is politically stable with a democracy that's a constitutional monarchy. The children who survived the Khmer Rouge era are now parents. Half the country is now under the age of 25. Every year, a quarter million young Cambodians enter the job market and the government needs to create jobs for them, says Stephen Higgins, CEO of ANZ Cambodia. "The Cambodian government is remarkably pro-business particularly coming from a Communist background. Any sector you can own 100%. There are banks here that are 100% foreign owned. Most manufacturing is 100% owned by foreigners." Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Asia with more than 80% of the population living in rural areas. Labor is cheap in Cambodia - cheaper than China, Vietnam or Thailand. Minimum wage is $61/month. "My success story is labor. My labor force is very young. If there's a manual skill set or artistic aptitude I need, these folks are good at it. And I'm paying one-third of the cost of my Chinese counterparts," says Scott Huff, owner of Innovate International which makes a niche pet treat in Cambodia for the U.S. and European markets. Brad Holes is an American who set up a stuffed animal factory in Phnom Penh. His company, "First & Main." employs 350 Cambodian workers and is already looking to expand into a bigger factory. As one of three American manufacturers currently in Cambodia, Holes says he feels like a pioneer who has to roll with the challenges that arise in a developing country. For example, getting financing in Cambodia is not easy. "I've talked to the major banks about credit lines. It's just not available," says Holes. "So we have to rely on private equity money and other funding – like my own personal funding or trade finance." The road to success in Cambodia is filled with potholes that mirror some of the infrastructure. Power outages occur about once a week because power plants are isolated in various provinces and there's no national power grid. The cost of power is more expensive in Cambodia compared to other countries in the region. After several years of delays, the Cambodian Stock Exchange opened this July, but there are no companies trading yet. The stock exchange says it plans to list its first two companies by the end of this year. They are state-owned enterprises, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority and Telecom Cambodia. No private company has come forward to list yet. Part of the problem is securities rules require three years of audited financial statements by one of three global accounting firms designated by the Cambodian Stock Exchange. "When I look at our large local companies, I can't think of a single one that has audited financial statements at the moment," says Higgins. Still, Cambodia holds appeal for the pioneer investor who wants to get in first and has the patience to ride out the bumps in the road.  | ||||||||||
| Where in the world is (are) the owner(s) of KI-Media? Posted: 25 Sep 2011 11:01 PM PDT
 Well, which country do you think the owner(s) of KI-Media is (are)? Below is a map of the world to help you locate the mysterious KI-Media owner(s). Please enter your answer in the comment section of this post. The reader(s) who will provide the correct answer will win a free full year access to KI-Media, compliment of the KI-Media team. Please give it a try! Thank you and good luck! KI-Media team  | ||||||||||
| 10 Cambodian dishes you've got to try Posted: 25 Sep 2011 10:48 PM PDT Khmer cuisine has long been overshadowed by its Thai and Vietnamese cousins: But times (and menus) to change that 26 September, 2011 By Lina Goldberg CNN Go Squished between culinary heavyweights Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia is often overlooked when it comes to food. But once you've sampled Khmer cuisine, you won't turn back. Here are 10 dishes to start you off.
1. Bai sach chrouk -- pork and rice Served on street corners all over Cambodia early every morning, bai sach chrouk, or pork and rice, is one of the simplest and most delicious dishes that the country has to offer. Thinly sliced pork is slowly grilled over warm coals to bring out its natural sweetness. Sometimes the pork will be marinated in coconut milk or garlic -- no two bai sach chrouks are ever exactly the same. The grilled pork is served over a hearty portion of broken rice, with a helping of freshly pickled cucumbers and daikon radish with plenty of ginger. On the side, you'll often be given a bowl of chicken broth topped with scallions and fried onions. Try it at: 786 St. 474, Phnom Penh  Where else can you get fish whipped into a mousse? 2. Fish amok Fish amok is one of the most well-known Cambodian dishes, but you'll find similar meals in neighboring countries. You won't find the same enthusiasm for the dish outside of Cambodia, though, or the addition of slok ngor, a local herb that imparts a subtly bitter flavor. Fish amok is a fish mousse with fresh coconut milk and kroeung, a type of Khmer curry paste made from lemongrass, turmeric root, garlic, shallots, galangal and fingerroot, or Chinese ginger. At upscale restaurants fish amok is steamed in a banana leaf, while more local places serve a boiled version that is more like a soupy fish curry than a mousse. Try it at: K'nyay, Suramarit Boulevard between Sothearos Blvd. and St. 19, Phnom Penh; +855 23 225 225
3. Khmer red curry Less spicy than the curries of neighboring Thailand, Khmer red curry is similarly coconut-milk-based, but without the overpowering chili. It's much easier to enjoy. The dish features beef, chicken or fish, eggplant, green beans, potatoes, fresh coconut milk, lemongrass and kroeung. 1.This delicious dish is usually served at special occasions in Cambodia such as weddings, family gatherings and religious holidays like Pchum Ben, or Ancestor's Day, where Cambodians make the dish to share with monks in honor of their ancestors. Khmer red curry is usually served with bread -- a remnant of the French influence on Cambodia. Try it at: The Empire, 34 St. 130, Phnom Penh; +855 89 383 817  Finally, a salad that puts hair on your chest. 4. Lap Khmer -- lime-marinated Khmer beef salad A refreshing dish that is more beef than salad, lap Khmer is popular with Cambodian men, who prefer the beef be nearly raw -- but at restaurants it's generally served grilled. Khmer beef salad features thinly sliced beef that is either quickly seared or "cooked" ceviche-style by marinating with lime juice. Dressed with lemongrass, shallots, garlic, fish sauce, Asian basil, mint, green beans and green pepper, the sweet and salty dish also packs a punch in the heul (spicy) department with copious amounts of fresh red chilis. Try it at: Romdeng, 74 St. 174, Phnom Penh; +855 92 219 565  Enjoy, just don't call it pho. 5. Nom banh chok -- Khmer noodles Nom banh chok is a beloved Cambodian dish, so much so that in English it's called simply "Khmer noodles." Nom banh chok is a typical breakfast food, and you'll find it being sold in the mornings by women carrying it on baskets hanging from a pole balanced on their shoulders. The dish consists of noodles laboriously pounded out of rice, topped with a fish-based green curry gravy made from lemongrass, turmeric root and kaffir lime. Fresh mint leaves, bean sprouts, green beans, banana flower, cucumbers and other greens are heaped on top. There is also a red curry version that is usually reserved for ceremonial occasions and wedding festivities. Try it at: Russian Market, Phnom Penh  Kampot, the saffron of peppers. 6. Kdam chaa -- fried crab Fried crab is a specialty of the Cambodian seaside town of Kep and its lively crab market, which is known for fried crab prepared with green, locally grown Kampot pepper. Aromatic Kampot pepper is famous among gourmands worldwide, and although it is available in its dried form internationally, you'll only be able to sample the distinctively flavored immature green peppercorns in Cambodia. It's worth a visit to Kep and Kampot for that alone, but Phnom Penh restaurants bring live crabs in from the coast to make their own version of this delicious dish, which includes both Kampot pepper and flavorful garlic chives. Try it at: 54 Langeach Sros, 15A St. 178, Phnom Penh; +855 17 455 454  Lose your insect virginity to this before moving on to skewered bugs. 7. Red tree ants with beef and holy basil You'll find all sorts of insects on the menu in Cambodia, but the dish that is most appealing to foreign palates is stir-fried red tree ants with beef and holy basil. Ants of various sizes, some barely visible and others almost an inch long are stir-fried with ginger, lemongrass, garlic, shallots and thinly sliced beef. Lots of chilies complete the aromatic dish, without overpowering the delicate sour flavor that the ants impart to the beef. This meal is served with rice, and if you're lucky you'll also get a portion of ant larvae in your bowl. Try it at: Romdeng, 74 St. 174, Phnom Penh; +855 92 219 565  You can't go wrong with anything served on a stick with dip. 8. Ang dtray-meuk -- grilled squid In Cambodian seaside towns like Sihanoukville and Kep, you'll find seafood sellers carrying small charcoal-burning ovens on their shoulders, cooking the squid as they walk along the shore. The squid are brushed with either lime juice or fish sauce and then barbecued on wooden skewers and served with a popular Cambodian sauce, originally from Kampot, made from garlic, fresh chilies, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. The summer flavor of the shore can be had even in Phnom Penh, where many restaurants bring seafood from the coast to make similar versions of this dish. Try it at: Villa Khmer, 21B St. 294, Phnom Penh; +855 97 8985 539  Hot sticky summers call for sweet sticky snacks. 9. Cha houy teuk -- jelly dessert After school in Phnom Penh, young people crowd around street stands serving Khmer desserts for 1,000 riel, about US$0.25. Some have sticky rice or sago drenched in coconut milk and topped with taro, red beans, pumpkin and jackfruit. One of the most refreshing is cha houy teuk, a sweet jelly dessert made with agar agar, a gelatin that is derived from seaweed. The jelly can be brightly colored in pinks and greens, making it especially popular with children. Combined with sago, bleached mung beans and coconut cream, cha houy teuk is usually served in a bowl with a scoop of shaved ice. Try it at: 45E Mao Tse Tung Blvd., Phnom Penh; +855 16 384 188  Sounds like an interpretive dance performance. 10. Fried fish on the fire lake Fresh coconut milk isn't used in every day Khmer cooking. Instead it is saved for dishes that are served at special occasions. Fried Fish on the Fire Lake is one such dish -- it's traditionally made for parties or eaten at restaurants in a special, fish-shaped dish. A whole fish is deep-fried and then finished on a hotplate at the table in a coconut curry made from yellow kroeung and chilies. Vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage are cooked in the curry, and served with rice or rice noodles. The literal translation of this dish is trei bung kanh chhet, fish from the lake of kanh chhet, a green Cambodian water vegetable served with this dish. Try it at: 54 Langeach Sros, 15A St. 178, Phnom Penh; +855 17 455 454  | ||||||||||
| Training course on Logical Framework Approach (LFA) Posted: 25 Sep 2011 09:57 PM PDT Dear Sir/Madame, Warmest greeting from PLUS Cambodia! People Living in Unified Society (PLUS) is organizing a training course on Logical Framework Approach (LFA) at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC). Date and time of the training is contained in the training announcement attached. The training is to increase knowledge and know-how of middle and top management working in public institutions, private sectors,non-governmental organizations and donor communities to ensure they have full competencies in problem analysis,identifying strategic options, stakeholder analysis, and preparation of project logframe matrix in a highly confident manner. Further, the participants will also become familiar with how to write and develop basic proposals to potential donors. Those who are responsible for managing projects on a daily basis such as Executive Directors, Program Managers, Monitoring and Evaluation Managers and those who play a leading role in fundraising and in developing project proposals to donors,as well as those who are hoping to hold the above-mentioned positions are strongly encouraged to attend. Training fee is US$350 per participant including lunch break, training kit, handouts, and coffee refreshments. Any organization sending 3 staff or above to participate in the training will be granted 10 percent off. The deadline for application is October 7, 2011 (weekend class and part time class), and October 21,2011 (full time class). Failure to return your completed training application form within the given deadline may affect your eligibility. Should you need further details, please kindly find the enclosed training announcement herewith or make direct contact with me. With very best and warmest regards, Ms. Chea Sokhom Training Assistant PLUS Cambodia Tel. 089 350567/023 6999 624 E-mail: training@pluscambodia.org | ||||||||||
| China boasting lack of ASEAN concensus to confront China? Posted: 25 Sep 2011 09:12 PM PDT ASEAN's united front against China does not exist September 26, 2011 Global Times (China) The Philippines convened a regional meeting Thursday in Manila, pushing ASEAN countries to form a united front against China over the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines has lost its cool over the territorial disputes. It clamors for a united ASEAN front to blunt China, which appears to be a diplomatic illusion. On significant issues concerning territory and sovereignty, China will not scale back its claims and submit to external pressure. During the meeting, maritime legal experts neither endorsed the plan for joint South China Sea development, nor confirmed the legal basis for the Philippine proposal. Two ASEAN members, Cambodia and Laos, did not even send delegates to the meeting. Such facts demonstrate the lack of consensus within ASEAN. There is no collective will to unite and confront China, especially among those who have no part in the South China Sea dispute. Before Philippine President Benigno Aquino III's current visit to Japan, diplomats from both countries had engaged in talks over the South China Sea dispute. Backed by the US, the Philippines now tries to involve more regional players like Japan to collectively check China. But such efforts will be fruitless. Some regional countries may want to use the Philippines to balance China. But generally, the strategic significance of their relationship with China will overwhelm their need to play up to the Philippines. However, they will understand the potential risks if they become involved in the dispute. Seeking a united regional stance to isolate China and, by doing so, win concessions will only prove futile. The Philippines has to return to bilateral negotiations over the disputed waters. The Philippines plays the regional meeting as a card. Nevertheless, if the Philippines really wants a showdown over the South China Sea issue, China has many more cards to play. The ASEAN countries, who sent delegates to discuss the Philippine proposal, have their own anxieties and problems with China. They will not step into the conflict and conform to the Philippine requirements. Even the Philippines itself does not want its dispute to escalate. Just three weeks ago during his visit to China, Aquino stressed his desire for peaceful dialogue over territorial disputes. The Philippines does not have the willpower to sacrifice its relationship with China and become involved in an armed standoff. Seeking ASEAN help to isolate China is pure nationalist fantasy.  |
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