KI Media: “RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope - premiers at Meta House FRIDAY, Sept. 2 at 7 PM” plus 24 more |
- RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope - premiers at Meta House FRIDAY, Sept. 2 at 7 PM
- Robber identified - Video owner took out camera in fear of reprisal
- Abandoned at birth? Sihana, the alleged third son of Sihanouk and Monineath, arrested for using fake birth certficate
- The Xmer govt and the Hochimonks plan to arrest and jail Ven. Loun Sovath
- CIVICUS Cambodia-RFK Center Speak Truth To Power Photo Exhibit
- The Khmer Post Radio's Interview with Ven. Loun Sovath
- Please join us for the 20th Anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991 on Cambodia Rally
- Cambodian Tribunal Challenges VOA News Report
- Fainting factory told to act
- Chalerm to seek release of Veera and Ratree
- Mother charged with killing children released from hospital
- Thai-Cambodia Tensions Ease Ahead of Defense Ministers' Meeting
- VOA Concerned about Warning to Journalists in Cambodia
- Tribunal Opens Contempt Proceedings Against VOA Khmer [-No time for investigation, but have time to waste on contempt charge?]
- Appeal from Mr. Sokha Leang
- Brain Food for the Stubborn, Ignorant Anti-Change CPP
- CCHR's Media Alert: Six Land Communities in Siem Reap Will Gather To Send A Joint-Statement On Land Issue To Government
- UN Convention Against Corruption
- CCHR calls on ECCC to address underlying causes ofleaking of confidential information
- Brain Food for the Children who come from Families who steal for a living
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Brain Food for the CPP
- Overseas Khmers plan a protest against Hun Sen at the UN in New York
- At least 1,500 Cambodian troops leave disputed border with Thailand
- Terrible tales from Cambodia [-Does Hun Xen need tourists to tell him how dire some part of Cambodia is?]
| RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope - premiers at Meta House FRIDAY, Sept. 2 at 7 PM Posted: 02 Sep 2011 04:00 AM PDT RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope. Premiers in Cambodia less than 2 weeks after the premier in the U.S. on PBS. Follow by Q&A with CIVICUS Cambodia Theary Seng and RFK Center director of Speak Truth To Power from Washington, D. C. John Heffernan. (The project Speak Truth To Power is translated as Courage Without Borders into Khmer.) Free Admission. Limited Seating.   | ||||||||
| Robber identified - Video owner took out camera in fear of reprisal Posted: 01 Sep 2011 05:54 PM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nys_tlR1ooM Synopsis: Police confirmed that the video shown above was captured during a daylight robbery in Phnom Penh, just across from the Phnom Penh International Airport. During the robbery, a woman was shot three times by the robbers for attempting to wrestle back a box of her money worth about 100 million riels (~$30,000). Using the video, the police was able to identified the robbers, but it declined to reveal their identity. The victim died on the way to the hospital. An announcement was posted on Facebook indicating that the owner of the video camera which taped the entire robbery scene had decided to remove the camera because he fears reprisals from the robbers. On the other hand, considering that nobody dared help the victim of the robbery, it is understandable why the owner of the video camera is concerned for his safety. After all this is the Kingdoom of Don't You Ever Wonder! Get it? ក្រុមចោរបាញ់សម្លាប់ស្ត្រីអាជីវករប្តូរប្រាក់ដែលមើលឃើញតាមវីដេអូឃ្លីប ត្រូវស្គាល់អត្តសញ្ញាណហើយ ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បត្ត៏ ទី១ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ម៉ោង ១៨:១៥ ដោយ ៖ ប្រុសកោះ កោះសន្តិភាព រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ៖ ប្រធានការិយាល័យព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ កម្រិតធ្ងន់ នៃ ស្នងការដ្ឋាន នគរបាល រាជធានី ភ្នំពេញ លោកជួន ណារិន្ទ បានមានប្រសាសន៍ប្រាប់កោះសន្តិភាពតាមទូរស័ព្ទនៅរសៀលថ្ងៃទី១ កញ្ញា ២០១១នេះ ថា មុខសញ្ញាក្រុមចោរប្លន់ ដែលបានប្លន់បាញ់សម្លាប់ស្រ្តីជាអាជីវករប្តូរប្រាក់នៅ រង្វង់មូលចោមចៅយកប្រាក់ប្រមាណ៣ម៉ឺនដុល្លារអាមេរិកកាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៨ សីហា កន្លងមកនេះ គឺសមត្ថកិច្ចបានកំណត់មុខសញ្ញា និងស្គាល់អត្តសញ្ញាណអស់ហើយ។ ប៉ុន្តែលោក ប្រធាន ការិយាល័យ ព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ កម្រិត ធ្ងន់ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ សុំមិនទាន់បញ្ចេញឈ្មោះនិងទីតាំង លាក់ខ្លួន របស់បក្ខ ពួក ចោរប្លន់ ទាំងនោះ នៅឡើយទេ ពីព្រោះ ស្ថិតក្នុង នីតិវិធី តាមប្រមាញ់ របស់សមត្ថកិច្ច ។ គួររំលឹកថា ស្ត្រីជាអាជីវករប្តូរប្រាក់ម្នាក់បានរងរបួសយ៉ាងធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ និងបន្ទាប់មកបានស្លាប់ បាត់បង់ ជីវិត ពេល កំពុង បញ្ជូន ទៅ សង្គ្រោះ នៅមន្ទីរពេទ្យកាល់ម៉ែត ដល់ពាក់កណ្តាលផ្លូវដោយ សារ ចោរ ប្លន់ មានគ្នា ជា ច្រើននាក់ប្រដាប់ ដោយកាំភ្លើង ខ្លី ធ្វើ សកម្មភាព បាញ់ប្រហារ ប្លន់ យក កេស ដាក់ ប្រាក់អស់ចំនួន ជាង១០០លាន រៀល ស្មើនឹងប្រមាណ៣ម៉ឺនដុល្លារ។ គ្រោះអកុសល នេះ បាន កើត ឡើង ក្នុង ខណៈ ពេល ដែល ស្ត្រី រងគ្រោះ កំពុង ជិះម៉ូតូ ជាមួយ កូនប្រុស ធ្វើដំណើរចេញពីកន្លែងប្តូរប្រាក់មួយនៅម្តុំ ផ្សារអូឡាំពិក ខណ្ឌចំការមន ត្រឡប់ទៅផ្ទះនៅម្តុំរង្វង់មូលចោមចៅ ជាមួយកូនប្រុស។ ហេតុការណ៍នោះបានកើតឡើងកាលពីវេលាម៉ោង១០និង២០នាទីព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី២៨ ខែសីហា នៅលើកំណាត់មហាវិថីសហព័ន្ធរុស្ស៊ីត្រង់ចំណុចកន្លែង លក់ខោ អាវជជុះ មុខព្រលាន យន្តហោះអន្តរជាតិ ភ្នំពេញ ភូមិព្រៃទា សង្កាត់ចោមចៅ ខណ្ឌដង្កោ។ ស្ត្រីរងគ្រោះឈ្មោះជួន ធារ៉ា អាយុ៤៨ឆ្នាំ មុខរបរប្តូរប្រាក់នៅរង្វង់មូលចោមចៅ ត្រូវចោរបាញ់៣គ្រាប់ត្រូវចំលើដើមទ្រូងខាងឆ្វេងធ្លាយទៅក្រោយ។ ចំណែកកូនប្រុសរបស់គាត់ឈ្មោះផុន ឡាទី អាយុ២១ឆ្នាំ មិនរងរបួសអ្វីទេ។ ពួកគេរស់នៅក្បែររង្វង់មូលថ្នល់បំបែកចោមចៅ។ ដោយឡែក ក្រុមចោរ មានគ្នាជាច្រើននាក់ ស្លៀកពាក់ស៊ីវិល ប្រដាប់ដោយកាំភ្លើងខ្លី២ដើម ជិះម៉ូតូធុនហុងដា សេ១២៥ ពីរគ្រឿង និងមានម៉ូតូបិទគូទមួយចំនួនទៀត។ ក្រោយពេលធ្វើសកម្មភាពបាញ់ប្លន់ ដណ្តើម យកកេសលុយជាង១រយលានរៀលបានហើយ ពួកវាបានជិះម៉ូតូគេចខ្លួនបាត់ ដោយសុវត្ថិភាព។ តាមប្រភពព័ត៌មានបានឱ្យដឹងថា នៅមុនពេលកើតហេតុស្ត្រីរងគ្រោះ និងកូនប្រុស បានជិះ ម៉ូតូ១គ្រឿងម៉ាកអ៊ែរប្លេត ពាក់ស្លាកលេខភ្នំពេញ 1AX-2125 ពណ៌ខ្មៅ នាំយក ប្រាក់ដុល្លារចំនួន ៣ម៉ឺន ដុល្លារ អាមេរិក ទៅ ប្តូរយក ប្រាក់រៀល បានជាង១រយលានរៀលនៅផ្ទះម្តុំផ្សារអូឡាំពិក ខណ្ឌចំការមន ដែលជាកន្លែងប្តូរប្រាក់ធំមួយ។ ក្រោយពេលដូររួចស្ត្រីរងគ្រោះនិងកូនប្រុសបានជិះម៉ូតូឌុបគ្នាត្រឡប់មកផ្ទះវិញ ដោយដាក់ប្រាក់នៅក្នុងសំបកកេសស្រាបៀរមួយរួចដាក់ចំកណ្តាលដែលម្តាយជិះអោប ពីក្រោយ។ ពេលជិះតាមផ្លូវស្រាប់តែមានជនសង្គមងងឹតមួយក្រុមបានដេញតាមប្លន់យ៉ាងប្រកៀកប្រកិតធ្វើឱ្យជនរងគ្រោះដឹងខ្លួនផងដែរ បានបើកម៉ូតូរត់សសៀរតាមផ្ទះប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ប៉ុន្តែមិនចំកន្លែងសមត្ថកិច្ចឈរជើងទាល់តែសោះ ទើបចោរមានឱកាសតាមប្លន់រហូត។ លុះទៅដល់ត្រង់ចំណុចកើតហេតុខាងលើ ស្រាប់តែជនសង្ស័យ៣នាក់ ស្លៀកពាក់ស៊ីវិលជិះម៉ូតូ២គ្រឿងដេញតាមពីក្រោយ ធ្វើឱ្យជនរងគ្រោះភ័យខ្លាំងពេក ក៏ផ្តួលម៉ូតូ ហើយត្រូវចោរដណ្តើមកេសប្រាក់យ៉ាងស្វិតស្វាញបំផុតរហូតដល់បក្សពួកចោរដកកាំភ្លើងខ្លីបាញ់ឥតញញើតដៃតែម្តង។ ប្រភពដដែលបានបន្តទៀតថា ខណៈនោះស្ត្រីរងគ្រោះមិនព្រមប្រគល់កេសប្រាក់នោះឱ្យទេ ឯក្រុមចោរ ក៏បាន ព្យាយាម ដណ្តើមយក តែជនរងគ្រោះនៅតែមិនព្រមឱ្យដដែល ទើបក្រុមចោរបាញ់ប្រហារ សំដៅ ដងខ្លួន ចំនួន៣គ្រាប់ តែម្តង ត្រូវស្ត្រីរងគ្រោះដេកដួលក្នុងថ្លុកឈាម។ ចំណែកក្រុមចោរប្លន់ ពេលបាញ់រួចហើយបាននាំគ្នាយកកេសប្រាក់នោះជិះ ម៉ូតូគេចខ្លួនធ្វើព្រងើយ គ្មានអ្នកណាហ៊ានជួយឡើយ ៕  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 05:30 PM PDT
Synopsis: The Kandal province authority arrested a man by the name of Sihana who came to register for the upcoming election. The man showed a birth certificate indicating that he was born on 5 November 1981 in Dangkao district, Phnom Penh city. His father name is Norodom Sihanouk who was born on 10 March 1912 in Phnom Penh, his mother's name is Monineath, a French citizen born on 06 September 1936 in Subuya department, Cabigna district, France. The authority arrested him because it appeared that his birth certificate was fake. KI-Media Note: Any parents in Beijing who lost their son, please come and collect him at the police station before he is sent to rot in Prey Sar! Don't say we didn't tell you! បុរសម្នាក់តាំងខ្លួនជាបុត្រាពៅរបស់សម្តេចឪ ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បត្ត៏ ទី១ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ម៉ោង ១៨:២៦ ដោយ ៖ ប្រុសកោះ កោះសន្តិភាព ខេត្តកណ្តាល ៖ បុរសម្នាក់ដែលតាំងខ្លួនជាបុត្រាពៅរបស់សម្តេចព្រះនរោត្តម សីហនុ និងព្រះរាជអគ្គមហេសី នរោត្តម មុនិនាថ សីហនុ បានទៅចុះឈ្មោះបោះឆ្នោតនៅសាលាឃុំស្វាយរលំ ស្រុកស្អាង កាលពីព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី១ កញ្ញា។ ជននេះបានបង្ហាញសំបុត្របញ្ជាក់កំណើតដល់មេឃុំ តែមេឃុំសង្ស័យក្លែងក្លាយ ក៏ឱ្យប៉ូលិសរដ្ឋបាលស្វាយរលំឃាត់ខ្លួន។ ប៉ូលិសបានដកហូតសំបុត្របញ្ជាក់កំណើតជនសង្ស័យក្លែងក្លាយមួយដែលមាននាមត្រកូលនរោត្តម និងនាមខ្លួនសីហណា ថ្ងៃកំណើតថ្ងៃសុក្រ ទី៥ វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ១៩៨១ ខណ្ឌដង្កោ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ នាមត្រកូល និងនាមខ្លួនឪពុកនរោត្តម សីហុន ជនជាតិខ្មែរ កើតថ្ងៃចន្ទ ទី១០ មីនា ឆ្នាំ១៩១២ ទីកន្លែងកំណើតក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ខណ្ឌដង្កោ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា នាមត្រកូល និងនាមខ្លួនម្តាយមុនិនាថ ជនជាតិបារាំង កើតថ្ងៃពុធទី៦ កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ១៩៣៦ រដ្ឋស៊ូប៊ូយ៉ា ខណ្ឌកាប៊ីញ៉ា ប្រទេសបារាំង។ មន្ត្រីប៉ូលិសឱ្យដឹងថា នៅលើលិខិតបញ្ជាក់កំណើតនោះមានភាពមិនប្រក្រតីច្រើនដូចជា មិនមានបោះត្រា ឬចុះហត្ថលេខាពីមន្ត្រីអត្រានុកូលដ្ឋានទេ។ ក្រៅពីដកហូតសំបុត្របញ្ជាក់កំណើតក្លែងក្លាយនោះ សមត្ថកិច្ចដកហូតព្រះរាជសារមួយច្បាប់សង្ស័យក្លែងក្លាយដែលមានព្រះហស្តលេខារបស់សម្តេចព្រះនរោត្តម សីហនុ ។ នៅក្នុងព្រះរាជសារនោះផ្តាំផ្ញើដល់បុត្រាបុត្រីរបស់សម្តេចព្រះនរោត្តម សីហនុ ទាំងអស់ឱ្យទទួលស្គាល់ឈ្មោះសីហណា ជាញាតិវង្ស និងផ្តាំផ្ញើឱ្យចេះសាមគ្គីគ្នា ស្រឡាញ់គ្នា និងផ្តាំផ្ញើដល់មន្ត្រីទាំងអស់ឱ្យទទួលស្គាល់ឈ្មោះសីហណានេះ ។ ព្រះរាជសារបញ្ជាក់ថា បុត្រាពៅឈ្មោះសីហណា ស្គាល់ទីតាំងកប់កំណប់នៅក្នុងព្រះបរមរាជវាំង ដែលអាចគាស់យកមកប្រើសម្រាប់កសាងប្រទេសឱ្យជឿនលឿន សំបូររុងរឿង ។ ចំណែកឯកសារមួយទៀត គឺជាផែនទីគូសដោយដៃ សរសេរថា ផែនទីក្នុងបរមរាជវាំង បង្ហាញពីទីតាំងផ្សេងៗជាច្រើនទៀត។ បុរសឈ្មោះសីហណា ដែលតាំងខ្លួនជាបុត្រាពៅរបស់សម្តេចព្រះនរោត្តម សីហនុ នោះត្រូវបានបញ្ជូនទៅកាន់អធិការដ្ឋានស្រុកស្អាងសាកសួរបន្តទៀត។ បើតាមមន្ត្រីប៉ូលិសស្រុកស្អាងឱ្យដឹងថា ជននោះមានសតិមិនគ្រប់ គឺពេលសមត្ថកិច្ចសាកសួរគេឆ្លើយស្រេចតែចិត្តនឹកឃើញ ម្តងឆ្លើយបែបនេះ ម្តងបែបនោះ យកជាការមិនបានទេ សូម្បីតែទីលំនៅរបស់ខ្លួនសព្វថ្ងៃក៏មិនដឹងពិតប្រាកដដែរ ៕  | ||||||||
| The Xmer govt and the Hochimonks plan to arrest and jail Ven. Loun Sovath Posted: 01 Sep 2011 03:24 PM PDT
Both religious and civil authorities are after Loun Sovath, 30. Nicknamed the 'multimedia monk', he could be jailed for defending the poor and farmers. His response has been to intensify his work to defend their rights. Other monks and university students have been banned from meeting him. Thursday, September 01, 2011 Asia News Phnom Penh – Human rights activist and media savvy monk Loun Sovath will continue his fights against forced land grabs, despite the real possibility that he might end up in jail on the order of Cambodian authorities. Nicknamed the 'multimedia monk', he has already been banned from the country's monasteries because of his fight on behalf of the poor and ordinary people. [Hochimonks] Non Nget, supreme patriarch at the Ounalom Pagoda in Phnom Penh, has threatened to expel five monks and ten university students if they contacted Loun Sovath if he should visit the monastery, where he lived for a long time in the recent past. The media savvy 30-year-old is perhaps Cambodia's most famous activist Buddhist monk. He has repeatedly denounced abuses, land grabs and forced relocations. He has been banned from temples because monks are not allowed to take part in politics or street protests. On several occasions, he has come to being arrested, but he has never wavered in his fight for the rights of the weak. "The more they threaten me, the more I stand up for our rights," the Venerable said. He got his nickname because he videotapes land grabs and gives copies to the media. He has earned the public's respect and remains one of a kind, because few venerable and masters fight on other people's behalf. His peaceful activism has brought him to the attention of humanitarian groups and associations as well as earned him the support of the population, but it also caused the displeasure of the authorities, who do not tolerate protests, especially if economic interests are at stake. Loun Sovath entered monkhood at the age of 13. He became an activist when he witnessed a land grab in his native village in 2009. On that occasion, police fired at unarmed villagers protesting against the confiscation of their fields. He captured much of the confrontation on camera and successfully resisted police attempts to confiscate his material. His work on behalf of human rights has made him a "high-profile target", according to Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director with Human Rights Watch (HRW) [Hochimonks] Non Nget, supreme patriarch at Ounalom Pagoda, has threatened to evict five monks who, along with ten university students, who might want to contact the 'multimedia monk'. The venerable has given them an ultimatum to prevent other monks from following Loun Sovath's example. However, sources inside the pagoda that asked for anonymity said that the supreme patriarch is the victim of political pressures from high up to get him to put a stop to his former disciple's activism.  | ||||||||
| CIVICUS Cambodia-RFK Center Speak Truth To Power Photo Exhibit Posted: 01 Sep 2011 11:17 AM PDT VIRTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION OF COURAGE WITHOUT BORDERS (Speak Truth To Power) hosted by CIVICUS Cambodia, a partner of the RFK Center at Meta House. Free Admission. Please follow the virtual tour with the attached document of summary biography of these global heroes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFqcXTxGICk http://www.box.net/shared/k0m0qksnrc3hteuofz49  | ||||||||
| The Khmer Post Radio's Interview with Ven. Loun Sovath Posted: 01 Sep 2011 11:08 AM PDT
Click the control below to listen to the interview:  | ||||||||
| Please join us for the 20th Anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991 on Cambodia Rally Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:43 AM PDT   | ||||||||
| Cambodian Tribunal Challenges VOA News Report Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:36 AM PDT Thursday, September 1st, 2011 Voice of America Cambodia's U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal says it has begun contempt proceedings against VOA's Khmer service for disclosing confidential documents about the prosecution of Khmer Rouge defendants with suspected links to genocide in the 1970s. The tribunal's move drew an immediate statement of concern Thursday from VOA administrators, who said the probe is unwarranted and could have a chilling effect on coverage of an important international news story. It also said VOA and its Khmer service are committed to providing objective, comprehensive coverage of proceedings before the tribunal. The contempt case stems from a series of interviews last month in which VOA Khmer mentioned three mid-level Khmer Rouge suspects who had been named by court prosecutors in confidential court papers. The suspects had already been identified by name by the Christian Science Monitor (newspaper) and a New Zealand Web site in June. VOA video reports during August included images of the original court documents. The move against U.S.-funded broadcaster marks the first time the tribunal has followed through on warnings to launch contempt proceedings. No timetable for legal action has been announced. In its landmark first trial, the tribunal last year sentenced former Khmer Rouge lieutenant Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, to 30 years in prison for his role as chief of the notorious Tuol Sleng torture prison during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-1979 reign. The tribunal later reduced the sentence to 19 years, granting Duch credit for time served. Duch has appealed the guilty verdict, and the tribunal said Thursday it hopes to rule by the end of this year whether the conviction should be overturned. The four most senior surviving members of the former Khmer Rouge, including nominal head of state 79-year-old Khieu Samphan, are set to face trial in the coming months. They face charges of religious persecution, torture and genocide in the deaths of as many as 2 million people. Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998.  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:33 AM PDT
Thursday, 01 September 2011 Tep Nimol and Vincent MacIsaac The Phnom Penh Post Another garment factory within the International Lab-our Organisation's Better Factories program was hit by a mass fainting incident yesterday. More than 50 employees of Heart Enterprise (Cambodia) Co Ltd began collapsing soon after starting their shift at the facility, in Phnom Penh's Dangkor district. "Some women got weak in the knees and fell, some started choking, and for others their hands and legs began trembling and shaking before they fell," Un Dara, president of the Independent Union Federation, said. The women were taken to the Bek Chan Health Centre and Kossamak Hospital, with the most serious cases sent to the latter. Nhoem Srey Touch, 22, who was treated at Bek Chan Health Centre, said she began choking and her limbs went numb. She said she also panicked when women around her began collapsing. "I was so terrified I lost consciousness," she said. Chhorn Sokha, an investigator with the Community Legal Education Center's labour program, said some workers at Heart Enterprise had blamed poor air circulation in the factory for the faintings. An inspection by officials from the ministries of labour, social affairs and health had found that ventilating fans were blocked, air circulation was poor and workers were fatigued from working too much overtime, Yi Kithana, deputy director-general of the Labour Ministry's occupational health department, said yesterday. He said the factory was required to make several changes, including removing all materials blocking ventilating fans and windows and ensuring that workers were not forced to work overtime, before it could open again. The mass fainting incident follows several others last month, including two incid-ents last week at a factory in Kampong Chnnang that supplies global brand H&M. The Swedish-based comp-any has been quick to respond to the incident. Yesterday, it told the Post it had hired an external expert to conduct an investigation that would begin within a week. "The investigation . . . will seek to include all relevant stakeholders in the data coll-ection and following analysis," a spokesman for the company said. The ILO's Better Factories program has been conducting investigations. Tuomo Poutiainen, its chief technical adviser, said yesterday he was not sure there was "a single common denominator" in the wave of faintings, but added: "The garment industry is unfortunately known for long working hours, generally 10 hours a day. "In the cases we have investigated, long working hours and [poor] nutrition are present. The trigger factors may differ from case to case, and we are looking deeply into this to find the causes and a solution." Poutiainen also said Cambodia's garment industry was experiencing swift growth. "Orders rose by 30 to 35 per cent in the first five months of this year. This could impact the issue of working hours." Poutiainen declined to identify which brands Heart Enterprise supplies. "The ILO does not release the name of the brands the factories supply. Our concern is the welfare of workers," he said. But he added: "The brands are very concerned. We are in contact with many of them about these incidents."  | ||||||||
| Chalerm to seek release of Veera and Ratree Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:29 AM PDT September 1, 2011 The Nation Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said Thursday he planned to visit Phnom Penh to seek the release of two Thai activists jailed there on spy charges. He said his visit would come only after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's official visit to the country. Two Thai activists; Veera Somkwamkid, leader of the Thailand Patriot Network and his assistant Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, were arrested and given up to eight years in jail in Cambodia on charges of spying. The two were among seven Thais including a Democrat MP, charged with illegal entry after crossing into a disputed border area in December last year. The incident happened during the Abhisit government. Five of them were freed after their jail terms were suspended. But Veera and Ratree remain in jail and their royal pardon requests have been denied. Chalerm is in the government of Yingluck, whose brother, former PM Thaksin, has close ties with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen. Thaksin was a personal economic adviser to Hun Sen. The appointment led to downgrading of mutual ties between Thailand and Cambodia. Chalerm told reporters that his son, Wan, is a friend of Cambodia's deputy navy commander in chief, so he would probably use this connection to help seek the release of Veera and Ratree.  | ||||||||
| Mother charged with killing children released from hospital Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:25 AM PDT Thu, Sep. 1, 2011 By Robert Moran Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer A woman who allegedly stabbed her 8-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter to death was released from a hospital this morning and turned over to police to face murder charges. Police identified her as Chanthy Mao, 27, a recent immigrant from Cambodia. Mao was taken to Police Headquarters this morning after undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was awaiting an initial court hearing on charges of murder in the slayings of her son Savann and daughter Savanna inside their home on the 1700 block of South 18th Street in South Philadelphia's Point Breeze section. The children were pronounced dead by medics at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday inside their first-floor apartment. Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Mao told police that she had stabbed her children, and she was "acting irrationally." Police did not disclose this morning if doctors had determined if she was under the influence of medications or other substances. Police responded to the apartment around 5 p.m. after receiving calls about a disturbance and a person with a weapon. The children were found in their bedroom, Small said. They had been stabbed repeatedly in the chest. A knife found in the apartment appeared to be the weapon, police said. The children's maternal grandmother was in the apartment when police arrived and may have discovered the slayings. Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey visited the scene Wednesday night. Chea Meas, 43, a social worker, said the family was from Cambodia and that the mother and children had come to the United States about a year and a half ago. Meas said he met the children's grandfather, Man Mao, five years ago after Mao obtained political asylum in the United States. The rest of Mao's family was later allowed to join him. Meas said he met the mother and children a few times. The mother seemed "very normal," and the children were "very polite," he said. The family had moved to 18th Street in the last year or so, neighbors said. Meas said the grandfather had called him last week about enrolling the children in a neighborhood school.  | ||||||||
| Thai-Cambodia Tensions Ease Ahead of Defense Ministers' Meeting Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:16 AM PDT
Ron Corben, VOA | Bangkok
Thailand and Cambodia hope a meeting of their defense ministers in September will help rebuild cross-border relations after two years of tensions and armed clashes. The improved diplomatic outlook follows the election in July of the Thai government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Thai Defense Minister General Yutthasak Sasiprapha and Cambodia's deputy prime minister and defense minister, General Tea Banh, will co-chair a meeting of the general border committee in Phnom Penh on September 8. Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University and former government spokesman, says although there are several outstanding disputes, there is also a sense that both countries want to return to normal diplomatic relations. "I think both sides are trying to create a new impression that they are back at the negotiation table. Of course hard issues are still the same, but they are trying to create an impression that things are back to normal and that's not all bad because in the situation like this you need to create a better feeling," he explained. Media reports say General Yutthasak will also meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The talks mark a step toward rebuilding cross-border relations after a turbulent period during the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader. Conflicts have focused the 11th century Preah Vihear Hindu temple, with both Thailand and Cambodia accusing the other of acts of aggression and shelling of smaller Hindu temple sites. Some 18 people were killed in the fighting and thousands of others fled their homes. Both Cambodia and Thailand laid claims to the temple area. A 1962 World Court ruling awarded the temple to Cambodia but did not adjudicate on surrounding lands on the Thai side of the border. In 2008 Cambodia had the temple declared a World Heritage site. Before then, Thailand had insisted both countries make a joint application to the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Thai nationalists' accuse Cambodia of seeking to control the four square kilometers of area on the Thai side of the border, through its proposed management plan. Carl Thayer, a political scientist at Australia's University of New South Wales, says since the election of the Yingluck Shinawatra-led government, the diplomatic climate has improved. "Overall prospects are positive at the moment - cautiously positive," Thayer said. "But [Yingluck] is facing tremendous internal problems and if anyone tries to make the border issue a domestic football then it's going to complicate it." In the past, the border dispute with Cambodia has been a political wedge in Thailand where nationalist groups have accused allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of not forcefully representing Thailand's interests in the dispute. Thaksin has long had close ties with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the two countries had much friendlier relations during Thaksin's tenure as Thailand's prime minister. His former telecom company, Shin Corp, played a key role in Cambodia's mobile phone and cable TV sectors in the 1990s. After Thaksin was ousted in a coup in Thailand in 2006, Hun Sen appointed him as an economics advisor in 2009 and he visited Cambodia later that year. During 2009, tensions again rose over the border issue, leading to sporadic clashes that continued for the next two years. This July, Cambodian asked the International Court of Justice to rule on the dispute. The court called for a demilitarized zone near the Preah Vihear temple and the posting of Indonesian army observers to enforce the agreement. Cambodia is expected to press for Indonesian observers to act as a guarantee against a buildup of Thai troops. Hang Chayya, director of the Phnom Penh-based Khmer Institute for Democracy, says, although Cambodia moves to control the temple site's development, Phnom Penh is more cautious in its negotiations with Thailand. "The government still wants to follow up in this with international or Indonesian observers and it wants to move and make an impact in terms of this development plan that it wants to carry out in regard to Preah Vihear. But it's taking a very cautious sort of approach. It doesn't want to resurface these issues again with the new government - the Yingluck government," Hang said. Thailand and Cambodia now say restoration of relations is a priority. Hun Sen says he is looking to improve the border situation with the cross-border dispute no longer figuring in talks of the 10-member Association of Southeast Nations.  | ||||||||
| VOA Concerned about Warning to Journalists in Cambodia Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:12 AM PDT (Media-Newswire.com) - Washington, D.C. — September 1, 2011 — The Voice of America is concerned about a legal warning issued in connection with VOA coverage of the U.N.-backed tribunal in Cambodia that has been investigating atrocities committed by the former Khmer Rouge regime. On August 31, the Co-Investigating Judges at the U.N.-backed Cambodian tribunal announced they had instituted "contempt of court" proceedings related to the VOA Khmer Service reports. The unsigned statement from the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, cited VOA's use of confidential court documents in a report broadcast on August 10 that identified potential new defendants. The statement said proceedings had been instituted for "Interference with the Administration of Justice" after VOA "quoted verbatim from a confidential document" and "even showed that document on a video." The statement went on to say, "Anyone intending further disclosure of confidential court documents is hereby warned that his case could be transferred to the National Prosecutor pursuant to Rule 35 ( 2 ) ( c )." Voice of America is concerned about the potential "chilling effect" this threat by the co-investigating judges could have on coverage of an important international story. Some rights groups have accused judges at the tribunal of failing to fully investigate cases brought by prosecutors. Voice of America believes the warning issued by the co-investigating judges is unwarranted. The Voice of America has a journalistic and legal responsibility to provide balanced and comprehensive coverage of important issues. The careful use of confidential sources and documents that provide important insight into critical issues is a well-established practice by independent journalists the world over. Furthermore, the documents in question have been used by other news organizations. Voice of America and its Khmer Service are committed to providing accurate, objective and comprehensive coverage of the ongoing investigation into Khmer Rouge atrocities and issues of importance to the people of the region and the world. For media inquiries contact Kyle King in Washington at kking@voanews.com.  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 09:52 AM PDT
Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC
Investigating judges at the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal have begun contempt of court proceedings against VOA Khmer, which they said in a statement Wednesday had interfered with the court's work by making public the contents of confidential court documents. In August, VOA Khmer ran a series of interviews with three suspects named by court prosecutors in confidential submissions that had earlier been made public by international media outlets, including the US-based Christian Science Monitor and a New Zealand website called Scoop. In the interviews, three suspects, Ta An, Im Chaem and Meas Muth denied responsibility for atrocity crimes. The prosecution submissions named a total five suspects in two cases, 003 and 004, which Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government officials oppose, saying further indictments at the court could hurt national stability. The investigating judges, Siegfried Blunk and You Bunleng, have been under increased scrutiny since April, when they announced the conclusion of their work in Case 003, despite failing to interview the two suspects in the case or to visit key crime sites. International prosecutor Andrew Cayley has since appealed to have the judges continue the investigation. That appeal is under review, and the investigating judges say they are continuing work on Case 004. In their statement Wednesday, the judges said VOA Khmer had "quoted verbatim from a confidential document of the [tribunal] and even showed that document on a video," and that they had "instituted proceedings for Interference with the Administration of Justice (Contempt of Court)" under court rules. "Anyone intending further disclosure of confidential court documents is hereby warned that his case could be transferred to the National Prosecutor," they said. VOA Khmer chief Chris Decherd said Wednesday the service supports the work of the court. "The role of VOA Khmer is to serve the 14 million citizens of Cambodia by reporting, producing and broadcasting news reports about the world, the US, Asia and Cambodia that are important and relevant to Cambodian citizens, who deserve and are well-served by objective and quality news reporting about issues and topics that impact and affect their daily lives," Decherd said in a statement. Wednesday's statement opened broader questions over the court's work and the role of journalists who cover it. The hybrid court was established to try former leaders of the Khmer Rouge, under which more than 1.7 million people died, and to bring victims of the regime into the judicial process for the sake of national reconciliation. "Through my observations so far, I see that coverage of the Khmer Rouge tribunal is still limited," said Mean Chhean Nariddh, director of the Cambodian Institute for Media. "This is because the level of knowledge among local journalists is still low. Therefore, if the court has too much restriction, it will lead to journalists shunning more coverage of the court. Their knowledge of international criminal courts like the [tribunal] is low. So they are afraid that they would end up in trouble. This is a loss for the tribunal, the international community and the Cambodian people." Mean Chhean Nariddh said that legal action taken against journalists could set a bad example for the domestic courts to follow. Our Virak, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said the judges' position was aimed at both journalists and its own staff. "Cases 003 and 004 have attracted a lot of interest from the public, and I think that tens of thousands, up to millions, of victims have the right to know about the court's processes," he said. "We understand that the court seems to be failing. Therefore it seems there is a tendency to push for a proper investigation to move cases 003 and 004 forward." "We see that investigating judges seem to have completely failed," he said. "That's why there is the intention of some officials to bring this information to the public. In general, this kind of approach is pitiful, but it is necessary for a court that is failing and dragging on."  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:51 AM PDT September 1, 2011 Dear all respectable Brothers and Sisters, I am just a simple patriot who lacks necessary knowledge, so please excuse me. I am so glad about the word "Three –lotus". We should strengthen our solidarity and love to one another in order to find out solution for our nation. We need to give reasons and opinion exchange etc. We are all Khmer, Khmerkrom who have originated from the same source (my own opinion) we should create an inter-assembly so that there will not be any criticizing, gossiping between one another. If it is successful, our nation will be united. This will bring unification. If we really intend to do that, I believe that we will be successful in the future and I also believe that we all want victory and success. On the other hand, 10 millions Khmerkrom people are waiting for the right chance to come and help them out. They are like children waiting for their mother to come back from the market with the hope of a big smile on their mother's face and the mother does the same thing and so Khmerkrom needs freedom and liberty. I would like to beg you; respectable elderly, sisters, brothers and nationalists who have their spirit as a patriot, to look at the East. KhmerKrom people need support from us and Cambodian government. The Cambodian government can possibly provide us a brawn shield in order make this plan possible. Khmerkrom land is part of Kingdom of Cambodia which is under monarchical system of government and the King also has the same blood as we all have. I say this in the name of a Khmerkrom kid, The Representative of Khmerkrom ASEAN Society in Thailand, Sokha Leang.  | ||||||||
| Brain Food for the Stubborn, Ignorant Anti-Change CPP Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:48 AM PDT We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive. - C. S. Lewis  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:47 AM PDT Media Alert What: Community joint-statement on improper resolution of land conflict by the Siem Reap authority. When: 02 September 2011, 1:30pm – 4:00pm. Where: Tapen village, Tbaeng commune, Banteay Srey district, Siem Reap province. Who: Tapen village community, Tbaeng village community, Cham Bork Bei Doeum community, Sna Sangkhream community, Srae Nauy village community, and Chi Kraeng community. How: All these six communities will gather to send a joint-statement on land issue to government. For moreinformation contact: Ms. Keo Sophy :Tel: 097 91 27 819 Mr Doung Doeum : Tel: 092 88 39 51 Best regards, Samnang -- HOURT Samnang Project Assistant Human Rights Network Project Cambodian Center for Human Rights Tel: +855 89 69 59 79 Fax: +855 23 72 69 02 Nº798, Street 99, Beoung Trabek, Khan Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  | ||||||||
| UN Convention Against Corruption Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:42 AM PDT United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) In accordance with article 68 (1) of resolution 58/4, the United Nations Convention against Corruption entered into force on 14 December 2005. A Conference of the States Parties is established to review implementation and facilitate activities required by the Convention. Cambodia acceded to the UNCAC Chapter II Preventive measures Article 13: Participation of society 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption. This participation should be strengthened by such measures as: (a) Enhancing the transparency of and promoting the contribution of the public to decision-making processes; (b) Ensuring that the public has effective access to information; (c) Undertaking public information activities that contribute to non- tolerance of corruption, as well as public education programmes, including school and university curricula; (d) Respecting, promoting and protecting the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption. That freedom may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided for by law and are necessary: (i) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (ii) For the protection of national security or ordre public or of public health or morals. 2. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the relevant anti-corruption bodies referred to in this Convention are known to the public and shall provide access to such bodies, where appropriate, for the reporting, including anonymously, of any incidents that may be considered to constitute an offence established in accordance with this Convention.  | ||||||||
| CCHR calls on ECCC to address underlying causes ofleaking of confidential information Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:42 AM PDT  CCHR Media Comment – Phnom Penh, 1 September 2011 CCHR calls on ECCC to address underlying causes ofleaking of confidential information The Office of the Co-Investigating Judges (the "OCIJ") at Cambodia's United Nations backed war crimes court – the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (the "ECCC") – stated in apress release on the 31 August 2011 that it had started contempt of court proceedings against Voice of America ("VOA") Khmer for revealing confidential information about a case currently under investigation. In a two sentence press release, the OCIJ announced that as VOA on 10 August 2011 quoted verbatim from a confidential ECCC document relating to "Case 004" and showed that document in a video report, the OCIJ had initiated contempt of court proceedings against them. While it remains unclear what form any proceedings against VOA will take, this marks the first time the OCIJ has followed through on warnings to launch contempt proceedings. In June, the OCIJ warned of contempt of court proceedings after confidential court documents were quoted and even published by media outlets. The Phnom Penh Post reported on 13 May 2011that the OCIJ were considering contempt of court proceedings againstinternational co-prosecutor Andrew Cayley after he issued a statement requestingthat the OCIJ perform a series of additional – and seemingly basic –investigative steps in Case 003. While contempt of court proceedings are important in ensuring the sanctity of an ongoing investigation – the statement of 31 August comes amid allegations that the OCIJ is bowing to political pressure in relation to the investigation into Cases 003 and 004. Equally, contempt of court proceedings are important as a means of protecting the interests of the individuals under investigation – such as their right to a presumption of innocence – and yet court documents suggest that the OCIJ has, to date, refused to acknowledge any lawyer appointed to represent the interests of the unnamed suspects in Cases 003 and 004. Commenting on the OCIJ decision to initiate contempt of court proceedings against VOA, Ou Virak, President of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, a non-aligned, independent, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect democracy and respect for human rights throughout Cambodia, said: "The importance of contempt of court proceedings should not be underestimated. In this case however, the evidence suggests that these threats by the OCIJ are less motivated by a desire to ensure the sanctity of their investigations and the rights of the individuals under investigation than they are with a desire to gag the media and others who look at the court with a critical eye. The reality is that observers of the court and the general public are becoming increasingly convinced that the OCIJ is actively seeking to ensure the closure of the court with the end of Case 002. Against this background, it is unsurprising that the media should seek to get hold of and publish information relating to investigations which are widely believed to have stalled for political reasons. If the OCIJ truly wants to prevent information being leaked to the media relating to Cases 003 and 004 it must start by regaining the public's confidence. This it can only do through full and frank investigations into Cases 003 and 004 and by keeping the public adequately informed in this regard to the extentthat does not undermine the investigations and the rights of those subject to investigation". For more information, pleasecontact: Ou Virak, CCHR President Telephone: +855 12 40 40 51 Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org Please find this media comment attached in pdf. Thank you and kind regards, CCHR -- 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.  | ||||||||
| Brain Food for the Children who come from Families who steal for a living Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:40 AM PDT Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. - C. S. Lewis  | ||||||||
| UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:28 AM PDT Convention on the Rights of the Child Ratified by UNGA in Nov. 1989, entered into force 1990 Cambodia ratified this Convention on October 15, 1992 PART IIIArticle 50 1. Any State Party may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to States Parties, with a request that they indicate whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals. In the event that, within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of the States Parties favour such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted to the General Assembly for approval. 2. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of the present article shall enter into force when it has been approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations and accepted by a two-thirds majority of States Parties. 3. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted it, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Convention and any earlier amendments which they have accepted.  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:11 AM PDT The empty vessel makes the loudest sound. - William Shakespeare  | ||||||||
| Overseas Khmers plan a protest against Hun Sen at the UN in New York Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:43 AM PDT  Mr. Hun Sen with his top brass. By Khmerization Source: SRP email Many Khmers overseas have circulated emails urging the Cambodian Diaspora to attend a protest against Prime Minister Hun Sen when he attends the UN Security Council Meeting in New York in the middle of this month. Members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) in Europe and America are sending emails urging Khmers throughout the world to protest against Mr. Hun Sen who has been accused of being a dictator who ruled with an iron fist for 32 years. "Please be informed that PM Hun Sen will join the meeting with the UN Security Council in new York on 13 September 2011. Please welcome him there on the date and place", a member of the SRP in Norway wrote in an email to party members around the world. Mr. Sam Rainsy, the exiled SRP leader, and many Cambodian Diaspora have been predicting some sort of a people power revolution in Cambodia, similar to what had happened in some Arab countries, notably Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Some people, like Mr. Ou Chal, a graduate of the Sorbonne University in Paris with a doctorate degree, have been very active in urging the Khmer people inside the country to rise up in a Lotus Revolution to topple Mr. Hun Sen from power.  | ||||||||
| At least 1,500 Cambodian troops leave disputed border with Thailand Posted: 01 Sep 2011 02:11 AM PDT 31 August 2011 PHNOM PENH (BNO NEWS) -- Cambodia withdrew approximately 1,500 troops from the disputed border area with Thailand on Wednesday as the two neighboring countries' military tension have eased since July, one official said. Maj. Gen. Seak Socheat, deputy commander of the front-battle region 3, told the Xinhua news agency by telephone that the troops were pulled back from the Thmar Doun area between the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple, 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of the Preah Vihear Temple. "The pullback was made at the order of Prime Minister Hun Sen," Socheat told Xinhua. "It's the sixth time Cambodian troops have pulled back from the disputed border with Thailand." Dozens of people from both countries, including troops and civilians, were killed during armed clashes at the two temples which took place from April 22 until May 3. The violence forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee for safer areas. Both Cambodia and Thailand claim the 4.6 square kilometer (1.7 square miles) area near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on their shared border, which has never been formally established. However, the military tension has eased since the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in July's general election. Tensions first escalated between the two countries in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple. The United Nations Security Council urged both sides to establish a permanent ceasefire after at least 10 people were killed. Clashes resumed earlier this year as both nations claim the lands surrounding the ancient Hindu Temple, which has been damaged due to the conflict. The Preah Vihear temple dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border. In 2008, the temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding universal value. It is considered an outstanding example of Khmer architecture and consists of a complex of sanctuaries linked by pavements and staircases on an 800-meter (2624 feet)-long axis.  | ||||||||
| Posted: 01 Sep 2011 02:06 AM PDT 01 Sep, 2011 Collie Mail COLLIE Rotary Club is lending a helping hand to local woman Halina Hebb who is consumed by the need to ease the poverty in Cambodia. Club members will run a huge garage sale in the Scout Hall on September 10 from 8am to 2pm. People who have items for sale are asked to phone John Vlasich on 0428 341 470 or 9734 1470 or Harry Wiggers on 9734 2704 to arrange delivery or collection. Halina spoke to the club last week about her awakening to the need. FOUR years ago Halina Hebb was staying in a five-star Cambodian hotel while her husband Des played golf in a pro-am event on a manicured tourist golf course. The word "manicured" was appropriate, the grass was trimmed with nail scissors, Halina said. Before arriving she knew nothing about the country except there were famous temples at Angkor Wat and that "Angelina Jolie had made a movie there with rocks falling all over the place", she said. "At the hotel two girls asked me if I wanted to visit an orphanage so I grabbed some soap and fruit (as gifts) and went with them." What she saw en route shattered her. "Absolute despair — many kids on the way to the orphanage were naked — the conditions were dire. "I vowed I would never go back with so little again and that's how my fund-raising began." Cambodia was once known as "the Land of Paradise" but is now one of the world's most poverty-stricken countries. Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge seized control in April 1975 and more than two million people were killed in the next four years. All of the country's intellectuals and educated people were targets. When the starvation, torture and blood-letting began, Cambodia (which the Khmer Rouge renamed Kampuchea) had 4000 trained doctors. Only 40 survived.  |
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