KI Media: “Sam Rainsy's Optimistic Over the Future of His Party (Part 2 of Sam Rainsy's Interview on VOA)” plus 23 more |
- Sam Rainsy's Optimistic Over the Future of His Party (Part 2 of Sam Rainsy's Interview on VOA)
- National Reconciliation through Nature - By Mao Chamna
- Hun Sen flags intention to assist Thai detainees [... but not political Khmer detainees?]
- Thaksin Renews Effort To Politick From Afar
- Ronthut Chit! - So sad to see! - Poem in Khmer by Chhany Chham
- ប្រផ្នូលអាក្រក់សំរាប់ហ៊ុន សែន boomeraging sign of Hun Sen
- You think he is not scared of death? - រឿងអីមិនខ្លាចងាប់ ឪអាវ៉ា?
- Opposition Activist Fears Arrest Ahead of Election [-Who says the CPP is so sure about the election outcome?]
- មានទឹកជំនន់ ខ្វះលុយ អ្នកខ្លះមិនទៅស្រុកថ្ងៃភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ - Flood, no money, some are not returning home for Pchum Ben
- Dark side of tourism: Sexual exploitation of children
- Forced eviction in Cambodia: Cambodian rail line to displace country's poor
- NGOs lobby to stop Cambodia implementing new law
- New Cambodian law 'cracking down' on NGOs
- Feeding dead, Pchhum Ben festival in Cambodia
- Buffalo-racing ceremony in Cambodia
- Surapong: Hun Sen will help Veera, Ratree get pardons [-Hun Xen's gift to Yingluck?]
- Human Rights (explained)
- Mekong River water level on 27 September 2011
- Dangerously High Water Level at Tonle Chaktokmouk on 27 September 2011
- Sam Rainsy's interview on VOA on 20 September 2011 (Part 1)
- KKF Fundraising Banquet in Long Beach, California on 02 October 2011
- [Thai] FM: Cambodia to help Veera, Ratree [-Hun Xen to help the Yellow Shirt to please the Red Shirts?]
- CalPerformances with Special offer for the Bay Area Cambodian community
- [Unlike Hun Xen,] Bolivia’s president suspends highway project that sparked indigenous protests, police clashes
| Sam Rainsy's Optimistic Over the Future of His Party (Part 2 of Sam Rainsy's Interview on VOA) Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:57 PM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5iQ7PPGi4U  | |||||||||||||
| National Reconciliation through Nature - By Mao Chamna Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:48 PM PDT | |||||||||||||
| Hun Sen flags intention to assist Thai detainees [... but not political Khmer detainees?] Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:33 PM PDT
Hopes soar for release of Veera, Ratree 28/09/2011 Thanida Tansubhapol & King-Oua Laohong Bangkok Post Hopes that Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaibul will be granted a royal pardon have soared after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen signalled his intention to help the Thai detainees. "Cambodia will try to shorten the jail terms for Mr Veera and Ms Ratree first. After the two have served at least two-thirds of their sentences, the Cambodian government will seek a royal pardon for them," Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday in New York, where he attended the UN General Assembly. Phnom Penh Municipality Court in February jailed Veera, leader of the Thai Patriots Network, for eight years for spying, crossing the border and illegally entering a military base last December. Veera's secretary Ratree was sentenced to six years for the same offences. Mr Surapong said it was unlikely to be too long before they were freed as Hun Sen had signalled his intention to help. Regarding the prison exchange programme between Thailand and Cambodia, Mr Surapong said Thailand had to wait for the next move by Hun Sen as it was his proposal. The Cambodian PM raised the exchange idea during informal talks with Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa in Phnom Penh last week. However, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said on Monday that Thailand and Cambodia do not have a prisoner exchange pact, only a transfer programme that allows each country to transfer inmates to serve their remaining jail terms in their homeland. Mr Surapong said many countries had acknowledged improving relations between Thailand and Cambodia since the new government took office. The minister said he met officials from several countries during the UN General Assembly and all had asked about the latest situation relating to Thai-Cambodian relations. "Many countries are glad that Thailand can now talk with Cambodia, so the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can now move towards becoming a single community in 2015," Mr Surapong said. In another development, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has decided to take former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama to court for signing a joint communique with Cambodia on the Preah Vihear temple. The public prosecutor had ruled there was insufficient evidence to indict Mr Noppadon on a charge of abuse of authority. NACC spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said the NACC would ask the Lawyers Council of Thailand to file the charge against Mr Noppadon, who is the legal adviser of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on its behalf. According to the NACC's findings, Mr Noppadon and former prime minister Samak Sundaravej were negligent in their duties under Article 157 of the Criminal Code for their support of the joint communique. The agency found them in breach of Article 190 of the constitution that requires parliament to endorse all international treaties.  | |||||||||||||
| Thaksin Renews Effort To Politick From Afar Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:24 PM PDT
SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 By JAMES HOOKWAY The Wall Street Journal BANGKOK—Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra is taking a more visible role in Thailand and across Asia, stirring renewed tensions between the country's powerful military and a new government led by the populist tycoon's sister. During the run-up to July's national elections, Mr. Thaksin, 64 years old, repeatedly said he would avoid intervening in political decisions if his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, were elected prime minister. At most, he said, he would help guide Ms. Yingluck—who took office last month—on economic policy. Political analysts said that was a carefully scripted strategy to tamp down tension between the Shinawatra clan's populist supporters and Thailand's powerful armed forces, which ousted Mr. Thaksin in a bloodless coup five years ago and still retain considerable power. Mr. Thaksin recently has taken heavily publicized trips from his base in Dubai to Japan and Cambodia while his supporters push for a new amnesty law that would enable him to return to Thailand a free man. He has been living overseas to avoid imprisonment on a 2008 corruption conviction. His sister's government is now exploring whether it should give him his passport back, arguing that Mr. Thaksin was convicted for political reasons; he currently travels on a passport issued by Montenegro. Stock investors, meanwhile, are turning against Ms. Yingluck's plans to raise Thailand's minimum wage as the local stock market slumps amid a global downturn. The Federation of Thai Capital Market Associations Monday urged the government to defer the wage rises, set for January, that could nearly double the minimum wage in some places to 300 baht, or $9.60, a day. Last week, Mr. Thaksin summoned cabinet ministers from the ruling Puea Thai, or For Thais, party to a lengthy videoconference, instructing them how to handle severe flooding in Thailand's rice-growing heartland, among other topics. Ms. Yingluck, a 44-year-old former business executive, tried to play down Mr. Thaksin's lecture, saying he was just offering support. Neither Mr. Thaksin nor his legal representatives responded to requests to comment. For many observers the implication is clear. "A couple of months ago, I'd say there were two prime ministers in Thailand—Ms. Yingluck and her brother," said Pavin Chachavalpongpun at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "Now there is one—Mr. Thaksin." The question is how Thailand's conservative power brokers, particularly the army, will react to Mr. Thaksin's newfound assertiveness, and whether it will reignite the battle between populist politicians such as the Shinawatras and the country's conservative, royalist bureaucrats and army chiefs. Thailand's top generals appear determined to prevent Mr. Thaksin or his sister from interfering with the military. People familiar with the situation say an annual army leadership shuffle this month will likely leave hawkish army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha at the helm and many of his key lieutenants in their jobs. Paul Chambers, an expert on the Thai military and a lecturer at Payap University in northern Thailand, notes that after the 2006 coup, a military-appointed government introduced a new seven-member panel to decide on army appointments. Four members of this panel must be serving military officers, a safeguard that effectively vetoes any civilian influence over the shuffle. Even if the government tries to remove Gen. Prayuth, it wouldn't be able to choose his successor—so he would likely stay as acting chief. "The conservative forces have found a way of preventing Mr. Thaksin from controlling the military, even if they allow him and his followers to win election," Mr. Chambers said. Besides looking for a way to help bring Mr. Thaksin back to Thailand through a possible amnesty, some lawmakers are pushing to amend laws introduced since the 2006 coup that reduce civilian control over the army. Analysts say this could further ratchet up tensions, as does a continuing wrestling match between the government and Gen. Prayuth for control of a powerful army-dominated security agency known as the Internal Security Operations Command. "Mr. Thaksin wants to legitimize himself as a political leader, but the other side doesn't want to give ground either," said Somchai Phagapasvivat, a political-science professor at Bangkok's Thammasat University. "There's a looming conflict, and in the long run we don't know how it will play out." Write to James Hookway at james.hookway@wsj.com  | |||||||||||||
| Ronthut Chit! - So sad to see! - Poem in Khmer by Chhany Chham Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:16 PM PDT   | |||||||||||||
| ប្រផ្នូលអាក្រក់សំរាប់ហ៊ុន សែន boomeraging sign of Hun Sen Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:14 PM PDT លោកប្រធានសម រង្ស៊ី មានមេរៀនដ៍ល្អកាលបីលើកមុន ពេលនេះលោកមានការសំរេចចិត្តយ៉ាងមុតមាំ។ ជារឿងដែលគួរអោយគិតសំរាប់កម្ពុជា ដែលដើមឈើងាប់ពីរបីកំណាត់ អាចចោទជាទោសឧក្រិដ្ឋ ចុះការសំឡាប់មនុស្សរាប់រយរាប់ពាន់នាក់របស់ លោកហ៊ុន សែន? តុលាការលោកហ៊ុន សែន ដែលកាត់ទោស លោកសម រង្ស៊ីថាជាបទឧក្រិដ្ឋព្រោះតែរឿង កំប៉ិកកំប៉ុកគឺជាប្រផ្នូលអាក្រក់ចាំងទៅរកលោកហ៊ុន សែន នូវថ្ងៃអវសាន្តរបស់គាត់។ ពីខ្ញុំខ្មែរយ៉ាំង Sam Rainsy has learned a good lesson previously in dealing with Hun Sen. This time, his firm determination will be never changed. It is painful for Cambodians to see that few wood poles can lead to the criminal conviction of Sam Rainsy, how about killing hundreds and thousands of Cambodian people in the hand of Hun Sen? Hun Sen's court to convict such a trivial act of Sam Rainsy is a boomeranging sign of dooming day of Hun Sen. KY src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">  | |||||||||||||
| You think he is not scared of death? - រឿងអីមិនខ្លាចងាប់ ឪអាវ៉ា? Posted: 27 Sep 2011 03:04 PM PDT
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| Posted: 27 Sep 2011 02:45 PM PDT
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
An opposition party activist in Kandal province says the court there is trying to detain him ahead of local elections next year. Meas Peng, a Sam Rainsy Party second deputy commune chief in Kien Svay district, is accused of initiating the destruction of private property in a land dispute in the province. However, he said Tuesday he feared the courts were seeking to detain him to prevent him from contesting commune council elections next year. "I am living in a safe area and am worried that the Kandal authorities will arrest me," he said. "My case involves politics, because the commune election is coming soon." He said he has asked international and national rights groups to intervene on his behalf. The court summoned him on Friday, claiming he had incited villagers to violence in a dispute with Prak Savuth, a provincial council member who was awarded 40 hectares of land by the courts. More than 100 families have contested the decision. Meas Peng said he had observed demonstrations by the villagers in his role as a commune official, but he denied inciting them. Kandal court judge Lim Sokhuntha called for his arrest, but when police detained Meas Peng and brought him to the local prison, there was no official documentation, so his lawyer, Chhoung Chu Ngy, said he took him back home. Chhoung Chu Ngy said Tuesday the judge had acted outside the law and could be sued for ordering an arrest without a proper detention order. Lim Sokhuntha could not be reached for comment Monday. However, In Van Vibol, chief judge of the Kandal court, said the judge had not acted improperly. He declined to give more detail, saying the case was ongoing. Adhoc investigator Chan Saveth said Monday the court must not act under political pressure. Meas Peng had not committed incitement, according to Adhoc observations, he said. The detention order for Meas Peng follows a request last week from the Sam Rainsy Party that another of its Kandal activists, Mouek Chea, be freed from similar charges after leading a protest in Phnom Penh last month.  | |||||||||||||
| Posted: 27 Sep 2011 02:05 PM PDT  ថ្ងៃអង្គារ, 27 ខែកញ្ញា 2011 ដោយ គង់ សុឋានរិទ្ធ វីអូអេ ខ្មែរ | ភ្នំពេញ «អត់សូវបានលុយបានកាក់។ អត់បានទៅស្រុកទេ។ វត្តនៅភ្នំពេញក៏មិនបានទៅ វត្តនៅស្រែក៏មិនបានទៅ គ្រាន់តែបានផ្ញើលុយកាក់បន្ដិចបន្តួចតាមគេសម្រាប់ធ្វើបុណ្យខ្លះ»។មន្ដ្រីរាជការ បុគ្គលិកក្រុមហ៊ុនឯកជននានារួមទាំងកម្មកររោងចក្រកាត់ដេរសម្លៀកបំពាក់ និងសកម្មភាពពាណិជ្ជកម្មសំខាន់ៗភាគច្រើនត្រូវផ្អាកដំណើរការ សម្រាប់ឱកាសបីថ្ងៃចុងក្រោយនៃពិធីបុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌ និងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌនៅទូទាំងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញដែលមានប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរស់នៅប្រមាណជាពីរលាននាក់ បានក្លាយទៅជាទីក្រុងដែលមានសភាពស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ជាងពេលធម្មតា។ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរស់នៅទីនេះដែលមួយចំនួនមានដើមកំណើតនៅខេត្តនានាបានត្រឡប់ទៅកាន់ទីកន្លែងកំណើតដើម្បីប្រារព្ធពិធីសាសនានេះ។ ក៏ប៉ុន្ដែ លោក កាវ ចយ មកពីស្រុកកំពង់ត្របែក ខេត្តព្រៃវែងមិនបានត្រឡប់ទៅស្រុកកំណើតដូចអ្នកផ្សេងទៀតទេ។ ទម្រេតខ្លួនលើស៊ីក្លូចំណាស់មួយលើចិញ្ចើមផ្លូវជាប់នឹងវាលព្រះមេរុ ខាងជើងព្រះបរមរាជវាំង បុរសអាយុ៤៧ ឆ្នាំរូបនេះ កំពុងតែសម្លឹងរកអតិថិជន។ គាត់ប្រកបមុខរបរធាក់ស៊ីក្លូនេះចាប់តាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៨២ ដោយគាត់សង្ឃឹមថា នឹងអាចរកប្រាក់បានងាយស្រួល ប៉ុន្ដែគាត់គ្មានទីជម្រកទេក្នុងក្រុងភ្នំពេញនេះទេពោលគឺគាត់ស្នាក់នៅតាមចិញ្ចើមផ្លូវនៅពេលយប់ដូចអ្នកធាក់ស៊ីក្លូមួយចំនួនទៀតដែរ។ គាត់មិនត្រឹមតែមិនបានទៅស្រុកកំណើតទេ ប៉ុន្ដែថែមទាំងមិនបានទៅវត្តណាមួយទៀតផង។ «អត់សូវបានលុយបានកាក់។ អត់បានទៅស្រុកទេ។ វត្តនៅភ្នំពេញក៏មិនបានទៅ វត្តនៅស្រែក៏មិនបានទៅ គ្រាន់តែបានផ្ញើលុយកាក់បន្ដិចបន្តួចតាមគេសម្រាប់ធ្វើបុណ្យខ្លះ»។ លោក កាវ ចយ ពោលថា គាត់អាចរកកម្រៃក្នុងមួយថ្ងៃបានចន្លោះពី១០.០០០ ទៅ១៥.០០០ រៀល ក៏ប៉ុន្ដែគាត់មិនអាចសន្សំប្រាក់ទាំងនេះសម្រាប់ទៅស្រុកកំណើតនោះទេ ដោយសារតែម្ហូបអាហារក្នុងក្រុងភ្នំពេញឡើងថ្លៃ។ លោក ចន្ថា ក៏ជាអ្នកស្រុកម្នាក់ទៀតមកពីខេត្តព្រៃវែងដែរ។ គាត់ប្រកបរបរប៉ះកង់ក្បែរក្រសួងបរិស្ថានដែលនៅមិនឆ្ងាយប៉ុន្មានពីវិមានឯករាជ្យក្នុងក្រុងភ្នំពេញនោះទេ។ មានអាយុ៤០ឆ្នាំ និងមានមាឌធំសម្បុរស្រអែម លោកចន្ថាប្រកបរបរនេះអស់រយៈពេលដប់ឆ្នាំហើយ។ ឆ្នាំនេះលោកក៏មិនអាចទៅចូលរួមពិធីបុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌ និងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌនៅស្រុកមេសាង ដែលជាស្រុកកំណើតរបស់លោកទេ។ លោកត្អូញត្អែរថា ការធ្វើដំណើរទៅស្រុកកំណើតនឹងចំណាយសោហ៊ុយច្រើន។ «មូលហេតុដែលរកលុយមិនសូវបានព្រោះឥឡូវពិបាករក។ មួយថ្ងៃៗរកបានតែ ២០.០០០ ប៉ុណ្ណឹង ហើយយើងចាយនៅភ្នំពេញដឹងស្រាប់ហើយ ទំនិញឡើងថ្លៃទាំងអស់។ ហើយរកមួយថ្ងៃសម្រាប់ចាយបានតែមួយថ្ងៃ សល់តែតិចតួចប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ នឹកថា យើងរកបានតិចហើយ តែបើសិនជាទៅស្រុកបងប្អូននឹកថា នឹងសប្បាយដោយសារដល់យើងរកលុយមិនបានខ្ជិលទៅ»។ បញ្ហាថវិកាគឺជាឧបសគ្គមួយដែលបានរារាំងអ្នកប្រកបមុខរបរតូចតាចដូច្នេះមិនឲ្យមានលទ្ធភាពធ្វើដំណើរទៅកាន់ស្រុកកំណើត។ ក៏ប៉ុន្ដែសម្រាប់លោក ជា តូច អ្នកធាក់ស៊ីក្លូម្នាក់ទៀតមិនត្រឹមតែដោយសារតែបញ្ហាថវិកានោះទេ។ ជំនន់ទឹកភ្លៀងដែលលិចភូមិរបស់គាត់ក្នុងស្រុកស្រីសន្ធរ ខេត្តកំពង់ចាមក្នុងពេលនេះជាផលវិបាកមួយទៀត។ ទឹកជំនន់កំពុងរាតត្បាតក្នុងខេត្តមួយចំនួននៅកម្ពុជា ហើយបានបង្កឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋជាង៦០នាក់ស្លាប់ចាប់តាំងពីខែសីហាមក។ លោក ជា តូច ដែលមានអាយុ៥៧ឆ្នាំ ពាក់មួកកន្ដឹប រង់ចាំអតិថិជននៅក្បែរផ្សារកណ្ដាលជាមួយនឹងស៊ីក្លូរបស់គាត់។ «ទឹកលិចផ្លូវផង អត់លុយផង រកមិនបាន។ ពីរឆ្នាំហើយមិនបានទៅវត្តដោយសារតែក្រពេក។ ម្នាក់ឯង ហើយមានជំងឺរោគាច្រើនផង»។ បុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌ និងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌគឺជាពិធីបុណ្យយ៉ាងសំខាន់ និងធំបំផុតសម្រាប់ពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា។ ពិធីព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនានេះតែងតែប្រព្រឹត្តិទៅជារៀងរាល់ឆ្នាំក្នុងរយៈពេល១៥ថ្ងៃ។ គឺចាប់ពីថ្ងៃ១រោចដល់ថ្ងៃ១៤រោចខែភទ្របទ គឺហៅថាពិធីកាន់បិណ្ឌ។ ពិធីកាន់បិណ្ឌនៅក្នុងឆ្នាំនេះ បានចាប់ផ្ដើមចាប់តាំងពីថ្ងៃទី១៣ រហូតដល់ថ្ងៃទី២៦ ខែកញ្ញា។ ដោយឡែកនៅថ្ងៃអង្គារទី២៧ ខែកញ្ញានេះ គឺជាថ្ងៃភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ និងគឺជាថ្ងៃចុងក្រោយនៃពិធីសាសនានេះ។ ជាទូទៅប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរមានជំនឿថា ក្នុងអំឡុងពិធីបុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌ និងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ ក្រុមគ្រួសារ ឬបុគ្គលគ្រប់រូបត្រូវតែព្យាយាមធ្វើចង្ហាន់ទៅវត្ត ដើម្បីឧទ្ទិសផលបុណ្យជូនជីដូនជីតា ដែលបានចែកឋានទៅ។ អ្នកខ្លះព្យាយាមទៅវត្តឲ្យបានយ៉ាងហោចណាស់ម្តងក្នុងរយៈពេលនៃពិធីបុណ្យពីរសប្ដាហ៍នេះ ដោយពួកគេមានជំនឿថា ជីដូនជីតា បុព្វការីជននឹងដាក់ទណ្ឌកម្ម ឬដាក់បណ្ដាសារ ប្រសិនបើព្រលឹងខ្មោចទាំងនោះរកសាច់ញ្ញាតិ ឬកូនចៅមិនឃើញក្នុងអំឡុងពេលនេះ។ ក៏ប៉ុន្ដែអ្នកចំណាកស្រុកដែលស្វែងរកការងារធ្វើក្នុងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ដែលវីអីអូខ្មែរបានសម្ភាសមួយចំនួនមិនបានទៅវត្តនោះទេ ដោយសារតែពួកគាត់ខ្វល់ខ្វាយពីការរកប្រាក់ចំណូល ត្បិតឱកាសនេះគឺជាពេលវេលាដែលគាត់អាចតំឡើងថ្លៃបានមួយកម្រិតផងដែរ។ ទាំងលោក កាវ ចយ ទាំង លោក ជា តូច បានពោលដូចគ្នាថា គាត់បានយល់សប្ដិឃើញឪពុកម្ដាយ និងសាច់ញ្ញាត្តិដែលបានស្លាប់ទៅក្នុងសប្ដាហ៍កន្លងទៅបន្ទាប់ពីពួកគាត់មិនបានទៅស្រុកកំណើត និងមិនបានទៅវត្ត។ ព្រះតេជគុណ កង ណម៉ានី ចៅអធិការវត្តសំពៅមាស ក្រុងភ្នំពេញ មានថេរដីការថា ពុទ្ធបរិស័ទ្ធកម្ពុជាមិនចាំបាច់ទៅកាន់ស្រុកកំណើតសម្រាប់ធ្វើពិធីបុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌ និងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌនេះទេ ពោលគឺអាចធ្វើបុណ្យនៅទីណាក៏បានដែរ។ រីឯវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធនៃអ្នកដែលបានចែកឋានទៅនោះក៏មិនអាចដាក់បណ្តាសាលើសាច់ញ្ញាតិនោះទេ។ «នៅក្នុងគម្ពីរដែលព្រះសមាសមពុទ្ធទ្រង់សម្ដែងទុកមកមិនមានពាក្យណាដែលថា បងប្អូន ឬមាតាបិតាដែលស្លាប់ទៅដាក់បណ្ដាសាកូនចៅដែលនៅរស់មិនបានធ្វើបុណ្យទេ។ ការដើររក (កូនចៅ)មានមែន ដូចជាសម័យពុទ្ធកាលអញ្ចឹង។ ពាក្យចចាមអារាមដែលថាតៗគ្នា ថា ញ្ញាតិ ឬជីដូនជីតាដែលទៅកើតជាប្រេតដើររកគ្រប់ប្រាំពីរវត្តដាក់បណ្ដាសា តាមពិតគ្រាន់តែជាពាក្យបុរាណខ្មែរយើងចង់ពញ្ញាក់ឲ្យកូនចៅចេះធ្វើបុណ្យ»។ ក្រៅពីប្រជាពលរដ្ឋចំណាកស្រុកមកក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ក្រុមកម្មកររោងចក្រកាត់ដេរមួយចំនួនតូចមិនមានឱកាសទៅលេងស្រុកកំណើតរបស់ខ្លួនផងដែរក្នុងអំឡុងពេលសម្រាកស្របច្បាប់នៃពិធីបុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌនិងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌនេះ។ មូលហេតុដោយសារតែពួកគេមិនមានសោហ៊ុយគ្រប់គ្រាន់ និងដោយសារសិប្បកម្មដែលទទួលសម្លៀកបំពាក់ពីរោងចក្រធំមកដេរបន្ដ មិនអនុញ្ញាត្តិឲ្យពួកគេឈប់សម្រាក។ នេះបើយោងតាមសេចក្ដីអះអាងរបស់លោក ជា មុន្នី ប្រធានសហជីពសេរីកម្មករនៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា៕  | |||||||||||||
| Dark side of tourism: Sexual exploitation of children Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:48 AM PDT September 27, 2011 Calgary Herald (Canada) Today is World Tourism Day and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was right when he described tourism as "a force for a more tolerant, open and united world." But tourism can also be a force for evil. The numbers of visitors to southeast Asian countries is growing exponentially. But with that growth comes a perversely abhorrent trend: child sexual exploitation. More than ever, we're travelling to countries perhaps we would have never set foot in five or 10 years ago because of internal strife of one kind or another. Countries that were once on the risky lists are now on the must-go lists: like Laos and Cambodia, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, countries like Vietnam and Thailand have become de rigueur among world travellers. Thailand's tourism grew by 26 per cent in the first six months of 2011 (11.7 million visitors), according to a news release from World Vision. Laos saw 2.5 million visitors last year – equal to Cambodia – while Vietnam had five million. These numbers present mostly incredible opportunities for the people living there as their economies diversify to accommodate the demands of international tourists. Sadly, with the good tourism comes the bad — including people who travel overseas to have sex with young boys and girls. "Wherever the money flows, there is power," says Caroline Riseboro, vice-president of public affairs for World Vision Canada. Her organization is marking World Tourism Day by trying to educate the public about child sexual exploitation in the world's "hot-spot" countries, which are mainly in southeast Asia. Forty per cent of male tourists who travel to the Philippines go there for sexual purposes, according to information provided to World Vision by the Philippine ambassador to U.S. If you're wondering why the problem persists in these countries, Riseboro, says it's the extreme poverty that forces people into desperate ways of making money. That includes children selling their bodies for sex, often as part of prostitution rings. World Vision, is shining a light on the issue in the hopes of educating all travellers. Riseboro says tourists can help effect change by asking questions. For example, when you're booking into a hotel or with a tour operator, ask them if they have a policy protecting children from sexual exploitation. That means the company makes it their business to be on the lookout for child sexual exploitation in their daily duties. For example, at a hotel, employees would report an adult checking into a hotel room with a local youngster and reporting the suspicious activity to authorities. (Even so, Riseboro says enforcement is weak in many of these countries.) Riseboro also encourages Canadian travellers to report to authorities any type of crime of child sexual exploitation that they may see in their travels, especially if they believe it's a Canadian. "It's challenging. Get a description or make enquiries." It may be more difficult to pursue, she says, but it's worthwhile. If the perpetrator is a Canadian, she encourages travellers to get a description (if the person is travelling on a visa the he may be easier to track down). "If Canadians are putting pressure on destinations, like the Philippines, that will help change the system," she says. Bill C268, which was passed into law in 2010 in Canada, imposes a minimum five-year sentence on Canadians convicted of travelling overseas to have sex with children. Previously, there was no minimum sentence. "We wouldn't turn a blind eye if this happened to children in Canada, why should we turn a blind eye to a child in the Philippines or any other country for that matter, Riseboro says, adding, "People don't understand they have the power to combat this issue." For more information on this issue go World Vision and learn more here about corporate responsibility in travel and tourism.  | |||||||||||||
| Forced eviction in Cambodia: Cambodian rail line to displace country's poor Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:42 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U-85wXeM08  | |||||||||||||
| NGOs lobby to stop Cambodia implementing new law Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:40 AM PDT The Cambodian government is pushing ahead with a new law to govern thousands of local and international NGOs which will allow it to shut them down at will. NGOs are lobbying the Australian Government to help stop the law from being implemented. The plea for help comes as the Cambodian government targets NGOs who have been advocating on behalf of people being moved to make way for a railway project that's partly funded by AusAID and run by Australian company Toll Holdings. September 27, 2011 Zoe Daniel ABC News (Australia) Source: PM | Duration: 5min 44sec MARK COLVIN: The Cambodian government is pushing ahead with a new law to govern thousands of local and international non government organisations, NGOs, which would allow it to shut them down at will. NGOs are lobbying the Australian Government to help stop Cambodia implementing a law which they say will restrict their activities and freedom of speech. The Cambodian government is currently targeting NGOs which have been speaking up for people being moved to make way for a railway project which is partly funded by AusAID and run by the Australian company Toll Holdings. South East Asia correspondent Zoe Daniel reports. ZOE DANIEL: Back in May residents living alongside a disused section of railway line in Phnom Penh told us how they were being treated by the Cambodian authorities if they rejected a few hundred dollars to move for its refurbishment. (Cambodian resident speaking) "No I don't accept the compensation," this woman says, "But they asked me to accept it by giving a thumb print. If I don't they will bulldoze my house. They will hire the drug user to burn my house." DAVID PRED: Did everybody get the same message from the government? (Cambodian residents speaking) ZOE DANIEL: "Yes, yes, yes, we all, we all," they say. Founder of NGO Bridges Across Borders Cambodia David Pred has been working with the families being relocated to help them get a fair deal. His is one of a number of NGOs that's been advocating for those affected by the refurbishment of the railway that's being jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank and AusAID and will be run by Australian company Toll Holdings. At the time both AusAID and Toll refused to be interviewed and Peter Bloch from the Asian Development Bank refused to accept the residents' allegation of intimidation. PETER BLOCH: Certainly not under our project. ZOE DANIEL: It's now emerged that in June a letter was sent by Cambodia's economy and finance minister to the prime minister requesting that punitive action be taken against Bridges Across Borders and another NGO called STT (Sahmakum Teang Tnaut) that's been advocating for residents. The letter stated that the Asian Development Bank had come under political pressure from the two organisations. "Do not allow foreign NGOs to do advocacy work. Local NGOs who do advocacy work must not have foreigners involved or interfere," the letter said. The bank's denied making a complaint to the government. But the work of STT has now been suspended, at least temporarily, because, according to the government, it incited people to oppose national development. STT spokeswoman Nora Lindstrom. NORA LINDSTROM: Certainly from what we have heard and seen of this letter it does seem to say that maybe the consultant has warned the government of the actions of NGOs on the railway project. So there seems to be a direct link to the ADB, yeah. And the letter itself was shown to us during a meeting at the ministry of interior and parts of it were read to us as well. It's also referenced in our suspension letter. ZOE DANIEL: A month ago the World Bank suspended funding to Cambodia after a stoush between the government and residents over land seizures around Boeung Kak Lake in central Phnom Penh. Those people were affected both by a residential project and the railway. The World Bank suspension followed intense advocacy on behalf of the residents by STT and Bridges Across Borders among others. Now, the government's completed a third draft of its new law which NGOs say is designed to restrict their activities. Under the law registration is mandatory and there's no transparent appeals process. It could allow NGOs to be dissolved at the government's direction with no explanation and many clauses appear deliberately vague. Phil Robertson, from Human Rights Watch. PHIL ROBERTSON: Well they say that they're trying to accomplish a regulatory end but it's becoming increasingly clear that this is more about restricting civil society, cracking down on civil society voices that question government policies or point out corrupt projects or land grabbing by government officials. And we think that this is all about the continuing constriction of political space in Cambodia that has accelerated since the re-election of prime minister Hun Sen in 2008. ZOE DANIEL: It's widely believed that NGOs have been a key factor in developing Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge. The government's move to control them comes along with strengthened defamation laws and new restrictions on street protests. Three weeks ago police armed with AK47s dispersed a human rights training event. The explanation: that the necessary permission to hold it hadn't been obtained. NGOs have called on the Australian Government for support, particularly in light of AusAID's stake in the railway project that's caused much of the conflict. An AusAID spokesperson says the Australian Government is closely monitoring the development of the NGO law and that the Australian ambassador to Cambodia has made representations at senior levels of Cambodian government on at least seven occasions. The spokesperson says the Australian Government's view is that an active civil society, where NGOs have the right to operate freely, makes an important contribution to the development process. This is Zoe Daniel reporting for PM.  | |||||||||||||
| New Cambodian law 'cracking down' on NGOs Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:33 AM PDT September 28, 2011 PM South-east Asia correspondent Zoe Daniel ABC News (Australia) The Cambodian government is pushing ahead with a new law to govern thousands non-government organisations (NGOs), which would allow it to shut them down at will. NGOs are lobbying the Australian Government to help stop Cambodia from implementing the law that they say will restrict their activities and freedom of speech. The Cambodian government has completed a third draft of its new law which would make registrations mandatory for NGOs with no transparent appeals process. It could also allow NGOs to be dissolved at the government's direction with no explanation and many clauses appear deliberately vague. The government is currently targeting NGOs which have been speaking up for people being moved to make way for a railway project which is partly funded by AusAID and run by Australian company Toll Holdings. In May, residents living alongside a disused section of railway line in Phnom Penh told the ABC of how they were treated by Cambodian authorities if they rejected a few hundred dollars to move. One woman said she was told her house would be destroyed if she did not accept the compensation. "They asked me to accept it by giving a thumb print. If I don't they will bulldoze my house," she said. "They will hire the drug user to burn my house." At the time both AusAID and Toll refused to be interviewed, and Peter Bloch from the Asian Development Bank, which also funds part of the project, refused to accept the residents' allegation of intimidation. Audio: NGOs lobby to stop Cambodia implementing new law (PM) It has now emerged that in June a letter was sent by Cambodia's economy and finance minister to the prime minister requesting that "punitive action" be taken against NGOs Bridges Across Borders and STT that have been advocating for residents. The letter stated the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had come under "political pressure" from the two organisations. "Do not allow foreign NGOs to do advocacy work. Local NGOs who do advocacy work must not have foreigners involved or interfere," the letter said. The bank has denied making a complaint to the government. But the work of STT has now been suspended, at least temporarily, because - according to the government - it incited people to oppose national development. STT spokeswoman Norah Lindstrom she believes there is a link between ADB and the letter. "Certainly from what we have heard and seen of this letter it does seem to say that maybe the consultant has warned the government of the actions of NGOs on the railway project. So there seems to be a direct link to the ADB," she said. "The letter itself was shown to us during a meeting at the minister of interior and parts of it were read to us as well." "It's also referenced in our suspension letter." Funding suspended In September the World Bank suspended funding to Cambodia over land seizures around Boeung Kak Lake in central Phnom Penh. Those people were affected both by the railway as well as a residential project. The World Bank suspension followed intense advocacy on behalf of the residents by STT and Bridges Across Borders among others. Human Rights Watch spokesman Phil Robertson says the Cambodian government's proposed NGO legislation is a crackdown on civil society. "They say that they're trying to accomplish a regulatory end but it's becoming increasingly clear that this is more about restricting civil society, cracking down on civil society ... voices that question government policies or point out corrupt projects or land grabbing by government officials," he said. "And we think that this is all about the continuing constriction of political space in Cambodia that has accelerated since the re-election of prime minister Hun Sen in 2008." It is widely believed that NGOs have been a key factor in developing Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge. The government's move to control them comes along with strengthened defamation laws and new restrictions on street protests. Three weeks ago police, armed with AK47s, dispersed a human rights training event, the explanation: that the necessary permission to hold it had not been obtained. An AusAID spokesperson says the Australian Government is closely monitoring the development of the NGO law and that the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia has made representations at senior levels of Cambodian government on at least seven occasions. The spokesperson says the Australian Government's view is that an active civil society, where NGOs have the right to operate freely, makes an important contribution to the development process.  | |||||||||||||
| Feeding dead, Pchhum Ben festival in Cambodia Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:26 AM PDT By Nguon Sovan KANDAL, Cambodia, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Since early Tuesday morning, Chhin Som, 65, has got up to prepare food, fruit, candles and incense sticks in order to bring to pagodas to dedicate to his deceased wife and ancestors on the occasion of Pchhum Ben festival, the country's second largest religious festival. Chhin Som had spent his one-month savings of 100,000 riels (25 U.S. dollars) from his sales of farm-grown bananas to buy fragrant rice and meats to cook for his deceased wife and ancestors. He believed that the food would be reached his wife and other ancestors through the Buddhist monks' dedication. "This is the only way through the Buddhism that I can express my affection and memory to my wife who died last year and to other ancestors," said Chhin Som, a resident of Kandal province's Mukampol district, some 45 kilometers east of Phnom Penh. During the jubilant occasion of Pchhum Ben day, Cambodian Buddhists bring food, cash, and praying things to offer to Buddhist monks in pagodas in order to dedicate to their deceased relatives and ancestors; in return, they wish for longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity. Chhin Som said he would bring food, some cash and other stuff to three pagodas in the district to wish his wife to be re-born in a better life. The Pchhum Ben festival is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar. Before the day of Pchhum Ben, there is Kan Ben festival lasting for 14 days. During the 15-day period, every early morning at four, monks chant in religious language and laypersons gather at the pagodas to toss small and round pieces of sticky rice on the ground to feed the sinful dead ancestors and then offer food to the monks. "Some ancestors had committed bad acts in former lives, so after their deaths, they become sinful spirits; and the toss of sticky rice is to feed them," venerable Seng Sovannarith, chief of the monks at Machoeum Sararam pagoda in Mukampol district, said Tuesday during a sermon. According to Buddhism, it is believed that, during the 15-day period, the spirits of the dead ancestors walk the Earth. "The period is the annual holiday for ghosts and spirits--they are allowed to visit their descendants on the earth and they go to seven pagodas searching for food that is offered to them through the monks," he explained. Departed souls try to find their relatives at seven pagodas if they fail to find their families making offerings to dedicate to them, it is believed that departed souls will bother and curse their descendants throughout the year, he added. "Traditionally, the festival is to dedicate to the souls of spirits, ancestors and the dead through reciting by Buddhist monks," he said. "It is also the time to pay gratitude to their parents and elderly people through offering cash and other gifts." Buddhism is the state's religion in Cambodia with more than 90 percent of the country's 14.3 million people holding it. The country has approximately 4,400 Buddhist pagodas with more than 50,000 monks in all 24 provinces and cities, according to the records of the Ministry of Cults and Religion. About 80 percent of the population in this Southeast Asian nation lives in rural areas; however, most young adults have migrated to cities and towns for jobs, mostly in garment industry. Pchhum Ben festival is also a time for family reunion. "It's the jubilant occasion we can re-unite our family," Long Vicheka, 22, a garment worker in Phnom Penh, said on Monday before catching a taxi to his hometown in Kampong Cham, some 120 kilometers East of Cambodia. Vicheka has 6 siblings living in different provinces in Cambodia. "At this time of the year, all my siblings and their spouses always travel to the hometown to see my parents and other relatives," he said. This year's celebration was made amid the disaster of Mekong River and flash floods hitting most parts of the country since last month. The floods have claimed at least 97 lives and affected 90,300 families, according to Phay Siphan, the spokesman for the Council of Ministers, on Monday.  | |||||||||||||
| Buffalo-racing ceremony in Cambodia Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:21 AM PDT Thousands of Cambodians gather in a village, northeast of the capital in Cambodia for annual water buffalo races to end the country's festival for the dead. The ceremony, which started more than 70 years ago, is held to honour the Neakta Preah Srok pagoda spirit. It also marks the end of the Festival of Pchum Ben, which lasts from September 13 to September 27. After the ceremony, the buffaloes are sold to the highest bidder. (All Photos by Reuters)  | |||||||||||||
| Surapong: Hun Sen will help Veera, Ratree get pardons [-Hun Xen's gift to Yingluck?] Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:09 AM PDT
Bangkok Post Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has shown an intention to help Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwankid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon get a royal pardon, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said in New York on Tuesday. Mr Surapong said the matter was discussed with Hun Sen when he and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited Cambodia on Sept 15. The Cambodian prime minister said he would help by getting a reduction of the jail terms they were sentenced to by the Phnom Penh Court. This would enable them to meet the requirement for seeking a royal pardon. Steps must be taken before reaching that stage but it was unlikely to be too long before they were freed because Hun Sen had expressed his intention to help, said the foreign minister. Mr Surapong said this move to help Veera and Ratree out under a royal pardon was not the same as that mentioned by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok on Monday. Pol Gen Pracha said the two could not be freed early under a presoner exchange programme, in which a prisoner can be sent home after having served one-third of the sentence first and the case must not concern national security. Veera and Ratree were among the seven Thais arrested by Cambodian authorities for illegally crossing the border into Cambodia on Dec 29 last year. Five of them confessed to the illegal entry charges, were sentenced to jail terms, and released shortly after some time in jail. Veera and Ratree were additionally charged with spying. The court sentenced Veera to eight years in prison and Ratree to six years after finding them guilty as charged. Under Cambodian law they must first serve two-thirds of their sentences to be eligible for a royal pardon. Mr Surapong also said representatives of all countries he met with had asked about the state of Thai-Cambodian ties and they were pleased to learn from him that the two countries could now resume their normal relationship. Relations between Thailand and Cambodia soured during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government because of internal political pressure within Thailand. Prospects for improved relations came with the Pheu Thai Party's victory in the July general election. "Many countries are glad that Thailand can now talk with Cambodia, so the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean) can now move toward becoming a single community in 2015,'' said Mr Surapong. They included German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. Mr Thailand is expected to expand relations with Germany through exchanges of science, renewable energy and other innovations in which Germany has expertise. During a meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Thailand asked to opt out of hosting the CICA meeting because of budget and personnel constraints. However, Thailand affirmed its firm policies on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) promotion and drug suppression as it wanted CICA to promote the cooperation of the border security and transnational crimes. With Ukraine, Thailand has sought cooperation with it on trade expansion. Thailand has asked Ukraine to allow multiple visa entry for Thai agro-business giant CP Group and Boonrawd Brewery, which have started doing business in that country. In return, Ukraine asked Thailand to consider a 30-day visa free privilege for its citizens to visit Thailand, said Mr Surapong. He also said Iran has asked Thailand for support it during the Human Rights Council meeting after it Teheran was condemned for not allowing women to drive cars.  | |||||||||||||
| Posted: 27 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbul3hxYGNU  | |||||||||||||
| Mekong River water level on 27 September 2011 Posted: 27 Sep 2011 07:59 AM PDT   | |||||||||||||
| Dangerously High Water Level at Tonle Chaktokmouk on 27 September 2011 Posted: 27 Sep 2011 01:59 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCmPuMf1sd8 PS: Did you see Heng Soy on that boat?  | |||||||||||||
| Sam Rainsy's interview on VOA on 20 September 2011 (Part 1) Posted: 27 Sep 2011 01:55 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk3bIvkGOIM  | |||||||||||||
| KKF Fundraising Banquet in Long Beach, California on 02 October 2011 Posted: 26 Sep 2011 11:57 PM PDT   | |||||||||||||
| Posted: 26 Sep 2011 11:26 PM PDT 27/09/2011 Bangkok Post Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has shown an intention to help Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwankid and his secretary Ratree Pipattanapaiboon get a royal pardon, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said in New York on Tuesday. Mr Surapong said the matter was raised for discussion with Hun Sen when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and he visited Cambodia on Sept 15. He said the Cambodian prime minister said he would help by reducing the jail terms handed down on them by the Phnom Penh Court to enable them to finally meet a requirement to seek a royal pardon. Steps must be taken before reaching that stage but it was unlikely to be too long before they were freed because Hun Sen had expressed his intention to help, said the foreign minister. Mr Surapong said this move to help Veera and Ratree out under a royal pardon was not the same as that mentioned by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok on Monday. Pol Gen Pracha said the two could not be freed early under a presoner exchange programme, in which a prisoner can be sent home after having served one-third of the sentence first and the case must not concern national security. Veera and Ratree were among the seven Thais arrested by Cambodian authorities for illegally crossing the border into Cambodia on Dec 29 last year. Five of them confessed to the illegal entry charges, were sentenced to jail terms, and released shortly after some time in jail. Veera and Ratree were additionally charged with spying. The court sentenced Veera and Ratree to eight years and six years in jail after finding them guilty as charged.  | |||||||||||||
| CalPerformances with Special offer for the Bay Area Cambodian community Posted: 26 Sep 2011 11:11 PM PDT Please share this: Special Discount for members of the Cambodian community: Please look at the bottom of this email for information on special pricing for friends and members of the Bay Area Cambodian community.
Special Offer for the Bay Area Cambodian community: When you purchase one adult ticket at full price to see Cambodia's Khmer Arts Ensemble on Sun, Oct 3, at 3 pm, we'll give you the 2nd ticket for free! This offer is only good through the Cal Performances ticket office and is NOT available for online purchases. Charge By Phone or In-Person Ordering : Call the Cal Performances Ticket Office Tue-Fri, 12-5:30 pm or Sat-Sun, 1-5 pm at 510.642.9988 and ask for the Friends of the Cambodian Community Special Offer. Tickets are subject to availability; the discount must be requested at the time of purchase, does not apply towards purchases already made, and may not be combined with other discounts. All ticket sales are final.  | |||||||||||||
| Posted: 26 Sep 2011 11:02 PM PDT  Monday, September 26, 2011 Associated Press RURRENABAQUE, Bolivia — Bolivia's president late Monday suspended a planned Amazon highway that has sparked clashes between police and Indians who say the road would despoil a nature preserve that is home to thousands of natives. President Evo Morales also distanced himself from the decision to break up a protest march Sunday. His announcement came hours after police released hundreds of activists when mobs of local people blocked roads and an airport to prevent the detainees from being taken out of the area. "We repudiate the excesses yesterday at the march," Morales said, adding that a high-level commission including international representatives should be formed to investigate the crackdown. Hours earlier, Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned in protest over the police action against opponents of the highway, who include not just local indigenous peoples but also Bolivia's main highlands Indian federation. In a brief televised address Monday night, Morales announced that he was suspending the highway project and would let the two affected regions decide whether to proceed with the Brazil-financed road. He offered no specifics, but on Sunday he said that a referendum on the road could be held in the two affected regions, Cochabamba and Beni. The proposed 190-mile (300-kilometer) highway would connect Brazil with Pacific ports in Chile and Peru. Plans called for it to cross Bolivia's 600-square-mile (12,000-square-kilometer) Isiboro-Secure Indigenous Territory National Park, which is home to 15,000 indigenous people who live off hunting, fishing, gathering native fruits and subsistence farming. The residents fear an influx of settlers would destroy their habitat, felling trees and polluting rivers. Environmentalists say the road would mostly benefit Brazilian commercial interests such as timber exporters while endangering a pristine nature preserve. Police used tear gas and truncheons to break up a march Sunday by some 1,000 protesters who were marching to La Paz, the national capital Bolivia's highlands. Officers detained the protesters and loaded them onto buses planning to drive them back to the eastern lowlands provincial capital of Trinidad, where the march began in mid-August. But hundreds of people lit bonfires on the roadway, forcing authorities to detour to the airport in the Amazon town of Rurrenabaque. Residents of the town, however, had blocked the runway with barricades. Authorities then backed down and let the detainees go. "Given the attack by hundreds of people, the police pulled back to avoid confrontations," Interior Minister Sacha Llorenti said at a news conference in La Paz before the president made his comments. Bolivia's national ombudsman, Rolando Villena, told Erbol radio "there was excessive use of force" by police. Protest leaders claimed a child was killed and other protesters, including children, were missing. Bolivia's Roman Catholic Church issued a communique saying a child had died but offered no details. Llorenti denied that police used excessive force, saying officers acted Sunday only to "evacuate the marchers to guarantee their safety and protect them from physical harm" because pro-government groups were approaching to stop the march. Vehement opposition to the road has been a dilemma for Morales, an Aymara Indian whose support for the highway has alienated many of the indigenous Bolivians whose support was crucial to his landslide re-election in 2009. Morales, a coca growers union leader who is the first indigenous president of a country where more than two in three people are Indians, has been a passionate leader of the campaign to curb global warming. But he has been less of an environmentalist at home, and insists the highway is essential to strengthening Bolivia's economy. Analysts have noted that Cochabamba, one of the regions that would be affected by the proposed highway, is home to the coca growers who still work with Morales and are in favor of the highway. The crisis has hurt the president, whose popularity fell to 37 percent this month, its second-lowest level since he was first elected in 2006.  |
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