KI Media: “Royal pardon for 5 alleged CFF members” plus 24 more

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16, 2011): The Malaysian Association of Foreign Maids has offered to work with both the Cambodian and Malaysian governments to resolve issues that resulted in the ban on Cambodians working as domestic help in the country.

At the same time, the association, also known by its Malay acronym Papa, has asked the Malaysian government to consider increasing the number of part-time maids in the country by clearly outlining regulations on this in the Employment Act.

Its vice-president Foo Yong Hooi said following the ban on maids from Indonesia, and now Cambodia, the only other option left is maids from the Philippines. But the salaries of Filipinos are beyond what most Malaysians can afford, he said.

There are about 35,000 pending applications for maids in Malaysia. Cambodia had become the main substitute for domestic maids since Indonesia imposed a moratorium on its maids coming into Malaysia until a proper framework is put in place.

Speaking to reporters at the MCA Public Complaints and Services Department today, Foo said it was high time Malaysians reduced their dependency on live-in maids, and start looking at employing part-time maids who come in several times a week.

This move would help employers save money, reduce the outflow of foreign exchange in the form of fees and other costs, and reduce the dependency on domestic helpers, he said.

He said Papa hoped the term "contract labour contractor" which has been included in the amended Employment Act – which is due to be passed by the Senate – would incorporate part-time employees.

"Papa hopes a clear classification of 'contract labour contractors' will enable more part-time maids to be employed," he added.

In the meantime, Foo said Papa is willing to meet with the Cambodian government on the ban, as well as the association for maid agencies in Cambodia.

The abrupt ban has left agents here and in Cambodia in a quandary as deposits have been paid and contracts signed, he said.

Foo said there are over 100 Malaysian agencies dealing with 15 licensed Cambodian agents who have sub-agents under them.

"We are willing to render our assistance in terms of minimising abuses, looking into better salary structures, training, insurance and other aspects if both governments are willing to work with us," said Foo, who added that despite the language barrier, Cambodian maids are generally hardworking and fast learners.

"We hope the ban will be temporary and that a few cases of abuses by bad apples in society would not leave a bad impression of Malaysian society," he said.

Meanwhile, MCA public complaints bureau head Datuk Michael Chong is concerned over the portrayal of Malaysians as heartless due to the ban by both Indonesia and Cambodia.

You have likely heard radio personality Pam Stevens' voice on the radio in Vancouver on several stations most recently 104.9. Pam is a world traveler but with a twist. Her journeys take her to Countries off the beaten path, not only to enrich herself in the culture, and meet the people but to volunteer her help. She is now in Cambodia Country 35 volunteering at Ankor Hospital until October 28. She then travels to Myanmar, then Laos and Vietnam on the way back to Phnom Penh. My Global circle for cancer research takes me far and fast, but she has no particular charity and seeds herself in one place to help where its needed. I will be updating Pam's progress here weekly on my blog.

Pam is in Cambodia .They say its the worst flooding in Cambodia in modern times. Apparently the waters are also continuing to rise in Cambodia, where Phnom Penh is threatened. Across the country 183 people have died since August and almost 100,000 hectares of paddy are damaged or destroyed. Regionwide, at least 500 people are dead and millions are affected in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

This time of year the oversaturation of the Mekong River means the Tonle Sap River here actually reverses it's direction of flow! (one of only 2 rivers that can do that) It's also flooding it's banks so I walked to work today in shin deep water

In rural Chi Kraeng district of Cambodia a woman shoves her baby into my arms and stands back to admire us. Through the translator she asks my age. "She is 42″ he replies. An approving murmur comes from the crowd. "Maybe you would like to take the baby back to Canada with you?" the translator asks at their behest. Suddenly I'm holding the baby a little further from my body. "Oh no" I reply. "Sometimes I have enough trouble just taking care of myself!"

It not exactly disappointment I see in their faces but perhaps some hopes have been dashed. Still, they smile and offer me thanks for my visit, reluctantly taking this lovely little girl back from me. I walk back to our truck slightly stunned. Were they serious? I heard this might happen but had trouble believing it. Now, it can't be denied.

The average wage in rural Cambodia hovers around two dollars a day. When you're already having trouble feeding a couple of children an addition to the family is not always seen as a blessed event. They understand the barang, or foreigners have a much higher standard of living and hope that the child they can't provide for might grow up in a much different world from the one they toil in each day. How on earth did I find myself here!?

It all began at the Point Grey home of Dr. John and Nina Cassils. The two are longtime supporters of the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia and they wanted to expose people in our city to the work being done there. The images in the presentation stuck with me and a few years later I found myself unemployed but enjoying a severance package and realized this was my chance to help.

You might remember that in the late 70′s, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army wiped out much of the population focusing on the educated and well off. By the time the massacre ended, 40 doctors remained in the entire country. The entire medical system had been wiped out along with much of the countries infrastructure and wealth. It's been a long, hard road back for those that survived. Today 70% of the country's population is under the age of 30, 50% under 20. There are future leaders on the way but for now, help needs to come from the rest of the world. And it does. Surgical teams arrive to correct as many heart defects and cleft palates as they can in a week. Money arrives from all corners of the world from foundations and personal donors alike. Volunteers arrive weekly to donate their knowledge and time. Over the years AHC has grown to become a major training hospital with an extended outreach program and more and more satellite clinics each year. Morning and afternoon, two home care vehicles leave the compound carrying medication, nutritious food and sometimes a lucky volunteer like me.

16 October 2011 – The United Nations humanitarian chief has voiced great concern over the rising impact of storms and flooding on millions of people across South-East Asia, saying the situation is expected to worsen, with river levels still rising and heavy rainfall forecast.

Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in a statement late on Saturday that the severe floods have claimed the lives of more than 700 people in Cambodia and Thailand.

In Laos, the Philippines and Viet Nam, homes, crops and vital infrastructure have been destroyed. Millions of people living in low-lying areas remain vulnerable to further destruction.

"I commend the action taken by national governments and emergency responders, which has saved many lives," said Ms. Amos, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.

"The United Nations and partners stand ready to support those national-led responses where necessary."

As residents across flood-ravaged Southeast Asia look up to the skies and brace for more rain, satellites 35,800km away are looking down on them.

Space technology has become a critical tool in protecting people from disasters in countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, where more than 6.5 million people have been affected by recent flooding and at least 500 have died.

The images the satellites snap and transmit back to Earth are analyzed to pinpoint and predict flooding – information that can be used to direct resources and issue evacuation orders.

It is only recently that developing countries have been able to consistently access such high-tech and costly technology, thanks to international resource-sharing, said Craig Williams, a regional information management officer with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Technology is not really a major limiting factor any more – it's what we do with it," Williams said.

In Bangkok, now under high alert for heavy rain and overflowing rivers, a satellite data "war room" has been set up to monitor flooding that has claimed at least 269 lives nationwide and affected about 2.3 million people in 30 provinces since 25 July.

Meanwhile, this week analysts at the Geneva-based UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) were developing a baseline map that shows the extent of Thailand's flooding – the worst the country has faced in decades.

The maps from UNITAR's Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), which are developed with street data from Google and Open StreetMap, provide national, regional and local agencies with a starting point. Relief groups can then overlay other information, such as population data. Doing so allows them to more quickly and accurately estimate the number of affected children in a specific area, for example, and allocate resources accordingly.

"Then everybody has the same emergency information, so that increases the coordination," said Einar Bjorgo, head of UNOSAT's rapid mapping unit.

Satellite maps, from agencies such as the Geo-Informatic and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in Thailand, are often available to the public online. UNOSAT also offers podcasts – what Bjorgo calls "audio maps" – that explain key messages.

In the hands of individuals, such information could revolutionize how communities that now rely on rain-gauge alert systems get and share critical emergency information. The data also gives the public a way to verify government warnings that they may otherwise shrug off, said Chusit Apirumanekul of the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).

Bjorgo said what UNOSAT is doing is not new, but how it is being used, is.

"What is changing, to the positive, is that there are more and more local, national and regional actors who have the capacity [expertise] to use the data that we derive from the satellites, in multiple ways," he said.

Thailand is using the data to determine which households should receive flood victims assistance, said Paranat Kerdpol, a spokeswoman for GISTDA, which is operating the satellite "war room" in Bangkok.

Images from low-earth orbit satellites capture higher-resolution images from about 500-800km away, and are used in combination with higher-level satellites that capture larger swathes of land. Satellites with radar sensors are used to penetrate cloud coverage.

Predicting floods with satellite information is a bit trickier, Williams said. It requires an analysis of topography, flood control systems such as dykes, river basins, and river characteristics.

"Even if you can predict it," Williams said, "do you have the capacity to act and mitigate it?"

In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, countries that lack sophisticated satellite capability can activate the International Charter, which gives them access to national and commercial satellite products free of charge. Since the charter formed in 2000, it has been activated most often for floods – 136 times.

"Using that system, any country in the world, regardless of their economic capacity, can access the benefits of space technology," Williams said.

Some countries, such as Cambodia and Laos, lack the institutional knowledge to optimize the use of satellite imagery, said Chusit, a climate information application specialist at ADPC. Third parties such as the ADPC help, providing training and analysis.

But ultimately, data and analysis is not enough, he said. The information must be communicated to those who are preparing and responding to disasters, so that they consistently use it to better protect people.

"Right now, in Southeast Asia, we don't use this kind of information a lot on the decision-making level," Chusit said. "We still need to break that wall."

Thai military and volunteers continue their efforts to stop Thailand's worst floods in decades from inundating capital.

Relief workers have reinforced barriers to help defend Thailand's capital, Bangkok, from the country's worst floods in half a century and efforts were stepped up to protect a huge industrial estate to the city's north.

Neighbouring Cambodia has also been hit hard, with the loss of almost 250 people and 18 out of 23 provinces affected.

Despite heavy rain in parts of Bangkok late on Saturday, areas inside the defensive system of flood barriers and canals have so far been spared the flooding that has devastated a third of the country, killing at least 297 people and causing about $3bn in damage.

On Sunday, the focus was on Nava Nakorn industrial estate in Pathum Thani province north of Bangkok, which is standing in the way of one flow of water towards the capital.

Thai media reported that some 600 soldiers and workers from the estate, Thailand's oldest with more than 200 factories, were working round the clock to strengthen its walls and divert water.

Nation TV reported that water was just 10cm below the top of the estate's 4.5 metres high wall.

The north, northeast and centre of Thailand have been worst hit and Bangkok - much of it only two metres above sea level - is at risk as water overflows from reservoirs in the north, swelling the Chao Phraya river that winds through the densely populated and low-lying city.

The river was reported to be at a record level of 2.15 metres at one point on Saturday, but the embankment wall running along it in inner Bangkok is at least 2.5 metres high and has been raised along vulnerable stretches.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has sought to reassure residents they should be safe but people have still stocked up on bottled water, instant noodles, rice and canned goods, emptying shelves in some major markets.

Many have parked their cars in elevated garages and piled sandbags in front of shop-houses and homes.

"We will protect strategic areas and the heart of the economy such as industrial zones, the central part of all provinces and the Thai capital as well as Suvarnabhumi Airport, industrial estates and evacuation centres," Yingluck said on Saturday, referring to Bangkok's main international airport.

The United States sent a military transport aircraft from Japan carrying thousands of sandbags and 10 US marines who are part of a survey team to assess how to help Thailand cope with the flooding, the US embassy said late on Saturday.

In Cambodia, flood waters continued to inundate parts of the country, forcing some residents in the capital Phnom Penh to travel by raft and boat.

The worst floods in more than a decade and landslides from monsoon rains have so far killed at least 247 people, affected about 1.5 million people, and has covered 960,000 acres of rice paddies.

Around half of the casualties were children, unable to swim to safety after flash floods.

Eighteen out of Cambodia's 23 provinces are suffering the impact of the worst flooding to hit the country in more than a decade, the Council of Ministers' spokesman said. The government has not yet called for international assistance.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last week cancelled the Water Festival, the year's biggest celebration, which was due to take place in the capital between November 9 and 11, arguing that the funds would be better spent on flood relief.

"If we don't spend the state budget for the preparations in Phnom Penh ... we can save some money to improve the living standards of our people and repair the damage," Hun Sen said in a televised speech.

He also said the precariously high water level of the Tonle Sap river that flows through the city would present a "high risk" to revellers.

The festival marks the reversal of the flow between the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers and usually draws two million visitors to the capital to enjoy dragon boat races, fireworks and concerts.

Yesterday, we ran the first half of the Cambodian rock playlist compiled for us by Julian Poulson of the Cambodian Space Project . Here is the second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6b3EOovYHB0

This is Tina at her explosive best: big hair; big dancing; drug-addled Ike skulkin' away but somehow adding the pioneering Moog Theremin solo; and if it isn't Marc Bolan playing guitar on this track it sure does sound like him. 'Nutbush City Limits' is an amazing track, a semi-autobiographical song written in 1973, shortly before Ike and Tina split.

It most certainly would have had an caught the attention of Cambodian musicians: the autobiographical story-telling lyric is something used in lots of Cambodian music, especially troubadour music like the Chapei Dong Veng (long necked lute) music played by Master Kong Nay. Srey Thy also writes songs, like 'Have Visa, No Have Rice' and 'Not Easy Rock'n'Roll', in which she talks about her own journey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SwsTm7cRAV8#!

This song is another of Srey Thy's non-Khmer favourites. Originally recorded by France Gall, it's soaked in sexual innuendo though the teenage chanteuse is apparently oblivious to the lyrical cunning of Serge 'stop messing around with the girls' Gainsbourg. Aside from GI radio and the British Invasion, French music, from gypsy guitar to Ye Ye pop, was a big influence on the Cambodian musicians.

Cambodia gained independence from French colonialism in 1953, a year after Prince Sihanouk had gone into exile in Thailand, vowing not to return to Cambodia until the country was free of the French. Cambodian elite were mostly educated in France: Pol Pot and most of the Khmer Rouge leaders attended French universities and the country's military command was also trained in France.

Many Cambodians think the song 'La Vie En Rose' is a song by Norodom Sihanouk, as the prince-cum-king cum-prime minister often sang it on TV. Today, there's a large expat French community in Cambodia and many French musicians living in Phnom Penh and playing in new bands like The Cambodian Space Project. Stay tuned, for a Khmer version of 'Laisse tomber les filles'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qFLw26BjDZs

Did Andy Warhol, The Velvet Underground, Lou, Nico and the song 'Heroin' have any influence on Cambodian musicians of the 1960s and '70s? Impossible to know but there's something amazing about the psychedelic feel of Heroin and other Velvet's tracks like Venus In Furs that has the same kind of shimmering fragile beauty that you can hear in several of the wonderfully psyched-out Cambodian recordings of the '60s.

my favourite of these is a song Srey Thy calls Baby Lady Boy, when I first heard this track I thought wow, that's a Velvets sound at its finest and it's from Cambodia?! 'Heroin' is a VU track that features Reeds quiet, melodic guitar, the hypnotic drum patterns of Mo Tucker, John Cale's droning viola and Sterling Morrison's steady rhythm guitar, this kind of instrumentation is heard in Cambodian music and certainly influences our Cambodian Space Project on tracks like Whisky Cambodia, it's simply a matter of replacing Cale's electric viola with the Cambodian Tro (one-stringed violin).

I recall going to a wedding here in Cambodia and hearing a traditional Khmer band with their Tro's mic-ed up through distorted amps then feed into a bigger PA, the sound was a totally wild feed-backing psychedelics somewhere between Hendrix at the Isle of White and Heroin by the VU. Speaking of the drug itself, Cambodia is close to the notorious Golden Triangle and has never been in short supply of opium and heroin; traffickers ranging from The Burmese army through to the CIA using its infamous Air America program are just some of the regions dealers. Jon Swain's wonderful book 'River in Time' describes Phnom Penh between 70-75 as a city of numerous opium dens and junkies. Heroin and other drugs must have had an influence on Cambodian music; many of the songs are about getting drunk. Whether or not The Velvet Underground's highly influential sound had any influence on local musicians is a tantalizing mystery but there are certainly some beguiling recordings that would sweep any VU lover off their pointy-shoed feet.

Cambodian Space Project & Kung Nai "Women" by metalpostcardrecords

I first arrived in Cambodia on an Asialink artist residency and was keen to spend my time learning about, and perhaps recording, some traditional instruments. I'd discovered a few videos of Kong Nay prior to arrival and, when someone offered to take me to meet this 'living treasure' at his home, I jumped at it the chance.

At the time, Kong Nay was living in a small shanty house in an inner city slum area, an area where residents have since been evicted and their homes demolished to make way for commercial development. Blind master Kong Nay was waiting outside his house, with his Chapei Dong Veng in hand and sitting with a pack of Liberation cigarettes and a pint glass of tea.

He's often referred to as the 'Ray Charles of Phnom Penh' and indeed looks uncannily like him. As soon as he launched into his throaty Mekong delta sound, I was totally blown away by what I heard: firstly, the warmth, spirit and bluesy soul in his voice and, secondly, the instrument he was playing, the Chapei Dong Veng. Hearing this music for the first time is the other reason I've stayed in Cambodia to live and produce music.

Late last year, we at the Cambodian Space Project were approached by the Office of Human Rights in Cambodia to record three songs in support of human rights. This became a collaboration featuring a sparring match between the Chapei master and the Cambodian Space Project. The track 'Women' is a conversation between Master Kong Nay and his student, Srey Thy, about rights for women. It's available as a free download at Metal Postcard Records.

Shortly after we recorded this project, the head of OHCHR was forced to resign and leave the country; the human rights situation in Cambodia is facing growing criticism from both within the country and from an increasingly alarmed international community.

Srey Thy was concerned about negative repercussions she or her family might face by writing an overtly political song on women's rights: in Cambodia, female singers are often the targets of violence. Many have been attacked, doused in acid, forced to leave the country or murdered. Fortunately, there has been no negative repercussion and the music culture clash on this song, 'Women', sounds great and is something of which we'll do more.

Training Workshop on the Curriculum

(Speak Truth To Power, based on Kerry Kennedy's book)

at Ompor Wanaram Pagoda in Takeo Province

Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

130+ teachers and monks

More information at:

RFI's weekly guest on 15 October 2011 is Senator Kong Korm, the interim SRP President. Responding to questions filed by Kuoch Kuntheara, Mr. Kong Korm said that he is not surprised by a number of defections of SRP members to Kem Sokha's HRP. To Kong Korm, the reason of these defections stems from the defectors being displeased with their role or they are only thinking of their personal interests. At the same time, Mr. Kong Korm did not hesitate to accuse the CPP and the HRP of colluding with each other to break up the SRP.

Click the control below to listen to the audio program:

Since 1993, Cambodia has moved to an important chapter in her history: the change from a single-party rule to plural democracy. However, the change is only in the appearance rather than being really meaningful. When it boils down to politics, there seems to be no change at all or very few change if any, i.e. the view of "immiscible oil and water" has affected both the opposition and the ruling parties.

In a democracy, it is not surprising to see the opposition and the ruling parties following opposite directions, and that clashes may result from the differences. Without this, it would no longer be called plural democracy anymore. Under this condition, the political struggle between the opposition and the ruling party should not be surprising at all.

However, what is strange is the fact that politicians in Cambodia are fighting each other nonstop, on any occasion and there is no hope that they would be able to mix up with one another, i.e. they are following the physical law of "oil and water" being immiscible. Among advanced democracies in the world, there are times when the government and the opposition would set aside their political differences to discuss about the interests of the nation and the people which are much more important than politicking. For example, during the current severe flood which threatens Thailand, PM Yingluck Shinawatra and former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva – who lost the election to Yingluck in a bitter political fight – decided to sit together at the same table to find a resolution for their country.

The fact that we pointed out the example above is not to promote another nation, but rather to provide an example that we should reflect upon because learning from our opponent's strong points is also a key to one's own victory as well. Furthermore, such situation is normal in a democracy because fighting among politicians is done in the interest of the nation – a common interest which primes over anything else. Therefore, when national interests are being threatened, it is imperative for politicians should set aside their personal interests. Quite to the contrary, in Cambodia, fighting in the political arena is conducted only for one purpose: [personal] victory at any cost to the country. Cambodia had tasted such bitter experiences in the past and the Cambodian people are well aware of these conditions.

Currently, the philosophy of "winning at any cost" is still deeply entrenched among politicians. Case in point: when Cambodia suffered aggression from neighboring countries, or when Cambodia faces severe flood danger, politicians did not come together to resolve these national interest issues, but they rather use these occasions to foment a war of words for their personal political gains instead. It is true that the prime minister and opposition leaders met each others on two occasions, but during these meetings, they seem to resolve their political differences rather than resolving major national issues.

Nevertheless, meetings between opposition leaders and government leaders should be encouraged even under the circumstance described above because they foster a culture of dialogue that can reduce political tension among these politicians. Face to face meeting between Hun Xen and Mu Sochua at the National Assembly on Friday was a rare scene that should be encouraged because, at least, such meetings can reduce tension among these politicians and they also lessen grudges held among themselves, that is if such meetings have no ulterior motives. We hope that such meetings will foster a new democratic culture among politicians in Cambodia. The idea of preserving the "immiscible oil and water" culture can lead to a major danger to the future of the country.

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សៅរ៍ 15 តុលា 2011

ដោយ ប៉ែន បូណា

RFI

ចាប់​តាំង​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៩៣​មក​ ឆាក​នយោបាយ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ឈាន​ចូល​ក្នុង​របត់​ថ្មី​ដ៏​សំខាន់​មួយ​ក្នុង​ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ នោះ​គឺ​ការ​ផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ពី​របប​ដឹកនាំ​បក្ស​តែ​មួយ​មក​ជា​របប​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​សេរី​ពហុបក្ស។ ​ប៉ុន្តែ ​ការ​ប្រែប្រួល​នេះ​ហាក់​ដូច​ជា​មាន​តែ​រូបភាព​ច្រើន​ជាង​ខ្លឹមសារ។ ​និយាយ​ពី​ផ្នត់គំនិត​អ្នកនយោបាយ​ អ្វី​ដែល​ហាក់​ដូច​ជា​មិន​ប្រែប្រួល​សោះ​ឬ​ក៏​ប្រែ​ប្រួល​តិច​តួច​បំផុត​នោះ​គឺ ​ទស្សនៈ ​«ទឹកនិងប្រេង​» ដែល​មិន​អាច​រលាយ​ចូល​គ្នា​បាន​រវាង​អ្នក​នយោបាយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង ​និង​បក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច។ ​នេះ​ជា​ចំណុច​គ្រោះ​ថ្នាក់​មួយ​ដែល​គួរ​លុប​បំបាត់​ជា​ចាំបាច់។

សម្រាប់​សង្គម​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ​វា​មិនមែន​ជា​រឿង​ចម្លែក​ទេ​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​និង​បក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច​ដើរ​នយោបាយ​បញ្ច្រាស​ទិស​គ្នា ​ហើយ​ពេល​ខ្លះ​ប៉ះ​ទង្គិច​គ្នា​បែក​ផ្កា​ភ្លើង​ក៏​មាន។​ បើ​មិន​ដូច្នោះ​ទេ ​គេ​ក៏​មិន​បាច់​ហៅ​ថា​របប​ពហុបក្ស​ធ្វើ​អ្វី​ដែរ។ ​ក្នុង​ន័យ​នេះ ​សង្គ្រាម​នយោបាយ​រវាង​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​និង​បក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​មិន​មែន​ជា​រឿង​ចម្លែក​អ្វី​ទេ។

ប៉ុន្តែ ​អ្វី​ដែល​ចម្លែក​នៅ​ត្រង់​ថា​ ការ​ប្រឆាំង​គ្នា​របស់​អ្នកនយោបាយ​កម្ពុជា​គឺ​គ្មាន​ទី​បញ្ចប់ ​គ្មាន​កាលៈទេសៈ​លើកលែង ​ហើយ​ក៏​គ្មាន​ថ្ងៃ​រលាយ​ចូល​គ្នា​បាន​ដែរ​ ពោល​គឺ​មិន​ខុស​អ្វី​ពី​ធម្មជាតិ​«ទឹកនិងប្រេង»​នោះ​ឡើយ។ ​នៅ​ក្នុង​បណ្តា​ប្រទេស​ជឿនលឿន​ក្នុង​លោក ​មាន​កាលៈ​ទេសៈ​លើក​លែង​ជាច្រើន​ដែល​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ​និង​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ទុក​ផលប្រយោជន៍​នយោបាយ​មួយ​ឡែក​សិន​ ហើយ​បែរ​មក​ជជែក​គ្នា​អំពី​ផលប្រយោជន៍​ជាតិ ​និង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ដែល​ធំ​ជាង​ផលប្រយោជន៍​នយោបាយ​ទៅ​ទៀត។ ​ជាក់ស្តែង ​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​ទឹក​ជំនន់​កំពុង​វាយ​លុក​យ៉ាង​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ថៃ​ នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ​យីងឡាក់​ ស៊ីណាវ៉ាត្រា ​និង​អតីត​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ចាញ់​ឆ្នោត​អាភីស៊ីត​វាចាជីវ៉ា ​ដែល​ជា​គូសត្រូវ​នយោបាយ​ដ៏ជូរចត់​ក្នុង​រយៈពេល​កន្លង​ទៅ ​បែរ​ជា​អង្គុយ​រួមតុ​ជា​មួយ​គ្នា​ដើម្បី​រក​ដំណោះស្រាយ​ជូន​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ។

ការ​លើក​បញ្ហា​នេះ​ពិត​ជា​គ្មាន​បំណង​លើក​តម្កើង​ជាតិ​សាសន៍​ដទៃ​ណាមួយ​ឡើយ​ ប៉ុន្តែ ​វា​គ្រាន់​តែ​ជា​ឧទាហរណ៍​មួយ​សម្រាប់​ជា​មូលដ្ឋាន​ផ្លូវ​គំនិត​ក្នុង​ការ​ពិចារណា​តែ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ពីព្រោះ ​ជួនកាល​ ការ​រៀន​សូត្រ​ពី​ចំណុច​ខ្លាំង​របស់​គូសត្រូវ​ក៏​ជា​គន្លឹះ​នៃ​ជ័យ​ជម្នះ​មួយ​ដែរ។ ​ម្យ៉ាងទៀត​ទិដ្ឋភាព​បែប​នេះ​គឺជា​រឿង​ធម្មតា​មួយ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​សម្រាប់​ប្រទេស​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ពី​ព្រោះ​ការ​ប្រឆាំង​គ្នា​របស់​អ្នកនយោបាយ​គឺ​ដើម្បី​ការពារ​ប្រយោជន៍​ជាតិ​ដែល​ជា​ផល​ប្រយោជន៍​រួម និង​ធំ​ជាង​អ្វី​ទាំង​អស់។ ​ដូច្នេះ​ហើយ​បាន​ជា​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​ប្រយោជន៍​ជាតិ​ត្រូវ​បាន​គំរាម​កំហែង​ អ្នកនយោបាយ​ត្រូវ​ទុក​ផល​ប្រយោជន៍​ផ្ទាល់​ខ្លួន​មួយ​អន្លើ​សិន​ជា​ចាំបាច់។ ដោយឡែក​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ​ការ​ប្រឆាំង​គ្នា​ក្នុង​ឆាក​នយោបាយ​ហាក់​ដូចជា​មាន​គោល​ដៅ​តែ​ដើម្បី​ឈ្នះ​តែប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ទោះបី​ជា​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ​ក្លាយ​ទៅ​ជា​អ្វី​ក៏ដោយ​ចុះ។ ​បទពិសោធន៍​ដ៏​ជូរចត់​ទាំង​នេះ​ធ្លាប់​បាន​កើត​មាន​ជា​ហូរហែ​ ហើយ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ក៏​ធ្លាប់​បាន​ភ្លក់​រសជាតិ​រួច​ហើយ​ដែរ។

បច្ចុប្បន្ន​នេះ ​ផ្នត់គំនិត​យក​ឈ្នះ ​ប្រកាន់​ឈ្នះ ​គ្មាន​ព្រំដែន​នៅតែ​ដិត​ដាម​យ៉ាង​ជ្រៅ​ក្នុង​ទស្សនៈ​របស់​អ្នកនយោបាយ​តែ​ដដែល។ ​ជាក់ស្តែង​ ទោះបី​ជា​ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​កាលៈទេសៈ​ដែល​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ​ទទួល​រង​ការ​បំពាន​ពី​ប្រទេស​ជិត​ខាង ​ក៏​ដូច​ជា​ក្នុង​កាលៈទេសៈ​ដែល​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ​ជួប​គ្រោះ​មហន្តរាយ​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​ដោយ​ទឹកជំនន់​ក៏ដោយ​ ក៏​អ្នកនយោបាយ​មិន​បាន​បង្ហាញ​ពី​ទស្សនៈ​រួម ហើយ​ការ​ពួតដៃ​គ្នា​ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ​ដែរ​ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញ ​ប្រធានបទ​ដែល​ជា​ប្រយោជន៍​ជាតិ​ទាំង​នោះ​បែរ​ជា​ក្លាយ​ទៅ​ជា​សង្គ្រាម​ពាក្យ​សម្តី​ដើម្បី​កេង​ចំណេញ​នយោបាយ​តែរៀងៗ​ខ្លួន​ទៅវិញ។ ​ពិត​ហើយ​ថា​ ប្រមុខ​ដឹកនាំ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​បក្ស​កាន់អំណាច​ និង​មេដឹកនាំ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​កម្ពុជា​ក៏​ធ្លាប់​បាន​ជួប​គ្នា​មួយ​លើក​ជា២​លើក​រួច​មក​ហើយ​ដែរ ​ប៉ុន្តែ ​ជំនួប​ទាំង​នោះ ​បើ​គេ​ពិនិត្យ​មើល​ឲ្យ​មែន​ទែន​ទៅ​គឺ​ដើម្បី​ដោះ​ស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​នយោបាយ​ផ្ទាល់​ខ្លួន​ច្រើន​ជាង​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ធំៗ​របស់​ប្រទេសជាតិ។

យ៉ាង​ណា​ក៏ដោយ​ចុះ ​ជំនួប​រវាង​មេដឹកនាំ​នយោបាយ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង ​ជាមួយ​មេដឹកនាំ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​គឺ​ជា​រឿង​គួរ​ឲ្យ​លើក​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ណាស់​បើ​ទោះបី​ជា​ក្នុង​រូបភាព​ណា​ក៏ដោយ ​ពីព្រោះ​វា​ពិត​ជា​មាន​សារៈសំខាន់​ក្នុង​ការ​បង្កើត​វប្បធម៌​ពិភាក្សា​គ្នា​ដើម្បី​កាត់​បន្ថយ​ភាព​តានតឹង​នយោបាយ។ ​ជំនួប​រវាង​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ ហ៊ុន សែន ​ជាមួយ​លោកស្រី​ មួរ សុខហួរ ​នៅ​ឯ​មន្ទីរ​រដ្ឋសភា​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ​ម្សិល​មិញ​ក៏​ជា​ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍​ដ៏​កម្រ​មួយទៀត​ដែល​គួរ​ឲ្យ​លើក​ទឹកចិត្ត​ដែរ។ ​យ៉ាង​ហោច​ណាស់​ រាល់​ជំនួប​ម្តងៗ ​អ្នកនយោបាយ​អាច​កាត់​បន្ថយ​ភាព​តានតឹង ​និង​ការ​គុំកួន​គ្នា​បាន​មួយ​កម្រិត​ដែរ​ ប្រសិន​បើ​ជំនួប​នោះ​មិន​បង្កប់​ដោយ​ចេតនា​ផ្សេង​ទេ​នោះ។ ​សូម​ឲ្យ​ជំនួប​ទាំងនោះ​ក្លាយ​ទៅ​ជា​និមិត្តរូប​នៃ​ការ​កសាង​វប្បធម៌​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ដ៏​រឹងមាំ​មួយ​សម្រាប់​អ្នកនយោបាយ​ខ្មែរ។ ​ការ​បណ្តែត​បណ្តោយ​ឲ្យ​ស្ថានភាព​«ទឹកនិងប្រេង»​នៅ​តែ​បន្ត​មាន​អត្ថិភាព ​វា​ពិត​ជា​គ្រោះ​ថ្នាក់​ខ្លាំង​ណាស់​សម្រាប់​អនាគត​ប្រទេសជាតិ៕

PETALING JAYA - For Cambodians Nhoem Synoeurn and Sonya, working as maids in Malaysia is a job they are contented with thanks to their kind employers.

Nhoem, 20, has been with her employer in Subang Jaya for more than two years and counts her blessings that she and Sonya, who goes by a single name, are treated "like family".

"I came to Malaysia to earn a living and learn the culture. Before coming here, I was afraid I would have bad employers," she said, adding that she appreciated the respect, freedom and trust given to her.

Nhoem, who could communicate adequately in English, said she did not agree with her government's decision to ban incoming maids as her fellow citizens needed to earn a living.

"I decided to return and work for the same family after completing my contract as I do not earn enough as a farmer in Cambodia," she said, adding that she was showing the ropes to 18-year-old Sonya who arrived here a few months ago.

Sonya is working for the brother of Nhoem's employer. Both brothers stay in the USJ 2 neighbourhood.

Their father, Jason Ong, 60, is referred to as ah gong (grandpa) by the two maids.

Ong said it was vital for people to understand that maids were not "second-class human beings".

"Employers must respect and appreciate their maids. They should not flare up over mistakes but patiently teach them.

"Maids are not robots and they get a culture shock when they first arrive here," he said yesterday.

Ong added that the Cambodian ban would not solve the problem as both sides would suffer Malaysians from a maid shortage crisis and Cambodians who were deprived of employment.

"What Malaysia and Cambodia should do is work out a strict control system to weed out the bad sheep. These abusive employers should be blacklisted so they cannot hire maids in future," he said, adding that these individuals had caused other employers to suffer a bad image as well.

KUALA LUMPUR: As potential employers and maid agencies reeled from the ban imposed by Cambodia on sending its citizens to work as domestic helpers to Malaysia, the embassy here said the action followed feedback that it had been sending to Phnom Penh. (sic!)

Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia Princess Norodom Arunrasmy said that the ban would be temporary until proper measures were put in place to address the issue of abuse and torture of the maids here.

"I do not expect the issue will be resolved soon as we want everything in order before you can resume recruitment.

"In one week alone, three of our maids died. We are still awaiting the autopsy reports," she told The Star.

Asked whether she had proposed the ban, Arunrasmy, who is the daughter of Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk, said: "The decision of my Prime Minister (Hun Sen) was not harsh or drastic as he had long discussions on it."

Hun Sen announced the ban on Friday, saying he was disappointed with alleged incidents of beatings and rape of Cambodian maids by their Malaysian employers.

The envoy said she had been receiving reports of abuse of Cambodian maids "almost daily".

"There are impatient employers who have beaten them for the slightest of issues. But the majority of Malaysian employers have been kind and hospitable to our workers.

"I just met one girl today who told me that she has been happily working for her Malaysian employer for more than 10 years," she added.

Arunrasmy said the ban would not affect Malaysian employers whose applications for Cambodian maids were already approved.

"Approved maids will still continue to arrive here. The ban is only for fresh applications," she explained.

The envoy said Cambodia would discuss the issue with the Malaysian Government at the next Joint Commission Meeting.

Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's government said Bangkok will be spared from floods that have killed almost 300 people and devastated central and northern provinces as water levels receded and defenses around the capital held.

"The water level is now manageable and Bangkok will definitely not be flooded," Pongsapat Pongcharoen, a national flood-center spokesman, said today in a televised briefing.

Authorities have spent the past week reinforcing flood barriers around Bangkok and residents began hoarding water, rice and instant noodles on concern floodwaters that destroyed homes and crippled manufacturing hubs in parts of central Thailand would overwhelm the capital.

"The government is aware of the plight of the people and is making every effort to solve this disaster," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today in Nonthaburi province outside Bangkok, where she oversaw an effort to use the force of 1,149 motorboats to accelerate the flow of the Chao Phraya, Bang Pa- kong and Tha Cheen rivers.

The three-month-long disaster has killed 297 people and affected 8.8 million more across 61 of Thailand's 77 provinces. Floodwaters are still affecting 26 provinces, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said today on its website.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, the nation's biggest, is operating normally, and services including ferries, hotels and Bangkok's elevated rail system are unaffected, Sean Boonpracong, a flood center spokesman, said today in an e-mailed statement.

Floodwaters Recede

The volume of water flowing from areas north of Bangkok has stabilized as dams reduced the amount being released, Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut said. Floodwaters have receded in Singburi, Ang-Thong and Ayutthaya province, and water levels in the Chao Phraya river that runs through the capital are still below the flood barrier, Theera said.

Ayutthaya was the hardest-hit province, with floodwaters last week swamping industrial estates that house factories operated by Hana Microelectronics Pcl, the country's biggest semiconductor packager, and Japanese manufacturers including Honda Motor Co., Nikon Corp. and Pioneer Corp. Honda will keep its two Thai plants closed until at least Oct. 21, the company said last week.

A total of 930 factories nationwide have been damaged in the disaster, according to the Ministry of Industry.

Flood Cost

The cost of the floods may rise to as much as 120 billion baht ($3.9 billion), and force the central bank to cut its forecast for economic growth this year, Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said Oct. 14.

The Nava Nakorn Industrial Promotion Zone isn't flooded, though the situation remains "worrisome," Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said after visiting the facility in Pathum Thani province today. Some of the 227 factories at the estate have already halted operations, he said.

Yingluck said yesterday the situation remains "critical" in 10 of the 26 provinces still affected. Her two-month-old administration is balancing needs to protect Bangkok from inundation while evacuating people and delivering aid to areas outside the capital's flood barriers.

The government's flood relief fund has received cash donations totaling 64 million baht, said Pongsapat, the flood- center spokesman.

A U.S. C-130 transport plane arrived yesterday carrying more than 10,000 sandbags and 10 Marines as part of a humanitarian survey team, the flood center's Boonpracong said. The U.S. will also send helicopters to help search and rescue efforts, he said.

'Conflicts'

Some residents in flood-affected areas outside Bangkok have clashed with officials trying to bolster water barriers, and have criticized the government for protecting the capital at the expense of areas outside the city.

"Although there have been some conflicts between residents in flooded and dry areas, these conflicts have been settled," Boonpracong said, without giving details.

In Ayutthaya, new evacuation shelters were opened and authorities are using boats to patrol flooded areas to prevent looting, he said.

Flood waters passed through Ayutthaya yesterday at volumes that were lower than expected, Wim Roongwatanachinda, the director general of the Department of Irrigation, said in the statement. That water will pass through Bangkok over the next couple of days, he said.

--With assistance from Suttinee Yuvejwattana and Daniel Ten Kate in Bangkok. Editor: Tony Jordan, Jim McDonald

ROME — Protesters torched cars and smashed up banks in Rome while clashes erupted in New York's Times Square on a day of worldwide demonstrations against corporate greed and government cutbacks.

Tens of thousands took to the streets of the Italian capital for a march that turned violent and equal numbers rallied in Madrid and Lisbon. In New York, where thousands protested, more than 70 people were arrested.

The protests were inspired by the "Occupy Wall Street" movement in the United States and the "Indignants" in Spain, targeting 951 cities in more than 80 countries around the globe.

It was the biggest show of power yet by a movement born on May 15 when a rally in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square sparked a worldwide campaign focused on anger over unemployment and opposition to the financial elite.

"I think it is very moving that the movement that was born here has extended throughout the world. It was about time for people to rise up," said 24-year-old Carmen Martin as she marched towards Puerta del Sol.

In Rome, which saw the worst violence of the day, the march quickly degenerated into running street battles between groups of hooded protesters and riot police who fired tear gas and water jets into the crowd.

"Today is only the beginning. We hope to move forward with a global movement. There are many of us and we want the same things," said protester Andrea Muraro, a 24-year-old engineering student from Padua.

"Only One Solution: Revolution!" read a placard. One group carried a cardboard coffin with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's name on it.

Berlusconi later condemned the "incredible level of violence" at the march, which took place amid a security lockdown.

"We've seen the worst of Europe today in Rome," Mayor Gianni Alemanno said.

Seventy people were injured in the clashes and treated by medics, including three who were in a serious condition, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Backing from Italy's main trade unions and student movements boosted the numbers at the protest in Rome -- in contrast to most of the other rallies.

The protests received unexpected support from Italian central bank governor Mario Draghi, a former executive at Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs set to take over as president of the European Central Bank.

"They're angry against the world of finance. I understand them," Draghi added, though expressing regret at reports of violence.

In the Portuguese capital, where some 50,000 rallied, Mathieu Rego, 25, said: "We are victims of financial speculation and this austerity programme is going to ruin us. We have to change this rotten system."

Protests were staged throughout Europe in Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, Sarajevo and Zurich. Thousands also rallied across Canada and in New York, Washington and Miami.

Scuffles broke out in London, where about 800 people gathered in the financial district by St Paul's Cathedral, raising banners saying: "Strike back!" "No cuts!" and "Goldman Sachs is the work of the devil!"

Five people were arrested, three for assaulting police officers and two for public order offences, Scotland Yard said.

Three lines of police, and one line at the rear on horseback, blocked protesters from heading to the London Stock Exchange and pushed back against lead marchers, some wearing masks.

"One of the reasons why we support what is happening here in 'Occupy London' is because the banking system in London is the recipient of corrupt money," Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said from the steps of St Paul's, flanked by bodyguards.

The European Union also became a target for anger as the eurozone debt crisis continues, with some 9,000 protesters marching to the EU's headquarters in Brussels and rallying outside the ECB's headquarters in Frankfurt.

In the United States, at least 74 protesters were arrested as thousands marched in New York. Police on horseback clashed with protesters in busy Times Square in the evening, and one woman was injured.

"I am happy to see so many people, but this would be bigger if the police didn't block the way," said protester Ronny Nunez.

At least 2,000 marched in Washington, while in Miami, a city that rarely hosts mass demonstrations, at least 1,000 people marched downtown to vent their anger against corporations, banks and war.

More than 10,000 Canadians blew bubbles, strummed guitars and chanted anti-corporate slogans at peaceful protests in cities across the country.

"I believe a revolution is happening," said 30-year-old Annabell Chapa, who brought her one-year-old son Jaydn along in a stroller to Toronto's Saint James Park.

In Mexico, Peru and Chile, thousands marched to protest what they slammed as an unfair financial system and stagnant unemployment.

As the day began, around 500 people gathered in the heart of Hong Kong's financial district to vent their anger. About 100 demonstrators in Tokyo also voiced fury at the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Another 600 demonstrators in Sydney set up camp outside Australia's central bank, where the plight of refugees and Aboriginal Australians was added to the financial concerns.

BANGKOK — Thailand's worst floods in decades have jolted a global supply chain already straining under the impact of Japan's tsunami, as deluged factories threaten some of the kingdom's key export industries.

The floods have killed about 300 people, damaged one-tenth of Thailand's rice paddy and made major roads north of Bangkok impassable.

Toyota, Ford, Honda and Isuzu have all suspended car assembly in Thailand, a regional automotive hub -- a move expected to hit output of thousands of vehicles.

While most of the country's auto factories are on the eastern coast, outside the worst affected zones, a clutch of large industrial parks north of Bangkok home to plants producing vital components have been inundated.

Electronics firms are also braced for a slowdown in output, with US groups Seagate Technology Inc. and Western Digital Corp. warning their production of hard disk drives would be hit by the disaster.

Chipmakers ON Semiconductor Corp. and Microsemi Corp. as well as high-tech gaint Nikon have suspended output at Thai factories, while Canon Inc. said it would temporarily move ink jet printer production to Vietnam.

The disruption is another setback to Thailand's crucial export sector, which was still recovering from the impact of parts shortages caused by the March earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan.

The effects of the latest disruptions will be felt outside Thailand, said the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Payungsak Chartsutthipol.

"This has also affected factories abroad because many plants in Thailand are suppliers for factories outside Thailand," he told AFP.

"It's like the impact from the tsunami in Japan earlier this year which also had an impact on factories in Thailand because of a shortage of parts."

Outside one Honda plant in Ayutthaya, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) upriver of Bangkok, rows of cars have been almost totally submerged by the muddy water, while others were moved to an overpass to keep them dry.

Toyota on Friday said it would extend the production halt in Thailand until at least October 22.

"2011 has been a terrible year for Japanese automakers and natural disasters. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan absolutely broadsided them by forcing factory closures for nearly two months. And now the floods have stymied production in Thailand," said Hans Greimel, Asia Editor at Automotive News.

"Thailand is a key production hub for Japanese automakers, particularly Toyota and Honda. And they will be hurting from the disruption, especially as they lean on overseas plants to help make up some of the production losses they suffered at home," he said in Tokyo.

An expatriate working for a spare-parts maker in Thailand said a major auto maker recently asked his company to help provide some spare parts from another country.

"That means that they think the supply will be disrupted for a while," he said, asking not to be named.

Forecasters at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce have estimated the total cost of the floods to the Thai economy at about 150 billion baht ($4.9 billion) -- roughly 1.3-1.5 percent of annual gross domestic product.

The figure includes estimated damage to farmland, tourism and commerce.

"If Bangkok is flooded too, the loss will definitely be more," said Thanawat Polwichai, head of the university's Economic and Business Forecasting Centre.

Authorities in the capital have expressed confidence that they can protect the city of about 12 million people from major flooding.

The Thai economy recovered quickly from the impact of two months of deadly political protests in Bangkok in early 2010, but was squeezed by the fallout of Japan's twin disasters in March this year.

The governor of the Bank of Thailand signalled Friday that the central bank is likely to lower its 2011 economic growth forecast later this week, from the current level of 4.1 percent, and independent experts are also cautious.

"Japan's experience of a fairly swift output recovery following the March tsunami does offer some hope, but Thailand's experience may be less fortunate," analysts at the British consultancy firm IHS Global Insight warned in a report.

"Not only is the area affected much larger, but a whole swathe of sectors are suffering the effects," they added.

BANGKOK, Thailand — The government expressed confidence Sunday that Bangkok will escape Thailand's worst flooding in decades, as the capital's elaborate barriers held strong and floodwaters receded from submerged plains to the north.

Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut said the largest mass of runoff water flowing southward had passed through Bangkok's Chao Phraya river and into the Gulf of Thailand, and that the river's levels would rise no higher. He stopped short of saying the threat to Bangkok had passed completely.

The capital is being shielded by an elaborate system of flood walls, canals, dikes and underground tunnels. But if any of the defenses fail, floodwaters could begin seeping into the city of 9 million people.

"People have faith these walls will work," a saffron-robed monk named Pichitchai said as he peaked over stacks of sandbags added in recent days to help protect a Buddhist temple along a canal in northwestern Bangkok. The 36-year-old uses only one name.

The agriculture minister said floodwaters in the provinces of Singburi, Angthong and hard-hit Ayutthaya have begun to recede, signaling that the pressure on the capital could ease.

"I can confirm that the highest possible level of water has already subsided," Theera told reporters. "The water level in the Chao Phraya will not be higher than the barriers."

Relentless monsoon rains that began inundating the country in late July have affected two-thirds of the country, drowning agricultural land, swamping hundreds of factories and swallowing low-lying villages along the way.

Nearly 300 people have been killed so far, while more than 200 major highways and roads have been shut along with the main rail lines to the north. The government says property damage and losses could reach $3 billion dollars. The most affected provinces are just north of Bangkok, including Ayutthaya, which is home to a series of ancient and treasured stone temples. Water there and in other towns has risen in some places six-feet-high (two-meters-high), forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes.

Despite widespread fears that disaster could touch Bangkok, the giant city has so far been mostly untouched.

Speaking late Saturday, Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he was worried about barriers on the northwest side of the capital, saying they were not as strong as in other parts of Bangkok and water could flood around them and into the city from the west. But on Sunday, he said the situation was still under control.

An Associated Press team that traveled to that area Sunday found no serious flooding in the district bordering on neighboring Nonthaburi and Nokhon Pathom provinces. Canals were not overflowing and, although some residents were still reinforcing sandbag walls, few were worried.

Over the last few days, government officials have voiced increasing confidence the capital would survive without major damage. On Sunday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra echoed those sentiments again, saying "I believe Bangkok will be safe."

Yingluck spoke just after presiding over a ceremony in which an armada of more than 1,000 small boats stationed in dozens of spots on the Chao Phraya turned on their engines in an effort to help propel water down the river. It wasn't immediately clearly what impact the effort would have.

___

ខាងក្រោមនេះគឺជារូបភាពស្ដីពីជីវិតរស់នៅប្រចាំថ្ងៃរបស់ជនជាតិកួយ នៅភូមិពោធិ៍ធំ ឃុំពោធិ៍ធំ និងជនជាតិកួយ នៅភូមិបុស្ស ឃុំប្រមេ ស្រុកត្បែងមានជ័យ ខេត្តព្រះវិហារ។

រូបថតនៅថ្ងៃទី១៣ តុលា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ដោយ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី/វោហារ ជាតិ

The following photos show the daily life of Kuoy ethnic minorities living in Po Thom village, Po Thom commune and in Boss village, Prame commune, both in Tbeng Meanchey district, Preah Vihear province.

The photos were taken by Voha Cheat on 13 October 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCO0VSGEHkI

Rights groups urged the United Nations Tuesday to seek assurances from Cambodia that it will not meddle in a UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal after a judge resigned citing political interference.

Amnesty International said the UN could not sit idly by after Siegfried Blunk openly acknowledged the problem when announcing his decision to step down on Monday. Blunk said government opposition to further prosecutions linked to the 1975-79 regime effectively made his position untenable.

"The UN should seek guarantees from the Cambodian government that it will not interfere in its proceedings and make clear that any attempts to influence the work of the (court) will force the UN to review its involvement," said Sam Zarifi, the group's Asia-Pacific director.

The departure of Blunk, one of two judges tasked with investigating new Khmer Rouge cases, is the latest setback to the court, long dogged by allegations of political interference.

Human Rights Watch, which had been highly critical of Blunk's work and last week called for his resignation, said the UN should "conduct a full investigation" into allegations of "pervasive political interference" at the court.

"Blunk's statement is a challenge to the UN... to insist that the Cambodian government end its interference in the work of the (court) and allow it to work independently," the group's Asia director Brad Adams told AFP.

The court, made up of Cambodian and international legal officials, was set up in 2006 to provide some justice for the traumatised nation for the deaths of up to two million people under the communist movement's reign of terror.

It has cost more than $100 million so far but has completed just one trial -- jailing Kaing Guek Eav, a former Khmer Rouge prison chief, last year for 30 years for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people.

A second trial involving the regime's four most senior surviving leaders is under way and expected to start hearing testimony before the end of the year.

Two more possible cases against five ex-Khmer Rouge members are officially still under consideration but critics said German judge Blunk and his Cambodian counterpart were failing to investigate them fully in the face of government objections.

Prime Minister Hun Sen -- himself a former cadre -- has repeatedly made it clear he wants the court's work to end with the second trial, even saying that further cases were "not allowed".

But Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Tuesday denied the government was seeking to control the court.

"We clearly know that the investigation into cases three and four is the right of the court," he told reporters in Phnom Penh.

The Khmer Rouge was responsible for one of the worst horrors of the 20th century, wiping out nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population through starvation, overwork and execution in a bid to forge a communist utopia.

They applied for and won a $40,000 grant from the Creative Work Fund to teach their art to youth.

Chhip Chhoun, 65, and other skilled performers will give free biweekly concerts beginning in January at The Bridge Community Center, a nonprofit facility in west Modesto that provides services to the Cambodian community. Some of the money will go to purchase traditional instruments for young people.

Speaking with the aid of an interpreter, Chhoun said he was happy to have the funding to help preserve an important cultural practice.

This year alone, four skilled Cambodian musicians in town have died, said Mao Roth, the interpreter, who works at The Bridge.

"There are not too many left here in Modesto," he said.

Formed in 1989 by faculty from California State University, Stanislaus, Modesto Junior College and community volunteers, The Bridge serves an estimated 2,000 Cambodian immigrants and their family members. Many of the first immigrants came to Modesto and other U.S. cities more than 30 years ago after fleeing the fighting in Southeast Asia.

Chhoun, who was born in Cambodia, learned to play the khhem (a stringed instrument similar to an autoharp) from his grandfather 46 years ago. Other instruments that will be used at the concerts include the skor (drum), the takei (a long-stringed instrument) and the tror (known as the Cambodian violin). Chhoun knows how to make some of the instruments.

He doesn't read music and will teach young people by demonstrating the technique and then having them copy him, the same way he learned to play. Members of The Bridge's Youth Council will videotape the concerts and construction of the instruments for a documentary series that will be shown on Cambodian TV and kept for later viewing at The Bridge and CSU Stanislaus Institute for Cultural Resources.

Marge Leopold, another staff member at The Bridge, said the center used to have a Cambodian music program several years ago but had to cut it because of money constraints. The concerts are a good way to bring the Cambodian community together and get people to use the center, which is on an acre of land on Chicago Avenue, off Paradise Road.

The property features an old house with flower and vegetable gardens, a basketball court and a traditional Cambodian hut. The center offers parent education programs, health education, interpretation and immigration services, and English-as-a-second-language classes.

Frances Phillips, executive director of the San Francisco-based Creative Work Fund, said her group has wanted to fund projects in Modesto for a few years and is excited finally to give its first award to the city. The grant was given from the Creative Work Fund's traditional arts program. Other grant recipients this year include Filipino, Mexican and African dancers and musicians in the Bay Area.

A panel of experts confirmed that Chhoun is knowledgeable in traditional Cambodian music, she said.

"We felt there were a lot of artists like this one who are masters of their art form, often very poor and have incredible skills," she said. "There wasn't a desire to create something huge and flashy to go on a stage. This was kept in context to have people learn the musical form. It had a grass-roots quality that seemed authentic to this artistic tradition."

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of China's emergency relief aids for Cambodian flood-affected people arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport on Saturday afternoon.

The hand-over ceremony of the aids was made at the airport between the Ambassador of China to Cambodia Pan Guangxue and Cambodia's Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management Nhim Vanda and Health Minister Mam Bunheng.

The relief aids included more than 30 types of medications, medical supplies and equipment, mosquito nets, blankets, towels and other relief materials, Pan Guangxue said during the ceremony.

The aids are part of the emergency humanitarian assistance worth 50 million yuan (7.87 million U.S. dollars) to Cambodia for flood relief efforts, he said. The second batch of the relief assistance will arrive here on Sunday evening.

Pan Guangxue also conveyed sympathy from the leaders and the people of China to the government of Cambodia and Cambodian people for the worst floods that have claimed Cambodian lives and damaged enormous properties.

"The aids are to help Cambodia to relieve the difficulties; the aids come from the heartfelt generosity of the Chinese government and people to Cambodian government and people to ease difficulties causing by the floods," he said. "China wishes to see Cambodia a quick recovery from the flood devastation."

Speaking during receiving the relief assistance, Nhim Vanda said the assistance reflected the attention of Chinese government and people to Cambodian people.

"China is largest relief aid donor to Cambodia during the flood disaster," he said. "The aid is timely and will be very useful to help Cambodian people who are affected by the floods."

"On behalf of the government of Cambodia and Cambodian people, I would like to express sincere thanks to the government of China and her people for the relief aids, and I wish the friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China to be stronger and to last forever," he said.

He said the aids would be soon distributed to flood-affected victims.

Cambodia has been hit the worst in the last decade by the Mekong River and flash floods since early August. To date, at least 247 people has been killed and affected about 1.5 million people, said Nhim Vanda.

Some 2,410 kilometers of roads have affected and other 660 kilometers of roads have been damaged.