| “Only one of me can make one hundred, 200, 300 people feel strong”: Ven. Loun Sovath Posted: 03 Sep 2011 05:27 PM PDT  | | 'THE MOST OUTSPOKEN' | Cambodia's activist monk fights abuses 'THE MOST OUTSPOKEN' Sun, 04 September 2011 By Michelle Fitzpatrick AFP HIS saffron robe a rare beacon among protesters, Cambodia's most outspoken monk has been banned from temples and risked arrest for challenging rights abuses — but he vows not to be silenced. "The more they threaten me, the more I stand up for our rights," said the Venerable Loun Sovath, also known as the "multimedia monk" for filming forced evictions and distributing the footage.
In a country where Buddhist monks are hugely respected but rarely seen standing shoulder to shoulder with those fighting abuses, his peaceful activism has attracted praise from rights groups — and condemnation from authorities. "Seeing a monk amongst the crowd lifts the spirits of people defending their human rights," the bespectacled holy man said during a recent interview in the capital, where he joined a rally against deforestation.
"Only one of me can make one hundred, 200, 300 people feel strong." But his tireless campaigning has made the Buddhist hierarchy and the authorities nervous, say observers, who fear for his safety. Police have interrupted his meetings, followed him and cursed at him. He has also been warned that he faces arrest for inciting people to protest.
Religious officials have repeatedly ordered him to stop activities or risk being disrobed for disobeying Buddhist discipline, while senior monks have tried to make him sign a pledge promising to cease his activism, Sovath said. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director with the international campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW), said the monk's championing of villagers who have lost land to "rich and well-connected persons" makes him a high-profile target.
HRW is "extremely concerned" that Sovath, 30, could "face reprisals, and perhaps violence, because what he's doing is really a challenge to the core of Cambodia's lawless, might-makes-right political culture", he said. Sovath, who entered the monkhood at the age of 13, became an activist after witnessing a land grab in his own village in March 2009, when police fired at unarmed villagers protesting against the confiscation of their fields.
He captured much of the confrontation on camera and successfully resisted police attempts to confiscate it.
Since then, he has broadened his work to speak up for all victims of social injustice, becoming one of the impoverished nation's leading human rights defenders — and the only one in orange robes.
Pressure on Sovath has increased in recent months amid what rights groups say is a growing crackdown on freedom of expression.
International rights groups, including Amnesty International, Witness and HRW, recently asked key donor nations to urge the government to stop the threats and intimidation against the monk.
"The ongoing government harassment of Venerable Sovath constitutes a veiled attempt by the Cambodian authorities to silence those who speak out on issues that they deem controversial," they wrote in a letter. |
| Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Ven. Loun Savath Posted: 03 Sep 2011 04:27 PM PDT |
| A wishful thinking - Opinion by Anonymous Posted: 03 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT |
| Wary [Thai] gamblers let it roll over the border Posted: 03 Sep 2011 03:58 PM PDT 4/09/2011 King-oua Laohong Bangkok Post Gamblers fearful of an announced crackdown on illegal gambling dens in Bangkok have been causing the cash registers to sing in Cambodian casinos over the past two days.
Thais have been arriving by the busload at border checkpoints in Sa Kaeo and Surin provinces, seeking to cross into Cambodia. There are 10 casinos opposite Sa Kaeo, and two opposite Surin.
The exodus of gamblers comes on the heels of an announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung on Thursday that he would get tough with more than 40 illicit casinos in central Bangkok.
Mr Chalerm's announcement followed Rak Thailand Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit's airing of a video clip in parliament of a large casino in full operation on Ratchadaphisek Road. A source at the border said the announced crackdown in Bangkok has resulted in a windfall for Cambodian casinos.
The 10 casinos in Poipet, opposite Sa Kaeo, are popular with Thais, who enter Cambodia through the Ban Khlong Luek checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district.
The casinos are mainly joint ventures between Cambodian businesses and foreign partners, including Thai businesspeople and politicians, a military border source said.
Most casinos - Holiday Palace, Golden Crown Club, Grand Diamond City, Princess Crown, Holiday Poipet, Star Vegas and Club, Tropicana Resort and Casino, Howah Genting Casino, Poipet Resort and Club and Star King - provide shuttle buses and vans to and from Bangkok.
Casino customers are charged an initial fare, which is later "refunded" in the form of gambling chips of equivalent value.
The vans and buses are operated by nine tour companies, mostly based in Bangkok, the source said.
The buses and vans run different routes and make stops at several pickup points in and around Bangkok before heading to the border.
Once at the border, customers without passports are issued immigration clearance papers, which are valid for one day. They cannot stay overnight at the casinos.
The source said large border casinos generate between 13-15 billion baht a year in revenue and smaller ones about 500-700 million baht a year.
In Surin, the number of people crossing the Chong Jom border to visit Osamed in Cambodia, where two casinos are located, has more than doubled over the past two days.
Around 3,000 crossed the border yesterday, and the same number passed through on Thursday. This is double the average of about 1,500 people per day on those days, a local source said.
Wattana Chuenyong, manager of the Chong Jom Border Market, said yesterday alone, more than 5,000 people visited the market.
"The market feels very small today," he said.
Meanwhile, 62% of respondents across the country surveyed by the National Institute of Development Administration said the police in respective jurisdictions must face the music for allowing the illegal casinos to operate.
Also, 23% said they had known of gambling dens operating near their homes.
The latest survey also showed 61% disagreed with legalising gambling in Thailand. |
| Inhumanity [-Get rid of Hun Xen and the inhumanity will disappear!!!] Posted: 03 Sep 2011 11:18 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qbsn_c6XjGI#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG-z7yGdkgw&feature=channel_video_title
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4W0Ge6ST60&feature=relmfu |
| A Clash of Innocents Posted: 03 Sep 2011 11:06 AM PDT 02 September 2011 Female First (UK) Against the evocative backdrop of Cambodia unfolds the beguiling story of a spirited sixty-year-old 'mother' of a children's orphanage, whose struggle to reconcile her past mirrors that of her adopted country, as it battles to come to terms with its own bloody history.
As Deborah Youngman is heading back to the Khmer Home for Blessed Children - an orphanage she has managed since its founding ten years ago - she cannot get over the unseasonal chill in the air. It isn't supposed to be cold in February, at least not in Phnom Penh.
As she draws nearer to the Khmer Home, it quickly becomes clear that the weather is not the only enigma in store for her.
Upon her return, Deborah is confronted by Amanda, a twenty-something American backpacker who has travelled the length and breadth of rugged Cambodia in order to offer her services at the children's home. As the two women collide, a story of hidden identities and secret agendas is set in motion. Exactly who is this strange young woman? Why is she here and where has she come from?
Perhaps on account of her compassionate nature - or just pure curiosity - Deborah allows the mysterious young woman to stay, against her better judgement. As the days go by, Deborah's suspicions are mounting.
Between looking after her 'family' of forty forgotten Khmer children, and helping her adopted eighteen-year Cambodian daughter, Sam, apply to colleges in theStates, Deborah has little time to brood over her unsolicited aide-de-camp.
But when a sick newborn is left on the steps of the orphanage, the true horror of the young woman's past begins to catch up with her and Deborah is suddenly forced to raise the issue of Amanda's mysterious life. Will Deborah be able to stop Amanda's insidious past from infecting the home, the children and herself before it's too late?
Set against the backdrop of Cambodia's violent history and the beginnings of its new Tribunal for justice, emerges a story of displaced souls and universal human struggles.
Drawing upon first-hand experiences as a volunteer in a Cambodian orphanage and her deep knowledge of the country's battle to reconcile its future with this gruesome past, Sue Guiney delivers a powerful and poignant examination of the aftermath of war and the lasting effects of violence.
A Clash of Innocents delivers a vivid portrayal of Cambodia's vibrant character and fascinating culture and does not shy away from engaging with the horrendous and controversial subjects or its war-torn history.
With its effortless intertwining of pertinent social issues with a moving, intelligent and multifaceted plot, Sue Guiney's A Clash of Innocents is a convincing and captivating read which will stay with the reader long after the final page.
About the Author: Although a native of New York, Sue Guiney has spent over twenty years living in London, where she writes and teaches creative writing. Guiney's work has appeared in literary journals and reviews on both side of the Atlantic.
Her first book, published by Bluechrome Publishing in 2006, is the text of her poetry play, Dreams of May, which premiered in London's Pentameters Theatre.Her first novel, Tangled Roots, was published in 2008. In addition to her work as an author and teacher, Guiney served as the Artistic Director of CurvingRoad, a theatre arts charity which she founded in 2005.
Beginning in September 2011,Guiney will be the Writer-in-Residence in the SE Asian Department of the University of London's School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Sue Guiney currently lives in London with her husband and two sons. |
| ‘Unhygienic’ conditions prompt faintings Posted: 03 Sep 2011 11:03 AM PDT  | | Photo: RFA | 2nd September 2011 Radio Free Asia The Cambodian government has condemned a garment company for substandard factory conditions after more than 50 workers fell ill on the job Wednesday, in the latest fainting saga involving the country's third-largest industry.
Four Cambodian ministers—those in charge of the industry, labor, social affairs, and health portfolios—issued statements Wednesday following an inspection of the Chinese-owned Heart Enterprise Garment Factory in southern Kandal province, blaming mismanagement by officials for operating conditions which led workers to collapse.
The mass fainting marked the fourth incident to affect the textile industry in a matter of weeks and the first time the government had taken a factory to task over the issue.
After concluding the inspection, Minister of Industry Suy Sem said unhygienic conditions and small working spaces due to stockpiles of clothing had affected the workers' health.
"The clothing was stacked from the floor all the way to the roof, preventing oxygen from entering the building and allowing the workers to breathe," Suy Sem said.
But before the inspection, factory management had blamed what it called "spiritual possession" for the mass collapse, saying it came after a single worker cried out and fainted.
"The workers were panicked. When they saw one worker faint, they also felt like fainting," a factory manager said.
"After 10 to 15 minutes of treatment, they were alright," he said.
Doctors at the hospital where the workers were treated said that a combination of poor health and panic led to the mass fainting.
The ministers ordered factory officials to provide an adequate amount of food to workers in the future, remove all unnecessary factory equipment from work spaces, and clean the facilities on a frequent basis.
The factory manager said he would comply with the order.
Faintings on the rise
Faintings in Cambodian garment factories have left authorities baffled and investigators struggling to determine the cause of the incidents.
More than 100 workers who fell ill over a four-day period ending Tuesday at the Chime Ly Garment Factory, also in Kandal province, reported "shortness of breath" before passing out and being treated at the hospital.
A doctor at the Oum Sivorn Referral Hospital, where the workers were treated, told RFA that the workers collapsed due to hypoglycemia resulting from low blood sugar.
Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, one of Cambodia's biggest independent unions, had said that unhygienic conditions and a lack of oxygen in the factory led to the faintings.
Factory officials could not be reached for comment.
On Friday, at least 20 workers from the Shingly Garment Factory, near the capital Phnom Penh, fainted while on the job.
Some unions suggested that the workers had been forced to work long hours of overtime before collapsing.
A day earlier, more than 200 workers from M&V International Manufacturing Ltd, a Chinese-owned supplier to H&M, also fainted. This followed another incident on Tuesday, where nearly 100 workers collapsed at the same factory.
A company executive told the Phnom Penh Post that allegations of forced overtime and a toxic working environment were untrue, adding that the fainting was caused by a "strange psychological phenomenon."
H&M told Reuters it was investigating the fainting and said the government, local authorities, and the U.N.'s International Labor Organization (ILO) had "not found any plausible causes so far."
The chief of the Provincial Department of Labor, Peou Sitha, ordered the M&V factory shut down over the weekend to allow the 4,000 workers to rest and to give experts time to investigate the incident, though no new details have been released.
This year alone, more than 2,000 workers have reported fainting in Cambodian factories for reasons that are not fully explained, Chea Mony was reported as saying last month.
Toxic chemicals
The garment sector is Cambodia's third-largest currency earner after agriculture and tourism. Many of the workers labor long hours for meager salaries which are critical for hundreds of thousands of poor rural families.
In late 2009, officials vowed to crack down on safety violations that endanger factory workers after toxic fumes in a garment factory in Cambodia's capital sickened hundreds of workers.
Last week, environmental watchdog Greenpeace said in a report from Beijing that traces of toxic chemicals harmful to the environment and to human health had been detected in products made by 14 top clothing manufacturers.
Samples of clothing from top brands including Adidas, Uniqlo, Calvin Klein, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lacoste, Converse, and Ralph Lauren were found to be tainted with the chemicals, known as nonylphenol ethoxylates, the watchdog said at the launch of its report "Dirty Laundry 2."
Reported by RFA's Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. |
| United Cambodian Community to Celebrate 34th Anniversary Posted: 03 Sep 2011 10:52 AM PDT 09.02.11 By Long Beach Post | Staff Reports The United Cambodian Community (UCC) is celebrating "Lights, Camera, Action" their 34th Anniversary Celebration & Award Ceremony on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. Registration begins at 6:00 pm and the dinner/program begins at 7:00 pm. This annual event will recognize Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Christina Lee, M.D. from Talbert Medical Group.
Supervisor Knabe is receiving the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication to the Cambodian Community in Long Beach. He has provided buses for senior citizens attending community educational events, assisted in securing funding for vital programs at UCC and has been an ally to the Cambodian Community for many years.
Dr. Christina Lee is receiving the Community Service Award for her volunteer efforts in the Cambodian Community. Dr. Lee has provided pro bono education to community residents on topics such as cancer, hepatitis B and other health topics. She has served countless hours to ensure Cambodian Americans understand the importance of healthy lifestyles and self care.
"Supervisor Knabe and Dr. Lee are models of civic leadership. They not only speak about the importance of giving back but they give their time and attention to the Cambodian Community. We are grateful for their dedication and support over the years. We are pleased to announce both of them as award recipients, "says Sara Pol-Lim, Executive Director, United Cambodian Community.
United Cambodian Community (UCC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) multi-cultural social services agency. UCC was originally established to assist in the resettlement of highly traumatized refugees and their families. Today, Long Beach has the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia itself and the UCC facility is located in the heart of the community, allowing convenient access to the services that are needed. Throughout UCC's thirty-four years of service, their desire has been to assist in empowering the Cambodian people to be self-sufficient and productive members of society.
To reserve your space for the "Lights, Camera, Action" 34th Anniversary Celebration & Award Ceremony, please call (562) 433-2490. The cost is $50 per person and $500 for a table at Hak Heang Restaurant, 2041 E. Anaheim Street, Long Beach, CA. All proceeds go to programs serving children, youth, families and seniors in the community. For more questions please contact the United Cambodian Community, (562) 433-2490, 2201 East Anaheim Street, Ste 200 Long Beach, CA. |
| Cast of thousands Posted: 03 Sep 2011 10:49 AM PDT Khmer Bronzes: New Interpretations of the Past Authors: Emma C Bunker and Douglas Latchford 544 Pages, 2011 Art Media Resources, Chicago 3,595 baht 3/09/2011 Sean Trembath Bangkok Post Over the hundreds of years the Khmer Empire reigned in what is now Cambodia, thousands of pieces of bronzeware were cast. As time passed, and casting techniques improved, the artworks grew more intricate, and depicted more complicated scenes.
Many of these pieces have been lost to time, making those that remain valuable collectors' items. Most of the known pieces are tucked away in private collections, or in museums around the globe. Now a new book gives readers an opportunity to see the breadth of Khmer bronze work, from the earliest pre-empire drums to the most fantastic statues.
With Khmer Bronzes: New Interpretations of the Past, Emma C Bunker and Douglas Latchford complete their trilogy of intensely detailed studies of Khmer art history. Along with 2004's Adoration and Glory: The Golden Age of Khmer Art , which looked primarily at stone, and 2008's Khmer Gold: Gifts for the Gods, which was about the precious metal, this new volume offers the most comprehensive study of the subject available.
The exhaustive nature of the book is immediately evident in its sheer size. At over 500 pages, with more than 450 large colour photographs, Latchford and Bunker have spared no detail. This is not a tome one consumes in a single sitting.
It begins before the rise of the Khmer, with the technical roots of Asian bronze-casting as it appears in early kettle drums. The authors take time to explain the processes involved in casting bronze, and how they evolved through the centuries.
By the time the Khmer empire was in full swing, the imagery is almost entirely devotional. It is interesting to see the various influences at play and how they affected the work, from the very simple early statues to the incredibly ornate, variously posed figures seen in later eras.
Also included are several appendixes offering additional information on the science used to study these figures and some of the academia being written about the era. One particularly interesting appendix explains the carbon-dating process used to assess the pieces' authenticity and shows copies of a few of the carbon-dating results for figures seen in the book.
By it's very nature, this is the type of book one keeps in a collection, to use as reference material or when looking for clear, striking examples of ancient art. It is an essential volume for anyone interested in Khmer art history, and will make a fine addition to the collection of any art historian, whether they are interested only in Southeast Asia or the entire spectrum of the world's art history.
Available at Asia Books and leading bookshops |
| Suthep reaffirms no secret talks with Cambodia Posted: 03 Sep 2011 10:39 AM PDT  | | Suthep Thaugsuban | BANGKOK, Sept 3 (MCOT online news) - Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Saturday denied Cambodia's claims over alleged secret talks on overlapping oil and gas-rich maritime territories during the tenure of Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, while challenging the Thai government to speed up investigation of the matter.
Mr Suthep made remarks following a statement by the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA) claiming that secret meetings between him and his Cambodian counterpart Sok An were held several times in various locations such as Cambodia's Kandal province, China's Kunming city in Yunnan, and Hong Kong, to deal with overlapping claims to the offshore area believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also assigned Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul to look into the case.
Mr Suthep, former deputy premier who supervised national security, reasserted that it was Cambodian deputy prime minister Sok An who contacted him for unofficial meetings, before an official meeting on maritime demarcation would be officially held.
"After the unofficial talks, I reported the outcome to concerned agencies, with about 30 to 40 people being informed of the meeting results," stated Mr Suthep. "So it was not a secret."
The Democrat MP said that an official meeting however was not held due to the ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia stemming from a border dispute.
"If the government will set up a committee to probe the case, I have no problem, and I challenge them to speed up the investigation and reveal the results to the public no matter who may benefit from the outcome," reaffirmed Mr Suthep.
Following allegations by the foreign minister saying Mr Suthep, former defence minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and Cambodian deputy premier Sok An jointly opened an energy investment firm, Mr Suthep asserted he has never invested in any energy business with anyone, while urging those who have evidence that he formed such a company to disclose the details.
Mr Suthep said he was willing to divest the business for public benefit if it was found that he had such a business.
Foreign minister Surapong earlier said he would send a letter to Cambodia seeking more details on the allegations regarding Mr Suthep, while defending there was no hidden agenda over the Cambodian move, as Phnom Penh has affirmed that it wanted to improve relations with Thailand.
The Phnom Penh Post earlier reported a CNPA statement saying meetings between high ranking officials including Prime Minister Hun Sen, Deputy Minister Sok An, former Thai deputy prime minister Suthep and former defence minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan took place between June 2009 and July 2010 at various locations, and that Mr Suthep at the time "indicated a strong preference to resolve this issue during the mandate of the Abhisit government."
As Mr Abhisit earlier accused deposed premier Thaksin Shinawara of having secret interests with Cambodia, the CNPA statement said it needed to reveal the truth "to protect the interests of Cambodia and H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra against baseless allegations made on the part of the Democrats." |
| Suthep urged to clarify secret deal with Cambodia Posted: 03 Sep 2011 10:35 AM PDT Saturday, 03 September 2011 By NNT Pattaya Mail BANGKOK, 2 September 2011 – Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has asked former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to clarify the secret deal on Thai-Cambodian maritime zone following a recent announcement of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority.
Mr Surapong told the press that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has already tasked him with investigating the alleged secret deal of the past government. He hence encouraged Mr Suthep to clarify this issue with the public for the benefits of the nation.
The minister stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not know what the deputy prime minister has discussed with the Cambodian side on the Thai-Cambodian maritime zone, and he will hence send a letter to Cambodia to ask for clarification.
Mr Surapong told the press that he will give a press conference on this issue once related evidence is ready. He believed that Cambodia itself has good intention towards Thailand after exposing this issue to the public, and the two countries have mutual benefits in the said area.
The Cambodian National Petroleum Authority recently issued a declaration exposing that former Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban and ex-Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan had travelled to Cambodia for secret talks on the Thai-Cambodian maritime resources.
The minister declined knowledge if the two opened a company to take advantage from this issue but he said the society will not mind if the probe finds no hidden benefits. He said the past government also did not cancel a Memorandum of Understanding on maritime resources as announced.
Mr Surapong also announced that he will start ASEAN tour soon with Brunei Darussalam as the first destination, to be followed by Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos. His visit to Cambodia will be made on 14 September 2011, during which he will try, if possible, to help secure the release of Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon now detained in Cambodia. |
| Libya: Gaddafi sons and loyalist convoys 'have fled strongholds' [-Nowhere to hide for a fallen dictator ... hear that Hun Xen?] Posted: 03 Sep 2011 10:18 AM PDT  | | A National Transitional Council fighter mans a checkpoint on the road to Bani Walid. Members of the Gaddafi family are believed to have fled the town. Photograph: Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images | Rebel leaders in town of Tahouna say convoys seen leaving military bases ahead of assault on town expected in days
Saturday 3 September 2011 Martin Chulov in Tripoli guardian.co.uk Members of the Gaddafi family were believed to have fled the town of Bani Walid on Saturday after residents raised rebel flags in a show of defiance.
Rebel leaders in the nearby town of Tahouna said loyalist convoys had been seen leaving military bases ahead of an assault on the town, expected within days.
Some were believed to be the remnants of the Khamis Brigades, which were controlled by Muammar Gaddafi's son Khamis until he was apparently killed in a rebel ambush nine days ago.
"There was a surprise movement this afternoon," Tripoli's rebel military commander, Abdul Hakim Belhaj, said. "The Gaddafi brigades appear to have abandoned their checkpoints."
"The radio station is under the control of the revolutionary people, and flags have been put up on a lot of the high buildings in Bani Walid."
Belhaj said the approaches to the town were not yet fully secure, but estimated that 90% of Bani Walid was now backing the rebels.
Three of Gaddafi's sons – Mutassim, Saif al-Islam and Saadi – are believed to have been staying in the military bases, while the Warfalla tribe, which controls Bani Walid, debated their future. Rebel officials in Tahouna and Tripoli had told tribal leaders that the town would soon be attacked if the tribe did not surrender the Gaddafis.
The impetus for the apparent departure seemed to be a local uprising, which saw green loyalist flags torn down and regime checkpoints on Bani Walid's outskirts evacuated. It was not immediately clear whether the uprising was localised to one area, or had spread to other parts of Bani Walid.
Rebels were planning to send forays into town to test the mood of the people, who had largely been loyal to the ousted Gaddafi regime since the fall of Tripoli. They had expected to confront 500-600 loyalist soldiers with about 2,000 rebels.
Residents had, in recent days, given the leaders of Tahouna's rebel brigade regular updates on the whereabouts of Saif al-Islam and Mutassim, suggesting cracks in tribal solidarity. Tribal leaders had earlier told rebels they felt bound by custom to protect their guests.
If military units carrying the Gaddafi sons have fled, they have few places to run to. The main road south-west is controlled by rebels after about 60 miles, meaning it is likely they would be forced to take a more difficult escape route through barren landscapes which become ever more treacherous the further south they go.
More troubling for any overland escape is that it would be detectable by Nato surveillance aircraft, which could track every move. Nato continues to play an active role in Tripoli and in the hunt for Colonel Gaddafi, with the RAF bombing six targets in Bani Walid over the past week.
Gaddafi is believed to have spent time in the town eight days ago before heading south. His whereabouts are unknown, but Nato and rebel officials believe he is hiding somewhere in an area from the southern town of Sabha to the Algerian border – a vast tract of land on the fringes of the Sahara desert, where he can count on the protection of Tuareg tribesmen.
Two weeks after the battle for Tripoli, which rapidly ousted his 42-year regime, southern Libya remains largely a no-go zone for rebels. Sabha, a city of 500,000 people, is still thought to be in loyalist hands.
Negotiations with tribes in Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte have so far proved fruitless. Officials from the National Transitional Council have extended by a week a deadline they had earlier given for negotiations aimed at averting an invasion of the coastal city. Bani Walid and Sirte have been without electricity and water for more than a week. However, humanitarian aid has been allowed into both places.
Tripoli also remains without mains water, with Gaddafi loyalists having cut the supply to the capital from just north of Sabha, fuelling speculation that they could have used the country's greatest engineering feat, the Great Man Made River, to escape to the south. |
| Protecting Voting Right of a Woman with Disability Posted: 03 Sep 2011 10:04 AM PDT Saturday, September 03, 2011 By Mu Sochua On the 2nd day of voter registration, we walked to the end of the muddy road.
With copies of voter list in hand, we walked door-to-door to make sure newly illegible voters are registered and all our supporters are on the lists.
All adult members of Chantrea's family have registered to vote, have voted, except Chantrea. The reason: because she was disabled at the age of 2, after a high fever. She rarely leaves the house because of shame. However, with her skills as a seamstress she contributes to the family income.
I informed her about the adopted Disability Law, the UN Human Rights Declaration.
Will she go to register to vote this year?
With no hesitation , she said : "Yes".
Why did her family not register her before, I asked.
A very short answer from her mother: "what for , she is disabled".
I want her vote, I told her, before we left.
She gave us a big smile.
She made our day! |
| Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Confidential Files Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:55 AM PDT |
| Brain Food Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:20 AM PDT Farewell, fair cruelty.
- William Shakespeare
|
| UN Convention Against Corruption Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:16 AM PDT United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) In accordance with article 68 (1) of resolution 58/4, the United Nations Convention against Corruption entered into force on 14 December 2005. A Conference of the States Parties is established to review implementation and facilitate activities required by the Convention. Cambodia acceded to the UNCAC
on 5 September 2007
Chapter III Criminalization and law enforcement Article 15. Bribery of national public officials
Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally:
(a) The promise, offering or giving, to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties;
(b) The solicitation or acceptance by a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties.
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| TED - Julia Bacha: Pay attention to nonviolence Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:06 AM PDT By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh Give Peace a Chance Series
In 2003, the Palestinian village of Budrus mounted a 10-month-long nonviolent protest to stop a barrier being built across their olive groves. Did you hear about it? Didn't think so. Brazilian filmmaker Julia Bacha asks why we only pay attention to violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict -- and not to the nonviolent leaders who may one day bring peace. Why you should listen to her: Budrus is a Palestinian agricultural village in the West Bank that relies on its olive groves. And Budrus is a documentary about what happened in the village when Israeli authorities tried to uproot those olive groves to build a barrier. The villagers resisted, peacefully, for 10 months, with leader Ayed Morrar helping to unite Fatah, Hamas, the villagers, and Israeli supporters in nonviolent protest. Most vital, Palestinian women, including Morrar's daughter, took a leading role. It's a story that Julia Bacha found tailor-made for Just Vision, an organization that uses film and storytelling to "Increase the power and legitimacy of Palestinians and Israelis working for nonviolent solutions to the conflict." A break in the endless stalemate, she believes, must come from the bottom up. And the way to help the process is to show the humanity of those working for change. Bacha was also the co-director of Encounter Point, featured during Pangea Day in 2008 -- a feature documentary film about four ordinary people, on both sides of the conflict, who lost nearly everything but who nevertheless work for an end to occupation in favor of peace. She says: "We are providing alternative role models. I have seen people challenged, inspired and motivated to take action based on the stories we tell." "'Budrus' [offers] an intimate, cinéma vérité glimpse of a world viewers would otherwise never see, not to mention cheering news from a region better known for cyclical tragedy." Washington Post
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| Closing Order of Case 002 against Senior KR Leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith Posted: 03 Sep 2011 08:56 AM PDT In light of the start of trial hearings beginning on 27 June 2011 of Case 002 against the surviving Khmer Rouge senior leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith, KI Media is posting installations of the public document of the Closing Order of Case 002. The Closing Order of the Co-Investigating Judges forms thebasic document from which all the parties (Co-Prosecutors, Co-Lead Lawyers for all civil parties, Defense Lawyers) will be making their arguments before the Trial Chamber judges (one Cambodian President, 2 Cambodian Judges, 2 UN judges). Up until now, the hearings involving these four surviving senior Khmer Rouge leaders have been in the Pre-Trial Chamber over issues of pre-trial detention and jurisdictional issues. Beginning in June 2011, the Trial Chamber will hear the substantive arguments over the criminal charges (e.g. genocide, crimes against humanity, penal code of 1956). Available in Khmer and French. Contact the ECCC for a free copy. CLOSING ORDER of Co-Investigating Judges You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde 15 September 2010
S-21 Arrest and transfer to S-21 For the arrest and transfer of CPK cadres and RAK members from autonomous regions or zones, two methods were used. In some cases, S-21 personnel would go to the zones and make arrests, or collect prisoners arrested by the zone units, and then return to Phnom Penh.1874 In other cases, CPK cadres and RAK members were summoned to Phnom Penh by Office 870 and in particular by Nuon Chea (officially for a meeting), and they disappeared, never to be seen again.1875 In the vast majority of cases, cadres passed through K-7 before being taken to S-21 by members of units under S-71.1876 For the Phnom Penh units, and particularly ministries and units of the Centre, it appears that beyond those cases where arrests were carried out by S-21, members of S-71 units were also responsible for the arrests.1877 In some instances, they also passed through K-7.1878 Sometimes, the ministries were charged with transporting prisoners from their own departments to S-21.1879 Duch confirms that as a rule, "S-21 [did not] have the right to arrest people", adding that, in most cases, he was simply informed of an arrest by the higher echelon so that he could organize the reception of
the prisoners.1880 Apart from cases in which S-21 made arrests as described below, Duch was notified that prisoners were due to arrive through lists, which were prepared and sent by Son Sen, Nuon Chea or Ken alias Lin.1881 S-21 personnel themselves sometimes made arrests.1882 According to Him Huy, where S-21 made arrests outside its premises, but within Phnom Penh, there were two possible scenarios: either his unit made the arrest, or, if the arrest had already been made, his unit was only responsible for the transfer of the prisoners to S-21.1883 Him Huy states that he was dispatched from Phnom Penh on several occasions to bring prisoners to S-21, and in each of these cases, Duch gave him a list of the people to be arrested.1884 Duch states that whenever necessary, a special S-21 unit left Phnom Penh bearing an order issued by the Central Committee and a special pass signed by Son Sen, authorising it to bring prisoners back to S-21. However, he adds that this system was subsequently discontinued.1885 Furthermore, Duch explains that he was sometimes consulted and was involved in the planning of arrests, particularly when it involved arresting a large number of people within one unit, or when the persons to be arrested were prominent members of the Party.1886 Lastly, the arrests of some important persons, such as Koy Thuon and Pang, took place in Duch's house.1887 Duch indicates that when the decision to make an arrest was made, secrecy and trickery were mandatory in order to avoid leaks, and prevent any attempts to resist, especially when a large number of people had to be arrested in the same location.1888 In such cases, according to Duch, he asked Hor to speak to the head of the unit and urged him to "calm the staff' and make sure that he was methodical in making the arrests.1889 Arrest of Vietnamese civilians and soldiers The Arrest of Vietnamese civilians and soldiers generally took place in the main conflict zone (along the border with Vietnam) or nearby.1890 Former military commander [REDACTED] says: "all of the Vietnamese soldiers who were captured along the border near Svay Rieng and Prey Veng Provinces were sent to Phnom Penh. Initially, they were sent to Ren At the decision headquarters, and he decided what was to be done with them ... I think this group was sent to Duch at S-21, but I am not certain, because at that time we seemed to be in a dark world; many things happened that we did not know about, and movement was extremely strict".1891 It appears that at least some, if not all,1892 of the Vietnamese civilians and soldiers arrested in the main conflict zone were detained at S-21. Duch explains that he was only informed of their arrival in the same way that he was informed of the arrival of the other prisoners, namely by way of lists,1893 and that S-21 was never required to organise the transportation of the Vietnamese from the theatre of operations.1894 This claim is contradicted by Him Huy, who states that on two occasions, in 1977 and 1978, Duch sent him to the battlefront in Svay Rieng to escort Vietnamese soldiers to S-211895 Furthermore, states that he was sent to work on the border in 1977 and saw S-21 personnel transporting Vietnamese prisoners of war in S-21 trucks from the theatre of operations.1896 Arrests of S-21 personnel S-21 personnel were also arrested and either sent to S-24 for reeducation,1897 or imprisoned in S-21.1898 Cadres could be sent to S-24 for minor offences, especially when someone they knew was detained at S-21.1899 For more serious offences, such as allowing a prisoner's escape, death or suicide before interrogation,1900 the person responsible was considered as a traitor to the revolution, and was arrested.1901 However, some witnesses suggest that the majority of S-21 staff members who were arrested, specifically those from Division 703, had not actually committed a serious offence.1902 A former guard states that only Duch could order the arrest of S-21 personnel.1903 However, Duch maintains that "The S-21 Committee was competent for the first form of purge (sending a staff member to S-24). Conversely, Son Sen, and later Nuon Chea, were competent for the second form of purge (imprisoning a staff member in S-21)".1904
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| Soy Sopheap interviews Samd-ach Dechor (Part 12) Posted: 03 Sep 2011 01:33 AM PDT |
| Sakou Samoth - La Chronologie du Cambodia (Cambodia's Chronology) Posted: 03 Sep 2011 01:24 AM PDT ប្រិយមិត្តជាទីរាប់អាន
ខ្ញុំមាន សេចកី្ត រីករាយ ផើ្ញភ្ជាប់ មកនេះ សៀវភៅ ឯកសារ មួយ ឈ្មោះ
កាលប្រវត្តិវិជ្ជាប្រទេសកម្គុជា
សៀវភៅឯកសារ នេះមាន ៣៩២ ទំព័រ និយាយ ពីសម័យ ដើម មក បច្ចុន្នកាល មានព្រឹត្តិការណ៍ មាន តួលេខ ច្បាស់ លាស់ មានរូបថត មានផែនទី។
សៀវភៅ ឯកសារ នេះ បាន ដាក់ ដំកល់ ទុកតាម ច្បាប់ នៅ បណ្ណាល័យ ជាតិ បារាំង ពី ខែ មេសា ២០១១ រួច ជា សេ្រច ហើយ៕ ----------- Chers amis,
Veuillez trouver en pièce jointe un livre la Chronologie du Cambodge.
Ce livre de 392 pages est déjà déposé à la Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) en avril 2011.
Cordialement,
SAKOU Samoth
Consultation d'ouvrages de SAKOU Samoth
Google -> SAKOU SAMOTH ----------- Dear Friends,
Please find attached a book titled "Cambodia's Chronology" (in French). The 392-page book is already registered at the French National Library.
Cordially,
Sakou Samoth
For other works by Sakou Samoth, please search Google using the keyword Sakou Samoth http://www.box.net/shared/eupbu5h3kscyx6uqgni5 |
| I Registered to Vote - Have You? Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:49 PM PDT |
| COMFREL Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in Remote Areas; Cheng Kuon, Samroang, Takeo province Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:26 PM PDT Dear all, COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; Cheng Kuon commune, Samroang district, Takeo province was held on August 19, 2011.
Please see the attached document for details.
FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralisation and governance, please feel free to visit our website : Best regards, COMFREL http://www.box.net/shared/crfht2ql0sthq1hskte6 |
| COMFREL Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in Remote Areas; Rosyor, Koh Nhek, Mondulkiri province Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:23 PM PDT Dear all, COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; Rosyor commune, Koh Nhek district, Mondulkiri province was held on August 24, 2011.
Please see the attached document for details.
FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralisation and governance, please feel free to visit our website : Best regards, COMFREL http://www.box.net/shared/crfht2ql0sthq1hskte6 |
| ពិធី បុណ្យ តេចោសែន នោម ព្រះ ខែ - Festival Dechor Xen Mooncake Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:15 PM PDT |
| KPPM radio broadcast in Cambodia Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:11 PM PDT |
