DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “ASEAN Human Rights Declaration expected to be adopted at Summit in Nov.” plus 3 more

DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “ASEAN Human Rights Declaration expected to be adopted at Summit in Nov.” plus 3 more

ASEAN Human Rights Declaration expected to be adopted at Summit in Nov.

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 04:50 AM PDT

PHNOM PENH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The draft Human Rights Declaration will be adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders at the 21st ASEAN Summit to be held here in November, said a Cambodian senior official on Sunday.

"The ASEAN foreign ministers have urged the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) representatives to finalize the draft by October this year so that it will be ready for the ASEAN leaders to pass in November," Kao Kim Hourn, secretary of state at Cambodia's foreign ministry, said in a press briefing after the meeting between the ASEAN FMs and AICHR representatives at Phnom Penh's Peace Palace.

"This landmark document will reflect ASEAN's aspirations and commitments to the promotion and protection of human rights," said a press release ahead of the meeting.

The declaration will be very important for the ASEAN to build an ASEAN with the goal: One Community, One Destiny.

The meeting is part of a series of meetings including the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences, the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the 2nd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting (EAS FMM) that will be held in Phnom Penh from July 9-13.

The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

64 Cambodian children died of Encephalitis since April: Dr. Beat Richner

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 12:06 AM PDT

PHNOM PENH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Sixty-four young children out of 66, having been admitted to Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals in Cambodia since the end of April, were killed by Encephalitis, Dr. Beat Richner, Founder and Head of the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals, said Sunday.

"The 66 children were admitted with just same symptoms and clinical findings. The children, most between 2 and 3 years old, suffered from Encephalitis," he wrote in a letter to the media on Sunday.

Encephalitis is a serious illness caused by an infection that makes the brain swell.

"They develop in the last hours of their life a total destruction of the alveolas in the lungs," he said. "Up to now 64 have died. Only two have survived."

He said from July 2-7, there were only two more cases.

Dr. Richner said that on July 7, the Institut Pasteur could confirm that in the majority of the above described cases the Enterovirus Type 71 was found.

"Still we have now to see what really is causing the deadly pulmonary complication and see if a toxic factor is playing a role too," he said.

In the letter, Dr. Richner said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has given a declaration on July 2 to Reuters, saying that "New mystery killer disease in Cambodia"

"This was causing unnecessary panic in Cambodia," he said. " On the level of public health, it is not an alarming issue."

"This declaration by WHO, which is not at all involved in this matter, was neither professional nor necessary, but causing panic for nothing," he added.

The Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals are the largest pediatric ones in Cambodia. The hospitals are covering 85 percent of all Cambodian sick children.

ASEAN senior officials conclude document discussion for ASEAN meetings

Posted: 07 Jul 2012 08:27 PM PDT

PHNOM PENH, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) senior officials meeting concluded here on Saturday afternoon, agreeing to put forward a number of documents for their foreign ministers to discuss and make decision in various meetings next week.

Speaking in a press briefing after the two-day meeting at the Phnom Penh's Peace Palace, Soeung Rathchavy, secretary of state at Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, said that the meeting was a preparatory one for the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, Post Ministerial Conference, the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum, and the 2nd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' meeting, which will kick off from July 9-13.

The meeting focused on the progress of ASEAN Community-building such as the draft Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR), draft ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties to the South China Sea.

The officials also talked over the relevant instruments for the accession of the European Union and the United Kingdom to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, she said.

They also discussed the preparation for the signing on the protocol to the treaty of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) by the five recognized nuclear weapon states, and the implementation of the ASEAN Drug Free Zone in 2015 and the preparation for the 15th Anniversary of the ASEAN+3 Cooperation.

As for the issue of South China Sea, Soeung Rathchavy said that the senior officials had concluded the drafting of key elements for formulating the regional Code of Conduct (COC).

"Now, we, ASEAN, are ready to negotiate with China on the South China Sea issue and China is also ready to talk with ASEAN on the issue," she said.

She said the meeting was concluded successfully with fruitful results. "All documents will be submitted to ASEAN Foreign Ministers for making final decision."

The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Philippines tightens airport screening of international passengers due to fatal illness

Posted: 07 Jul 2012 08:27 PM PDT

MANILA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government has implemented a stricter procedure in screening passengers at the country's international airports following an outbreak of a fatal respiratory syndrome affecting children in Cambodia, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview with government-run radio station that the Department of Health ( DOH) is currently monitoring the situation through its National Epidemiology Center.

"That respiratory disease is now being looked into," he said.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona has ordered the Bureau of Quarantine to be more vigilant in carrying out routine screening procedures at all international airports.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently informed the Philippines about the unknown disease after Cambodia reported 60 deaths among children.

"We are more vigilant in screening passengers at the country's international airports because of this latest news and there will be no let up until this has been contained," Ona said.

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