DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia's ruling party "no concern" over merger plan of two main opposition parties” plus 2 more

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has "no fear or concern" over the merger plan of the two main opposition parties ahead of a general election in July next year, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday.

It was the premier's first reaction since the two main opposition parties--the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party--announced on July 17 that they jointly formed the Cambodia Democratic Movement for National Rescue in order to work towards a merger between the two parties as a new political party ahead of the general election next year.

"The movement has no even slight impact on the CPP. The CPP has no fear or concern over the movement," he said at a graduation ceremony of more than 2,600 students at the Royal University of Law and Economics.

However, he said that he will step down if he loses in next year's election.

"I will step down if you win the election next year, and the Peace Palace (Prime Minister's office) will be yours," said Hun Sen, who is the CPP's vice-president.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power for 27 years.

Cambodia holds a general election in every five years. The last election was held in July 2008. As a result, the CPP won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party with 26 seats, the Human Rights Party 3 seats, the Norodom Ranariddh Party 2 seats and the Funcinpec Party 2 seats.

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that he would explain at the National Assembly (NA) border issues with Vietnam at the request of Sam Rainsy Party, the country's major opposition party. "I wrote a letter to the NA's president (Heng Samrin) a few weeks ago, saying that I will answer all questions relevant to border issues at the National Assembly's session, but now the president has not set the date for me to explain the issues," he told a graduation ceremony of more than 2,600 students at the Royal University of Law and Economics. "I will spend four hours to answer the question about the border issues. We will clear everything at the National Assembly," he said.

The premier's plan to appear at the National Assembly was unveiled after the opposition party had subsequently accused the current government of national betrayal for ceding land to Vietnam. "It is serious and unacceptable that they call us'traitors', so I need to explain these issues," he said, adding that his upcoming remarks will be televised live in all local TVs if possible.

Cambodia shares a 1,270-km border with Vietnam to the east. To date, about 80 percent of the border demarcation has been completed and the two countries have vowed to fully complete it by the end of this year.

MANILA,July 31 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government confirmed on Tuesday the second case of enterovirus-71 (EV-71) on a five- year-old boy from the northern province of Benguet.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that just like the first confirmed case on a one-year-old boy from the southern city of Davao, the second case had no history of travel to Cambodia where over 50 children died due to EV-71 associated with the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

"The patient presented with fever and rashes in the hands, feet, and mouth and is presently recovering at home as no hospitalization was required," he said.

Ona said health officials are now conducting contact tracing to determine the spread of infection.

The National Epidemiology Center reported 43 suspected HFMD cases as of July 21. Laboratory results were available for 42 of these cases. Twenty-one cases, which screened positive for the human enterovirus, were classified as confirmed HFMD cases. Two of these cases further tested positive for EV-71 while 19 were negative.

Of the confirmed HFMD cases, Ona said, 14 were males and aged between from 6 months to 23 years; 12 were less than 5 years old. No deaths were reported.

Ona said so far there are no travel restrictions to and from HFMD affected countries.

"Quarantine officers continue to screen arriving passengers as part of international precautions to prevent the international spread of diseases," he said.