DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “25 Cambodians killed, 89 others injured by landmine in 7 months” plus 5 more

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Tuesday reported 114 landmine casualties in the first seven months of this year, representing a decrease of 4 percent compared with the same period last year, according to a report from the Cambodian Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Victim Information System.

During the January-July period this year, 25 people were killed, down 7 percent compared with the same period last year, said the report. At the meantime, 89 others were injured or amputated, down 3 percent.

It recorded that 61 percent of the victims were men, 31 percent were boys, and 8 percent were women and girls.

Cambodia is one of the world's worst countries affected by mines as the result of almost three decades of war and internal conflicts from the mid-1960s until the end of 1998.

According to the report, since 1979 to July 2012, landmines had killed 19,644 people and injured or amputated 44,487 others.

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The two-day regional conference on human rights instruments, international labor standards, and women migrant workers' rights was held here on Tuesday, aiming at ensuring the protection of women migrant workers and to guarantee their access to justice, according a joint media release on Tuesday.

The conference brought together around 120 delegates, including 35 government officials from 12 countries of origin and destination of women migrant workers across Asia, as well as representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN), non-governmental organizations, trade unions, recruitment agencies, and women migrant workers themselves, the press release said.

The forum was co-organized by the United Nations Women, Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, Ministry of Women's Affairs, and Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cambodian Minister of Labor and Vocational Training Vong Sauth said the conference would involve a dynamic exchange of good practices, and will develop concrete next steps to strengthen national migration management frameworks to truly empower women migrant workers.

"The conference aims at discussing ways to ensure the protection of women migrant workers and to guarantee their access to justice," he said.

Currently, Cambodia has 124,889 laborers been working legally in Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan. Those migrant workers have sent home about 200 million U.S. dollars a year, according to the Ministry of Labor.

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Iran had agreed to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in economics, trade, investment and culture, a Cambodian senior official said Monday.

The verbal agreement was made between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Aug. 30 when Hun Sen attended the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement on Aug. 30-31 in Iran.

"Both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral ties, especially in economics, trade, investment and culture," Aun Porn Moniroth, secretary of State at Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance, told reporters.

He said the two leaders advised both sides' officials to discuss and set out practical measures to boost the cooperation.

"The two leaders also agreed to boost cooperation in oil and gas. In this sense, Iran will help Cambodia in human resources development," said Moniroth.

Besides, Iran promised to support Cambodia's candidacy as the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the 2013-2014 term.

MANILA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Azkals (Philippine football team) is on its way to Cambodia to kick-off its three-country swing as it gears up for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November.

The Azkals will square off against Cambodia on September 5. The team will also go up against Singapore on September 7 and Laos on September 10.

Local newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer said the Azkals' German coach Michael Weiss will be with the team despite a two- match suspension slapped against him by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Disciplinary Committee for a "failure in leadership" during the team's friendly match against Malaysia last February.

The team may also miss the services of James Younghusband when it goes up against Cambodia on Wednesday. Younghusband, who led the team during the Philippines-Malaysia match, was also suspended for one international game.

The sanctions meted out by PFF stemmed from the sexual harassment complaint filed by Football Confederation match commissioner Cristy Ramos against two Azkals players. While the two players were cleared, the committee sanctioned members of the side for the "breakdown in discipline" during the pre-match inspection.

Weiss and Younghusband will appeal the decisions of the PFF Disciplinary Committee.

According to the Azkals' website, the team's campaign in September will be capped by a match against Guam on September 25 and Macau on September 27.

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The office of the Indian Chamber of Commerce was officially launched here on Sunday to promote economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

The commerce office is to act on behalf of Indian business organizations and individuals for business facilitation, regulatory exchange as well as to promote India-Cambodia economic and bilateral relations, said a press release at the launching ceremony.

"It will act as the platform to guide Indian investments into Cambodia," said the press release.

Speaking at the event, Debasish Pattnaik, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, said the office was to be a liaison between Cambodia and India business houses and representing the private sector by showcasing the multiple opportunities both countries have to offer to each other.

"Our goal is to offer access to resources and network opportunities for anyone interested or active in investment or trade amongst Cambodia or India," said Pattnaik, who is also vice chairman and CEO of a Cambodia-based D&D Pattnaik Group of Companies.

Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Dinesh K. Patnaik said the commerce office would help strengthen and promote trade and investment relations between the two countries.

According to the figures from India's Embassy to Phnom Penh, the total trade between India and Cambodia was 72 million U.S. dollars in 2011. Of the amount, India exported to Cambodia was 64 million U.S. dollars.

In terms of investment, last year, India's private investment in Cambodia was 85 million U.S. dollars in sugar plantation, sugar factory, power plant, and rice milling facility.

"I believe that with the presence of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here, the bilateral trade and investment will be growing in multiple folds in coming years," Pan Sorasak, Cambodian secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, said at the event.