DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian, Japanese naval senior officials meet to strengthen bilateral ties” plus 8 more

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank kept Cambodia's economic growth at 6.6 percent this year -- the same rate of its May's forecast, according to its East Asia and Pacific Economic Data Monitor released Monday.

In its May's report, it said that Cambodia has been one of the fastest growing countries in the world over the past 10 years, experiencing average annual growth of over 8 percent since 2000.

The country's economy is relying on four main pillars -- garment export, tourism, agriculture and construction.

The WB's projection is 0.1 percentage point higher than that of the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.The two institutions forecast the country's GDP at 6.5 percent this year.

However, all the forecasts are lowered than the 6.9 percent growth projection by the government, based on the increases in garment export, tourism and construction.

According to the official figures, during the first seven months of this year, the country exported garment products in equivalent to 2.51 billion U.S. dollars, a 8 percent rise compared with the same period last year.

In the first eight months of this year, on the tourism side, the Southeast Asian nation attracted some 2.33 million foreign tourists, a 24 percent rise compared with the same period last year, whilst in the construction, the country attracted investment of 1.53 billion U.S. dollars in construction projects, a 74 percent rise.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three Cambodians have been killed and three others seriously injured in an old anti-tank mine explosion in the country's Battambang province, police confirmed on Monday.

The explosion happened at 4:40 p.m. (local time) when a home- made tractor ran over an anti-tank mine in Samlot district, Battambang province, about 300 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, Nguon Nuy, deputy police chief of Samlot district said. "All of them are farmers. They trucked corn from their farms and met the incident," he told Xinhua over telephone, adding that the mine was likely to be planted during the chronic war in the 1980s. "The area is a former battlefield and landmines have not been cleared from the area yet,"he said.

This is the second remarkable mine explosion incident in the province in less than two weeks. The first one occurred on Sept. 30, in which six people were killed and two others seriously injured.

Cambodia is one of the countries suffered worst from mines as the result of nearly three decades of war and internal conflicts from the mid 1960s until the end of 1998.

The country's five most mine-laid provinces are Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin and Preah Vihear.

According to the government report, during the first eight months of this year, landmines killed 26 people and injured 101 others.

It is estimated that the country needs about 30 million U.S. dollars a year until the year 2020 to entirely get rid of mines.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has reduced its concern over the direct impact of a tropical storm Gaemi after the storm has slowed its speed to 25 kilometers per hour (kph) when it arrived in Cambodia's northwestern Stung Treng province on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Hun Sen said.

"A few days ago, we were concerned over the storm, and our concern has now reduced because the storm arrived in the western part of Stung Treng province on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. (local time) with the speed of only 25 kph after it hit the coast of Vietnam at the speed of 55 kph," the premier said Sunday during a ceremony to deliver land titles to residents in northwestern Banteay Meanchey province bordering Thailand.

"With this speed, the winds will travel to Siem Reap province at 7:00 p.m. tonight (Sunday)," he said.

Siem Reap is the country's largest tourism destination, located some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh. The province houses Angkor Wat Temple, one of the world heritage sites.

YANGON, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Private bank operation has returned to normal in Myanmar's Yangon after the bank authorities denied recent rumors about the instability of Kanbawza Bank, one of the leading private banks in the country.

"It has returned to normal. People should not believe such rumors," official media quoted Deputy Director-General of the Central Bank of Myanmar U Win Thaw as saying Sunday.

"Private banks are running normally in accordance with laws, rules and regulations. People should not worry about the private banks. The Central Bank takes full responsibility for the private banks. Authority concerned has dealt with the matter," U Win Thaw said.

"Recent rumors are just fabrication that might cause a hamper to the state's development and economic development, People should not believe it," President of Myanmar's Chamber of Commerce and Industry U Win Aung was also quoted as saying.

According to the report, action is being taken to expose the real cause of the rumors which had created some panic among savers with the bank over the past few days.

There is a total of 19 private banks and four state-owned banks in Myanmar.

There are also 20 foreign bank representative offices in Myanmar which include those from Singapore, Bangladesh, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom.

PREAH SIHANOUK, Cambodia, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Three Japanese maritime self defense force ships docked at Cambodia's Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on Saturday morning for a 5-day visit to promote ties and exchange experience between two countries' naval forces.

The ships were greeted by Cambodian Rear Admiral Ros Veasna, deputy commander of Ream Naval base in Preah Sihanouk province.

According to a press release from Japanese Embassy to Cambodia, the 3 ships, named Kashima, Shimayuka and Matsuyuki, are led by Rear Admiral Hidetoshi Fuchinoue, commander of Japan Training Squadron.

"The visit is to strengthen friendship relations between the two nations," the press release said. "It will also give opportunities for 194 Japanese cadet school graduates to learn about culture and military as well as to strengthen friendship with Cambodia through various exchange programs."

During the stay in Cambodia, Rear Admiral Fuchinoue plans to visit Phnom Penh to pay courtesy call on Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh and commander of Cambodian Royal Navy Tea Vinh on October 8, it added.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Mam Sonando, owner of the Beehive Radio and president of the Association of Democrats, and his accomplices were convicted of"secessionist movement, not either political motivation or freedom of expression". "The case of Mam Sonando and his accomplices is not about the freedom of expression or the independence and impartiality of the court in Cambodia,"said a statement of the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released late Friday."It is also not a politically-motivated case."

The statement added that Mam Sonando is"the mastermind of the secessionist movement"as some key witnesses have testified against him before the court and the court has convicted him based on evidence. "As a state of law, Cambodia must implement its legal process and will not allow any secession to take place in the country,"it said.

It added that the case of Mam Sonando is completely a separate, individual case, which has nothing to do with the overall freedom of expression."To be sure, his radio station remains functioning, while his Association of the Democrats of Cambodia continues to be operational."

The government's reaction was made after some donor countries, human rights organizations and civil society criticized Cambodian court for convicting Mam Sonando of masterminding the secessionist plot and sentencing him to 20 years in jail on Monday.

The conviction was made after the court found that Mam Sonando masterminded a plot to establish an autonomous region in eastern Kratie province in May. At that time, there was a violent clash between the government forces and illegal land holders. As a result, a 14-year-old girl was shot dead by government forces.

Mam Sonando was arrested on July 15 at his house in Phnom Penh.

The court also sentenced in absentia his accomplices including Bun Ratha to 30 years in jail, Kong Tong 15 years in jail, Bun Chhorn 15 years, and an arrest warrant was also issued for the three fugitives.

YANGON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Central Bank of Myanmar has denied rumors about the instability of private banks in the country which has created some panic among savers, official media reported Saturday.

"They are mere rumors aired by those with ill will to harm the interest of banks which are not true," an announcement of the Central Bank of Myanmar was quoted by the New Light of Myanmar as saying.

"Private banks are operating in line with banking procedures and rules and regulations under the systematic management of the Central Bank of Myanmar and thus, citizens can trust all the private banks," the announcement added.

There is a total of 19 private banks and four state-owned banks in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has allowed the setting up of public companies in a bid to shape the capital market in the development of market economy.

Eleven authorized private banks in Myanmar started from July to admit opening of foreign currency accounts with the public in U.S. dollar, euro and Singapore dollar as well as FEC (foreign exchange certificate).

Previously, the only two state banks were allowed to undertake such foreign currency dealing services.

Aimed at stabilizing the exchange rate of foreign currency and ensure emergence of foreign exchange market in the country, the Central Bank of Myanmar has allowed the 11 Myanmar private banks to trade the three foreign hard currencies.

There are also 20 foreign bank representative offices in Myanmar including those from Singapore, Bangladesh, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom.

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly warned on Friday that tropical storm Gaemi would arrive in the country's northeastern and northern provinces on Sunday night and called for measures to cope with possible dangers and damage.

The premier said in a statement that the storm will arrive at the coast of Vietnam on Oct. 7 in the morning and travel to Cambodia's Rattanakiri and Stung Treng provinces that night before blowing through Preah Vihear province in the morning of Oct. 8 with a slower speed.

He said that the situation and journey of storm Gaemi would impact the whole of Cambodia during Oct. 7-9, especially northeastern and northern provinces.

"These provinces will suffer from winds and strong rains that could cause flash floods," he said.

He also warned that at the coastal areas, sea waves will be as high as three meters.

The premier advised ministries, related institutions, and local authorities, especially in the above mentioned provinces, to be on high alert and instructed them to take measures in advance to minimize possible dangers and damage.