DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Britain to support Cambodia in fight against money laundering, terrorism financing” plus 5 more

DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Britain to support Cambodia in fight against money laundering, terrorism financing” plus 5 more

Britain to support Cambodia in fight against money laundering, terrorism financing

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 09:57 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Britain embassy to Cambodia is partnering with Cambodian government ministries and departments to provide a training course on international best practices in the field of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, according to the embassy's press release on Friday.

"The five-day course, which will begin from next Monday, will provide a unique opportunity for Cambodian government departments to benefit from world-class expertise in implementing such legislation to international standards," the press release said.

The training will be provided by UK organisation GovRisk (The International Governance and Risk Institute), as part of a regional series of workshops, which also cover Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, it said.

"It will bring together the key stakeholders in the fight against financial crime including Financial Intelligence Unit, Central Bank, judiciary, prosecutors, law enforcement, tax inspectors, regulatory bodies and the private sector," it added.

The British ambassador, Mark Gooding, said the embassy is delighted to support the workshop next week, saying that it is vital that the international community works together to address these challenges, which threaten to undermine the good work and reputation of economies.

"This project allows us to work in partnership with Cambodian institutions to improve specific skills, which will help Cambodia combat the threat from financial crime and thereby contribute to Cambodia's sustainable economic development," he said.

Global Money Laundering is estimated at 2-5 percent of total GDP, or 34-85 billion U.S. dollars, the press release said, adding that Cambodia is particularly vulnerable to this type of illicit activity due to its cash-based economy, the presence of an informal banking system, and porous borders which assist traffickers of drugs and people.

Australia to help Cambodian women against violence: FM

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:50 PM PST

CANBERRA, March 8 (Xinhua)-- Australia will put 24 million Australian dollars (almost 24.6 million USD) over five years to help women in Cambodia against violence, Foreign Minister Bob Carr announced in a statement Friday, the International Women's Day.

This funding for the Ending Violence Against Women program will deliver emergency medical treatment, counseling, safe places to stay and legal services.

According to him, one-in-three women worldwide are beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. And women who have experienced violence in Cambodia often lack access to critical services including counseling and legal support and many do not have access to safe shelter.

Carr said violence against women is unacceptable which is why Australia's aid program is also starting new programs to promote gender equality and tackle violence against women in Afghanistan, Indonesia and the Pacific.

Over the next 10 years, the 320 million Australian dollars ( almost 328.12 million USD) Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative, declared by Prime Minister Gillard at the Pacific Islands Forum last year, will include support for more than 150,000 women who have experienced violence.

Cambodia encouraging more women in politics, social development

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:50 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Friday celebrated the 102nd anniversary of the International Women's Day, urging more women to participate in political, social and economic activities.

Addressing the celebration at the capital's Peace Palace, Prime Minister Hun Sen encouraged more women to run in the forthcoming parliamentary election in order to increase women's presence in political, social and economic activities.

The country sets to hold a general election on July 28 this year.

The prime minister said "the government always focuses its attention on women and gives importance to enhancing women's roles in society."

"More importantly, the Cambodian people always recognize and see women as the mother of the world and the backbone of social and economic development," he added.

Minister of Women's Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi said the celebration, under the theme "Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities to Accelerate Progress", was to commemorate women's advocacy for equal rights and value in the development of families and societies.

Vietnam to act as active, responsible member of ASEAN: PM

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:49 PM PST

HANOI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will continue to be an active and responsible member of ASEAN, especially during the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, said Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Dung made the remarks while meeting with ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh and ASEAN economic ministers in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Thursday ahead of the 19th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat to be held here on Friday.

The prime minister expressed his hope that the economic ministers will foster cooperation for a successful ASEAN Community, and the elevation of economic, trade and investment links among the association's member nations and between ASEAN and other countries, Vietnam's state-run news agency reported.

On the occasion, Dung congratulated Brunei for taking the position of ASEAN Chair in 2013, and affirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to support the country.

The economic ministers highly valued Vietnam's role in the association and applauded the country's achievements in all fields during the past years.

The ministers and Secretary General Minh asserted that they will continue their efforts and coordinate closely to fulfill the association's set targets, especially the successful building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of 10 member countries, including Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Cambodia collects 122 mln USD in tax in last two months

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:47 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's General Department of Taxation said in a press release on Thursday that the country collected 122 million U.S. dollars of tax in the first two months in 2013, up 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

The tax revenues have been taken from tax on profit, withholding tax, tax on salary, VAT (Value Added Tax), special tax on certain merchandises and services, turnover tax, vehicle tax, patent tax and property tax.

Kong Vibol, director general of the General Department of Taxation, attributed the rise in tax revenues to increasing number of new businesses and strict law enforcement.

He said the country still has much room to grow in tax revenues and urged his officials to continue promoting tax law to individuals, corporations, trusts, and other entities in order to encourage them to pay the taxes.

In the whole year of 2012, the country earned 740 million U.S. dollars in tax, up 25 percent rise year-on-year.

Cambodia rejects Thailand's accusation of landmine plantation at border areas

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 08:46 PM PST

PHNOM PENH, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Ministry of Defense has issued a statement to dismiss Thailand's allegation that the country has planted landmines at border areas, saying that the accusation is"false and groundless".

"The allegation of Thai army deputy spokesman Winthai Suwaree on Cambodia is groundless and false and it could cause confusion and affect the cooperative efforts of the two governments and armies in maintaining peace along the Cambodian-Thai border," said the statement of the spokesman of Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued Thursday night.

The dismissal was made after the Bangkok Post online reported that the Thai army on Thursday sent a letter of protest to Cambodia over a landmine explosion that seriously injured three Thai rangers in Thailand's in Surin province Tuesday. "We believe the landmine was recently planted. It was not a leftover mine," the Bangkok Post quoted Thai Army Deputy Spokesman Winthai Suwaree as saying Thursday. "This is an automatic procedure for such an incident, to write a protest letter and notify Cambodia."

An inspection of the area after the explosion revealed another 11 Vietnamese TMN1 landmines, which are commonly used by the Cambodian military, the newspaper said, citing an unnamed Thai army source. "The spokesman of Cambodian Ministry of Defense announces to reject and condemn the Thai army deputy spokesman's groundless allegation that Cambodia used TMN1 landmines made in Vietnam," the statement said. "This type of TMN1 landmines has never seen using in Cambodian history. Even in the recorded documents of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, no type of TMN1 landmines is present or used by Cambodia," it said.

The statement added that the Royal Cambodian Armed Force reasserted that Cambodia is a state party to the Ottawa landmine ban treaty, and the country has not only fully complied with the treaty, but also campaigned against this type of landmines.

The three wounded Thai men were part of a 16-member ranger patrol near Ta Krobey Temple in Dongrek Mountain. The explosion on Tuesday blew off one man's right foot, and the two others sustained shrapnel wounds.

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