DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian PM urges citizens to jointly prevent bird flu outbreaks” plus 4 more

PHNOM PENH, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday called on the public to work together to prevent and eliminate the spread of Avian Influenza H5N1 virus, which has killed eight people so far this year.

"I'd like to appeal to all people and local authorities to join campaigns to prevent the spread of bird flu, which has threatened our country in the last two months," the premier said during a groundbreaking ceremony for a road construction in eastern Kampong Cham province. "This is the worst outbreak in the kingdom -- in nine cases, eight people died."

He also urged radios and television channels to broadly broadcast awareness campaigns about the virus.

"If you see any ill or dead poultry, please immediately report to local health agents," Hun Sen said, advising people not to eat sick or dead poultry.

Last Friday, the premier issued a circular, ordering all relevant ministries and institutions to take "strict measures" to prevent and eliminate the spread of the virus.

He instructed the ministry of agriculture to thoroughly and constantly inspect poultry's health throughout the country, and to carry out bio-safety and sanitary measures at all poultry farms, slaughter-houses and markets.

He also ordered the interior ministry to take a firm and urgent measure to prevent the illegal trafficking of poultry and poultry- made products in all images and at anywhere.

Cambodia sees the worst outbreak of the virus this year since the disease was first identified in 2004. To date, the country has recorded 30 human cases of the virus, which claimed the lives of 27 people.

The latest death was a 35-year-old man from eastern Kampong Cham province, who died on Monday last week.

KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday broke ground for the construction and enlargement of a 248-kilometer stretch of national road No. 6A, saying that the road is vital for the development of the economy and tourism.

The road will be widened from the current 7 meters to 12 meters with some places up to 25 meters, and work on the project will begin from Bathey district in Kampong Cham province in the east to Siem Reap province in the northwest.

"This road is very important to connect traveling from Phnom Penh City to various provinces including the tourism province of Siem Reap and to the Thai border," the premier said. "It will be hugely contributing to developing the Cambodian economy and tourism."

He said when completed, the road will be the most modern and longest one in the kingdom.

"To date, China has built tar-paved roads in a total length of more than 2,000 kilometers in Cambodia, making China the largest donor in road development in Cambodia," he said. Besides, seven bridges across rivers have been built or are under construction with Chinese aid.

The premier expressed profound thanks to the Chinese government for supporting Cambodia in building roads, bridges and irrigation systems, which are the key components to boost social and economic development.

"I'd like also to extend my sincere thanks to the Chinese government for encouraging her investors to Cambodia," he said.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue said that China saw road No. 6 as one of the most important highways in Cambodia.

China's Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company is responsible for the road construction that is expected to be completed in 42 months, Minister of Transport Tram Iv Tek said, adding that the project costs 248 million U.S. dollars, which will be covered by a concessional loan from the government of China.

PHNOM PENH, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia officially launched the long-awaited National Arbitration Center (NAC) on Monday, aiming at enhancing business environment and attracting more local and foreign investors.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said the government is committed to improving and enhancing Cambodia's business environment and investment climate for both domestic and foreign investors.

He said one of the measures taken by the government to achieve this goal is the enactment of various commercial laws including the law on commercial arbitration that was adopted in 2006.

The law envisages the creation of the NAC.

Eric Sidgwick, head of the Asian Development Bank to Cambodia, said that ADB technical assistance, together with the support from the International Financial Center, has supported the Ministry of Commerce in selecting 53 founding members, formulating the rules and administrative procedures, preparing a code of conduct for the NAC, and setting up the center and training the commercial arbitrators since 2010.

PHNOM PENH, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian staff working at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) went on strike on Monday, leaving the court unable to operate as planned.

Neth Pheaktra, spokesman of the ECCC said that more than 20 Cambodian staff who are working as interpreters at the court announced their strike on Monday, saying they will resume their work only after their salaries are paid from December last year.

The spokesman said the strike had forced the court unable to hold its hearing as planned and it is not known yet when it will be resumed.

According to Neth Pheaktra, 270 out of 287 Cambodian staff have not received their salaries since December and those who did not join the strike on Monday also had threatened to walk out.

ECCC or Khmer Rouge tribunal is a hybrid court established by Cambodia and the United Nations with an aim to try former leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea.

The court that was set up in 2006 has spent nearly 200 million U.S. dollars by the end of 2012.