DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodian PM firmly confident of victory in forthcoming polls” plus 4 more

PHNOM PENH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday expressed his "firm confidence" that his Cambodian People's Party would undoubtedly win in the July general election.

"The opponents always say that Hun Sen will lose in the election, but Hun Sen will win forever because of the support from the people," Hun Sen said during the inauguration of a large-scale Buddha statue in eastern Kampong Cham province, which was attended by about 15,000 people.

The premier recalled that during the last election in 2008, the opposition group also said that he would lose the election, but at the time, his Cambodian People's Party won up to 90 seats out of the 123-seat parliament.

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and vowed to stay in the office until he is 74.

Meanwhile, he appealed to people to continue supporting him as the Prime Minister by casting their ballots for the Cambodian People's Party in the general election on July 28.

He also urged people not to use violence or discriminate against the others in different political parties during the upcoming election campaign and on the Election Day.

Eight political parties will run in the forthcoming election, which will be voted by some 9.67 million eligible Cambodians, according to the National Election Committee.

Three major parties among them are the ruling Cambodian People' s Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by self-exiled leader Sam Rainsy, and the royalist Funcinpec Party headed by Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

KANDAL, Cambodia, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Buddhist monks and Buddhists marched on Friday morning around Preah Reach Trap Mountain, where the relics of Buddha are housed, to celebrate the Visak Bochea's Day, or Buddha's Day.

The annually religious ceremony was attended by Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, leader of the Mohanikaya Buddhist sect, and Supreme Patriarch Bou Kry, head of the Thammayut Buddhist sect, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh.

Visak Bochea's Day marked the anniversary of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, said a media statement from the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals.

It is a public holiday in this Buddhist-dominant country, where about 90 percent of the 14.5 million populations are Buddhists.

At the event, lay people prayed to the Lord Buddha by lighting candles, incense sticks and laying flowers before the Lord Buddha' s statues and relics. In addition, they donated foods and money to participating Buddhist monks with the dedication to their deceased relatives.

"The celebration is to maintain national identification and tradition and to enhance the key role of Buddhism in Cambodia," the statement said.

One of the participants Top Pich, 72, said that she has come to attend this important ritual every year.

"As a Buddhist, today is a very important day for me to commemorate my Lord Buddha," she said. "All of my family members are Buddhists and we have followed this practice from generation to generation."

Buddhism is the state religion in this Southeast Asia nation. According to the figures of Ministry of Cults and Religion, the country has about 4,400 Buddhist pagodas with more than 50,000 monks.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Brunei Darussalam Thursday hosted the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Security Policy Conference (ASPC).

The primary objectives of the ASPC are to further strengthen the cooperation of confidence building measures in military spheres within the framework of the ARF and the participation of defense officials in the ARF; to open new channels of dialogue and exchanges among defence officials, diplomats as well as military academicians, to further increase mutual trust and understanding among the defense officials; and to further improve and substantiate the process of the ARF and keep propelling it forward.

The Conference was chaired by Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham bin Pengiran Haji Mohamad, Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy & Development), Ministry of Defense, Brunei Darussalam.

The Conference acknowledged the good progress has been made in defense and military cooperation among ARF members. In upholding the spirit of dialogue and consultation, the Conference had an active and constructive exchange of views on the regional and international security situation. A range of traditional and non- traditional security concerns were discussed and deliberated.

The Conference also discussed on the ways to enhance regional and international efforts towards cyber security. Several proposals were put forward, which include, among others, the sharing of best-practices, the conduct of professional exchanges and education on cyber security, as well as streamlining efforts in enhancing cyber security between different policy areas.

The ARF members include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United States, and Vietnam.

PHNOM PENH, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) is to print 12 million ballot papers for the general election on July 28, its Secretary General Tep Nytha told reporters Thursday.

He said the upcoming election would cost about 21 million U.S. dollars, which is under the responsibility of the government of Cambodia.

Eight political parties have officially registered with the NEC to run in the forthcoming election, which will be voted by some 9. 67 million eligible Cambodians, he said.

Three major parties among those registered are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by self-exiled leader Sam Rainsy, and the royalist Funcinpec Party headed by Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

In the last election in 2008, the party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won 90 seats out of the 123 parliamentary seats, while the opposition totally won 29 seats, and the royalist group totally won 4 seats.

Political analysts predict that Hun Sen's party will definitely win the majority in the upcoming polls.

Hun Sen, 61, has been in power for 28 years and has vowed to stay in the office until he is 74.

PHNOM PENH, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of ASEAN power utilities and authorities gathered here on Thursday to follow up the progress of the ambitious ASEAN power grid action plan, which was set to inter-connect power lines in the 10 ASEAN member states by 2020.

Speaking to reporters after the opening of the 29th meeting of the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities and Authorities Council, Keo Rottanak, director general of the Electricity of Cambodia, said the meeting enabled the bloc's member states to be informed of the latest development and development objectives of the energy sector in each ASEAN country.

"Heads of ASEAN power utilities will discuss ways to accelerate the development of energy sector in order to fully realize ASEAN power grid by 2020 under the ASEAN Vision 2020," he said.

Meanwhile, Rottanak said that by 2020, about 80 percent of the Cambodian population would be able to access to electricity.

Ith Praing, secretary of state at Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, said that the regional power grid inter-connection would be the main driver for green energy and reduced damages to the environment.

"To achieve this objective, it requires a more effective framework of regional cooperation," he said at the meeting.

Musa Bin Metali, acting director of the Department of Electrical Services of Brunei, said at the meeting that ASEAN power grid was still a big task for ASEAN.

"We have yet to accomplish the realization of the ASEAN power grip," he said, adding that some issues need to be addressed including regulations, commercial, legal, and technical standards, and other related matters.

He urged all ASEAN states to increase all efforts in sharing energy information, technology and know-how in order to realize the ambitious goal for the prosperous future of ASEAN.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.