The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “no matter how rich” plus 9 more

No matter how rich a perpetrator is, he cannot pay for the victims' lives and he has to be given justice by the court.

Voters who travel to cast ballots in the upcoming poll Sunday could face higher transportation fees as drivers and companies try to capitalise on heavier passenger volume.

Phan Na, general manager at Phnom Penh Sorya Transportation, which sells bus tickets to several provinces, said fees could rise about 10 per cent, and that most of the revenue would go back to support the company's employees, who take the time off to vote.

"From my point of view, there would be crowded passengers before and after the election day," he said.

Cheng Noeun, a private taxi driver whose route is between Svay Rieng province and Phnom Penh, said the price between the two locations is $5 per trip, but that it goes up by a few dollars during the Pchum Ben festival and the Khmer New Year holiday.

The election, he said, is not likely to be any different.

"I think the taxi fee can be 5,000 riel [$1.25] higher than the normal price," he said, adding that "we increase the price because there are many passengers at that time".

Vorn Pao, president of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association, a group representing workers in informal sectors such as transportation, said workers who have low incomes would be affected.

"I think that some workers will abandon their voting because they have less money during the election day," he said, adding that "the biggiest obstacle is expensive transportation fees".

Sambath Naisrann, a 22-year-old worker at New Orient [Cambodia] Garment Co Ltd, said she knew the taxi fee would be higher, but was willing to pay the price to cast her ballot.

She said she would spend about 75 cents more than usual to get to her home in Kampong Cham province, about a three-hour drive from Phnom Penh.

"I will go to vote on that day, because I have the right to vote in the national election for the first time," she said, adding that "at that time, I will have the chance to see my relatives too".

Long Dimanche, a spokesman for Phnom Penh City Hall, said that so far, the city hasn't requested that taxi drivers and transportation companies keep rates the same, a practice it has employed in the past to help stabilise prices.

Tep Nytha, secretary-general of the National Election Committee (NEC), said he does not have exact data on the number of Cambodians heading home to vote, because some make the decision to stay and register in Phnom Penh.

"Well, it is out of our control because people here can also vote when they have enough documents to register here," he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MAY KUNMAKARA

Dear Editor,

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) should tone down its anti-Vietnamese rhetoric, while the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) should look carefully at a long-term, anti-corruption plan for the benefit of the party.

This plan should include milestones to be achieved annually.

What has been seen in the past five years and longer is that corruption has been allowed to continue in a subtle, more sophisticated and widespread way.

The judicial system is another key area that the CPP must look at and address for its long-term success. Cambodian people at the grassroots level must deal with issues of justice on a daily basis.

If corruption is allowed to continue unabated, then more people will become dissatisfied with the CPP in this and future elections, especially while the CNRP is making inroads into rural areas and will prop up more able candidates.

However, it is important to note that over the past 10 years the CPP has helped bring Cambodia a higher level of prosperity, peace and more jobs, while adeptly handling the conflict with Thailand.

On the other hand, the CNRP's anti-Vietnamese position has come to a point where it is dangerous for harmonious coexistence between Cambodia's various ethnic groups.

Usually it takes only racist words from one group to ignite deeper hatred between opposing ethnic groups.

This could lead to much larger and more dangerous tensions. Inter-ethnic tensions and conflicts usually result in very violent conflicts.

We should remember that during the Khmer Republic period, thousands of innocent Vietnamese ethnics were brutally killed without trial and deported without proper compensation.

In my study of the history of global genocide, racist attitude is the key early component for such tragedies to happen.

Genocide can start from those who propose wholesale anti-ethnic policies or those who consider themselves to be future victims of anti-ethnic violence, thus taking pre-emptive actions.

What I see the CNRP's position to be now is that the party is leading its members, intentionally and unintentionally, toward a much broader hatred toward Vietnamese ethnic groups who they never define carefully.

Some people estimate the number of Vietnamese immigrants in Cambodia to be 100,000, others from between 750,000 to 900,000, while a small group of people estimate it to be about 4 million, which would account for nearly 30 per cent of the entire Cambodian population.

The larger number is usually advocated by members of the CNRP.

The large number is very dangerous because it includes people in the grey zone between Vietnamese ethnic groups and other ethnic groups where intermarriage and community interaction exist, making it difficult to classify ethnicity.

The CNRP's argument of large numbers of ethnic Vietnamese runs against itself because the larger the Vietnamese population, the more votes they lose.

In addition, the CNRP's comparison of the CPP with the Khmer Rouge is more absurd than true. Although land grabbing and evictions are a rampant problem in Cambodia now, it does not give the CNRP the rights to liken the CPP to the Khmer Rouge.

Although the current ruling members of the CPP are former members of the Khmer Rouge, one should view them more as conscientious citizens willing to join a revolution to tackle corruption and inequality existing during 1960s and the Khmer Republic period and the usurpation of power by an inept Lon Nol and Sirik Matak over the legitimate and popular ruler Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Under Democratic Kampuchea, there is a difference between those bent on widespread killing and those who happened to be members of the revolution but had nothing to do with the evacuation plan and later brutality.

Plus top members of the CPP were those who joined the Vietnamese forces to stop the Khmer Rouge genocide, and they never continued the genocide under their own rule.

By eliminating racist rhetoric and streamlining some of its policies, the CNRP has the potential to become a sanctuary for Cambodians who become disenchanted with the ruling party.

Kok-Thay Eng, PhD, deputy/research director at the Documentation Center of Cambodia.

Gameweek 4 of the 2013 Anvaya League played out at the Mekong University Field on Sunday, with Bassac and Victory FC retaining their unbeaten starts to the competition. In the first game, Victory misfired on numerous occasions but still managed to shoot down the Red Cowboys 5-2 with Bun Sokha netting a hat-trick.

Anvaya Sporting Club then breezed past KhmerDev 5-1, as Bassac cemented their place at the league summit with a 3-0 win over PPIA. Bassac hotshot Benjamin Le Grand added two more goals to his account for the season, which now stands at a commanding 16.

The concluding fixture saw PSE edge Tiger 3-2 in an unexpectedly fiery encounter. Games continue next Sunday, with the knockout rounds slated to start October 20.

Three years ago, the high prices for pig livestock inspired Chhoeurng Sarun and many other villagers in Svay Rieng province, near the Vietnam border, to go into small-scale farming.

She spent $500 on building pens to house 20 pigs. But the easy money didn't last long. Imports coming over from the Vietnamese and Thai borders flooded the market, and prices fell.

"When I started to raise pigs, they cost 11,000 riel [$2.75] per kilogram", she said adding that the rate had fallen as low to 6,000 riel a kilogram today. The difference wasn't insignificant, and forced Sarun to abandon the scheme.

"I regret quitting, but I can't make profit at all," she said. "If there were not as many imports, Cambodian swine prices would not have dropped this dramatically."

Srun Pov, the president of the Cambodian Pig Raising Association in Kandal province, estimated that at least 70 per cent of household pig farmers have called it quits.

In theory, the farmers shouldn't face problems. Responding to complaints in 2009 about oversupply, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF), set the maximum allowable number of daily imports at 800. But Pov and farmers say the quota is rarely enforced.

"If we go to see imports of pigs at Neak Loeung ferry, we are almost knocked unconscious," said Ly Lavil, manager of a pig farmhouse at Mong Rithy Group, a local company.

Kao Phal, director of the Animal Health and Production Department at the ministry, did not return several calls for comment.

Srey Sothea, 28, who lives in the province's Santrea district, said that her family has one or two pigs for breeding, and she sells off the piglets.

"Even though the price goes down, but we have pig mother for producing them by ourselves," she said. "But it is very small profit," she said.

Naza Bikes Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysia-based Naza Group of Companies, will enter Cambodia's crowded motorbike sector, according to the local brand manager.

"[Business] will probably be launched on the first of next month," Hay Chamreoun, the manager, said yesterday, adding that construction for the showroom in Tuol Kork district started six months ago and is 90 per cent complete.

According to Chamreoun, three types of bikes will be sold in the Phnom Penh outlet: a 125cc for $1,700, a 250cc for $5,000 and a 650cc for $7,000.

The Malaysia-based Business Times reported yesterday that the launch of a dealership centre will see Naza's bikes enter the Cambodian market directly rather than through an appointed distributor.

Naza Group is one of the largest distributors of motorcycles in Malaysia, and the sole importer and distributor for brands Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Gilera. It is also dominates the imports for luxury automobiles, according to its website.

In 2003, subsidiary Naza Bikes set up its own 2,230-square-metre bike-manufacturing plant in Malaysia.

With an annual capacity to produce 50,000 units, the plant assembles everything from run-of-the-mill scooters to high-speed sports bikes.

"I don't think we [will] struggle with the market here [in Cambodia], because before we decided to come, we already did the market research, and we see great potential," Chamreoun said.

But Malaysian-produced brands aren't as well established as others, said Net Phauk, assistant to the director of the Japan Motorcycle Shop in Phnom Penh.

"Here [people] prefer brands from Japan and the US," he said.

Japan Motorcycle Shop also sells high-speed sports bikes, with the average costing $10,000, and some as much as $30,000.

He said demand for the bigger, faster bikes is still low, but it has been increasing this year.

Newer entrants into the motorbike market have been reporting growth.

Tes Dary, inventory officer of Narita Group, the authorised distributor for Vespa maker Piaggio Group, said in a recent interview that scooter sales in the first half of this year have already reached 70 per cent of the target goal for 2013. Vespas sold the most out of the showroom's stock, which includes Piaggio's Fly and Liberty scooters.

Cambodian imports of motorbikes reached 264,085 units, valued at a total $139 million, in the first 11 months of 2012, data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance show. The figure represents a 55 per cent jump from 170,380 units worth $86.5 million in the same period the year before.

Besides automobiles and motorbikes, Naza Group is affiliated with several other areas of investment, including property development, hospitality, food and beverages, finance and insurance, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The third edition of CAMBUILD, one of the country's biggest international building and construction conferences, is scheduled for September 10-12 on Koh Pich. Three hundred participants are expected to exhibit at the event.

The exhibition showcases a complete range of products and equipment for the building, construction and infrastructure industry in Cambodia, said a representative of the organiser.

"We create the chance to match businesses to businesses," said Nuon Veasna, assistant to the project developer of AMB Events Group, which is organising the exhibition. "Foreign companies who specialise in the sector can explore the opportunities in Cambodia by finding available partners here," he said.

Popular comedian Chuon Chan Ratana, known as Neang Kaay, was convicted in absentia to four years in prison yesterday for pawning two rental cars.

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Phnom Penh Municipal Court presiding judge Kor Vandy found Chan Ratana guilty of faking vehicle documentation and breach of trust.

Chan Ratana, 27, was also fined three million riel ($750) and ordered to pay $7,200 in damages to two plaintiffs.

She stood accused on one count of pawning a Lexus SUV for $8,000 after renting it from Teang Kong on a four-month contract on December 19, 2010.

On a second count, Chan Ratana was found guilty of giving a false $15,450 cheque as a down payment to plaintiff Hy Penkry on October 17, 2010, to rent a Toyota Highlander SUV, which she also pawned.

Earlier this month, her convicted accomplice, Liv Ramo, who also remains on the lam, was sentenced to two years in prison for fraud and using invalid cheques.

Vandy also issued a warrant for the arrest of Chan Ratana yesterday and said she was free to appeal the decision.

When the case was initially heard in 2011, Chan Ratana didn't appear at court despite the issuance of five separate summonses.

More than 750 garment workers still waiting for wages owed to them by their Chinese boss, who skipped town in April, might be unable to vote if they're not paid by Friday, worker representatives said.

The employees of the Pine Great (Cambodia) factory in the capital's Meanchey district will be unable to afford travel costs to make it to the polls Sunday if they do not receive the money that the factory owes them, worker representative Keo Sokhom said.

A week ago, Social Affairs Ministry officials promised workers they would receive the owed money before the elections. The wages remain unpaid, said Sokhom.

"We need our money on Friday this week because we need to travel to the province for voting on Sunday," he said. "It is too late if we get [paid] on Saturday."

Workers will protest in front of the Ministry of Social Affairs on Election Day if they do not receive their back pay on time, Sokhom said.

The ministry understands the workers' frustration, said Touch Somuth, a member of a Ministry of Social Affairs committee formed to resolve the Pine Great employees' problem. He added the government was trying its best to make sure the workers would be able to vote Sunday.

"We had to meet and think about … how we can help the workers who need transportation to vote," he said, adding that the committee was still preparing the documents required for workers to collect the money owed by their former boss.

"We will try to pay them before the election, but if they cannot get paid before, I feel sorry for them," Somuth said.

Employee arrangements at other companies sharply contrast with the situation Pine Great workers are facing.

At Xing Chang Xing factory in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo district, workers are paid in advance so they will be able to travel to polling places, Sem Sun, a worker at the factory, said.

"Workers who vote in Phnom Penh received $25, and those who vote in the provinces received $30," he said.

A driver allegedly responsible for three deaths and three injuries over the weekend was charged yesterday and will remain in jail despite his father's high-ranking status in Phnom Penh government, police insisted.

Driving a black Range Rover, Bun Ratanak, 30, allegedly crashed into a line of motorbikes at about 5:30pm on Saturday in Meanchey district. Phnom Penh police chief Chhuon Sovann said Ratanak had been charged yesterday by Phnom Penh Municipal Court for causing deaths and injury by driving.

Initial local media reports suggested Ratanak had avoided jail through an out-of-court settlement, but Sovann denied the rumour. Ratanak, who is the son of Bun Serey, a director of Phnom Penh Municipal Hall's finance office, will be sent to pre-trial detention, he added.

"No matter how rich a perpetrator is, he cannot pay for the victims' lives and he has to be given justice by the court," Sovann said. "Even if the victims' families had received the compensation, the perpetrator has to be tried in court."

Ratanak faces civil and criminal charges stemming from the crash, Sovann said. Families of the victims have accepted compensation from him.

A Meanchey district police officer said Ratanak paid all funeral expenses and will pay further expenses later.

The determination to pursue criminal charges despite the victims' families accepting compensation is reminiscent of the March hit-and-run case of 23-year-old medical student Keam Piseth Narita. After crashing her car on Norodom Boulevard, she ran into a crowd of people while fleeing the accident, killing three children and injuring 11 bystanders.

None of Narita's victims pressed charges after her family settled with the victims' families out of court, but a judge last month dished out a three-year suspended sentence with three and a half months to serve, and a six million riel [$1,500] fine.

At the time, Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, called the punishment a step forward in Cambodian justice. But, regarding Ratanak's case, Virak said he needs to wait and see how the trial plays out.

"It's not a guarantee that he will not be able to buy himself out," Virak said. "I want to see the trial and I want to see the sentencing."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SEAN TEEHAN