The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “Completely an act” plus 9 more

"The immoral words and illegal [acts] of Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha and their accomplices … is completely an act of coup d'etat.

A crackdown on illegal logging in Mondulkiri has yielded more than 50 cubic metres of luxury wood found submerged in a canal and stashed throughout the forest.

Military officers and border police operating on a tip-off discovered the cache during a joint patrol in Koh Nhek district that started on Thursday and lasted through to Saturday, Sou Vuthy, a provincial deputy prosecutor, said.

"The timber is in the process of being counted, but we estimate it's over 50 cubic metres," Vuthy said, adding that despite the canal crossing into Vietnam, he was unable to confirm if the timber was destined for the bordering country.

Provincial forestry administration officers are harbouring the timber in the local forestry administration office and searching for those responsible.

Keb Kort, Mondulkiri's provincial forestry administration director, claimed he was unaware of the crackdown as he was busy attending a meeting in the capital.

The French Agency for Development will provide $26 million in loans to the Cambodian government to rehabilitate irrigation systems across three provinces in the northwest.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the deal yesterday, Aun Pornmoniroth, the Minister of Economy and Finance, said the new systems will help boost rice exports.

The loan will cover irrigation networks covering 11,000 hectares of land in Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces, and 5,000 hectares in Kandal.

Khem Sophannara, program advisor at agricultural nonprofit CEDAC, said farmers still depend mainly on rainfall for cultivation.

"The rehabilitation of the irrigation system will help increase farmers' productivity," he said.

He welcomed the news, but added that the loan should be used effectively: "We have seen more irrigation systems being built, but the main challenge is maintenance for long-term use."

The Asean Economic Community (AEC) will cut red tape and allow freer trade between the bloc's 10 member states. But many companies in the region aren't even aware of the AEC blueprint, a sobering report from the Asia Development Bank has found. The bank also calls the 2015 deadline unrealistic, arguing that at least 10 more years might be needed to fully implement the agreement.

The report, released last week and aptly titled "The ASEAN Economic Community: A Work in Progress", shows that 55 per cent of all businesses interviewed in the region remain unaware of the AEC's ambitious plan to abolish trade barriers and reduce government regulation by the self-imposed deadline of December 31, 2015.

Country leaders have been urged to "make good on their commitments" amid the concerning survey results, which was collated from 381 firms in ASEAN, including 13 manufacturing and 40 service businesses in Cambodia.

The report said that "little or no interest" from the business community, a general lack of awareness, contrasting ASEAN government regulations, discrimination against foreign investors and inadequate infrastructure were among the key reasons for the AEC's hindered progress.

First sketched in 2003, the AEC had a 2020 deadline, but in 2007, that was amended to 2015. In a perfect world, the agreement would transform ASEAN into a trade paradise where goods, services, investment, skilled labour and capital all flow seamlessly across borders.

The ADB concluded in its 530-page report that the fast-tracked due date should not be viewed as a target and should instead be considered a milestone, stating that ASEAN "has no prospect of coming close to a single market by the AEC's 2015 deadline or even by 2020 or 2025".

"One should not expect in 2015 to see ASEAN suddenly transformed," the report said.

"While ASEAN should not be called to account for its members' failure to make good on their commitments, any failure to deliver will likely lead to a loss of credibility, putting member countries in danger of falling further behind in the global competition for export markets and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)."

Jayant Menon, lead economist at the ADB's office of regional integration, said while ASEAN is not aiming to be as complicated or even as similarly united as the European Union, a deadline of 2025 would still seem "more realistic".

"[AEC] will not require that the same level of sovereignty be surrendered to a central authority, unlike in Europe," Menon said. "The ASEAN model of regionalism is outward looking, institution light and market driven. Therefore, national and regional interest can more readily coincide."

Locally, Cambodia's prospects of achieving the level of regional integration required by 2015 have met with mixed opinions from economists, government officials and academics.

The AEC wants to unify ASEAN economies by streamlining foreign trade agreements, reducing or entirely eliminating conflicting customs procedures, import and export duties and business operational standards.

As of October this year, the AEC "scorecard", which ranks countries based on their preparedness to join the community, showed Cambodia had met all measures to assure the free flow of capital, labour and competitive policy frameworks required before the deadline, but had yet to achieve the same requirements for the free flow of goods, services, foreign direct investment, food, agriculture, transport and energy.

The scorecard showed Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar lagging behind in reducing tariffs across the region with a combined progress rate of 67 per cent, compared to 99 per cent for the remaining six member states.

Chap Sotharith, a research fellow at the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said that despite the survey's results, he believes Cambodia is equipped across most sectors to meet the needs of the 2015 AEC launch.

"Infrastructure is admittedly an issue in Cambodia, but we currently have one of the most free foreign trade environments for labour and goods," he said. "The free movement of service trades, such as lawyers trying to open up businesses in different countries, may take much more time to implement."

However, Srey Chanty, president of the Cambodian Economic Association, said while other, larger economies such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are prepared for full-scale economic integration, Cambodia's position is far less convincing.

"I am not confident about Cambodia's readiness for 2015," he said. "Nevertheless, it can follow a more gradual, or phased-in approach by integrating aspects such as labour mobility, export of goods and tourism."

Civil parties to the Khmer Rouge tribunal gathered yesterday to receive updates and give feedback on the court's progress, only days after the trial chamber posted a filing noting the lack of funding for and insufficient details on some of the parties' proposed reparations projects.

Yesterday's meeting also produced a statement in which civil parties called for proceedings in the second sub-trial of Case 002 to begin immediately.

"Around 200 civil parties in Case 002 . . . would like to affirm that we want the trial on the evidence in Case 002/02 to start as soon as possible, without waiting until a verdict in 002/01 is issued," the statement reads. "We say this due to our age and health, as well as the suspects' health, becoming worse while waiting for verdicts."

However, the trial chamber has recently said it would not be forming a second panel of judges to hear the case, and expressed scepticism at a recent trial management meeting about the feasibility of hearing the second case while still drafting the verdict in the first.

Victims also brought up the subject of reparations, with some arguing that individual monetary reparations – something that the court cannot offer – should be reconsidered.

"I heard about them building a memorial stupa for victims as collective reparation," said Bun Sarin, 62. "We accept this, but we also want individual reparation. My house during the Khmer Rouge regime was destroyed. My rice fields, my cows were all gone."

However, 33-year-old Buth Kimse, who represented her 60-year-old mother yesterday, said that collective reparations would suffice.

"[The court is] about healing our pain that remains from the Khmer Rouge," he said. "Some would like to have individual reparation, but I think 'how can the court pay them?', because millions of people are the victims of the Khmer Rouge. Collective reparation is enough."

One attendee of yesterday's conference who works closely with civil parties and who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that organisers had explained that even collective reparations would have individual benefits.

"From our side . . . we said it is true that we can't have individual reparations, but some of the reparations will help individuals, especially the group therapy with the [Transcultural Psychosocial Organization]," the person said.

However, even collective reparations are still up in the air, according to a trial chamber filing released on Friday that notes that civil party lawyers "have not fully secured funding for a number of projects", and that some of the proposed projects have not been presented in enough detail. The chamber also set a March 31 deadline on the submission of further funding updates.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that Prime Minister Hun Sen will make a three-day visit to Vietnam this week, where he is expected to sign several agreements and hold talks with senior officials there.

According to the ministry, Hun Sen will sign an extradition treaty, a trade deal, cooperation plans between the two countries' education and information ministries, and four other agreements.

Hun Sen is also expected to have a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, and will meet separately with other officials.

Though pro-opposition social media commenters insinuated yesterday that the visit showed ruling party subservience to Vietnam, independent political analyst Chea Vannath said the visit was routine. However, she added, talks might turn to the political situation in Cambodia, which the Vietnamese may see as threatening to business interests.

"Hun Sen is experienced in leading … there is no need to ask for advice from Vietnam."

Juice Master United, made up of players from Po Monkol School, recorded the day's biggest victory in the Barclays ISF Youth Football League played at My Team field in Posenchey district on Sunday.

In a markedly one-way game in the Boys U14 Premier section, JMU pumped 15 goals without reply against Vancouver PWC Alumni Orcas (Puon Phnom School).

In other matches in the same division, The Flying Tigers edged out Scherinin FC (ASPECA) 3-2, Appleton Wildcats 1 beat The Flying Dragons 5-1, Kew Park Rangers beat Tonle Sap Teddy Bears 6-2 and Blue Flag beat Hagar BRP 10-1.

Sunday's Results
Boys U14 Champion League
Juice Master United 3 Mekong Rangers 0
Black Fins 2 Sunrise 0 Bong Paoun 5
Cairns Advocates 2 The Blue Eagles 2
Kew Park Rangers 2 Boys U10
The Seasiders 2's 9 Robas Rangers 2
The Flying Tigers 11 ASPECA 6
The Cavalry 14 MJB Team 3 Mekong Reds 10
The Blue Eagles (Andong) 4 Girls U14 Group A
G Girls 5 The Flying Tigers 3 Girls U14 Group B
Sunrise 11 Puon Phnom School 3
The Blue Dragons 7 The Flying Dragons 3
Ruby Murray's Ladies 8 Northbridge Nomads 3

Girls U18
A New Day Cambodia 1 The Blue Eagles (Andong) 1

Ahead of today's Ministry of Labour announcement of a minimum wage increase for Cambodia's apparel sector, opposition leader Sam Rainsy yesterday urged striking workers in Svay Rieng province to hold out until their monthly salary is raised to $160.

"[Garment] workers should not return to work until the government raises their minimum wage to $160," Rainsy said in Bavet town to thousands of workers from Svay Rieng's Manhattan and Tay Seng special economic zones. "We have to be together, I support all of you until you reach success, and I'll be with you and protect you all."

Rainsy's address to workers including Nuth Sakhorn, who was shot by former Bavet governor Chhouk Bandith in the same precinct last year, came after a lap of the factories that at one point included breaking down a razor-wire barricade.

A Labour Ministry working group comprising ministry officials, labour union representatives and the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) last week presented three schemes for the government to increase minimum monthly wages for garment and shoe factories – which now stands at $80, including a $5 health bonus – by 2018.

Ministry officials are expected to decide whether to approach the goal by raising minimum salaries by $16 each year, upping pay annually for five years based on variables such as the economy and inflation or immediately hiking the minimum wage to $160 next year.

One day after the working group reported its conclusions last week, GMAC sent a letter to Minister of Labour Ith Sam Heng saying it would agree to raise minimum wages by $10 each year for the next five, reaching $130 by 2018.

Anticipating the Labour Ministry's announcement today, some union leaders called for immediate strikes if the ministry opts for anything other than the immediate hike, while others favoured a more nuanced approach.

Yang Sophorn, president of Cambodian Alliance Trade Union (CATU), yesterday joined Rainsy in encouraging workers who began striking there last week to return only when the government meets their minimum salary demand.

"Workers will protest until they get $160," Saphorn said.

Only three or four of the approximately 40 factories across the two Svay Rieng economic zones are now operational, since about 30,000 workers walked off the job last week demanding the immediate hike, said Has Bunthy, director of Svay Rieng provincial Labour Department.

Bunthy added that the number of strikers has fluctuated, spiking yesterday with Rainsy's appearance.

Taking a less definitive stance, Kong Athit, vice-president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union (C.CAWDU), said if the Labour Ministry does not announce a wage hike for next year, his union will try to meet with ministry officials to make their case before the year's end. If they are not heard, Athit said, C.CAWDU will begin campaigning to demand the raise in January.

Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU), yesterday said his coalition of about 90,000 people across seven unions will lead unions across the country in a mass strike today unless the Labour Ministry announces the immediate wage boost.

"As soon as possible, we will begin printing thousands of letters to distribute to the workers, asking them to join the mass protest with us," Chhun said. "I do this for the benefit of the [apparel] workers, not for myself."

After hearing of Chhun's demand, Sat Samoth, undersecretary of state at the Labour Ministry, said he agreed that apparel workers should earn a minimum of $160 per month, but Chhun should take his demands up with GMAC.

"The decision does not depend on me or the ministry," Samoth said. "We really want the workers to get a higher wage, but the money is not with us; the money is in the employers' pockets."

GMAC secretary general Ken Loo yesterday recognised the money ultimately comes out of the factories, but noted that the minimum wage decision is in the government's hands.

"[The government] needs to take the lead on minimum wages . . . it is something mandated by the law and guaranteed by the government," he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHANE WORRELL

A French national was viciously attacked and robbed in Phnom Penh's Daun Penh district on Sunday night as he left a convenience store shortly after midnight, police have said.

Ham Sophea, a city police officer, said that the man left the Panda Mart store on Street 13 near the corner of Street 178 after purchasing four bottles of beer.

Two men approached the victim, who police have not named, taking a beer from his hand and hitting him on the head with it. One of the attackers then used the broken beer bottle to stab the man.

"After [the attackers] hit his head, he was wounded and bleeding, they then took the broken bottle to stab his face, neck and his back, causing serious wounds," Sophea told the Post yesterday.

"After hitting the victim, the thieves took his wallet … and his passport before successfully escaping from the scene," he added.

The victim was taken to Calmette Hospital after police arrived at the scene.

Brigadier General Chuon Narin, deputy chief of Phnom Penh Municipal Police, said police had not yet tracked down the attackers.

"So far, we do not know their names or their identities. Police now are still working hard on this case in order to bring them to justice," he said.

Cambodia could start sending domestic workers to Malaysia again as soon as next year, the Ministry of Labor said yesterday, a widely anticipated move that would end a moratorium enacted more than two years ago amid widespread reports of abuse and even torture of the workers.

Ministry of Labor secretary of state Othsman Hassan – speaking at a meeting designed to gain the approval of civil society and other government bodies on a draft Memorandum of Understanding – said this would be the last stage in the process before ministers from each country officially sign the MoU.

"It will maybe be next year when we sign it officially to restart sending our workers to Malaysia, because Malaysia needs workers to work and Cambodians need jobs in Malaysia in order to be competitive with other countries when we join the ASEAN community in 2015," Hassan said.

Hassan said that yesterday's meeting was strictly to determine whether the government should accept the current wording of the MoU, not to suggest changes, which he maintained had already been done.

"We have many points to defend our workers, such as wages, bank accounts for the workers, better safety, but the one thing that is a good point is that we need the agencies to be responsible for the workers from the day they leave to go abroad to when they arrive back in their homeland safely," he said.

A slideshow by the international women's rights body UN Women noted both negative and positive amendments that had been made to the current draft, and representative Jenna Holiday called on both countries to ensure that workers were adequately protected.

"Both countries have to ensure workers' safety in Malaysia before the Cambodian government begins sending workers to Malaysia again after having banned it when Cambodian workers were met with exploitation and mistreatment," she said.