The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “Small-scale protests continue” plus 9 more

A day after authorities carted away 11 protesters intending to camp out in front of the United States embassy, a similarly ad hoc group of citizens struggled to deliver petitions to three embassies in the capital yesterday.

The group of about 50 were blocked by police from delivering to the Japanese embassy a petition encouraging signatories to the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement to uphold its tenets.

"The contents of our petition … demands freedom and justice and help from governments that signed the agreement to help lead the Cambodian government towards real democracy," said Kek Yeng, 56, who attempted to deliver the document.

Authorities blocked the petitioners' way again at about 2:30pm, this time as they made their way to the French embassy, leading them to stand hand-in-hand across Monivong Boulevard, blocking the busy road for about 45 minutes before police relented and allowed them to deliver their petition.

Shortly afterward the band handed their petition to an official at the US embassy without incident.

Causes of the group, which included the 11 people removed by Daun Penh security guards from a small patch of land across from the US embassy on Tuesday, varied from land grabs to garment worker wages.

Marching with the demonstrators from the French to US embassies, Borey Phan, a 28-year-old monk, said he joined the group specifically to stand against police obstruction of public demonstrations.
"We want to calm down police," he said. "I didn't agree with the use of police last night."

More than 200 riot police and about 20 Daun Penh district security guards descended on the Wat Phnom area on Tuesday night when a the group refused to leave the grass across from the US embassy.

Bystanders not involved in the demonstration began throwing rocks and lit Molotov cocktails at police. Police advanced towards where the projectiles were thrown from but fell back when they were unable to find the culprits.

During this time, Daun Penh security guards removed the final 11 people camped in front of the embassy, bringing them to the nearby Moha Leap Guesthouse to stay the night.

In an interview yesterday, Moen Tola of the Community Legal Education Center decried the authorities' blocking demonstrators from delivering their petition to the Japanese and French embassies.

"It is not proper at all that the police do that," Tola said.

"They are voters, they are also citizens, so they have the right to express, the right to assemble."

Low electrification rates and over-dependence on fossil fuel imports have contributed to Cambodia's abysmally low ranking in the new World Economic Forum's Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report for 2014.

Cambodia ranked 120 out of 124 nations, with a so-called Energy Architecture Performance Index (EAPI) score of 0.36. EAPI is calculated by averaging the country's scores in economic growth and development, environmental sustainability, access to energy and energy security. Discounting Myanmar and Laos, which weren't included in the index due to lack of data, Cambodia came in dead last among the remaining members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

"The [Asean] region's lowest-performing country across energy access-related indicators is Cambodia. It achieves the lowest access to electricity relative to population (at 31 per cent), and nearly 90 per cent using solid cooking fuels," the report said.

Cambodia placed ahead of only Tanzania, Benin, Lebanon and Yemen. Norway was in the top slot of all the 124 countries with an EAPI of 0.75. The highest possible obtainable score is 1.

Srey Chanty, president of the Cambodian Economic Association, cited a lack of diversification in the energy sector as the reason for the low rank.

"If Cambodia wants to become more competitive, especially in the manufacturing industry, we must have our own source of energy, increase government investment into energy-saving technologies and reduce reliance on our [Asean] neighbours, who, themselves, are developing countries," he said. "This is not an issue we can pass on to the next generation."

Cambodia imports oil from Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and in the first 10 months of this year spent $1.2 billion on oil imports, data from the Ministry of Commerce show.

In May, the government released a draft policy on energy efficiency developed with the European Union's Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility that calls for a 20 per cent reduction in consumption by 2035, resulting in estimated savings of $320 million.

Dear Editor,

I wanted to comment on your article "Farmers weigh up US technology", which appeared in the December 4 edition of The Phnom Penh Post.

Your article describes how Cambodian officials want to replace "Cambodia's traditional farming methods … with US style agro-machinery, hybrid seeds and chemicals".

I just thought I would point out that perhaps the most comprehensive study ever carried out into global agriculture involving more than 400 experts over four years concluded that the industrial agriculture model which US companies mentioned in your article has degraded the natural resources necessary for human survival, "destroyed rural farm communities around the world" and "now threatens energy, water and climate security".

This study was sponsored by the UN Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and UN Development Programme; UNESCO; Global Environment Facility; and the World Bank and was endorsed by 58 governments.

Australia, the US and Canada, however, chose not to endorse this report's findings. Studies of agriculture systems in these countries have highlighted their inability to address the unsustainability of their agricultural practices.

Driven by high capital costs, debt and the need for quick and substantial financial returns, US agriculture is now becoming dominated by highly capitalised, hard-nosed agribusinesses, with a relatively few individuals and companies now possessing large percentages of the available agricultural land.

Increases in row crop production (corn, soybeans, etc) and nitrogen fertilizers, and loss of perennial cover have been implicated in declines in biodiversity, and a "hypoxic dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico" thousands of square miles in size.

Is this the kind of agricultural future which Cambodian farmers actually want? What will happen when increases in agricultural chemicals threaten the already reduced harvest of fish in this country?

Does Cambodia really want to risk the Tonle Sap also becoming another hypoxic dead zone devoid of fish, following the US "model"?

Rather than simply mimicking the clearly documented failures of this industrial agriculture model, Cambodia would be much better to work with the knowledge of its farmers and the unique agro-ecosystems which they have created to develop an agriculture which strengthens Cambodian rural culture and enhances the natural productivity of its environment.

Jeremy Ironside
Phnom Penh

In an all-Japanese affair, fourth seeded Toshihide Matsui outlasted his compatriot Arata Onozawa 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 to reach the quarter-finals of the Cambodian $10,000 ITF Futures for the GLF Tep Khunnah Trophy at the National Training Center yesterday.

The vastly experienced Matsui, who figured in last week's doubles final with his Thai partner Danai Udomchoke, had the young Onozawa on the run in the first set. However, the fourth seed lapsed into critical errors in the second, during which his rival considerably stepped up the tempo and stayed solid behind the baseline.

The touch-and-go decider had to be resolved in a tie-break, where Matsui handled the pressure points with greater degree of confidence than his opponent.

Within 24 hours of his three-set first round battle on Tuesday, second seeded Robin Kern again had to endure a long-drawn contest, this time against Wang Chieu-Fu of Taiwan.

The German winner of last year's final leg here found Wang in a punishing mood in the first set which for greater part had looked equally poised. But as the match progressed, it was Wang who had to face the full force of Kern's fury and could hardly find a foothold in the next two sets. The second seed went on to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Top seed Chen Ti put himself in a cruise control mode after wrapping up the first set in quick time, even as his rival Purchya Isarow of Thailand managed to squeeze out one game more in the second to leave the Taiwanese star with an impressive 6-2, 6-3 scoreline.

Last week's GLF Cham Prasidh Cup winner Ramkumar Ramanathan of India booked his quarter-final place after setting aside a tough second set challenge by Slovakia's Ivo Klec. The Indian dictated the pace and the rallies in the first set but had to battle hard all the way to a tie break in the second to eventually win 6-3, 7-6.

Another Indian to make an impressive headway was sixth seeded Karunuday Singh who disposed off Austrian Maxi Pongratz 6-3, 6-4.

Russian left-hander Alexander Zhurbin followed his good first round show by beating seventh seeded Takuto Niki of Japan 6-0, 6-4 while Mico Santiago of the United States overwhelmed Kittiphong Wachiramanowong of Thailand 6-1, 6-2.

Quarter-finals will play today at the National Training Centre from 9:30am.

ONE Fighting Championship, Asia's largest mixed martial arts organisation, has capped off the year with a series of high-profile signings, highlighted by the acquisition of undefeated welterweight kingpin Ben Askren of the US.

He joins a list of top cage fighters such as South Korean Dae Hwan Kim, Australian Chris Lokteff and Americans Harris Sarmiento and Aung La Nsang, to recently agree to exclusive contracts.

Askren is a legend in collegiate wrestling, having been named All-American four times.

He also wrestled in the US Olym-pics team in 2008 before transitioning to mixed martial arts. Since his debut in 2009, he has won 12 bouts in a row in dominating fashion, winning multiple championships and earning a reputation as one of the world's best in the division.

The intensity simply couldn't last in the Cellcard Fantasy League, with gameweek 15 over the long weekend yielding less than impressive tallies.

Nearly half of all managers have selected Liverpool's red-hot striker Luis Suarez in their squads, and why not considering he can't seem to stop finding the net. Another goal and two assists against West Ham granted the Uruguayan 15 points to usurp Man City forward Sergio Aguero in the season's charts with a 144-point total – quite an achievement considering he was suspended for the first five games.

Chelsea's new recruit Andre Schurrle equalled Suarez' 15 points thanks to his magnificent double at Stoke. However, the German midfielder's pedestrian record so far this campaign (just 23 points before the weekend) meant less than 1 per cent of managers had forked out for him.

Norwich's Leroy Fer, meanwhile, was great value with a goal and assist for 14 points.

It comes as no surprise, perhaps, that the top teams of the round all featured Suarez as captain for 30 points. Rick Dubbeldam's Bayonitis was looking pretty with 80 points, but his clumsy transfer policy of five swaps meant his team was voided from collecting prizes. Instead, the Cellcard spoils slipped down to the two runners-up – Haing Eng's Redstar3 and Sok Chann Socheath's iCambodia – who both amassed 77 points with two transfers.

The two sides also boasted Arsenal's Mesut Ozil for 10 points. They will each collect a $10 phone voucher and a T-shirt.

The Cambodian U23 squad, currently bottom of Group B at the SEA Games in Myanmar, faces a must-win match tonight against East Timor from 7:15pm at Yangon's Thuwunna YTC Stadium.

Having lost their two opening games to Myanmar and Indonesia, conceding four goals whilst failing to find the net at the other end, the Cambodians will be eager for a positive result tonight before a crunch tie against Thailand next Monday.

East Timor, who hammered Cambodia 5-1 in last year's Suzuki Cup qualifiers at the exact same venue, are also looking to kick-start their campaign after two 3-1 defeats to Thailand and Myanmar. Meanwhile in Group A fixtures on Tuesday, reigning champions Malaysia beat Brunei 2-0 while Singapore edged Vietnam 1-0.

The Cambodian contingent celebrated its first gold medals at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar on Tuesday with male and female wrestlers triumphing on the mats of Yangon's National Indoor Stadium.

In the gold medal match in the men's under-84kg Greco wrestling comeptition, Kov Cheang Hong beat Jason Balabal of the Philippines. Bronze went to Thailand's Kanchalee Chinnawet. Cheang Hong had won his opening bout against a Thai opponent before also emerging victorious in the semi-final over Myanmar's Saw Maung.

Meanwhile, Cambodia's Ni Samnang topped the standings in her women's under-63kg freestyle category by overcoming host nation hope Wai Lawin Aung in the final. Laix Omphou Oday claimed bronze for Laos.

With government rewards, including cash bonuses from Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as windfalls from sponsors NagaWorld and Angkor Beer, the two golden grapplers can expect to collect about $24,000 each on return to the Kingdom for their exploits.

Cambodian wrestling also landed a bronze on Tuesday via Ngoun Kimheng in the men's under-96kg Greco division. A bronze medal is worth about $7,000 to the athlete in cash incentives. The coaches are to receive the same amount won by their athletes, with assistant coaches getting the equivalent of 70 per cent of the purse.

Another bronze was bagged in sepak takraw, with the team notching up 160 points compared with the 250 by silver medalists Laos and the commanding 660 from winners Myanmar.

At time of press, Cambodia reside in seventh place out of 11 nations in the medals table on two golds, four silvers and 11 bronzes. The hosts are still streaking ahead at the summit with 18 golds, while Vietnam have 10 golds and Thailand have six.

Bottom-placed East Timor have yet to reach the podium of an event, while Laos and Brunei have at least a gold each and Singapore has two.

In the badminton tournament held at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium, which hosted yesterday's official opening ceremony, Cambodia had only one moment of glory during Tuesday's first round matches.

The mixed doubles team of Leng Sopheatra and Ker Pichchhoravy beat Myanmar duo Yi Lin Khine and Naing Phone Pyae 21-13, 12-21, 21-15 to progress to today's quarter-finals.

Cambodian entrants into the men's singles and doubles and women's singles events were all comprehensively outclassed 2-0 in their opening ties.

Across the new capital at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex, the boxing competition wrapped up with the Kingdom devoid of a single medal. Three Cambodian fighters on Tuesday followed their three other team-mates in falling at the first hurdle, with Nat Seiknin losing to a split decision against Loa Bounpone Lasavonesy of Laos at 49kg, Vorn Viva downed 3-0 by Vietnam's Loung Van Toan at 81kg and Phal Sophon undone by Vietnamese brawler Nguyen Van Hai at 60kg.

The ongoing basketball tournament, which follows a seven-team round robin format at Naypyidaw's Zayyarthiri Stadium, saw Cambodia hammered 107-57 by overwhelming gold favourites the Philippines on Tuesday. Cambodia are in fourth on four points, but with four other teams also on the same total, they could well be in the medals with a strong finish in games against Thailand at 10:30pm Cambodian time today, Singapore tomorrow and Indonesia on Sunday.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHHORN NORN, TRANSLATION BY CHENG SERYRITH

The west end of Street 110, also known as Russian Boulevard, is attracting increasing interest from investors and retailers because of its vital role connecting Phnom Penh International Airport with the city centre.

Local real estate experts estimate that land prices along the thoroughfare have risen between 10 and 20 per cent compared with 2012.

VMC Real Estate Cambodia general manager Dith Channa said property along Russian Boulevard has high potential, particularly because of the higher-income local and international traffic channeled through the street. New car showrooms, hotels, supermarkets and large-scale projects such as the $1.1 billion Booyoung Town development have all contributed to the increase in land prices along the street, he said.

Russian Boulevard's most expensive land is on its east end near the central business district centered around Canadia Bank Tower and Vattanac Capital Tower, which is nearing completion [see page 4].

Land prices from Canadia Bank Tower to the 7 Makara Skybridge are currently running from $1,200 to $900 per square metre. From the 7 Makara Skybridge to the intersection with Hanoi Road, prices vary from $900 to $700. Further west between Hanoi Road and Chom Chav, prices are as low as from $600 to $300.

Land prices may be showing positive growth, but Confederation de la Russie has traffic problems that need addressing, Dith said.

"This road has a lot of potential and is attracting interest from larger companies, but there are some problems at times when VIP visitors take the road and traffic is blocked off," he said.

Khmer Real Estate Company president Kim Heang gave higher estimates than VMC's Dith for land prices along Russian Boulevard. Kim put prices from Canadia Bank Tower to 7 Makara Skybridge at $2,000 to $1,500. He estimated prices from 7 Makara Skybridge to Hanoi Road at from $1,500 to $1,000 and from Hanoi Road to Chom Chav at from $800 to $500.

"Land prices along Russian Boulevard increased from 10 to 15 per cent in 2013," Kim said. "Big companies use this road to advertise due to many people traveling through, that is also why we see new car companies opening there."

CPL Real Estate Company director and Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association president Cheng Kheng said that the rise in property values along Russian Boulevard was driven by the increase in building projects in the area.

A new CPL report lists prices from Canadia Bank tower at between $2,000 and $1,600 per square metre, while 7 Makara Skybridge to Hanoi Road is at $1,000 to $800 and Hanoi Road to Chom Chav at $660 to $450.

Ratanak Plaza Supermarket general manager Hang Sopisey said Russian Boulevard was a natural choice for the supermarket due to its easily accessible location.

"Being located on Russian Boulevard makes your business highly visible to people who travel to and from the airport – many tourist visitors see us on their way into town," she said.