The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “Students in safety protest” plus 9 more

More than 500 students and teachers from two high schools in Banteay Meanchey province's Sisophon district took to the streets on Friday demanding better safety around schools after a truck crashed into a rice mill near one of the schools, injuring a man.

The students and teachers, from two schools in O'Ambel commune, rallied outside O'Ambel High School, demanding that authorities keep areas around schools safe from large trucks.

"They're demanding a ban on trucks, because this area is at the bottom of a hill and they're worried about their safety," said the town's police chief, Siv Socheat. "It's the first time students here have protested like this."

Sam Chinda, one of the students protesting outside the school, said large trucks often drove in the area, with the group fearing more accidents if nothing was done to address the problem.

"We need safety at school. We're afraid big trucks are going to cause more accidents," Chinda said, adding that students were scared to cross the road to their schools.

Pich Ban, O'Ambel commune chief, said that provincial officials had agreed to listen to the students' complaints and would make arrangements for big trucks to travel different routes.

International car rental operator Avis is bringing its brand to Cambodia and Laos, according to a statement released last week from local licensee RMA Group.

If the deal is seen through, Avis would be the first global car rental company to compete in the Kingdom.

The company will open facilities in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the statement said, along with facilities in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse in Laos.

"Our licensee agreement with RMA Group will allow us to expand our global footprint and help to ensure that we are well-positioned to realize the growth potential of the Avis brand in each country," president of Avis Budget Group Latin America/Asia Pacific Patric Siniscalchi said.

The commencement of operations, however, remains unknown, said CEO of RMA Cambodia Rami Sharaf, adding that more details would be released in the coming days.

Avis currently has 5,750 facilities in 165 countries. Parent company Avis Budget Group reported $2.4 billion in revenue over the first three quarters, a 10 per cent hike from the same period last year.

The announcement generated mixed responses from local rental car services operators.

Khim Vuthy, owner of Landa Car Rental, currently owns and leases 20 chauffeur-driven vehicles.

"There are many small rental car companies who offer cheaper options of up to $250 per month. Competition is good for a free market especially with higher-end vehicles," he said.

Sa Vongz, owner of Lyna Car Rental, doubted Avis could compete with smaller company prices, adding that if Avis releases cars for "self drive", they should survey the risks.

Road safety program manager for Handicap International Ear Chariya agreed, calling on Avis to implement strict licensing conditions and hold tutorials for drivers new to Cambodia's roads.

"I strongly encourage any rental car company that gives tourists the opportunity to drive to provide sufficient information to the tourists before they drive on the road," he said.

Paul Blanche-Horgan, the CEO of internet service provider Ezecom, will now be known as Oknha Paul Blanche-Horgan, making him one of the few Westerners to receive the prestigious and sought-after Cambodian title.

Awarded by King Norodom Sihanomi in mid-November, the new status brings Blanche-Horgan, who has lived in Cambodia for more than a decade, into the company of some of Cambodia's most powerful tycoons and politically connected personalities.

He confirmed his appointment in an interview on Saturday, and said that it happened three weeks ago.

There are more than 200 oknhas in Cambodia. Specifics on why the honorific, which dates back centuries, is passed out to a given individual are largely shrouded in mystery.

But the lucky recipients are usually wealthy men and women who steer contributions to the government and charity projects.

Analysts have also said a $100,000-plus infrastructure donation is part of the process.

"I do quite a lot of things for charity anyway, but I would increase that hopefully. I got some plans on that," Blanche-Horgan said when asked how he would use his newly elevated status.

Blanche-Horgan came to Cambodia as the country manager for Australian telecommunications company Telstra, and started Ezecom, now Cambodia's largest internet service provider, six years ago.

Fellow oknha Mong Reththy said that while he couldn't comment on Blanche-Horgan's appointment, "I think to be able to become an oknha, someone must have contributed a lot to society".

"There are many oknhas at the moment. Some exploit the title, but being an oknha, one must be a kind and good person who keeps giving back to society.

"I am not sure how other oknhas get the title, but for me, I use my own money to help … like building schools, hospitals and roads, etc. The government saw my contribution, so they ask the King to appoint me as an oknha."

Blanche-Horgan is one of a handful of elite Westermers (he's originally from England) who have the title, which wasn't even given out to French officials during the colonial period, according to Cambodia historian David Chandler.

But as Blanche-Horgan stressed, he doesn't really qualify as a foreigner any more. The government awarded him Cambodian citizenship earlier this year.

"It is nice to receive something for the 16 years I have been here."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHAN MUY HONG

Diplomatic sources claim that at a recent dinner, the minister of foreign affairs of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, waxed indignant about America's abduction of hundreds of individuals from around the world.

A bit late to winge about extraordinary renditions to Guantanamo, you may say. But Thongloun apparently adheres to his country's national credo, perhaps best conveyed by its official name, the Lao PDR, affectionately translated as "in Laos, Please Don't Rush".

He has clearly taken his time, in this case around a decade, to condemn the inhumane kidnapping and subsequent torture of these hapless and largely innocent men.

Most of them were snatched on the street at nighttime, driven off to a military airport with a bag over their head and flown out of the country.

Imagine – going out on a dark night for some tea and pita bread, and waking up shackled inside a small outdoor cage in an isolated corner of the Cuban jungle.

Many could not stand the ensuing interrogations and committed suicide, others were flown back months later and deposited on the same street corner. Having spent several days at Guantanamo and witnessed the horrific conditions and barbaric treatment of the abductees, I can understand the belated outrage allegedly expressed by Thongloun.

But why now? Well, there is an obvious reason: It is because this week marks the one-year anniversary of the extraordinary rendition of the noted Lao agronomist Sombath Somphone, 61, by Thongloun's state police.

Like those poor Guantanamo-bound wretches, Sombath was also accosted on the street at night – in fact, thanks to a CCTV camera, it is known that he was stopped at a police checkpoint in Vientiane at 6.03pm.

It was December 15 last year, and Sombath, something of a government irritant due to his community development activism, has not been seen since. Of course, his seizure is a piffling affair compared to what the United States and its allies get up to in that regard – they seem to follow Stalin's adage: one abduction is a tragedy, several hundred is a statistic.

Western human rights groups have naturally taken up Sombath's case and given it a global profile.

Amnesty International's Rupert Abbott said: "The international community should demand that Lao authorities return Sombath and respect the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly."

Well, sure, and Australia should win the World Cup next year.

Thankfully, here in Southeast Asia, Sombath's abduction is something of a big yawn – or, as shown by Thongloun's outburst, a chance to highlight the staggering hypocrisy of countries complaining about it.

Consider the way Western politicians have accused Lao officials of telling "ridiculous lies" in relation to the disappearance of Sombath.

Yes, they have lied, and yes, two wrongs don't make a right; but keep in mind that few people lie more often and more gratuitously than European and American governments.

Remember the tall one about Iraq having WMD, and all the others from Iran-Contra to not spying on allies like Angela Merkel and Lee Hsien Loong.

Remember also that Laos has signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted by the United Nations in 2006.

The United States refuses to sign this convention, saying it does "not meet our expectations" – in other words, it would stop them abducting people on the street at night.

Unfazed, Human Rights Watch has urged Vientiane's colleagues in ASEAN to publicly raise their concerns about Sombath's enforced disappearance.

Really, HRW can go stick a banana up its bum. The fact is that Thongloun has got his priorities right, and it is tempting to suggest a silver lining to Sombath's despicable abduction and probable murder by the minister's security goons.

For it reminds us of a greater evil conducted by the cruel and hypocritical leaders of countries who castigate Laos over this incident.

Shame on them, they should put their own house in order before they attack others.

Cambodia's film industry is expected to play a greater role on the global stage after a treaty was signed with France on Thursday making it easier for the country to be named a co-production partner in international films.

The agreement will allow Cambodian investors to become a major stakeholder in international films to which they contribute a minimum of 10 per cent of the funding, according to Phoeung Sakona, minister of culture and fine arts.

Speaking at the opening of the fourth Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) at Legend Cinema on Saturday evening, Sakona said the agreement could have important consequences for a new adaptation of Francois Bizot's Khmer Rouge memoir The Gate. French filmmaker Régis Wargnier (Indochine) will direct the movie, which is set to begin filming in January. French-Cambodian director Rithy Panh is also involved in the production.

Cedric Eloy, CEO at the Cambodia Film Commission, which co-organised the festival with the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre, praised the move, saying the treaty gives Cambodia input in the content, artistic side and technical sides of films.

"It will give hope to filmmakers here not to make projects that are based only on this small market but to have projects that are universal and can be interesting to other countries."

He added that the treaty will allow Cambodia to co-operate in heritage protection, training, exchanges and film festivals.

France has already signed a similar co-production agreement with other Asian countries such as India, China, Japan and South Korea.

The announcement came as this year's CIFF launched in a ceremony featuring traditional Cambodian dance and the screening of two Cambodian short films.

At the event, the festival awarded recognition to director Rithy Panh and actor Thon Thanet, for director of the year and actress of the year, respectively.

Panh's critically acclaimed film The Missing Picture has been shortlisted for an Academy Award and was awarded a prize at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, but this was the director's first Cambodian award.

He said: "It's very important for me to be recognised by my own country."

This year's edition of CIFF, organised by the Cambodia Film Commission and the Bophana Centre, features more than 80 screenings across five Phnom Penh venues over five days this week.

As well as screening recent celebrated Cambodian films such as The Missing Picture, A River Changes Course and Where I Go, it will also premiere Hok Visal's new feature film Gems on the Run. Other highlights include Indonesian and Indian films.

Eloy said: "I think the festival and the film industry are getting better every year."

It was raining men at the weekend in Kep as three parachutists staged seven jumps from a helicopter as part of the country's second annual Sea Festival.

The jumps, organised by the Cambodian Air Sports Federation, which formed in March to promote aerial sports in the Kingdom, were among the highlights of the event, which also featured ultralight flying, pop music and kickboxing.

The normally tranquil coastal town bloated to nearly 100,000 during the festival, organised by the Ministry of Tourism and intended to encourage investment in Kep province while promoting environmental stewardship.

Ken Satha, provincial governor of Kep, listed several local development goals during a speech at the festival's tree planting ceremony yesterday.

Among the plans, which are to be completed by 2028, are the creation of a protected area for marine life, a 14-hectare waste-dump site and a new clean water system. A 90-kilometre road project within Kep is also planned.

According to Satha, development will be concentrated in an area outside the town between Angkaul Beach and Phnom Quau.

Civil Aviation FC emerged champions of the 2013 Human Rights soccer tournament's U17 division yesterday following a 1-0 win over the Lycee Decartes team in an epic final watched by more than 200 fans at the Emperial Sports Club.

The third edition of the competition, organised by hosts CIA First International School in partnership with Rising Stars International Sports Academy, saw 24 teams taking part across three age categories.

In the U14 class, Zaman International School took top honours via a 2-1 penalty shoot-out win over CIA First, who suffered a 3-0 loss to the same opponents during the group stage.

Following 15 minutes of goalless regulation time, the teams went straight into spotkicks.

The first five stakers managed to score just once each as Zaman edged it in sudden death.

The U12 event also ended dramatically with Lycee Descartes prevailing 3-1 on penalties against SSCA (Civil Aviation) after a 1-1 full time scoreline.

Prizes and certificates were awarded to all the winners and runners-up as well as participating teams. Civil Aviation's Mat Saton was crowned top goal scorer of the tournament with nine goals from five games.

The Fair Play Trophy went to CIA First's U12 side for exhibiting great sportsmanship and respect throughout.

That elusive first win continues to elude Cambodians competing under the banner of Asia's biggest MMA promotion, as Khim Dima came up short at ONE FC: Moment of Truth in Manila on Friday, getting stopped in the opening round by Ruel Catalan of the Philippines.

After an early feeling out process in which both flyweights struggled to find their range, Catalan shot for a takedown but found himself in a tight arm in guillotine as Dima looked to finish the fight with a fast submission.

The Cambodian looked comfortable off his back and Catalan appeared to be on the verge of tapping as Dima strained every sinew to try and finish the choke, but the Filipino eventually burst free and launched a barrage of unanswered punched and elbows giving the referee no option but to step in and stop the fight.

Dima was down receiving treatment for a long time but fortunately suffered no serious ill effects and received a round of applause when he eventually got to his feet. The Kun Khmer veteran had already fought to a no contest against Catalan's older brother Rene two months ago and was devastated that he was unable to register his first MMA win.

"I thought I was going to submit him with the guillotine choke, and it seemed that he was about to tap. But I used up a lot of energy and when he escaped I couldn't defend myself effectively. I am very disappointed because I believe this is a fight which I could have won," he said.

In the main event, Japan's Koji Oishi defended his 145lbs (65.7kg) featherweight belt by stopping Honorio Banario of the Philippines for the second time while Filipino bantamweight Kevin Belingon registered an impressive knockout win over the previously undefeated David Santacana of Spain.

Speaking after the event ONE FC CEO Victor Cui stated that his promotion would be putting on an event in Phnom Penh next year, although he didn't state any timescale with further shows in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia also on the agenda.

The coastal resort town of Kep completed a successful hosting of the 2nd Sea Festival over the weekend with numerous sports competitions being held on and off the shore.

In the 5km running race on Saturday, Pov Hok triumphed in the men's division with a time of 18 minutes, 22.11 seconds, while Heng Mengju finished first in the women's section in 21:48.

Meanwhile, a 3km run for both men and women was won by Sok Bongra.

Open water swimming events were also held on Saturday, with Olympians Hem Thon Ponleu and Hem Thon Vithiny claiming victories in the 5km men's and women's competitions respectively. Ponleu clocked 46:28:99 while his niece Vithiny was out in 53:14:27.

The 3km swim crowned Sok Panha as male champion and Sok Sreylak as female winner.

The highly anticipated jetski race saw a man only known as Vitu speed to first place in the big machines category, ahead of Bun Long in second and Oub Chunly in third.

The small machines class had Oun Toch as its victor, with Mao Nak and Chea Sophon filling out the podium.

Friday's Cambodian kickboxing bouts produced some riveting action for the thronging crowds.

Youth Victory Club's Chao Rous claimed a decision win over Battambang's Chay Rotha at 48kg. Dragon Victory Club's Thon Veasna beat Anti-Drugs Club's Reach Sey via points at 54kg, while Jin Makara of Ministry of National Defence Club also went the distance but edged his 57kg contest with Chan Sinath of Niroch Club.

Phon Sophon, 65kg, knocked out Phan Sovan in the first round and Thay Bunhean stopped Chhin Khwan Ngoy in the third round of their 63.5kg match-up.

It was by no means a fault-free final, but it had a fair sprinkle of enthralling moments and fierce baseline exchanges. Sixth seeded Josh Goodall of Great Britain could not have played any harder and unseeded Ramkumar Ramanathan of India could not have been bolder.

The victory was Ramanathan's in the Cambodian $10,000 ITF Futures for the GLF Cham Prasidh Cup at the National Training Center on Saturday, but what came as a surprise was the scoreline – 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 – which concealed the ferocity of a Goodall comeback from a seemingly hopeless situation in this two-hour contest under an unforgiving sun.

The Indian had turned 20 on November 8 and three weeks later he had picked up his maiden Futures title in the central Indian city of Raipur. Now a week on, he has another triumph to his credit.

Coming from a city like Chennai, which normally experiences weather of the hot, hotter and hottest kind as three seasons most of the year, Phnom Penh's heat presented no real threat to Ramanathan. But for his rival, it was a different story.

Whether Goodall's sluggish start had anything to do at all with the hot clime is hard to guess but he certainly was feeling the heat on the court.

Dropping his serve twice in the first set, Goodall was down 0-5 in the blink of an eye, so to speak. He managed to cling on to one service game before Ramanathan sealed the first set tight.

When Ramanathan broke Goodall early to lead 3-1 and was handily placed to stretch it even further. It seemed curtains for the Brit, and it looked as if he could do nothing right, with his rival on the other side of the net doing nothing wrong.

"I thought I was pretty much out of the match at that stage a set down and a break down," Goodall recalled during his post-match interview.

Yet it was precisely at this crisis point that the 28-year-old shook off his deserting touch and began to get back the sense of the court and timing.

With a noticeable spring in his heel, Goodall not only knotted up the game scores but cracked Ramanathan's serve to even the sets.

As was to be expected, the third set turned out to be a severe stress test for both. Rallies were getting longer and points wouldn't come easy.

It was obvious that the outcome would hinge on a few critical points won and a few lost. The winning breakthrough came Ramanathan's way in the ninth game and, perked up as he was by then, he served out the match with a great degree of confidence.

"I didn't do any thing different. I stuck to the basics. It was a great comeback by Goodall," acknowledged Ramanathan.

On Friday, the road to the final was rather bumpy for Goodall. After being swept off his feet in the first set by third seeded Robin Kern of Germany, the Englishman staged a spectacular rally to take the next two sets on tie-breaks to run out a 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 winner.

Ramanathan, on the other hand, got the measure of second seeded Hiroki Kondo of Japan, winning 7-6, 6-4.

In Friday's thrilling doubles final, the second seeded Japanese pair of Takuto Niki and Arata Onozawa defeated top seeds Toshihide Matsui and Danai Udomchoke 7-6 (10), 7-6 (8).

At the closing ceremony, Industry, Mines and Energy Minister Cham Prasidh, who is also the President of the Tennis Federation of Cambodia, said the Futures series presented an ideal opportunity for the country's youngsters to learn from these players and improve their tennis skills.

He thanked the GL Finance President Mitsuji Konoshita for sponsoring the second week and also the third Futures the tournament, the GLF Tep Khunnah Trophy, which starts today.