The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “Rights record defended” plus 9 more

Sitting down yesterday for its second UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights since its first in 2009, Cambodia attempted to defend, among other things, its recent violent crackdowns on demonstrations in the capital as it faced its fellow UN member states.

Every UN member must regularly undergo the UPR process, in which recommendations come from individual countries directly rather than the UN itself. But the recommendations are non-binding, and implementing them is the "responsibility of the state concerned".

In its 2009 hearing, Cambodia accepted all 91 of the human rights recommendations given by other member states, but its implementation of them has been, in the words of the Swiss representative, "patchy".

As a result, much of Cambodia's presentation yesterday on the progress made since 2009 consisted largely of promises of future reforms, rather than a list of achievements.

"Some [2009 recommendations] were already implemented, some are being implemented and some will be implemented in the future," Cambodia's representative, national Human Rights Committee vice-chairman Mak Sambath, told the assembly in Geneva.

The Cambodian delegation frequently invoked long-awaited proposed reforms to the country's judiciary – many of which have been languishing for years – with a representative of the Ministry of Interior who accompanied Sambath saying that "within the next two or three weeks, we have to finalise these laws".

Sambath also promised to "reform the whole election system", and to hold a workshop to that end in the next three months.

"We want to have a voting process that is acceptable to everyone, and then we will discuss, and for the future election, it will be much better for Cambodia, especially for the Cambodian people, so they can accept who is the winner and who is the loser and there is no crisis, as there is at the moment," Sambath said.

That "crisis" was invoked by multiple member states.

"The use of live ammunition by security forces in early January cannot be justified," the United Kingdom's delegation said, referring to a violent crackdown on an unruly demonstration on Veng Sreng Boulevard that left at least four dead. That view was echoed by representatives from the United States, Sweden and others.

The UK also called on the government to release the 23 people jailed at that demonstration, and noted that the subsequent "ban on assembly in Phnom Penh has no basis in Cambodian law, and should be lifted".

However, Cambodia's representative from the Ministry of Interior defended the measures taken to quell the demonstrations as "very necessary".

Sambath echoed the sentiment, saying that the government "give[s] rights, but the rights should not affect the normal living of other people".

Seemingly anticipating criticism, Sambath argued in his initial remarks that while the government respects freedom of expression, this freedom could not come at the expense of "others' dignity [and] the good tradition of society".

But not all comments directed at Cambodia were negative.

Vietnam, for one, "con­gratulate[d] Cambodia on her recent achievements … such as the recent fair election and progress made on land rights".

China, taking its typical UN stance of non-interventionism, said it appreciated Cambodia's efforts to improve its record and "applaud[ed] its success", while urging it to go its own way.

"[Cambodia] should, in line with its own economic level, choose its own human rights path. This is something we support," the Chinese delegation said.

At least one comment from the Swiss delegation expressing concerns over "allegations of racial discrimination" seemed to be aimed at the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which has been criticised for its anti-Vietnamese rhetoric.

CNRP president Sam Rainsy, reportedly in Geneva yesterday, could not be reached for comment.

Janice Beanland, an Amnesty International campaigner for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam who attended the UPR, said that despite strong stances taken by member states, Cambodia's high-ranking delegates' responses to the recommendations "were limited and didn't answer the questions asked".

Beanland also called on the government to "genuinely" cooperate with others, including civil society, in its implementation of this latest round of recommendations.

"Clearly, any recommendations will only be implemented if there is political will on behalf of the government," Beanland said. "Cambodia's human rights situation is probably worse now than it was in 2009, and so the need to implement reforms is perhaps even more acute and pressing than ever."

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An yesterday accused the NGOs behind a report critical of the election process of plotting a revolution with the opposition party.

Speaking to 1,500 high-ranking government officials and members of the military, An said those behind the Election Reform Alliance (ERA) report, released in December, had misled the public.

"The essence of the report is to conceal the opposition's faith and planned tactics by blaming local authorities and the NEC [National Election Committee] … for their electoral loss," he said in the speech.

An went on to criticise the authors of the ERA report, whom he accused of meeting with Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha to plot a "colour revolution" similar to uprisings that toppled governments in Europe and Western Asia between 2000 and 2005.

He added that he found it suspicious that the release of the report in mid-December coincided with the shift in CNRP tactics from holding weekly demonstrations to daily ones.

"This clearly reflects the link between the [report] and its issuing by NGOs and the political tactics of the opposition," An said.

But representatives of two NGOs that helped author the report dismissed An's claims yesterday.

Puthea Hang, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said yesterday that the NGOs had no connection to the opposition.

"I think that the clarifications … are [intended] to deceive the public and defend their misbehaviour in the elections," he said. "The government has to understand, the political party wants power, but we don't."

Laura Thornton, resident director of the National Democratic Institute, which co-produced the ERA report, also dismissed the claims made by An yesterday.

"The ERA report was based largely on the government's own figures. If they are disputing the ERA report, then they are questioning the official figures," she said.

"We have met with the CNRP and tried to meet with all political parties before the report was released. Perhaps the misconception comes from the fact that we share some similar viewpoints [with the opposition]," she added.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DANIEL PYE

Two sisters from Preah Vihear's Kulen district hired to work in Malaysia as maids by Mey Yorn Services have not been heard from in more than two years, their mother said yesterday.

Sok Noun, 45, hasn't spoken to her daughters Bien Phok, 17, and Bien Phoun, 24, since they left in 2011, leading her to file a complaint with rights group Adhoc yesterday.

"I haven't heard anything from them … even now, seven months after their contract has ended," Noun said.

Lor Chan, a provincial coordinator for Adhoc, said that the women departed on July 13, 2011.

"We're concerned for their safety abroad," Chan said.

Cambodia placed a moratorium on sending domestic workers to Malaysia in October 2011 following a raft of abuses.

Nget Chakriya, the owner of Mey Yorn Services, based in Phnom Penh, said she had only just heard the two were missing and would look for them among Malaysian agencies she formerly partnered with.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AMELIA WOODSIDE

More than 2,000 garment workers at a Vattanac II Industrial Park protested in front of the complex, threatening to block National Road 3 and demanding the reinstatement of 11 union officials and the firing of the manager who allegedly dismissed them.

Employees at Dongdu Textile began striking on Saturday evening after management dismissed Brack Mey and Chim Chan Lon, two representatives of the Cambodia Union Workers Labour for Development, saying their contracts had expired, said Chhin Sony, president of the Union of Cambodia, who aided union members in negotiating yesterday.

"Workers continued protesting on Monday, and then nine more union representatives were suspended from work for instigating the strike," Sony said.

Negotiations fell through yesterday because the union's demands were unreasonable, said Rocky Chhay, the vice director they demanded the company fire.

Despite accusations that Mey and Chan Lon were fired because of their unionist activism, Chhay insisted, their contracts had come to an end and Dongdu is well within their rights not to extend their employment.

As cooks prepped for lunch yesterday at an outdoor cafeteria for workers employed by the Japanese-owned Taica factory, more than a dozen commune-level officials inspected the premises. Seemingly satisfied with the dining operation, they moved into a recreational room with a large, flat-screen television.

"After they see our conditions, they distribute the information [back home]," said Kea Sophon, HR assistant at the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of the capital, where the factory is set up. "Free Wi-Fi", another staffer pointed out, referring to the recreational room.

Taica makes shock-absorbent gel products for everything from shoe soles to the needles of speedometers in cars. Assembly is expanding and more workers are needed, a typical problem amid Cambodia's growing manufacturing industry, whose labour shortages have been exacerbated by ongoing unrest in the garment sector.

Recognising the need to quell nerves and instill trust in the industry, which accounts for the biggest chunk of formal employment in Cambodia, Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ) officials have been quietly leading the informational tours for nearly three years. Representatives also travel to the provinces, with the ultimate hope that local leaders pass on messages about favourable working conditions, combating widespread fears, some genuine, some alarmist, about factory employment.

"People from the countryside suspect we recruit young girls and send them to Thailand," said Hiroshi Uematsu, chief executive officer of PPSEZ, one of the more advanced special economic zones in Cambodia. Inside the expansive property along National Road 4, PPSEZ rents out factory space, provides one-stop shop services for exporters and bears the burden of central infrastructure costs.

But in a country beset by labour woes, convincing workers to travel from home to a city where strikes can turn deadly and political strife stirs fears may prove difficult.

The visit comes amid an ongoing minimum wage dispute in the garment sector that has seen the capital set alight with violent clashes between authorities and protestors. After a nationwide strike was announced December 24, tensions rose more than a week later when police opened fire on protestors, killing at least four near Canadia Industrial Park in southwest Phnom Penh on January 3. Since the clashes, which preceded the dismantling of the opposition party's protest camp at Freedom Park, rallies have been outlawed by the government and authorities have violently stopped many attempts to assemble peacefully. The strike withered
following the crackdown.

Production at the zone was largely unaffected during the walkout, as military police blocked the entrance to the facility. Concrete barriers were also erected. After two days of protesting outside, crowds dispersed to join larger gatherings, like that at Veng Sreng Boulevard next to Canadia park. Still, workers joined demonstrations or simply went home out of fear for security, causing hiccups in production. Security was on the minds of the visiting community leaders from Kampong Chhnang, Siem Reap, Kampot, Takeo, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom and Pursat provinces yesterday. They went to six of the nearly 50 factories in operation, most of which are under Japanese management.

Many of the responses were positive, but officials were also treated to a VIP tour, which may have created a better impression of factory life than what the typical worker experiences.

One attendee, Peurk Chanthou, member of the commune council in Takeo province, said that after previous visits to her hometown, PPSEZ staff sparked interest among potential workers. But first, she had to see the place for herself.

"After a real visit, I am more confident to tell villagers that the place of work is safe and has high security," she said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY HOR KIMSAY

Capitalising on booming travel from Vietnam and China, the domestic aviation sector has enjoyed 18 per cent passenger growth for the second year running, according to a new report, which describes Cambodia as having one of the fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia.

The report, by the Australia-based Centre for Aviation, says that Cambodia's three commercial airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville received 5.1 million arrivals in 2013, up from 4.3 million in 2012.

Capacity at Cambodia's two main airports is being pushed to the limit as passenger traffic at Siem Reap International more than doubled since 2009 to 2.7 million in 2013, while Phnom Penh International received 2.4 million arrivals in 2013, up from 2.1 million in 2012.

The growth of the industry will be met with ongoing safety, airport development and training this year, Moeung Sathya, director of planning and policy at the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation, said yesterday.

"We have entered a project with a Japanese firm to improve our Air Traffic Management system, the Siem Reap and Phnom Penh airports are undergoing massive development to cater for double the passenger capacity by 2015, and we are working continuously with the International Civil Aviation Organization on our international safety standards," he said.

The report attributes much of the growth to increases from Chinese and Vietnamese visitors. According to the figures, which use Ministry of Tourism data, Chinese visitors to Cambodia rose 40 per cent from 2012 totals to 417,000 in 2013. The centre said visitors from China have quadrupled since 2009, and they now account for 11 per cent of total arrivals.

Vietnamese arrivals, however, remained at the top of the list, with more than 781,000 people (23 per cent of the whole) visiting Cambodia either by plane or overland.

Chief analyst and chief representative at the Centre for Aviation, Brendan Sobie, cautioned that despite the strong growth, the country needs to be wary of how political issues are perceived and interpreted by tourists abroad.

"Political stability is a key as tourism accounts for an overwhelming amount of the passengers in Cambodia," he said, referring to the still-contested July election and unrest in the garment sector. He added that the tourism sector and the airport company need to be proactive at attracting more carriers.

After nine years of locating works, cross-checking records, photographing and finally cataloguing, the National Museum has unveiled its online database, which features more than 16,000 entries ranging from ancient statues to paintings and manuscripts.

Launched on January 3, the database is the only fine arts system of its kind in Cambodia, with its web presence enabling museum curators to locate and document works, as well as providing the public with access.

Funded by the Leon Levy Foundation, the National Museum of Cambodia collaborated with the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS), an international, non-governmental organisation that supports and promotes research and scholarly exchange with Cambodia.

"It's extremely important for Cambodians as well as researchers, whether they be just generally interested in Cambodian art, wanting to actually locate, write about or research something in particular in the collection," Darryl Collins, project director and member of the CKS board of directors, said.

Prior to the online database, museum records were scattered in three different formats, with several French card cataloguing systems, Khmer handwritten inventory lists and a pre-existing database.

"Before it was rather laborious; virtually you had to turn up on the doorstep of the National Museum Of Cambodia to talk to the curatorial staff or the director and find out about a particular piece," Collins said.

Through the collation of information, many of the logistical and maintenance issues that had plagued the museum in the past have been rectified.

Related pieces that had been separated in the vast basement of the museum have been reunited, while the many traditional silk textiles that had rotted due to flooding were documented and replaced with textiles donated to the museum.

Khmer Dev INC, an IT collective specialising in website building and hosting, was employed to create the complex database, which incorporates English, Khmer and French, along with administrative functions.

The end product is a trilingual catalogue that allows the museum to print labels and important documentation, write conservation reports and locate any piece of art in the museum with the click of a button.

"We can now provide better and much more information," Kong Vireak, the museum director, said.

The museum is also loosely collaborating with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts' effort to create a separate online database that covers the entire country. This will, in addition to items within the National Museum, include provincial museums and separate, culturally significant objects located beyond museum walls.

Hab Touch, the director-general for intangible heritage at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said: "Before we document on paper, now we are working on a database. I think it's much easier to manage and to search, and [we're] also hoping that we can launch on the internet in the future."

Another round of 8th Samdech Hun Sen Cup fixtures play out at two venues today as two sides both chasing a third title begin their campaigns.

Group C opens at Olympic Stadium with two-time winners Phnom Penh Crown taking on competition debutants TriAsia from 3:30pm. National Police Commissary then faces provincial qualifiers Kampong Chhnang at 6pm.

In Group B games over at the Old Stadium, 2011 and 2012 champions Svay Rieng clash with Khan Chamkarmon at 1:30pm, before Kirivong Sok Sen Chey meet Asia Europe University at 3:45pm.

Good training brings good results. Through the sheer simplicity of this powerful message veteran Armenian coach Stephan Kazarian has made it clear to the Cambodian Wrestling community that there is no
substitute for hard work.

As the technical expert for Asia with the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), Kazarian is back again in Phnom Penh for a six-day course for wrestlers and coaches, now into its third day at the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia headquarters.

"Wrestling is a very tough discipline where strengthening your muscle is as vital as strengthening your mind because you are up against an opponent who is doing just that. If you are half a step behind you are done so the best results will only come from best training," Kazarian told the Post in an exclusive chat yesterday.

"I am very happy and proud that wrestlers brought home four gold medals from the Myanmar SEA Games and I see no reason why Cambodia can not win its first Asian Games medal if they continue to concentrate on quality training," added the coach, who in various FILA administrative roles has attended scores of high profile wrestling events in no less than 70 countries over the past five decades including Olympic Games and World Championships.

Kazarian's courtship with Cambodian wrestling began in the late 60s but it wasn't until three years ago that he could revisit the Kingdom after a gap of 42 years. Since that reunion, Kazarian has made three more trips including the current one which is part of the IOC's Olympic Solidarity Project.

"We have benefited greatly from Kazarian's expertise and experience over all these years. He has a soft corner for Cambodia and a very strong desire to see Cambodian wrestlers doing well in regional and international events," said NOCC Secretary General Vath Chamroeun, himself an Olympic wrestler having represented the Kingdom at the 1996 Atlanta Games, four years after he had first met Kazarian in Jakarta.

Away from his hectic sessions with the wrestlers and coaches, Kazarian will discuss with the NOCC Secretary General two very important issues. The first is Cambodia's likely bid for the 2015 World Beach Wrestling Championships, with Sihanoukville as the venue, and the second is the procurement of Olympic standard mats.

According to Kazarian, who in fact heads FILA's beach wrestling department, Cambodia is the only candidate to have pushed for the 2015 event as of now though a formal bid has not yet been submitted to the world's governing body.

"Now Cambodia is the only one but others may jump in. It depends on how well Cambodia presents its case at the FILA Congress to be held in Uzbekistan during September this year," said Kazarian.

"From what I saw during my visit to Sihanoukville last year, I feel the conditions are good enough. We can put up a standard arena and there is enough space for the designated technical area. [It] should be no problem for spectators as well, but one minor hiccup could be transportation."

The logistical challenge, as Kazarian sees it, for Cambodia could be in arranging transport from Phnom Penh, where all teams will land and take off, to the championship venue in Sihanoukville, 225 kilometres away. But he is optimistic that the NOCC can figure a way out.

On Olympic mats, Kazarian said he is working with a couple of manufacturers in Iran to help Cambodia get a few at reasonable costs. "The problem with Olympic mats is that freight charges are too high and for the end user like Cambodia it could mean spending two times over the cost of these mats, which is in the range of about US$15,000," he said.

The next big assignment for Kazarian is a course for coaches from around the world in Las Vegas, as the Sin city prepares to host the 2015 World Championships.

Being invited to an interview is great. But chances to drop a brick are ahead: clothing, manner, and preparation have to be perfect or you won't get the job and earn the salary you deserve.  

To help you succeed, LIFT spoke with Mrs. Suy Sokha, recruitment manager at HRInc, Cambodia and Mr. Chan Rotha, a Chief of Agency Sales for Manulife Cambodia. Follow these 10 practical tips and raise your chances to get your dream job immensely.

1. Be sure of your interest in the job and practice interview answers
Rotha: "First, you need to really like what you are going to do. Then, you need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge required for you to do that job well. You need to believe that you can do it well. You should practice answering all the anticipated questions until your answers become natural and sincere."

2. Speak properly when the company phones you for the interview
Sokha: "When you pick up a call from the company, do not just say 'hello'. Clarify with the caller about who you will meet, when to meet and where to meet for the interview. Sometimes, they don't tell you clearly; they only tell the location and time to meet, so you have to ask for clarification.

3. Make sure to know the location of the interview beforehand
Sokha: "If the interview is tomorrow, you should go to find the location of the company today in order to be sure about the location. You cannot be late for the interview!"

4. Wear an ironed outfit and discreet makeup
Sokha: "Make sure you look professional from head to toe. Comb your hair and iron the outfit you will wear to the interview. It's not important if your clothes are new or old. Just make sure you do the ironing which can show the interviewers that you are professional." Apply a professional day makeup and no party makeup. Don't be sexy. Be restrained.

5. Observe the company's working environment
Sokha: "You should arrive at company for the interview at least 15 to 30 minutes early. Whilst waiting for the interview, you should observe the working behavior of the staff. Check the walls for company slogans or ethical messages so you can use what you have seen to talk about in interview as your first impression."

6. Knock on the door before entering the interview room
Sokha: "Before you enter the room, make sure you double knock the door, but do not knock so many times or knock very loudly. Do not open the door without knocking. If nobody greets you after entering the room you can greet first. Use Khmer style to greet Khmer and foreign style for foreigners. Remember not to offer your hand before the interviewer does it."

7. Sit down properly
Sokha: "Sometimes, the interviewers do not invite you to sit down because they wait to see what you are going to do without their reaction, or because they are very busy. In order to avoid awkward moments, you can ask them whether you may take a seat. Don't lean against the back of your chair or use the armrest. Instead sit straight and rest your hands on your thighs or on the table if this is more comfortable for you."

8. Behavior during the interview
Sokha: "Don't show the interviewers you are tired or bored. Eye contact and smiling are a must because they show the interviewers that you are well prepared and you are the person they need. Don't be too nervous or too confident. If you are too nervous, you cannot say what you plan to say. If you are too confident, you tend not to be well prepared."

9. Observe facial expression of the interviewers
Sokha: "While answering every question the interviewee should look at interviewers' faces. If you see they are bored, you must conclude or stop your answer in seconds. If you see they are interested in what you are saying, elaborate it."

10. Your last questions for interviewers
Sokha: "Interviewers will allow you to ask them back after you have answered all the questions. You can ask how big the group you are going to work with is for example. After hearing their answers, you may guess if you are qualified and got the job."
Salary Negotiation  

Sokha says: "You have to think clearly about your first salary. I don't recommend youths to see only money when they start working. They should value experience over money." Also, she recommends people to ask the interviewer about job duties, working policies, holiday and chances that help them to develop further. 

Rotha adds: "Be honest! You should know how much salary is enough and then leave the door open for further negotiations later. Be a good negotiator with a fair understanding of who you are."