A latest survey reveals that many Thai people would accept a crooked government if it can make the country prosper and raise their standard of living.
The Abac Poll Research Centre conducted a survey on people's well-being, involving 1,228 households in 17 provinces nationwide.
84.5 per cent viewed that corruption in businesses would not be unusual and 51.2 per cent said they would tolerate a corrupted government if it can improve the country and their well-being.
73.9 per cent agreed that living self-sufficiently can help ease the economic crisis.
On the continuing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, 84.6 per cent wanted both sides to negotiate peacefully and jointly improve the regional economy. 4.8 per cent wanted either side to use force to solve the problem.
52.9 per cent supported the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's anti-government rallies under the condition that they must be held peacefully.
16.3 per cent said they would support the UDD unconditionally. 21.1 per cent opposed the group.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thais ok with corrupted government
Thursday, January 15, 2009
KRT prepares for Duch's trial
A two-day meeting beginning today is to set the date for the first public trial at Cambodia’s war crimes tribunal, moving the court into its next stage
A DIVIDED Khmer Rouge tribunal will come together today and Friday to set a date for the first public trial at the war crimes court - that of Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, known more widely as Duch.
Primarily a procedural meeting, it will also symbolically set in motion the court's transition from largely closed-door pretrial procedures to public, internationally viewed hearings.
The former cadre is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes in connection with his role as head of the notorious S-21 torture centre.
Aside from setting the exact date of the trial, which is forecast for March, the two-day meeting will address protocol issues relating to the trial, including the number of witnesses and how the hearing will be broadcast. All parties at the tribunal, including judges, prosecutors and Duch himself, are expected to attend the meeting.
"This is an institutionally important moment in which, after many years, the real process of the court is beginning to actually start," David Cohen, director of the Berkeley War Crimes Studies Centre and the Asian International Justice Initiative at the East-West Centre, which is monitoring the court, told the Post Wednesday.
He added that the meeting would also determine how flexible the hybrid setup will be during the public trial stage.
"The KRT is a unique amalgam of international and Cambodian law, and nobody knows exactly how that will work until it starts," he said. "The important things to look for now are how many witnesses will be able to testify, how full their testimonies will be and what role the parties will be able to play."
Progress amid divisions
Despite being a positive step, the meeting will convene at a time when divisions at the court are becoming more defined.
Defence lawyers for Brother No 2 Nuon Chea filed a complaint Friday to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against the government's top official to the tribunal over issues of corruption. Cambodian tribunal judges, in response, threatened the lawyers with legal action.
ANY PROGRESS TOWARD AN ACTUAL PUBLIC TRIAL IS A POSITIVE STEP.
National and international prosecutors have also gone head-to-head over the issue of calling more suspects to trial, prompting the monitoring coalition Cambodia Human Rights Action Committee to make a statement Wednesday claiming only charging five suspects would "undermine the impact and legacy of the court".
"What is also important to watch now is to what extent this system is going to be modified in light of international practice," Cohen said. "This will be critical in determining the court's transparency and public process."
Heather Ryan, tribunal monitor for Open Society Justice Initiative, said Tuesday that she welcomed steps towards a hearing.
"Any progress towards an actual public trial is a positive step," she said.
Internet exempt from libel law: govt
Information Ministry denies legislation extending libel to audovisual media will limit internet
The Ministry of Information has denied that new libel legislation it is drafting for audiovisual media will bear on the internet, despite previous claims by its minister, Khieu Kanharith, that the recent explosion of websites was an impetus for the measure.
In a statement released Tuesday, the ministry said the law would target "audiovisual content in radio, television and print only", adding that public criticism of it levelled by local journalists earlier in the day was "absolutely untruthful".
But Sam Rithy Doung Hak, a monitor for the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists, the group that condemned the proposed legislation as unwarranted censorship, said the ministry was simply "backtracking ... probably because of pressure from international groups based here".
Despite the ministry's claims, he said popular websites and cartoons critical of the government would be susceptible to censorship if the law were introduced. He singled out the online materials of news aggregator Khmer Intelligence and Australian-based Khmer cartoonist Sacrava as potential targets.
Khieu Kanharith was not available for comment Wednesday.
Don't regulate criticism
Local leaders of Cambodia's online community remain deeply cynical of any government efforts to regulate media content given its shaky track record. Cambodia is currently ranked 128th - or "partially free" - on the US-based Freedom House organisation's 2008 press freedom list
Keo Kounila, a local blogger and journalist, said vibrant opposition voices were essential to the fabric of a democracy, and saw the proposed bill as counterproductive to growth of the country's nascent political environment.
"The government should try to understand criticism [directed at it], not regulate it. This is similar to what China is trying to do," she said, referring to the vigorous online censorship conducted by the communist state.
Norbert Klein, a Phnom Penh-based German who is credited with having introduced, internet to Cambodia in 1994, called the proposed legislation "very problematic".
"If there is legislation, it should be technically enforceable and legal. Neither is the case."
The demands of the law were unrealistic and unprecedented, he added.
"When the law says every ISP will need a license from the Information Ministry and Communication Ministry, no other country in the world has that," said Klein, who is also a policy adviser for ICANN, an international non-profit group that deliberates on a wide range of internet protocol issues. He said media censorship was susceptible to "escalation" in times of political turmoil and questioned the government's ability to regulate content using standards accepted by the population.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Mega-Projects Stall Amid Financial Woes
In September, before the globe slipped into a financial crisis, developers in
But after the
South Korean investors, such as BK Global, GS and Yonwoo have been hit hard by the economic crisis.
Teng Rithy, manager of BK Global’s Paros Mekong project, said the $250 million development had been slated to begin in October. It is now delayed.
The global economic downturn has slowed
More importantly, a credit crunch means investors can’t get the loans they’ve negotiated with Korean banks.
“We had planned to borrow 100 percent of the invested money, but recently
Teng Rithy said he was not sure whether Paros Mekong would continue in the future.
Other developers said they worried about customers backing away as the global economy sours.
Im Chamrong, general director of the construction department at the Ministry of Urbanization and Construction, said
Bonna Realty Group president Sung Bonna, who has studied the development of large construction projects, said 50 percent of them were delayed by late October.
“Foreign banks, as well as global financers, have delayed or cut down their finances for real estate investors,” he said.
Kang Chandararoth, president of the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, said investors have been forced to delay their project due to the shortage of foreign financing.
However, some investors say they have not had a problem with financial resources but have delayed their projects in the face of a new directive from the Ministry of Finance requiring them to keep more money at the National Bank.
The new directive, issued at the end of July, requires real estate investors to keep 2 percent of their total investment in the bank, restricting investment. Moreover, developers are only allowed to sell housing if they have finished 3 percent of the total construction, limiting the funds they can raise in advance.
Yonwoo, which is backing the construction of Gold Tower 42, a proposed skyscraper in central
“We are delayed, and maybe completely cancelled,” Nou Ratana said. “The company is disappointed because when they are already facing the crisis, we have restricted their investment.”
Representatives of GS, which is supporting the construction of a 45-floor financial building along the Tonle Bassac, said they will continue unless the government makes more directives.
Nevertheless, Kang Chandararoth said the directive was likely just a pretext for some companies that have canceled or delayed their projects because of limited resources.
Either way, the delay will hurt
Experts have already estimated a 20 percent fall in real estate prices since June.
Hang Chhun Narong, general director for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, agreed, but he said the slow process on some giant projects would keep Cambodia’s economic growth rate in check, sparing the country inflation and its own economic worries.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Obama criticises 'ugly' tactics
 Barack Obama called for people to work together |
US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has attacked his rival for negative campaigning in the final days before the election.
Mr Obama, appearing in Nevada, said the "ugly phone calls, the misleading mail and TV ads, the careless, outrageous comments" were preventing change.
Republican rival John McCain, aware of being behind in the polls as he spoke in New Mexico, said he was a "fighter".
He told supporters not to give up hope of a White House victory.
Both candidates were campaigning in western US states during the weekend.
Nevada, New Mexico and Colarado were all Republican at the last election but could prove crucial if the vote is tight on 4 November.
Mr Obama, returning to the campaign trail after two days off in which he flew to his ailing grandmother in Hawaii, said a negative campaign was not what the country needed.
"In the final days of campaigns, the say-anything, do-anything politics too often takes over. We've seen it before. And we're seeing it again today," he told a rally.
"Well, this isn't what we need right now.
"The American people don't want to hear politicians attack each other - you want to hear about how we're going to attack the challenges facing middle-class families each and every day."
 John McCain urged supporters not to give up hope |
During his own rally in New Mexico, Mr McCain had attacked Mr Obama's tax policy as "re-distributing wealth" which would badly impact on the middle class.
Mr McCain told supporters to "stand up and fight. America's worth fighting for."
With a poll for Newsweek putting him 13 percentage points behind Mr Obama, Mr McCain said: "I will never allow this nation to be defeated ... my friends, we've got them just where we want them.
"We love being the underdog and we're going to win! What America needs now is a fighter."
Attempting to distance himself from President George W Bush, Mr McCain said: "We cannot spend the next four years as we have much of the last eight, hoping for our luck to change at home and abroad."
While campaigning on Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa, Mr McCain's vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said her criticism of Obama had not been negative.
"Don't be made to feel guilty. I'm not feeling guilty," she said as calls of "he's a socialist" were heard from the crowd.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Haider 'was the man of my life'
 Joerg Haider and Stefan Petzner enjoyed electoral success |
The new leader of the party previously headed by Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider has admitted the two men had a "special relationship".
Stefan Petzner told Austrian radio that Mr Haider, whom he met five years ago, was his "life partner".
Mr Haider died in a high-speed car crash earlier this month. The 58-year-old had a high blood alcohol level.
He had led the Alliance for Austria's Future, a party best known for its anti-immigration and anti-EU policies.
 |  He was the man of my life  Stefan Petzner |
Mr Petzner took over as party leader following Mr Haider's sudden death.
The father-of-two had said frequently that he would like his young protege to take his place one day.
"We had a special relationship that went far beyond friendship," Mr Petzner said in an emotional interview.
"Joerg and I were connected by something truly special. He was the man of my life," he added.
And he insisted that Mr Haider's widow did not object to their relationship.
Joerg Haider became a potent political force in Austria in the 1980s and 90s.
His Alliance for Austria's Future had recently enjoyed further success, gaining more than 10% of the votes in September's general election.Shares slide amid recession fears
 Once again, investors are worried about a global recession |
European share indexes have fallen further, as fears of a global recession swept through the major markets.
The FTSE-100 index was down 2.5% or 99.7 points at 3941.2 by early afternoon, with France's Cac 40 down 3.3% and Germany's Dax down 3.8%.
UK retail sales grew at their slowest rate in two-and-a-half years in September, a sign of tough conditions.
Sterling also remained under pressure - close to a five-year dollar low - as traders anticipated more rate cuts.
Investors are concerned about the global economy and how long the financial crisis will endure. Key recent market developments:
- Sterling stayed near the five-year low of $1.6148 reached on Wednesday, trading at about $1.6299
- South Korea's Kospi index fell 7.4%, its lowest close since July 2005. The Korean won lost 5% of its value against the dollar
- Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 4.7%, at its lowest ebb since April 2005
- At one point, the Nikkei was trading at 8,016.61, its lowest level for more than five years. It recovered to close down 213 points or 2.5% at 8,460 points
- The yen strengthened against the dollar and the euro overnight. The dollar hit a seven-month low of 96.85 yen, while the euro hit a six-year low of 123.40 yen
- Indian shares opened down 4.8% at their lowest since June 2006. The rupee has so far shed nearly 21% against the dollar in 2008
- In Australia, the benchmark index closed down 4.4%
- The Dow Jones index closed down 5.7% on Wednesday.
Export fears
The fall in Japanese stocks overnight was triggered in part by weak export data.
| The impact of the global slowdown has had a clear impact on Japan's exports Tatsushi Shikano, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities |
Japan's trade surplus plunged 94% to 95.1bn yen ($970.1m; £596.7m) in September and exports grew only 1.5% in September from a year earlier, far below forecasts.
Exports of Japanese cars to the US fell, a sign of slowing consumer demand in the world's largest economy.
The continued strength of the yen prompted fears that this will cause further damage to already weak exports.
"The impact of the global slowdown has had a clear impact on Japan's exports and this was even before the financial crisis erupted in September," said Tatsushi Shikano, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities.
"Sluggish export volumes will put a drag on Japan's industrial output and its export-reliant economy in the coming months," he added.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
People Who Are Making a Difference in the World
VOICE ONE: I'm Bob Doughty. VOICE TWO: And I'm Barbara Klein with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Today we tell about five individuals around the world who are making a difference. They are making the world a better place by helping people in special ways. (MUSIC) VOICE ONE:
Our first individual who is making a difference is a refugee from Burma. Thousands of people flee Burma each year to escape poverty, oppression and civil war. Many of them choose to stay in Thailand. Cynthia Maung is a Burmese doctor who operates a small public health center near the Thai border with Burma. She is making a difference in her community by providing services that are not available to most people in this area.Cynthia Maung
VOICE TWO:
Many people are waiting at the public health center. Mothers and their children wait in line to get vaccines to protect them against diseases. In another line, parents with newborn babies wait for documents that show their babies were born in Thailand. The documents take the place of birth certificates. Thai officials do not recognize these people because they are refugees. But Doctor Cynthia Maung does.
VOICE ONE:
Doctor Cynthia, as she is called, fled Burma in nineteen eighty-eight after a military campaign against people who demonstrated for democracy and justice. She says she joined with the demonstrators. She says people started disappearing or fleeing to the border when Burma's military seized power. She decided to settle near the border to work for political change.
VOICE TWO:
In a small building, Cynthia Maung started performing operations and helping women give birth. She cleaned her instruments in a rice cooker. She also trained young volunteer health workers. Today, those workers treat people for landmine injuries and many diseases. Her health care center receives donations of money from non-governmental organizations and foreign governments, including the United States.
Doctor Cynthia makes a little money go a long way. Each year, one hundred fifty thousand people come for treatment. Those who can, pay less than one dollar.
VOICE ONE:
Doctor Cynthia lives next to the health center. She says the workers there do not only treat diseases. They also educate young people who go back and support health activities in their communities. For example, the center trains volunteer health workers who go back to work in the ethnic Karen and other areas of Burma. Some of the volunteers are former patients who are now helping others. Doctor Cynthia says young people should be taught not to feel like victims. Instead, she says, they should see themselves as people who can change and improve their situation.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
 |
| Theary Seng |
VOICE ONE:
Now, Theary Seng is back in Cambodia, supporting human rights as the head of the Center for Social Development. She is a critic of corruption and abuse wherever it exists -- in Cambodia and around the world. At a recent demonstration in Phnom Penh, she attempted to leave flowers to honor those killed in the civil war in the Darfur area of Sudan. But Cambodian government officials prevented her from doing so.
VOICE TWO:
Theary Seng takes a special interest in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. The court is starting to take legal action against former Khmer Rouge leaders for their crimes. She serves as an official representative for the victims.
She also has a television show. It seeks to find the country's next generation of young leaders. Theary Seng says her work is not to do anything big but to be a common citizen in her homeland where she suffered in the past.
THEARY SENG: "And now, I'm taking that suffering, and shaping it into hope, and trying to work with individuals who had not the time and space to heal that I've had."
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
 |
| William Saydee at his typewriter |
(SOUND)
He now works as a typist and teacher. He is teaching unemployed Liberians how to type. The students do not pay him anything. One of the students is Isaiah Thomas. He says he is learning to type because he wants to work for an international company.
VOICE TWO:
William Saydee says he wants to help young people gain a skill to succeed. He says it is the best he can do to help Liberia re-build after years of civil war.
Mister Saydee earns money by typing contracts and other documents, like resumes. A resume is a list of a person's education and work experience. It can be useful when a person is looking for a job.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
 |
| Cartoonist Robert Walker |
Many children and even adults in the United States enjoy reading comic books. Superheroes in comic books have unusual abilities. They use their abilities to help people and save the world. Like most superheroes, Mister Walker's characters have special powers. For example, one superhero can see in the dark. One can lift more than three hundred tons. Another can come back from the dead. Also, like most superheroes, his characters have to deal with trouble. These superheroes all have H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS.
VOICE TWO:
Mister Walker says some members of his family died of AIDS when he was a child. That gave him the idea to create a comic book called "O Men." It includes nine characters living with H.I.V.
The characters are men and women who represent different races and socio-economic groups. They also were infected with the virus in different ways. Mister Walker says he wanted to fight depressing images connected with the disease.
ROBERT WALKER: "It's not a black disease. It's not a white disease. It's not a gay disease. It's a disease of humanity that lacks awareness."
VOICE ONE:
Gerry Gladston is the co-owner of Midtown Comics in New York City. He says many comic books have important political, social and educational messages.
Mister Walker spoke to many H.I.V. and AIDS organizations in researching his comic book. He says he wanted to make the stories realistic as well as factual.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
 |
| Yohannes Gebregiorgis and his donkeys park the mobile library |
So Yohannes started the Donkey Mobile Library to provide children with their first books. His group brings books to children who have none.
YOHANNES GEBREGIORGIS: "Most kids we have noticed holding a book upside down. We have taken pictures of those kids. But later on we find out that those kids learn how to use the book, how to flip the pages and to look at the pictures and then gradually to read the stories in the book."
VOICE ONE:
More donkey mobile libraries are planned, with money from groups in the United States. Donated English-language books have begun arriving in Ethiopia. Also, Yohannes has established a publishing company to produce books in languages that local children can read.
His first book was published in three languages. It is a re-telling of an old folk story about, what do you think? A boy and his favorite animal -- a donkey!
VOICE TWO:
In the beginning, children came to the mobile library mainly because of the donkeys. But Yohannes discovered that what really excited the children was the books. He dreams about taking his donkey mobile libraries to more Ethiopian towns and villages. After all, there are millions of other children who want to learn to read.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
This program was written by VOA correspondents and adapted by Shelley Gollust. Our producer was Mario Ritter. I'm Bob Doughty.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Barbara Klein. You can download audio and read scripts on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Chinese dairy stock price plunges amid recall
BEIJING (AP) -- The stock price of a company at the center of China's tainted milk product scandal plunged Tuesday as more countries expanded bans on Chinese milk products to include candies and other goods.
The tainting has sickened nearly 53,000 Chinese infants who drank contaminated baby formula and has already cost the head of the country's food safety watchdog his job. Four deaths have been blamed on the contaminated milk powder.
One of China's biggest milk producers, China Mengniu Dairy Co., saw its stock price plummet almost 60 percent in Hong Kong trading Tuesday after its products were found tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.
Mengniu, China's No. 1 dairy producer in total volume, said only a small portion of its products were contaminated and blamed the contamination on "the illegal acts of some irresponsible milk collection centers and raw milk dealers."
"The board wishes to sincerely apologize for the incident and any inconvenience caused to the public," the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange.
The resignation Monday of Li Changjiang, who headed the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine since 2001, comes a year after he and the government promised to overhaul the system in response to a series of product safety scares.
New regulations and procedures were introduced in an attempt to restore consumer confidence and preserve export markets after a string of recalls involving tainted toothpaste, faulty tires, contaminated seafood and in March 2007, pet food containing melamine that was blamed for the deaths of dogs and cats in the United States.
Li's resignation came as investigators revealed that China's biggest producer of powdered milk, Sanlu Group Co., had received complaints as early as December 2007 linking its infant formula to illnesses in babies. Months later, tests revealed the milk was tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which causes kidney stones and can lead to kidney failure.
Even then, Sanlu delayed ordering a product recall until Sept. 11, after the close of the Beijing Summer Olympics and in the face of rising concern from New Zealand partner Fonterra, which owns a 43 percent share in Sanlu.
Melamine, used to make plastics and fertilizer, has been found in infant formula and other milk products from 22 of China's dairy companies. Suppliers trying to cut costs are believed to have added it to watered-down milk because its high nitrogen content masks the resulting protein deficiency.
The number of sick children reported by the Health Ministry has jumped from 6,200 to nearly 53,000. Of those, 12,892 remain hospitalized, with 104 of them in serious condition. Another 39,965 children were treated and released.
The huge jump may have been because health officials combed through hospital records from May through August to trace the origins of the contamination.
Baby formula and other milk products have been pulled from stores around the country and Chinese dairy products have been recalled or banned in Japan, Singapore, Brunei and Hong Kong.
On Tuesday, Malaysia expanded its ban on Chinese milk products to include candies, chocolates and any other food containing milk, and the country's Health Ministry said it was still determining how many products in Malaysia would be affected by the ban.
"We are in the process of identifying all products from China like biscuits, candies, chocolate and so on," said Noraini Mohamad Othman, director of the ministry's food safety and quality division. "It's a precaution."
Taiwanese officials said they were conducting a sweeping food inspection to assure consumers that local milk supplies are free of chemical contamination.
Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said Taiwan's Health Department would send experts to China to better understand how the contamination occurred.
The discovery of the tainted milk is especially damaging because Sanlu was considered one of the most reputable brands in China, winning an industry award in January and being featured on state television last fall as a domestic company with stringent quality controls.
New Thai PM completes his Cabinet
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday (Sept 22) he had completed his list of Cabinet members and that background checks were under way on the proposed appointees.
He said the Cabinet secretariat was carrying out the checks in order to ensure that their qualifications were in line with the law.
"The Cabinet list has been completed. Now the Cabinet Secretariat is doing to the background checks. There are lots of people involved," said the Premier. Although the Secretariat has promised to complete its task as soon as possible, Somchai expects the process to be time-consuming.
The Prime Minister yesterday received many visitors to his home as he was preparing the final Cabinet line-up.
As of last night, the ministerial portfolios involving the ruling People Power Party (PPP) were not complete, but the nominations from five other coalition parties had already been submitted, according to a party source.
Under the PPP quota, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is expected to become deputy prime minister and foreign minister, with the urgent task of settling the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. Chavalit has maintained good relations with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and defence minister Tea Banh.
Chalerm Yoobamrung, who served as interior minister in the PPP-led government of Samak Sundaravej, is expected to join the next Cabinet. However, it remained unclear last night whether he would serve as justice minister or deputy prime minister.
This would depend on whether Sompong Amornwiwat, who is currently caretaker justice minister, stays at the ministry or becomes public health minister in the new Cabinet, the source said.
The Cabinet seats that remained unsettled yesterday involved those under the quota system. They include the positions set aside for members of different factions in the party.
As for the seats for other coalition parties, Puea Pandin Party's Pracha Promnok could become deputy PM after party leader Suwit Khunkitti turned down the offer. His decision came after he learned that he was not being given the industry portfolio.
The industry ministry portfolio is expected to go to Anongwan Thepsuthin, leader of the Matchima Thipataya Party. She is now caretaker minister of natural resources and environment.
Caretaker energy minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop, who is from the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, yesterday said she had opted not to be reappointed. Wannarat Charnnukul, a senior figure from Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, is set to replace her at the energy ministry.
Mingkwan Sangsuwan, who is currently caretaker industry minister, is likely to get no position in the new Cabinet, according to the source.
The allocation of Cabinet seats is now mired with coalition quotas, factional squabbling and a game of musical chairs among cronies.
Like the Samak Sundaravej government--which was hatched in Hong Kong--the Somchai administration is being drawn up in London.
Key faction leaders like Newin Chidchob and Yongyuth Tiyapairat allocated seats under instructions from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman. The new PM is the brother-in-law of Thaksin who is currently exiled in London.
Somchai's wife, Yaowapa, advised her brother Thaksin into reserving plum assignments for a clique of MPs from the North. Loyal allies from Chiang Mai were duly rewarded with jobs in the PM's inner circle, and Somchai reportedly agreed to rubber-stamp the deal worked out by his wife and in-laws.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
FBI Begins Probe of Journalist's July Murder
Phnom Penh police officials met with FBI agents on Wednesday to discuss how the US agency might help in an ongoing investigation into the murders of opposition journalist Khim Sambor and his son.
The two parties reviewed what the Cambodian police have discovered so far and how they will cooperate, said Hy Prou, deputy chief of Phnom Penh police.
"The main point of the meeting required research into how we should conduct the investigation and what we should do first," he said. "But this is a first step."
Khim Sambor, who wrote for the opposition Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper, was killed on July 11, just two weeks before national elections. At least nine other journalists have been killed in Cambodia since 1994, according to the rights group Licadho.
Two FBI agents arrived in Phnom Penh Sunday and will stay for as long as they are needed, US Embassy spokesman John Johnson said.
"They're here to assist in the investigation, depending on the needs of the Ministry of Interior and the Cambodian police that are investigating it," he said, declining to comment on the specifics of the investigation. "The FBI is here to assist in any way possible, and we certainly hope that through this cooperation that the perpetrator of this crime can be brought to justice."
Chan Soveth, an investigator for the rights group Adhoc, said Friday he had little confidence the FBI would be able to find the killer without performing an independent investigation.
"We want the FBI to research this case independently," he said. "If the FBI researches independently, we hope they will find the real killer. But if the FBI researches without independence, I have no hope they will find the real killers."
The FBI also investigated the 1997 grenade attack on a group of opposition supporters, he said, but the investigation yielded no results. In that attack, at least 16 people were killed and one American was injured.
"I don't want the FBI to investigate Khim Sambor's killing like they did in 1997," Chan Soveth said.
Dam Sith, the editor of Moneaksekar Khmer, who was jailed for a week ahead of elections, said he welcomed the collaboration between the FBI and the police.
"I wish to see the real facts and justice without falsehood," he said.
Khim Lenin, 30, the youngest brother of Khim Sambor, appealed to the FBI and the police to find "the real killers of my brother."
"I don't believe the previous report of the police, that the killing was involved with Khim Sambor's son," he said. "As I understand, his son was a good person and never committed any wrongdoings. The same for Khim Sambor."
U.N. Pleased by New U.S. Support for Khmer Rouge Tribunal
Editor's Note: The Office of the Spokesman of the U.N. Secretary General on Friday sent by email the following reply to questions from VOA Khmer about this week's announcement regarding new U.S. support for the U.N. side of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal:
We are obviously very pleased with the decision of the United States to provide funds the ECCC (Extraordinary Chambers for the Cambodia Courts).
The US played a key role in the formation of the ECCC and has been an interested and active supporter of our work since the court offices first opened.
Coming forward now with these funds shows that they remain committed to seeing the mandate of the ECCC successfully completed.
The funds will obviously extend the working capital for the UN side of the court for some time, but more importantly we hope this will signal the first of many such announcements from the donor community.
It clearly shows that the hard work put in by the staff of the ECCC and by Mr. David Tolbert in revising and presenting the budget to the donor community has been successful.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Cambodian gigolo:
Cambodian gigolo: male prostitution rises
Some find selling their bodies to men or women is one way to escape grinding poverty (or experiment with gay sex)
Young men like Soun, 24, (not his real name) are entering Cambodia's sex trade in growing numbers and for a variety of reasons. Some seek a better life for their families in the only way they know how. Others use the trade to explore alternative sexual lifestyles.
Whatever the reason, business is brisk.
"I always go to the clubs where foreigners hang out," said Soun, who has been a male prostitute since the age of 17.
"When the clubs close, I move to the front of Wat Botom," he said, adding that a typical night's work runs from 8pm to around midnight.
Many of his clients find him through a network of sex brokers who comb the city looking for men or women seeking or selling companionship. Others find him at the wats or along the riverside, where many of the city's prostitutes congregate each night.
"I am available for both men and women, depending on who approaches me. Sometimes the women I sleep with are much older than me, anywhere from 30 to 50 years of age," Soun said. "Most of them are Cambodian widows, but some of my customers are young Khmer guys and a few older Khmer men."
Soun's face flushes crimson when the conversation turns toward prices.
"If I sleep with a woman, I charge US$15 to $20. The whole night costs $40-$50," he said. "Foreigners pay $40 per encounter or as much as $70 for the night."
The protocol
Stating your preference is simply a matter of learning the code.
Women who want to purchase a male sex partner say, tov si karem key, or "Let's go eat ice cream in a glass", Soun said.
Men can use one of two phrases. Tov si karem charn means "Let's go eat ice cream in a bowl", and tov leng pteah ta sak bram means "Let's go visit Sak Pram's house". Sak Pram translates to "five fingers", Soun added.
Soun said that when he asks his male clients why they want to have sex with him, most of them say they want to try something different. Others say they are tired of women.
While Soun has some clients in the capital, most of his business is transacted in the provinces. "My regular clients are mostly living in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville," he said. "They sometimes book me for a week, so they have to pay for my accommodation and food as well as my sexual fees."
A friend told me to go sit by the riverside and people could come ask me for sex. i was 17 then. I've worked in the business ever since.
Soun keeps a calendar for long-term clients, but others can simply ring him on the day. "In Phnom Penh, girls who want to have sex just call my mobile phone and tell me where to meet. Sometimes, they hire a taxi driver to come pick me up."
A life filled with danger
He said prostitution can be a dangerous business, particularly with his Cambodian male clients. They often hire him for sex with one person, but he shows up to find a group of four or five waiting for him. He can't refuse because he is outnumbered.
And then, there is the ever-present risk of sexual diseases. "To protect ourselves from HIV, we always talk to our clients about using condoms. I have problems with teenage boys because they want oral sex," he said.
Kek Galabru, president of Cambodian rights group Licadho, said she has seen an increase in male sex workers in a market traditionally dominated by women.
According to Kek Galabru, many of the capital's male prostitutes turned to sex work because, lacking education or skills, they can find no other way to support their families. Others do so because they prefer sex with men, she said.
Nuon Sidara, executive director of Action for Sexual Health, said exact numbers of male prostitutes in Cambodia are difficult to determine because many work in secret.
The risk of disease is much higher among male sex workers who largely sleep with male clients, Nuon Sidera said.
Studies done on men engaging in gay sex have shown that 8.7 percent in Phnom Penh were HIV-positive, a rate that is almost nine times that of the general population.
"My organisation tries to teach them how to protect themselves from disease and provides condoms free of charge," Nuon Sidera said.
Soun gets thoughtful when he considers the life he has chosen.
"My family is very poor, so I needed to find a job that could support us all. I never thought I would become a prostitute," he said.
"A friend told me to go sit by the riverside and people would come ask me for sex. I was 17 then. I've worked in the business ever since."
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
UN expert arrives as US
UN expert arrives as US announces it might fund the ECCC
David Tolbert is back in Cambodia, keeping an eye on the Extraordinary Chambers as the US mulls money for the financially troubled court
Tolbert, whose previous visits have been to boost donor confidence in the wake of mismanagement claims, began work Monday and is expected to stay a week, UN spokesman Peter Foster said.
Tolbert was hired by the UN secretary general in April to review the world body's operations at the joint tribunal. His arrival comes as the US announced that it was on the "threshold" of making a decision to fund the struggling tribunal.
HE WILL BE MEETING WITH KEY PEOPLE FROM THE COURT [AND] THE LOCAL DONOR[S].
"He will be meeting with key people from the court, the local donor community, and will look at donor contributions and the progress made by the court," Foster said.
He described the visit as "strictly technical", however, and said Tolbert was under no jurisdiction from the UN Development Program.
An appointment for the US?
Tolbert, who couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday, was appointed after Kao Kim Hourn, a secretary of state with the Foreign Ministry, told the UN in January that Washington wanted an advisory role in the tribunal and would consider helping fund the court if given the post.
Kao Kim Hourn later retracted his statement, but the US embassy said that they were likely to meet with Tolbert, although were not sure when.
"We expect there will be an opportunity to speak with the Secretary General's advisor about his activities and the importance to donors of ensuring that advancement of administrative reforms in the ECCC match the judicial progress observed to date," said embassy spokesman John Johnson in an email Tuesday.
Outgoing US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said Monday that he thought the corruption issue "will be resolved ... and ultimately [the tribunal] will get funding".
Allegations that Cambodian staff were kicking back a portion of their salaries to higher officials are being reviewed by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds have been frozen by the UNDP in the meantime.
The court has repeatedly faced bankruptcy and still faces a more than US$40 million shortfall.
Monday, August 25, 2008
CPP set to take most NA posts
Ruling party dominance under fire for lacking checks, balances
FOLLOWING its landslide victory in last month's national election, the ruling Cambodian People's Party will dominate the new National Assembly, with CPP members poised to occupy the posts of Assembly president and deputy president, as well as the chairmanships of each of the Assembly's nine commissions.
Party spokesman and Ministry of Information Khieu Kanharith told reporters Sunday that the Assembly reshuffle would reflect the CPP's dominance at the polls.
"If [the opposition parties] get support then they can hold the positions of chairman and deputy chairman of the Assembly's commissions," Khieu Kanharith said, adding that the new Assembly would avoid the political deadlock that paralysed government following the 2003 election.
"This year, we were elected in one package, which has avoided political deadlocks. Therefore, we should follow with this political formula in order to maintain political stability," he said.
However, he said that strong opposition parties, civil society and a free press would play an important role in strengthening Cambodia's democracy.
In the outgoing Assembly, the CPP heads five commissions, while Funcinpec chairs two posts and the Sam Rainsy Party another two. But preliminary poll results showed a strong swing to the CPP, which won 58 percent of the vote over the SRP (21.9 percent) and the Human Rights Party (6.6 percent).
Khieu Kanharith's comments came amid criticism that few checks and balances will exist in the new Assembly once the CPP occupies most of its key positions.
Kek Galabru, president of rights group Licadho, said the CPP majority needed to be offset by a robust opposition presence in parliament.
"In order to strengthen democracy and good governance, the leadership structure should be formed to achieve the appropriate checks and balances between the ruling parties and the opposition," she said at a press conference last week.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Federer: at the top doesn't mean
Federer: at the top doesn't mean No. 1 in the world
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer admitted that it is impossible to stay at the top of the world for long time, but said he needs to find what works best for him to get the world number one spot back again.
"At the top doesn't mean No. 1 in the world. It can mean deep into Grand Slams, being in the top five, top 10 for, whatever, 10 years, 15 years, just be up there and having a shot at Grand Slams," said Federer, who will lose the world number one ranking officially after the Olympic tennis event.
"You can't keep your ranking forever. If ever that were to happen, I think you have to have a different approach to what's the next step. Is it come down to the majors? Is it do you want to chase it again? I mean, I know myself, I'm sure my goal is to try to get No. 1 ranking back, I need to play well again. I need to win big matches.
"I think once sort of 2004 and '05 came around, I always tried to look for new ways to improve. Had a coach. You know, didn't have a coach in '04. I always to improve physically, because mentally, it wasn't a problem any more. I alwyas think you have to question yourself, no matter if it's good or bad."
After being thrashed by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, the Swiss maestro lost again at Wimbledon to the Spaniard who won a five-set epic on Federer's Centre Court fortress.
The world number one turns 27 on the day of the Beijing opening ceremony and he will have to rediscover his A-game in the Olympics after also suffering early exit from the Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati last month.
Federer, who keeps hold on the world number one spot for more than 250 weeks since early 2004, said that all these losses should partly be blamed on the calendar and the ATP rules.
"It is not a secret that I base my schedule around trying to get the best preparation for the Grand Slams, but this year has been difficult for everybody, having a proper schedule, because we've been forced to play certain tournaments in some ways.
"I'm not criticizing. It's just a fact. With the Olympics, everything shifted. It made it really hard for us to have proper preparations. That's maybe one of the reasons some players play better, some players play worse.
"And I think next year you can control your schedule much more again yourself, which I think is going to be key for next year."
Federer did not arouse media hype in Beijing by exiting early like he did in the previous two tournaments last month. He eased past Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round on Monday despiting committing some unforced errors which he seldom made before this season.
The Olympics have always been labelled one of his dreams and Beijing might be his last chance to fulfiling it.
"I agree (that the Olympics won't bring you prize money or ranking), but in some way it's such a nice change to the regular tour we play in, first of all.
"But then also, being part of the biggest sort of sports event in the world. Now that tennis is finally accepted by the Olympic Committee, it's something I wish to move it forward.
"I guess when I speak to some players now, who didn't used to play the Olympics back in '96 and 2000, you name it, I know that some of them have regrets that they didn't play it, seeing how big the Olympics has become and how important tennis has become to the Olympics.
"I hope that with my presence, and also, Rafa's presence, Roddick's presence, Hewitt's presence in the past years, I think that's only gonna make it more important for the future generation.
"But also having the chance to represent my country is one of the reasons, just living the dream, being part of the Olympic Village, the Olympic spirit. Just being here is something that is quite unique."
The highlights of Federer's two previous Olympic Games amount to meeting his long-standing girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec in Sydney and carrying the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony in Athens four years ago.
In 2000 he lost a semifinal to Tommy Haas and then let a bronze medal slip through his fingers against Frenchman Arnaud Di Pasquale. Four years later he lost in the second round to Tomas Berdych.
BBC chief hails Beijing Olympics
BBC chief hails Beijing Olympics, more open China
BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mark Thompson, Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), praises here on Saturday the "exciting" opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and a China increasingly open to the world.
"I guess every opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is amazing, but everything I've seen and heard last night is the most dramatic, exciting and impressive in the history of the Olympic Games." said Thompson, who came here for the Games.
He said the opening ceremony was an extraordinarily confident presentation of Chinese civilization and culture, and it created a welcoming atmosphere for the rest of the world.
"I know the British people also thought it was the most spectacular start to the Olympic Games."
Thompson said the world's most populous country was attracting more and more attentions as it developed quickly.
"Each time I come back to Beijing, it's amazing how far and how quickly Beijing is changing, and clearly China is changing. There is intense interest in China in the UK and around the world because of the speed of its development," he said.
Thompson said the future of China and that of the rest of the world were more closely bonded than they'd ever been, and the Beijing Olympic Games "marks an interesting watershed - there is no question China has been more open to foreign media than at any point in the history."
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| President of Xinhua News Agency Li Congjun( right) meets with Mark Thompson, Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation |
There is every reason to believe the Olympic Games will increase global interest in China, he said, adding that it would give the audiences across the world a new insight into the aspiration of Chinese people.
"Because of the next Olympics will be in London in 2012, we're interested in every aspect of the Beijing Olympic Games and the evidence so far indicates the quality of the organization is very fine indeed, " Thompson said.
Not BBC alone but the international media as a whole has been very, very impressed by the quality of the facilities available and the "ease with which we could cover the Games," he added.
The glittering opening ceremony inside the new National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, in the capital, was witnessed by more than 100,000 people in the stands and billions in China and around the world as it was live broadcast.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Georgia's President Calls
Georgia's President Calls for Cease-Fire in South Ossetia
Georgia's leader is calling for an immediate cease-fire in the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russian warplanes carried out new airstrikes against Georgian military targets Saturday, as fighting between the two sides reportedly spread to another disputed region. Emma Stickgold reports from Moscow.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili called for an end to the fighting Saturday, shortly before getting approval from the Georgian parliament to declare a 15-day period of martial law.President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks during a security council meeting in Tbilisi, 09 Aug 2008
South Ossetia's capital Tskinvali was in ruins as the region entered its second day of fighting between separatists and Georgian forces. At the same time, officials reported Russian warplanes hit targets in the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Georgia had launched an offensive Friday to retake control of breakaway South Ossetia from separatists. Russia, which has close ties to the province, responded by sending troops to protect civilians and force a cease-fire.
The countries disagree on whether Georgia has gained control of the region. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said there was little doubt that Georgia had taken over.
Saakashvili said Georgia was in full control of Tskinvali, adding that the city has been cleaned of bandit gangs. He noted that the city has suffered great damage from crossfire, while Russian planes bombed the city.A Russian Channel One television grab shows a building burning in Tskhinvali, 08 Aug 2008
As Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers rumbled through the streets, evacuees expressed fear and uncertainty about the future. Irina, a passenger at an airport terminal who did not give her last name, lamented the current state of affairs.
Irina says she believes the violence was not necessary. She says she has sympathy for the Georgian people because her husband is there. She says she is also emotional for Russians because her mother there.
The recent spate of violence is the worst to break out since the region won de facto independence in 1992. South Ossetians are eager to join fellow Ossetians in North Ossetia, which was included within Russian borders following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Party profiles: An election rundown
Eleven political parties will contest this month’s general election. The Post’s Meas Sokchea and Sebastian Strangio take a look at party structures and policies as Cambodians weigh their options ahead of national polls on July 27.
Founded: October 2006
President: Norodom Ranariddh, 64.
Political Platform: Formed by ousted Funcinpec leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the party pledges to “preserve royalism” and strengthen the institution of the monarchy; preserve the Khmer race and its culture, religion and language; “absolutely resolve” the issue of illegal immigration; and protect Cambodian sovereignty. If elected, it also promises to lower food, fuel and electricity prices; eliminate corruption and land-grabbing; reform the judiciary; abolish motorbike taxes and taxes on small businesses; construct paved rural road networks; institute a tax on unused land; provide free health care to the poor; establish free primary and secondary education; and raise minimum wages for factory workers.
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces.
Khmer Democratic PartyFounded: March 1998
President: Uk Phourik, 63.
Political Platform: To comply with the Constitutional law and promote the rule of law; promote respect for democracy and human rights; promote market economic policies and gain the support of national and international financial institutions; promote human resource development, employment and salary increases; fight corruption; eliminate anarchy, terror, thievery, drug and human trafficking and forest crimes; and preserve Cambodia’s cultural heritage and social morality.
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces. Won 1.9 percent of the vote in 2003, but no seats in the National Assembly.
Democracy PartyFounded: March 2006
President: Khem Veasna, 37.
Platform: To defend Cambodia’s independence, sovereignty, and territory integrity; create laws and mechanisms to fight corruption; take action against illegal land-grabbing; increase salaries of civil servants and soldiers; adjust the school curriculum by adding elements of moral education relating to the Cambodian national conscience; focus on the development of border and rural areas; crack down on crime and reform the judiciary; limit the Prime Minister to two terms in office, and prevent him from creating a personal bodyguard unit and living in a residence provided by the state.
Candidates: 123 titular in all 24 cities and provinces.
Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)Founded: June 28, 1951
President: Chea Sim, 76.
Political Platform: According to the CPP’s official platform, the party “has determined to protect the Constitution, to maintain the regularity and the efficiency of the Royal Government, to enlarge the pluralist liberal democracy and the respect of human rights in order to build up the country as a State of Laws.” The main economic policies of the CPP are “the creation of favorable conditions for the reform of the Cambodian economy… having the qualifications to be successively integrated into the world economy,” and “the establishment of thousands of schools, [construction of] rural roads, development centers, ponds, wells, hospitals, Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques… These are the tasks which had been done, are being done and continue to be done for ever by the CPP.”
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces. Won 47.4 percent of the vote in 2003, resulting in 73 seats in the National Assembly.
Khmer Anti-Poverty PartyFounded: September 2007
President: Daran Kravanh, 51.
Platform: The party’s main aim is to reduce poverty, protect land titles, fight corruption, increase the salary of the civil service and armed forces and to eliminate deforestation and the depletion of the Kingdom’s natural resources. It also pledges to defend Cambodia’s territorial integrity from the power of any foreign tyrant leader, and to create four new ministries: the ministries of Anti-Corruption, Job Seeking, Disabled People, and Welfare & Social Work. In coalition with the Society of Justice Party.
Candidates: 120 in all 24 cities and provinces.
Khmer Republican Party (KRP)Founded: March 2005
President: Lon Rith, 46.
Political Platform: The party pledges to uphold the republican ideals of the Khmer Republic, established by the March 1970 coup d’état of General Lon Nol, father of current KRP president Lon Rith. It also stands for national unification; reconstruction of the nation; the defense of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; and increases in the standard of living for all Cambodians. Unlike Lon Nol’s Khmer Republic, however, the KRP does not advocate the abolition of the monarchy.
Candidates: 73 in nine provinces and municipalities: Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Kampong Chhnang, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom.
Society of Justice PartyFounded: August 2006
President: Ban Sophal, 51.
Platform: The party promises to promptly amend the Constitution to restrict an individual to two terms as Prime Minister; ensure that political parties cannot arbitrarily dismiss lawmakers; ensure that the courts are independent of any political control; support the royalist regime; resettle illegal immigrants; settle border disputes to regain Khmer territory; eliminate corruption without waiting for the anti-graft draft law; cut down the inflation rate and manage oil and gas transparently by encouraging Cambodian students to study in countries which are experienced in oil resource management. In coalition with the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party.
Candidates: 46 in seven provinces and municipalities: Battambang, Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Pursat, Siem Reap, and Kampong Chhnang.
FuncinpecFounded: February 1992
President: Keo Puth Rasmey, 56.
Political Platform: According to its party platform, “Funcinpec Party is a royalist and Sihanoukist party that carries on from the Funcinpec Front, a movement to liberate the nation under the initiation and leadership of Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk… Funcinpec adheres to the national Constitution and follows free market principles. Funcinpec promotes national development in all fields. It encourages and facilitates foreign investments, especially in the fields of agriculture, agro-industry, handcrafts, tourism and commerce. Funcinpec promotes total literacy. Funcinpec endeavors to develop human resources to the highest quality including attracting foreign aid in training abroad. Funcinpec promotes… the health of the people by making programs to construct hospitals in all areas, rural and urban.”
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces. Won 20.7 percent of the vote in 2003, resulting in 26 seats in the National Assembly.
Sam Rainsy Party (SRP)Founded: November 1995
(formerly Khmer Nation Party)
President: Sam Rainsy, 59.
Political Platform: In its paper “100 Measures to be Implemented by an SRP Government,” the party pledges to adhere to the nation’s democratic principles, promote human rights, secure an “independent and clean judicial system,” to curb violence, provide free health care and education to the poor, prohibit the confiscation of land and establish a social security safety-net. It also plans to increase the salaries of teachers, civil servants and soldiers, to wage a war against corruption and to promote economic growth as a long-term means of reducing youth unemployment. Finally, the SRP plans to ensure a “clear separation between the State and the ruling party,” and to “prevent… state revenues from being diverted into the ruling party’s coffers.”
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces. Won 21.8 percent of the vote in 2003, resulting in 24 seats in the National Assembly.
Hang Dara Democratic Movement PartyFounded: May 2002
President: Hang Dara, 56.
Political Platform: Support the royalist regime; resettle illegal immigrants; settle border disputes to regain Khmer territory; smash tyrants and corrupt officials; improve Khmer living conditions through extensive access to health and education; eliminate corruption via the adoption of an anti-graft draft law; promote local produce; and establish inter-ministries to manage oil and gas deposits transparently.
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces. Won 0.3 percent of the vote in 2003, but no seats in the National Assembly.
Human Rights Party (HRP)Founded: July 2007
President: Kem Sokha, 55.
Platform: The HRP pledges to limit the prime minister to two terms; reform the electoral system; empower the public by establishing public forums between the people and government; quickly adopt and implement anti-corruption laws to international standards; require the prime minister to declare the extent of his personal property; set up independent human rights institutions at the national level, to defend human rights; encourage civil servants of all classes to serve the people responsibly and punish those that fail to do so; reduce the number of deputy prime ministers, senior ministers, secretaries of state, governors and deputy governors, as well as advisors to the prime minister and his bodyguards; guarantee freedom of speech and the freedom to strike and take part in non-violent demonstrations throughout the country; encourage and support research institutions to independently survey people in order gauge the opinion of the people.
Candidates: 123 in all 24 cities and provinces.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Evacuation
"People are leaving the area because they are scared," said Keo Vannak, a resident of Sa Em town near the base of the mountain on which the 11th-century ruins sit.
Sa Em has seen an influx of people coming off the mountain on trucks piled with their belongings, Keo Vannak said Thursday.
"I'm worried there will be a clash and it will destroy all of my belongings," said vendor Chim Nang. "I'm moving my stuff to another village for safety," he added, standing near a truck packed with household goods.
“Now I move my material to another village for safety because I’m worried there will be a clash and it will destroy all my belongings.” He had his most important household items packed with him in the truck.
Added Srey Leap, who works at Preah Vihear temple: "I will return to my hometown in Siem Reap province ... I cannot work here until there is security and this dispute is over.”
Some 800 heavily armed Cambodian soldiers have been deployed to the temple since Tuesday, when Thai troops first allegedly crossed the border following the arrest of three Thai demonstrators who jumped an international checkpoint to enter the temple.
Cambodia claims that at least 400 Thai soldiers continue to occupy Cambodian territory, while Bangkok insists that they are stationed on the Thai side of the border to conduct demining operations.
An area of 4.8 square kilometers around the temple remains in dispute after the World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. The temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 7 after years of resistance from Bangkok to the inscription, further inflaming Thai nationalism.
On July 10, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama stepped down after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had acted illegally in signing an agreement supporting Cambodia’s bid to have Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage Site without the permission of parliament.
Hun Sen, in a letter to his Thai counterpart, Samak Sundaravej, urged Bangkok to withdraw the Thai troops, saying the standoff was damaging relations between the neighbors, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters on Thursday.
"These [Thai] soldiers have encroached on our territory ... and have since increased in number rather than withdrawing," Hun Sen wrote.
Khieu Kanharith also said that Cambodian defense minister Tea Banh would be dispatched for crisis talks Monday in Thailand with Samak on the situation.
Other Cambodian officials have called for calm this week as tensions along the border escalated with the Thais's refusal to withdraw, but military officers on the ground say that more troops could be deployed to counter Thai reinforcements.
“We sent more soldiers to the temple yesterday to stop the Thai troops from moving even further into the temple complex," said Kem Oun, deputy commander of RCAF Brigade 43, which was brought in as the crisis grew.
"Now, they are on our land, in our pagoda and violating our sovereignty, even after the threats of Cambodian soldiers," he told the Post on Thursday. "But our orders are to be patient and avoid fighting unless they start it first," he said, adding that Thai military officers had asked the Cambodians to meet with them later Thursday.
Thai soldiers have gathered at a Buddhist pagoda built on a slope about 200 meters from the temple, and slept Wednesday night next to Cambodian troopers, said Him Chan, deputy commander of the border police battalion 795.
“They are occupying our land and last night they slept just a few meters away from us to show their aggression and provoke trouble," he said. "We’ve tried to push them away but they won't leave.... This is Cambodian land."
Cambodian officials have agreed to hold crisis talks with their Thai counterparts on Monday in a bid to defuse the standoff, but soldiers on the mountain say they remain at the ready if the situation worsens.
"I haven't used it in 10 years and it's gotten a bit rusty," said Srun Mao, soldier with Brigade 795, tapping his AK-47 rifle. "But I'm ready and I'm thirsty," the former Khmer Rouge fighter added.
Although generally good in recent years, Thai-Cambodian relations nose-dived in 2003 when a Thai pop star allegedly said Angkor Wat, one of the most important symbols for Cambodians, actually belonged to Thailand.
In response, an mob looted and burned the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh and ransacked several other Thai-owned businesses.
