www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-24 22:11:52
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The top army leaders of Cambodia and Thailand met in Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh on Monday to reiterate their good cooperation and to strengthen their relationship.
Cambodia's military sources said during the meeting Gen. Pol Saroeun, commander-in-chief of Cambodian Royal Armed Forces, and Songkitti Jaggabatara, supreme commander of the Thai army, reiterated their statements of making good cooperation and relations, especially, between the armies of the two nations.
Both Pol Saroeun and Songkitti affirmed that good cooperation and relations are of common interest for both nations, the sourcessaid.
The two sides, however, did not talk on redeployment of troops stationed near khmer Preak Vihear temple, saying the issue shall be left for decision by the two countries' regional commanders there.
It is the first time for Gen. Songkitti Jaggabatara to make a visit to Cambodia and it is also the first time to hold such top army leaders' meeting.
But since the border dispute between the two countries occurred last year that resulted in the deaths of a number of soldiers, and several others injured, many round of talks at different levels were held including prime ministers, defense and foreign ministerial level down to regional commanders.
Songkitti Jaggabatara who arrived in Cambodia late Monday will return to Thailand on Tuesday after a planned brief sightseeing visit to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province.
25 August, 2009
21 August, 2009
Q+A-Will Cambodia's economic woes affect stability?
CAMBODIA-POLITICS (Q+A)
BANGKOK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is facing pressure from rights groups and foreign donors while he battles to minimise the damage to the country's fragile economy from the global financial crisis.
Foreign governments, rights groups, non-governmental organisations and political rivals continue to hound the former Khmer Rouge soldier over his authoritarian leadership style and his attempts to muzzle critics.
However, analysts say neither the criticism of Hun Sen's government nor the effects of the slowing economy are likely create instability in the near future.
HOW DOES HUN SEN RESPOND TO CRITICS?
Hun Sen's government has filed a series of lawsuits against journalists and opposition lawmakers for defamation or "disinformation", which rights groups and foreign diplomats say are attempts to silence critics and strengthen his grip on power.
Two opposition MPs critical of Hun Sen and his party were recently stripped of parliamentary immunity, effectively unseating them from the national assembly. Other cases have included a young political activist jailed for painting anti-government slogans on his house and an advocate of cultural preservation who criticised lighting plans for the ancient Angkor Wat temple.
"Hun Sen does not know how to respond to criticism and the fear is he will respond with an iron fist through more suppression, which would undermine Cambodia's democratic progress," said Ou Vireak, president of the U.S-funded Cambodian Centre for Human Rights.
WHAT ABOUT FORCED EVICTIONS, CORRUPTION?
Tens of thousands of people have been evicted by force from prime land in the capital, Phnom Penh. Rights groups say as many as 250,000 people have been affected nationwide. The government says the dwellers are land-grabbers who refuse to accept their offers of compensation.
The World Bank and other donors say the evictions are hampering efforts to tackle poverty in a country where 35 percent of the population live on less than $1 a day. The ruling party's control over the police, military and the courts means those made homeless have limited power to fight the evictions.
The government has also come under fire for failing to deal with rampant corruption, which the United States says costs the country $500 million a year. Cambodia, which anti-graft watchdogs rank as one of the world's most corrupt countries, has dismissed the claims as foreign interference. An anti-corruption bill drafted in the 1990s is also yet to be approved.
Analysts say the failure to tackle graft will restrict the amount of foreign investment in the country.
IS ALL THIS ANY THREAT TO HUN SEN?
Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) enjoyed a landslide election victory in 2008 on the back of four years of double-digit growth driven by pro-investment policies, which helped create jobs and improve infrastructure and public services.
Analysts say that after decades of war and political strife, Cambodians are better off under Hun Sen. Although he is criticised for his authoritarian style, people are largely supportive of his nationalist and conservative approach to running the country.
"He has a desire to maintain Khmer traditions and morals and that maintains some strong fabric on which to base policy decisions. That's good for political stability," said Ian Bryson, a specialist on Cambodia at Control Risks in Singapore.
COULD A SLOWING ECONOMY AFFECT CAMBODIA'S STABILITY?
A boom in the garment manufacturing industry in the 1990s helped lift many rural people out of poverty, but the global financial crisis has hurt tourism and slashed demand for Cambodian-made clothes in countries like the United States.
Analysts believe victims of lay-offs are unlikely to blame the government or protest against factory closures. They say stability rests on the government's future handling of inflation, diversifying its economy and improving its investment climate.
"The government should invest more in agriculture and other industries and reduce its reliance on garments and tourism," said Pou Sothirak, a senior research fellow at Singapore's Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS). (Compiled by Martin Petty and Ek Madra in Phnom Penh; Editing by Alan Raybould and Bill Tarrant)
BANGKOK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is facing pressure from rights groups and foreign donors while he battles to minimise the damage to the country's fragile economy from the global financial crisis.
Foreign governments, rights groups, non-governmental organisations and political rivals continue to hound the former Khmer Rouge soldier over his authoritarian leadership style and his attempts to muzzle critics.
However, analysts say neither the criticism of Hun Sen's government nor the effects of the slowing economy are likely create instability in the near future.
HOW DOES HUN SEN RESPOND TO CRITICS?
Hun Sen's government has filed a series of lawsuits against journalists and opposition lawmakers for defamation or "disinformation", which rights groups and foreign diplomats say are attempts to silence critics and strengthen his grip on power.
Two opposition MPs critical of Hun Sen and his party were recently stripped of parliamentary immunity, effectively unseating them from the national assembly. Other cases have included a young political activist jailed for painting anti-government slogans on his house and an advocate of cultural preservation who criticised lighting plans for the ancient Angkor Wat temple.
"Hun Sen does not know how to respond to criticism and the fear is he will respond with an iron fist through more suppression, which would undermine Cambodia's democratic progress," said Ou Vireak, president of the U.S-funded Cambodian Centre for Human Rights.
WHAT ABOUT FORCED EVICTIONS, CORRUPTION?
Tens of thousands of people have been evicted by force from prime land in the capital, Phnom Penh. Rights groups say as many as 250,000 people have been affected nationwide. The government says the dwellers are land-grabbers who refuse to accept their offers of compensation.
The World Bank and other donors say the evictions are hampering efforts to tackle poverty in a country where 35 percent of the population live on less than $1 a day. The ruling party's control over the police, military and the courts means those made homeless have limited power to fight the evictions.
The government has also come under fire for failing to deal with rampant corruption, which the United States says costs the country $500 million a year. Cambodia, which anti-graft watchdogs rank as one of the world's most corrupt countries, has dismissed the claims as foreign interference. An anti-corruption bill drafted in the 1990s is also yet to be approved.
Analysts say the failure to tackle graft will restrict the amount of foreign investment in the country.
IS ALL THIS ANY THREAT TO HUN SEN?
Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) enjoyed a landslide election victory in 2008 on the back of four years of double-digit growth driven by pro-investment policies, which helped create jobs and improve infrastructure and public services.
Analysts say that after decades of war and political strife, Cambodians are better off under Hun Sen. Although he is criticised for his authoritarian style, people are largely supportive of his nationalist and conservative approach to running the country.
"He has a desire to maintain Khmer traditions and morals and that maintains some strong fabric on which to base policy decisions. That's good for political stability," said Ian Bryson, a specialist on Cambodia at Control Risks in Singapore.
COULD A SLOWING ECONOMY AFFECT CAMBODIA'S STABILITY?
A boom in the garment manufacturing industry in the 1990s helped lift many rural people out of poverty, but the global financial crisis has hurt tourism and slashed demand for Cambodian-made clothes in countries like the United States.
Analysts believe victims of lay-offs are unlikely to blame the government or protest against factory closures. They say stability rests on the government's future handling of inflation, diversifying its economy and improving its investment climate.
"The government should invest more in agriculture and other industries and reduce its reliance on garments and tourism," said Pou Sothirak, a senior research fellow at Singapore's Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS). (Compiled by Martin Petty and Ek Madra in Phnom Penh; Editing by Alan Raybould and Bill Tarrant)
18 August, 2009
Reaction to Thailand’s formation a naval base
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A high ranking Cambodian government official reacted on Monday to Thailand’s formation of a naval base in Koh Kut Island, located in Trat Province. The Cambodian official called the formation of this naval base a violation of the 2000 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Cambodia and Thailand, and that it is a threat to Cambodia’s national security as well.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, made this statement after reports indicated that Thai royal navy battleships were ordered to patrol near the overlapping waters between Thailand and Cambodia in order to counter any action taken by Cambodia. Phay Siphan told RFA: “Therefore, the naval threat will affect the national security of the kingdom of Cambodia. Furthermore, the use of troops to resolve border issues or to protect waters in the Thai-Cambodian Gulf is not in agreement with the 2000 MOU.” Phay Siphan said that Cambodia will deliver a diplomatic note to Thailand for its sending of battleships to the overlapping sea waters area.
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A high ranking Cambodian government official reacted on Monday to Thailand’s formation of a naval base in Koh Kut Island, located in Trat Province. The Cambodian official called the formation of this naval base a violation of the 2000 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Cambodia and Thailand, and that it is a threat to Cambodia’s national security as well.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, made this statement after reports indicated that Thai royal navy battleships were ordered to patrol near the overlapping waters between Thailand and Cambodia in order to counter any action taken by Cambodia. Phay Siphan told RFA: “Therefore, the naval threat will affect the national security of the kingdom of Cambodia. Furthermore, the use of troops to resolve border issues or to protect waters in the Thai-Cambodian Gulf is not in agreement with the 2000 MOU.” Phay Siphan said that Cambodia will deliver a diplomatic note to Thailand for its sending of battleships to the overlapping sea waters area.
Model stalls provide vendors from Preah Vihear an array of options
The Phnom Penh Post
Monday, 17 August 2009 15:03 Thet Sambath
Displaced families will begin selecting stalls this week, although there is still no word on when the market will be fully rebuilt and operational.
BEGINNING this week, vendors at a market near Preah Vihear temple that was demolished by Thai rocket fire in early April are to have the opportunity to choose from new stalls designed by the Preah Vihear National Authority (PVNA).
"We finished construction of the model stalls over the weekend," said Hang Soth, the PVNA's director general. "We will allow people to choose whichever stall they want, and later there will be a ballot so they can choose a location."
The stalls come in three sizes: 2-by-4 metres, 4-by-12 metres and 4-by-20 metres. Hang Soth said vendors would need to pay for the stalls themselves, adding that a 4-by-12-metre stall would cost roughly US$2,000.
About 319 families who lived and worked at the market were displaced during an exchange of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on April 3 that destroyed all 264 stalls, according to accounts from Cambodian military officials.
The Cambodian government in May demanded US$2.1 million from the Thai government to pay for the damages, though there has been no response from Bangkok.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said last month that he wanted to see the market completely rebuilt by late July.
Thailand's border communications office wrote on July 30 to its Cambodian counterpart, claiming that the construction of new stalls at the market violated a memorandum of understanding on border demarcation signed between the two countries in 2000.
Cambodian officials rejected that claim, saying the market reconstruction had nothing to do with the continuing standoff over contested territory.
Sor Thavy, deputy governor of Preah Vihear province, said Sunday that he did not know when construction of the market would be complete.
"We have tried to get this work finished because we want people to get their businesses running and begin serving tourists in the area," he said.
"I hope people can start building their stalls soon."
Monday, 17 August 2009 15:03 Thet Sambath
Displaced families will begin selecting stalls this week, although there is still no word on when the market will be fully rebuilt and operational.
BEGINNING this week, vendors at a market near Preah Vihear temple that was demolished by Thai rocket fire in early April are to have the opportunity to choose from new stalls designed by the Preah Vihear National Authority (PVNA).
"We finished construction of the model stalls over the weekend," said Hang Soth, the PVNA's director general. "We will allow people to choose whichever stall they want, and later there will be a ballot so they can choose a location."
The stalls come in three sizes: 2-by-4 metres, 4-by-12 metres and 4-by-20 metres. Hang Soth said vendors would need to pay for the stalls themselves, adding that a 4-by-12-metre stall would cost roughly US$2,000.
About 319 families who lived and worked at the market were displaced during an exchange of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on April 3 that destroyed all 264 stalls, according to accounts from Cambodian military officials.
The Cambodian government in May demanded US$2.1 million from the Thai government to pay for the damages, though there has been no response from Bangkok.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said last month that he wanted to see the market completely rebuilt by late July.
Thailand's border communications office wrote on July 30 to its Cambodian counterpart, claiming that the construction of new stalls at the market violated a memorandum of understanding on border demarcation signed between the two countries in 2000.
Cambodian officials rejected that claim, saying the market reconstruction had nothing to do with the continuing standoff over contested territory.
Sor Thavy, deputy governor of Preah Vihear province, said Sunday that he did not know when construction of the market would be complete.
"We have tried to get this work finished because we want people to get their businesses running and begin serving tourists in the area," he said.
"I hope people can start building their stalls soon."
17 August, 2009
Cambodia: Appointment Of Judges
Monday, 17 August 2009, 12:38 pm
Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission
Cambodia: Appointment Of Judges And Prosecutors Is Unconstitutional
Lately there has been a hectic time within the Cambodian judiciary with the actual and planned retirement and appointments of many judges and prosecutors. The government has retired and replaced half of the members, two ex-officio and two appointed, of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy (SCM), the supreme judicial body responsible for the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors. A further 27 are also to be retired. In the meantime, some 32 judges and prosecutors, including four who are the de facto age of retirement of 60, have been appointed to new positions.
In a statement dated 7 August 2009 (see CAMBODIA: Law on the statute of judges, not their retirement, is the right end from which to tackle judicial reform), the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has already pointed out the unconstitutionality of the government’s infringement upon the jurisdiction and independence of the SCM when it had bypassed it and retired and replaced those four SCM members. According to the country’s Constitution, the nomination, including appointment, retirement and transfer, as well as the discipline of judges and prosecutors are the responsibility of the SCM, and not that of the government. The SCM is the supreme body of the judiciary which is chaired by the country’s king and which also has the responsibility of ensuring judicial independence.
The AHRC has also urged the Cambodian government to enact two long-overdue laws which the country has specifically stipulated (Art.135 of the Constitution) and which would provide the legal background and framework for the judiciary as required under Art.14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the right to a fair trial by an independent, competent and impartial tribunal established by law. With the law on the statute of judges and prosecutors, the age of retirement would be officially fixed and known, and actual retirement could be set without arousing any suspicion of favouritism for those who wish to remain in active service.
The AHRC has further noticed that the appointment of judges and prosecutors, as shown in the king’s successive appointment decrees, has not respected the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary as enshrined the country’s Constitutions (Arts 51 and 128). In these appointments, the Minister of Justice, a cabinet member and also a member of the SCM, has made nomination proposals, received the approval of the SCM and submitted them to the king for signing. For some appointments, the SCM has been bypassed altogether and the proposals directly submitted to the king for signature.
This practice contravenes Art 134 of the country’s Constitution which says, among other things, that “The Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall make proposals to the King on the appointment of judges and prosecutors to all courts.” It should be declared unconstitutional when, according Art. 150 of the same Constitution, “Laws and decisions by the State institutions shall have to be in strict conformity with the Constitution.”
The Cambodian government and its ministry of justice in particular seem to have exploited the absence of the constitutional review or any other forms of judicial review of their decisions and have tried to rule by decree, at least in appointment and retirement of judges and prosecutors. The constitutional review of laws seems clear cut when a specific number of public figures and even ordinary citizens may request for it. However, there is almost a complete silence over the constitutional review of decisions of state institutions, the government and its ministries included. Only a litigant who feels his or her rights are affected by such a decision could raise the issue of its unconstitutionality with the Constitutional Council through the Supreme Court. Unlike in the case of promulgated laws, neither any public figure mentioned above nor any concerned citizen may request for the constitutional review of decisions of state institutions. Nor is the Constitutional Council habilitated to do this constitutional
The AHRC strongly urges the Minister of Justice to respect the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and the SCM, refrain from infringing upon the jurisdiction of the SCM, and let this supreme judicial body fully exercise its full constitutional authority over the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors. The Minister of Justice should relinquish its control of the SCM Secretariat and transfer it back where it belongs, that is, to the SCM. It should instead secure for the SCM adequate resources to enable it to fulfill its constitutional duties in the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors, and in the independence of the judiciary.
AHRC further urges that all decisions of state institutions, including those of the government and the Ministry of Justice regarding the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors as well as the independence of the judiciary, should be in strict conformity with the Constitution as specifically stipulated under its Art 150. The Law on the Organization and Functioning of the Constitutional Council should therefore be amended in order to subject such decisions to the same constitutional review as all laws.
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
ENDS
Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission
Cambodia: Appointment Of Judges And Prosecutors Is Unconstitutional
Lately there has been a hectic time within the Cambodian judiciary with the actual and planned retirement and appointments of many judges and prosecutors. The government has retired and replaced half of the members, two ex-officio and two appointed, of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy (SCM), the supreme judicial body responsible for the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors. A further 27 are also to be retired. In the meantime, some 32 judges and prosecutors, including four who are the de facto age of retirement of 60, have been appointed to new positions.
In a statement dated 7 August 2009 (see CAMBODIA: Law on the statute of judges, not their retirement, is the right end from which to tackle judicial reform), the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has already pointed out the unconstitutionality of the government’s infringement upon the jurisdiction and independence of the SCM when it had bypassed it and retired and replaced those four SCM members. According to the country’s Constitution, the nomination, including appointment, retirement and transfer, as well as the discipline of judges and prosecutors are the responsibility of the SCM, and not that of the government. The SCM is the supreme body of the judiciary which is chaired by the country’s king and which also has the responsibility of ensuring judicial independence.
The AHRC has also urged the Cambodian government to enact two long-overdue laws which the country has specifically stipulated (Art.135 of the Constitution) and which would provide the legal background and framework for the judiciary as required under Art.14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the right to a fair trial by an independent, competent and impartial tribunal established by law. With the law on the statute of judges and prosecutors, the age of retirement would be officially fixed and known, and actual retirement could be set without arousing any suspicion of favouritism for those who wish to remain in active service.
The AHRC has further noticed that the appointment of judges and prosecutors, as shown in the king’s successive appointment decrees, has not respected the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary as enshrined the country’s Constitutions (Arts 51 and 128). In these appointments, the Minister of Justice, a cabinet member and also a member of the SCM, has made nomination proposals, received the approval of the SCM and submitted them to the king for signing. For some appointments, the SCM has been bypassed altogether and the proposals directly submitted to the king for signature.
This practice contravenes Art 134 of the country’s Constitution which says, among other things, that “The Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall make proposals to the King on the appointment of judges and prosecutors to all courts.” It should be declared unconstitutional when, according Art. 150 of the same Constitution, “Laws and decisions by the State institutions shall have to be in strict conformity with the Constitution.”
The Cambodian government and its ministry of justice in particular seem to have exploited the absence of the constitutional review or any other forms of judicial review of their decisions and have tried to rule by decree, at least in appointment and retirement of judges and prosecutors. The constitutional review of laws seems clear cut when a specific number of public figures and even ordinary citizens may request for it. However, there is almost a complete silence over the constitutional review of decisions of state institutions, the government and its ministries included. Only a litigant who feels his or her rights are affected by such a decision could raise the issue of its unconstitutionality with the Constitutional Council through the Supreme Court. Unlike in the case of promulgated laws, neither any public figure mentioned above nor any concerned citizen may request for the constitutional review of decisions of state institutions. Nor is the Constitutional Council habilitated to do this constitutional
The AHRC strongly urges the Minister of Justice to respect the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and the SCM, refrain from infringing upon the jurisdiction of the SCM, and let this supreme judicial body fully exercise its full constitutional authority over the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors. The Minister of Justice should relinquish its control of the SCM Secretariat and transfer it back where it belongs, that is, to the SCM. It should instead secure for the SCM adequate resources to enable it to fulfill its constitutional duties in the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors, and in the independence of the judiciary.
AHRC further urges that all decisions of state institutions, including those of the government and the Ministry of Justice regarding the nomination and discipline of judges and prosecutors as well as the independence of the judiciary, should be in strict conformity with the Constitution as specifically stipulated under its Art 150. The Law on the Organization and Functioning of the Constitutional Council should therefore be amended in order to subject such decisions to the same constitutional review as all laws.
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
ENDS
Kingdom is defiant over Thai warships
The Phnom Penh Post
Monday, 17 August 2009 15:04 Cheang Sokha
Govt says Gulf deployment over gas deal OK if kept in Thai waters.
MARINES and warships from the Thai navy's 1st Fleet have been deployed close to disputed areas in the Gulf of Thailand to monitor Cambodian oil explorations in the area, according to Thai media reports, prompting warnings from Cambodian officials that the country reserves the right to defend its sovereignty against any naval incursions.
On Saturday, the Bangkok Post reported that the forces have been deployed at Koh Kut, close to the 27,000-kilometre overlapping claims area (OCA), to monitor a recent exploration deal between the government and French petrochemical giant Total.
"We have to send our royal warships on patrol to proclaim our territory and warn Cambodia against initiating any action in the overlapping area," the newspaper quoted an anonymous Thai naval source as saying.
"If we let Total explore in the overlapping areas, it would mean we admit the area belongs to Cambodia."
Cambodian officials said that the Thai deployment was legitimate so long as it took place inside Thai territory, but warned that Cambodia would move to protect its sovereignty in the Gulf if Thai forces made incursions into the overlapping area.
"If their deployment moves into the [overlapping claims area] or into Cambodian waters, then we will defend our nation," said Var Kimhong, Cambodia's top border negotiator.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the deployment was Thailand's decision, but that it would do little to resolve the maritime boundary dispute.
"[The deployment] will not scare Cambodia," he said.
"Thailand cannot use its forces to threaten Cambodia's security. Cambodia will defend its rights as an independent, sovereign state."
He added: "[We] will still keep [our] stance of resolving the dispute peacefully."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIN MEDIUM, 10PT, KERNING -25, USING BASELINE. oNE SPACE AFTER QUOTE MARk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to France in July, officials announced an agreement offering Total the exploration rights to a 2,430-square kilometre block - known as Area III - that sits inside the OCA.
The deal prompted complaints from the People's Assembly of Thailand (PAT), a nationalist advocacy group, that the Total agreement was a violation of Thai sovereignty.
The group wrote to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on July 30, criticising the government and armed forces for not taking action to head off the deal.
A copy of the letter was also reportedly sent to the French Embassy in Bangkok.
Matters are complicated by the fact that Bangkok also allocated the zone - which it refers to as B10 and B11 - to US oil company Chevron and Japan's Mitsui in 1971.
Var Kimhong said that Thailand's claims about the Total deal were "unreasonable", adding that Cambodia had not complained to Bangkok when it granted oil exploration rights in the OCA to Chevron and Mitsui.
Var Kimhong added that Cambodia was always open for negotiation on the two countries' maritime border, which has never been fully demarcated.
In Sokhemra, chief of the Cambodian coast guard stationed in Preah Sihanouk province, said that he had not heard of the naval deployment at Koh Kut, but that the Cambodian navy conducts regular patrols near the OCA and would be immediately aware of any Thai incursions.
Chum Socheat, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, could not be reached for comment on Sunday, and Jean-Pierre Labbe, general manager of Total EP Cambodge, said he was out of the country and did not wish to comment over the phone.
Monday, 17 August 2009 15:04 Cheang Sokha
Govt says Gulf deployment over gas deal OK if kept in Thai waters.
MARINES and warships from the Thai navy's 1st Fleet have been deployed close to disputed areas in the Gulf of Thailand to monitor Cambodian oil explorations in the area, according to Thai media reports, prompting warnings from Cambodian officials that the country reserves the right to defend its sovereignty against any naval incursions.
On Saturday, the Bangkok Post reported that the forces have been deployed at Koh Kut, close to the 27,000-kilometre overlapping claims area (OCA), to monitor a recent exploration deal between the government and French petrochemical giant Total.
"We have to send our royal warships on patrol to proclaim our territory and warn Cambodia against initiating any action in the overlapping area," the newspaper quoted an anonymous Thai naval source as saying.
"If we let Total explore in the overlapping areas, it would mean we admit the area belongs to Cambodia."
Cambodian officials said that the Thai deployment was legitimate so long as it took place inside Thai territory, but warned that Cambodia would move to protect its sovereignty in the Gulf if Thai forces made incursions into the overlapping area.
"If their deployment moves into the [overlapping claims area] or into Cambodian waters, then we will defend our nation," said Var Kimhong, Cambodia's top border negotiator.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the deployment was Thailand's decision, but that it would do little to resolve the maritime boundary dispute.
"[The deployment] will not scare Cambodia," he said.
"Thailand cannot use its forces to threaten Cambodia's security. Cambodia will defend its rights as an independent, sovereign state."
He added: "[We] will still keep [our] stance of resolving the dispute peacefully."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIN MEDIUM, 10PT, KERNING -25, USING BASELINE. oNE SPACE AFTER QUOTE MARk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During Prime Minister Hun Sen's visit to France in July, officials announced an agreement offering Total the exploration rights to a 2,430-square kilometre block - known as Area III - that sits inside the OCA.
The deal prompted complaints from the People's Assembly of Thailand (PAT), a nationalist advocacy group, that the Total agreement was a violation of Thai sovereignty.
The group wrote to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on July 30, criticising the government and armed forces for not taking action to head off the deal.
A copy of the letter was also reportedly sent to the French Embassy in Bangkok.
Matters are complicated by the fact that Bangkok also allocated the zone - which it refers to as B10 and B11 - to US oil company Chevron and Japan's Mitsui in 1971.
Var Kimhong said that Thailand's claims about the Total deal were "unreasonable", adding that Cambodia had not complained to Bangkok when it granted oil exploration rights in the OCA to Chevron and Mitsui.
Var Kimhong added that Cambodia was always open for negotiation on the two countries' maritime border, which has never been fully demarcated.
In Sokhemra, chief of the Cambodian coast guard stationed in Preah Sihanouk province, said that he had not heard of the naval deployment at Koh Kut, but that the Cambodian navy conducts regular patrols near the OCA and would be immediately aware of any Thai incursions.
Chum Socheat, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, could not be reached for comment on Sunday, and Jean-Pierre Labbe, general manager of Total EP Cambodge, said he was out of the country and did not wish to comment over the phone.
Thai, VN fixed-asset investment increases
The Phnom Penh Post
Friday, 14 August 2009 15:01 Nguon Sovan
FIXED asset investment in Cambodia from Thailand and Vietnam increased 87.2 percent and 85.3 percent respectively in the first half of this year compared with the first half of last year, according to a report from the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) released earlier this month.
CDC data from the first half of 2009 showed that Thai investment in the Kingdom rose to US$178 million from $22.7 million in the same period last year.
Vietnamese investment jumped to $114.2 million from 16.7 million last year.
Youn Heng, deputy director of the Evaluation and Incentive Department at the Cambodian Investment Board, an arm of the CDC, said Wednesday that Thai investments in sugar cane plantations and processing plants accounted for most of the spike in investment.
"The sharp rise in Thai investment follows agreements on two sugar cane factories in Koh Kong worth about $158 million," he said, adding that the investments were inked prior to the ramping up of border tensions over the disputed Preah Vihear temple complex and had just been approved by the CDC in the first half of this year.
CDC figures also showed that the uptick in Vietnamese fixed-asset investment relates to ventures in rubber plantations, telecommunication and transportation, especially the Kingdom's new national carrier Cambodian Angkor Air.
"These investments will be mutually beneficial and will strengthen bilateral business relations between the regional neighbours," said Le Bien Cuong, a commercial counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Friday, 14 August 2009 15:01 Nguon Sovan
FIXED asset investment in Cambodia from Thailand and Vietnam increased 87.2 percent and 85.3 percent respectively in the first half of this year compared with the first half of last year, according to a report from the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) released earlier this month.
CDC data from the first half of 2009 showed that Thai investment in the Kingdom rose to US$178 million from $22.7 million in the same period last year.
Vietnamese investment jumped to $114.2 million from 16.7 million last year.
Youn Heng, deputy director of the Evaluation and Incentive Department at the Cambodian Investment Board, an arm of the CDC, said Wednesday that Thai investments in sugar cane plantations and processing plants accounted for most of the spike in investment.
"The sharp rise in Thai investment follows agreements on two sugar cane factories in Koh Kong worth about $158 million," he said, adding that the investments were inked prior to the ramping up of border tensions over the disputed Preah Vihear temple complex and had just been approved by the CDC in the first half of this year.
CDC figures also showed that the uptick in Vietnamese fixed-asset investment relates to ventures in rubber plantations, telecommunication and transportation, especially the Kingdom's new national carrier Cambodian Angkor Air.
"These investments will be mutually beneficial and will strengthen bilateral business relations between the regional neighbours," said Le Bien Cuong, a commercial counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Africa: Will Global Recession Damage U.S. Africa Trade Ties?
Paul Collier and Rosa Whitaker
11 August 2009
Source: allAfrica.com
Opinion
Writing after last week's United States-Africa trade forum in Nairobi, Paul Collier and Rosa Whitaker call on both the U.S. and African nations to craft a meaningful strategy to prevent better trade relations from becoming "a casualty of the recession and of the drift towards political expediency and protectionism."
This week in Nairobi, Kenya, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led a US delegation to the 8th Annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. This Forum, a meeting of US and African ministers, business and civil society leaders, was created as part of AGOA -- the first comprehensive US trade policy towards Africa. Enacted under the Clinton Administration in 2000, AGOA continues to garner laudable bipartisan support in the US Congress and strong approval in sub-Saharan Africa. AGOA effectively removed tariffs on essentially all African products exported to the US, providing Africa with a preferential trading scheme that has since bolstered its development. Africa's exports under AGOA have increased by 300% and over 300,000 AGOA-related jobs have been created in the region. While AGOA's full potential is yet to be realized, this trade-centered policy approach provides a model that is helping the "bottom billion" to converge with the rest of the world.
The fact that Secretary Clinton elected to attend the Forum along with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk sends a clear signal that AGOA will remain a cornerstone of US Africa policy. What is less clear, however, is how the US and African governments will work to solidify AGOA's gains and ensure that progress is not eroded in this daunting global environment.
As this meeting takes place, Africa is at risk of becoming the largest casualty of the global recession. So far in 2009, Africa's exports to the US have declined by 58% -- far more than any other region. The UN Economic Commission for Africa projects that the current economic downturn could cost the continent $251 billion in 2009 and $277 billion in 2010 in export earnings, despite earlier predictions that the region would not be hard hit.
We urge leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to craft a meaningful strategy to ensure that AGOA is not a casualty of the recession and of the drift towards political expediency and protectionism.
This strategy should contain three important elements to push Africa along the path of convergence. AGOA needs to be bigger, better and longer. AGOA should be expanded to include more textiles and agricultural export products, specifically those on which many African families depend for their livelihood such as sugar, peanuts, cotton, and a range of processed cocoa products.
AGOA's gains will not expand if they are not protected. The delegates to the Forum should, therefore, agree that extending AGOA to all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as proposed by some Members of Congress is dangerous for Africa's development. The rationale for privileged access is to pump-prime new entrants so that they can get established in competition with the established producers, who thanks to their large scale have lower costs. This proposal would provide the same preferential market access to the well-established apparel sectors of Bangladesh and Cambodia as it does to the struggling new garment industries in Africa. In 2008, Bangladesh and Cambodia together exported over $5.5 billion dollars in garments to the US-- nearly five times as much as the garment exports of all 48 sub-Saharan African countries combined. If these super-competitive Southeast Asian nations are given AGOA's preferential market access, Africa's fragile industries will be decimated. For manufacturing industries to take root in Africa and eventually become globally competitive, they will need temporary protection from dominant Asian industries. This is rational protection because it is strategic and is kick-starting a growth process. Trade preferences should be, by nature, a development tool for the most vulnerable and not an extra advantage for those industries already thriving without them.
To make AGOA better, it needs a stronger investment response. Certainly, the US ought to give serious consideration to providing tax incentives to US companies that invest in manufacturing, infrastructure and other sectors in Africa with a large development impact. Tax codes are powerful investment incentives, as was evidenced by US investment in Israel and Ireland, and conversely, the wide-spread corporate divestment from apartheid South Africa when the US enacted double-taxation on American companies doing business there.
AGOA also needs to be made longer. It currently expires in 2015, and this ever-changing expiration date and the uncertainty about its renewal discourage long-term investments.
Finally, AGOA needs to be global—not in terms of who gets it, but who gives it. The G8 should harmonize its market access for Africa, using AGOA as a model.
Kenya, the host of this meeting, provides a good example of a country that would benefit from a bigger, better and permanent AGOA. Since AGOA's inception in 2000, Kenya's exports to the US have more than tripled, increasing from $111 million to $344 million in 2008. The country's apparel exports alone have increased eight-fold, from $30 million in 2000 to $244 million in 2008. Behind these numbers are families, jobs and hope.
We found a policy instrument that works. Now is time to scale it up.
Paul Collier is Professor of Economics at Oxford University and the author of The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What can be Done about It.
Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO of The Whitaker Group, served as the Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa in the Administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. She was one of the hands-on architects of AGOA while a Trade Advisor to Congressman Charlie Rangel, the current Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
11 August 2009
Source: allAfrica.com
Opinion
Writing after last week's United States-Africa trade forum in Nairobi, Paul Collier and Rosa Whitaker call on both the U.S. and African nations to craft a meaningful strategy to prevent better trade relations from becoming "a casualty of the recession and of the drift towards political expediency and protectionism."
This week in Nairobi, Kenya, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led a US delegation to the 8th Annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. This Forum, a meeting of US and African ministers, business and civil society leaders, was created as part of AGOA -- the first comprehensive US trade policy towards Africa. Enacted under the Clinton Administration in 2000, AGOA continues to garner laudable bipartisan support in the US Congress and strong approval in sub-Saharan Africa. AGOA effectively removed tariffs on essentially all African products exported to the US, providing Africa with a preferential trading scheme that has since bolstered its development. Africa's exports under AGOA have increased by 300% and over 300,000 AGOA-related jobs have been created in the region. While AGOA's full potential is yet to be realized, this trade-centered policy approach provides a model that is helping the "bottom billion" to converge with the rest of the world.
The fact that Secretary Clinton elected to attend the Forum along with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk sends a clear signal that AGOA will remain a cornerstone of US Africa policy. What is less clear, however, is how the US and African governments will work to solidify AGOA's gains and ensure that progress is not eroded in this daunting global environment.
As this meeting takes place, Africa is at risk of becoming the largest casualty of the global recession. So far in 2009, Africa's exports to the US have declined by 58% -- far more than any other region. The UN Economic Commission for Africa projects that the current economic downturn could cost the continent $251 billion in 2009 and $277 billion in 2010 in export earnings, despite earlier predictions that the region would not be hard hit.
We urge leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to craft a meaningful strategy to ensure that AGOA is not a casualty of the recession and of the drift towards political expediency and protectionism.
This strategy should contain three important elements to push Africa along the path of convergence. AGOA needs to be bigger, better and longer. AGOA should be expanded to include more textiles and agricultural export products, specifically those on which many African families depend for their livelihood such as sugar, peanuts, cotton, and a range of processed cocoa products.
AGOA's gains will not expand if they are not protected. The delegates to the Forum should, therefore, agree that extending AGOA to all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as proposed by some Members of Congress is dangerous for Africa's development. The rationale for privileged access is to pump-prime new entrants so that they can get established in competition with the established producers, who thanks to their large scale have lower costs. This proposal would provide the same preferential market access to the well-established apparel sectors of Bangladesh and Cambodia as it does to the struggling new garment industries in Africa. In 2008, Bangladesh and Cambodia together exported over $5.5 billion dollars in garments to the US-- nearly five times as much as the garment exports of all 48 sub-Saharan African countries combined. If these super-competitive Southeast Asian nations are given AGOA's preferential market access, Africa's fragile industries will be decimated. For manufacturing industries to take root in Africa and eventually become globally competitive, they will need temporary protection from dominant Asian industries. This is rational protection because it is strategic and is kick-starting a growth process. Trade preferences should be, by nature, a development tool for the most vulnerable and not an extra advantage for those industries already thriving without them.
To make AGOA better, it needs a stronger investment response. Certainly, the US ought to give serious consideration to providing tax incentives to US companies that invest in manufacturing, infrastructure and other sectors in Africa with a large development impact. Tax codes are powerful investment incentives, as was evidenced by US investment in Israel and Ireland, and conversely, the wide-spread corporate divestment from apartheid South Africa when the US enacted double-taxation on American companies doing business there.
AGOA also needs to be made longer. It currently expires in 2015, and this ever-changing expiration date and the uncertainty about its renewal discourage long-term investments.
Finally, AGOA needs to be global—not in terms of who gets it, but who gives it. The G8 should harmonize its market access for Africa, using AGOA as a model.
Kenya, the host of this meeting, provides a good example of a country that would benefit from a bigger, better and permanent AGOA. Since AGOA's inception in 2000, Kenya's exports to the US have more than tripled, increasing from $111 million to $344 million in 2008. The country's apparel exports alone have increased eight-fold, from $30 million in 2000 to $244 million in 2008. Behind these numbers are families, jobs and hope.
We found a policy instrument that works. Now is time to scale it up.
Paul Collier is Professor of Economics at Oxford University and the author of The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What can be Done about It.
Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO of The Whitaker Group, served as the Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa in the Administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. She was one of the hands-on architects of AGOA while a Trade Advisor to Congressman Charlie Rangel, the current Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
14 August, 2009
Wal-Mart collects supplier data for environmental label
Source:packagingnews.co.uk
Simeon Goldstein, packagingnews.co.uk, 20 July 2009
Wal-Mart is collecting data from its suppliers so it can label its products according to the overall impact on the environment.
The company, which owns Asda, is asking 100,000 of its global suppliers to provide information about areas such as water usage, greenhouse gas emissions and packaging.
The data will then be used to provide a Sustainable Product Index rating for customers. The retailer has not yet decided on the form it will take, but it could be number or a colour code.
Wal-Mart president and chief executive Mike Duke said customers wanted to know about the entire life-cycle of a product so they felt good about buying it. "We do not see this as a trend that will fade. Higher customer expectations are a permanent part of the future," he said.
US suppliers will have to complete the survey by 1 October. Wal-Mart said it will establish timelines for the rest of the world on a country-by-country basis.
The survey comprises 15 questions looking at energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, material sourcing and use and people and community (see below).
Chief merchandising officer John Fleming said: "The questions aren't complicated, but we've never before systematically asked for this kind of information. The survey is a key step to establishing real transparency in our supply chain."
Wal-Mart is providing the initial funding for the Sustainability Index Consortium but said it would work with leading technology companies to create an open platform for the data. It called on other retailers and suppliers to contribute.
"We want to spur the development of a common database to allow the consortium to collect and analyse the knowledge of the global supply chain," said Duke.
-------------------
WALMART SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT INDEX
Supplier questions
Energy and Climate: Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
1. Have you measured your corporate greenhouse gas emissions?
2. Have you opted to report your greenhouse gas emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project?
3. What is your total annual greenhouse gas emissions reported in the most recent year measured?
4. Have you set publicly available greenhouse gas reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
Material Efficiency: Reducing Waste and Enhancing Quality
5. If measured, please report the total amount of solid waste generated from the facilities that produce your product(s) for Walmart for the most recent year measured.
6. Have you set publicly available solid waste reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
7. If measured, please report total water use from facilities that produce your product(s) for Walmart for the most recent year measured.
8. Have you set publicly available water use reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
Natural Resources: Producing High Quality, Responsibly Sourced Raw Materials
9. Have you established publicly available sustainability purchasing guidelines for your direct suppliers that address issues such as environmental compliance, employment practices and product/ingredient safety?
10. Have you obtained 3rd party certifications for any of the products that you sell to Walmart?
People and Community: Ensuring Responsible and Ethical Production
11. Do you know the location of 100 percent of the facilities that produce your product(s)?
12. Before beginning a business relationship with a manufacturing facility, do you evaluate the quality of, and capacity for, production?
13. Do you have a process for managing social compliance at the manufacturing level?
14. Do you work with your supply base to resolve issues found during social compliance evaluations and also document specific corrections and improvements?
15. Do you invest in community development activities in the markets you source from and/or operate within?
Simeon Goldstein, packagingnews.co.uk, 20 July 2009
Wal-Mart is collecting data from its suppliers so it can label its products according to the overall impact on the environment.
The company, which owns Asda, is asking 100,000 of its global suppliers to provide information about areas such as water usage, greenhouse gas emissions and packaging.
The data will then be used to provide a Sustainable Product Index rating for customers. The retailer has not yet decided on the form it will take, but it could be number or a colour code.
Wal-Mart president and chief executive Mike Duke said customers wanted to know about the entire life-cycle of a product so they felt good about buying it. "We do not see this as a trend that will fade. Higher customer expectations are a permanent part of the future," he said.
US suppliers will have to complete the survey by 1 October. Wal-Mart said it will establish timelines for the rest of the world on a country-by-country basis.
The survey comprises 15 questions looking at energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, material sourcing and use and people and community (see below).
Chief merchandising officer John Fleming said: "The questions aren't complicated, but we've never before systematically asked for this kind of information. The survey is a key step to establishing real transparency in our supply chain."
Wal-Mart is providing the initial funding for the Sustainability Index Consortium but said it would work with leading technology companies to create an open platform for the data. It called on other retailers and suppliers to contribute.
"We want to spur the development of a common database to allow the consortium to collect and analyse the knowledge of the global supply chain," said Duke.
-------------------
WALMART SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT INDEX
Supplier questions
Energy and Climate: Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
1. Have you measured your corporate greenhouse gas emissions?
2. Have you opted to report your greenhouse gas emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project?
3. What is your total annual greenhouse gas emissions reported in the most recent year measured?
4. Have you set publicly available greenhouse gas reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
Material Efficiency: Reducing Waste and Enhancing Quality
5. If measured, please report the total amount of solid waste generated from the facilities that produce your product(s) for Walmart for the most recent year measured.
6. Have you set publicly available solid waste reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
7. If measured, please report total water use from facilities that produce your product(s) for Walmart for the most recent year measured.
8. Have you set publicly available water use reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
Natural Resources: Producing High Quality, Responsibly Sourced Raw Materials
9. Have you established publicly available sustainability purchasing guidelines for your direct suppliers that address issues such as environmental compliance, employment practices and product/ingredient safety?
10. Have you obtained 3rd party certifications for any of the products that you sell to Walmart?
People and Community: Ensuring Responsible and Ethical Production
11. Do you know the location of 100 percent of the facilities that produce your product(s)?
12. Before beginning a business relationship with a manufacturing facility, do you evaluate the quality of, and capacity for, production?
13. Do you have a process for managing social compliance at the manufacturing level?
14. Do you work with your supply base to resolve issues found during social compliance evaluations and also document specific corrections and improvements?
15. Do you invest in community development activities in the markets you source from and/or operate within?
Minister Claims Right to Rebuild Preah Vihear Market
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 August 2009
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Thursday dismissed Thailand’s stance against rebuilding of a market near the contested border at Preah Vihear temple.
Thai officials have opposed the rebuilding of Psar Prasat, claiming it violates a border agreement between the two countries made in 2000.
The market of 262 stalls belonging to 319 families was destroyed in fighting between the two sides April 3, and Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered Preah Vihear provincial authorities to rebuild it.
Thailand sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 30, claiming reconstruction violated a border demarcation agreement.
However, Hor Namhong told reporters outside the Foreign Ministry on Thursday that Cambodia had the right to rebuild the market.
“What Cambodia does does not depend on the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of Thailand,” he said. “What is in the interest of Cambodia and what is in the rights of Cambodia, Cambodiamust do.”
Cambodia demanded $2.1 million in compensation from the Thai government, claiming Thai soldiers had destroyed the market with rocket fire, but has so far received no money.
Preah Vihear Governor Sar Thavy said Thursday the provincial government had so far rebuilt 183 stalls and built a water reservoir and public toilet.
“I reconstructed a new market on our soil,” he said. “It is not affecting anyone, because in the place of the destroyed market, our people have lived and made their businesses since before the 15 July 2008 military event.
Original report from Phnom Penh
13 August 2009
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Thursday dismissed Thailand’s stance against rebuilding of a market near the contested border at Preah Vihear temple.
Thai officials have opposed the rebuilding of Psar Prasat, claiming it violates a border agreement between the two countries made in 2000.
The market of 262 stalls belonging to 319 families was destroyed in fighting between the two sides April 3, and Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered Preah Vihear provincial authorities to rebuild it.
Thailand sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 30, claiming reconstruction violated a border demarcation agreement.
However, Hor Namhong told reporters outside the Foreign Ministry on Thursday that Cambodia had the right to rebuild the market.
“What Cambodia does does not depend on the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of Thailand,” he said. “What is in the interest of Cambodia and what is in the rights of Cambodia, Cambodiamust do.”
Cambodia demanded $2.1 million in compensation from the Thai government, claiming Thai soldiers had destroyed the market with rocket fire, but has so far received no money.
Preah Vihear Governor Sar Thavy said Thursday the provincial government had so far rebuilt 183 stalls and built a water reservoir and public toilet.
“I reconstructed a new market on our soil,” he said. “It is not affecting anyone, because in the place of the destroyed market, our people have lived and made their businesses since before the 15 July 2008 military event.
13 August, 2009
WRAP to host social compliance auditor training course in China & Hong Kong
August 11, 2009 (Hong Kong)
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), the world’s largest social and environmental compliance certification program, is hosting two Auditor/Lead Auditor Social System Training courses in Hong Kong on October 13-17 and in Dongguan, China on October 27-31, 2009.
Co-organized with Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), this five-day training course is designed for social and environmental compliance practitioners, internal social compliance auditors and people who want to gain knowledge and skills in social compliance auditing.
The course includes introduction to social auditing, elements of ILO conventions, 12 WRAP Principles, the process of auditing, and so on.
The course is accredited by International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA), the world’s original and largest international certification body for auditors of management systems.
Delegates successfully completing the course and examination will be awarded an IRCA registered certificate titled “Social System Auditor/Lead Auditor”.
Click here to know more about the training course.
For enquiries, contact Ms. Yeung at 852.2788.5833 or 852.2788.5802. Email: mcy@hkpc.org.
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), the world’s largest social and environmental compliance certification program, is hosting two Auditor/Lead Auditor Social System Training courses in Hong Kong on October 13-17 and in Dongguan, China on October 27-31, 2009.
Co-organized with Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), this five-day training course is designed for social and environmental compliance practitioners, internal social compliance auditors and people who want to gain knowledge and skills in social compliance auditing.
The course includes introduction to social auditing, elements of ILO conventions, 12 WRAP Principles, the process of auditing, and so on.
The course is accredited by International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA), the world’s original and largest international certification body for auditors of management systems.
Delegates successfully completing the course and examination will be awarded an IRCA registered certificate titled “Social System Auditor/Lead Auditor”.
Click here to know more about the training course.
For enquiries, contact Ms. Yeung at 852.2788.5833 or 852.2788.5802. Email: mcy@hkpc.org.
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production
70,000 garment workers in Cambodia lost their jobs since the economic crisis began
Migrant workers at risk from financial crisis: UN
Aug 13, 2009 (LBO) - Migrants are left out of current stimulus packages and HIV/AIDS programmes are under threat, according to a new United Nations study.
The paper, released at the ninth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and Pacific in Bali this week, said the adverse impact of the financial crisis on health and migration is likely to expand, just as it did in the 1997 Asian crisis.
At that time currency devaluations lead to higher drug prices, donor funding declined, and government programs were cut.
The paper said that governments have stopped issuing work permits, are cracking down on undocumented migrants in Malaysia and Taiwan, and many foreign workers in manufacturing and construction are being laid off in Indonesia and China.
Also, in several countries including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore there are increasing reports of worsening working conditions.
There are increasing concerns that female migrants who lose their jobs may move into sex work to survive, the report said.
In Cambodia, for example, 70,000 garment workers, mostly female, have lost their jobs since the crisis began.
A recent study by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking has found that among a sample of sex workers, 58 percent of them entered into sex work in the wake of the financial crisis, and that 19 percent of these women were former garment sector workers.
"It is critical that policy makers don’t make the same decisions that were made in ’97 vis-à-vis cuts to essential HIV/AIDS programmes, and adverse policies that worked against migrant workers," said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Regional HIV Practice Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific.
"In contrast to the massive stimulus packages that countries are launching to boost their economies, AIDS spending for a comprehensive response represents a mere 0.01% of such programmes."
Aug 13, 2009 (LBO) - Migrants are left out of current stimulus packages and HIV/AIDS programmes are under threat, according to a new United Nations study.
The paper, released at the ninth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and Pacific in Bali this week, said the adverse impact of the financial crisis on health and migration is likely to expand, just as it did in the 1997 Asian crisis.
At that time currency devaluations lead to higher drug prices, donor funding declined, and government programs were cut.
The paper said that governments have stopped issuing work permits, are cracking down on undocumented migrants in Malaysia and Taiwan, and many foreign workers in manufacturing and construction are being laid off in Indonesia and China.
Also, in several countries including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore there are increasing reports of worsening working conditions.
There are increasing concerns that female migrants who lose their jobs may move into sex work to survive, the report said.
In Cambodia, for example, 70,000 garment workers, mostly female, have lost their jobs since the crisis began.
A recent study by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking has found that among a sample of sex workers, 58 percent of them entered into sex work in the wake of the financial crisis, and that 19 percent of these women were former garment sector workers.
"It is critical that policy makers don’t make the same decisions that were made in ’97 vis-à-vis cuts to essential HIV/AIDS programmes, and adverse policies that worked against migrant workers," said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Regional HIV Practice Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific.
"In contrast to the massive stimulus packages that countries are launching to boost their economies, AIDS spending for a comprehensive response represents a mere 0.01% of such programmes."
Camaraderie extends past border: Cambodian troops
The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 13 August 2009 15:02 Thet Sambath
Thai soldiers stationed on the border in Preah Vihear have been carrying water to their Cambodian counterparts at Ta Thav, Choam Ksan district, about 7 kilometres from the disputed Preah Vihear temple complex, military officials in the area said Wednesday.
"We have no water to use on our side [of the border], but the Thai side does, so they carry plastic containers full of water for us every day", First Lieutenant Ten Navun, an officer in Border Military Battalion 404 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), told the Post on Wednesday.
"Our soldiers just go to the barbed wire near the border, and the plastic containers are already there. They pick them up every day," Ten Navun said.
In another sign that tensions may be easing in the troubled region, Thai soldiers have begun removing barbed wire from the disputed border area.
Thai troops had previously placed about 200 metres of barbed wire near the entrance to their border checkpoint, but have begun removing it at the request of Cambodian soldiers.
"Thai soldiers have been removing the barbed wire since Monday," Ten Navun said. "It looks bad to have barbed wire demarcating the border when that demarcation has not yet been resolved."
Other soldiers stationed in the area agreed that relations were much-improved.
"Our soldiers at the front line always have meetings with Thai soldiers to build relationships with each other and ease the situation to avoid armed confrontation," Yim Phim, commander of RCAF Brigade 8, said Wednesday.
So Dorn, an officer in Border Military Battalion 404, agreed.
"[Thai and Cambodian troops] are coming closer to each other, and we have increased our understanding of one another each day," he said.
Thursday, 13 August 2009 15:02 Thet Sambath
Thai soldiers stationed on the border in Preah Vihear have been carrying water to their Cambodian counterparts at Ta Thav, Choam Ksan district, about 7 kilometres from the disputed Preah Vihear temple complex, military officials in the area said Wednesday.
"We have no water to use on our side [of the border], but the Thai side does, so they carry plastic containers full of water for us every day", First Lieutenant Ten Navun, an officer in Border Military Battalion 404 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), told the Post on Wednesday.
"Our soldiers just go to the barbed wire near the border, and the plastic containers are already there. They pick them up every day," Ten Navun said.
In another sign that tensions may be easing in the troubled region, Thai soldiers have begun removing barbed wire from the disputed border area.
Thai troops had previously placed about 200 metres of barbed wire near the entrance to their border checkpoint, but have begun removing it at the request of Cambodian soldiers.
"Thai soldiers have been removing the barbed wire since Monday," Ten Navun said. "It looks bad to have barbed wire demarcating the border when that demarcation has not yet been resolved."
Other soldiers stationed in the area agreed that relations were much-improved.
"Our soldiers at the front line always have meetings with Thai soldiers to build relationships with each other and ease the situation to avoid armed confrontation," Yim Phim, commander of RCAF Brigade 8, said Wednesday.
So Dorn, an officer in Border Military Battalion 404, agreed.
"[Thai and Cambodian troops] are coming closer to each other, and we have increased our understanding of one another each day," he said.
Oh ASEAN!
Malaysia Today
Thursday, 13 August 2009 10:55
By Hakim Joe
Here we go again. Aung San Suu Kyi was once again found guilty of violating the terms of a previous five-year house arrest order and sentenced to yet another one and a half years of house arrest. That this was a political motivated decision by the military government of Myanmar to stop the Lady from contesting in the next elections (scheduled for next year) is beyond doubt.
The question of why ASEAN needs to suffer having such a regime within its ranks is beyond reasonable justification. But then again, the member states of ASEAN retains the same type of mentality and political forcefulness that it comes as no surprise that “birds of the same feather, flocks together.”
ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Of these 10 nations, we have six so-called different types of democracies, one military dictatorship, two socialist (single-party) and one sultanate (under martial law)? What does one call such a grouping of differing ideologies?
The Myanmar government is not the sole ASEAN member that finds ways to incarcerate and victimize its political opposition and to repress civil liberties. The other six democratic governments have done exactly the same. Cambodia (banishment of Sam Rainsy), Indonesia (autocracy under Soekarno), Malaysia (jailing of Anwar Ibrahim), Philippines (assassination of Benigno Aquino), Singapore (jailing of Dr. Chee Soon Juan) and Thailand (military coup ousting Thaksin Shinawatra) have at one time or another suppressed human rights by force. Brunei is still effectively under martial law and the word of the Sultan is law. Laos and Vietnam are one-party socialist (communist) states that tolerate no opposition.
ASEAN is also a grouping which has a non-intervention policy of its fellow members. Non-intervention in this case refers to zero criticism, censure or denunciation of its brothers-in-arms regardless of how the neighboring countries are governed. One country could be systematically exterminating its minorities and another member nation cannot show overt signs of disapproval. Another country might be importing illegal firearms and yet all other member country must remain silent. So, what does hypocritical ASEAN really stands for? Whatever it stands for or attempts to represent, all one can say that it is no friend of human rights and civil liberties.
Look at the five founding fathers of ASEAN. Adam Malik (ex-kidnapper and alleged CIA operative) from Indonesia, Abdul Razak (NEP Supremo and champion of Ketuanan Melayu) from Malaysia, S.Rajaratnam (rejected the ASEAN proposed enforcement capacity of the human rights body) from Singapore, Narciso Ramos (father of military strongman turned politician Fidel Ramos) from the Philippines and Thanat Khoman (Preah Vihear controversy) from Thailand do not exactly instill any confidence of sorts. From the very beginning, ASEAN was a convenient grouping of neighborly countries that has nothing in common and without a common goal. The Bangkok Declaration of 1967 only just about covers economic ties as its assumptions to both social and cultural representations are for show only.
So, what’s wrong with ASEAN? Economically, it is a region of different developing countries vying for the same contracts and benefits from other first-world nations who intend to invest here. Culturally, it is a jumbled mass of diversity without common grounds. Politically, we have communism, military dictatorship, sultanate, constitutional democracy, constitutional monarchy, electoral democracy, unicameral parliamentary democracy and presidential constitutional republics. Religion is across the board from Islam to Buddhism to Roman Catholic to Confucianism to atheism. Ethnically, it is even worse with a multitude of indigenous people and settlers that makes social integration a massive headache. Linguistically, at least these ASEAN nations speak English (which is neither their mother tongue) or their version of what is English.
Even the establishment of ASEAN was anything but a formality when these Southeast Asian countries decided to form an association to safeguard their own interests. First we have the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), composed of Malaya, the Philippines, and Thailand (in1961) which Indonesia did not want to join. Then there was the Maphilindo (in 1963), a combined name of Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia which was a no go owing to the military disputes between the member countries. SEATO was a blatant waste of time as the lack of agreement between the member states made it unviable. The Asian Pacific Council (ASPAC) and the Southeast Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SEAARC) were similarly impossible to maintain as each individual country seek opportunities that were advantageous to themselves only.
ASEAN (formed in 1967) is basically a loose organization whereby its three basic principles constitute a respect for state sovereignty, non-intervention, and renunciation of the threat or use of force in resolving disputes. ASEAN did not base its foundation on formal dispute-resolution mechanisms and hence is not a collective security arrangement. This means that if Thailand decides to whack Singapore or vice versa, Malaysia (situated in between) will just have to sit down and watch it happen.
ASEAN's primary objectives were to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to promote regional peace and stability. Whether these are the actual objectives are to be seen as it can be said that the ten member nations are atrocious (and notorious) when it comes to human rights and civil liberties in their respective countries. But then again, ASEAN members did not say that they will improve human rights and civil liberties within their own borders.
Each founding member had its own agenda when joining up - Indonesia needed to restore its relations in the region, but it also identified ASEAN as an opportunity both to exercise regional leadership and to diminish the capacity of external powers to influence events in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines supported ASEAN as a way to constrain a militant Indonesia.
To Singapore, belonging to ASEAN symbolized that it was accepted and tolerated by its neighbours as an equal state after seceding from Malaysia. For Malaysia and the Philippines, ASEAN was an opportunity to enhance their national prestige on a global platform. The Philippines additionally hoped that ASEAN would strengthen Filipinos' Asian identity and trading links, thereby counterbalancing the Philippines' relationship with the United States. Thailand hoped that ASEAN would become the basis for the "collective political defense" of the region, forming an organization that could possibly supplement and perhaps eventually replace its own security relationship with the United States.
“Will ASEAN work?” Still existing from its establishment in 1967 until today, it does not automatically grant them success. The question now becomes “Is ASEAN working?” This is because the decisions agreed upon in the ASEAN are consensus oriented.
ASEAN undertakes to solicit agreement from most of the states. However, "consensus does not assume that everyone must agree; it assumes at least that no one objects to the proposal." In other words, consensus does not require unanimity but rather leads to finding a common interest that could appeal to the whole.
At the beginning it was not that difficult as agreements were entirely economically orientated and there were only five democratic member countries. These days there are ten and no longer are all member countries democratically inclined. Anyway, the ASEAN charter does not enforce a collective agreement and each member is allowed to disagree entirely with any accord that is proposed. One can even walk out from the conference if one is sufficiently pissed off (without penalty), which Hun Sen (former Khmer Rouge cadre) almost did in the last conference in Thailand.
In conclusion, ASEAN is like ASA, Maphilindo, SEATO, ASPAC and SEAARC – defunct, obsolete, redundant, superfluous, pointless, insignificant etcetera. Politics aside, ASEAN is too small even to be effective as an economic integration grouping even though the combined population exceeds those of the EU (which is an economic powerhouse). The lack of balance between national priorities and regional interests become a major impediment to a sustained integration as a whole. Moreover, the very principle that ASEAN practises – setting aside conflicting problems in order to prevent military confrontations – makes the association powerless, toothless and helpless. To avoid the problems means leaving them unsolved. A bloody waste of money, effort and time, if you ask me.
The other predicaments include the unrepresentative representation of the society at large and its failure to manage military concerns effectively and proficiently. As the representatives from each member country are from the educated social class, they have problems representing the value systems and social norms in their society at large.
Additionally, although the perception of a common external threat had played an important role in ASEAN's creation and grew more important as the organization developed, there have not been sufficient consensuses amongst the ASEAN states on security issues. Suspicion and misgivings among the ASEAN nations remains awkward, and the ASEAN members lack the military power needed to form a credible bloc. Power afterall is projected from the barrel of a gun and ASEAN just do not have sufficiently big guns to project such an image.
Both the persistent crisis that occur in the "world's most persistently problematic areas of political friction" and the organization's inability to effectively deal with the internal conflicts remain a crucial problem ASEAN has yet to overcome, and would probably never surmount.
Altogether, ASEAN's multiplicity in diverse realms hinders the member states from achieving a realistic agreement on specific issues and programs. The assortment of nations does not lead to much benefit from economic integration either. The principles ASEAN adheres to thwart the way to development; in short, it needs to overcome a lot of difficulties with no practical hope in sight. The word “progressive-cooperation” here is a misnomer.
Coming back to Aung San Suu Kyi, the initial sentence was for another three years house arrest but this was “reduced” by the military regime on “humanitarian grounds”. Thank God the Lady remains steadfast in her quest for democracy in a repressive country that remains part of the ASEAN grouping.
Shouldn’t we follow suit?
Thursday, 13 August 2009 10:55
By Hakim Joe
Here we go again. Aung San Suu Kyi was once again found guilty of violating the terms of a previous five-year house arrest order and sentenced to yet another one and a half years of house arrest. That this was a political motivated decision by the military government of Myanmar to stop the Lady from contesting in the next elections (scheduled for next year) is beyond doubt.
The question of why ASEAN needs to suffer having such a regime within its ranks is beyond reasonable justification. But then again, the member states of ASEAN retains the same type of mentality and political forcefulness that it comes as no surprise that “birds of the same feather, flocks together.”
ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Of these 10 nations, we have six so-called different types of democracies, one military dictatorship, two socialist (single-party) and one sultanate (under martial law)? What does one call such a grouping of differing ideologies?
The Myanmar government is not the sole ASEAN member that finds ways to incarcerate and victimize its political opposition and to repress civil liberties. The other six democratic governments have done exactly the same. Cambodia (banishment of Sam Rainsy), Indonesia (autocracy under Soekarno), Malaysia (jailing of Anwar Ibrahim), Philippines (assassination of Benigno Aquino), Singapore (jailing of Dr. Chee Soon Juan) and Thailand (military coup ousting Thaksin Shinawatra) have at one time or another suppressed human rights by force. Brunei is still effectively under martial law and the word of the Sultan is law. Laos and Vietnam are one-party socialist (communist) states that tolerate no opposition.
ASEAN is also a grouping which has a non-intervention policy of its fellow members. Non-intervention in this case refers to zero criticism, censure or denunciation of its brothers-in-arms regardless of how the neighboring countries are governed. One country could be systematically exterminating its minorities and another member nation cannot show overt signs of disapproval. Another country might be importing illegal firearms and yet all other member country must remain silent. So, what does hypocritical ASEAN really stands for? Whatever it stands for or attempts to represent, all one can say that it is no friend of human rights and civil liberties.
Look at the five founding fathers of ASEAN. Adam Malik (ex-kidnapper and alleged CIA operative) from Indonesia, Abdul Razak (NEP Supremo and champion of Ketuanan Melayu) from Malaysia, S.Rajaratnam (rejected the ASEAN proposed enforcement capacity of the human rights body) from Singapore, Narciso Ramos (father of military strongman turned politician Fidel Ramos) from the Philippines and Thanat Khoman (Preah Vihear controversy) from Thailand do not exactly instill any confidence of sorts. From the very beginning, ASEAN was a convenient grouping of neighborly countries that has nothing in common and without a common goal. The Bangkok Declaration of 1967 only just about covers economic ties as its assumptions to both social and cultural representations are for show only.
So, what’s wrong with ASEAN? Economically, it is a region of different developing countries vying for the same contracts and benefits from other first-world nations who intend to invest here. Culturally, it is a jumbled mass of diversity without common grounds. Politically, we have communism, military dictatorship, sultanate, constitutional democracy, constitutional monarchy, electoral democracy, unicameral parliamentary democracy and presidential constitutional republics. Religion is across the board from Islam to Buddhism to Roman Catholic to Confucianism to atheism. Ethnically, it is even worse with a multitude of indigenous people and settlers that makes social integration a massive headache. Linguistically, at least these ASEAN nations speak English (which is neither their mother tongue) or their version of what is English.
Even the establishment of ASEAN was anything but a formality when these Southeast Asian countries decided to form an association to safeguard their own interests. First we have the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), composed of Malaya, the Philippines, and Thailand (in1961) which Indonesia did not want to join. Then there was the Maphilindo (in 1963), a combined name of Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia which was a no go owing to the military disputes between the member countries. SEATO was a blatant waste of time as the lack of agreement between the member states made it unviable. The Asian Pacific Council (ASPAC) and the Southeast Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SEAARC) were similarly impossible to maintain as each individual country seek opportunities that were advantageous to themselves only.
ASEAN (formed in 1967) is basically a loose organization whereby its three basic principles constitute a respect for state sovereignty, non-intervention, and renunciation of the threat or use of force in resolving disputes. ASEAN did not base its foundation on formal dispute-resolution mechanisms and hence is not a collective security arrangement. This means that if Thailand decides to whack Singapore or vice versa, Malaysia (situated in between) will just have to sit down and watch it happen.
ASEAN's primary objectives were to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to promote regional peace and stability. Whether these are the actual objectives are to be seen as it can be said that the ten member nations are atrocious (and notorious) when it comes to human rights and civil liberties in their respective countries. But then again, ASEAN members did not say that they will improve human rights and civil liberties within their own borders.
Each founding member had its own agenda when joining up - Indonesia needed to restore its relations in the region, but it also identified ASEAN as an opportunity both to exercise regional leadership and to diminish the capacity of external powers to influence events in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines supported ASEAN as a way to constrain a militant Indonesia.
To Singapore, belonging to ASEAN symbolized that it was accepted and tolerated by its neighbours as an equal state after seceding from Malaysia. For Malaysia and the Philippines, ASEAN was an opportunity to enhance their national prestige on a global platform. The Philippines additionally hoped that ASEAN would strengthen Filipinos' Asian identity and trading links, thereby counterbalancing the Philippines' relationship with the United States. Thailand hoped that ASEAN would become the basis for the "collective political defense" of the region, forming an organization that could possibly supplement and perhaps eventually replace its own security relationship with the United States.
“Will ASEAN work?” Still existing from its establishment in 1967 until today, it does not automatically grant them success. The question now becomes “Is ASEAN working?” This is because the decisions agreed upon in the ASEAN are consensus oriented.
ASEAN undertakes to solicit agreement from most of the states. However, "consensus does not assume that everyone must agree; it assumes at least that no one objects to the proposal." In other words, consensus does not require unanimity but rather leads to finding a common interest that could appeal to the whole.
At the beginning it was not that difficult as agreements were entirely economically orientated and there were only five democratic member countries. These days there are ten and no longer are all member countries democratically inclined. Anyway, the ASEAN charter does not enforce a collective agreement and each member is allowed to disagree entirely with any accord that is proposed. One can even walk out from the conference if one is sufficiently pissed off (without penalty), which Hun Sen (former Khmer Rouge cadre) almost did in the last conference in Thailand.
In conclusion, ASEAN is like ASA, Maphilindo, SEATO, ASPAC and SEAARC – defunct, obsolete, redundant, superfluous, pointless, insignificant etcetera. Politics aside, ASEAN is too small even to be effective as an economic integration grouping even though the combined population exceeds those of the EU (which is an economic powerhouse). The lack of balance between national priorities and regional interests become a major impediment to a sustained integration as a whole. Moreover, the very principle that ASEAN practises – setting aside conflicting problems in order to prevent military confrontations – makes the association powerless, toothless and helpless. To avoid the problems means leaving them unsolved. A bloody waste of money, effort and time, if you ask me.
The other predicaments include the unrepresentative representation of the society at large and its failure to manage military concerns effectively and proficiently. As the representatives from each member country are from the educated social class, they have problems representing the value systems and social norms in their society at large.
Additionally, although the perception of a common external threat had played an important role in ASEAN's creation and grew more important as the organization developed, there have not been sufficient consensuses amongst the ASEAN states on security issues. Suspicion and misgivings among the ASEAN nations remains awkward, and the ASEAN members lack the military power needed to form a credible bloc. Power afterall is projected from the barrel of a gun and ASEAN just do not have sufficiently big guns to project such an image.
Both the persistent crisis that occur in the "world's most persistently problematic areas of political friction" and the organization's inability to effectively deal with the internal conflicts remain a crucial problem ASEAN has yet to overcome, and would probably never surmount.
Altogether, ASEAN's multiplicity in diverse realms hinders the member states from achieving a realistic agreement on specific issues and programs. The assortment of nations does not lead to much benefit from economic integration either. The principles ASEAN adheres to thwart the way to development; in short, it needs to overcome a lot of difficulties with no practical hope in sight. The word “progressive-cooperation” here is a misnomer.
Coming back to Aung San Suu Kyi, the initial sentence was for another three years house arrest but this was “reduced” by the military regime on “humanitarian grounds”. Thank God the Lady remains steadfast in her quest for democracy in a repressive country that remains part of the ASEAN grouping.
Shouldn’t we follow suit?
Cambodian Authorities Vow not to Build over Ancient Preah Vihear Finds
DAP News
Written by Administrator -- Wednesday, 12 August 2009 02:52
Cambodian authorities overseeing the protection of the Khmer Preah Vihear temple said on Tuesday that ancient structures uncovered by recent investigations would not be built upon during the reconstruction of a Cambodian market.
Cambodian officials expressed optimism over a research project to find uncover the original appearance of the temple and two nearby now dried up rivers (known in Khmer as Kou Toeuk). The research was a prerequisite for the reconstruction of a local Cambodian market to be finished at the end of this month.
“Cambodian Preah Vihear auth-ority finished a research last month to pave the way for building a market destroyed by Thai soldiers’ fire,” Hang Soth, Preah Vihear temple authority director-general, told DAP News Cambodia on Tuesday.
The first research and investigation showed that many ancient materials aged over 900 years and some significant finds were made. Cambo- dian authorities promised they would not develop any areas over ancient structures.
“This preliminary research was just made to pave the way to build infrastructure around that area, while some projects were canceled because sacred and archeological materials were present under the surface,” Hang Soth said. “At the moment, a working group is building temporarily wooden stairs at one corner of the temple to help locals’ and tourists’ access. Afterwards, we will build stairs made of stone.”
According to the soldiers at the border, the working group is de-mining areas around temple area.
Preah Vihear Province deputy-Governor Sor Thavy told DAP News Cambodia that preliminary research and investigations had suggested an interesting history to the Khmer Preah Vihear Temple, especially during the earliest Sam Bokkhmoum area.
“The working group delayed its process instead of building the market as asked by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he confirmed.
Recently appointed Preah Vihear Provincial Governor Mum Mara said that the 200 meter area of the Sam Bokkhmoum temple suggested that Cambodia had controlled the area all around for many centuries.
“The first research found three Baray [man-made reservoirs] in three separated places near the T-shaped area of the temple,” Sor Thavy said. “We asked that the working group controlled by a Chinese company not to build over this area.”
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 19 said that Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple must have had Baray and rivers (Kou Toek) surrounding it.
Written by Administrator -- Wednesday, 12 August 2009 02:52
Cambodian authorities overseeing the protection of the Khmer Preah Vihear temple said on Tuesday that ancient structures uncovered by recent investigations would not be built upon during the reconstruction of a Cambodian market.
Cambodian officials expressed optimism over a research project to find uncover the original appearance of the temple and two nearby now dried up rivers (known in Khmer as Kou Toeuk). The research was a prerequisite for the reconstruction of a local Cambodian market to be finished at the end of this month.
“Cambodian Preah Vihear auth-ority finished a research last month to pave the way for building a market destroyed by Thai soldiers’ fire,” Hang Soth, Preah Vihear temple authority director-general, told DAP News Cambodia on Tuesday.
The first research and investigation showed that many ancient materials aged over 900 years and some significant finds were made. Cambo- dian authorities promised they would not develop any areas over ancient structures.
“This preliminary research was just made to pave the way to build infrastructure around that area, while some projects were canceled because sacred and archeological materials were present under the surface,” Hang Soth said. “At the moment, a working group is building temporarily wooden stairs at one corner of the temple to help locals’ and tourists’ access. Afterwards, we will build stairs made of stone.”
According to the soldiers at the border, the working group is de-mining areas around temple area.
Preah Vihear Province deputy-Governor Sor Thavy told DAP News Cambodia that preliminary research and investigations had suggested an interesting history to the Khmer Preah Vihear Temple, especially during the earliest Sam Bokkhmoum area.
“The working group delayed its process instead of building the market as asked by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he confirmed.
Recently appointed Preah Vihear Provincial Governor Mum Mara said that the 200 meter area of the Sam Bokkhmoum temple suggested that Cambodia had controlled the area all around for many centuries.
“The first research found three Baray [man-made reservoirs] in three separated places near the T-shaped area of the temple,” Sor Thavy said. “We asked that the working group controlled by a Chinese company not to build over this area.”
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 19 said that Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple must have had Baray and rivers (Kou Toek) surrounding it.
Textile policy sets $25 billion export target By Mubarak Zeb Khan
Thursday, 13 Aug, 2009 | 05:16 AM PST |
DAWN.COM; The Dawn Media Group
ISLAMABAD: A five-year textile policy unveiled on Wednesday offers about Rs87 billion cash subsidy to the textile and clothing sector to boost exports. It envisages plans to boost textile exports to $25 billion from the current $17.8 billion by 2014.
The policy, approved by a special cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was announced by Textile Minister Rana Farooq Saeed Khan.
The hefty package for the sector carries special duty-drawback rates, besides repayment of earlier research support, subsidy on long-term financing loan and development and other subsidies.
The policy focuses on export promotion measures, instead of steps to increase production and revive the ailing industry.
Without amending the rules of business, the government has issued two policies for the promotion of exports — the four-year trade policy announced in July focussed only on non-textile products.
The textile policy does not mention any specific target for sub-sectors.
There is also no mention of increasing production which has reached a saturation point and is producing low-quality products.
According to analysts, Pakistan’s textile and clothing sector sells its products cheaper than Bangladesh in the international market. ‘How come you expect foreign investment in a sector which produces low quality products?’ they said.
Under the new policy, the textile industry has been exempted from loadshedding. It will also enjoy priority in gas allocation like the fertiliser sector. An amount of Rs2.5 billion has been allocated to make export refinance available at five per cent.
An amount of Rs44 billion as special drawback rates will be provided to value-added textile exports for two years -- Rs17 billion in 2009-10 and Rs27 billion in 2010-11.
The proposed rates include one per cent of the FOB value of exports on processed fabric, two per cent of the FOB value on home textiles and three per cent of the FOB value on garments.
In addition, exporters achieving an increase of 15 per cent will get one per cent additional drawback. Another Rs5.4 billion has been earmarked for earlier refunds of research and development subsidy for the sector.
An amount of Rs4.5 billion has been allocated to continue monetisation of customs duty of PTA to offset additional cost for users for the current year. A decision about this duty will be taken by the National Tariff Commission during the year.
Another Rs5 billion has been allocated to convert long-term loans on the same pricing as applicable to the LTTF scheme together with a grace period of one year on both existing and converted facilities, without the facility of refinancing. Textile machinery will be zero rated.
In order to encourage women’s participation in the industry, the government will pick two regulatory costs to employers -- social security and EOBI. The cost of this measure is estimated at Rs2 billion for the current year.
The government plans to treat local sales of yarn and fabrics to large exporter as deemed exports. For this purpose, small producers will get one per cent drawback on levies and unadjusted taxes on sales to export houses which will cost Rs2 billion.
The government has set a target to increase the rate of conversion of cotton from $1,000 to $2,000 over the next five years. A textile investment support fund and technology upgradation fund (UTF) will be set up. An amount of Rs1.6 billion has been allocated for the UTF for the first year. However, this fund will go up to Rs17 billion by 2014.
Under UTF for capital intensive projects, the government will pick up 50 per cent of interest cost of new investment in plant and machinery with a maximum of five per cent. For small investments, government will contribute up to 20 per cent of capital cost as a grant.
An amount of Rs1 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure development for 2009-10 in public-private partnership. More industrial estates will be established, besides developing clusters.
An amount of Rs1 billion has allocated for skill development initiatives. A comprehensive training plan will be worked out.
A legal framework will be developed to specify standards and testing requirements, prescribe disclosure requirements and other matters relating to practices and methods relevant to the sector
The principle of cascading will be implemented while ensuring adequate protection to the local industry and removing anomalies. All regulatory bottlenecks will be removed. Market access will be increased through free trade agreements.
The government will provide necessary support for branding, grading, labelling and other activities that would add value to the textiles chain. An insurance scheme will be introduced to protect local exporters from unforeseen losses and help the industry in IT-related issues.
The policy will focus on certain sub-sector issues from fibre to garments, including ginning, spinning, weaving, knitting, processing, fashion designs, handloom and handicrafts, carpets, technical textiles. Specific schemes will be launched, mostly on public-private partnership basis, to upgrade and improve these sectors.
The persistent problem of contamination and trash content will be addressed through enforcement of the standards laid down in the Cotton Control Act and Cotton Standardisation Ordinance. Measures will be taken to develop other vegetable fibres (jute, flax etc.), wool and sericulture for supporting diversification within natural fibres.
A ginning institute will also be established in Multan to undertake research in improved ginning methods. Similar initiatives will be taken in other cotton growing areas.
DAWN.COM; The Dawn Media Group
ISLAMABAD: A five-year textile policy unveiled on Wednesday offers about Rs87 billion cash subsidy to the textile and clothing sector to boost exports. It envisages plans to boost textile exports to $25 billion from the current $17.8 billion by 2014.
The policy, approved by a special cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was announced by Textile Minister Rana Farooq Saeed Khan.
The hefty package for the sector carries special duty-drawback rates, besides repayment of earlier research support, subsidy on long-term financing loan and development and other subsidies.
The policy focuses on export promotion measures, instead of steps to increase production and revive the ailing industry.
Without amending the rules of business, the government has issued two policies for the promotion of exports — the four-year trade policy announced in July focussed only on non-textile products.
The textile policy does not mention any specific target for sub-sectors.
There is also no mention of increasing production which has reached a saturation point and is producing low-quality products.
According to analysts, Pakistan’s textile and clothing sector sells its products cheaper than Bangladesh in the international market. ‘How come you expect foreign investment in a sector which produces low quality products?’ they said.
Under the new policy, the textile industry has been exempted from loadshedding. It will also enjoy priority in gas allocation like the fertiliser sector. An amount of Rs2.5 billion has been allocated to make export refinance available at five per cent.
An amount of Rs44 billion as special drawback rates will be provided to value-added textile exports for two years -- Rs17 billion in 2009-10 and Rs27 billion in 2010-11.
The proposed rates include one per cent of the FOB value of exports on processed fabric, two per cent of the FOB value on home textiles and three per cent of the FOB value on garments.
In addition, exporters achieving an increase of 15 per cent will get one per cent additional drawback. Another Rs5.4 billion has been earmarked for earlier refunds of research and development subsidy for the sector.
An amount of Rs4.5 billion has been allocated to continue monetisation of customs duty of PTA to offset additional cost for users for the current year. A decision about this duty will be taken by the National Tariff Commission during the year.
Another Rs5 billion has been allocated to convert long-term loans on the same pricing as applicable to the LTTF scheme together with a grace period of one year on both existing and converted facilities, without the facility of refinancing. Textile machinery will be zero rated.
In order to encourage women’s participation in the industry, the government will pick two regulatory costs to employers -- social security and EOBI. The cost of this measure is estimated at Rs2 billion for the current year.
The government plans to treat local sales of yarn and fabrics to large exporter as deemed exports. For this purpose, small producers will get one per cent drawback on levies and unadjusted taxes on sales to export houses which will cost Rs2 billion.
The government has set a target to increase the rate of conversion of cotton from $1,000 to $2,000 over the next five years. A textile investment support fund and technology upgradation fund (UTF) will be set up. An amount of Rs1.6 billion has been allocated for the UTF for the first year. However, this fund will go up to Rs17 billion by 2014.
Under UTF for capital intensive projects, the government will pick up 50 per cent of interest cost of new investment in plant and machinery with a maximum of five per cent. For small investments, government will contribute up to 20 per cent of capital cost as a grant.
An amount of Rs1 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure development for 2009-10 in public-private partnership. More industrial estates will be established, besides developing clusters.
An amount of Rs1 billion has allocated for skill development initiatives. A comprehensive training plan will be worked out.
A legal framework will be developed to specify standards and testing requirements, prescribe disclosure requirements and other matters relating to practices and methods relevant to the sector
The principle of cascading will be implemented while ensuring adequate protection to the local industry and removing anomalies. All regulatory bottlenecks will be removed. Market access will be increased through free trade agreements.
The government will provide necessary support for branding, grading, labelling and other activities that would add value to the textiles chain. An insurance scheme will be introduced to protect local exporters from unforeseen losses and help the industry in IT-related issues.
The policy will focus on certain sub-sector issues from fibre to garments, including ginning, spinning, weaving, knitting, processing, fashion designs, handloom and handicrafts, carpets, technical textiles. Specific schemes will be launched, mostly on public-private partnership basis, to upgrade and improve these sectors.
The persistent problem of contamination and trash content will be addressed through enforcement of the standards laid down in the Cotton Control Act and Cotton Standardisation Ordinance. Measures will be taken to develop other vegetable fibres (jute, flax etc.), wool and sericulture for supporting diversification within natural fibres.
A ginning institute will also be established in Multan to undertake research in improved ginning methods. Similar initiatives will be taken in other cotton growing areas.
China's textile export declines in July as demand shrinks
www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-12 15:28:24
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's textile and garment export dropped 12.35 percent to 16.38 billion U.S. dollars in July from the same period last year, according to the latest statistics on the official website of the General Administration of Customs.
The figure in July, however, was 21 percent up from 13.48 billion U.S. dollars in June.
The textile and garment export declined 11.15 percent to 89.17 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months from the same period last year due to sluggish demand in China's major export destinations -- the United States, the European Union and Japan.
The decline in textile and garment export in July showed the enterprises were still struggling at the profits bottom, said Ma Xinzheng, vice editor-in-chief of Wetextiles.com, a leading textile website in China.
Growing domestic orders would support the recovery of China's textile sector despite slack overseas market demand, said Ma, adding that the prospect of China's textile sector was upbeat.
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's textile and garment export dropped 12.35 percent to 16.38 billion U.S. dollars in July from the same period last year, according to the latest statistics on the official website of the General Administration of Customs.
The figure in July, however, was 21 percent up from 13.48 billion U.S. dollars in June.
The textile and garment export declined 11.15 percent to 89.17 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months from the same period last year due to sluggish demand in China's major export destinations -- the United States, the European Union and Japan.
The decline in textile and garment export in July showed the enterprises were still struggling at the profits bottom, said Ma Xinzheng, vice editor-in-chief of Wetextiles.com, a leading textile website in China.
Growing domestic orders would support the recovery of China's textile sector despite slack overseas market demand, said Ma, adding that the prospect of China's textile sector was upbeat.
Govt defends its record against EU criticisms
The Phnom Penh Post
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 15:03 Sebastian Strangio
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to European Union claims that a recent series of defamation lawsuits is undermining freedom of expression, arguing that the government is "more than ever" committed to the promotion and protection of basic rights.
In a statement Tuesday, ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the government viewed human rights "from a comprehensive and long-term perspective".
"While individual rights, freedom of expression and a culture of debates are taking deeper roots in Cambodia, we must recognise that the exercise of these rights and freedoms ... must be within the rule of law," the statement said.
It also claimed that the recent defamation and disinformation verdicts were intended to protect individuals' "right to dignity", and were taking place "in compliance" with the law.
The statement came following a Friday meeting between EU representatives and Ouch Borith, a secretary of state at the Foreign Ministry, in which the Europeans expressed concerns that recent lawsuits could have "serious consequences for civil society's willingness to engage in democratic debate".
A classified terms of reference from the meeting, approved by the EU's 27 members, also stated the government had shown "disregard" for speech protections in place for elected political representatives.
Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said the response from the Foreign Ministry was unconvincing, coming the same day as opposition publisher Hang Chakra had his appeal against a disinformation conviction thrown out by the Appeal Court.
"The reality [in Cambodia] is different," he said, noting that "even the junta in Myanmar" called itself democratic.
"Checks and balances are very weak. The judiciary is run by the ruling party. No other democratic country has a system like this."
But he said the EU, a major aid donor, could force the government into making reforms.
"If there is pressure from the international community, I think they will change," he said. "This country cannot live on its own."
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 15:03 Sebastian Strangio
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to European Union claims that a recent series of defamation lawsuits is undermining freedom of expression, arguing that the government is "more than ever" committed to the promotion and protection of basic rights.
In a statement Tuesday, ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the government viewed human rights "from a comprehensive and long-term perspective".
"While individual rights, freedom of expression and a culture of debates are taking deeper roots in Cambodia, we must recognise that the exercise of these rights and freedoms ... must be within the rule of law," the statement said.
It also claimed that the recent defamation and disinformation verdicts were intended to protect individuals' "right to dignity", and were taking place "in compliance" with the law.
The statement came following a Friday meeting between EU representatives and Ouch Borith, a secretary of state at the Foreign Ministry, in which the Europeans expressed concerns that recent lawsuits could have "serious consequences for civil society's willingness to engage in democratic debate".
A classified terms of reference from the meeting, approved by the EU's 27 members, also stated the government had shown "disregard" for speech protections in place for elected political representatives.
Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said the response from the Foreign Ministry was unconvincing, coming the same day as opposition publisher Hang Chakra had his appeal against a disinformation conviction thrown out by the Appeal Court.
"The reality [in Cambodia] is different," he said, noting that "even the junta in Myanmar" called itself democratic.
"Checks and balances are very weak. The judiciary is run by the ruling party. No other democratic country has a system like this."
But he said the EU, a major aid donor, could force the government into making reforms.
"If there is pressure from the international community, I think they will change," he said. "This country cannot live on its own."
Govt flips stance on Suu Kyi
The Phnom Penh Post
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 15:03 Sebastian Strangio
Official says commuted verdict a sign of democratic Myanmar.
GOVERNMENT officials have hailed the outcome of the trial of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming the reduction of her sentence was a "good sign" the country was moving in a democratic direction.
On Tuesday, a court at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison found Suu Kyi guilty of breaching her house arrest and sentenced her to three years in prison and hard labour, a punishment the head of the ruling junta commuted to 18 months' house arrest.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the commuting of the sentence by Myanmar head of state Than Shwe showed the country's military government was keen to enact democratic reforms.
"It is a good signal for the situation that Aung San Suu Kyi only got a sentence of 18 months' house arrest," he said. "Myanmar has gone through many steps [and] is on the way to democratisation."
Koy Kuong did not wish to comment further on the trial on Tuesday, saying it was Myanmar's "internal affair" and had been handled in accordance with the country's laws.
Koy Kuong's comments mark a conspicuous U-turn in the government's position on the issue, which previously held that Suu Kyi was innocent of the charges against her and should be released.
The 64-year-old Nobel laureate was arrested May 3 after sheltering an American man who swam to her lakeside home in Yangon, an incident authorities called a breach of the terms of her house arrest.
"[We hope] Mrs Suu Kyi will be found innocent of these accusations, and that she will not receive any additional punishment, because she has been punished already," Koy Kuong told the Post on May 18.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, said that the government reversal was likely due to its awareness that the Suu Kyi trial "ran parallel" to the current situation in Cambodia - in particular, the recent spate of defamation and disinformation lawsuits filed against government critics.
"It's very difficult for the Cambodian government to say anything about [Suu Kyi's trial] because the same could be said about the Cambodian government," he said.
"The Foreign Ministry must be careful not to have its arguments reflect back on Cambodia."
He added: "At the end of the day, it is beneficial for the people in power to see the status quo [upheld]."
The government's response has also flown in the face of local opinion on the verdict.
Soe Thiha, the leader of a group of Myanmar activists living in Phnom Penh, condemned the verdict, saying it was a clear attempt to keep Suu Kyi out of sight during elections scheduled for 2010.
"I was optimistic [about] the outcome, but I think that the military are very afraid of her," he said. "They were desperate to keep her under control for next year."
Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann agreed, saying Suu Kyi had done "nothing wrong" and had been targeted out of fear. He called on the junta to bring its behaviour into line with the "democratic trends" sweeping the world.
International outrage
The verdict against Suu Kyi, who has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention since the junta refused to recognise her National League for Democracy's landslide victory in elections in 1990, has also drawn a spate of criticism from the international community.
British Premier Gordon Brown said he was "saddened and angry" at the verdict in the "sham trial" and called for the UN Security Council to impose a worldwide embargo on the sale of arms to the junta.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said new sanctions had to hit the junta where it hurt, especially in the trade of wood and rubies. Australia also called for tougher sanctions, expressing dismay at the "spurious" conviction.
In a statement released Tuesday, the EU presidency vowed to impose additional sanctions on the military regime.
"The EU will respond with additional targeted measures against those responsible for the verdict," the presidency said in a statement on behalf of the 27-nation bloc.
"The EU will further reinforce its restrictive measures targeting the regime of Burma/Myanmar, including its economic interests."
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 15:03 Sebastian Strangio
Official says commuted verdict a sign of democratic Myanmar.
GOVERNMENT officials have hailed the outcome of the trial of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming the reduction of her sentence was a "good sign" the country was moving in a democratic direction.
On Tuesday, a court at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison found Suu Kyi guilty of breaching her house arrest and sentenced her to three years in prison and hard labour, a punishment the head of the ruling junta commuted to 18 months' house arrest.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the commuting of the sentence by Myanmar head of state Than Shwe showed the country's military government was keen to enact democratic reforms.
"It is a good signal for the situation that Aung San Suu Kyi only got a sentence of 18 months' house arrest," he said. "Myanmar has gone through many steps [and] is on the way to democratisation."
Koy Kuong did not wish to comment further on the trial on Tuesday, saying it was Myanmar's "internal affair" and had been handled in accordance with the country's laws.
Koy Kuong's comments mark a conspicuous U-turn in the government's position on the issue, which previously held that Suu Kyi was innocent of the charges against her and should be released.
The 64-year-old Nobel laureate was arrested May 3 after sheltering an American man who swam to her lakeside home in Yangon, an incident authorities called a breach of the terms of her house arrest.
"[We hope] Mrs Suu Kyi will be found innocent of these accusations, and that she will not receive any additional punishment, because she has been punished already," Koy Kuong told the Post on May 18.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, said that the government reversal was likely due to its awareness that the Suu Kyi trial "ran parallel" to the current situation in Cambodia - in particular, the recent spate of defamation and disinformation lawsuits filed against government critics.
"It's very difficult for the Cambodian government to say anything about [Suu Kyi's trial] because the same could be said about the Cambodian government," he said.
"The Foreign Ministry must be careful not to have its arguments reflect back on Cambodia."
He added: "At the end of the day, it is beneficial for the people in power to see the status quo [upheld]."
The government's response has also flown in the face of local opinion on the verdict.
Soe Thiha, the leader of a group of Myanmar activists living in Phnom Penh, condemned the verdict, saying it was a clear attempt to keep Suu Kyi out of sight during elections scheduled for 2010.
"I was optimistic [about] the outcome, but I think that the military are very afraid of her," he said. "They were desperate to keep her under control for next year."
Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann agreed, saying Suu Kyi had done "nothing wrong" and had been targeted out of fear. He called on the junta to bring its behaviour into line with the "democratic trends" sweeping the world.
International outrage
The verdict against Suu Kyi, who has spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention since the junta refused to recognise her National League for Democracy's landslide victory in elections in 1990, has also drawn a spate of criticism from the international community.
British Premier Gordon Brown said he was "saddened and angry" at the verdict in the "sham trial" and called for the UN Security Council to impose a worldwide embargo on the sale of arms to the junta.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said new sanctions had to hit the junta where it hurt, especially in the trade of wood and rubies. Australia also called for tougher sanctions, expressing dismay at the "spurious" conviction.
In a statement released Tuesday, the EU presidency vowed to impose additional sanctions on the military regime.
"The EU will respond with additional targeted measures against those responsible for the verdict," the presidency said in a statement on behalf of the 27-nation bloc.
"The EU will further reinforce its restrictive measures targeting the regime of Burma/Myanmar, including its economic interests."
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP
12 August, 2009
Cambodia trade drops 22% in first 5 months
www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-12 10:52:46
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between Cambodia and South Korea dropped 22.6 percent in the first five months of this year, a sign that the global economic crisis continues to grip both countries, local media reported on Wednesday.
Total volume through May reached 114 million U.S. dollars, down from 147.27 million U.S. dollars over the same period last year, the Phnom Penh Post quoted Lee Hyoung-seok, deputy director general of the South Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, as saying.
Lee said that South Korea's principal export products to Cambodia included textiles, motor vehicles, consumer electronics and chemical products, while Cambodia's main exports were garments, agricultural products and timber.
"We are seeing a decline in volume because demand has fallen ...(leading) many manufacturers to reduce production," Lee said, adding "I forecast that for the rest of the year, bilateral trade will continue to fall at a similar rate, though things may improve next year."
Lee added that trade volume between the two countries reached 294 million U.S. dollars last year.
Thon Virak, deputy director of the International Trade Directorate at the Ministry of Commerce, declined to comment, according to the Post, saying he did not have bilateral trade figures.
But Kang Chandararot, president of the Cambodia Institute for Development Study, said that a stabilizing South Korean economy may gradually stimulate commerce as the year progressed.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between Cambodia and South Korea dropped 22.6 percent in the first five months of this year, a sign that the global economic crisis continues to grip both countries, local media reported on Wednesday.
Total volume through May reached 114 million U.S. dollars, down from 147.27 million U.S. dollars over the same period last year, the Phnom Penh Post quoted Lee Hyoung-seok, deputy director general of the South Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, as saying.
Lee said that South Korea's principal export products to Cambodia included textiles, motor vehicles, consumer electronics and chemical products, while Cambodia's main exports were garments, agricultural products and timber.
"We are seeing a decline in volume because demand has fallen ...(leading) many manufacturers to reduce production," Lee said, adding "I forecast that for the rest of the year, bilateral trade will continue to fall at a similar rate, though things may improve next year."
Lee added that trade volume between the two countries reached 294 million U.S. dollars last year.
Thon Virak, deputy director of the International Trade Directorate at the Ministry of Commerce, declined to comment, according to the Post, saying he did not have bilateral trade figures.
But Kang Chandararot, president of the Cambodia Institute for Development Study, said that a stabilizing South Korean economy may gradually stimulate commerce as the year progressed.
Decentralization Demands Participation: Expert
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
11 August 2009
People in local communities can exercise their rights to speak with representatives and the authorities and watch the development of Cambodia’s recent decentralization bid, a leading democracy monitor said Monday.
“People can make a request if they have any concerns about the community,” said Kim Chhorn, a senior program coordinator for the Committee for Free and Fair Elections.
“Those are the internal rules of the commune council,” he said, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
A community of 6,000 people needs to have the support of just 50 to bring a concern the meeting agendas. A community of 30,000 people needs 150 people to make such a request, he said.
“People can have a pre-meeting among themselves to define what the problems are and send three representatives to the commune council,” he said.
Encounters they expect are that some local authorities will not cooperate with the people or allow them to join forums.
Kim Chhorn said the rights of the people were under a local rule but a constitutional stipulation guaranteeing the right of assembly and participation.
Development without the participation of the people is “useless,” he said, because it’s not the development that people want.
Comfrel plans to have forums in 12 provinces to help people meet the local authorities and representatives to share their concerns and problems and find solutions. The forums will also help people understand the roles of local authorities in the communes and districts, and to understand the role of the citizen.
Washington
11 August 2009
People in local communities can exercise their rights to speak with representatives and the authorities and watch the development of Cambodia’s recent decentralization bid, a leading democracy monitor said Monday.
“People can make a request if they have any concerns about the community,” said Kim Chhorn, a senior program coordinator for the Committee for Free and Fair Elections.
“Those are the internal rules of the commune council,” he said, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
A community of 6,000 people needs to have the support of just 50 to bring a concern the meeting agendas. A community of 30,000 people needs 150 people to make such a request, he said.
“People can have a pre-meeting among themselves to define what the problems are and send three representatives to the commune council,” he said.
Encounters they expect are that some local authorities will not cooperate with the people or allow them to join forums.
Kim Chhorn said the rights of the people were under a local rule but a constitutional stipulation guaranteeing the right of assembly and participation.
Development without the participation of the people is “useless,” he said, because it’s not the development that people want.
Comfrel plans to have forums in 12 provinces to help people meet the local authorities and representatives to share their concerns and problems and find solutions. The forums will also help people understand the roles of local authorities in the communes and districts, and to understand the role of the citizen.
11 August, 2009
Cambodia to set up first National Arbitration Center
www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-10 16:12:04
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's first National Arbitration Center will be set up aimed at resolving business disputes and enhancing the confidence of private sectors doing business here, according to a press release from IFC on Monday.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement a three-year project to set up a National Arbitration Center to resolve business disputes and bolster confidence in the commercial system.
The National Arbitration Center will be the first commercial arbitration body in Cambodia offering the business community an alternative commercial dispute resolution mechanism to the courts and enabling businesses to resolve their disputes quickly, inexpensively, fairly, and with certainty. It thus promises to enhance the private sector's comfort level with engaging in business transactions.
IFC will support the establishment and operation of the center for the first three years, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and other partners. The support will include advisory services to the Secretariat of the Inception and Selection Commission in selecting and training an initial group of arbitrators, establishing procedures, and supporting the center's initial operations.
"The government has worked hard to create the legal framework for alternative dispute resolution by passing the commercial arbitration legislation in 2006 and recently issuing a sub-decree on the operations of the National Arbitration Center," said Cham Prasidh, senior minister and minister of commerce, speaking at the signing ceremony. "We are committed to supporting its development, and I believe it will be an effective mechanism for resolving commercial disputes."
Trang Nguyen, head of IFC Advisory Services in the Mekong, said, "IFC is pleased to work with the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector on this important initiative. As the Cambodian economy grows and there are more commercial transactions, a streamlined dispute resolution mechanism gives the private sector more comfort to engage in business transactions."
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's first National Arbitration Center will be set up aimed at resolving business disputes and enhancing the confidence of private sectors doing business here, according to a press release from IFC on Monday.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement a three-year project to set up a National Arbitration Center to resolve business disputes and bolster confidence in the commercial system.
The National Arbitration Center will be the first commercial arbitration body in Cambodia offering the business community an alternative commercial dispute resolution mechanism to the courts and enabling businesses to resolve their disputes quickly, inexpensively, fairly, and with certainty. It thus promises to enhance the private sector's comfort level with engaging in business transactions.
IFC will support the establishment and operation of the center for the first three years, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and other partners. The support will include advisory services to the Secretariat of the Inception and Selection Commission in selecting and training an initial group of arbitrators, establishing procedures, and supporting the center's initial operations.
"The government has worked hard to create the legal framework for alternative dispute resolution by passing the commercial arbitration legislation in 2006 and recently issuing a sub-decree on the operations of the National Arbitration Center," said Cham Prasidh, senior minister and minister of commerce, speaking at the signing ceremony. "We are committed to supporting its development, and I believe it will be an effective mechanism for resolving commercial disputes."
Trang Nguyen, head of IFC Advisory Services in the Mekong, said, "IFC is pleased to work with the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector on this important initiative. As the Cambodian economy grows and there are more commercial transactions, a streamlined dispute resolution mechanism gives the private sector more comfort to engage in business transactions."
EU condemns govt crackdown
The Phnom Penh Post
Monday, 10 August 2009 15:02 Sebastian Strangio
POLICE ACTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THE violent scenes that followed the verdict in Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua’s defamation on Tuesday are a testament to the government’s hostility to democracy and freedom of expression, the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) said, describing the day of the conviction as “another dark day for justice and democracy in Cambodia”. “The CCHR regrets the verdict and condemns the manner in which the police handled a peaceful procession,” the group said in a statement Friday, noting several instances of violence against civil society members, opposition politicians and bystanders. Protestor Seng Hok Chher said that he was kicked by police before being detained and held by authorities for around an hour. “They kicked me when I ran to break up the clashes. They saw me as Sam Rainsy’s bodyguard, [and] I was arrested,” he said.
MEAS SOKCHEA
THE European Commission has strongly condemned the government's recent legal offensive against outspoken critics, warning it could lead to a severe narrowing of the democratic space in Cambodia.
During a meeting with foreign ministry officials, three EU representatives said a recent string of defamation and disinformation cases against opposition figures and journalists could have "serious consequences for civil society's willingness to engage in democratic debate".
According to a classified terms of reference approved by the EU's 27 member states prior to the Friday meeting, EU representatives tabled concerns about "the use of criminal defamation and disinformation charges, including severe penalties imposed by the courts, to target those in civil society who raise minor criticisms of government policy".
The document, a copy of which has been obtained by the Post, also called attention to the government's "disregard" for protections of freedom of speech for elected representatives and the bringing of criminal charges against journalists "over articles critical of government policy".
Step by step
EU officials said they stopped short of threatening a withdrawal of financial support, saying that using development aid to punish or reward the government was "not a constructive way" to manage their relationship.
"It's not a matter of turning on and off taps in relation to good behaviour by the government," said British ambassador Andrew Mace, who represented the EU at the meeting.
But Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre of Human Rights, said that the threat of an aid withdrawal, whether or not it was made explicit, would be in the minds of government officials following the meeting.
He said that the government needed Western support for legitimacy, and that the EU's "unusually" strong position would keep officials guessing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EU IS MAKING A VERY CLEAR STATEMENT TO THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I think that the EU is making a very clear statement to the Cambodian government," he said. "If I were [Prime Minister] Hun Sen I would be very concerned."
Mace said the atmosphere at the meeting was "frank and constructive", part of an ongoing process of dialogue between the EU and the government.
"They listened to our concerns and told us their view very openly," he said.
"They certainly expressed their intention to ensure that they were meeting their international human rights obligations. Though we didn't agree on everything, I think it took place in a friendly, constructive spirit."
He added: "We'll continue to raise our concerns when we have them. We have discussed these issues over a long period of time with the government."
Ouch Borith, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who represented the government at the meeting, could not be reached for comment Sunday.
When contacted Sunday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong did not wish to comment but said the ministry would be releasing a statement "responding to the EU's concerns" today.
The meeting, which also involved German Ambassador Frank Marcus Mann and Rafael Dochao-Moreno, head of the delegation of the European Commission, came following the conviction of Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua on defamation charges Tuesday.
The aftermath of the hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which ordered Mu Sochua to pay 16.5 million riels (US$3,937) in fines and compensation for defaming Hun Sen, has also drawn fire from rights groups, who claim police used excessive force in their attempts to prevent SRP parliamentarians and supporters from marching through the city.
Monday, 10 August 2009 15:02 Sebastian Strangio
POLICE ACTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THE violent scenes that followed the verdict in Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua’s defamation on Tuesday are a testament to the government’s hostility to democracy and freedom of expression, the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) said, describing the day of the conviction as “another dark day for justice and democracy in Cambodia”. “The CCHR regrets the verdict and condemns the manner in which the police handled a peaceful procession,” the group said in a statement Friday, noting several instances of violence against civil society members, opposition politicians and bystanders. Protestor Seng Hok Chher said that he was kicked by police before being detained and held by authorities for around an hour. “They kicked me when I ran to break up the clashes. They saw me as Sam Rainsy’s bodyguard, [and] I was arrested,” he said.
MEAS SOKCHEA
THE European Commission has strongly condemned the government's recent legal offensive against outspoken critics, warning it could lead to a severe narrowing of the democratic space in Cambodia.
During a meeting with foreign ministry officials, three EU representatives said a recent string of defamation and disinformation cases against opposition figures and journalists could have "serious consequences for civil society's willingness to engage in democratic debate".
According to a classified terms of reference approved by the EU's 27 member states prior to the Friday meeting, EU representatives tabled concerns about "the use of criminal defamation and disinformation charges, including severe penalties imposed by the courts, to target those in civil society who raise minor criticisms of government policy".
The document, a copy of which has been obtained by the Post, also called attention to the government's "disregard" for protections of freedom of speech for elected representatives and the bringing of criminal charges against journalists "over articles critical of government policy".
Step by step
EU officials said they stopped short of threatening a withdrawal of financial support, saying that using development aid to punish or reward the government was "not a constructive way" to manage their relationship.
"It's not a matter of turning on and off taps in relation to good behaviour by the government," said British ambassador Andrew Mace, who represented the EU at the meeting.
But Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre of Human Rights, said that the threat of an aid withdrawal, whether or not it was made explicit, would be in the minds of government officials following the meeting.
He said that the government needed Western support for legitimacy, and that the EU's "unusually" strong position would keep officials guessing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EU IS MAKING A VERY CLEAR STATEMENT TO THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I think that the EU is making a very clear statement to the Cambodian government," he said. "If I were [Prime Minister] Hun Sen I would be very concerned."
Mace said the atmosphere at the meeting was "frank and constructive", part of an ongoing process of dialogue between the EU and the government.
"They listened to our concerns and told us their view very openly," he said.
"They certainly expressed their intention to ensure that they were meeting their international human rights obligations. Though we didn't agree on everything, I think it took place in a friendly, constructive spirit."
He added: "We'll continue to raise our concerns when we have them. We have discussed these issues over a long period of time with the government."
Ouch Borith, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who represented the government at the meeting, could not be reached for comment Sunday.
When contacted Sunday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong did not wish to comment but said the ministry would be releasing a statement "responding to the EU's concerns" today.
The meeting, which also involved German Ambassador Frank Marcus Mann and Rafael Dochao-Moreno, head of the delegation of the European Commission, came following the conviction of Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua on defamation charges Tuesday.
The aftermath of the hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which ordered Mu Sochua to pay 16.5 million riels (US$3,937) in fines and compensation for defaming Hun Sen, has also drawn fire from rights groups, who claim police used excessive force in their attempts to prevent SRP parliamentarians and supporters from marching through the city.
Documentary Probes Chea Vichea’s Murder
By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington10 August 2009
Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun have each tearfully denied involvement in the murder for which they are blamed at every trial they’ve attended.
Facing 20-year prison sentences for the alleged killing of Chea Vichea, both are widely considered innocent, and in January, the Supreme Court ordered them released and has asked the Appeals Court to reexamine their case. But if it wasn’t them, then who was responsible for the death of the popular labor leader?
The question is asked but never answered in “Who Killed Chea Vichea?,” a new documentary from filmmaker Bradley Cox, screened in Rhode Island last week.
Cox’s first film, “The Plastic Killers,” examined the court case against Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, and his new film investigates the murder beyond the suspects and puts more emphasis on the victim.
“I go into a lot of detail about the case of Chea Vichea and the death and the murder of Chea Vichea, but I also expand on the theme of the movie, to use it as an example of some of these problems [of corruption and impunity] that continue to plague Cambodia,” Cox said in an interview with VOA Khmer last week.
Rights groups have welcomed the film, claiming it sheds light on the innocence of the two men and the shortage of independence within the court system.
“Evidence in the video will show better that neither of the accused were Chea Vichea’s killers in 2004,” Om Samath, a rights investigator for Licadho who has been following the case, told VOA Khmer last week. “This is a good thing that will push the Appeals Court to seriously look into the case and hopefully be able to bring the real killer for prosecution and give justice to the victims.”
Chea Vichea, a former president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia, held wide influence over garment factory workers and was able to rally them in mass gatherings. He was gunned down in an assassination-style on the morning of Jan. 22, 2004, while reading a newspaper with friends at a newsstand near Wat Lanka.
Not long after, police arrested Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun. Both the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Appeals Court sentenced them to 20 years in prison.
“I am only telling the truth,” Sok Samoeun told VOA Khmer last week. “Once they charged me, I knew nothing of the killing. I didn’t know about the killing or who died. I knew nothing.”
Both men have been summoned to the Appeals Court later this month.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said the two are out on bail and no decision has been made in their case. He was surprised to learn the film had been released.
“Which one is the ‘Who’?” he asked, in reference to the title of the film. “Who did the film accuse?”
The film does not accuse anyone of the crime, but seeks to demonstrate that the two men accused of it could not have done it.
“What I’ve done is show conclusively who didn’t kill Chea Vichea,” Cox said. “It wasn’t Born Samnang and Sok Sameoun. I think any reasonable person can make their own conclusion. I don’t make a hard and fast conclusion as to who pulled the trigger. Personally, I don’t think we’ll ever know who really shot Chea Vichea on that day.”
The defendants, he said, do not have to prove in court who did the crime, he added, “just prove they didn’t do the killing themselves.”
Finding the killer, “that’s supposed to be the police’s job,” he said. And the more important question remains, knowing who was behind the decision to have Chea Vichea killed.
“Who Killed Chea Vichea?” includes interviews with police officers, judges, senior politicians in the ruling and opposition parties and rights and civic groups. It was filmed mainly in Cambodia, with other scenes in France, Holland, Thailand, Belgium and the US.
It will be shown on television in the US, as well as in Europe and Asia, but the filmmakers are not sure whether it will appear in Cambodia.
The recent screening, a little more than a week ahead of the Aug. 17 court day for Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, was a coincidence, Cox said, and was unlikely to influence the court.
If the judge evaluates the case on its merits, “he would have to release Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, because they are innocent,” Cox said. If there is political pressure, the two may not be released.
“Either way I don’t think my movie will have an effect on the judge,” he said.
Meanwhile, the biggest question remains unanswered.
“Chea Vichea’s killer is still far away,” said his brother, Chea Mony, who now heads the Free Trade Union. “We still don’t have a clue. We are still waiting for justice, and we have received not a single piece out of million.”
More information on the film, including a preview, can be found atwww.whokilledcheavichea.com
Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun have each tearfully denied involvement in the murder for which they are blamed at every trial they’ve attended.
Facing 20-year prison sentences for the alleged killing of Chea Vichea, both are widely considered innocent, and in January, the Supreme Court ordered them released and has asked the Appeals Court to reexamine their case. But if it wasn’t them, then who was responsible for the death of the popular labor leader?
The question is asked but never answered in “Who Killed Chea Vichea?,” a new documentary from filmmaker Bradley Cox, screened in Rhode Island last week.
Cox’s first film, “The Plastic Killers,” examined the court case against Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, and his new film investigates the murder beyond the suspects and puts more emphasis on the victim.
“I go into a lot of detail about the case of Chea Vichea and the death and the murder of Chea Vichea, but I also expand on the theme of the movie, to use it as an example of some of these problems [of corruption and impunity] that continue to plague Cambodia,” Cox said in an interview with VOA Khmer last week.
Rights groups have welcomed the film, claiming it sheds light on the innocence of the two men and the shortage of independence within the court system.
“Evidence in the video will show better that neither of the accused were Chea Vichea’s killers in 2004,” Om Samath, a rights investigator for Licadho who has been following the case, told VOA Khmer last week. “This is a good thing that will push the Appeals Court to seriously look into the case and hopefully be able to bring the real killer for prosecution and give justice to the victims.”
Chea Vichea, a former president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia, held wide influence over garment factory workers and was able to rally them in mass gatherings. He was gunned down in an assassination-style on the morning of Jan. 22, 2004, while reading a newspaper with friends at a newsstand near Wat Lanka.
Not long after, police arrested Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun. Both the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Appeals Court sentenced them to 20 years in prison.
“I am only telling the truth,” Sok Samoeun told VOA Khmer last week. “Once they charged me, I knew nothing of the killing. I didn’t know about the killing or who died. I knew nothing.”
Both men have been summoned to the Appeals Court later this month.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said the two are out on bail and no decision has been made in their case. He was surprised to learn the film had been released.
“Which one is the ‘Who’?” he asked, in reference to the title of the film. “Who did the film accuse?”
The film does not accuse anyone of the crime, but seeks to demonstrate that the two men accused of it could not have done it.
“What I’ve done is show conclusively who didn’t kill Chea Vichea,” Cox said. “It wasn’t Born Samnang and Sok Sameoun. I think any reasonable person can make their own conclusion. I don’t make a hard and fast conclusion as to who pulled the trigger. Personally, I don’t think we’ll ever know who really shot Chea Vichea on that day.”
The defendants, he said, do not have to prove in court who did the crime, he added, “just prove they didn’t do the killing themselves.”
Finding the killer, “that’s supposed to be the police’s job,” he said. And the more important question remains, knowing who was behind the decision to have Chea Vichea killed.
“Who Killed Chea Vichea?” includes interviews with police officers, judges, senior politicians in the ruling and opposition parties and rights and civic groups. It was filmed mainly in Cambodia, with other scenes in France, Holland, Thailand, Belgium and the US.
It will be shown on television in the US, as well as in Europe and Asia, but the filmmakers are not sure whether it will appear in Cambodia.
The recent screening, a little more than a week ahead of the Aug. 17 court day for Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, was a coincidence, Cox said, and was unlikely to influence the court.
If the judge evaluates the case on its merits, “he would have to release Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, because they are innocent,” Cox said. If there is political pressure, the two may not be released.
“Either way I don’t think my movie will have an effect on the judge,” he said.
Meanwhile, the biggest question remains unanswered.
“Chea Vichea’s killer is still far away,” said his brother, Chea Mony, who now heads the Free Trade Union. “We still don’t have a clue. We are still waiting for justice, and we have received not a single piece out of million.”
More information on the film, including a preview, can be found atwww.whokilledcheavichea.com
10 August, 2009
Thai plane violated Cambodian air space
10 August 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Thai plane violated Cambodian airspace three times on 08 August, in spite of the fact that Thai troops have agreed to remove the barbed wires and concrete fence installed in Phnom Trop zone. General Chhum Socheat, spokesman of the minister of Defense, told The Rasmei Kampuchea on Saturday morning that a Thai spy plane circled around the border in Preah Vihear temple 8 times and on 3 occasions, the plane flew above the fourth temple (Koborak No. 4). He added that “When we asked them, they said that their plane was flying to protect their delegates who were visiting their troops inside Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda.” However, Chhum Socheat indicated also that Thai troops removed the barbed wires installed in front of their trenches in Phnom Trop already on Saturday morning. He explained that the 350-m long barbed wires were all removed at 10AM on Saturday. Thai troops also build 150-m long by 2-m high concrete fence, and they promised to remove them by Sunday.
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Thai plane violated Cambodian airspace three times on 08 August, in spite of the fact that Thai troops have agreed to remove the barbed wires and concrete fence installed in Phnom Trop zone. General Chhum Socheat, spokesman of the minister of Defense, told The Rasmei Kampuchea on Saturday morning that a Thai spy plane circled around the border in Preah Vihear temple 8 times and on 3 occasions, the plane flew above the fourth temple (Koborak No. 4). He added that “When we asked them, they said that their plane was flying to protect their delegates who were visiting their troops inside Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak Pagoda.” However, Chhum Socheat indicated also that Thai troops removed the barbed wires installed in front of their trenches in Phnom Trop already on Saturday morning. He explained that the 350-m long barbed wires were all removed at 10AM on Saturday. Thai troops also build 150-m long by 2-m high concrete fence, and they promised to remove them by Sunday.
Bangladesh garment sector pinched by recession
Associated Press
By JULHAS ALAM , 08.05.09, 12:27 PM EDT
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Bangladeshi entrepreneurs say the garment sector, a mainstay of the country's exports, has started feeling the pinch of the global economic crisis with about 25 factories shutting in the past two months.
In June the sector contracted 0.1 percent month-on-month after growing 9.6 percent in May, Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, told reporters late Tuesday.
He said prices for Bangladeshi garment products have fallen 20 to 25 percent in the global market and the situation is taking a "serious turn". About 25 factories were shut down over June and July.
"The buyers do not want to offer good rate anymore," he said as the entrepreneurs late Tuesday held a meeting with Members of Parliament in the capital, Dhaka, to discuss the crisis.
Impoverished Bangladesh annually earns $12 billion, or almost 75 percent of the country's annual export earning, from garments. The industry employs more than 2.4 million people, mostly women.
Bangladeshi entrepreneurs must also deal with competition from other exporters such as India and Vietnam.
"We are under tremendous pressure to keep us afloat," Murshedy said.
The World Bank in November said Bangladesh's garments industry might start feeling the impact of global recession in the May-June period.
Murshedy said the next three months till October would be the most challenging period for the industry as domestic issues including frequent power outages and a gas crisis are aggravating the situation.
The garment factories depend on privately owned, diesel-run generators to supply electricity because of power outages during this summer.
He demanded the government bring the entrepreneurs under a special stimulus package to support the sector at least until June 2010.
The entrepreneurs also said there has been no new investment this year in the sector and they see no chance in next few months.
"If there's no new investment, it will further stall the growth," said Annisul Huq, a garment manufacturer and president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
"We need urgent move by the government to offset the impact on the garment sector," he said.
The United States is the largest market of Bangladesh's garment product while Europe is the second largest destination. Bangladesh manufactures garment products for global brands like Banana Republic, Disney ( DIS - news - people ) or Gap ( GPS - news - people ).
The entrepreneurs said they are now focusing on Japan to create new market.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
By JULHAS ALAM , 08.05.09, 12:27 PM EDT
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Bangladeshi entrepreneurs say the garment sector, a mainstay of the country's exports, has started feeling the pinch of the global economic crisis with about 25 factories shutting in the past two months.
In June the sector contracted 0.1 percent month-on-month after growing 9.6 percent in May, Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, told reporters late Tuesday.
He said prices for Bangladeshi garment products have fallen 20 to 25 percent in the global market and the situation is taking a "serious turn". About 25 factories were shut down over June and July.
"The buyers do not want to offer good rate anymore," he said as the entrepreneurs late Tuesday held a meeting with Members of Parliament in the capital, Dhaka, to discuss the crisis.
Impoverished Bangladesh annually earns $12 billion, or almost 75 percent of the country's annual export earning, from garments. The industry employs more than 2.4 million people, mostly women.
Bangladeshi entrepreneurs must also deal with competition from other exporters such as India and Vietnam.
"We are under tremendous pressure to keep us afloat," Murshedy said.
The World Bank in November said Bangladesh's garments industry might start feeling the impact of global recession in the May-June period.
Murshedy said the next three months till October would be the most challenging period for the industry as domestic issues including frequent power outages and a gas crisis are aggravating the situation.
The garment factories depend on privately owned, diesel-run generators to supply electricity because of power outages during this summer.
He demanded the government bring the entrepreneurs under a special stimulus package to support the sector at least until June 2010.
The entrepreneurs also said there has been no new investment this year in the sector and they see no chance in next few months.
"If there's no new investment, it will further stall the growth," said Annisul Huq, a garment manufacturer and president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
"We need urgent move by the government to offset the impact on the garment sector," he said.
The United States is the largest market of Bangladesh's garment product while Europe is the second largest destination. Bangladesh manufactures garment products for global brands like Banana Republic, Disney ( DIS - news - people ) or Gap ( GPS - news - people ).
The entrepreneurs said they are now focusing on Japan to create new market.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
Cambodia to register 12th century temple as World Heritage Site
www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-09 17:29:34
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will submit the application form to list 12th century Banteay Chmar temple as World Heritage Site with the heritage committee of UNESCO soon, the local media reported on Sunday.
"Listing of the temple is aiming at conservation of the heritage site and its value is humanitarian heritage," according to khmer language newspaper Kampuchea Thmey Daily.
It added that Cambodia delegation led some experts from UNESCO,and delegation from Foundation for World Heritage to visit the temple on Saturday.
The temple located in Banteay Mean Chey province, about 60 km distance in northern area of provincial town.
Cambodia has already registered Angkor Wat temple, Royal Ballet, Khmer shadow theater and Khmer temple Preah Vihear as World Heritage Sites.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will submit the application form to list 12th century Banteay Chmar temple as World Heritage Site with the heritage committee of UNESCO soon, the local media reported on Sunday.
"Listing of the temple is aiming at conservation of the heritage site and its value is humanitarian heritage," according to khmer language newspaper Kampuchea Thmey Daily.
It added that Cambodia delegation led some experts from UNESCO,and delegation from Foundation for World Heritage to visit the temple on Saturday.
The temple located in Banteay Mean Chey province, about 60 km distance in northern area of provincial town.
Cambodia has already registered Angkor Wat temple, Royal Ballet, Khmer shadow theater and Khmer temple Preah Vihear as World Heritage Sites.
07 August, 2009
Pen Sovan:Enemies, foreign and domestic
The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 06 August 2009 15:02 Meas Sokchea and Sebastian Strangio
An old political player speaks out about communism, justice and the country's current political trajectory.
Photo by: Sebastian Strangio
Former prime minister Pen Sovan at his residence in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
PEN Sovan played a prominent part of the Cambodian resistance against the Pol Pot regime during the late 1970s. After rising through the political ranks, he was appointed prime minister in May 1981, but was arrested in December and imprisoned in Hanoi for his criticisms of the Vietnamese military occupation. Now a member of the Human Rights Party, Pen Sovan spoke with the Post about his experiences in power and the current political situation.
When you became prime minister in 1981, the country was still ravaged by the rule of the Khmer Rouge. What were your main priorities as leader?
The main goal was to set up a system of law and make sure that the first people who respected the law were the leaders, so that the people had something to follow. The second issue was to create a court system that was recognised by the people as a court that handed down fair justice.
Thirdly, leaders must have a clear idea what their goals are. In my time it was very clear.
You were arrested after just six months in power and imprisoned in Vietnam. What led to this turn of events?
In the past I was always opposed to foreign invaders, including the French colonists, and I had only one wish: I wanted Cambodia to have independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity and real sovereignty. When I became a leader in the People's Revolutionary Party of Kampuchea (PRPK), I still continued to fight for the national cause. Since then, I have gotten older, but my ideals have not changed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The influence of [KR] doctrine is linked to trends in the current leadership.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And why did I quit the political scene? I quit politics for one reason: I did not want to see Vietnam controlling the Cambodian government. Vietnam helped to demolish the Khmer Rouge regime, but they were not honest with their help and sought to turn Cambodia into a colony. When I saw this happening and demanded that Vietnam must respect our independence, freedom, democracy and territorial integrity, they did not respect it and they are still violating this today. My struggles against the Vietnamese influence prompted some politicians who are currently in power and are allowing Vietnam to control Cambodia, to arrest me and imprison me in Hanoi for 10 years and 52 days.
What is your view on the recent crackdown on the government's critics?
The crackdown originates in the fact that the top leaders in Cambodia were influenced by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge regime only took the title of "democratic". The influence of this doctrine is linked to trends in the current leadership. They are under the sway of some of the same doctrines, which preached absolute power - not democracy.
King Father Norodom Sihanouk recently said that Hun Sen's government was the "younger brother" of his own rule of the 1950s and 1960s. Do you see any similarities between the two regimes?
I don't think the two governments are very similar. I see the regime led by Samdech Sihanouk as being led by a doctrine of royalism, under which there was a constitution that was implemented fairly. But nowadays, under the government led by Hun Sen, the constitution only exists on paper. It is not implemented for the people, and they do not know what the government has done for them. The government is not aware of the people's needs.
What made you decide to join the Human Rights Party?
Since UNTAC came to Cambodia, I have not joined any party or opposed any party. At that time, there were 20 parties who were strong on verbal commitments to enforce democracy in Cambodia, most of which were from Western countries. But I think they were only good at speaking, and that they could never manage to implement democratic ideals.... We tried to implement external laws in Cambodia, and we could not achieve it.... Khmers did not understand these foreign ideas. That's why I joined with the Human Rights Party. I have seen that [HRP president] Kem Sokha was prominent in the border resistance and has gone in a democratic direction. I have seen that his actions are good, educating people about democracy. I see that the HRP's platform is similar to the ideas I developed after I left communism.
What is your view on the Khmer Rouge tribunal? Do you think the court will achieve justice?
I don't think it will achieve much, for three reasons. Firstly, the head of government does not really want a Khmer Rouge tribunal. The second is that the court has been created 30 years after the Khmer Rouge were overthrown in January 1979, which is much too late. Thirdly, the court has been disturbed by corruption, and the head of government has not allowed investigations of these allegations, so I don't think it will achieve anything.
INTERVIEW BY MEAS SOKCHEA AND SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
Thursday, 06 August 2009 15:02 Meas Sokchea and Sebastian Strangio
An old political player speaks out about communism, justice and the country's current political trajectory.
Photo by: Sebastian Strangio
Former prime minister Pen Sovan at his residence in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
PEN Sovan played a prominent part of the Cambodian resistance against the Pol Pot regime during the late 1970s. After rising through the political ranks, he was appointed prime minister in May 1981, but was arrested in December and imprisoned in Hanoi for his criticisms of the Vietnamese military occupation. Now a member of the Human Rights Party, Pen Sovan spoke with the Post about his experiences in power and the current political situation.
When you became prime minister in 1981, the country was still ravaged by the rule of the Khmer Rouge. What were your main priorities as leader?
The main goal was to set up a system of law and make sure that the first people who respected the law were the leaders, so that the people had something to follow. The second issue was to create a court system that was recognised by the people as a court that handed down fair justice.
Thirdly, leaders must have a clear idea what their goals are. In my time it was very clear.
You were arrested after just six months in power and imprisoned in Vietnam. What led to this turn of events?
In the past I was always opposed to foreign invaders, including the French colonists, and I had only one wish: I wanted Cambodia to have independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity and real sovereignty. When I became a leader in the People's Revolutionary Party of Kampuchea (PRPK), I still continued to fight for the national cause. Since then, I have gotten older, but my ideals have not changed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The influence of [KR] doctrine is linked to trends in the current leadership.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And why did I quit the political scene? I quit politics for one reason: I did not want to see Vietnam controlling the Cambodian government. Vietnam helped to demolish the Khmer Rouge regime, but they were not honest with their help and sought to turn Cambodia into a colony. When I saw this happening and demanded that Vietnam must respect our independence, freedom, democracy and territorial integrity, they did not respect it and they are still violating this today. My struggles against the Vietnamese influence prompted some politicians who are currently in power and are allowing Vietnam to control Cambodia, to arrest me and imprison me in Hanoi for 10 years and 52 days.
What is your view on the recent crackdown on the government's critics?
The crackdown originates in the fact that the top leaders in Cambodia were influenced by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge regime only took the title of "democratic". The influence of this doctrine is linked to trends in the current leadership. They are under the sway of some of the same doctrines, which preached absolute power - not democracy.
King Father Norodom Sihanouk recently said that Hun Sen's government was the "younger brother" of his own rule of the 1950s and 1960s. Do you see any similarities between the two regimes?
I don't think the two governments are very similar. I see the regime led by Samdech Sihanouk as being led by a doctrine of royalism, under which there was a constitution that was implemented fairly. But nowadays, under the government led by Hun Sen, the constitution only exists on paper. It is not implemented for the people, and they do not know what the government has done for them. The government is not aware of the people's needs.
What made you decide to join the Human Rights Party?
Since UNTAC came to Cambodia, I have not joined any party or opposed any party. At that time, there were 20 parties who were strong on verbal commitments to enforce democracy in Cambodia, most of which were from Western countries. But I think they were only good at speaking, and that they could never manage to implement democratic ideals.... We tried to implement external laws in Cambodia, and we could not achieve it.... Khmers did not understand these foreign ideas. That's why I joined with the Human Rights Party. I have seen that [HRP president] Kem Sokha was prominent in the border resistance and has gone in a democratic direction. I have seen that his actions are good, educating people about democracy. I see that the HRP's platform is similar to the ideas I developed after I left communism.
What is your view on the Khmer Rouge tribunal? Do you think the court will achieve justice?
I don't think it will achieve much, for three reasons. Firstly, the head of government does not really want a Khmer Rouge tribunal. The second is that the court has been created 30 years after the Khmer Rouge were overthrown in January 1979, which is much too late. Thirdly, the court has been disturbed by corruption, and the head of government has not allowed investigations of these allegations, so I don't think it will achieve anything.
INTERVIEW BY MEAS SOKCHEA AND SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
More Cambodian workers go abroad in first six months this year
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of Cambodians registered as heading abroad for work jumped more than a third in the first six months of this year, local media reported on Friday, citing government's figure.
Nhem Kimhuov, an official at the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying that 4,862 migrant laborers went abroad in the first six months, compared with 3,561 in the same period last year.
"In the first six months, the number of migrant worker in Malaysia increased 150 percent from 1,181 to 2,955, whereas in Thailand they were down one-third to 812," he said.
"But in the case of Thailand, it definitely decreased because of political unrest (in Thailand) and the issue in the border," he said.
However, he said there is still good cooperation between Thai and Cambodian counterparts in the labor sector, and with their opposite numbers in Malaysia.
The economic crisis and its impact on migrant workers is a concern, said Ya Navuth, director of the NGO Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility.
"When they return home, they often can't get work, as thousands of garment workers are unemployed," he said.
Nhem Kimhuov, an official at the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying that 4,862 migrant laborers went abroad in the first six months, compared with 3,561 in the same period last year.
"In the first six months, the number of migrant worker in Malaysia increased 150 percent from 1,181 to 2,955, whereas in Thailand they were down one-third to 812," he said.
"But in the case of Thailand, it definitely decreased because of political unrest (in Thailand) and the issue in the border," he said.
However, he said there is still good cooperation between Thai and Cambodian counterparts in the labor sector, and with their opposite numbers in Malaysia.
The economic crisis and its impact on migrant workers is a concern, said Ya Navuth, director of the NGO Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility.
"When they return home, they often can't get work, as thousands of garment workers are unemployed," he said.
Retrial in unionist's killing set for Aug 17
The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 06 August 2009 15:01 Chrann Chamroeun
THE Court of Appeal has scheduled the retrial of Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang, convicted of the 2004 murder of labour leader Chea Vichea, for August 17, Chan Socheat, lawyer for Sok Sam Oeun, said Wednesday.
Sok Sam Oeun, who is now working as an English teacher, said Wednesday from his hometown in Takeo that he had received a summons to the Appeal Court to stand trial on August 17 at 7:30am.
"I am quite sure I will be on trial on that day even though I am innocent," he said.
The initial verdict was widely condemned by Cambodian and international rights groups who said the pair were scapegoats.
Late last year, the Supreme Court ordered the provisional release of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun citing contradictory evidence. The pair had been imprisoned for nearly five years.
Born Samnang was unavailable for comment, but his mother Keo Chanta said that he had received a summons to appear at court this month and that he was planning to attend the trial.
Thursday, 06 August 2009 15:01 Chrann Chamroeun
THE Court of Appeal has scheduled the retrial of Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang, convicted of the 2004 murder of labour leader Chea Vichea, for August 17, Chan Socheat, lawyer for Sok Sam Oeun, said Wednesday.
Sok Sam Oeun, who is now working as an English teacher, said Wednesday from his hometown in Takeo that he had received a summons to the Appeal Court to stand trial on August 17 at 7:30am.
"I am quite sure I will be on trial on that day even though I am innocent," he said.
The initial verdict was widely condemned by Cambodian and international rights groups who said the pair were scapegoats.
Late last year, the Supreme Court ordered the provisional release of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun citing contradictory evidence. The pair had been imprisoned for nearly five years.
Born Samnang was unavailable for comment, but his mother Keo Chanta said that he had received a summons to appear at court this month and that he was planning to attend the trial.
In Court Deal, Investigator Leaves Province
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
06 August 2009
A prominent human rights investigator has been pulled from Ratanakkiri province after he came under investigation from the provincial court for incitement, officials said Thursday.
In a deal with the court, Pen Bunnar, an investigator for the respected rights monitor Adhoc, will be transferred to another province, Adhoc officials said.
Pen Bunnar had worked in Ratanakkiri, which suffers a high rate of land-grabs and other abuses, for the past five years.
He was charged with incitement of violence when he attempted to coordinate the assembly of 121 families in a dispute over 200 hectares of land with the DM Group, Ltd., in Lumphat district.
Chan Saveth, chief of Adhoc’s monitoring unit, said Pen Bunnar will be moved to Svay Rieng province and will be replaced by another investigator, Sam Arin, who will move over from Mondolkiri province.
Chan Saveth said Adhoc wished to “reduce the conflict” between his group and the provincial authorities “because the conflict benefits neither side.”
“To protect people’s interests, Adhco had to soften its stance to join and cooperate with the provincial authority in the direction of developing human rights,” he said.
Ratanakkiri judge Thor Saron said the court had advised an umbrella group of rights organizations, “particularly Adhoc,” to move Pen Bunnar “to solve the penal charge.”
“If Pen Bunnar has no duty in the territory of Rattanakiri province, it is easy to end the case and the court can compromise, drop his case and avoid [his] detention,” the judge said. “A newcomer has not made any mistakes in Ratanakkiri province, and a new person can make a good relationship with and work with all levels of the provincial authorities.”
Pen Bunnar told VOA Khmer Thursday he was leaving.
“I hope the natural environment will not be destroyed by illegal deforestation when I leave the province,” he said.
Original report from Phnom Penh
06 August 2009
A prominent human rights investigator has been pulled from Ratanakkiri province after he came under investigation from the provincial court for incitement, officials said Thursday.
In a deal with the court, Pen Bunnar, an investigator for the respected rights monitor Adhoc, will be transferred to another province, Adhoc officials said.
Pen Bunnar had worked in Ratanakkiri, which suffers a high rate of land-grabs and other abuses, for the past five years.
He was charged with incitement of violence when he attempted to coordinate the assembly of 121 families in a dispute over 200 hectares of land with the DM Group, Ltd., in Lumphat district.
Chan Saveth, chief of Adhoc’s monitoring unit, said Pen Bunnar will be moved to Svay Rieng province and will be replaced by another investigator, Sam Arin, who will move over from Mondolkiri province.
Chan Saveth said Adhoc wished to “reduce the conflict” between his group and the provincial authorities “because the conflict benefits neither side.”
“To protect people’s interests, Adhco had to soften its stance to join and cooperate with the provincial authority in the direction of developing human rights,” he said.
Ratanakkiri judge Thor Saron said the court had advised an umbrella group of rights organizations, “particularly Adhoc,” to move Pen Bunnar “to solve the penal charge.”
“If Pen Bunnar has no duty in the territory of Rattanakiri province, it is easy to end the case and the court can compromise, drop his case and avoid [his] detention,” the judge said. “A newcomer has not made any mistakes in Ratanakkiri province, and a new person can make a good relationship with and work with all levels of the provincial authorities.”
Pen Bunnar told VOA Khmer Thursday he was leaving.
“I hope the natural environment will not be destroyed by illegal deforestation when I leave the province,” he said.
05 August, 2009
Cambodia: OHCHR Statement on recent defamation cases
OHCHR Cambodia questions compatibility of recent guilty verdicts in defamation and disinformation cases with international standards of freedom of expression
5 August 2009
In response to the guilty verdict in a defamation case yesterday, brought against opposition
Parliamentarian Ms. Mu Sochua, the Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasised the need to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of expression in Cambodia. This latest verdict marks the third defamation or disinformation conviction in just over a month.
Last month, Mr. Moeun Sonn, the Director of the NGO Khmer Civilisation Foundation was convicted of disinformation and sentenced to two years imprisonment, and a fine of 7 million riel and 8 million riel in compensation, for comments made in which he allegedly raised concern over the installation of a new lighting system in Angkor Wat.
On 26 June, Mr. Heng Chakra, editor -in-chief of the opposition-affiliated Khmer Machas Srok
newspaper was convicted to one year imprisonment and a 9 million riel fine for articles published in his newspaper, which sought to expose alleged Government corruption.
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is part of
Cambodian law, states that any restriction on freedom of expression must be provided for by law, and must be necessary for the respect of the rights and reputations of others or for the protection of national security or public order, or public health or morals. Under international law, freedom of expression is to be restricted only in exceptional cases, where clearly necessary and proportionate to the value that the restriction seeks to protect. These recent convictions and sentences seem inconsistent with these standards. Their cumulative effect risks stifling public debate on important issues of public interest and reduce the space for the exercise of the most core of democratic values; freedom of expression.
With at least two more high profile defamation cases yet to be adjudicated, the OHCHR appeals to the Cambodian judiciary to take full account of constitutional and international standards when considering these cases.
The Office recalls that in July 2007 the Constitutional Council directed all Cambodian courts to take into account international human rights standards, as contained in the treaties Cambodia is party to, when considering such cases. “It is now crucial that the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh lives up to this judicial duty” the OHCHR said.
==============================================================
No. 10, Street 302, Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang I, Khan Chamcar Mon, Phnom Penh Cambodia
Tel: +(855) 23 987 671 / 987 672 / 993 590 / 993 591 or 216 342 Fax: +(855) 23 212 579 or 213 587
E-mail: cambodia@ohchr.org Website: http://cambodia.ohchr.org
5 August 2009
In response to the guilty verdict in a defamation case yesterday, brought against opposition
Parliamentarian Ms. Mu Sochua, the Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasised the need to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of expression in Cambodia. This latest verdict marks the third defamation or disinformation conviction in just over a month.
Last month, Mr. Moeun Sonn, the Director of the NGO Khmer Civilisation Foundation was convicted of disinformation and sentenced to two years imprisonment, and a fine of 7 million riel and 8 million riel in compensation, for comments made in which he allegedly raised concern over the installation of a new lighting system in Angkor Wat.
On 26 June, Mr. Heng Chakra, editor -in-chief of the opposition-affiliated Khmer Machas Srok
newspaper was convicted to one year imprisonment and a 9 million riel fine for articles published in his newspaper, which sought to expose alleged Government corruption.
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is part of
Cambodian law, states that any restriction on freedom of expression must be provided for by law, and must be necessary for the respect of the rights and reputations of others or for the protection of national security or public order, or public health or morals. Under international law, freedom of expression is to be restricted only in exceptional cases, where clearly necessary and proportionate to the value that the restriction seeks to protect. These recent convictions and sentences seem inconsistent with these standards. Their cumulative effect risks stifling public debate on important issues of public interest and reduce the space for the exercise of the most core of democratic values; freedom of expression.
With at least two more high profile defamation cases yet to be adjudicated, the OHCHR appeals to the Cambodian judiciary to take full account of constitutional and international standards when considering these cases.
The Office recalls that in July 2007 the Constitutional Council directed all Cambodian courts to take into account international human rights standards, as contained in the treaties Cambodia is party to, when considering such cases. “It is now crucial that the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh lives up to this judicial duty” the OHCHR said.
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No. 10, Street 302, Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang I, Khan Chamcar Mon, Phnom Penh Cambodia
Tel: +(855) 23 987 671 / 987 672 / 993 590 / 993 591 or 216 342 Fax: +(855) 23 212 579 or 213 587
E-mail: cambodia@ohchr.org Website: http://cambodia.ohchr.org
Officials reject Thai border market claim
The Phnom Penh Post
Tuesday, 04 August 2009 15:03 Cheang Sokha
Government disputes Thai argument that planned market reconstruction violates bilateral agreements.
Government disputes Thai argument that planned market reconstruction violates bilateral agreements.
Photo by: Tracey Shelton
The market at the foot of disputed Preah Vihear temple, after being destroyed by Thai rocket fire during border clashes in April
CAMBODIAN officials have rejected Thai government claims that the reconstruction of a market at the foot of Preah Vihear temple violates a border agreement signed by the two countries, saying the project has nothing to do with the continuing standoff over contested territory.
Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that the reconstruction of the market - which Cambodia says was destroyed by Thai rocket fire during border clashes in April - was merely intended to provide housing to 319 vendor families made homeless by the incident.
"Thailand's claims are groundless," he said Monday.
"They are only trying to disturb Cambodia."
On Thursday, Thailand's border communication office wrote to its Cambodian counterpart, claiming that the construction of new stalls at the market violated a memorandum of understanding on border demarcation signed between the two countries in 2000.
"The border communication team of Region 1 would like to inform you that the above action is in violation of the joint MoU on inspection and border demarcation," the letter stated.
Cambodia and Thailand have never fully demarcated their 805-kilometre shared border.
Photo by: Vandy Rattana
The market as it was prior to the incident.
The market as it was prior to the incident.
Under construction
Sar Thavy, Preah Vihear deputy governor and a member of the market construction commission, said Monday that several stalls had already been rebuilt, and that the all construction activities were taking place on Cambodian soil.
"We have to rebuild those stalls because [the market] has been on that site for many years," he said.
"If Thailand complains about our reconstruction, it is their problem."
He added that construction workers were hurriedly building stands in an attempt to finish the project as soon as possible.
In May, Cambodia officially requested US$2.1 million in compensation for the damage at the market, but so far there has been no response from Bangkok.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said that Thailand had not yet sent a formal diplomatic note protesting the reconstruction, but added that Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was set to leave for Bangkok today for a meeting of the Joint Border Commission, set up to negotiate border issues.
Var Kimhong, Cambodia's top border negotiator, could not be reached for comment Monday.
Sar Thavy, Preah Vihear deputy governor and a member of the market construction commission, said Monday that several stalls had already been rebuilt, and that the all construction activities were taking place on Cambodian soil.
"We have to rebuild those stalls because [the market] has been on that site for many years," he said.
"If Thailand complains about our reconstruction, it is their problem."
He added that construction workers were hurriedly building stands in an attempt to finish the project as soon as possible.
In May, Cambodia officially requested US$2.1 million in compensation for the damage at the market, but so far there has been no response from Bangkok.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said that Thailand had not yet sent a formal diplomatic note protesting the reconstruction, but added that Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was set to leave for Bangkok today for a meeting of the Joint Border Commission, set up to negotiate border issues.
Var Kimhong, Cambodia's top border negotiator, could not be reached for comment Monday.
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