Japan to provide $9.5 mln food aid to Philippines

MANILA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan will provide an emergency food aid amounting to 9.5 million U.S. dollars to the thousands of war-displaced persons in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, its embassy in Manila said on Sunday.

The assistance will cover the distribution of 7,500 metric tons of rice to affected civilians through the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP).

"Japan sincerely hopes that this emergency food aid through the WFP would help mitigating the current humanitarian crisis in Mindanao and strongly expects a cease-fire and the immediate resumption of peace talks between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," the embassy said in a statement.

The 12,000-strong MILF, which used to be a part of a larger separatist group that signed a peace deal with the government in 1996, had been battling for self-rule in Mindanao since 1978.

After the aborted signing of an expanded Muslim homeland deal with the Philippine government in August 2008, MILF rebels forcibly occupied some Mindanao towns, killed civilians and looted and burned their homes. More than half a million of people have been affected by the conflict since government troops launched a military offensive against the rebels afterwards.

"Earlier in 2006, Japan had provided food aid amounting to 280 million yen or approximately 2.8 million U.S. dollars for the displaced in the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao also through the WFP. This time, the aid will be substantially larger in its scale," the embassy said.

Recently, the Philippine government has announced it is ready to resume talks with the Muslim rebels, but the displaced are still afraid to go back home for fear of the unstable situation in the south.

Slideshow of the violent eviction in Dey Kraham

Slideshow of the violent eviction in Dey Kraham

25 Jan 2009
By John Vink/Magnum
Ka-set

“My mother … she wants to die, my father, he wants to die too, he wants to live in his house. I don’t know where I can go, I don’t know what I can do. Why the government do like this? What do they think? What are they thinking? Why they do like this? We live here for a long time…” – Evicted resident from Dey Kraham

Click here to watch the slideshow with sound on the final eviction of Dey Kraham. Photos and sound by John Vink/Magnum from..http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6299094215254139295

Chinese New Year boosts sales of chicken

Chicken sales is in full speed at the Olympic Market (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

25 Jan 2009
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Chicken is the most sold meat, even more than pork, during the Chinese New year celebration between 26 and 28 January. Each Sino-Khmer family from Phnom Penh buys between 5 to 10 kilos of chicken to offer to the spirit of their ancestors. The Chinese New Year starts on 25 January.
Muoyeka, a Sino-Khmer from Phnom Penh, estimated that his family will spend upward $100 for the Chinese New Year. This budget includes the purchase of prayer objects, chicken and drinks. “This festival is very important, so we are making the necessary effort to pay for it, just like other Sino-Khmer families,” Muoyeka indicated.

Among the shopkeepers, everybody is taking advantage of the situation: even fruit and vegetable sellers are now offering chicken for sale to earn some extra money before the holidays.

Ouk Moeun, a chicken seller from Kandal province, indicated that he reserved about one ton (1,000 kilos) of chicken for sale during the Chinese New year. One kilo of chicken normally costs 16,000 riels ($4), but the price increases during this period to no less than 25,000 riels ($6.25) per kilo. Each shopkeeper sells between 30 to 50 chicken daily in the average.

Thai Foreign Minister kicks off visit to Cambodia

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (TNA) – Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya began his first official visit to Cambodia on Sunday at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong.

During the two-day visit Sunday and Monday, Mr. Kasit will have an audience with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, pay courtesy calls on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as leaders Chea Sim, President of the Senate and Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, and have a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Hor Namhong, who is also deputy prime minister.
The main purpose of the Thai minister's visit is to introduce himself on the basis of customary practice and become acquainted with Cambodia's top leaders after assuming the office of minister of foreign affairs of Thailand.

Moreover, Mr. Kasit will also take this occasion to meet and discuss with his Cambodian counterpart to expedite cooperation at both bilateral and multi-lateral levels, which would be beneficial to both sides' efforts to strengthen their cordial relations and the promotion of mutual understanding between the two countries and peoples.

Impact of More Tribunal Indictments Surveyed

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
24 January 2009

While national and international prosecutors remain at odds over further indictments of Khmer Rouge leaders, the Documentation Center of Cambodia last week began a survey among Cambodians to find out what they think.
The survey, which will last one month, asks seven questions of ordinary citizens related to their general knowledge of the ongoing Khmer Rouge tribunal and whether they feel it should indict more cadre of the regime.

“The stance of DC-CAM is to allow victims to play a role and show their decision on whether the tribunal should try five persons or more than five persons, and then we allow them an expression of their views,” said Chy Terith, team leader of the center’s Victims Participation Project. “The outcome of the survey will be published publicly and submitted to the [tribunal] also. It is a voice from victims for the tribunal.”

The tribunal is holding five aging former leaders of the regime: chief ideologue Nuon Chea, 84; nominal head Khieu Samphan, 76; foreign minister Ieng Sary, 84; social affairs minister Ieng Thirith, 67; and prison chief Kaing Kek Iev, 66.

The survey seeks to learn what the potential repercussions of further indictments—of up to 10 subordinates of the currently jailed leaders—would be.

“We will ask them also if the tribunal tries only five persons, will they have justice or not,” Chy Terith said.

The survey will be distributed by 15 survey team members in several provinces, as well as by e-mail. The survey will not be conducted in the former Khmer Rouge redoubts of Pailin and Anlong Veng.

International prosecutors at the tribunal have argued for more indictments, but national prosecutors disagree.

The decision on whether more will be arraigned must now be decided by Pre-Trial Chamber judges, who have not set a hearing, tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said.

It was “too early” to comment on the Documentation Center survey, he said, but “all kinds of evaluations will be taken under consideration by the courts.”

Ugly CPP truth revealed by Hun Sen: Ke Kim Yan involved in land issues - Did Hun Sen forget to look in the mirror?

Top Military Chief Sacked for Impropriety: Hun Sen

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
24 January 2009

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday said his decision to remove a top military chief from his position Thursday was due to “land issues” and a dereliction of duties.

Gen. Ke Kim Yan “was conducting his own business” instead of performing his duties as commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Hun Sen told a weekly Cabinet meeting.

Ke Kim Yan was backing the illegal purchase of land in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district, Kampot province’s Phnom Vor area and sites in the provinces of Banteay Meanchey and Stung Treng, Hun Sen said.

Ke Kim Yan could not be reached for comment Friday. He was removed from his post late Thursday by royal decree following the request of Hun Sen.

Replacing Ke Kim Yan is his deputy, Gen. Pol Saroeun. Also promoted to deputy commanders of RCAF by the royal decree are military intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Mol Roeup, military police commander Lt. Gen. Sao Sokha and the chief of Hun Sen's personal bodyguard unit, Lt. Gen. Hing Bun Heang, among others.

Pol Saroeun declined Friday to comment on the removal of Ke Kim Yan, saying it was an internal military matter.

It remained unclear Friday whether Ke Kim Yan would be given another command or remain in the army. Hun Sen told his Cabinet a new position had not yet been considered for the former chief.

The sacking comes as Cambodian continues a months-long military standoff with Thailand on the border of Preah Vihear province.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled for border talks with his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Namhong, in Phnom Penh Sunday and Monday. Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the removal of Ke Kim Yan would not affect the talks.

India's biggest annual technology festival launched in Mumbai

MUMBAI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Techfest 2009, the biggest annual international science and technology festival of India was launched Saturday in Mumbai.

The Techfest 2009, with over 45,000 university students and 1,500 corporate executives from all over India and abroad being part of it, is organized by India Institute of Technology Mumbai(IIT-B),which is located in Powai, suburb of Mumbai.

During the three-day event, a wide range of events including robot competitions, workshops, lectures and exhibitions will be held in the campus of IIT B.

Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Saturday showcased some of its achievements, including newly designed submachine gun, unmanned vechil, carbon steel platform and tank carrier.

Robot competition catches most eyes, with 42 teams from all over India to compete in seven categories of Awards.

A competition for legged robots for the first time named the "arthrobot" is being introduced by the organizers. The participants are expected to build a legged robot which can pass through a designated path in the least possible time.

"The concept of legged robots at institute competition level is alien. This year, we are expecting a great response from the foreign participants," said Sushil Shintre, an organizer of Techfest.

Apart from the competitions, Techfest 2009 also offered a platform for innovative ideas. "Prayaas", one of their competitions, allowed participants to present their ideas on how to use renewable sources of energy.

Malaysia alert on U.S. peanut butter

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has been alert on all peanut butter products from the United States, putting them on stringent testing, local media reported on Saturday.

The measure called Level Five alert was placed by the Malaysian government after several salmonella-linked deaths found in the United States, local newspaper The Star said on its website.

Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said that some particular batches of contaminated products had been withdrawn from the shelves.

The Malaysian Health Ministry said possibly contaminated dough, which uses peanut butter and peanut paste, has entered Malaysia from Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).

The company has recalled the dough from three sales outlets here and at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the ministry said.

Liow said that the Malaysian government had raised the alert to Level Five just to ensure that the incoming batches are free of salmonella contamination.

The United States Friday said seven people had died from a nationwide outbreak of salmonella associated with tainted peanut butter and paste sourced to the PCA plant in Blakely, Georgia.

The bacterial strain as Salmonella Typhimurium was found in them, the report said.

Another 10 U.S. firms Friday reportedly also recalled products which use PCA peanut butter or paste, ranging from snack bars to crackers and pre-packaged meals and even pet food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it has no evidence to suggest the contamination originated with any other major manufacturing facility other than the PCA plant, the newspaper said.

Earthquake hits Timor region

HONG KONG, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale occurred in Timor region at 9:52 Saturday (0152 GMT Saturday), according to a bulletin released by the Hong Kong Observatory.

The epicenter was initially determined to be 8.4 degrees south latitude and 125.1 degrees east longitude, about 620 kilometers south-southwest of Ambon, Indonesia.

There were no reports of casualties or damage so far.

Cambodian slum dwellers [in Dey Krahorm] evicted

Police have been overseeing

The land on which Dey Krahorm stood was bought by a property developer
Housing rights workers said the eviction was unnecessarily violent

Saturday, 24 January 2009
By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh

Police have been overseeing the eviction of hundreds of people from a slum community in the centre of the in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

Residents of Dey Krahorm, who have been fighting eviction for the best part of three years, say they have a legal right to the land.

But the local authorities signed it over to a property developer.

It is the latest in a series of evictions, which have accompanied a dramatic increase in land values.

Dawn operation

As the bulldozers moved into Dey Krahorm at dawn on Saturday, residents had little chance of resisting.

Hundreds of military and civilian police accompanied workers from the property developer which bought the land from the city.

At first, they would not allow journalists or human rights workers to observe the eviction, and forcibly removed those who had made it through the barricades.

Dey Krahorm had been the heart of Cambodia's artistic community. Traditional musicians and dancers held classes there in an effort to pass on their skills to the younger generation.

Their instruments could be seen among the rubble, along with the other belongings of the former residents.

'Excessive force'

Housing rights workers criticised the way the eviction was carried out, saying it was unnecessarily violent.

"They cannot stand again because of the excessive use of force, of tear gas. A few of my colleagues got hurt more than me," said Yeng Virak of the Community Legal Education Centre (CLEC).

The evicted residents will be taken to land on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

The local authorities and the developers say they will find better living conditions there, with running water, electricity, health centres and schools.

Phnom Penh's deputy governor, Mann Chhoeun, insists the city has been generous to the people of Dey Krahorm.

But the residents say the negotiations had not finished and that they have not received fair compensation for their land.

They add that moving outside the city centre will stop them from earning a living.

The demise of Dey Krahorm will also cause concern among several other communities threatened with eviction.

Phnom Penh street scene: Shoe-shine boys playing soccer on the street

Cambodian shoe-shine boys play soccer on the street for betting during their break in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. Most of Cambodian shoe-shine children in Phnom Penh are spent their day-long working at restaurants without attending schools. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Workers at the L.A. Garment factory block road to demand for their backpay salaries

Workers of garment factory L.A Garment block a road as they demand for their salaries, in Phnom Penh January 24, 2009. The company, which has stopped production, owes workers two months of salary, according to the protesters. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Workers of garment factory L.A Garment block a road as they demand for their salaries, in Phnom Penh January 24, 2009. The company, which has stopped production, owes workers two months of salary, according to the protesters. Placard (C) reads " Government please help us, owner did not pay us, only Prime Minister Hun Sen can help us. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Workers of garment factory L.A Garment block a road as they demand for their salaries, in Phnom Penh January 24, 2009. The company, which has stopped production, owes workers two months of salary, according to the protesters. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Sun Sokun Mealea turning 180-degree case: Another NRP member bites the CPP dust

Sokun Mealea greeting Ranariddh at the NRP formation

One of the NRP member nominated to a government position

23 Jan 2009
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Sokun Mealea, the NRP deputy secretary-general, was nominated as a member of the economic, social and cultural council, attached to the Council of ministers.
The nomination to a government position seems quite surprising in view Sokun Mealea’s past political engagement. Currently a member of the NRP, she is joining this new structure – the economic, social and cultural council of the Council of ministers – which was put into place on 23 January to replace the economic, social and cultural council observation committee. While still a student, she was known as being an anti-Vietnamese student member who was opposed to the CPP. However, with the current nomination, she is now close to the ruling party. Sokun Mealea earned a degree in French foreign language, Law from the Royal Administration School.

Reached over the phone, she announced that “she will start her new job next week. I joined the government because I wish to serve the country by bringing in my knowledge. I am still a NRP member. It is not an opposition party, but I keep my distance to criticize the government, in a constructive manner. In this party, we criticize to help the government moves in the right direction.”

Norodom Ranariddh left his NRP president position to Chhim Seak Leng to serve as the supreme advisor to the king. With Sokun Mealea, another important NRP party member abandons all her opposition to the CPP ruling party.

Indonesia to send another group of doctors to Gaza

JAKARTA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will send another team of doctors to help the victims of Israeli offensive in Gaza, the Jarkareta Post reported Saturday.

The aids were under the coordination of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), MER-C spokesperson Hendry Hidayatullah was quoted as saying.

"The first team entered Gaza on Jan. 17. They are now working at the Al-Shifa Hospital there. The second team will depart for Cairo on Saturday and head directly to our base at the al-Arish Hospital in the Sinai," he said.

Hendry said the team would consist of one surgeon, one internist and one neurologist.

"If the conditions in Gaza are safe, we will help rehabilitate the medical facilities damaged by Israel's military aggression with funds collected from the Indonesian people," he said.

NATO friendly fire kills 2 civilians, wounds 4 more in S Afghanistan

KABUL, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two civilians have been unintentionally killed with four more wounded by friendly fire of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in southern Afghan province of Helmand, said ISAF statements received here on Saturday.

A local man, who was suspected laying IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) near an ISAF base in Gereshk district, was killed by ISAF forces on Thursday, the statement said.

It added that an ISAF soldier killed the victim after he ignored two warning shot and kept digging.

"ISAF broadcasts frequent public service announcements and undertakes advertising campaigns to inform the local population of the need to follow the directions given by ISAF personnel. This is for their safety as well as for the safety of ISAF's soldiers," it added.

In another incident in Sagin district, "a local man was unintentionally killed and four others injured in an incident on Wednesday when ISAF forces came under attack from enemy fire and were forced to act in self defense," said the statement.

It noted that "at the time of the incident, ISAF forces were conducting an intelligence-led operation in the Sangin area to locate and make safe enemy facilities where significant numbers of weapons, ammunition and IED-making equipment were discovered."

However, the statement added "ISAF sincerely regrets any injuries caused to civilians. ISAF soldiers are trained to take appropriate steps to minimize civilian casualties, whilst at the same time taking action to protect themselves when threatened."

Conflicts and Taliban-linked insurgency have left more than 5,000 people dead with over 2,000 civilians and 294 foreign troops in the past 2008, despite some 70,000-strong international troops stationed in militancy-plagued Afghanistan.

More Nepali applications for U.S. visa rejected due to fake documents

KATHMANDU, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- With the increase in number of Nepalis applying for visas for the United States, the number of fraudulent cases is also on the rise, local media reported on Saturday.

According to eKantipur.com, during the peak pre-fall and pre-spring periods, 10 out of 100 applications on average get rejected every day because of fake documents.

Consul at U. S. Embassy Mea Arnold said the Embassy mostly receives fake educational documents, which are provided by the consultancies to those applying for student visas. Those applying for tourist visa submit fake financial documents.

"We hear stories of unscrupulous consultancies offering packets of fake financial documents for sale or schemes involving a supposed 'job' in the U.S. for hefty amounts," said Arnold. "The only person who suffers is the applicant who bought those documents and will be at risk of being permanently disqualified for a U.S. visa if found guilty of fraud."

Last June, Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Crime Division busted a visa racket involved in producing counterfeit American visas.

Last year, the consular section processed 34,000 applications, a 15.2 percent increase over the previous year.

In 2008, a total of 8,936 Nepali students got enrolled in the U.S. colleges and universities, according to "Open Doors 2008: Report on International Exchange 2008," produced by the Institute of International Education. Nepal is the 11th leading country of origin in international students heading for the U.S..

According to the U.S. Ambassador Nancy J Powell, Nepalis get duped by consultancies offering advice and assistance, which often fake documents or false promises to help secure the U.S. visa. "In reality, only a consular officer during an interview can determine if an applicant qualifies for a visa to the U.S."

In order to counter these scams and to encourage Nepali applicants to get accurate information about how to apply for a visa, the U.S. consular section has started an outreach campaign in Nepal from Friday.

Deputy consul Mike Mussi said the aim of the campaign is to provide accurate information on the visa process.

No one wants to live under Thai colonial rule [- and No one wants to see their country invaded by Thai soldiers either! Go home, Thailand!]

The Nation

BANGKOK, Jan 24 — The Thai Foreign Ministry should be commended for making the problems in the deep South one of its top priorities.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya led a high-level delegation of Thai ambassadors, and envoys from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, to Pattani, the heart of the Malay-speaking South, where he held meetings with a wide range of people.
Participants included students who receive grants and scholarships from the government, Islamic religious leaders, governors of the southernmost provinces and military top brass.

Kasit gave each group time to make its case, as well as letting them know the ministry’s concerns. Kasit reminded the officials assigned to the restive region that the entire world is watching, and stressed the need to be more sensitive with regards to cultural differences.

The international community has good intentions and the issue of human rights is one of its biggest concerns, he said.

He was correct to say that Thailand has an obligation to explain to the Thai people, as well as the international community, the progress the government has made in this trouble-plagued region, where more than 3,200 people have been killed since January 2004.

As a way to strengthen ties between the local community and the state, Kasit said budget allocations should be spread out to include local NGOs working at the community level. While it might not take a rocket scientist to figure out that that these ideas are good, Kasit and the ministry should not get caught up in a false sense of confidence. Good intentions are not policy. Tough decisions will have to be made if the problem in the deep South is to be resolved.

Like other ministries, Foreign Affairs will have to get the rest of the country to prepare for what could be a rough journey. As it stands, any move to accommodate the deep South will be costly in political terms.

The rest of the country will look at it as favouritism when, in fact, meaningful effort to improve the livelihood of the region is long overdue.

For too long the Muslim-majority region has been neglected in more ways than one. We know about the historical mistrust and we know that the Patani Malays have always questioned the legitimacy of Thai rule. But instead of trying to come to terms with the past and working towards improving the social mobility of the local Malays so they felt they had a stake in this country, the state repeatedly tampered with the issue of identity.

It was believed that, eventually, the Patani Malays would become “Thais” like the Chinese in Yaowarat or the Lao in Isaan. They were wrong. No matter how we look at this, tension in the South always comes back to the question of identity, the question of human dignity.

Like it or not, the Patani Malays have their own history, myths, heroes and legends, and these happen to be a completely different set of narratives from those of the Thai state.

In spite of the fact that armed separatist movements surface every generation or so, there is no overwhelming evidence to suggest that the local Muslims want to break away from Thailand. If anything, we believe that they want to be part of Thailand, but on their own terms.

Like others, Kasit needs to know that any move to accommodate the Patani Malays will not be easy. It is, indeed, hard for any Thai to swallow the notion that there are actually Thai citizens out there who refuse to come to terms with the ideologies that define what this nation-state is and should be.

For too long, the state has worked hard to mould the Patani Malays into something they are not and do not wish to be — at least to the point where they don't challenge the authority or question the legitimacy of the state.

But for the Patani Malays, this has been something they cannot compromise on, as Malay identity and Islam are inseparable. An attack on one is an attack on the other.

Historically, state officials, including aristocrats sent to the region over the past century, see themselves as benevolent rulers. A century after the region came under the direct rule of Bangkok, we continue to believe that sending good and honest officials to administer over the Malay-speaking region will help improve the situation.

Today, with a new generation of insurgents forming a web of cells in the region, we are still scratching our heads over what to do. For five years, the military-led initiatives have tried everything under the sun — both carrot and stick have been employed and yet the Patani Malays just won’t get in line.

We don’t seem to understand that, from the Malays’ perspective, a benevolent Siamese colonial master is still a Siamese colonial master.

This may be a bit hard for us to swallow, but many people in the three southernmost provinces actually see Thai officials and residents as foreign occupiers — which naturally makes the local people colonial subjects.

This is probably why extremely few local people have stepped forward to point the finger at suspected insurgents. They may not agree with the brutal methods employed by the insurgents but we can’t deny the fact that they share the same overall sentiment.

Perhaps it’s time to think outside the box. Perhaps we should start to look for ways to change the equation so that the Patani Malays feel they have a stake in this country, a shared destiny. Our initiative has to go beyond giving local Malay Muslims free trips to Bangkok and Chiang Mai to show them grand temples and whisper in their ears, “This is yours, too”.

Funny how none of these trips ever include a visit to the Praya Tani cannons in front of the Defence Ministry.

What would we say? “This used to be yours, but not anymore. Learn to live with it buddy; you are a defeated people?”

Dey Kraham houses completely demolished by the 7NG company

Workers from the 7NG demolished all the houses in Dey Kraham (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)
"Building" on the rooftop of which the cops were stationed before their raid (Photo: DR, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

24 Jan 2009
By Adrien Le Gal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

“Hun Sen promised after the war that nobody will be deprived from housing right. Look what he is doing now” - Resident

A clash between the residents and the cops took place on Saturday 24 Jan at 6AM in Dey Kraham. Workers for the 7NG company demolished all the houses in the shantytown located in the heart of Phnom Penh.
The cops and the 7NG construction company have demolished all the houses located in Dey Kraham on Saturday 24 January, at 6AM, Cambodge Soir Hebdo witnessed on the spot.

At about 2AM, the cops blocked principal access roads to the Dey Kraham area, and they took position on the roof of the nearby “Building” (apartment buildings from the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, see photo). About 20 NGO officials and reporters were present on the spot.

After several hours of tension, at 6AM sharp, the time beyond which the evictions would be illegal, the cops entered the area. They were greeted by rock throwing from the residents, and they pushed the barricade set up by the demonstrators using tear gas and flame throwing guns pointed at the residents.

The angry residents burnt tires that cover the area with a thick black smoke, meanwhile some of the residents were scrambling to gather their furniture and belongings from their home.

After pushing the residents away, bulldozers were brought in to crush the makeshift homes while the helpless residents watched, some of them broke down in tears.

Workers for the 7NG company, the company who received the land concession, demolished some of the homes with hammers and heavy deadweight. “The workers were promised $5 in advance, 2 liters of gasoline, breakfast, and another $5 after their job done,” an observer from “Human Rights Observers” NGO indicated. “The workers were recruited from the relocation area, some of them used to live here before.”

The demolition crew, wearing yellow, blue and red T-shirts, ducked some rock throwing from the residents who were quickly put down.

Some of the residents refused to leave their homes, and NGO officials had to talk them out of it before their homes were demolished.

“Hun Sen promised after the war that nobody will be deprived from housing right. Look what he is doing now,” a resident from the area who came to watch the action said.

“I will return to sleep here tonight,” an old resident promised while pointing to a pile of rubbles that used to be his house.

The demolition was almost complete by 8AM.

While some residents claimed that Chan Vichet, their representative, was arrested in the previous evening, other sources indicated that he had to flee along with other activists, for fear of being put in jail by the Phnom Penh authority.

Myanmar, India strive for boosting bilateral trade

By Feng Yingqiu

YANGON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Major business organizations of Myanmar and India have met in Yangon recently and outlined ways of cooperation in boosting bilateral trade.

Some trade items were introduced by the two sides during a meeting here between the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Indo-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industries, according to Saturday's official media.

The Myanmar delegation was headed by the UMFCCI President U WinMyint, while the Indian counterpart was led by GL Goenka.

The Myanmar side proposed to export to India agricultural produces, forest products, rubber products, handicrafts, gems, traditional medicines and foodstuff, while the Indian side to export to Myanmar machines and solar energy system technical-knowhow, the New Light of Myanmar said.

The two sides also discussed formation of a joint committee to deal with possible disputes between the two federations and export of goods through CIF system instead of FOB by Myanmar to India.

Myanmar and India have also been deliberating to upgrade its border trade carried out at Reedkhoda (India) and Tamu-Moye (Myanmar) to normal trade.

It was touched upon at the 3rd meeting of Myanmar-India Joint Trade Committee held in Myanmar's second largest city of Mandalay during Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh's second visit to Myanmar in October last year.

The meeting also covered bilateral cooperation in banking services, extension of export items and promotion of trade between the two countries and bilateral cooperation in electric and energy sectors

Besides, Myanmar and India have also agreed to maintain regular trade deal on beans and pulses with the Indian side proposing to purchase Myanmar quality beans and pulses at international current prices on a monthly basis.

The deal on the move was reached in last November between the UMFCCI and the State Trading Corporation of India during a visit to Nay Pyi Taw by Indian Deputy Minister of Customer Affairs, Foods and Public Distribution NK Raghupathy.

Meanwhile, Myanmar and India agreed to use euros and Singapore dollars in direct trade transactions as an alternative means to settle credit accounts between the banks of India and Myanmar when Myanmar is under United States' financial sanctions,

According to the UMFCCI, payments for bilateral trade will be conducted through the United Bank of India and three state-run Myanmar banks -- Myanmar Investment and Commerce Bank, Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and Myanmar Economic Bank.

Myanmar exported 1.34 million tons of various beans and pulses to India in the fiscal year 2007-08, earning about 700 million dollars, official statistics show.

The majority of these beans and pulses were exported to India through Singapore dealers to settle the letters of credit account in US dollars owing to the US trade sanctions.

Relations between Myanmar and India, which share a border of over 1,600 km, have been growing during the past few years with cooperation in all sectors, particularly in those of trade and economy.

Myanmar official statistics show that Myanmar-India bilateral trade reached 995 million U.S. dollars in 2007-08 with Myanmar's exports to India accounting for 810 million U.S. dollars and its imports from India 185 million dollars.

India stands as Myanmar's 4th largest trading partner after Thailand, China and Singapore and also Myanmar's second largest export market after Thailand, absorbing 25 percent of its total exports.

The Myanmar compiled figures also show that India's contracted investment in Myanmar reached 219.57 million U.S. dollars as of January 2008, of which 137 million were drawn into the oil and gas sector in September 2007.
Myanmar media stress continued flourishing of traditional culture
YANGON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar official newspaper the New Light of Myanmar Saturday stressed the need to strive for continued flourishing of Myanmar national culture amid infiltration of alien culture.

"At a time when efforts are being made for the emergence of a new modern and developed nation, it is incumbent upon the entire people to strive for continued flourishing of national characters, cultural traditions and human values and to guard against the infiltration and overwhelming of alien culture and customs with national awareness," the paper said in its editorial.

"By nature, Myanmar people value traditional culture. Their habit, custom and things Myanmar are found to be deeply entrenched in Myanmar culture, Myanmar characters and Myanmar style," the editorial noted, calling for efforts for flourishing of national prestige and integrity and codes of conduct while striving for preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage and national character.

The editorial appraised that at a time when "some global nations are striving for safeguarding of traditional culture and national character as the standard of their culture and traditions has been on the wane, Myanmar has been able to stand tall with fine historical traditions as she has firmly set up a grand and high level cultural heritage replete with essence."

The editorial added that "The national brethren of Myanmar have been handing over the cultural heritage they have further strengthened and enriched and added more value to it from generation to generation as a well preserved legacy."

As part of its endeavors in preserving and promoting traditions, culture and customs, Myanmar held traditional cultural performing arts competitions annually since 1993, participated by thousands of youth contestants, include contests of song, dance, composition, music and play at different stages such as professional, amateur, higher education and basic education levels.

Indonesia to send another group of doctors to Gaza

JAKARTA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will send another team of doctors to help the victims of Israeli offensive in Gaza, the Jarkareta Post reported Saturday.

The aids were under the coordination of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), MER-C spokesperson Hendry Hidayatullah was quoted as saying.

"The first team entered Gaza on Jan. 17. They are now working at the Al-Shifa Hospital there. The second team will depart for Cairo on Saturday and head directly to our base at the al-Arish Hospital in the Sinai," he said.

Hendry said the team would consist of one surgeon, one internist and one neurologist.

"If the conditions in Gaza are safe, we will help rehabilitate the medical facilities damaged by Israel's military aggression with funds collected from the Indonesian people," he said.

Mr. Hun Sen’s Unchallenged Supremacy

23rd January, 2009
Opinion by Khmerization

“The sacking of Gen. Ke Kimyan should send shiver down the spines of some political and military heavyweights who are on the wrong side of Mr. Hun Sen’s. If Gen. Ke Kimyan can be sacked, no one else is safe. Mr. Hun Sen will not stop there. Next could be Mr. Sar Kheng, the Minister of Interior and Gen. Tea Banh, the Minister of Defence. The fate of Mr. Chea Sim’s faction, of which the CPP’s old guards and party founders belong to, is near its end. They will not survive past the next election in 2013.”

Mr. Hun Sen’s sacking of Gen. Ke Kimyan from his post as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces has been viewed by many observers as another attempt by Mr. Hun Sen to solidify his power base in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). The sacking has probably resulted from an internal squabbling and a power struggle between the Chea Sim’s faction, of which Gen. Ke Kimyan belongs to, and Mr. Hun Sen’s faction. The sacking has changed the CPP’s internal political and military landscape dramatically. In short, it is the beginning of the demise of the Chea Sim’s faction politically and militarily, because the new commander-in-Chief, Gen. Pol Saroeun and seven other Deputy Commander-in-Chiefs, are all Mr. Hun Sen’s loyalists.

Gen. Ke Kimyan, one of the most honest and best Cambodian military leaders, has been a thorn in Mr. Hun Sen’s eyes for a long time. He wanted to lead the Cambodian army professionally and relatively independent of politics. He has resisted Hun Sen’s attempt to monopolise his control on the army. He has resisted Mr. Hun Sen’s orders to send troops to counter Gen. Serey Kosal’s threats of a partition of Battambang province during a brief military clash in 1995 between the troops loyal to the CPP and troops loyal to the Funcinpec Party. He has refused to participate in a military coup against Prince Ranariddh’s Funcinpec Party in 1997.

Mr. Hun Sen has been reportedly attempted to remove Gen. Ke Kimyan from his post after the 1998 election and replaced him with his own son, Hun Manet. After the 2003 election, Hun Sen again attempted to sack Gen. Ke Kimyan, but, both times, he failed.

Gen. Ke Kimyan has so far weathered Mr. Hun Sen’s storm unscathed, until yesterday. His military career, if not over, will be reduced to a powerless and idle role. He will be languishing in a military limbo for years to come. His fate might not be any different from police Gen. Heng Pov’s, who had a fallout with the late Gen. Hok Lundy and then with Mr. Hun Sen and was jailed for 35 years.

What does the sacking of Gen. Ke Kimyan mean? The consequence of the sacking would be manifolds. It would mean a deepened political divisions between Mr. Chea Sim’s and Mr. Hun Sen’s faction of the CPP. It will cause some internal military mistrusts and a disquietness within the military ranks. Many middle- and lower-ranked military officers will be very angry because Gen. Ke Kimyan is very popular and loved by the lower ranks. On the contrary, the new appointees, in particular Gen. Kun Kim, are disliked by the lower ranks.

The sacking of Gen. Ke Kimyan should send shiver down the spines of some political and military heavyweights who are on the wrong side of Mr. Hun Sen’s. If Gen. Ke Kimyan can be sacked, no one else is safe. Mr. Hun Sen will not stop there. Next could be Mr. Sar Kheng, the Minister of Interior and Gen. Tea Banh, the Minister of Defence. The fate of Mr. Chea Sim’s faction, of which the CPP’s old guards and party founders belong to, is near its end. They will not survive past the next election in 2013.

Mr. Hun Sen’s political conquest will only end when he has achieved his political and military supremacy in Cambodia. He has so far secured 90% control of the political and military power base as well as the police and the bureaucracy. His political conquest will only be halted when he will achieve total control of his political and military power in Cambodia or when his life ended.

I would not be surprised if one day Mr. Hun Sen died in a helicopter crash just like the fate of his most loyal lieutenant, Gen. Hok Lundy. He has angered too many people within the CPP, especially the old guards and the party founders, who are currently sidelined by Mr. Hun Sen in favours of the young turks. And I am not surprised if plots to assassinate him are on the making from now on and I can predict that they will be hatched any time.

Now Mr. Hun Sen has achieved near total control of the Cambodian military and police as well as the civil administration. Now he can be dubbed as the emperor, or, to be exact, the Caesar of Cambodian politics.

Khmer girl boxers

At the 7 years khmer boxers still poor and not many who interest but a few years a go our khmer boxers were interested around the world. especially Ae Phu thorng, he is the famous one and he starts to make movie or teach the young generation......posted by Ms. ot Danet

UN chief expects G-77, China to play bigger role in fighting economic crisis

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here Friday that he expects the Group of 77 (G-77) and China to "play a strong and constructive role" as the world at large is dealing with the global financial crisis, the climate change, and global health.

Ban, who was addressing the G-77 chairmanship hand-over ceremony, said "I will be counting on the Group of 77 and China to play a strong and constructive role, and I am keen to work closely with you."

"The crises that erupted last year highlighted the interdependence of economies and countries," he said. "They also showed that the United Nations and its multilateral framework are indispensable," he said.

"As we move into 2009, these global challenges remain. They threaten to undo the progress made toward the development goals in the last decade," he said.

"We are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression," he said. "Most developed economies have entered recession. The strong growth rates enjoyed by developing countries from 2002 to 2007 will soon be distant memories. Prospects for the least developed countries are particularly worrying."

"Governments have taken unprecedented action to mitigate the crisis -- at home and internationally," he said. "But much more is needed to reverse the downward spiral. The fiscal stimulus packages under consideration in many larger economies must be suitably sized and well-coordinated internationally to be effective."

"The United Nations will continue to support efforts to correct the global financial system and safeguard development gains, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable," he said.

"The broken international financial system must also be fixed to avoid a recurrence of today's problems," he said. "The December2008 Doha Declaration on Financing for Development stressed the need for such reforms."

"We are already making preparations for the United Nations conference on the impact of the global economic crisis on development mandated by the Doha Declaration," he said. "I urge your governments to participate at the highest possible level."

"Slow progress toward the development goals related to health remains a major concern," he said. "In many areas of the world, health systems are stretched to the limit or broken. In many countries, prospects for meeting the most basic goals related to maternal health, child mortality, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases are low."

"As populations age and non-communicable ailments such as diabetes and heart become more prevalent, ensuring health care for all will grow more and more challenging," he said.

Sudan takes over the G-77 chairmanship from Antigua an Barbuda on Friday.

G-77 is an international organization established in 1967 to promote economic cooperation and greater influence in world affairs among developing countries. Originally consisting of 77 countries, the organization had 133 member states in 1998, primarily in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

10 killed in U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's tribal area

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ten persons were killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's tribal region on Friday, private TV channel Geo reported.

The U.S. drone fired two missiles in Wana area of South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan, said the report.

This is the second missile attack that occurred in Pakistan's tribal area on Friday.

At least eight people were killed and many others injured as a U.S. drone fired three missiles at a house in Pakistan's North Waziristan earlier Friday.

Pakistan's tribal regions have witnessed a string of cross-border missile attacks launched by U.S. drones. The Pakistani government has repeatedly protested against such attacks and called for a halt to them.

Bomb, gunfight injure 2 rangers in Thailand's restive south

BANGKOK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Security authorities detained two suspects in Thailand's restive south Friday after a roadside bomb attack and a following gunfight caused injuries of two paramilitary rangers.

The violent attack took place in Narathiwat's Sri Sakorn district at around noon Friday while a six-men squad was traveling on three motorbikes as a routine patrol, the website by The Nation newspaper reported.

The bomb was set off manually through an electrical wire that was tied to a five-kilogram explosive and run into the wooded area about 150 meters from the roadside, it said.

The gunfight between the two side lasted for about five minutes before the militant retreated back into the wooded area.

The country's deep South comprises mainly the three southernmost provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and some parts of Songkla province.

Insurgent violence has killed over 3,500 people in the deep South since its resurrection in January 2004.

Thailand offers to host conference on Rohingya issue

BANGKOK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand offered to host a conference concerning about Rohingya with its neighboring countries as soon as possible, Tharit Charungvat, spokesperson of Thailand Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The plan came after Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary of Thai Foreign Ministry called a meeting with Ambassadors to Thailand of Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss about cooperation on illegal migrants entering the Kingdomvia Andaman sea.

"It is a good offer and I will pass this matter to my government to make the decision" said Tharit as the Ambassador of Malaysia to Thailand saying at the meeting

Tharit said that Rohingya is the regional matter which has to get a joint cooperation to solve the problem.

Tharit said also that Thailand is not an aimed country of Rohingya rather they wants to go to Muslim counties mainly.

However, there is human trafficking ring, operating in Thailand and on international networks.

Recently, nearly 650 Rohingya have been rescued in watercourse of India and Indonesia. A human right group have accused the Thai navy of detaining and beating up to 1,000 Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh before towing them out to sea

Tributes flow for union head

Written by Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Sebastian Strangio

Friday, 23 January 2009www.phnompenhpost.com

Five years after his death, two men convicted of union leader Chea Vichea's killing pay respects at memorial march, calling for fresh investigations. Photo by: AFP Nuon Kimsry, mother of newly released suspect Born Samnang, mourns the death of slain unionist Chea Vichea at Thursday's five-year commemoration near Wat Lanka. HUNDREDS of factory workers and civil society activists gathered Thursday for a commemorative march marking the fifth anniversary of the killing of outspoken trade unionist Chea Vichea - with participation this year from the two men convicted and imprisoned for his murder in 2004.

The event, organised by the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, began at 8am at the headquarters of the Free Trade Union of Workers (FTU) before marching to the site of Chea Vichea's assassination near Wat Lanka, where he was gunned down in 2004 while buying a newspaper.

"We hope the police and investigating judges will make an effort to investigate then arrest the real murderers and their accomplices," said Chea Vichea's brother and FTU President Chea Mony, welcoming the provisional release of suspects Born Samnang, 24, and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, on December 31.

"We have a small amount of justice due to the[ir] temporary release ... but we still have no real justice because the real murderers and their accomplices are living freely," he said.

The two men, released from prison pending retrial after the Supreme Court cited discrepancies in their case, joined civil society leaders in laying wreaths next to a portrait of Chea Vichea and issuing calls for an independent investigation into the labour leader's death.

"I am very happy that I have opportunity to pay my respects to the spirit of Chea Vichea," Born Samnang told reporters.

"I want to tell the people and the international community that I am not a killer. I hope the government will not allow the criminals to continue their activities against the people of our country."

Sok Samouen's father, Von Vann, 65, said the support of civil society and those close to Chea Vichea had helped secure their release.

"My son was released from prison because NGOs and Chea Vichea's family strongly believe he is not the killer. I hope the police and the court will arrest the real murderers soon so my son and Born Samnang will be stripped of their charges," he said.

They are not real murderers. They are plastic murderers set up by the police.


Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, also present at the march, called on US President Barack Obama to help bring the killers to justice.

"I want a full, serious investigation into this murder," he said.

Although there was a small police presence during the march, Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said in his speech that police had been employed to block traffic and did not engage in the "victimising" tactics of past years.

"From now on, we hope the authorities, including the police and military police, will not use electric batons and their gun-points to ‘protect' peaceful protesters," he said.

Rehabilitated
Although Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are technically guilty of Chea Vichea's murder - both were convicted of the crime by a Phnom Penh court in 2004 - Chea Mony vouched for their innocence and welcomed their presence at the event.

"We are happy to welcome [their] families to the five-year commemoration of my brother's death," he told the Post.

"They are not the real murderers. They are plastic murderers set up by the police to confuse the eyes of national and international observers."

However, as the Court of Appeal and Ministry of Interior prepare to reopen the investigation, some observers are divided on whether their provisional release - a first for Cambodia's judiciary - can be seen as an indication of growing independence, or a brief diversion from the standard of judicial interference.

US embassy spokesman John Johnson said the US government had hopes it was a step in the right direction.

"We welcome the serious and thorough way the Supreme Court Panel reviewed their cases," he said by email. "We presume [it] will guide the Appeals Court in their further work."

He also expressed hopes the court would "resolve this matter in a way consistent with Cambodian law and international standards of due process".

But others said that the decision could easily be reversed.

"They are on bail, meaning that they could be arrested at any time," said Mu Sochua, deputy secretary general of the Sam Rainsy Party, adding that the prospects of a fair inquiry into the Chea Vichea killing remained slim.

"It's been five years. If the government really wanted to have a truly independent investigation, they would have cooperated with the witnesses. But nevertheless, we have to have hope."

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak would not detail how the forthcoming investigation would proceed, but told the Post that Born Samnang and Sok Samouen had only been released temporarily and were both still accused of Chea Vichea's killing.

"The court has released them on bail but they have not yet completed their work," he said. "We will follow the court's decision."

But Mu Sochua said that the high turnout at the march would send a strong message.
"[This] is a message to the government that the Cambodian people, especially the workers, will continue to demand justice, and that the spirit of the democrats remains strong."

Workers, police clash in Kandal

Written by May Titthara and Thomas Gam Nielsen

Friday, 23 January 2009

TAKHMAO Garment factory row turns violent over cuts to employees's bonuses. SHE was trying to save a younger co-worker from police violence, but 40-year-old Chamroeun Chan got hit herself as police and protesting garment workers clashed in front of the Yong Wa garment factory in Kandal province Thursday.

"I saw that my young colleague had been hit by the police and had fallen down, so I tried to help him back up, but another policeman hurled stones at me," she said.

Chamroeun Chan was among thousands of garment workers from two factories protesting a reduction of their annual bonus from US$50 to $20.

"We want to bring the money back to the provinces for the Chinese New Year and the money now [offered] is too little," said Sokhum Molina,
23, adding that the workers had received the annual bonus since 1998.

Takhmao district police Deputy Chief Mun Chea said 100 police officers had been deployed in the area and that the workers had wounded themselves while throwing stones at the police. "[They] broke a mirror of a police car and damaged some property," he said.

Chea Nana, a senior monitor with local rights group Licadho, said garment worker representatives from different unions made a compromise of $30 with company owners, but that the protesters had declined the result.

"The workers said they would not accept anything less than the $50," he said, adding that protests were set to continue today.

Kandal governor provincial Chhun Sirun, declined to comment on the case Thursday, and the garment factory management could not be reached.

Central Market renovations begin with French flourish

Written by May Kunmakara

Friday, 23 January 2009

The $4.2 million renovation project, which has been funded by the French government, will take some two years to complete. Photo by: Sovann Philong The French ambassador and Phnom Penh Govenor Kep Chuktema throw jasmine on Thursday to symbolically start renovations. DESPITE the visible trappings of construction work - including huge scaffolds that have plunged the area around Phnom Penh's Central Market into traffic chaos - having been present for weeks, the 74-year-old structure's US$4.2 million renovation officially began Thursday with a ceremony at the site

"It is for you all," Kep Chuktema, governor of Phnom Penh, told vendors and gathered dignitaries Thursday at the ceremony to launch construction work in earnest.

The landmark Central Market is the first Phnom Penh market to have its own board of directors, organised by Phnom Penh Municipality, which will manage the market and work with vendors, he said.

Under the terms of the grant - which came from the French Development Agency (AFD) - the market will be renovated by French contractor Arte Villa Pare in cooperation with KOSAN, a French company, Kep Chuktema said.

The plan is to renovate and modernise the market, which has become dilapidated with old age. Originally built in 1935, the market was designed by French architects.

[central market] is continuing to become as famous as it used to be


"Central Market is an example for all other markets in Phnom Penh," Kep Chuktema said. "All the revenue made from charging vendors is not for my own use. It is for use in repairing the market and paving the roads and putting public lights in [the surrounding] Daun Penh district," he added.

"The market will continue to be as famous as it used to be," he said, adding that the new renovation will allow the market to stay open 24 hours because of new night security.

Eric Beugnot, director of AFD, said he was proud to be working on a market with so much history.

"I want to build a beautiful and modern market in the heart of the city in response to an increasing population of municipal dwellers and market vendors," he said.

Kep Chuktema said that once construction was finished, likely in 2010, the market would adopt the slogan: "If one does not know Phsar Thmey, one does not know Phnom Penh."

Vendors ‘very happy'
"The vendors are very happy with the new renovations because they will have new stalls and wider carparks," Central Market chief Sok Kimheng said. "However, the price will increase around 10 percent after the project is completed," he added.

Sok Leap, a souvenir seller at the market, said she was a bit concerned the construction, which would last two years, would impact her revenue.
"I don't know clearly how much they will increase the price of a stall," she said, adding that she was worried people would go to another market in the meantime.

Ke Kim Yan removed from post

Written by Post Staff

Friday, 23 January 2009

GENERAL Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and long-time loyalist of Cambodian People's Party President Chea Sim, has been removed from his post in a sweeping reshuffle of the Kingdom's military leadership.

According to a royal decree broadcast Thursday on Apsara Television, Ke Kim Yan's deputy, General Pol Saroeun, has been appointed commander-in-chief, and seven officers have been bumped up to the post of deputy commander-in-chief, including Hun Sen loyalists General Kun Kim and General Meas Sophea.

When contacted by the Post Thursday, Pol Saroeun confirmed he had been promoted. When asked how he felt about it, he replied: "I am modest."

Nem Sowath, Cabinet chief for the Ministry of Defence, said that it was a routine reshuffle of the Kingdom's top brass. "There has been no problem," he said.

He added that Ke Kim Yan had led the army for many years and had made "enviable achievements" since being appointed to the post.

Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party , said the reshuffle was likely a result of internal CPP power politics.

"We have long heard rumours that Prime Minister Hun Sen had plans to remove Ke Kim Yan from commander of RCAF because of an internal dispute," he said, referring to speculation that has abounded since 1997 when reports of Ke Kim Yan's death in the factional fighting sent his family fleeing to Thailand. Although the reports proved erronrous, it later emerged Ke Kim Yan had disputed an order to deploy the army on the streets of Phnom Penh.

In 1999, when Hun Sen appointed Kun Kim to the general staff, observers cast it as a move by the prime minister to tighten his grip on RCAF.
A three-star RCAF general who declined to be named said that he was "very surprised" to hear of the transfer.

"If he was withdrawn from his post without real reason, there could be a reaction from soldiers and commanders," he said.

But Nguon Nhel, first deputy president of the National Assembly, denied the move was a sign of internal divisions in the party. "There is no such dispute in the CPP," Nguon Nhel said. "If there was a dispute, the CPP would not have such support."

Ke Kim Yan could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Bird flu outbreak fears cool as residents test negative

Written by Cheang Sokha

Friday, 23 January 2009

But health officials remain on alert for a possible outbreak of H5N1 virus following a series of scares in Kandal province. Photo by: Heng Chivoan Men unload chickens in Phnom Penh. Fears of a bird flu outbreak have calmed: NEARLY 100 Kandal residents tested for the H5N1 avian influenza following outbreak fears last month have been declared free of the disease, according to officials at the Ministry of Health. Sok Touch, director of the Communicable Disease Control Department at the ministry, said that roughly 95 suspected cases of avian influenza had been investigated throughout the province, but none confirmed the local presence of the virus.

"We are continuing our examinations of the virus across the country," Sok Touch told the Post Thursday.

"In the cool season, outbreaks can occur more easily, so we are on alert to follow up any leads."

In November last year, 19-year-old Teng Sopheak from Kandal province's Kandal Stung district was hospitalised after consuming a chicken - a case officials later confirmed as avian influenza, also known as H5N1.

Leng Khan, director of the Deum Reus Health Centre in Kandal Stung's Cheung Koeub commune, said that soon after officials confirmed the presence of H5N1, about 18 people in the community were immediately called in for blood tests, all returning negative results.

Leng Khan said that residents in neighbouring villages were also tested by health officials with support from the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh.

"They are doing fine here right now," Leng Khan said. "Even Teng Sopheak is fine and is now harvesting his crops in Kampong Speu province."
Teng Sopheak was the eighth person confirmed to have contracted avian influenza in Cambodia, and was the only case recorded in the Kingdom in 2008. None of the seven previous cases survived.

Slumdog makes its debut in India

Slumdog Millionaire, the Mumbai-based movie nominated for 10 Oscars including best film, has finally opened in India.

The rags-to-riches tale, which has already won four Golden Globes, is being given as big a release in India as any major Bollywood film.

The film has won much praise in reviews in India but has also earned some criticism for exploiting poverty.

A fully dubbed Hindi version of the film has also been released to reach rural and small-town audiences.

Slum fund

The film, which was made on a budget of £7m ($9.6m), has already raked in nearly $50m at the box office in the US and Britain. The film's music director, AR Rahman, has become the first Indian to get three Oscar nominations.

Rahman told the Times of India: "I'm at the top of the world. Everything is a blur."

The film has created discussion in India about whether it exploits "poverty chic".

But the Times of India said film-goers should forget "the twitter about aggrieved national sentiment" and enjoy "a piece of riveting cinema".

The producers have announced that a portion of the box-office proceeds will go a welfare fund set up for the betterment of slums in Mumbai (Bombay).

The film revolves around 18-year-old Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, who wins the jackpot on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Jamal participates in the game show not for money but to reach his missing girlfriend Latika, played by Freida Pinto, who watches the programme without fail.

The film stars well-known Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Irfan Khan.

Kapoor said at the Thursday night premiere: "We are really, really emotional. All of us just can't stop hugging each other."

Malaria illnesses decline in Cambodia in 2008

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of reported malaria cases and deaths in Cambodia respectively dropped by 8.5 percent and 25 percent in 2008 over the previous year, national media on Friday quoted the National Malaria Center as saying.

The number of confirmed malaria cases decreased to 59,840 in 2008 from 54,784 in 2007, and deaths to 184 from 241, according to the center.

"The trend is downward but it is not sharp," Rashid Abdur, malaria scientist for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Cambodia, told English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily.

Meanwhile, Duong Socheat, director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control Program, attributed the dip primarily to early diagnosis and treatment, and better health education particularly in rural areas.

Durable mosquito nets treated with insecticide have also contributed to the progress against malaria.

"One net can last for three to five years," he added.

According to the WHO, about a half million Cambodians live in forested regions where malaria transmission is intense.

News Analysis: Are Britain's hopes to join euro dashed?

by Dongying Wang

LONDON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- With the rapid depreciation of the once strong British pond against euro in the recent years and the uncertainty of the country's economy in the face of the ongoing global economic downturn, an urgency has come for Britons to join the euro but the chance might slip through their fingers due to their persisted reluctance.

STATUS OF EURO

"The euro has become increasingly a candidate for the status of a reserve currency alongside, or in substitution for the dollar," Lord Lea, an economist and life peer of the House of the Lords told Xinhua.

"Familiarity with the euro is now self-reinforcing in Africa, Asia, Latin America as well as in the OECD area," Lord Lea said, adding "The pound is nowhere by comparison."

It is widely believed that at the worst point, investors will give up all but four big global currencies: the dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan. In that case, Britain will see no way out, he added.

Euro membership has returned to British agenda. It comes on the10th anniversary of the launch of the European single currency, which has been adopted by 16 of the 27 European Union member states.

Since its introduction in 1999, the euro has been the second most widely-held international reserve currency after the U.S. dollar. The possibility of the euro's becoming the first international reserve currency is now widely debated among economists.

BRITONS' RELUCTANCE TO ADOPT EURO

Despite the euro's 10-year success, skepticism towards the currency has not diminished in Britain. The strength of the euro has yet to draw Britain closer to the continent. A majority of Britons are still adamantly opposed to joining the euro, arguing that keeping monetary autonomy would benefit the British economy.

A latest poll has showed that 70 percent of Britons still reject the euro, up from 55 percent in 2005.

The big challenge for Britain in adopting the euro is to get a referendum passed, said Lord Lea, who was a member of the British Treasury Advisory Group on the euro. In many of the states which have adopted the euro, there was no such a referendum.

"If we had had the chance of a public vote to join the euro or not in Germany, I am absolutely sure, we would have kept the Deutsche Mark rather than switching to the euro, "said Professor Ralph E. Hartleben at University of Applied Sciences, in Weiden inder Oberphalz, Germany.

"The pound's long history, and heritage as part of British identity are the main reasons for Britons rejecting the euro," said Hartleben, adding "If I were British, I also would like to stick to the pound, as in Germany the euro has nearly doubled all prices."

Lord Lea expressed understanding for Britain's nostalgia of the pound. "However it is the reality that Britain, as an EU member, functions within the regional policies and systems," he said.

He insisted it's at the EU level that Britain can make the quickest process in securing accountability and taxation transparency of multinational businesses, including multinational banks and associated new financial instruments.

OUTLOOK OF BRITAIN'S ECONOMY

Being hit hard by the downturn, Britain has been warned of expecting a difficult year ahead, and a 2.9 percent shrink in GDP in 2009.

Lord Lea believes that Britain's gloomy economic outlook will lessen the opposition to the euro entry in the coming five years. Instead of suggesting an exact time for Britain's adoption of the single currency, he stressed the policy of "not wait and see," but "prepare and decide."

Lord Lea, who was vice president of the European Trade Union Confederation, restated the point made in 1999 by the British Trades Union Congress that if the euro entry delay persisted for a period of years, Britain would become less attractive for inward investment.

Indian PM to have heart bypass surgery

MUMBAI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to have a heart bypass surgery Saturday, reported local news channel Times Now.

Manmohan Singh is likely to be admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Friday, due to his blocked cardiac arteries and convalesces, the report said.

Doctors say there is no threat to the prime minister's life. The 76-year old prime minister will need rest for three to four weeks.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will preside over the Cabinet meetings during the prime minister's absence. Internal orders on Pranab's expanded duties are ready.

Vietnam: Human Rights Watch analysts denounce violations of Khmer Krom rights

Phnom Penh (Cambodia). 04/06/2003. Mr Thach Setha, member of the Sam Rainsy Party, at a ceremony funded by King Norodom Sihanouk to commemorate the loss of Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam. (Photo: John Vink/ Magnum)

22-01-2009
By Stéphanie Gée
Ka-set in English

The Khmer Krom, Cambodians born in the Mekong Delta in Kampuchea Krom, a region once fully part of the territory of Cambodia, are chased relentlessly by the Vietnamese authorities and mistreated, put in prison or placed under house
arrest whenever they try to peacefully express their political opinions and religious beliefs. In a report released on January 21st 2009 entitled "On the Margins: Rights Abuses of Ethnic Khmer in Vietnam's Mekong Delta ", the organisation for the defence of Human rights Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounces the harsh suppression by the Vietnamese government, "wary about possible Khmer Krom nationalist aspirations", of protests organised by this large ethnic group.

Khmer Krom monks targeted first by the Vietnamese authorities

"First, the police interrogated me every day, then a couple of times a week. Sometimes they questioned me from morning until 10 pm at night - I wasn't allowed to go home. […] They slapped the back of my head with their palms and hit me with rolled-up paper. They asked many questions and tried to frighten me by showing me handcuffs. […] The confession letter was already written. They forced me to copy what they wrote. If not, they would not allow me to eat or go home. I am not against the Vietnamese government. I abide by Vietnamese law. But they said I was not loyal to the nation."

These are the words of a Khmer Krom monk, quoted by Human Rights Watch (HRW). He was defrocked and placed under house arrest after participating in a peaceful protest in the Soc Trang province in 2007. What did the protesters call for? “Greater religious freedom and more Khmer-language education”, the report says. The police then surrounded the pagodas of monks suspected of leading the protest, expelled at least 20 monks from monkhood and “sent [them] back to their home villages, put them under house arrest or police detention, without issuing arrest warrants or specifying the charges against them”. In May 2007, the Soc Trang provincial court convicted five of the monks on charges of “disrupting traffic” and sentenced them to two to four years of imprisonment.

A policy coming from the Communist Party

The New York-based organisation thus calls the Vietnamese government to “free Khmer Krom Buddhist monks and land rights activists in prison or under house arrest for the peaceful expression of their political and religious beliefs” and regrets that it tightly controls Theravada Buddhism, practised by the Khmer Krom, who see this form of Buddhism as “the foundation of their distinct culture and ethnic identity”.

“The government should be trying to engage in dialogue with the Khmer Krom, rather than throwing them in jail”, says Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. In researching this report, Human Rights Watch “came into possession of internal memos circulated by the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vietnamese government officials outlining their concerns about unrest among Khmer Krom in the Mekong Delta and strategies to monitor, infiltrate, and silence Khmer Krom activists”. According to Brad Adams, the documents, included in an appendix to the report, “lay bare the efforts by the Vietnamese government to silence critics”.

Abuses against Khmer Krom in Cambodia also

Investigators for Human Rights Watch documented in their 125-page report ongoing violations of the rights of the Khmer Krom in southern Vietnam but also abuses in Cambodia against Khmer Krom who have fled there for refuge. Indeed, although the Cambodian government has repeatedly stated that it considers the Khmer Krom to be Cambodian citizens, authorities “often react harshly when Khmer Krom become too critical of the Vietnamese government, a close ally of the Cambodian government”. The report stresses that in 2007, “Cambodian police forcefully dispersed a series of protests in Phnom Penh by Khmer Krom monks denouncing the rights abuses they had experienced in Vietnam”.

The report lists a few facts shedding light on the Cambodian government's position toward the ethnic group, eager to remain on good terms with its Vietnamese “ally”. In February 2007, a Khmer Krom monk, Eang Sok Thoeun, was killed in suspicious circumstances after he participated in a protest in Phnom Penh. In June 2007, Cambodian authorities arrested, defrocked, and deported to Vietnam a Khmer Krom activist monk, Tim Sakhorn, who was sentenced in Vietnam to a year in prison.

In Cambodia, as the authors of the report detail, Khmer Krom are subject to double discrimination, since they are “often perceived as ethnic Vietnamese by Cambodians”. As a result, many Khmer Krom in Cambodia face “social and economic discrimination and unnecessary hurdles to legalizing their status”.

Since the 2007-2008 peaceful protests conducted by Khmer Krom monks and farmers, tensions have become greater and suppression harsher in the Mekong Delta as Khmer Krom face serious restrictions on freedom of religion, “perceived as a privilege to be granted by the government rather than as an inalienable right”.

Thailand's anti-govt 'Red Shirt' protesters petition embassies

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) - Leading members of a high-profile anti-government group on Friday submitted letters to the Myanmar and Singapore embassies here to protest against Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya attending the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Thailand in late February.
The 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), an anti-government group led by key supporters of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra --Jakrapob Penkair, former minister to the prime minister's office and Nattawut Saikua, former government spokesman, presented their letter to representatives of the Myanmar embassy and Singapore embassy respectively.

The letter said the group opposed the Thai prime minister and foreign minister leading a Thai delegation to attend the ASEAN summit, arguing that the Abhisit government came to power through undemocratic means.

Speaking to reporters after handing the letters to embassy representatives, Mr. Jakrapob said the representatives promised to give the letters to their ambassadors and governments respectively.

"We would not block the regional summit, but we oppose the designated Thai delegates attendence at the summit," Mr. Jakrapob said.

He also vowed to petition all embassies representing ASEAN member countries next week.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Thailand has several times changed the venue and date of the summit from the original schedule of mid-December in Bangkok after a previous group of anti-government protesters, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied Bangkok's two commercial airports in December, which led to the toppling of the then Somchai Wongsawat government and the coming to power of the current Abhisit government.

The ASEAN summit has been rescheduled to be held in Thai resort town of Hua Hin from February 27 through March 1.

THAI runs into turbulence

Korn says rescue subject to proper rehab plans

By: WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI and AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Published: 23/01/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Thai Airways International will need to devise a convincing and comprehensive long-term rehabilitation plan before it can expect help from the government, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said yesterday.

The Finance Ministry's tough stance towards the national carrier comes as it struggles to deal with serious financial problems and is seeking a cash injection to shore up its liquidity.

THAI's recent performance has been poor because of fuel hedging obligations and the closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports late last year. It badly needs backing from the Finance Ministry, which holds a 51% stake in the airline.

Assistance could come in the form of a ministry guarantee on loans the airline is seeking from state and private financial institutions.

The ministry is preparing up to 200 billion baht to lend to state enterprises that need to maintain liquidity. The plan is expected to be approved by the cabinet on Feb 3.

A share of the money could be an option for the troubled airline.

THAI said in a statement yesterday it needed 19 billion baht to resolve its liquidity problem this year.

"THAI also plans to raise 15 billion baht to replace its existing short-term borrowings," it added.

Mr Korn said: "The Finance Ministry, as the major shareholder, wants to see a plan that will lead to the financial sustainability of the company and have long-term effects."

He said he wanted a solid plan that addresses its long-term operations and is not just a band-aid solution.

Problems identified by Mr Korn which THAI needs to tackle include cost saving, improvement in operations and route adjustments. The airline's plan is expected to reach the ministry within a few weeks.

He said THAI should learn how to manage itself as the global economic crisis and recent exorbitant fuel prices had affected all airlines.

The plan must be good enough to convince shareholders and the general public, he said, and solve problems at their root, he said.

Mr Korn's demand echoes the view of Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, who supervises THAI.

He said a convincing rehabilitation plan would prove the national airline can spend money it borrows from creditor banks efficiently.

The minister stressed that to ensure any rehabilitation plan can be enacted professionally, THAI would need a board of directors capable of guiding it through the global economic crisis.

"The new board must consist of people who can devote themselves and their time to their work, because they are not going to be running the airline under normal conditions," Mr Sopon said.

"It is a time of crisis that has resulted from the global economic meltdown, situations within the company as well as the political problems and the recent airport closure."

He called on opposing factions within THAI to join forces to work for the good of the airline. Internal conflicts had obstructed the airline's operations, the transport minister said.

Mr Sopon said THAI staff deserve a united front because the airline does not want to retrench workers like its rivals.

While ruling out lay-offs, the minister conceded some staff would have to lose non-essential perks in the interest of their employer.

THAI said its liquidity problem should ease once the air travel industry shrugs off its sluggish phase.

"The liquidity shortfall maybe reduced if travel demand returns to normal sooner than forecast," it added. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/10217/thai-runs-into-turbulence