Thursday, 15 October 2009

Thai in Pictures


Thai Siriphong Kanchannaniwit, left, holds a fake gun for crime reenactment in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Thai authorities charged Siriphong with premeditated murder after he confessed to killing and dismembering the body of a 5-year-old half-Japanese boy and fatally shooting his Thai mother, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (CAAI News Media)


Thai police officer escorts Siriphong Kanchannaniwit, left, for crime reenactment in Bangkok on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Thai authorities charged Siriphong with premeditated murder after he confessed to killing and dismembering the body of a 5-year-old half-Japanese boy and fatally shooting his Thai mother, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (CAAI News Media)



Relatives of those killed in the 1973 student uprising attend next to the photos of the deaths during the memorial service marking the 36th anniversary of the incident in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Scores of Thai people were killed when activists and students took up the streets in an uprising against a military dictatorship in 1973. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) (CAAI News Media)


Relatives gather next to the wreaths and a statue of the 1973 Democracy Hero, right, during a memorial service for the 36th anniversary of the student uprising in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Scores of Thai people were killed when activists and students took up the streets in an uprising against a military dictatorship in 1973. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) (CAAI News Media)


Relatives of those killed during the 1973 student uprising attend the memorial service marking the 36th anniversary of the incident in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Scores of Thai people were killed when activists and students took up the streets in an uprising against a military dictatorship in 1973. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) (CAAI News Media)


Buddhist monks gather under the photos of the 1973 student uprising during a memorial service marking the 36th anniversary of the incident in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Scores of Thai people were killed when activists and students took up the streets in an uprising against a military dictatorship in 1973. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) (CAAI News Media)


A Thai woman prays as she attends a memorial service marking the 36th anniversary of the student uprising in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. Scores of Thai people were killed when activists and students took up the streets in an uprising against a military dictatorship in 1973. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) (CAAI News Media)

King of Cambodia receives UAE Economy Minister


2009-10-14
(Post by CAAI News Media)

WAM Phnom Penh, 14 Oct. 2009 (WAM) - King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia received here today UAE's Minister of Economy H.E. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri who conveyed to him greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

King Sihamoni discussed with the visiting Emirati minister ways to boost bilateral relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Al Mansouri is leading a UAE delegation on a visit to Cambodia to explore investment opportunities in different fields, including agricultural sectors.

Earlier, Al Mansouri and the delegation members met with Keat Chhon, Cambodian Minister of Economy '&' Finance who detailed them on the investment climates, legislations and recent infrastructure projects being implemented there.

Al Mansouri made a presentation on the country's desire to enhance cooperation with Cambodia, particularly in the investment in arable land and cultivation of rice, soya and other crops.

Chhon said his country was committed to provide all facilities that serve UAE's investment drives.

Cambodia is famous for its fertile lands and agriculture contributes around 29 percent to its GDP. It exports more than 2 million tons of rice annually. It also has huge fisheries resources WAM/MAB

S. Korean president to seek improved ties with ASEAN during three-nation trip


(Post by CAAI News Media)

By Byun Duk-kun

SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will leave for Southeast Asia next week to visit Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand for bilateral and regional summits, Lee's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

Lee will depart Tuesday for Vietnam, where he will meet with the country's President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

"President Lee and President Triet will review the progress in their countries' bilateral relations since their diplomatic normalization (in 1992) and consult on ways to strengthen cooperation in economic, trade, social and cultural sectors," Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

During his three-day visit to Hanoi, the South Korean president will also meet with Nong Duc Manh, secretary-general of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Lee will also seek ways to improve energy cooperation between the two countries, along with the increased participation of South Korean businesses in Vietnam's plant and infrastructure projects, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Lee will arrive in Phnom Penh next Thursday for a bilateral summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on ways to further develop economic relations between the countries.

Bilateral trade between South Korea and Cambodia increased more than six-fold to over US$300 million in 2008 from $50 million in 1997, while investments rose from $30 million to nearly $2.5 billion during the same period, according to Seoul's presidential office.

"President Lee and Prime Minister Hun Sen are set to discuss ways to promote substantial cooperation between the countries in the agricultural sector and joint development of Cambodia's natural minerals," it said.

The leaders are expected to sign an extradition treaty and a revision to an agreement on the provision of Seoul's Economic Development Cooperation Fund during Lee's two-day trip. He will also meet with Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni.

Lee's trip will end in Thailand's Hua Hin where he will attend the annual regional summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). South Korea is a dialogue partner to ASEAN along with Japan and China.

"At the ASEAN Plus Three summit to be held Oct. 24, President Lee will discuss ways to increase the countries' cooperation in dealing with various regional and global issues, including the global financial crisis and food and energy security," Cheong Wa Dae said.

Lee will also attend the annual East Asia Summit that involves the ASEAN Plus Three and India, Australia and New Zealand, it said.

Cambodia Will Have Nuclear Power Plants to Generate Electricity – Wednesday, 14.10.2009

http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/
Posted on 15 October 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 634

(Post by CAAI News Media)

“Phnom Penh: The Minister of Defense, Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh, announced on Tuesday morning, 13 October 2009, that in the near future, Cambodia will have nuclear power plants to generate electricity.

“This remark was made by Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh during a session of the National Assembly, as he appeared there to defend a draft law about the prohibition of chemical, nuclear, biological, and radioactive weapons.

“Recognizing the destruction caused by the explosion of a nuclear power plants in Russia previously, Mr. Tea Banh explained to the session of the National Assembly that nuclear power is very useful serving peaceful purposes to make a strong contribution, developing a country. Previously, a nuclear power plants generating electricity had exploded in the Soviet Union [in Chernobyl in 1986], and radioactive substances spread and destroyed human lives. But based on that experience, the use of nuclear power has advanced considerably. At present, nuclear power is considered as a source of energy that can be set up to produce electricity, along with proper management, for peaceful purposes and for the development of a country. However, Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh did not give any details about any plan to generate electricity in Cambodia in the future by using nuclear power.

“Also, during the National Assembly session on Tuesday morning, the members of the National Assembly began to check and adopt a draft law about the ban of chemical, nuclear, biological, and radioactive weapons.

“This draft, as claimed by the Deputy Prime Minister, aims to completely prohibit, in the Kingdom of Cambodia, the manufacture, possession, use, and transport of chemical, nuclear, biological, and radioactive weapons, and of chemical substances that are used to create such weapons.

“Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh added that this law also intends to ensure security and public order, to protect the environment and citizens’ well-being, as well as to protect the security and peace in the region and in the world.

“The draft with 13 chapters and 32 articles requires the establishment of a national authority for combating chemical weapons with the Minister of Defense as head and with involvement from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

“The draft prohibits chemical and other specific weapons systems, and also states the penalties that threaten the offenders, to serve 20 to 30 years in prison, or for life, if they are found guilty of intentionally manufacturing, possessing, transporting, or using chemical, nuclear, biological, and radioactive weapons.

“Besides, a person that intentionally manufactures, buys, sells, possesses, stores, transfers, transports, or uses chemical substances in the health sector, in industry, mines, energy, agriculture, research, and other peaceful contexts, without the permission from relevant institutions or ministries, will be fined from Riel 20 million to Riel 50 million [approx. US$5,000 to US$12,500].

“The new law banning chemical weapons allows the use of chemical, nuclear, biological, and radioactive substances in the health sector, and in industrial, mineral, energy, agriculture, researche, and other peaceful activities and have a permission from the relevant institutions.

“Also, yesterday the National Assembly session checked and approved 17 articles of the draft law banning weapons of mass desctruction. The National Assembly will check and approve the overall content of this draft on Wednesday morning of 14 October 2009.”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #5020, 14.10.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Congressmen Condemn Cambodia’s ‘Pervasive Corruption’


By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
14 October 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Four US congressmen have issued a resolution to the House of Representatives censuring the Cambodian government’s apparent political repression of dissent and “pervasive corruption.”

The resolution cites the killing of an opposition journalist last year, as well as reports from the US State Department, the United Nations and other watchdogs, as underpinnings for the resolution, which condemns “pervasive corruption of the Kingdom of Cambodia.”

Government and ruling party officials dismissed the resolution.

House Resolution 820 was introduced Oct. 8 by representatives Ed Royce, a Republican from California; Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia who is the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Jim Moran, a Democrat from Virginia; and Anh Josept Cao, a Republican from Louisiana.

“The Cambodian government is often complicit in the sex trade industry, and endemic corruption has exacerbated the problem of human trafficking,” the resolution says, citing a 2009 State Department trafficking report that found pervasive corruption and collusion and indirect involvement by police and judicial officials in the trade.

The resolution calls on the House of Representatives to condemn the repression of opposition candidates by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and “calls on the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and international organizations to take concrete steps to combat the worsening problem of human trafficking in Cambodia.”

The resolution cites threatening tactics to curb political dissent; the killing of Khem Sambo, a journalist for Moneakseka Khmer newspaper, and his son, in July last year; Global Witness reports on an elite “kleptocracy”; reports by former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Human Rights in Cambodia, Yash Gai; and testimony by Mu Sochua at the Tom Lantos commission on Sept. 10.

“This resolution shows that US Congress knows that human rights violations here are a concern for them,” said Mu Sochua, who represents the Sam Rainsy Party for Kampot province. “This is also a signal to the US government.”

(On Oct. 28 the Cambodian Appeals Court is scheduled to hold a hearing on a defamation suit brought by Prime Minister Hun Sen against Mu Sochua.)

“The Royal Government of Cambodia totally rejects this resolution, because it is partial, baseless, and based mainly on opposition sources,” Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told VOA Khmer by phone.

Cheam Yiep, a veteran CPP lawmaker, called the resolution “unacceptable,” saying the congressmen should “try to understand more about rights issues in Cambodia.”

Cambodia Persists in Asean Border Resolution

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
14 October 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Cambodia’s foreign minister said Wednesday he would continue push to put Cambodia’s border dispute with Thailand on the Asean agenda, following reports in Thai media that Bangkok officials were misquoted in their desire to abandon bilateral solutions.

Both sides have attempted to resolve the dispute among themselves since July 2008, when troops amassed on the border amid heightening tensions. Little has come of a series of talks between military officials, diplomats and state leaders.

A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman said this week his minister had been quoted out of context as saying Thailand would seek a “neutral” body to facilitate resolution, a statement that led Cambodia to push for the border dispute to be included on a summit agenda when Asean leaders meet later this month.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong told reporters Wednesday Cambodia was awaiting an official response from the Thais, not media reports, or Prime Minister Hun Sen would raise the border issue at the Oct. 23-25 Asean summit.

“The border issue is an important problem, and we cannot solve this issue following spokesmen or the press,” Hor Namhong said. “Cambodia has until now not received an official response from the Thai side. If the Thais don’t respond [officially], we will raise up this issue at the Asean summit.”

Panitan Watanayagorn, deputy secretary-general for the Thai prime minister, said from Bangkok the government would be sending an official response soon, and he encouraged more bilateral attempts solve the border issue.

Fear Of Being Laughed At Crosses Cultural Boundaries


Wednesday, 14 October 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Laughter is an emotional expression that is innate in human beings. This means laughing at others is also believed to be a universal phenomenon. However, the fear of being laughed at causes some people enormous problems in their social lives. This is known as gelotophobia, a disorder that affects people in all cultures alike.

What is the difference between a shy person and another who suffers from gelotophobia? One of the aims of a study published recently in the scientific journal Humor, which was led by a team from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, with the participation of researchers from 73 other countries, was to find out if there is a valid and reliable way of evaluating the fear of being laughed at within different cultures.

"People laugh at others for many different reasons", Victor Rubio, a psychologist at the Autonomous University of Madrid and one of the Spanish researchers taking part in the study, tells SINC.

"This causes an anxiety or fear response in the person affected, leading them to avoid situations in which such circumstances may arise, and this may even become a problem that impacts on their social life", explains the expert.

The lead authors of the research study commissioned 93 scientists to use a questionnaire (translated into 42 languages) on a sample of 22,610 people in order to find out whether they suffered from gelotophobia, which comes from the Greek gelos, 'laugh', and phobos, 'fear'.

"Our study makes it possible to draw a clear distinction between people who suffer from this phobia and those who do not, as well as showing the scale of cultural differences, which are so important in any possible psychological treatment", says Rubio.

Spain, inclined towards the insecurity pole

This phobia was discussed for the first time in Spain at the ninth International Summer School and Symposium on Humor and Laughter: Theory, Research and Applications, held at the University of Granada last summer.

According to the experts, people can be classified within two opposite poles involved in the fear of being laughed at – the 'insecurity reaction' dimension (trying to hide one's lack of self-confidence from others, or believing that one is involuntarily funny) and 'avoidance reactions', whereby one avoids situations in which one has been laughed at, and the dimension of low-high tendencies to suspect that if others are laughing, they are laughing at you.

Although this phenomenon is shared by all cultures, the study shows there are certain differences. Countries such as Turkmenistan and Cambodia are represented within the first dimension of insecurity reactions, while people in Iraq, Egypt and Jordan are much more likely to avoid situations in which they have been laughed at. Spain is "slightly inclined towards the insecurity pole".

Another strange result is that people in Finland are the least likely to believe that if people laugh in their presence they are laughing at them (8.5%), while 80% of people in Thailand believe this to be the case.

Laughter is an emotional expression that is innate in human beings. This means laughing at others is also believed to be a universal phenomenon. However, the fear of being laughed at causes some people enormous problems in their social lives. This is known as gelotophobia, a disorder that affects people in all cultures alike.

What is the difference between a shy person and another who suffers from gelotophobia? One of the aims of a study published recently in the scientific journal Humor, which was led by a team from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, with the participation of researchers from 73 other countries, was to find out if there is a valid and reliable way of evaluating the fear of being laughed at within different cultures.

"People laugh at others for many different reasons", Victor Rubio, a psychologist at the Autonomous University of Madrid and one of the Spanish researchers taking part in the study, tells SINC.

"This causes an anxiety or fear response in the person affected, leading them to avoid situations in which such circumstances may arise, and this may even become a problem that impacts on their social life", explains the expert.

The lead authors of the research study commissioned 93 scientists to use a questionnaire (translated into 42 languages) on a sample of 22,610 people in order to find out whether they suffered from gelotophobia, which comes from the Greek gelos, 'laugh', and phobos, 'fear'.

"Our study makes it possible to draw a clear distinction between people who suffer from this phobia and those who do not, as well as showing the scale of cultural differences, which are so important in any possible psychological treatment", says Rubio.

Spain, inclined towards the insecurity pole

This phobia was discussed for the first time in Spain at the ninth International Summer School and Symposium on Humor and Laughter: Theory, Research and Applications, held at the University of Granada last summer.

According to the experts, people can be classified within two opposite poles involved in the fear of being laughed at – the 'insecurity reaction' dimension (trying to hide one's lack of self-confidence from others, or believing that one is involuntarily funny) and 'avoidance reactions', whereby one avoids situations in which one has been laughed at, and the dimension of low-high tendencies to suspect that if others are laughing, they are laughing at you.

Although this phenomenon is shared by all cultures, the study shows there are certain differences. Countries such as Turkmenistan and Cambodia are represented within the first dimension of insecurity reactions, while people in Iraq, Egypt and Jordan are much more likely to avoid situations in which they have been laughed at. Spain is "slightly inclined towards the insecurity pole".

Another strange result is that people in Finland are the least likely to believe that if people laugh in their presence they are laughing at them (8.5%), while 80% of people in Thailand believe this to be the case.

References: R. T. Proyer et al. "Breaking ground in cross-cultural research on the fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia): A multi-national study involving 73 countries". Humor 22(1/2): 253� 2009.

Dispute unlikely to be talked at Asean summit


By The Nation
Wed, October 14, 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Asean chief Surin Pitsuwan said Wednesday he did not believe that Cambodia will raise the border conflict with its neighbour Thailand at the upcoming Asean summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin districts this month.

"I known the Cambodian stance only from news report. I think that the border spat is the issue between the two countries which can be agreed at bilateral talks," Surin said.


"It should not be raised in the Asean Summit."

Surin was responding to news reports which quoted Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong as saying Khmer PM Hun Sen will raise the Thai border spat at an upcoming regional summit despite opposition from Thailand, which is hosting the meeting.

Hor Namhong said, "Because there is no answer from Thailand to my official proposal, Cambodia still considers that Prime Minister Hun Sen can raise the dispute in the Asean summit."

He said that Cambodia is willing to raise the issue in other international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, and accused Thailand of delaying the resolution of the dispute.

Thailand will host the summit between October 23 and 25 in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district and Prachuab Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district.

Surin, a former Thai foreign minister, said if any country member felt that the Thai-Cambodian border dispute affected Asean's image, the foreign ministers from other eight country members (except from Thailand and Cambodia) can raise the issue for discussion at the regional pact meeting.

Surin said he was not worried that the summit will be overshadowed by the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, saying that Asean members were mature and willing to solve problems.

He said if anyone of either party raised this topic at the meeting, it will be a good opportunity to help find appropriate solutions to the conflict.

Thai Foreign Ministry has insisted that the dispute should not be internationalised or raised at the regional pact meeting and Thailand will continue to seek a peaceful solution with Cambodia via a bilateral mechanism.

Cambodia to raise border spat



'Because there is no answer from Thailand to my official proposal, Cambodia still considers that Prime Minister Hun Sen can raise the dispute in the Asean summit,'said Mr Hor Namhong. -- PHOTO: AP

(Post by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA'S foreign minister said on Wednesday that premier Hun Sen will raise the Thai border spat at an upcoming regional summit despite opposition from Thailand, which is hosting the meeting.

'The prime minister will raise the issue in the (Association of South-east Asian Nations) Asean summit,' Mr Hor Namhong told reporters.

He said the dispute - which has sparked several deadly troop skirmishes - remained up for discussion at Asean since Thailand had not officially responded to his proposal to include it in the Oct 23-25 summit.

'Because there is no answer from Thailand to my official proposal, Cambodia still considers that Prime Minister Hun Sen can raise the dispute in the Asean summit,' Mr Hor Namhong said at a press conference.

The spat focuses on an area of land around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, where clashes have killed seven soldiers since last year.

Mr Hor Namhong added that Cambodia was willing to raise the issue in other international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, and accused Thailand of delaying a resolution to the dispute. -- AFP

FOCUS: Cambodia's Killing Fields, unfinished justice

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/
(Post by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 KYODO

Thirty years after Cambodia's ''Killing Fields'' regime collapsed, and despite a Khmer Rouge trial process that began three years ago, bringing justice to hundreds of thousands of Cambodians is far from concluded.

Even though five former Khmer Rouge leaders are being tried for their roles in the deaths of at least 1.7 million Cambodians in the late 1970s, it remains hard, even for Khmer Rouge victims, to solemnly decide what is just.

And even now, with only Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, on trial no verdict on him is expected before next year and the actual proceedings against the four other aging leaders are unlikely to start until next year, or the year after.

The special U.N.-backed court trying the former leaders became operational in 2006, but it has already seen two critical budget shortfalls and many in Cambodia fear more trouble lies ahead.

In the previous shortfalls, only Japan was moved quickly to inject funds keep proceedings going ahead.

It has been joined by other donors, but there is still no guarantee there will enough money, or enough will, to bring the trials to conclusion.

Budget aside, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia have struggled through a corruption scandal, many fear the aged Khmer Rouge leaders will die before they are brought to justice and even decisions on who to call as witnesses are fraught with controversy.

Many of Cambodia's current leaders have the taint of Khmer Rouge affiliation in their backgrounds and simply the idea of calling some of them to testify, or even prosecuting some of them, brings fears of recrimination and civil war that linger barely below the surface of the Cambodian psyche even today.

Yuko Maeda, spokeswoman for the ECCC, told Kyodo News that in principle, in accordance with the Cambodian law an the agreement made with the United Nations, only senior leaders and those the most responsible for the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge's Democratic Kampuchea regime between 1975 and 1979 are to be tried.

Many interpret that to mean only the current five ''suspects'' are to ever face trial for the Khmer Rouge atrocities.

And some trial monitors wonder, given the complex procedural, political, administrative and legal aspects of the cases, if the four yet to go on trial will be the prisoner's dock before 2011, if ever.

The four now charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity since late 2007 are Nuon Chea, better known as Brother No. 2 in the Khmer Rouge hierarchy after leader Pol Pot;, Khieu Samphan, who was head of state; Ieng Sary, the regime's foreign minister; and his wife Ieng Thirith, who was social affairs minister.

Duch, 66, was chief of Tuol Sleng Prison in central Phnom Penh, code named S-21, from early 1976 through 1979.

He has already admitted responsibility for 12,380 deaths.

Some scholars and historians believe Duch was responsible for the deaths of at least 14,000 prisoners.

Gathering evidence and prosecuting genocide of that scale -- and the other leaders are charged with being behind the deaths of many, many more Cambodians -- is turning out to be prohibitively expensive.

The initial ECCC budget, for three years from 2006 to 2009, was $56.3 million.

Maeda now says the ECCC will have spent about $85 million by the end of this year, and the court still needs funds for 2010 and 2011.

Assuming the money to continue is found, whether or not justice will be ultimately rendered is open to debate.

Chum Mey, one of three surviving victims from the S-21 torture center, said he is not expecting ''100 percent justice,'' but will be ''satisfied'' if after Duch and the other four are tried and convicted.

Chum Mey, 76, was jailed and tortured for more than three months from late 1978 until the Khmer Rouge regime collapsed on Jan. 7, 1979.

Independent political analyst Chea Vannath believes simply completing the five trials will be a ''big achievement and success if the current five people in the custody could have fair trials.''

There would be ''no need to extend, prolong any further,'' she added.

''The important message from the court is to alert all leaders that justice will take place. It does not matter when, where, and how late,'' she said.

Chhang Youk, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, a nonprofit organization that archives the Khmer Rouge atrocities, said for him ''the process is most important for all. It is a foundation for us all to decide what is just being done for us so that we can move on into the future.''

''Justice has been defined by the victims in many different ways...,'' he said.

He sees the court as having two distinct roles -- reaching final judgments on the accused and providing formal recognition of the crimes committed against the Cambodian people.

''Finally,'' he said, it is ''not about victory but reconciliation of a nation.''

For others, the question remains if more former Khmer Rouge leaders and cadres should also face trial.

The international co-prosecutor and co-investigating judge have both sought charges against at least five more suspects, but the Cambodian co-prosecutor and co-judge, as well as Cambodia's current political leadership, have resisted all attempts to expand the tribunal.

''If you try more suspects without taking account of national reconciliation and peace and if war recurs, killing 200,000 to 300,000 more people, who would be responsible?'' Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked on several occasions.

Pol Pot, mastermind of the ''Killing Fields,'' died in 1998 and several other Khmer Rouge leaders, including the ''Butcher'' Ta Mok and National Security Minister Son Sen, are also dead.

Remaining possible suspects tend to be further down the Khmer Rouge pecking order, and some are very close to the current government, making deciding who to try and who to ignore an exercise in near futility politically.

Sok Samoeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, a well-known Cambodian nongovernmental organization monitoring Khmer Rouge trial, said it is hard to assume justice for Cambodians none of the five current cases has reached conclusion.

''Duch is the only small figure, while the other four are bigger and more important. I'm wondering how they will handle the case of Ieng Sary. (He) was once pardoned and some of his people are in now power,'' Sok Samoeun said. ''I cannot expect justice, but it will help close a dark chapter of Cambodia's history.''  ==Kyodo

S Korean President to visit Cambodia next week


2009-10-14
(Post by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will pay a two-day state visit to Cambodia next week at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to a statement released Wednesday by Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.

The statement said Lee will arrive in Cambodia on Oct. 22-23 and will be received in the Royal Audience by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and will also receive courtesy calls by Chea Sim, president of the Senate and Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly.

Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to hold bilateral talk with Hun Sen and will witness the signing of two agreements by Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong and his counterpart Yu Myung-hwan, minister of foreign affairs and trade of the Republic of Korea.

The two agreements are on extradition and framework arrangement concerning loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for 2009-2012.

Also, during the visit, five other documents are expected to be singed: agreement on cooperation between the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce; agreement on co-production of broadcasting programs; MOU on cooperation for the field of mineral sector; MOU on cooperation for joint mineral exploration and MOU concerning the cooperation on investment in forest plantation and climate change.

At a round-table discussion organized Wednesday by Club of Cambodian Journalists, Lee Kyung-soo, South Korean ambassador to Cambodia told reporters that Republic of Korea has considered Cambodia as one of the main dialogue partners and one of the recipient countries of South Korean grants and loans in the form of ODA.

He said since Cambodia has tied diplomatic relation with South Korea in 1997, many forms of bilateral cooperation have been achieved including the investment, culture, economic and tourism.

Lee Myung-bak is expected to depart Tuesday for Vietnam, where he will meet with the country's President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

And after Cambodia, Lee will also attend the annual East Asia Summit to be held in Hua Hin, Thailand, back-to-back sessions of the 15th ASEAN Summit set on Oct. 23-25.


Editor: Lin Zhi

S Korea's Hyundai Group to build vehicle assembling factory in Cambodia: ambassador


2009-10-14
(Post by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Hyundai Company of South Korea will build a vehicle assembling factory in Cambodia, South Korean ambassador to Cambodia said on Wednesday.

"The vehicle assembling factory will be opened in coastal Koh Kong Province," Lee Kyung Soo, South Korean ambassador here told reporters in a news conference on the state visit of South Korea president Lee Myung Bak to Cambodian on Oct. 22-23.

The press conference is organized by the club of Cambodian Journalists.

But Lee Kyung Soo did not give the details about the amount invested by Hyundai in Cambodia. Deputy Director General of Hyundai Group already paid a visit to Cambodia a few days ago, LeeKyung Soo said.

The press release from South Korean Embassy in Phnom Penh said that Camko Motor Company is building a Hyundai car assembly factory in Koh Koh province, about 370 km southwest of capital Phnom Penh. It covered land area of 165,000 square meters with two facilities for maintenance and dormitory. It can assemble 3,000 cars per year and the type of car including SUV, Van and other cars.

According to Lee Kyung Soo, South Korea's investment in Cambodia last year was worth about 1,238 million U.S. dollars, but for the first six months of this year, the investment decreased about 58 percent compared with the same period of last year because of the global financial crisis. South Korea's investment in Cambodia focuses on the rubber plantation, mines, energy, oil and gas, real estate, tourism, construction, agri-industry, Lee Kyung Soo said.

For the bilateral trade between the two countries in 2008, Cambodia imported about 309 million U.S. dollars worth of products from South Korea and Cambodia's export to South Korea about 294 million U.S. dollars. So far this year the two-way trade volume is worth about 120 million U.S. dollars. Both sides will try to foster more trade volume, Lee Kyung Soo said.

Editor: Lin Zhi

ASEAN chief: Thai-Cambodian issue unlikely to be aired at ASEAN Summit


(Post by CAAI News Media)


BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) - ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan on Wednesday said he did not believe that Cambodia will raise the border conflict with its neighbour Thailand at the upcoming summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the end of this month.

The ASEAN chief commented after French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) earlier quoted Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong as saying Prime Minister Hun Sen will raise the Thai border spat at an upcoming regional summit despite opposition from Thailand, which is hosting the meeting.

Mr Hor Namhong however said "Because there is no answer from Thailand to my official proposal, Cambodia still considers that Prime Minister Hun Sen can raise the dispute in the ASEAN summit."

He said that Cambodia is willing to raise the issue in other international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, and accused Thailand of delaying the resolution of the dispute.

Thailand will host the 15th ASEAN Summit and its related summits in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district and Prachuab Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district October 23 to 25.

The ASEAN chief said that if any country member feels that the Thai-Cambodian border dispute affects ASEAN's image, the foreign ministers from other eight country members (except from Thailand and Cambodia) can raise the issue for discussion at the regional pact meeting.

"I know the Cambodian stance only from news report. I think that the border spat is the issue between the two countries which can be agreed at bilateral talks," said Mr Surin, "It should not be raised in the ASEAN Summit."

The ASEAN chief added that he is not worried that the summit will be overshadowed by the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, saying that ASEAN members are mature and willing to solve problems.

He said if anyone of either party raises this topic at the meeting, it will be a good opportunity to help find appropriate solutions to the conflict.

Tensions between the two neighbouring countries, renewed when Mr Hun Sen said he had ordered his troops to shoot any Thai stepping on Cambodian soil, after protesters of Thailand's yellow-shirted Peoples’ Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied in Si Sa Ket province last month opposing Cambodia's plan to build new structures in the contested 4.6 square kilometre zone surrounding Preah Vihear.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva shunned Mr Hun Sen's threat, saying it is his style to make international headlines and for his internal political benefit.

Cambodian Foreign minister said early this week that he wished to propose the dispute over the area around the ancient Preah Vihear temple be included in the agenda of the ASEAN summit and in other international meetings.

The Thai foreign affairs ministry however said the dispute should not be internationalised or raised at the regional pact meeting and Thailand will continue to seek a peaceful solution with Cambodia via a bilateral mechanism. (TNA)

The Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers Said that an Anti-Corruption Law Should Be Created before a Demonstration Law – Tuesday, 13.10.2009

Posted on 14 October 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 634 – Tuesday, 13.10.2009

(Post by CAAI News Media)

“According to the opinion of the president of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers [Mr. Chea Mony], workers demonstrate or strike because of corruption. Therefore an anti-corruption law should be created sooner than a demonstration law, because if corruption can be prevented, workers and citizens in general will not demonstrate or strike.

“Mr. Chea Mony said during an interview with the media yesterday, Monday [12 October 2009], ‘Civil society organizations are concerned about the freedom of the citizens, that is including the freedom of all workers, because demonstrations and strikes are held concerned with freedom by citizens whose benefit is lost, due to corruption and because the powerful always restrict the citizens to express their opinion to demand respect and the implementation of the law, but finally, their rights are restricted.’

“The president of the biggest trade union in Cambodia made this remark some days ahead of a meeting of the National Assembly of Cambodia which will discuss to adopt a new demonstration law.

“Mr. Chea Mony thinks that the new law suggested by the Ministry of Interior and planned to be discussed soon is in clear contrast to the previous demonstration legislation from 1993.

“He went on to say, ‘The demonstration law of 1993 granted citizens full rights to attend demonstrations, but what is seen at present is that a new law is being drafted to allow only 200 people at the most to demonstrate, and even that will require that the names of the leaders of the demonstrations must be reported ahead of time.’

“Mr. Chea Mony explained this point, ‘If there are leaders of a demonstration, the authorities will ask who the leaders are. But if a demonstration is held in response to the will of the citizens, for example in a factory with 5,000 workers whose salaries have not been paid by the owner of the company, as the law limits the number to only 200 people as representatives, these cannot represent the interests of the 5,000 workers strongly. Thus, we think that the law being drafted by the Ministry of Interior to be sent to the National Assembly for adoption does not reflect the will of the workers or the people.’

“He also mentioned another point, as that law limits the number of demonstrators to only 200, saying, ‘if, for example, 5,000 families are evicted to grab their land for a high ranking and powerful person, according to that new law, only 200 people are allowed to demonstrate, but if those 200 people are bought over, these 200 people will no longer reflect the other 4,800 families. Therefore, the government should open the possibility giving citizens the right to demonstrate or to strike at any place, and the government should just prepare authorities to protect their safety. That is enough.’

“It should be remembered that according the Constitution of Cambodia of 1993, in an independent state practicing democracy, citizens from all classes were allowed to assemble, to express their opinion through demonstrations and strikes without any strict conditions. It was enough to just inform the authorities, so that they prepared police to protect the safety of the demonstrators.

“It is noticed that what was stated in the Constitution of 1993 was not implemented properly, as the authorities of the government used different pretexts, like security and public order, to reject requests for holding an assembly. Or armed forces were ordered to attack the demonstrators to disperse them.

“These interventions are seen as seriously violating the policy of democracy, which Cambodia had signed to accept and to practice.

“The freedom of expression which is strongly restricted in Cambodia, does not change; moreover, it will become even worse as the demonstration law sets a limits of 200 persons as representatives for demonstrations to be adopted by the National Assembly.

“Mr. Chea Mony thinks that the assembly of workers as well as of Khmer citizens in general, to express their opinion, emerges from one problem: that is corruption and social injustice. If this terrible problem can be solved, there will be no demonstrations.”

Sereypheap Thmey, Vol.17, #1806, 13.10.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Cambodia approves law of non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical weapon


October 14, 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Cambodian National Assembly on Wednesday approved the law of non-proliferation of nuclear weapon, bio-chemical weapon, radioactive weapons and chemical weapon.

"This law bans on producing, recycling, transferring, transporting the kinds of these weapons in the country, and we will create authority for controlling and investigating the chemical substances as well as a laboratory for observing these substances in the country," said Tea Banh, deputy prime minister and minister of national defense. "We do not want to see these substances destroying our people's heath and lives," he added.

"We need peace and good environment in the country and we experienced the disaster of the weapons in the world," said Oeung Noeng, chairman of the committee of national defense, interior, investigation and clearance of the National Assembly.

"We have purpose to set up a region of ASEAN without the nuclear weapon," said Cheap Yeam, chairman of the audition, banking and finance. "When we have this kind of law, we will show other countries, United Nations, and IEAE (International Energy Agency) that we do not produce these weapons."

"We also show them that we are not the threat of regional security and the war monger," he said, adding that "our country is poor; we need the help from donor and other friend countries to develop the country and we do not have abilities to produce this kind of weapons."

He also expressed his concerns for some countries in the world that produced nuclear weapons because they could destroy the world and threaten security of the world.

He added this law follows to Cambodian constitution in 1993 and ASEAN charter, and International Conventions that Cambodia is signatory state.

Source: Xinhua

No Foreign Strikes From Within Cambodia, PM Warns


Written by DAP NEWS -- Wednesday, 14 October 2009
(Post by CAAI News Media)

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday said that the Cambodian Government will not tolerate the building of military bases in Cambodia that would be used as a launch pad to strike other countries.

The PM said this policy would help ensure Cambodia’s safety and stability during a speech on the of Brigade 70’s 15th anniversary celebrations on Oct 13. He vowed to resolutely fight back against any enemies who to encroach upon Cambo-dia’s sovereign territory. “The Gover- nment supports the Cambodia Royal Armed Forces (RCAF) to liaise and cooperate with international community against terrorism and other illegal activities both internal and external,” Hun Sen said.

Nevertheless, no nations would be allowed to military build bases with offensive capabilities, the PM stressed. “The Government absolutely does not allow directed organization or illegal army groups based in Cam- bodia to fight with other countries.”

The premier stated that the Government is augmenting and reforming the RCAF by eliminating so called ‘ghost soldiers’ and improving the men’s competency.

“Brigade 70 has the responsibility of guarding the Senate president, the National Assembly President, the Ministry of Defense top leaders, Phnom Penh Municipal officials, prevent flooding and to defending sovereignty,” said Mao Sophan, Brigade 70 chief. “Separate Brigade 70 sections guard the premier and international visitors to Cambodia,” he told DAP News Cambodia on Monday.

Pol Sareoun, RCAF commander in chief, said that Brigade 70 is only a small part of Cambodia’s army.

Over the past 15 years, Brigade 70 spent US$2,722,531 on headquarters, supported by the premier and his wife who built 59 buildings.