News Khmer

"Hanoi Backs Khmer-Siem Conflict" a Poem in Khmer by Hin Sithan

2009-11-08T08:36:00.001-08:00

Posted by Visam

"Roeung Bangkol Prom Daen" a Poem in Khmer by Son Socheath

2009-11-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Posted by Visam

Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser

2009-11-08T07:07:00.001-08:00

Cambodian vendors transporting goods on a truck cross a Cambodia-Thai border gate at Prum village in Pailin provinve, 374 kilometers (232 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Cambodian vendors transporting goods cross a Thai-Cambodia border gate at Prum village in Pailin provinve, 374 kilometers (232 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Cambodian vendors enter through a Cambodia-Thailand border gate at Poipet, Bantey Meanchey provinve, 415 kilometers (258 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2009. Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Cambodian vendors wait to enter a Cambodia-Thai border gate at Poipet, Bantey Meanchey provinve, 415 kilometers (258 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2009. Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Cambodian vendors enter through a Cambodia-Thailand border gate at Poipet, Bantey Meanchey province, 415 kilometers (258 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2009. Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Cambodian vendors wait to enter a Cambodia-Thailand border gate at Poipet, Bantey Meanchey provinve, 415 kilometers (258 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2009. Thailand announced Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, it plans to back out of an offshore border agreement with Cambodia, the latest barb in a diplomatic dispute fueled by Phnom Penh's appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Thaksin to visit Cambodia this week: PM

2009-11-08T07:06:00.003-08:00

Thaksin Shinawatra is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption

(AFP)

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH — Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia this week in his new role as the government's economics adviser, the Cambodian Prime Minister told reporters Sunday.

"Thaksin will be at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on November 12, to do a briefing with more than 300 Cambodian economics experts," Hun Sen told a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport.

The visit is likely to increase tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which have escalated since Wednesday when Cambodia announced the appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted as Thai prime minister in a 2006 coup.

Both countries Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors and Thailand warned Friday that it could seal the border.

"If you want to close, close it. The loss will be mutual," said Hun Sen Sunday, pointing out that Thailand had more to lose in terms of border trade profit.

"If Thais want to close the border, Cambodia will follow. If Thais close the border, all trade between Cambodia and Thailand will be cut off," Hun Sen told reporters.

Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said last week the charges against him were "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country.

"Please let Thaksin share my burden of boosting the economy of Cambodia," Hun Sen appealed to the Thai people Sunday.

But the premier also used the press conference to downplay tensions at the border, announce the withdrawal of elite paratroopers from disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple.

The two countries have fought a series of deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in the dispute over land around the ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.

"After examining the situation at the border between Cambodia and Thailand, the situation was quiet," Hun Sen said.

"So I announce the withdrawal of special paratroop number 911 from the area at Preah Vihear temple, and their return to the headquarters. The implementation will be finished within a week."

Commander Chab Pheakdey, head of the unit, refused to divulge the number of soldiers that would be withdrawn from the area

Japan 'concerned' about Thai-Cambodia spat: PM

2009-11-08T07:06:00.001-08:00

http://news.ph.msn.com/

By Agence France-Presse

11/7/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Saturday said Japan was "concerned" about the recent spat between Cambodia and Thailand over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier, an official said.

"I'm concerned about the recent situation," Hatoyama told his visiting counterpart Hun Sen at a bilateral meeting, as quoted by a Japanese foreign ministry official.

"I hope the problem between the two countries will improve" as they are important neighbours in the Mekong River region, Hatoyama said.

Hun Sen said "the situation in border areas is stable although there have been verbal exchanges between the two countries over the past two-to-three months," according to the Japanese official.

The bilateral meeting came after Japan's summit talks with five Mekong River countries, which also include Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

There was no bilateral talk between Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva the Japanese foreign ministry knows of, the official said.

Hatoyama had a separate meeting later Saturday with Abhisit, who said he wanted to "keep the problem from worsening," the official said.

Thailand said Friday it would tear up an oil and gas exploration deal with Cambodia, stoking a row over Phnom Penh's naming of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economics adviser.

The government in Bangkok also warned that it could seal the border between the two countries, one day after the neighbours both recalled their respective ambassadors in the escalating spat.

Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series of deadly skirmishes since July 2008 over disputed land around the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the border.

POLITICS: Thai-Cambodia Diplomatic Row Bares Decades-Long Rift

2009-11-08T07:05:00.003-08:00

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Nov 7 (IPS) - Thailand’s swift and strong response to Cambodia’s decision to appoint ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser exposed an emotional faultline rooted in decades of mutual suspicion and hatred.

By the weekend, Bangkok had delivered its second blow to an already tense relationship between the two South-east Asian kingdoms. The Thai government announced it was revoking a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on developing an overlapping maritime area rich in oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand.

It was inevitable, said the Thai government, after Phnom Penh’s appointment of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and lives in exile to evade a two-year jail term after being found guilty in a conflict of interest case. Thaksin’s new role in Cambodia "will directly affect negotiations" between the two countries, states the Thai foreign ministry, since Thaksin "was directly involved in the negotiation process" in 2001 when he was Thailand’s prime minister.

The tone for such a tough response by the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was set on Thursday. Bangkok withdrew its ambassador in Cambodia in protest against the Thaksin appointment. Phnom Penh reciprocated by Friday.

"We view the appointment of Thaksin as an interference in Thailand’s domestic affairs and disregard for Thailand’s judicial system," Thani Thongphakdi, Thai foreign ministry’s deputy spokesman, told IPS. "Our reaction has been commensurate with the action of Cambodia."

Thaksin’s appointment as the new economic advisor to Cambodia was announced Wednesday night on the country’s state television station. He was appointed by a royal decree as a "personal advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the adviser to the Cambodian government in charge of economy," a statement from Phnom Penh revealed.

Hun Sen’s choice of the fugitive former Thai premier, who became a billionaire telecommunications tycoon before he was elected as Thailand’s leader in 2001, is in keeping with a practice known in Cambodia for years— of the government and the royal family appointing foreign nationals to help them as advisors.

Prior to Thaksin, Hun Sen’s economic advisor was South Korea’s current president, Lee Myung-bak. The latter served in that advisory role from 2000 till 2007, resigning ahead of the 2008 presidential poll.

"Cambodia views the appointment of Mr. Thaksin as an internal affair. We have had economic advisors to our prime minister before, like the current president of South Korea from 2000 till 2007," said Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian foreign ministry. "The Thai government is trying to mix things up."

"It is up to the Thai side to clarify the status of our relationship," Koy added during a telephone interview from Phnom Penh. "Cambodia wants to have good relations with Thailand."

Hun Sen’s fiery rhetoric towards Thailand betrays such sentiments. He is on record saying that Phnom Penh would not extradite Thaksin if he moved to Cambodia. That followed a statement that Cambodia would offer Thaksin a new home.

The recent war of words between Cambodia and Thailand threatened to overshadow a summit of South-east Asian leaders held last month in a Thai resort town south of Bangkok. "Don’t allow anybody to use you as a pawn," Abhisit told the media in a comment targeted at Hun Sen.

The current tension between the two countries has grown since July last year over a 10th century Hindu temple, Preah Vihear, perched on top of a steep cliff on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The World Heritage Committee ruled that month that the Preah Vihear would be recognised as a world heritage site. It also recognised a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice that the temple was within Cambodian territory.

Thai nationalists responded with rage, prompting a troop build-up by both sides. In April this year the soldiers from both countries exchanged gunfire, leaving three people dead.

The relationship between the richer Thailand and the poorer Cambodia hit a low point in 2003, when the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by rioters angered by a remark made by a Thai actress that allegedly questioned Cambodia’s ownership of another landmark temple. Thaksin was the Thai premier at the time.

"What we are witnessing is the love-hate relationship between the Thai and Cambodians. The problem has deep roots, going back to the Second World War period," said Charnvit Kasetsri, a historian at Bangkok’s Thammasat University. "Anti-French feelings that Thais had towards the French when they were colonial rulers of Cambodia were transferred to anti-Cambodian feelings after Cambodia got independence."

Thailand’s elites also fed this feeling in later years, Charnvit explained in an interview. "Bangkok’s educated people look down upon Cambodians as less educated and people that cannot be trusted and are unreliable."

The United States government’s war in Indo-China saw the two countries on either side of the battle lines. The Thai government, under a military dictatorship and a strong U.S. ally, was peeved at Cambodia’s neutral stance over the war during the 1960s.

Through the 1980s, after Cambodians were freed from the genocidal Khmer Rouge by the invading Vietnamese military, Thailand opened its eastern borders for the Khmer Rouge to survive. Bangkok, in fact, was the gateway for Khmer Rouge leaders to interact with the international community. Cambodia’s present attitude towards Thailand, on the other hand, reflects a trend that has evolved over the past 20 years.

"For years Thailand was an important investor in Cambodia and was always welcome, but now its predominant role has been replaced by China, Japan and others," said Punagthong Pawakapan, assistant professor in international relations at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. "They do not have to depend on Thailand unlike before."

China, with over 3,000 companies and with investments valued at over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, is the largest investor in Cambodia. South Korea follows, with 1.2 billion dollars in investment. And Japan, with over 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, has been Cambodia’s top donor since 1992.

Thailand’s investments are valued at 226 million U.S. dollars. Its major investments are in hotels and the agro-industry. China has poured money into large infrastructure projects while South Korea has invested in the information technology sector.

"Thailand’s relationship with its other neighbours like Burma, Laos and Malaysia do not compare with the relationship with Cambodia," Punagthong told IPS. "Disagreements do not result in the same kind of tension and trouble."

Shinawatra to visit Cambodia

2009-11-08T07:05:00.001-08:00

http://www.rte.ie/

Sunday, 8 November 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia this week in his new role as the government's economics adviser.

'Thaksin will be at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on November 12, to do a briefing with 300 Cambodian economics experts,' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Cambodia and Thailand recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia appointed Mr Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economics adviser.

Hun Sen also announced that he would withdraw an elite unit of paratroopers from disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple, where Thai and Cambodian troops have been squared off in a deadly border dispute since last year.

Cancel other pacts, financial aid projects to Cambodia, PAD urges

2009-11-08T07:04:00.001-08:00

Published: 8/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The government should consider cancelling other agreements with Cambodia to show its displeasure, after Cambodia hired former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser, says the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

The PAD threw its support behind Friday's decision by the government to cancel a memorandum of understanding on development of an overlapping maritime area in the Gulf of Thailand.

But it said the Democrat Party-led government should step up its protest action, by reviewing other agreements with the country, evicting Cambodians who have illegally settled in disputed border areas claimed by both countries, and cancelling all aid projects for Cambodia.

A PAD rally persuaded the previous government backed by Thaksin to reverse its support for Cambodia's decision to list the ruins of the 11th century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site, under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The decision to scrap the MoU on the maritime boundary has led to a spat between the Democrats and opposition Puea Thai Party.

The Democrats have criticised Thaksin's decision to accept Cambodia's offer to advise Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.

The ruling party, as expected, supports the government's move to review all MoUs signed by the Thaksin administration with Thailand's neighbour.

They must be reviewed to protect Thailand's interests, said Democrat spokesman Buranat Samutarak.

The government fears that if Thaksin begins to act as Cambodia's adviser, he could put Thailand in a disadvantageous position.

Mr Buranat said bilateral relations with Cambodia had turned sour because of Mr Thaksin's lack of conscience.

Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, told Puea Thai supporters in Ayutthaya yesterday that her brother had no intention of damaging the country.

Thaksin said advising Cambodia was a neighbourly thing to do, and could result in benefits to Thailand.

Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as his personal and government adviser on economic affairs on Oct 27. The appointment was announced last Wednesday.

Cambodian culture

2009-11-08T07:03:00.001-08:00

Sunday November 8, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Stories and photos by TAN SHIOW CHIN

With the double duty of playing tourist and examining tourism practices, 75 KDU College students set out to explore the rich heritage of Cambodia.

EXCELLENT. Oh my God! Surprising. An eye-opener. Wonderful. Fascinating.

These were some of the words used to describe the recent study tour to Cambodia by some 75 KDU College final-year students.

The Event Management and International Hotel and Tourism Management students spent four days exploring the tourist attractions of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh as part of their International Tourism module.

Jasmine Hong (right) handing out biscuits to pupils of the Kchass Primary School during the group’s visit to the school.

From ancient and recent historical sites to being swarmed by souvenir sellers calling out, “Buy from me; only one dollah!”, they soaked in the typical experience of a visitor to this beautiful but economically-backward country.

Frenetic first day

It was go, go, go from the moment the group touched down at the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on their first day.

While their bags were checked in to the Ree Hotel, the students headed for their first stop at the Artisans D’Angkor.

This handicraft centre — established in 1992 with help from the European Union and is now an independent Cambodian company — trains uneducated rural youths, orphans and the hearing-impaired in traditional handicraft skills.

Said William Loh, 21: “Although I felt it was too crowded (with tourists) at the centre, it was still a very good experience. The trainees had amazing skills.”

Eritrean student Senet Kassaye Menghistie Desta, 21, agreed, saying that the trip made her realise that tourism is not only enriching for the visitor, but also for the local economy and community.

From the centre, it was then off to the largest freshwater body in Southeast Asia – the Tonle Sap lake.

For many of the students, this was the highlight of the trip, for both the cooling, scenic boat ride, as well as the opportunity to see one of the lake’s floating villages.

Shared Iranian student Mahdi Saman, 24: “I liked the Tonle Sap lake because we could see how the people there live and how they sustain themselves.”

After the cruise, it was time to visit a part of Cambodia’s sad past.

Sad history: Some of the students in front of the glass-fronted stupa containing bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge regime at Wat Thmei.

A stop at Wat Thmei allowed the students to view the bones of victims — housed in a special glass-walled stupa in the temple’s compound — killed in nearby areas during the Khmer Rouge regime.

By that time, the sun was starting to set and stomachs were rumbling after a long afternoon of sight-seeing.

Empty tummies were quickly filled at a buffet dinner, while a visit to the Angkor Night Market with its myriad of souvenir stalls after that helped to empty some wallets.

Exploring Angkor

The next day saw the students gearing up for a visit to the jewel of the Cambodian tourist industry – the Angkor temple complex.

Said local tour guide Phay Sophy: “There are thousands of temples in Cambodia, and hundreds in Angkor.”

With only one day to spare, the itinerary included the Ta Prohm temple, the ancient city of Angkor Thom, Bakheng Hill and of course, Angkor Wat itself.

Introduced to popular culture by the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, the Ta Prohm temple is also a favourite among tourists due to the many large trees that have overgrown and intertwined with its structure.

Built in the 12th century and abandoned in the 15th, the temple was intentionally left in this condition to allow visitors to see it in its “original state of neglect”.

Next was the last capital of the Khmer empire built by King Jayavarman VII – Angkor Thom.

Although the city itself contains many temples, the students only explored the main state temple Bayon.

Dominated by large stone faces carved onto the sides of the many towers scattered around the temple, the students took advantage of the opportunity to snap photo after photo from the compact upper terrace of the temple.

After exiting from the northern side of the Bayon, the group took a short walk past some of the other temples of the city.

The students listening to a guide (left) explaining how statues are produced in the polychromy, gilding and lacquering workshop at Artisans D’Angkor.

These included the Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants, which fronts the Phimeanakas temple, and some of the 12 Prasat Suor Prat towers.

Then it was back to Siem Reap for lunch, before tackling the Unesco World Heritage site of Angkor Wat.

Although the cloudy sky suggested rain in the afternoon, it merely stayed overcast and humid, causing the students to fan themselves vigorously and perspire rivulets of sweat as they followed the guides around the vast temple complex.

Among the manifold carvings that fill the temple walls, it was the bas-relief friezes of Hindu myths along the outer gallery that caught the students’ attention.

Said Senet: “It was amazing to see how the ancient Cambodians could make the carvings and how they could last so long, and also the stories behind them.”

Penny Chong, 21, shared that out of the hundreds of photos she took on the trip, most were shot at Angkor Wat.

“We took pictures from the start to the end. We took photos of the architecture, as well as with friends, so that we can remember everything.”

The last stop of the day was the temple atop Bakheng Hill, which overlooks the entire Angkor complex.

Although the plan was to watch the sun set from the temple, the overcast sky and crowds of tourists did not provide the ideal conditions for it.

Phay (with white flag) pointing out some of the features of the Ta Prohm temple to the visitors

Having to hike up the hill after a long day of walking as well as climbing up – and down – narrow 80° steep stone steps provided an additional challenge for the students.

Some of them were also puzzled as to how the king ascended the temple as they doubted he would climb the extremely steep stairs.

But Phay quipped: “It isn’t easy to get into heaven.”

After such a long day, it was time for dinner, which was accompanied by a performance of traditional Cambodian dances and music.

Then, it was back to the hotel for a briefing by module head Gabriel Lau. (See sidebar.)

On to Phnom Penh

It was an early start the next morning to ensure that the bus ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh would reach the capital city in time for lunch.

The five-hour journey was interrupted for stops along the way; the first being the Kchass Primary and Secondary School just outside Siem Reap town.

Malaysian travel agent Lim Weng Sia, whose agency had organised the tour, had suggested the stop to donate stationery supplies to the school.

It was an opportunity for the students to visit a local school, as well as to get an insight of the Cambodian education system.

Said Joey Liew Hooi Yon, 20: “My favourite part of the trip was visiting the school. I came away feeling so lucky to be born in Malaysia.”

The group also stopped at the Kampong Kdey bridge — one of the longest, oldest and best preserved ancient bridges in Cambodia.

Built in the 12th century, the bridge was regularly used by heavy vehicles until 2005, when it was closed to all but light traffic to help preserve it.

Fried spiders, cockroaches and frogs were on the menu at the next stop — the informally-named Spider Market.

Verdict for the spiders: “It’s okay when you’re eating it, but there’s quite a nasty aftertaste.”

A warm welcome: The students in front of the Bayon temple in the ancient city of Angkor Thom

For the cockroaches: “It’s fried in the same sauce they use for wantan mee, so it tastes like that.”

In Phnom Penh, it was a grim visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where the students learnt about the history of the infamous prison where around 20,000 people were tortured and killed.

Some students claimed they could see restless spirits around the spooky and depressing place!

After that, it was time for a more light-hearted visit to the city’s Russian Market.

Unfortunately, most of the stalls were closing by the time the group got there at 5.30pm. But the students made the most of the stop by exploring the other shops around the area.

They also had the opportunity to hit the city’s night market after dinner, where the light rain did not deter them from absorbing the bustling atmosphere and completing their shopping.

With a late morning flight home the next day, there was only time for a quick stop in front of the Royal Palace, where the Cambodian royal family lives, and the waterfront of the Mekong River just opposite, before having to say goodbye to Cambodia.

From a tourism perspective, the students could see that the country had great potential to further develop the industry.

“From my point of view, this country has much to offer compared to Indonesia or the Philippines,” said Austrian student Natascha Gmasz.

“Nothing compares to the magnificent Angkor Wat, or the floating village on the lake.”

And William commented that although the infrastructure in the country was not good, the students still managed to enjoy themselves.

“Cambodia has some unique scenery that appeals and should be aggressivley promoted to tourists,” he added.

Joey said: “The tourism industry in Cambodia does contibute to the economy and it really needs help from other countries to sustain its heritage.

“It has the potential to become a popular tourist destination and be as famous as one of its neighbours, Thailand.”

ASEAN urges restraint in Thai-Cambodia row

2009-11-08T07:02:00.003-08:00

Cambodian vendors transporting goods on a truck cross a Cambodia-Thai border gate at Prum village in Pailin province, 374 kilometers (232 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, yesterday. (AP)

Sunday, November 8, 2009

(Posted by CAAI news Media)

BANGKOK -- The head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations urged Thailand and Cambodia Saturday to show “maximum restraint” amid tensions over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said the 10-country bloc should not be seen to be divided by the dispute ahead of a historic meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and regional leaders later this month.

Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia appointed Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economic adviser.

Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series of deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in a dispute over land around an ancient Cambodian temple that was granted U.N. World Heritage Status.

Surin expressed “concern over the escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, has appealed to both countries to exercise maximum restraint,” said a statement issued by the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.

He also urged foreign ministers from the bloc to help the two countries to “settle their bilateral dispute amicably and as soon as possible.”

“We in ASEAN cannot afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the historic ASEAN-U.S. Leaders Meeting in Singapore this month,” it quoted Surin as saying in a letter to regional foreign ministers.

Thailand has accused Cambodia of interfering in its internal affairs by appointing Thaksin, who is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption.

Cambodia says Thaksin was the victim of a politically motivated case.

During his time in power, Thaksin was close to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who first floated the idea of the adviser's job at an Asian summit in October.

The billionaire tycoon has stirred up a series of protests in recent months against the Thai government. His own allies were forced from government in December 2008 after anti-Thaksin demonstrators besieged Bangkok's airports.

Abhisit defends actions

2009-11-08T07:02:00.001-08:00

Mr Abhisit said billionaire Thaksin faced a 'conflict of interest', having previously been chief of negotiations in Thailand and now working 'for another side'. -- PHOTO: AFP

Nov 8, 2009

(Posted by CAAI news Media)

BANGKOK - THAILAND'S prime minister on Sunday defended his actions in an ongoing spat with Cambodia over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier, saying he had to protect the country's dignity.

'All the government has done is for dignity of the country and Thai people,' said premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, adding that Thailand had acted 'calmly and carefully' to deal with the recent escalation of tensions.

Mr Abhisit said billionaire Thaksin faced a 'conflict of interest', having previously been chief of negotiations in Thailand and now working 'for another side'.

Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said the charges against him were 'politically motivated' and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country.

'Criticising our justice system is unacceptable,' said Mr Abhisit, although he said he thought Cambodia was 'misinformed'. 'Everyone has to protect our justice system's dignity,' he added during his weekly television programme. -- AFP

Thaksin to visit Cambodia

2009-11-08T07:01:00.003-08:00

Thaksin will visit Cambodia this week in his new role as the government's economics adviser. -- PHOTO: AFP

Nov 8, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) - OUSTED Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia this week in his new role as the government's economics adviser, the Cambodian Prime Minister told reporters on Sunday.

'Thaksin will be at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Nov 12, to do a briefing with 300 Cambodian economics experts,' Mr Hun Sen told a news conference at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Cambodia and Thailand on Thursday recalled their respective ambassadors after Cambodia appointed Thaksin, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economics adviser.

Mr Hun Sen also announced that he would withdraw an elite unit of paratroopers from disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple, where Thai and Cambodian troops have been squared off in a deadly border dispute since last year. -- AFP

PM Abhisit: Diplomatic spat with Cambodia won't affect border trade

2009-11-08T07:01:00.001-08:00

http://enews.mcot.net/

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Nov 8 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday urged patriotic Thais to stand with his government, saying that the current diplomat spat with neighbouring Cambodia undertaken by his government is for the “advantage and dignity of the country” and will not mushroom to affect relations between the two peoples, especially cross-border trade.

Speaking during his weekly television and radio address, Mr. Abhisit said the problem between the two countries arose after ex-prime minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh traveled to Cambodia and the Khmer government appointed fugitive, ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic advisor to its government.

The Cambodian government also criticised Thai judicial system, Mr Abhisit said, and the Thai government was forced to retaliate. No country in the world would allow such criticisms.

Mr. Abhisit said he believed the negative criticism was made because the Cambodian government had received inaccurate information.

It is necessary for the present Thai government to review agreements signed by the then government of Mr. Thaksin and the Cambodian government, especially regarding overlapping maritime boundaries and the joint development of the Gulf of Thailand, since the ousted premier has now become economic advisor (to the Khmer government), Mr. Abhisit said.

He said he had advised Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier not to bring his personal relation with Mr. Thaksin as the main reason in inviting the latter to stay in Cambodia as it could “hamper cooperation between the two countries.”

Mr. Thaksin is a businessman and there are reports that he may have a vested interest in maritime resources, he said.

Both countries have recalled their ambassadors, and Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said earlier he would ask the cabinet to consider revoking the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries dealing with overlapping maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Thailand.

Thailand’s Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced Mr Thaksin to a two-year prison term in absentia after finding him guilty of a conflict of interest in Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek land purchase case in 2003.

Mr. Abhisit also urged Thais who travel to Cambodia for gambling to stop going there as it would send a signal to the Cambodian government to treat Thailand in a practical way and to “respect each other.” (TNA)

Put country above self, Abhisit tells Thaksin

2009-11-08T07:00:00.001-08:00

http://news.asiaone.com/

Sun, Nov 08, 2009

The Nation/Asia News Network

(Posted by CAAI news Media)

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday hit back at ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, calling on him to review his stance over becoming an economic adviser to Cambodia.

The premier said Thaksin should put the country's interests ahead of his own and not hurt its relations with neighbouring countries.

Responding to Thaksin's statement accusing the government of using internal politics to pressure Cambodia, Abhisit said the government did not start the problem. He said it started when Cambodia announced its decision to appoint Thaksin an adviser, which adversely affects Thailand's justice system.

"I have met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen many times and we had good understanding, till Pheu Thai Party chairman General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh went to Cambodia and Thaksin was appointed as economic adviser to Cambdodia. The problem then started. Thaksin is a Thai, he should be sensitive and not blame the government,'' he said.

Abhisit said the government's downgrading of the country's relations with Cambodia was not too severe and would not lead to military clashes or affect bilateral trade.

He said Thaksin must review his stance in accepting to become an economic adviser to Cambodia because he knew all information as he had headed the government when Thailand signed the Memorandum of Understanding over the maritime overlapping zone.

"Which government will let the country lose its leverage and allow its justice system to be questioned? If we had not done that, how could have we have protected the country's interests?'' he said.

He said Thaksin's decision to side with Cambodia raised more suspicions against him over allegations that he had a vested interest over the signing of the MoU with Cambodia to seek interests in the overlapping zone.

"This make people wonder why Thaksin seems to be concerned about the interest of other countries more than his own country. They wonder whether he has a self-interest in that,'' Abhisit said.

The premier denied that the government was provoking nationalist sentiment, saying Thaksin was the one who had a problem not having nationalism.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday said the party was concerned about recent opinion poll results, which showed that a majority of respondents supported the government's retaliation against Cambodia. He said both the Dusit Poll and Abac Poll were not impartial and the party would conduct a survey to find out the public response to the move.

He said Thaksin would on Tuesday clarify his stance about accepting the advisory position and the MoU agreement with Cambodia.

Pheu Thai MP Surapong Towichakkul challenged that if the Democrat Party believed the poll results that its popularity had surged it should dissolve Parliament and call a general election.

Also yesterday Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary-general of the King Prajadhipok's Institute, said the government had reacted correctly by recalling Thailand's ambassador to Cambodia. He warned, however, that the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia could lead to the dissolution of Asean.

Thai premier urges Hun Sen to behave as 'good neighbor'+

2009-11-08T06:59:00.003-08:00

Nov 8 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Nov. 8 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva urged Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday to behave like a "good neighbor" and reconsider his appointment of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser.

Hun Sen's decision has triggered a bitter row between the two neighboring countries and prompted Thailand to withdraw its ambassador to Cambodia and cancel bilateral maritime talks.

Abhisit, speaking on a weekly television program, vented his frustration over Hun Sen's decision and said Bangkok cannot tolerate the criticism that Hun Sen has leveled against the Thai judicial system in making Thaksin his economic adviser.

Thaksin was convicted in a corruption case and has fled the country. "I think it was not acceptable that Cambodia criticizes our judicial system and politics over Thaksin's case...We always behave as a good neighbor and we also want good neighbors," he said.

Abhisit admitted Thailand and Cambodia are still locked in a dispute over border demarcation and the ancient temple of Preah Vihear on the border of the two countries but talks are ongoing to resolve the dispute without intervention from outside.

"Every time we met, Hun Sen always told me that we have to look to the future and not get stuck in the past...He said even though Thaksin is a close friend of his, he won't let his friendship with Thaksin affect bilateral relations," Abhisit added.

Abhisit last met Hun Sen in Tokyo on Saturday, where they and other Southeast Asian leaders attended a Mekong River development conference hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

The Thai premier reiterated that the decision to recall the Thai ambassador from Phnom Penh and the plan to pull out of bilateral talks over overlapping maritime claims was the right response to Hu Sen's moves.

On Friday, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said Bangkok will seek to abrogate a memorandum of understanding on maritime boundary negotiations signed by the two countries in 2001 while Thaksin was still Thai premier.

Kasit said Thailand's negotiating stance is known to Thaksin, so his new advisory position could leave Thailand at a disadvantage in the maritime talks with Cambodia, which have not made progress in the last eight years.

During the TV program, Abhisit also called on the Thai people to show harmony over the Thaksin issue to protect the dignity of the country.

He also insisted that the row with Cambodia will not affect other countries in the region.

Thaksin was ousted as Thai prime minister in 2006 in a bloodless coup while he was out of the country and was later convicted of conflict of interest while in power and sentenced in absentia to two years in prison.

Cambodia believes the charges against Thaksin were politically motivated, making the 1998 extradition treaty between the two countries inapplicable.

Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have deteriorated since Thaksin's ouster, with armed forces from both sides skirmishing along disputed areas of their land border, particularly near a Cambodian temple long claimed by Thailand. The temple is listed as a World Heritage site.

On Wednesday, the Cambodian government announced that Thaksin, whom Hu Sen calls a close friend, has been appointed as an economic adviser and is free to travel and reside in Cambodia.

A day after the announcement, the Thai government recalled its ambassador to Cambodia in protest at the move and Cambodia recalled its ambassador to Bangkok in retaliation.

Thailand protecting 'dignity' in Cambodia spat: PM

2009-11-08T06:59:00.001-08:00

Thai soldier is seen near the country's border with Cambodia in Sri Sa Ket province

(AFP)

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK — Thailand's prime minister Sunday defended his actions in an ongoing spat with Cambodia over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier, saying he had to protect the country's dignity.

"All the government has done is for dignity of the country and Thai people," said premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, adding that Thailand had acted "calmly and carefully" to deal with the recent escalation of tensions.

Abhisit said billionaire Thaksin faced a "conflict of interest", having previously been chief of negotiations in Thailand and now working "for another side".

Thaksin is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, but Cambodia said the charges against him were "politically motivated" and vowed not to extradite him if he travelled to the country.

"Criticising our justice system is unacceptable," said Abhisit, although he said he thought Cambodia was "misinformed".

"Everyone has to protect our justice system's dignity," he added during his weekly television programme.

The two countries have fought a series of deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in a dispute over land around an ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.

"There is no reason to make tensions at the border which might lead to clashes," Abhisit added.

Thailand had warned Friday that it could seal the border between the two countries and further stoked the row by saying it would tear up an oil and gas exploration deal with Cambodia.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at a bilateral meeting in Tokyo Saturday that he was "concerned" about the spat, a Japanese official said.

The head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, General Surin Pitsuwan, also urged Thailand and Cambodia Saturday to show "maximum restraint".

He said the 10-country bloc should not be seen to be divided by the dispute ahead of a historic meeting with US President Barack Obama and regional leaders later this month. But Abhisit denied the spat would affect the summit.

Asean Urges Restraint in Thai-Cambodia Spat

2009-11-08T06:58:00.001-08:00

http://online.wsj.com/

Associated Press
NOVEMBER 7, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed concern Saturday over a worsening diplomatic feud between Cambodia and Thailand and urged the neighboring countries to exercise restraint.

Already tense relations between the two nations erupted this past week when Cambodia named fugitive Thai ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra its economic adviser. Thailand recalled its ambassador Thursday, and Cambodia followed suit.

The row stands to embarrass the 10-nation bloc and undermine its credibility at a summit of Asian and Pacific leaders in Singapore later this month, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said. U.S. President Barack Obama is to have his first summit with ASEAN at the meeting.

Surin expressed "concern over the escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand (and) has appealed to both countries to exercise maximum restraint," an ASEAN statement said.

Surin took the unusual step of publicly asking ASEAN's foreign ministers to "assist the two (countries) to settle their bilateral dispute amicably and as soon as possible." ASEAN generally abides by a policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of its members.

The appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser to Cambodia's government, announced Wednesday, soured already poor relations between the two neighbors, which have had small but sometimes deadly skirmishes over their land border in the past year.

The diplomatic dispute is closely tied to an ongoing political struggle within Thailand, where Thaksin is at the center of a political crisis and street protests that have gripped the country since 2006.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup for alleged massive corruption and other charges. His supporters say he should be pardoned and returned to power. Since the coup, Thaksin has lived abroad to escape a corruption conviction and two-year prison sentence.

Help Cambodia, Thailand — ASEAN

2009-11-08T06:57:00.001-08:00

http://www.mb.com.ph/

November 7, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan on Saturday called on all Foreign Ministers of the 10-member regional bloc to help Cambodia and Thailand settle their bilateral dispute “amicably” as soon as possible.

Pitsuwan expressed concern over the escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, appealing to both countries to exercise maximum restraint.

In a letter to ASEAN Foreign Ministers, the ASEAN Secretary General said he has received many inquiries and expressions of concern from ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners and friends “over the apparent deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand.” Both countries have recalled their Ambassadors earlier this week.

“We in ASEAN cannot afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting and the historic ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting in Singapore this month,” Surin said.

Citing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976, Surin said all other Member States in ASEAN are obliged to offer assistance to help fellow Member States settle their bilateral disputes, even when the two disputing parties cannot agree to refer their dispute to any regional means of dispute settlement. (Madel Sabater)

INTERVIEW - Thai PM says no plan yet to seal border with Cambodia

2009-11-08T06:56:00.001-08:00

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks at Columbia University in New York September 22, 2009. REUTERS/Natalie Behring/Files

Sat Nov 7, 2009

By Yoko Nishikawa

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Thailand said on Saturday it has no plan yet to seal its border with Cambodia despite a diplomatic row, but will seek to extradite fugitive former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, if he goes to Cambodia to become an adviser.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also told Reuters in an interview that Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been recovering from his illness and he expected the 81-year-old king to be discharged from hospital soon.

Thailand and Cambodia deepened a diplomatic row by recalling their ambassadors from each others' countries on Thursday after Phnom Penh made Thaksin an economic adviser.

The tit-for-tat spat threatens to worsen political tensions in Thailand by potentially giving Thaksin a base across the border from where he can direct his supporters and causing a diplomatic embarrassment for Abhisit.

"We did not talk," Abhisit said when asked if he had a chance to speak with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen while he was in Tokyo for a summit of five Mekong region nations and Japan, which brought him and the Cambodian leader together at an awkward time.

"We would seek (his) extradition," Abhisit added when asked about his government's response if Thaksin goes to Cambodia.

"We do not accept the view that this is a political case. Rather, it is a straight-forward application of our laws."

But asked if Bangkok would seal its border with Cambodia, Abhisit said, "At the moment, we don't have plans to do that."

Thaksin, the twice-elected billionaire who was deposed in a coup three years ago and has been living in exile to avoid corruption charges, still commands widespread support in rural areas and remains a force in Thai politics.

Abhisit stressed the dispute did not affect the two-day Japan-Mekong summit meeting that ended earlier in the day.

"We are very conscious that this is an issue that we should solve bilaterally and that we should not let this get in the way of multilateral cooperation. So we won't allow to affect ASEAN. We won't allow to affect a forum like this," he said.

KING'S HEALTH

Abhisit said Thailand's king, who has been in hospital since Sept. 19, was recovering and that he was performing his duties from the hospital.

The 81-year-old king, the world's longest serving monarch, is regarded as semi-divine by many of the country's 67 million people.

"He has recovered and is now staying to do physiotherapy. And soon we expect His Majesty to be discharged from the hospital," Abhisit said, adding that the timing of the king's release from hospital would be up to doctors.

The king's health is a sensitive topic in financial markets because he is seen as the sole unifying figure in a politically polarised country with a long history of coups and upheaval.

Abhisit said the king was still performing his duties in hospital. "We have laws that have been signed and have come to affect, for instance, the budget law."

BOT chief downplays concerns over Thai-Cambodian tension

2009-11-08T06:55:00.003-08:00

http://enews.mcot.net/

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Nov 7 (TNA) – Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Tarisa Wattanagase on Friday downplayed concerns over the political tension between Thailand and Cambodia, saying it would not worsen significantly because both countries had forged good bilateral relations over a long period.

Thailand has downgraded its diplomatic ties with Cambodia following the formal appointment of convicted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as the Cambodian PM’s economic and personal advisor.

She said the political tension between the neighbouring countries might shake confidence among Thai investors in Cambodia, but the central bank projected it would not affect the bilateral ties as the two countries had maintained good relations for a long time.

“The political tension is the government-to-government problem. The people of both countries still have good relations with each other," she said.

Mrs Tarisa added the Thai economy had already bottomed out. The government had initiated investment projects in various fields and managed to implement its policies quickly.

With these factors and the strong economic fundamental, she said, the Thai economy began recovering in the second quarter of this year and continued picking up in the third quarter.

Based on data in the second and third quarter, she projected the Thai economy would continue recovering as could be witnessed by the improved exports and increased private investment.

Although the economic growth remains fragile, it should be seen as a good sign for the country’s economy, she said. (TNA)

FTI chief concerned with possible border trade closure

2009-11-08T06:55:00.001-08:00

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Nov 7 (TNA) – Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Santi Vilassakdanont on Friday voiced concerns over the ongoing tension between Thailand and Cambodia, saying business people did not want to see the situation deteriorate and lead to the border trade closure.

Unless both countries are able to find a common solution on their own, they might be well-advised to accept a country with a neutral stance such as China or ASEAN to mediate a reconciliation of their differences.

He said that Thai nationals running businesses in Cambodia such as the hotel and hospitality industry, tourism, restaurants and textiles told him that they still do business in the country as usual.

However, they are afraid the tension between both neighbouring countries would heighten. In particular, it might lead to the border trade closure, which could benefit neither country.

At present, the border trade represents 80 per cent of the Thai-Cambodian trade value. Last year, the value of the border trade between the two countries reached Bt70 billion.

But in the first eight months of this year, border trade had declined by some 20 per cent to Bt36.70 billion due to global economic sluggishness. It is expected the trade value would be around Bt50 billion for this year.

Should the border trade be closed, he said, a large amount of goods would be smuggled into the country.

Consequently, he hoped the governments of both countries would accelerate talks to find a proper solution to the problem and believed they could settle it without a need to close bilateral trade.

Still, unless both countries are able to find a common solution, they might count on the country with a neutral stance such as China and ASEAN as a mediator to reconcile their conflicts. (TNA)

Storm-triggered landslide kills 13 in Vietnam

2009-11-08T06:54:00.001-08:00

The storm and flooding that followed Tropical Storm Mirinae have left almost 130 people dead in Vietnam

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

HANOI — At least 13 people have been killed in a landslide in central Vietnam following storms and flooding that have now left almost 130 people dead, according to officials.

The 13 were killed and another person was seriously injured in the early hours of Friday in the coastal province of Quang Nam, local emergency official Vo Xuan Quang told AFP.

The landslide, triggered by rains that have lashed the country since Tropical Storm Mirinae hit on Monday, dumped thousands of tonnes of earth and mud on a group of gold miners, who were sleeping at the time, Quang said.

The storm and flooding that followed have left another 116 people dead, most of them in the country's easternmost province of Phu Yen.

Mirinae also killed two people in Vietnam's neighbour Cambodia and left 27 people dead in the Philippines, where thousands are still living in evacuation centres after a series of deadly storms this typhoon season.

Cambodian traders accepting cash only from Thais

2009-11-08T06:53:00.001-08:00

http://enews.mcot.net/

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

ARANYAPRATHET, Nov 7 (TNA) -- Most Cambodian traders are now accepting cash only from their Thai counterparts as they closely monitor tensions between the two neighbouring countries after ambassadors have been recalled following the appointment of convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser by the Cambodian government.

Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot Saturday visited the key border district of Aranyaprathet and found that border trade was still lively as more than 9,000 Cambodian traders crossed the border for trading purposes or for employment at Thai firms.

However, most of the Cambodian traders would not offer credit to Thais traders but would accept only cash.

On the contrary, the number of Thai gamblers who usually cross to the casinos in the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet, opposite Aranyaprathet--usually more than 5,000 on typical weekend day--fell sharply Saturday due to concerns over the political situation. Less than 1,000 gamblers went there on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Santi Villassakdanon, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), speaking in Pattaya resort that most Thai businessmen operating in Cambodia worry that if the situation worsens, cross-border trade could close.

Cross-border trade between the two countries now accounts for about 80 per cent of the total trade amounting to approximately Bt40 billion annually.

Governments of the two countries must quickly negotiate to settle the dispute so that the private sector would not be affected, said Mr Santi.

In the northeastern province of Buri Ram bordering Cambodia, Ratchapol Tranakyos, chairman of the Buri Ram Chamber of Commerce, said the trade and tourism businesses between the two countries had already been affected as tourists were not confident of their safety, while traders slowed their purchases.

Mr Ratchapol said attempts by the Buri Ram chamber to open a permanent border checkpoint in Ban Kruat district aimed at boosting trade and investment would now have to be delayed until diplomatic relations between the two countries are restored. (TNA)

Diplomats not supporting Thailand's recall of Ambassador to Cambodia

2009-11-08T06:52:00.002-08:00

(Posted by CAAI news Media)

According to the Bangkok Post on Saturday morning, foreign diplomats from several countries do not support Thailand's recall of their Ambassador to Cambodia. Thailand recalled its Ambassador on Thursday after the Cambodian government announced it was hiring deposed Thai ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.

A European diplomatic source even commented Thailand's recall of their Ambassador could cause significant damage to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially if this stand-off is to continue. With ASEAN meeting this week and with representatives from both Thailand and Cambodia being in attendance the worry is this will affect ASEAN's ability to get things achieved.

Actually, Thailand's withdrawal of their Ambassador is not surprising, as diplomats themselves should be aware. When it comes to Cambodia, Thailand has a history of over-reacting, with the still-ongoing dispute about the 11th century temple a prime example. Troops massed on the Thai border and even some random shots were reported. This all over a temple that is patently on Cambodian ground and has been ruled by several international bodies as being the property of Cambodia. But, with Thailand having always treated Cambodia like a third-class citizen, it's not surprising their latest round of 'diplomacy' came to this.

As for ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he is a master of manipulation and current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is playing into his hands by reacting to every small thing he does. Abhisit though is a novice at politics and, rumor is, he is being controlled by other people more powerful in Thailand. If only Abhisit would ignore what Cambodia is doing, it would give Thaksin even less support. But with his anger over the Cambodian decision to hire Thaksin as an economic adviser, he is only elevating Thaksin's importance and keeping his name in front of the millions of people in Thailand who still support Thaksin.

Thailand itself has asked for foreign governments to pressure Cambodia to extradite Thaksin when he appears in the country but, as diplomats are already saying Thailand is going about this the wrong way, and as many countries didn't think Thaksin should have been deposed by a military coup in the first place, it's highly unlikely Thailand will get much support for this request.

Bangkok Got Angry and Downgraded the Cambodian-Thai Diplomatic Relations to the Lowest Level – Friday, 6.11.2009

2009-11-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

Posted on 7 November 2009

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 637

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

“Immediately after the Cambodian government appointed Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra as Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen’s and the government’s advisor, Bangkok was angry and summoned its ambassador back to Thailand as a so-called diplomatic retaliation. The Thai ambassador left Cambodia in the night of 5 November 2009. In response, the Minister of the Council of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, summoned the Cambodian ambassador to return to Phnom Penh. He consideres that this is a normal reciprocity measure between government and government. Regarding this diplomatic dispute, there has not been any new report about border tensions between the two countries.

“Relating to Thailand recalling its ambassador, Mr. Sok An said that this is not the cutting off of diplomatic ties. When Thailand sends its ambassador to Cambodia again, we will send our ambassador to Thailand. He explained that there is no problem in the relations between both countries’ citizens and in commerce.

“He noted that Thailand did so, following a demand from the yellow-shirt group [of government supporters].

“He explained also that it is an internal affairs of Cambodia to nominate Thaksin Shinawatra, and Cambodia had appointed foreigners as advisers before, for example the current president of South Korea. He had also been an adviser of Samdech Dekchor.

“He criticized that Thailand has hurt Cambodia by sending troops to invade the Preah Vihear border areas in Cambodian territory. The second point is that when Cambodia proposed to list the Preah Vihear Temple as a world heritage site, Thailand had sent partisans to disturb it.

“Contrastingly, [Thai] Deputy Prime Minister Sutheb Thaugsubanasked, ‘What would Cambodia think if Thailand nominated [the opposition party president] Mr. Sam Rainsy as adviser?’ Mr. Sok An answered, ‘Cambodia would welcome such a nomination, because Cambodia has a citizen appointed by foreign country. Therefore, Thai people should be happy as one of their citizens is named adviser.’

“The decision of the Bangkok government to summon their diplomatic official like this, pushed the diplomatic ties between both countries to fall to a terrible level, threatening even political, economic, and cultural relation between both countries, as well as the solidarity in ASEAN.

“Prime Minister Abhisit Vijjajiva said that Thailand summoned their ambassador back to Bangkok as a sign of first diplomatic retaliation toward Cambodia for appointing Thaksin Shinawara as advisor, and for rejecting to extradite him. He said that Thailand wants Cambodia to know the dissatisfaction of the Thai people.

“Immigration officials at the Phnom Penh International Airport said that the Thai ambassador boarded the plane at around 9:00 p.m. to travel back to Bangkok.

“Political analysts said that the decision of the Bangkok government will make ASEAN to be viewed as a quite fractioned institution, making the imitative to establish the ASEAN community by 2015 to be in hazard, and it is necessary that thereis a regional mechanism to restore the situation.

Cambodian Troops Are Prepared to Defend the Country from an Invasion

“At the border, the commander of special Intervention Unit 3, Mr. Srey Dek, said that the Cambodian troops are always on alert. He added, ‘If they dare to enter only half a millimeter, we will attack (open fire) immediately. But he said that so far, there is nothing abnormal.

“The Banteay Meanchey governor, Mr. Ung Oeung, said that the border situation remains normal. But there might be some psychological war coming relating to border closings. But there is nothing visible yet.

Thaksin Is Happy while Abhisit Is Pale

“The Thai former prime minister, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, said on Thursday that he accepted the position as economic advisor of the Royal Government of Cambodia, and he expressed appreciation toward Prime Minister Hun Sen for offering this honorable position. He said on his website, ‘I can refresh my brain while I am not yet able to serve the Thai people. I will ask for the permission from Thai people to provide economic advice to the Cambodian government, based on the appointment by King Sihamoni, until I can go back to my country. In fact, I have already become adviser of a government. I accept this position in order to keep my brain to remain fresh, otherwise it would become lame if I don’t keep it up to obtain new ideas and new developments. I want to work with the Thai people, but I cannot. The Thai government does not even allow me to carry a Thai passport.’

“Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra added, ‘Our neighbor is not an enemy. We must be close to each other forever. It is good that we are friends.’

“In the mean time, a legal adviser of Mr. Thaksin, [the former minister of foreign affairs who resigned after the high court found he had violated the Thai constitution] Mr. Noppadon Pattama, spoke to the former prime minister, regarding the issue that Thaksin Shinawatra feels that he has received a great honor, and he will provide advice on how to solve Cambodia’s economic problems and overcome poverty.

“Mr. Noppadon Pattama added that it is not necessary that Mr. Thaksin comes to live in Cambodia, because he can give advice through the telephone or the Internet. He said, ‘Thaksin Shinawatra has no plan to go to Cambodia at this time. Therefore, the government needs not worry or feel afraid, because it is not a political affair or seeking asylum. Mr. Hun Sen decided to appoint Thaksin, because he sees his value and ability.’

“Nevertheless, Thailand does not understand it as Mr. Noppadon does. On 5 November 2009, Thailand summoned their ambassador back to their country immediately as a move of disapproval of Cambodia for offering a position to Thaksin.

“The Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vijjajiva said to journalist, ‘We have summoned our ambassador as the first diplomatic retaliation toward the Cambodian government so as to let the Thai people’s dissatisfaction known. The announcement of the Cambodian governments disrespects the legal system, and does influence the feeling of the Thai public.

“Abhisit said also that [Thai] aid for Cambodia will be suspended also, but the border between both countries are still open, and the relations between the people will not be affected.”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #5040, 6.11.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:

Friday, 6 November 2009

Japan steps up aid to Mekong nations

2009-11-08T06:51:00.001-08:00

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (C) hosts the Mekong-Japan Summit meeting

Posted: 07 November 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

TOKYO: The leaders of Japan and Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations wrapped up a summit at which Tokyo pledged more than US$5.5 billion in loans and grants and vowed deeper ties.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told a press conference on Saturday the Mekong region was a "priority area" for Japan's official development assistance (ODA) as it seeks to boost development in the resource-rich area.

A joint declaration said "Japan commits more than 500 billion yen of ODA in the next three years" for the further development of the Mekong region, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.

"We strongly recognised the need for further strengthening of the Mekong-Japan relationship and cooperation to maximise the potential of the Mekong region," the statement said.

Asian giants Japan and China have for years poured aid and investment into the region, home to more than 220 million people, and are seen increasingly as competitors for influence.

Much of the region along the lower reaches of the 4,800-kilometre (2,980-mile) Mekong River has historically been isolated by war and political turmoil and remains poorer than other parts of Southeast Asia.

Hatoyama, who has pushed the concept of an EU-style Asian community, has set his sights on boosting economic development and has vowed to expand aid, particularly to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Eighty per cent of the US$5.5-billion package would be in low-interest yen loans, for projects ranging from regional highway links to water infrastructure and technological training, a government official said.

The leaders also agreed on an action plan to promote development, protect the environment and fight climate change under the slogan "A decade towards the Green Mekong."

And they demanded that Myanmar take steps towards democracy, calling for transparent elections next year.

The action plan said the leaders "expect that the government of Myanmar would take more positive steps in its democratisation process."

Hatoyama was later Saturday due to meet Thein Sein, Myanmar's first premier to visit Japan since 2003.

The Nikkei economic daily said Hatoyama would outline plans to increase aid to the country, criticised for human rights abuses including its detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Hatoyama hailed Washington's latest efforts to engage Myanmar as beneficial for the entire Mekong region.

President Barack Obama's administration has recently changed its policy on Myanmar, saying it would push for engagement with the military regime because sanctions on their own had failed to bear fruit.

The leaders at the summit agreed to hold talks every year.

The goal of the Mekong group is to boost development through cooperation.

But the summit took place amid increasing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, sparked by Cambodia's naming of Thailand's fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as a government adviser.

Businesses wary of border closure

2009-11-08T06:50:00.001-08:00

Protecting people and assets the concern

Published: 7/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Amid the rising tension after fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's appointment as an economic adviser to Cambodia, Thai businesses are highly concerned about the safety of their people and assets, but they say closing the borders should be a last resort.

Thais andCambodian tourists travel freely across the border at a checkpoint linking Trat province with Cambodia’s Koh Kong. Thai officials yesterday threatened to close the borders as a diplomatic row between the two countries continues to escalate. JAKKRIT WAEWKLAIHONG

Thailand's national energy flagship PTT has valuable assets in Cambodia and is monitoring developments closely. Should violence occur, it said its assets in the country would be protected by the Royal Thai Navy.

"So far we are in alarm mode since we have facilities worth billions of baht in Cambodia, even though they are located in areas far from conflict," said Kampong Kittitornkul, vice-president for international marketing.

PTT has a 50% market share from six service stations and three oil tank farms in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The rest of the market is held by France-based Total.

PTT's oil products stored in tanks include jet fuel, petrol, diesel, lubricant and fuel oil used in power plants. The oil tanks are located in Navy areas.

"The Thai business community has not seen any impact yet, but we have to be cautious," he said. "Our major concern is if the situation comes to the point of a border closure, whether our business can run as usual or not. We also need to prepare for immediate evacuation if riots break out.

"We hope the situation will not lead to violence as happened in 2003. So far, high-ranking officials in Cambodia are still attempting to calm down the local business community."

Logistics operators are wary a border closure will hurt not only trade with Cambodia but also within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

Sealing border trade with Cambodia affects co-operation to integrate GMS logistics networks. Last month, a trial run trucking goods from the Thai border to Ho Chi Minh City via Cambodia took place successfully, said Yoo Chienuenyongpong, a counsellor to Thai Logistics Alliance Co.

Chemical product shipments to factories in southern Vietnam would be affected, said Mr Yoo, also the president of the Land Transport Federation of Thailand.

"We should not let politics cause problems for people who are not involved in the dispute," he said.

"Vietnam is more important to us than Cambodia in terms of business opportunity. Our counterparts in China are concerned about growing disputes between Thailand and Cambodia because it might further delay our regional economic integration."

Land transport takes two nights and three days to reach Ho Chi Minh City from the Thai border, compared with 10 days by sea from Laem Chabang Port to Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Thanet Sorat, vice-president of logistics service provider V-Serve Group, said tens of local logistics companies operating at the border and with Vietnam would be affected.

"These logistics companies are the second group of casualties after local residents if the disputes intensify and lead to border closure," Mr Thanet said.

"I think the issue should not be blown up to become a national agenda item to minimise the damage for the sake of the people and the business sector."

The Commerce Ministry is calling on people and business operators of both nations not to panic, as Thai trade officials and commercial counsellors in Cambodia have not been recalled yet even though the two countries' ambassadors have left their posts.

Border trade represents up to 80% of trade between the countries worth at least 50 billion baht a year.

Traditionally, commercial ministers are not recalled as the recall of Thailand's ambassador to Cambodia is strong enough to show the kingdom's disapproval with Hun Sen's embrace of Mr Thaksin.

Commerce permanent secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said that during emergencies, all Thai trade officials are told to be ready to help Thais doing business in Cambodia.

Business as usual for Thai firms in Cambodia

2009-11-08T06:49:00.001-08:00

http://www.asiaone.com/

Sat, Nov 07, 2009

The Nation/Asia News Network

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The government is being urged to support Thai businesses that have a presence in Cambodia even though the latest tensions between the two countries have not yet affected them.

"Despite reports of no effects now, the situation could degenerate quickly. Aside from supportive measures, the government should try to end this conflict quickly through diplomatic means," Federation of Thai Industries official Thaworn Techakraisri said yesterday.

FTI chairman Santi Vilassakdanont also expressed concern about border trade, which constitutes 80 per cent of bilateral trade between the countries.

The two-way trade amounted to US$2.13 billion (S$2.98 billion) last year. Major Thai exports are sugar, fuel, pigs and cement. Major goods imported from Cambodia include cassava, maize and scrap aluminium.

To date, all business activities are continuing as usual.

Pongsak Viddayakorn, an executive adviser to Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), said company executives were not concerned about the diplomatic rift possibly hurting healthcare operations in Cambodia.

BDMS operates Royal Angkor International Hospital in Seam Reap and Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre in Phnom Penh.

He said the hospitals are partially owned by Cambodian officials, and since the rift was not at the grass-roots level, the company's healthcare services should not be affected.

However, if the worst comes to the worst, the company is prepared to evacuate all physicians, nurses and medical staff to Thailand on Bangkok Airways.

BDMS founder and CEO Prasert Prasarttongosoth is also the founder of Bangkok Airways.

At present, BDMS still plans to add 100 beds to the present 50 in the Phnom Penh property. Pongsak said the economic environment played a bigger role in investment decisions than did diplomatic relations.

Meanwhile, a source at pharmaceutical manufacturer Thai Nakorn Pattana, owner of the Phokeethra Country Club in Seam Reap, said the hotel-sponsored Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open golf tournament would still take place from November 19-22 as planned.

The source said the tournament had the full backing of the Cambodian government and that the rift would not affect the company's new Bt2-billion hotel in Phnom Penh or its Bt400-million golf course.

Krung Thai Bank president Apisak Tantivorawong, while expecting a solution soon, reported no unusual movement at the bank's two Cambodian branches.

Na Bhengbhasang Krishnamra, vice president of Siam Commercial Bank - owner of the Cambodian Commercial bank - said it was business as usual yesterday at the Cambodian properties and that there were no signs of huge withdrawals.

The unit, which has a 10-per-cent share of the local lending market, deals mostly with Thais in Cambodia. With four branches throughout the country, the 18-year-old bank employs 60 Cambodians and has $100 million in assets.

Na Bhengbhasang said there was a contingency plan to evacuate all 11 Thai staff to Thailand if need be.

During a videoconference yesterday with commercial counsellors throughout Thailand, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said the counsellors in Phnom Penh had not been recalled and urged all businessmen to remain calm.

He said some 40 Thai businessmen continued to operate normally in Cambodia but that a contingency plan was in place if needed.

"We're worried about the diplomatic trouble, but I want to emphasise that the commercial counsellors and other staff are working as usual," said Alongkorn. "We hope the prime minister will speak with Prime Minister Hun Sen in Tokyo [during the Greater Mekong Subregion meeting]."

The ministry is monitoring border trade in seven provinces. Alongkorn will lead a survey team to Sa Kaew province today.

Si Sa Ket province yesterday decided to delay next Wednesday's planned opening of Chong Sa-Ngam Market in Phu Sing district by at least six months, said the border-trade coordinator for the provincial chamber of commerce.

He said the delay was advised by Second Army Region commander Lt-General Wiwalit Jonsamphan and that the chamber had agreed for security reasons.

Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase expects a solution soon, given the long relationship between the two countries. Moreover, the conflict is only at the national level and both countries' citizens are acting in good faith with each other.

Export-Import Bank of Thailand chairman Narongchai Akrasanee said there should be no effect on trade, due to Cambodia's economic potential.

His bank has extended a Bt1.3-billion loan to finance road, railroad and other infrastructure projects in that country and another Bt1 billion to private companies involved in tourism and infrastructure-construction projects there.

Logistics operators have felt no impact from the diplomatic tussle, given that there are no land-transport links between the two countries.

Triple i Logistics Group CEO Tipp Dalal said problems would arise only if the conflict dragged on.

TNT Express Worldwide (TNT), which has a substantial land-transport on the Asia Road Network (ARN), yesterday said its business remained normal.

"The recent events do not affect TNT's services on the ARN [connecting Thailand with Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and southern China]. TNT continues to provide the same high level of solutions for customers doing business in Thailand and Cambodia," said a high-ranking TNT official.

Boundary deal faces axe

2009-11-08T06:48:00.001-08:00

PM intensifies protest against Cambodia

Published: 7/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Thailand may suspend a land boundary demarcation settlement in a further diplomatic strike against Cambodia.

Financial aid worth 1.4 billion baht for Cambodia's Route 48 is also under review.

Thailand yesterday revoked a memorandum of understanding on developing an overlapping border area which is rich in oil and gas in the Gulf of Thailand. The agreement between the two countries was reached in June 2001.

It was the latest protest against Cambodia's decision to appoint convicted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as its economic adviser.

In a video link from Japan last night, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hinted that his government might suspend negotiations under the Thai-Cambodia Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC).

Parliament is scheduled to consider endorsing the JBC framework on Monday. However, Mr Abhisit yesterday said: "It's not a priority at present."

The agreement on the disputed maritime boundary was reached under the Thaksin administration. The Democrat-led government believes Cambodia could gain an advantage in negotiations if Thaksin is advising it.

"Thaksin was directly involved in pushing for the government to sign the MoU, so the Thai government could not continue negotiating with Cambodia based on this MoU," said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.

The unilateral termination of the MoU will take effect three months after Bangkok informs Phnom Penh.

Mr Kasit said the potential oil and natural gas reserves in the 26,000 square kilometre overlapping area could benefit both countries and negotiations would directly affect economic benefits and national security.

Mr Abhisit said the decision was aimed at protecting Thailand's interests and defending its judicial system.

The government did not trigger the dispute and it was up to Phnom Penh to consider what steps should be taken to ease tensions.

He had told the Foreign Ministry to prepare mechanisms for a downgrade of diplomatic ties with Cambodia.

"I think the government and Thai people are exercising patience and restraint," Mr Abhisit said.

"The issue must be dealt with at the bilateral level. But the problem was not created by us. It is up to Cambodia to consider how to proceed with it."

He was speaking after a reception lunch for leaders of the Mekong Subregion hosted by the Japanese chamber of commerce and industry and the confederation of Japanese businessmen in Tokyo.

Mr Abhisit and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen are among the Mekong Subregion leaders taking part in the summit with Japan, which ends today.

A Foreign Ministry source said Thaksin's decision to advise Cambodia has caused a fundamental change in circumstances which could justify Thailand revoking the MoU in question under the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

But Cambodia said that, under the MoU, neither country could renege on its pledges to develop the area.

"I don't see any articles or any sentences that allow either party to terminate the memorandum of understanding," Var Kimhong, the Cambodian government's top border negotiator, told AFP. "Both sides have to implement it until we find a solution to the overlapping claims area," he said.

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister, added the ministry would also review other agreements signed with Cambodia during the Thaksin administration.

It includes a Thai financial package to Cambodia for construction of the 153km Route 48 worth 1.4 billion baht linking Trat province with Koh Kong's Serei Ample district.

Meanwhile, Thaksin yesterday criticised the Democrat-led government's decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with Cambodia.

The fugitive former prime minister said the government's decision could worsen the relations between the two countries and cause economic damage between the neighbours. Advising the country was an act of good neighbourliness which could also help Thailand.

Hun Sen tells troops to remain calm at border

2009-11-08T06:47:00.003-08:00

Published: 7/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday ordered his troops to maintain peaceful relations with Thai soldiers on the other side of the border.

As a result, military leaders of the two countries have agreed not to reinforce their troops along the border, says Second Army commander Lt Gen Weewalit Chornsamrit.

Hun Sen's message was conveyed to him by Cambodia's deputy supreme commander Gen Chea Dara and 3rd supportive division commander Lt Gen Sarai Duek.

They met at the Khao Phra Viharn National Park tourist centre in Si Sa Ket province about 4pm yesterday.

After the meeting, Lt Gen Weewalit said the Cambodian delegation was ordered by Hun Sen to hold talks with the Second Army and to ask the Thai army to stay calm and continue to maintain good relations.

Hun Sen's message was that soldiers should sidestep any politically sensitive issues. Such matters could only be solved through diplomatic channels and not by the border authorities.

Cambodian leaders have made it clear they do not plan to send any reinforcements and have left it in the hands of Gen Chea Dara and Lt Gen Sarai Duek to decide what should be done to enhance security at the border, said the Second Army chief.

Neither is there any sign of 4,000 troops being rushed to the Preah Vihear temple as some media outlets have reported, he said.

He advised people along the border not to be too concerned by the current dispute as the local situation remained normal. He was reassured by the fact that the Cambodian officers who visited him were all high-ranking officers.

Meanwhile, joint chief of staff Gen Ratchakrit Kanchanawat said even after the recalling of their ambassadors, relations between the respective defence ministries remained sound and there would soon be negotiations to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

He said the government and the National Security Council would direct further actions and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would discuss the issue with the council soon.

He does not expect Thai authorities to call for the evacuation of Thais from Cambodia as happened during events that led up to the burning of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh in 2003.

"Such incidents are unlikely to be repeated because that lesson should have taught Cambodia to have preventive measures in place. I don't believe the situation would deteriorate into a war," Gen Ratchakrit said.

However, a senior government source said the Thai military was ready to evacuate Thai nationals if needed.

"The air force will deploy C-130 aircraft which would be escorted by fighter jets to pick up the Thais in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from secret meeting points," said the source.

The navy has raised the number of vessels patrolling disputed waters from three to five and increased the frequency of patrols.

Cambodia has two vessels patrolling the disputed areas.

Support for govt rockets after protest

2009-11-08T06:47:00.001-08:00

Most Thais oppose Thaksin giving advice

Published: 7/11/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The popularity of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government has soared after its diplomatic protest against Phnom Penh's appointment of convicted Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser, an opinion poll has found.

And most Thais have told another poll they don't want Thaksin to offer advice to Cambodia.

Up to 68.8% of 3,709 respondents in 21 provinces have thrown their support behind the government, a huge increase on the 23.3% who backed it in September, according to an Abac poll conducted by Assumption University, between Oct 25 and Thursday.

Also today: Land border deal faces axe

And see: Hun Sen tells border troops to remain calm

In northern provinces, including Thaksin's home town of Chiang Mai, and northeastern provinces, most people (64.6%) support the government.

In the Northeast, the opposition Puea Thai Party's stronghold, 53.1% support the government over the Cambodia issue. Thais believe Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen places his relationship with Thaksin over the importance of national ties with Thailand, said Abac Poll Research Centre director Noppadol Kannikar.

Phnom Penh appointed Thaksin an economic adviser on Nov 4.

In protest, Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh on Thursday.

While some diplomats say Thailand over-reacted and that the row threatens Asean's stability, most Thais back the government's response.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found Thaksin guilty of a conflict of interest in the Ratchadaphisek land purchase case in 2003, but Cambodia argued the charges against Thaksin were politically motivated.

Thais, however, still trusted the judicial system, Mr Noppadol said.

"The dispute is good for the government's support."

Meanwhile, a Dusit poll, conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University over the last two days, found 69.2% of people sampled countrywide oppose Thaksin acting as adviser to Cambodia, which they believe could escalate tensions between the two countries.

Many people (33.12%) also wanted Mr Abhisit to review all agreements which Thailand had made with Cambodia, the poll says.

The New Politics Party, formerly the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, denounced Mr Hun Sen's move.

It was an attempt to interfere in Thailand's internal affairs, which could also "ravage the verdict of a Thai court", said the party secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila.

The anti-Thaksin group of 40 senators said the government should take the opportunity to revoke a memorandum of understanding in 2001 and an agreement in 2003 on maritime borders with Cambodia, reached when the Thaksin administration was in power, and to warn Thai businessmen against investment in Cambodia.

The government says it is reviewing all agreements with Cambodia, including the maritime one.

Senator Paiboon Nititawan also asked Thaksin whether he is still Thai. He warned Thaksin against serving two masters, which could never end happily.

ASEAN urges Thailand, Cambodia to resolve feud

2009-11-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

AP

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed concern Saturday over a worsening diplomatic feud between Cambodia and Thailand and urged the neighboring countries to exercise restraint.

The row stands to embarrass the 10-nation bloc and undermine its credibility at a summit of Asian and Pacific leaders in Singapore later this month, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said.

Surin expressed "concern over the escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand (and) has appealed to both countries to exercise maximum restraint," an ASEAN statement said.

ASEAN urges 'maximum restraint' in Thai-Cambodia row

2009-11-08T06:44:00.003-08:00

Secretary-General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan

(AFP)

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK — The head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations urged Thailand and Cambodia to show "maximum restraint" amid tensions over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said the 10-country bloc should not be seen to be divided by the dispute ahead of a historic meeting with US President Barack Obama and regional leaders later this month.

Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in a dispute over land around an ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.

Surin expressed "concern over the escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, has appealed to both countries to exercise maximum restraint," said a statement issued by the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.

He also urged foreign ministers from the bloc to help the two countries to "settle their bilateral dispute amicably and as soon as possible".

"We in ASEAN cannot afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and the historic ASEAN-US Leaders Meeting in Singapore this month," it quoted Surin as saying in a letter to regional foreign ministers.

Thailand has accused Cambodia of interfering in its internal affairs by appointing Thaksin, who is living abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption.

Cambodia says Thaksin was the victim of a politically motivated case.

During his time in power, Thaksin was close to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who first floated the idea of the adviser's job at an Asian summit in October.

KATHINA at wat Odom Samakum Khmer New Zealand (CAAI's Temple)

2009-11-01T03:42:00.001-08:00

Photo by Huy KHY

The CAAI would like to thanks to all Cambodian people in Auckland New Zealand for the Kathina. The money will be put into the new project to build the Vihara. CAAI also would like to thanks to Huy KHY for the wonderful pictures.

1st day of the Annual Water Festival

2009-11-01T03:41:00.001-08:00

Rowers head the to the start line before a boat race as part of water festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Hundreds of wooden boats gathered for three days of annual water festival which started Sunday. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Participants in traditional dragon boats stand by during the first day of the annual Water Festival boat race on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh November 1, 2009. The three-day race will be held from November 1-3. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAAI Newsw Media)

A boat captain prays before the start of the annual Water Festival boat race on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh November 1, 2009. The three-day race will be held from November 1-3. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAAI News Media)

Participants in traditional dragon boats row during the first day of the annual Water Festival boat race on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh November 1, 2009. The three-day race will be held from November 1-3. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAAI News Media)

Rowers wait at the start line before their competition as part of of water festival celebration in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Hundreds of wooden boats gathered for three days of annual water festival which started Sunday. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) (CAAI News Media)

Thirty Years On, the Holocaust In Cambodia and Its Aftermath Is Remembered

2009-11-01T03:40:00.001-08:00

http://www.lewrockwell.com/
by John Pilger
Recently by John Pilger: War Is Peace. Ignorance Is Strength

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The aircraft flew low, following the Mekong River west from Vietnam. Once over Cambodia, what we saw silenced all of us on board. There appeared to be nobody, no movement, not even an animal, as if the great population of Asia had stopped at the border.

Whole villages were empty. Chairs and beds, pots and mats lay in the street, a car on its side, a bent bicycle. Behind fallen power lines lay or sat a single human shadow; it did not move. From the paddies, lines of tall wild grass followed straight lines. Fertilized by the remains of thousands upon thousands of men, women and children, these marked common graves in a nation where as many as two million people, or more than a quarter of the population, were "missing."

At the liberation of the Nazi death camp in Belsen in 1945, The Times correspondent wrote: "It is my duty to describe something beyond the imagination of mankind." That was how I felt in 1979 when I entered Cambodia, a country sealed from the outside world for almost four years since "Year Zero."

Year Zero had begun shortly after sunrise on April 17, 1975 when Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge guerrillas entered the capital, Phnom Penh. They wore black and marched in single file along the wide boulevards. At one o’clock, they ordered the city abandoned. The sick and wounded were forced at gunpoint from their hospital beds; families were separated; the old and disabled fell beside the road. "Don’t take anything with you," the men in black ordered. "You will be coming back tomorrow."

Tomorrow never came. An age of slavery began. Anybody who owned cars and such "luxuries," anybody who lived in a city or town or had a modern skill, anybody who knew or worked with foreigners, was in grave danger; some were already under sentence of death. Out of the Royal Cambodian Ballet company of 500 dancers, perhaps 30 survived. Doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers were starved, or worked to death, or murdered.

For me, entering the silent, gray humidity of Phnom Penh was like walking into a city the size of Manchester in the wake of a nuclear cataclysm which had spared only the buildings. There was no power, no drinking water, no shops, no services of any kind. At the railway station trains stood empty at various stages of interrupted departure. Personal belongings and pieces of clothing fluttered on the platforms, as they fluttered on the mass graves beyond.

I walked along Monivong Avenue to the National Library which had been converted to pigsty, as a symbol, all its books burned. It was dreamlike. There was wasteland where the Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral had stood; it had been dismantled stone by stone. When the afternoon monsoon rains broke, the deserted streets were suddenly awash with money. With every downpour a worthless fortune of new and unused banknotes sluiced out of the Bank of Cambodia, which the Khmer Rouge had blown up as they fled.

Inside, a checkbook lay open on the counter. A pair of glasses rested on an open ledger. I slipped and fell on a floor brittle with coins.

For the first few hours I had no sense of even the remains of a population. The few human shapes I glimpsed seemed incoherent, and on catching sight of me, would flit into a doorway. A child ran into a wardrobe lying on its side which was his or her refuge. In a crumbling Esso filling station an old woman and three emaciated infants squatted around a pot containing a mixture of roots and leaves, which bubbled over a fire fueled with paper money: such grotesque irony: people in need of everything had money to burn.

At a primary school called Tuol Sleng, I walked through what had become the "interrogation unit" and the "torture and massacre unit." Beneath iron beds I found blood and tufts of hair still on the floor. "Speaking is absolutely forbidden," said a sign. "Before doing something, anything, the authorization of the warden must be obtained."

After a while, one sound had a terrible syncopation: rising and falling day and night. Without milk and medicines, children were stricken with preventable disease like dysentery. It seemed that the very fabric of the society had begun to unravel. The first surveys revealed that many women had stopped menstruating.

What compounded this was the isolation imposed on Cambodia by the West because its liberators, the Vietnamese, had come from the wrong side of the cold war, having driven America out of their country in 1975. Cambodia had been the West’s dirty secret since President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger ordered a "secret bombing," extending the war in Vietnam into Cambodia in the early 1970s, killing hundreds of thousands of peasants. "If this doesn’t work," an aide heard Nixon say to Kissinger, "it’ll be your ass, Henry." It worked in handing Pol Pot his chance to seize power.

When I arrived in the aftermath, no Western aid had reached Cambodia. Only Oxfam defied the Foreign Office in London, which had lied that the Vietnamese were obstructing aid. In September 1979, a DC-8 jet took off from Luxembourg, filled with enough penicillin, vitamins and milk to restore some 70,000 children – all of it paid for by Daily Mirror readers who had responded to my reports and Eric Piper’s pictures in two historic issues of the paper which sold every copy.

Following on from the Mirror, on October 30, 1979, ITV broadcast Year Zero: the silent death of Cambodia, the documentary I made with the late David Munro. Forty sacks of post arrived at the ATV studios in Birmingham, with £1 million in the first few days. "This is for Cambodia," wrote an anonymous Bristol bus driver, enclosing his week’s wage. An elderly woman sent her pension for two months. A single parent sent her savings of £50. People expressed that unremitting sense of decency and community which is at the core of British society. Unsolicited, they gave more than £20 million. This helped rescue normal life in faraway country. It restored a clean water supply in Phnom Penh, stocked hospitals and schools, supported orphanages and reopened a desperately needed clothing factory.

Such an extraordinary public outpouring broke the US and British governments’ blockade of Cambodia. Incredibly, the Thatcher government had continued to support the defunct Pol Pot regime in the United Nations and even sent the SAS to train his exiled troops in camps in Thailand and Malaysia. Last March, the former SAS soldier Chris Ryan, now a best-selling author, lamented in a newspaper interview "when John Pilger, the foreign correspondent, discovered we were training the Khmer Rouge in the Far east [we] were sent home and I had to return the £10,000 we’d been given for food and accommodation."

Today, Pol Pot is dead and several of his elderly henchmen are on trial in a UN/Cambodian court for crimes against humanity. Henry Kissinger, whose bombing opened the door to the nightmare of Year Zero, is still at large. Cambodians remain desperately poor, dependent on an often seedy tourism and sweated labor.

For me, their resilience remains almost magical. In the years that followed their liberation, I never saw as many weddings or received as many wedding invitations. They became symbols of life and hope. And yet, only in Cambodia would a child ask an adult, as a twelve-year-old asked me, with fear crossing his face: "Are you a friend? Please say."

October 31, 2009

John Pilger was born and educated in Sydney, Australia. He has been a war correspondent, filmmaker and playwright. Based in London, he has written from many countries and has twice won British journalism's highest award, that of "Journalist of the Year," for his work in Vietnam and Cambodia. His latest book is Freedom Next Time: Resisting the Empire.

Thailand and Cambodia Argue About Thaksin

2009-11-01T03:39:00.001-08:00

http://www.scoop.co.nz/

Sunday, 1 November 2009

Article: Richard S. Ehrlich

Thailand and Cambodia Argue About Thaksin & the Coup

by Richard S. Ehrlich

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand and Cambodia have descended into a loud political feud about Bangkok's 2006 coup, and Thailand's current threat to demand the extradition of its fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The rift between the two Buddhist-majority nations in the heart of Southeast Asia was expected to worsen if Mr. Thaksin accepts Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's surprise offer of a temporary house.

"There is an extradition process," warned Thailand's powerful Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday (October 27).

"The turmoil following Cambodian leader Hun Sen's remarks, about ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra being welcome in his country, has thrown the government into a spin," the Bangkok Post newspaper, which opposes Mr. Thaksin, reported on Tuesday (October 27).

Ratcheting up his rhetoric, Mr. Hun Sen compared Mr. Thaksin to Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has languished under house arrest in Rangoon for 14 years.

"Many people are talking about Mrs. Suu Kyi of Burma. Why can't I talk about the victim, Thaksin?" Mr. Hun Sen said on October 23.

"That cannot be regarded as interference by Cambodia into Thai internal affairs. Without the coup d'etat in 2006, such a thing would not have happened," Hun Sen said.

Soft-spoken Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lashed out Mr. Hun Sen's remarks.

"There are few people in the world who believe Thaksin is similar to that of Mr. Suu Kyi," Mr. Abhisit said later that day.

"I hope Prime Minister Hun Sen will receive the right information and change his mind on the matter."

Cambodia's government spokesman Phay Siphan said on October 23: "Cambodia has a right to offer Thaksin to visit Cambodia, and we have no obligation to send him back to Thailand."

If "former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wishes to travel to Cambodia anytime...the Cambodian prime minister is ready to prepare a residence for [his] stay in Cambodia," reported Cambodia's government-run TVK television on October 22, according to Agence- France Presse.

Mr. Thaksin has been an international fugitive, based mostly in Dubai, dodging a two-year prison sentence for a conflict of interest.

That conviction involved a Bangkok real estate deal -- for his now divorced wife -- which was arranged when he was prime minister.

Mr. Thaksin became prime minister in 2001 when most voters elected the billionaire telecommunications tycoon, hoping he would boost the economy and modernize Thailand.

Mr. Thaksin was removed in September 2006 by Thailand's U.S.- trained military in a bloodless coup when they used tanks, armored personnel carriers, Humvees and other weapons to seize power.

He has unsuccessfully tried to return to power with the help of allied politicians, and get back his two billion U.S. dollars worth of assets which the coup leaders froze.

International human rights groups, however, want Mr. Thaksin investigated for his role in the alleged extrajudicial murder of more than 2,000 people during his government's "war on drugs."

Mr. Thaksin remains politically active in self-exile.

He helps lead a mass movement of so-called "Red Shirts" who claim to represent Thailand's majority lower classes, especially in the countryside.

Together they demand an immediate election, expecting Mr. Thaksin's allies to win.

They are opposed by the "Yellow Shirts" who claim to support Thailand's urban middle class and constitutional monarchy.

Led by Sondhi Limthongkul, the Yellow Shirts blockaded Bangkok's international and domestic airports in November 2008 for eight days, stranding more than 300,000 people worldwide.

Their blockade helped weaken a government allied to Mr. Thaksin, and paved the way for Parliament to elect Mr. Abhisit.

Mr. Abhisit's fragile coalition government enjoys the military's support, and much of his personal security is handled by the military.

Thailand's wealthy elite have mostly thrown their weight behind Mr. Abhisit as well, and appear nervous about Mr. Thaksin and the Red Shirts plotting to destabilize Bangkok.

Cambodia's prime minister has thrown a wild card into this dangerous mix, apparently hoping to attract big investments by Mr. Thaksin and weaken Bangkok's strategy over a smoldering border dispute, according to some analysts.

"It is true that I would invite former Prime Minister Thaksin to visit Cambodia anytime, and to be my economic advisor," Mr. Hun Sen said on October 22.

Thailand and Cambodia are former war-time enemies -- and current investment partners -- so the stakes are high for all sides to quell their public sniping.

Occasional killings on both sides have continued in and around the ancient stone ruins of Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple on the Thai- Cambodian border.

That dispute dates back to the 1950s, and continued even after the International Court in the Hague, Netherlands, confirmed Cambodia's ownership in 1962.

The conflict flared again after the ruins were declared a World Heritage Site in July 2008 by the World Heritage Committee, based on Cambodia's proposal to cash in on its tourism potential.

Thailand and Cambodia have suffered much worse relations in the past.

After Richard Nixon became president of the United States in 1969, he used Thailand as one of several military staging areas for heavy aerial bombing raids against communists in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, until America's wars ended in 1975 -- one year after Nixon's presidency -- with the U.S. defeated in all three countries.

Washington and Bangkok later indirectly backed Cambodia's communist Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, when his jungle-based guerrillas were in a loose alliance with other Cambodian rebels fighting against Vietnam's 1979-1989 occupation of Cambodia.

Thai and Cambodian politicians have been fleeing to each other's country for the past 50 years, seeking sanctuary from coups, arrest warrants, and other threats.

In 1957, when Thai dictator Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat unleashed a military coup against Prime Minister Phibun Songkram, the toppled leader fled Thailand for Cambodia in his Ford Thunderbird car.

*************

Richard S Ehrlich is a Bangkok-based journalist who has reported news from Asia since 1978. He is co-author of "Hello My Big Big Honey!", a non-fiction book of investigative journalism. His web page is http://www.asia-correspondent.110mb.com

Construction of first Cambodia bourse to begin

2009-11-01T03:38:00.002-08:00

http://gulfnews.com/

Venture with Korean investors to get boost

Reuters

Published: November 1, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Phnom Penh: Cambodia expects to begin construction in December on its first stock exchange, a government official said, giving momentum to a long-delayed joint venture with South Korean investors.

"We expect to have the ground-breaking ceremony in December," Mey Vann, director of the financial industry department at Cambodia's Ministry of Economy and Finance, said.

The idea of a Cambodian stockmarket has been floated since the 1990s but has struggled for traction in a country known for chronic poverty and a history of upheaval, including the Khmer Rouge "Killing Fields".

Cambodian authorities have partnered with private South Korean developer World City Co Ltd to build a $6 million (Dh22 million), four-storey stock exchange on the waterfront of a new financial district, Cambodian and World City officials have said.

The area where the stock exchange will be built is flooded swampland on the edge of Boeung Kak Lake in the heart of the Phnom Penh.

The end of the rainy season last month clears the way for workers to begin building the exchange on the corner of what developers are calling Phnom Penh Boulevard.

"The site is under a flood these days. We are pumping the water from the site," said Vann, adding he expected construction to take between eight months and one year.

The bourse was supposed to open in September, a target set last year when South Korea's stock exchange operator agreed with the Cambodian government to set up and run a joint stock exchange.

But the global financial crisis intervened, ending an unprecedented boom which saw Cambodia's economy expand 10 per cent annually in the five years up to 2008.

Foreign investment collapsed, tourist arrivals fell by double digits and garment exports, a mainstay of the economy, shrank by 15 per cent.

Student at Long Beach's Wilson High fatally shot after homecoming game

2009-11-01T03:38:00.000-08:00

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times / October 31, 2009
Melody Ross, a pole vaulter, was well-liked and had a positive attitude, friends say.

Friends and classmates gather at a makeshift memorial near the football stadium where Melody Ross was shot. Police say no arrests have been made. "I'm sick to my stomach when something like that happens," the football coach said. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times / October 31, 2009)

Honors student Melody Ross, 16, was killed and two others wounded in Friday's gunfire. Friends and family gather at a makeshift memorial near campus to remember her life.

By Ruben Vives and Ben Bolch
November 1, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Reporting from Long Beach Ben Bolch and Los Angeles -- The "Supergirl" Halloween costume that 16-year-old Melody Ross wore to the Wilson High School football game was befitting of her promising resume: honors student, pole vaulter and athlete, positive attitude, aspirations to attend UCLA.

Those were the attributes that Ross' friends and family recalled Saturday as they gathered near the stadium gates at the Long Beach campus. They placed flowers and votive candles at the spot where she was fatally shot Friday night as she and her friends were leaving the Wilson homecoming game against Polytechnic High School.

The daughter of Cambodian immigrants, Ross died at St. Mary's Hospital at 10:30 p.m., half an hour after she was shot, said her uncle, Sam Che.

Two men, ages 18 and 20, were wounded in the gunfire and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. They are not believed to be students at either school, and their identities were not released.

No arrests have been made, police said.

Classmates and school officials expressed disbelief over the death of a well-liked student.

"It's very disconcerting. I'm sick to my stomach when something like that happens and you have an innocent kid involved," said Wilson football coach Mario Morales. He said he heard five to seven shots as he was leaving the stadium after his team's 34-15 loss to Poly.

"She was an all-around good person," Demitrius Torres, a 16-year-old classmate, said of Ross, with whom he sat during the homecoming game. He had befriended her last year when the two had a history class together. "She was the only one who got my jokes."

Demitrius, who joined other students at a makeshift memorial along Ximeno Avenue across from the stadium, had said goodbye to Ross after the game and left to go home. Like other students, he didn't know how to express his feelings over the senseless death.

Tiffany Ford, a 17-year-old senior and Bruin cheerleader who had recently become friends with Ross, described her as a "nice, bubbly and giggling person."

After learning of Ross' death from a mutual friend's text message Saturday morning, Tiffany said she was "just broken up. I was crying."

"You are talking about a girl who had a positive attitude," said Patrick Merola, 17, a close friend of Ross' sister, Emily, a senior at Wilson. "She was a very good person. I loved her."

Students on Saturday hugged each other and some sat with their heads down, pondering the loss of a friend. A passerby in a green Toyota truck yelled out: "Police need to do their job!"

"The Long Beach Unified School District extends its deepest sympathies to Ross' family, friends and teachers," said district spokesman Chris Eftychiou.

Extra security will be deployed on campus Monday, and grief counselors will be available "for any student who needs to talk about the incident," Eftychiou said.

A homecoming dance attended by about 200 students was underway on campus when the shots were fired about 10 p.m., Eftychiou said. The sparsely attended dance for a school of 4,500 students was put under lockdown while police searched for suspects, he said. Security had been beefed up for the sold-out game, which Eftychiou described as a "healthy rivalry" between the two Long Beach schools.

Authorities have not determined whether the shooting was gang-related, said Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Dina Zapalski.

Che, Ross' uncle, said their family immigrated to Southern California in the mid-1980s from Cambodia. "We escaped the killing fields," said Che, 36, hinting at the irony of his niece's death outside of a suburban high school with no history of violence. At least one bullet struck her in the side, Che said.

Trying to get Cambodia Town off the ground

2009-11-01T03:36:00.001-08:00

Shops cater to the estimated 50,000 Cambodian Americans in Long Beach. Activists want businesses, through an improvement district, to pay for signs, increased security, street cleaning and landscaping in a bid to attract tourists. (Christina House / For The Times / October 24, 2009)

Long Beach provided the designation but left financial support up to businesses in the area. Many have been reluctant to sign on, but backers of the district are working hard to persuade them.

By My-Thuan Tran

November 1, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Sithea San rejoiced when Long Beach officials designated a strip of Anaheim Street the nation's first Cambodia Town in 2007. The name would celebrate the largest Cambodian population center in the country and help revitalize the gritty neighborhood, she believed.

San envisioned one day looking down Anaheim Street and seeing facades resembling ornate Cambodian temples; a large-scale shopping center where tourists could sample Cambodian cuisine and buy handcrafts; and even a museum outlining the history of Cambodian Americans in Long Beach.

But years after the official designation, the fate of Cambodia Town remains in limbo. Long Beach officials did not commit city funds to improve the area.

Backers have been struggling to persuade businesses on the 1.2-mile strip to shell out money to support a business improvement district, which is mandated by the city to pay for additional services, such as special signs, increased security, street cleaning and landscaping.

These are features that would lure investors and tourists to the area, said San, chairwoman of Cambodia Town Inc. But for businesses, many of them mom-and-pop shops hurt by the economic downturn, the extra services would mean paying $50 to $200 in extra fees per year.

"You can't blame the small businesses because they count every penny, and they don't necessarily feel the need" for the district, San said. "They are asking us, 'I already pay high taxes; why should I have to pay extra?' "

For San, a refugee who fled the killing fields in Cambodia with her family as a teenager, the answer is simple. "We should be proud to have Cambodia Town," she said. "In the U.S., we are the only place that has one."

On a recent Saturday afternoon, San and a dozen other Cambodian Americans walked down Anaheim Street to promote the district, which would run from Atlantic Avenue to Junipero Avenue.

San, who wore a navy blue Cambodia Town Inc. hat, carried a black binder containing glossy photos of ethnic districts in the area that she hoped Cambodia Town would resemble one day: Little Saigon in Westminster and Chinatown in Los Angeles.

The corridor is lined with Cambodian-owned restaurants, bakeries, markets and auto repair shops. It is also home to a hodgepodge of Latino-owned stores and Chinese and Vietnamese businesses.

The group needed about 185 businesses of the 370 along the corridor to support the district. At first, proponents reached out to owners they knew personally, and petitions were streaming in. Then they turned to businesses owned by those outside of their community. After several years of pounding the pavement, the group had 105 businesses on board.

"We're going to be more aggressive now," San said as she marched west on Anaheim Street in the beating sun, past vacant lots and drab strip malls with signs in the Khmer language. "It doesn't matter how long it takes."

Long Beach is known as the Cambodian capital of the United States. The port city is believed to have the largest concentration of Cambodians outside the home country, with an estimated 50,000, though 2000 census figures put the number at 20,000. Most were refugees who escaped the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s that claimed the lives of nearly 2 million Cambodians. Many settled around Anaheim Street, lured by its cheap housing and growing Cambodian American community.

"In the past, no one wanted to walk down Anaheim Street because it was considered a red-light district," San said. "It's a lot safer now, but we can do more. We want it to look clean and very nice to attract more people to shop."

A few steps behind San, Paul Chorn, 25, recalled that when he was younger, he hardly ventured onto Anaheim Street because of crime. But now he is proud that many Cambodian businesses have transformed the corridor into a safer, thriving area.

Chorn said the district would mean something more for his people. "With this designation, we can show that we are not people stuck in the era of genocide," he said. "We progressed for the better."

Chorn, San and several others walked into a strip mall at Anaheim and Orange Avenue. It was the third time the group had tried to get business owners in the plaza to sign the petition. Owners of a Cambodian supermarket, two restaurants, a design store and a video store have already signed up, but the group still needed the support of an Eastern herbal store, a dentist, a sandwich shop, a jewelry store and a pharmacy.

Chorn and several others walked into a pharmacy.

Michael Saing, 25, explained to Ben Mai, whose wife is a pharmacist there, why the group wanted a business improvement district.

Mai, who is Vietnamese, said he understood. "I come from Orange County, and when I drive down Bolsa [Avenue] in Little Saigon, you can see there's a lot there," he said. "For you Cambodians, you have a big community, but you don't have something to represent you."

Saing said it took 15 years to get Little Saigon started. "You have to start somewhere," he said.

But Mai said the pharmaceutical industry is struggling. "I don't know if I can make this decision right now," he said. "I'm for improvement, but it is kind of expensive."

The group left the store and continued down the street. They popped into Lily Bakery, a French patisserie that also sells Cambodian sweets. The flowery fragrance of sesame balls and breaded banana wafted through the store.

Saing greeted three women standing behind the counter in Khmer. He showed them the petition, laying his binder over the counter where packaged spring rolls lay. The women asked several questions and said they would talk to the owner.

The group continued westward, turning into a Church's Chicken and two auto repair stores. No one signed.

Next, the group walked into a Cambodian broadcasting studio, the Khmer Media Network. They were greeted by Alexander Thong, president of the studio, who invited San to sit on a black leather couch as she explained the need for the improvement district.

Thong decided to sign. "We moved to Anaheim Street to be closer to the Cambodian center," he said. "Cambodia Town is my second home from my homeland."

The group's last stop was Edith's Beauty and Barber Shop, owned by Blanca Edith Rivas, who said she doesn't have many Cambodian costumers. Many decide to go elsewhere when they learn that the shop is not Cambodian-owned, she said.

But Rivas decided to sign the petition. "I know that what Cambodians say they are going to do, they do it," she said.

The group gathered outside in the shade of Rivas' building. They were joined by Long Beach Councilman Dee Andrews, whose district includes parts of Cambodia Town. He told them to keep up the effort. The group snapped a photo.

It had been two hours, and the group got five businesses on board, including a Vietnamese pho noodle restaurant, a pizza joint and a coin-operated laundry.

"You see, it's not easy," said Richer San, Sithea's husband. But he said they weren't discouraged. The group would try again soon, he said.

He looked down the street and said he could one day see tourists streaming in from downtown Long Beach.

Miss International Queen 2009 in the Thai resort city of Pattaya

2009-11-01T01:42:00.004-07:00

Ai Haruna, 37, from Japan, holds her trophy after winning the Miss International Queen 2009 in the Thai resort city of Pattaya, about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (CAAI News Media)

Japan's Ai Haruna (L), 37, receives the Miss International Queen 2009 transsexual beauty pageant crown from 2007 winner Tanyarat Jirapatpakon of Thailand in the Thai resort city of Pattaya, about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (CAAI News Media)

Ai Haruna 37, from Japan, drinks coca cola in the dressing room before competing in the Miss International Queen 2009 in the Thai resort city of Pattaya, about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Bangkok October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (CAAI News Media)

Participants in traditional dragon boats practice for the annual Water Festival boat race on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh

2009-11-01T01:42:00.002-07:00

Participants in traditional dragon boats practice for the annual Water Festival boat race on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh October 31, 2009. The three-day race will be held from November 1-3. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAAI News Media)

Long journey to a new life

2009-11-01T01:42:00.000-07:00

31/10/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

WARWICK SMITH/The Manawatu Standard

HAPPY: Cambodian refugee Sam Put with his partner Nicky and daughter Madison

War, extreme poverty and starvation are not issues Manawatu residents face every day, but for migrants and refugees, these problems have often been part of life. Adjusting to a new homeland may not be easy, but when JONATHON HOWE spoke to 29-year-old Cambodian refugee Sam Put, he discovered that success in the face of adversity was possible.

Sam Put was just one week old when his mother carried him, his brother and a bag of rice across Cambodia's killing fields and into Thailand.

His parents were fleeing from Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime, which killed more than one million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979. "My parents had to flee," Sam says. "If they'd stayed, they would have been shot or abducted to work in rice fields.

"Pol Pot's regime, they don't want anyone that could think, because they don't want leaders, they want followers."

The 14-day trek to the Thai border was a dangerous journey over mountains and across rivers. Sam's parents endured many horrors on that journey. They lost a daughter to starvation, they saw the dead and disfigured bodies of men, women and children on the side of the road, they saw babies abandoned because their cries would alert soldiers. Sam's cries led to his family being ostracised by a larger group, but his mother would not abandon him.

"She got pushed aside from the group that was leading the way," he says. "At that time, if a soldier hear you, they will pretty much kill you, and you can't tell a baby to sshh."

Sam's family was placed in the Khao-I-Dang refugee camp with tens of thousands of asylum seekers. He spent his first nine years in Khao-I-Dang, a nightmare place filled with death, violence and sexual abuse.

"For me, seeing people die of starvation felt like it was natural because I grew up with it."

He remembers soldiers raiding the camp looking for women and children to rape. "It would happen about once a week. About 10 or 20 soldiers would come in. We always kept everything packed in case we had to run.

"Looking back now, I don't know how so many people survived in that camp for such a long time."

But Sam learnt to adapt, spending most of his time looking for food and attending lessons given by elders.

Sometimes he would escape from the camp and go fishing at a nearby river, a perilous task because Khmer Rouge boats patrolled the waters.

"One night when we went we saw one guy who was caught and got decapitated.

"Although his death distressed me, we continued to fish there. It was that or my family would have starved."

Every year his family prayed they would be chosen for resettlement. Sam compares the selection process to a lottery that his family lost for eight years.

"It's just a list and if your name comes up, you get to go. If it doesn't, then you just stay there," he says. "We were there for nine years, so you can just think the amount of time we'd just wait around to go every year, hoping, hoping, hoping to go."

People were reluctant to take in big families, so Sam's parents put him and his brother forward as a separate family.

In 1989, Sam and his brother hit the jackpot and were headed for New Zealand.

Today, Sam is a polite, cheerful and confident 29-year-old family man. He works in business banking at the Bank of New Zealand and is a semester away from finishing a Bachelor of Education degree, majoring in secondary school physical education, at Massey University.

He also coaches the Takaro International soccer team, attends St Matthew's Church and plays a leading role in the Manawatu Cambodian Association. He recently celebrated the arrival of his first child, Madison Grace Put, with his Kiwi fiancee, Nicola.

His achievements have even caught the attention of staff at Wellington's Te Papa museum. Sam will feature in an exhibition called The Mixing Room: Stories from Young Refugees in New Zealand, opening in April next year, which will tell the settlement stories of refugees aged between 12 and 29 who act as leaders and mentors in their communities.

But Sam wasn't always happy. On arrival in Palmerston North, he felt trapped by his poor English, his loneliness and his lack of independence.

Sam and his brother were placed with a Cambodian family who, although kind, were no substitute for parents.

"A month felt like a decade without a family," he says.

"When I left the camp, I didn't realise that I was going so far away. I thought I could see my mum and dad whenever I wanted."

Sam's lack of English meant he needed help with basic tasks like buying books or ordering food.

"I just felt I was dumb and isolated and a burden on people.

"I felt it was harder to cope than when I was in the refugee camp, because I didn't know how to relate to this place."

Sam was most afraid of school, where he could not hide his lack of English. Some children ridiculed him for being different, and he was subjected to racism.

"I was being laughed at because I didn't really know what I was doing there," he says.

"There were names like black spot because I was real black, dumb a.... One kid called me alien, because the things I was doing were quite strange.

"In the camp, we would hunt sparrow. I did that at school and I got told off because it wasn't the norm, but for me I thought it was normal, because in the refugee camp we hunt sparrow all the time."

He also felt awed by the abundance of food and comfortable lifestyle in Palmerston North.

"I'd never seen a telly, so when I first saw a telly, I cried because I thought, `Why are these little people stuck in this TV'?"

It was a huge moment when Sam's parents came to Palmerston North about a year after he arrived.

"I can never repay what my parents done for me and that's why, in a way, I wanted to help bring them to New Zealand, because without them I wouldn't be here today."

But the problems did not stop. The feelings of isolation remained and at his lowest point he contemplated suicide.

"You've just got to be strong.

"Because of my language barrier, it was hard for me to speak it out. It's hard to tell people what was wrong if you find it hard to communicate."

Sam worked hard at his English, and when he left high school, things began to improve. He credits the turnaround to three things: tertiary study, sport and church.

He completed a sports science and coaching diploma at Universal College of Learning and started to coach the multicultural Massey International soccer side, which later became Takaro International.

"I just slowly started to become confident in who I am, to grow up and be a man and take responsibility."

Making Kiwi friends was vital for integrating into New Zealand society, he says.

"Rather than just hanging with my own people, I learnt to branch out. To me, it was getting both cultures and bringing them together to adapt."

Sam now helps other Palmerston North refugees in his roles on the Manawatu Cambodian Association and Ethnic Forum. His most recent project was organising last weekend's Cambodian Soccer tournament in Palmerston North.

"There is hope for migrants or refugees if they learn to adapt and, as a community. We try to provide them with the correct network and just promote the awareness of different people.

"They will be able to achieve what I have achieved. It's going to be hard at first, but there is light at the end of the tunnel."

2009-11-01T01:38:00.000-07:00

"Plov Daek Thmei" (New Rail Road) a Poem in Khmer by Sam Vichea

2009-11-01T01:33:00.000-07:00

[Caambodian-American] Wilson High School track athlete killed after football game in Long Beach

2009-11-01T01:31:00.001-07:00

Photo: Friends and classmates mourn the death of 16-year-old track athlete Melody Ross. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

October 31, 2009
Los Angeles Times

Friends and family gathered today at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach to mourn the death of a 16-year-old honors student and track athlete who was gunned down as she and her friends were leaving a football game the night before.

Melody Ross, a junior in advanced-placement honors and a pole vaulter on the track team, was randomly hit by gunfire that also injured two young men, police said. It is not known if the shooting was gang-related. No arrests have been made.

Ross was identified by her uncle, Sam Che, who said their family emigrated to Southern California in the mid-1980s from Cambodia. “We escaped the killing fields,” said Che, 36.

Ross was dressed as Supergirl for the homecoming game against Polytechnic High School that was attended by many other students in costume on the day before Halloween. Ross was “an innocent kid” said Mario Morales, the Wilson High football coach.

“It’s very disconcerting. I’m sick to my stomach when something like that happens and you have an innocent kid involved,” Morales said. He said he heard five to seven shots as he was leaving the stadium after his team’s loss to Poly.

[Updated at 1:30 p.m.: A homecoming dance attended by about 200 students was underway on campus when the shots were fired, said Long Beach Unified School District spokesman Chris Eftychiou. The sparsely attended event for the school with 4,500 students was locked down while police and school district security combed the campus for the perpetrators, he said.

Extra security had been brought in for the sold-out game pitting longtime rivals Wilson and Poly, said Eftychiou, adding that police told school officials they had no indications the shootings stemmed from the schools' "healthy rivalry." Poly beat Wilson in the Friday night matchup, 34-15.

Counselors will be at school Monday to talk with Ross' classmates and any other students who feel the need to talk about the incident, said Eftychiou, describing the violence as a rare occurrence even in vicinity of the suburban school.]

Ross' classmates gathered at a pedestrian crossing along Ximeno Avenue near the football stadium exit to leave flowers and light candles by the curb where she was shot. They hugged each other, and some sat against the school fence or on the grass with their heads down, pondering the loss of a friend they described as polite and well-liked. A passerby in a green Toyota truck yelled out: "Police need to do their job!"

Ross, who attended the game with her 17-year-old sister, Emily, a senior at Wilson, died at St. Mary Medical Center about half an hour after the 10 p.m. shooting. At least one bullet struck her in the side, Che said.

The young men, 18 and 20, who were struck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, said Long Beach Police spokeswoman Sgt. Dina Zapalski. Their identities were not released.

[Cambodian-American] Girl killed after Poly-Wilson game called 'innocent bystander'

2009-11-01T01:30:00.001-07:00

Melody Ross, 16, seen on the LCD monitor of a friend's camera.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Friends and classmates of Wilson High School junior, Melody Ross, 16, gather on Ximeno Ave. between 7th and 10th streets adjacent to Wilson on Saturday, October 31, 2009 to mourn Ross s death in a Friday night shooting. Ross and friends were leaving the school s football game against crosstown rival Poly when Ross was struck by a stray bullet. Two other males were wounded. (Diandra Jay/Press-Telegram)

Man wounded in second incident Friday night

10/30/2009
By John Canalis and Greg Mellen, Staff Writers
Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH -- The 16-year-old girl shot and killed after the football game between Poly and Wilson high schools was believed to have been "an innocent bystander who was not involved" in the altercation, City Councilman Gary DeLong said Saturday morning.

The girl went to Wilson High School, the 3rd District councilman said. Her identity was not released by officials but she was identified Saturday morning as Melody Ross by a cousin, Han Yin, who was among mourners gathering at the scene near the high school.

The girl, a junior and one of three victims in the 10 p.m. Friday attack near 10th Street and Ximeno Avenue, died in an area hospital, the Long Beach Police Department reported.

Two men, ages 18 and 20, were also injured in the shooting. They were hospitalized with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

The other two victims are not believed to be students at either Wilson or Poly, DeLong said, citing preliminary police information.

The shooting occurred sometime after 10 p.m., shortly after Wilson had lost to arch-rival Poly High School 34-15.

Friends said that the dead teen's parents had come to the United States fleeing the "Killing Fields" of Cambodia, and had recently moved to a new home that they considered a safer place to live.

DeLong, whose district includes Wilson High, said he was told police have strong leads in the case but was not yet aware of any arrests.

"It's a horrific event," DeLong said, "and my heart goes out to the families."

DeLong said police have not yet been able to determine what led to the altercation.

LBPD is the finest law enforcement agency in California and I have no doubt they will find and arrest the criminals who committed this horrific act.

I've been in constant contact beginning last evening with Deputy Chief Luna, City Manager Pat West, both Wilson Co-Principals and concerned parents. All City resources will be available for Wilson High School to access both over the weekend, and continuing as necessary.

"Having a daughter who recently graduated from Wilson High, I feel a personal connection to the family who lost a daughter as a result of this atrocity," DeLong said.

By mid-Saturday morning, friends and classmates had gathered at the scene and a temporary memorial of flowers, signs and balloons had begun to grow. On the nearby football field, young players were tossing around balls.

Anyone with information, video or photos involving the shooting is asked to call Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch and Malcolm Evans at (562) 570-7244.

In a second incident, police were flagged down in the area of Atlantic Avenue and 4th Street at about 9:30 p.m. Friday by a person who had just been carjacked. He pointed out his vehicle, which was leaving the scene.

Officers stopped the vehicle in the area of 4th Street and Cerritos Avenue where an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect refused to exit the vehicle after numerous attempts were made to get him out. SWAT came to the scene and the suspect was taken into custody. He was transported to a hospital, where is being treated for his life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured.

In addition to the Long Beach Police Department's ongoing investigation, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is also conducting an independent investigation, which is routine for all "hit" officer involved shootings that occur in Los Angeles County.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Bryan McMahon and Teri Hubert at (562) 570-7244.

Trying to get Cambodia Town off the ground

2009-11-01T01:28:00.001-07:00

Street banner in Cambodia Town (Photo: Stéphane Janin, http://khmerabroad.blogspot.com)

Long Beach provided the designation but left financial support up to businesses in the area. Many have been reluctant to sign on, but backers of the district are working hard to persuade them.

November 1, 2009
By My-Thuan Tran
Los Angeles Times (California, USA)

Sithea San rejoiced when Long Beach officials designated a strip of Anaheim Street the nation's first Cambodia Town in 2007. The name would celebrate the largest Cambodian population center in the country and help revitalize the gritty neighborhood, she believed.

San envisioned one day looking down Anaheim Street and seeing facades resembling ornate Cambodian temples; a large-scale shopping center where tourists could sample Cambodian cuisine and buy handcrafts; and even a museum outlining the history of Cambodian Americans in Long Beach.

But years after the official designation, the fate of Cambodia Town remains in limbo. Long Beach officials did not commit city funds to improve the area. Backers have been struggling to persuade businesses on the 1.2-mile strip to shell out money to support a business improvement district, which is mandated by the city to pay for additional services, such as special signs, increased security, street cleaning and landscaping.

These are features that would lure investors and tourists to the area, said San, chairwoman of Cambodia Town Inc. But for businesses, many of them mom-and-pop shops hurt by the economic downturn, the extra services would mean paying $50 to $200 in extra fees per year.

"You can't blame the small businesses because they count every penny, and they don't necessarily feel the need" for the district, San said. "They are asking us, 'I already pay high taxes; why should I have to pay extra?' "

For San, a refugee who fled the killing fields in Cambodia with her family as a teenager, the answer is simple. "We should be proud to have Cambodia Town," she said. "In the U.S., we are the only place that has one."

On a recent Saturday afternoon, San and a dozen other Cambodian Americans walked down Anaheim Street to promote the district, which would run from Atlantic Avenue to Junipero Avenue.

San, who wore a navy blue Cambodia Town Inc. hat, carried a black binder containing glossy photos of ethnic districts in the area that she hoped Cambodia Town would resemble one day: Little Saigon in Westminster and Chinatown in Los Angeles.

The corridor is lined with Cambodian-owned restaurants, bakeries, markets and auto repair shops. It is also home to a hodgepodge of Latino-owned stores and Chinese and Vietnamese businesses.

The group needed about 185 businesses of the 370 along the corridor to support the district. At first, proponents reached out to owners they knew personally, and petitions were streaming in. Then they turned to businesses owned by those outside of their community. After several years of pounding the pavement, the group had 105 businesses on board.

"We're going to be more aggressive now," San said as she marched west on Anaheim Street in the beating sun, past vacant lots and drab strip malls with signs in the Khmer language. "It doesn't matter how long it takes."

Long Beach is known as the Cambodian capital of the United States. The port city is believed to have the largest concentration of Cambodians outside the home country, with an estimated 50,000, though 2000 census figures put the number at 20,000. Most were refugees who escaped the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s that claimed the lives of nearly 2 million Cambodians. Many settled around Anaheim Street, lured by its cheap housing and growing Cambodian American community.

"In the past, no one wanted to walk down Anaheim Street because it was considered a red-light district," San said. "It's a lot safer now, but we can do more. We want it to look clean and very nice to attract more people to shop."

A few steps behind San, Paul Chorn, 25, recalled that when he was younger, he hardly ventured onto Anaheim Street because of crime. But now he is proud that many Cambodian businesses have transformed the corridor into a safer, thriving area.

Chorn said the district would mean something more for his people. "With this designation, we can show that we are not people stuck in the era of genocide," he said. "We progressed for the better."

Chorn, San and several others walked into a strip mall at Anaheim and Orange Avenue. It was the third time the group had tried to get business owners in the plaza to sign the petition. Owners of a Cambodian supermarket, two restaurants, a design store and a video store have already signed up, but the group still needed the support of an Eastern herbal store, a dentist, a sandwich shop, a jewelry store and a pharmacy.

Chorn and several others walked into a pharmacy.

Michael Saing, 25, explained to Ben Mai, whose wife is a pharmacist there, why the group wanted a business improvement district.

Mai, who is Vietnamese, said he understood. "I come from Orange County, and when I drive down Bolsa [Avenue] in Little Saigon, you can see there's a lot there," he said. "For you Cambodians, you have a big community, but you don't have something to represent you."

Saing said it took 15 years to get Little Saigon started. "You have to start somewhere," he said.

But Mai said the pharmaceutical industry is struggling. "I don't know if I can make this decision right now," he said. "I'm for improvement, but it is kind of expensive."

The group left the store and continued down the street. They popped into Lily Bakery, a French patisserie that also sells Cambodian sweets. The flowery fragrance of sesame balls and breaded banana wafted through the store.

Saing greeted three women standing behind the counter in Khmer. He showed them the petition, laying his binder over the counter where packaged spring rolls lay. The women asked several questions and said they would talk to the owner.

The group continued westward, turning into a Church's Chicken and two auto repair stores. No one signed.

Next, the group walked into a Cambodian broadcasting studio, the Khmer Media Network. They were greeted by Alexander Thong, president of the studio, who invited San to sit on a black leather couch as she explained the need for the improvement district.

Thong decided to sign. "We moved to Anaheim Street to be closer to the Cambodian center," he said. "Cambodia Town is my second home from my homeland."

The group's last stop was Edith's Beauty and Barber Shop, owned by Blanca Edith Rivas, who said she doesn't have many Cambodian costumers. Many decide to go elsewhere when they learn that the shop is not Cambodian-owned, she said.

But Rivas decided to sign the petition. "I know that what Cambodians say they are going to do, they do it," she said.

The group gathered outside in the shade of Rivas' building. They were joined by Long Beach Councilman Dee Andrews, whose district includes parts of Cambodia Town. He told them to keep up the effort. The group snapped a photo.

It had been two hours, and the group got five businesses on board, including a Vietnamese pho noodle restaurant, a pizza joint and a coin-operated laundry.

"You see, it's not easy," said Richer San, Sithea's husband. But he said they weren't discouraged. The group would try again soon, he said. He looked down the street and said he could one day see tourists streaming in from downtown Long Beach.

Cambodia can deny Thaksin extradition bid by Thailand: Attorney-General

2009-10-30T18:17:00.001-07:00

BANGKOK, Oct 30 (TNA) - Cambodia reserves the right to deny a request by Thailand to extradite ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he stays in the neighbouring country, but substantial grounds must be provided for the denial, according to the Attorney-General Julasingh Wasantsingh.

Mr Julasingh said he did not focus on anybody in particular, but would touch only on the principle that even though Thailand and Cambodia had signed an extradition treaty, in practice the country which was asked for the extradition has the full right to deny the request.

However, that country must justify its denial in line with international practice.

As for Mr Thaksin’s case, the Office of the Attorney-General has not been informed about his whereabouts so the office could not make the request.

If the police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm that Mr Thaksin is in Cambodia, Thai officials would seek extradition, but it depends on Phnom Penh's decision.

He added that Thailand had formerly denied such requests from some countries, but the kingdom was able to provide strong grounds to clarify its decisions in the past.

Mr Hun Sen told reporters during attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Thailand that Mr Thaksin could remain in Cambodia as his guest and could be his economic advisor, saying he was not interfering in Thailand's internal affairs, but that Cambodia has the right to exercise its sovereignty and make such a decision.

Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, convicted and sentenced to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok Ratchadapisek land purchase, Mr Thaksin now living in self-exile abroad and is reportedly a close friend of Mr Hun Sen.

Filmmaker Hopes to Bring Justice in Acid Attack

2009-10-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

Tat Marina

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
30 October 2009

Skye Fitzgerald, whose recent documentary, “Finding Face,” chronicles the life of acid attack victim Tat Marina, hopes support built from the film will go toward punishing the perpetrators and finding justice for his subject.

“One of our strategies with releasing the film here in the United States is to garner more support,” Fitzgerald told VOA Khmer in Washington, where he is on a tour to promote the film.

He had come to the capital, he said, “to make sure that legislators, politicians, and folks from the human rights community have a chance to access the film, learn about Tat Marina’s story, and hopefully get more fully engaged with the issues the film raises.”

Tat Marina, a young karaoke singer who was severely disfigured and nearly killed when she was doused with acid at a market in Phnom Penh in 1999, is expected to speak at the film’s launch in Washington, as she did when it showed in Portland, Ore.

Fitzgerald has also begun sending DVDs by request to Cambodia and has encouraged the distribution of copies.

“It’s not been a project that we engaged with for financial gains necessarily,” he said, “but it is a project that we couldn’t say no to.

“It was one that we felt very powerfully about, because of the nature of the story, because we knew that Marina hadn’t had a chance before to seek out any justice for herself or the family,” he said. “And so we felt very dedicated to making sure we took our resources and used them to help her and the family to tell the story.”

The film has invoked anger and sympathy in its viewers so far, from Americans and Cambodians alike. (The wife of a senior official is suspected in the attack, but no arrests have ever been made.)

“Through what I’ve heard it is injustice for her, and I want to personally see her pictures, and want to know how good the story is,” Keo Ang, a market vendor in Svay Rieng province, told VOA Khmer by phone. “Therefore I want a DVD, to show it to my family and some people so that they are able to understand more about her lif

Cambodian's Khmer Rouge trials hits another hurdle

2009-10-30T18:15:00.001-07:00

The Extraordinary Chamber of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) during a hearing on June 30, 2009. Two judges on the tribunal have been accused of taking instruction from their respective governments. [AFP]

Fri, 30 Oct 2009
David Boyle
ABC Radio Australia

The beleaguered Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia have hit another obstacle.

Two pre-trial judges, including Australian Rowan Downing QC, have been accused of taking instruction from their respective governments in a motion filed last week.

The Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia were created to try the leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime, which is accused of killing more than two million people in the 1970s.

The Khmer Rouge tribunal has endured considerable controversy in its four years of existence and now many people believe its become entrenched in its own politics.

The lawyers of accused war criminal, Ieng Sari, have filed a motion requesting that two pre trial judges, including Mr Downing, be removed from the court due to a public perception of bias.

Radio Australia has obtained a copy of the motion that seizes on comments recently made by the Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen.

Mr Sen alleged the two judges have been acting on the orders of their respective foreign governments.

'Fair trial'

Michael Karnavas is one of the co-defence lawyers who filed the motion.

"What we're saying is we're caught in the middle of all of this, we're entitled to a fair trial," he said.

"The average person in Cambodia believes their Prime Minister, the United Nations hasn't stepped up to the plate, to either defend these judges or to show that they've taken any action to look into these allegations."

"The judges haven't spoken up, I suspect because of their position, but we want this matter cleared."

The two pre-trial judges, Mr Downing and Dutch national Katinka Lahuis are unable to comment on either Hun Sen's comments or the motion being filed against them.

Appropriate behaviour

But a spokeswoman for the court, Yuko Maeda, says the court believes all their court officials are behaving appropriately.

"We believe all the judicial officials who work at the ECCC are performing accordingly, independently from any of the executive bodies."

"This is the international standard, ECCC is following the international standard. We believe that none of the judicial officials who are working at the ECCC are influenced by any executive body."

Heather Ryan, a court monitor with the Open Society Justice Initiative, says she's seen no evidence to confirm the allegations, but says they should be publicly addressed to protect the credibility of the court.

"Many of the international players and the judges are in my view, unfortunately reluctant to speak publicly when statements like this that impact the credibility of the court are made," she said.

"I think it's part of that sort of general reluctance of commentators and officials of the courts to speak about what's going on in the court publicly. There's kind of a conspiracy of silence."

Bribery claims

An early report into the court's activities prepared for the US Agency for International Development concluded corruption was "pandemic" within the administration of local officials with bribery a widely accepted practice.

A subsequent report produced by the court, which was initially suppressed, revealed similar findings.

But there is no suggestion that these allegations relate to the judges of the court.

Lawyer Michael Karnavas dismisses any suggestion that his motion is designed further erode the tribunal's reputation, arguing it upholds expectations of transparency and due diligence.

"I haven't made these allegations, somebody else has. I'm not the one getting kick backs from the national staff. I'm not the one who is hiding the UN report, others are doing that," he said.

"So you can't blame the defence for trying to shed light and trying to make this process as transparent as possible."

Mounting scepticism

Ms Ryan, of the Open Society Justice Initiatives, says the court should be concerned about mounting public scepticism over its transparency and capacity to deliver swift and effective justice.

"The court has an obligation now, if it's to preserve its obligation to the people of Cambodia to go out of its way and take additional steps to be transparent, to scrupulously deal with any allegations of misconduct or wrong doing and to ensure that people can see that they actually are serving the interests of justice."

"Right now when everything is done behind closed doors people don't see that and so when statements like the one that is alleged by Ieng Sari's lawyers are made, it feeds on a kind of inherent suspicion."

Areas Near Lake Development Now Flooded

2009-10-30T18:14:00.001-07:00

Flooding in Russey Keo in 2008 (Photo: Heng Chivoan, The Phnom Penh Post)

By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
30 October 2009

Sitting on a wooden bed above knee-high water, Bo Socheata gazed at the stagnant floodwater invading her home.

“Since before Pchum Ben, the water has made it difficult for my children to go to school,” said the 30-year-old housewife and mother of three, who lives in the capital’s Tuol Sangke commune, Russey Keo district. “And the smell from the flood is terrible.”

Eight communes in two districts north of Phnom Penh have been inundated with floodwater for the past month, with some residents forced to abandon the ground floors of their homes and schools temporarily closed.

Many resident blame the flooding on a contested development plan that filled nearby Boeung Kak lake, claiming it had acted as drainage for rain water. Authorities said the flooding was the result of heavy rains, not the multi-million dollar project.

The lingering floodwater has damaged roads, floors and entire houses.

Pat Pao, 40, spent a recent day adding small, cement levies to his floors in an effort to prevent his house being flooded. Any tasks he had to do, he moved onto his bed, “and sleep with them,” he said with a sigh.

The flooding has affected 5,000 homes across multiple communes: in Russey Keo’s Tuol Sangke, Russey Keo, Kilometer 6, Chrang Chamres I and II, and Svay Pak; and in Sen Sok district’s Phnom Penh Thmei and Toek Tla.

Residents blamed the filling of Boeung Kak lake, its 133 hectares under a 99-year lease for commercial and residential development by Shukaku, Inc. (At least one report in 2008 warned that filling the lake would lead to flooding.)

However, Lao Meng Khin, president of Shukaku, denied the flooding was caused by the filling.

“You look whether all the streets are flooded,” he said. “Not just Cambodia but any country in the world will flood.”

Municipal officials could not be reached for comment. But Kau Sles, a deputy governor of Russey Keo district, said rains caused the flooding, not the Boeung Kak project.

“The pumping from Boeung Kak I and II is just a small contributor,” he said. “The main reason is the rain flowing from Kampong Speu and Kandal” provinces.

Local authorities have been pumping the floodwater from the area, he said.

However, residents say the pumping only just started, despite the weeks of inundation, and they warn that without proper drainage systems, the problem is not likely to end.

Olympic Newsesk --USOC Names CEO Search Firm

2009-10-30T18:12:00.001-07:00

USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs. (ATR)

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

USOC Names CEO Search Firm, Committee

The USOC selects the firm of Spencer Stuart to find a new CEO. Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter says she will not apply for the post, which is supposed to be filled by the end of 2009.

Along with today’s announcement of the search firm, the USOC also announced the nine members of the Chief Executive Officer Search and Screening Committee. Previously named as chair is USOC Board member Bob Bowlsby. He will be joined by USOC chair Larry and USOC board member Mike Plant. Other members come from the U.S. Olympians Association and the National Governing Bodies Council.

Founded in 1956, Spencer Stuart has 51 offices in 27 countries. Last year, it conducted 4,500 executive assignments, according to the company's Web site.

Munich Gift for German Olympians

Germany’s winter Olympic athletes were presented with traditional Bavarian gingerbread hearts with a message from the Munich 2018 bid team on Thursday.

At their official apparel outfitting for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the athletes were given the “Lebkuchenherzl” containing the words “Munich 2018 in the heart”.

Bernhard Schwank, the bid’s joint managing director and Germany’s “Chef de Mission” for the Feb. 12-28 Games, said: “We are delighted to pass on best wishes to our Olympic athletes for Vancouver 2010.

“It is wonderful to have the German team here in Munich; it has already created a fantastic Olympic atmosphere in our city. So many of these athletes dream about performing at the Olympic Winter Games in their own country and we are determined to help them realize their dreams.”

Munich faces competition from the French Alpine town of Annecy and South Korean city PyeongChang in the 2018 bid race. It is trying to become the first city to host the Summer and Winter Games, after staging the 1972 Olympics.

US Speedskating looks to USOC for help

US Speedskating is in conversations with USOC about ways to overcome a shortfall.

Last week, US Speedskating announced that the bankruptcy of Dutch NSB Bank hurt the finances of the organization.

US Speedskating is facing a $300,000 shortfall for the rest of the year with less than four months until the Vancouver Olympics.

US Speedskating CEO Bob Crowley met with USOC Team Leader for the Winter Olympic Sports Alan Ashley this past weekend to discuss ways to overcome the shortfall.

USA Speedskating met with the USOC to discuss ways to overcome a $300,000 budget shortfall. (Getty Images)

"They discussed with Bob Crowley some ideas to bring in some more revenue for the rest of the season," Peri Kinder, spokeswoman for US Speedskating told Around the Rings . "We have also been in contact with a couple of people that would like to help out and we are working through that right now. Hopefully, we can create a partnership with some of these people.

"Nothing definitive has been reached and the USOC hopes help to alleviate some of our financial stress right now but again that has not been agreed to at all. We are definitely working on it but nothing has been resolved as of today."

US Speedskating has an annual budget of $3.8 million. The Deseret News reports that US Speedskating received $2 million from the USOC in 2008.

Queen Elizabeth gives the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton to Indian President Pratibha Patil at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. (Getty Images)

Queen's Baton Relay Begins

Queen Elizabeth II and India's President Pratibha Patil launched the baton relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The ceremony at Buckingham Palace showcased India's culture before the Queen handed the baton to Patil, the first head of state to attend the ceremony.

The Queen's Baton contains a message from the Queen to the athletes. It will travel to 71 countries in 340 days. The message will be read out loud at the opening ceremony on Oct. 3.

2010 Asian Games going Smokeless

The Organizers of the 2010 Asian Games in Ghuangzhou, China, are banning tobacco products and sponsorships.

The Guangzhou Games said it is adhering to IOC rules that prohibit tobacco products inside venues and from organizers from accepting from tobacco companies.

The 16th Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou from November 12 – 27.

Smoking will be prohibited in hospitals, hotels, sporting venues, restaurants and bars. In addition, the ban will extend to indoor areas of non-competition venues including media centers and transportation operated by Games’ organizers.

Briefs …

…. Olivier Niamkey of the IOC and Farman Haider of the Olympic Council of Asia arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday. They met with Thong Khon, president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia. Khon asked for support for Cambodian athletes, coaches and sports officials in the form of scholarships and training in and outside the country.

…The 2010 Beyond Sport Summit will take place Sept. 27-30 in Chicago. The mission of Beyond Sport is to celebrate and support the use of sport as a vehicle for positive social change

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Opposition Party Parliamentarians and Civil Society Officials Stated that the Government Does Not Implement the Constitution – Friday, 30.10.2009

2009-10-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

Posted on 31 October 2009

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 636

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

“On the occasion of the 5th Coronation Day of Preah Karuna Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, high ranking officials from the opposition parties, who are parliamentarians, and national and international observers, pointed to the Cambodian government’s obligation and need to implement the supreme law of the country by creating and reforming at least two institutions of Cambodia.

“A parliamentarian from the Sam Rainsy Party, Mr. Son Chhay, agrees with the idea of an international observer, Mr. Lao Mong Hay, and of a civil society official of Cambodia as well of a parliamentarian [from the Human Rights Party], Mr. Kem Sokha over the duty that the King at present fulfills, especially the idea that the government must create and progress two supreme institutions led by the King.

From the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Article 23:

The King is the Supreme Commander of the Royal Khmer Armed Forces. A Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Khmer Armed Forces shall be appointed to command the Armed Forces.

Article 24:

The King shall serve as Chairman of the Supreme Council of National Defense to be established by law.

“Mr. Son Chhay, a leader of the Sam Rainsy parliamentarians, said, ‘I hope that Cambodia will in the future create a Supreme Council of National Defense which, according to the Constitution, must be under the presidency of the King with the role as Chairman of that Supreme Council of National Defense.’

“Mr. Son Chhay agreed with a statement of a senior researcher of the Asian Human Rights Commission based in Hong Kong, Mr. Lao Mong Hay, in this point.

“Dr. Lao Mong Hay sees an obligation of the government, as stipulated in the Constitution of Cambodia, to create a Supreme Council of National Defense with the King as Chairman. So far, according to a statement of Mr. Lao Mong Hay, the government formed by the Cambodian People’s Party, with Mr. Hun Sen as the Prime Minister, has not discussed the creation of a Supreme Council of National Defense under the oversight by the King.

“Everything in the defense sector is seen being organized and decided directly by Prime Minister Hun Sen. This leads to criticism that the defense system of Cambodia is not conform with the Constitution of the country, which states the need to establish a Supreme Council of National Defense led by the King.

“The founder of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) – a large human rights organization in Cambodia, Ms. Pong Chhiv Kek [also known as Dr. Kek Galabru], said that in the five years since the coronation of Preah Karuna Preah Bath Norodom Sihamoni, it is seen by the public that in general, he cares for humanitarian affairs for his citizens. She expressed her concern related to a point of the Constitution which says that the King takes the thrown, but does not take the power.

From the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Article 7:

The King of Cambodia shall reign but shall not govern.

The King shall be the Head of State for life. The King shall be inviolable.

Article 8:

The King of Cambodia shall be a symbol of unity and eternity of the nation.

The King shall be guarantor of the national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the protector of rights and freedom for all citizens and the guarantor of international treaties.

“Ms. Pong Chhiv Kek said, ‘I regret that the Constitution states that the King reigns, but is not involved in political affairs, so that he could fulfill many other duties according to the constitution.’

“The Constitution of Cambodia stipulates that the King of Cambodia shall reign but shall not govern, though, according to another article, it makes the King responsible for the territorial integrity of Cambodia, for the protection of the rights and the freedom for all citizens, and for an independent court system, though he does not have the power to decide anything, and can only be burdened by the mistakes decided upon by the government.

“A parliamentarian and president of the Human Rights Party, Mr. Kem Sokha, noted also the point in the Constitution which states that the King must not be involved in politics, and that the King does not have power, as at present, the power is controlled by the government. According to his opinion, the King should be given the possibility to ensure the respect for human rights and the independence of the court system, as well as the right to pardon journalists and human rights activists who are jailed by government authorities. He stressed that at present, unless there is request from the government, the King does not decide to an amnesty, but Mr. Kem Sokha thinks that the government should not prevent the King from granting an amnesty.

From the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Article 27:

The King shall have the right to grant partial or complete amnesty.

“Senior politicians from the opposition parties and from civil society organization official expressed their ideas under the impression that the King seems to be restricted in fulfilling his duties which are stated as his rights, as stated in the Constitution, to help his people.

“Besides expressing good wishes to the King at the 5th Coronation Day after he succeeded his father, some scholars want to see the country’s Constitution implemented properly by the government, like by organizing the National Congress, which, as stated by the supreme law of Cambodia, is to be held annually under the chairmanship of the King. It is an event to remember the National Congress held by the current King’s father, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, to provide an opportunity for the citizens to express their concerns, hopes, and wishes, as well as to question the prime minister about how the country is ruled, while now, the Cambodian People’s Party government, especially Prime Minister Hun Sen, said that it is not possible to hold such a congress.

From the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Article :

Article 147:

The National Congress shall enable the people to be directly informed on various matters of national interests and to raise issues and requests for the State authority to solve.

Khmer citizens of both sexes shall have the right to participate in the National Congress.

Article 148:

The National Congress shall meet once a year in early December at the convocation of the Prime Minister.

It shall proceed under the chairmanship of the King.

Article 149:

The National Congress adopts recommendations to the Senate and the National Assembly, and to the Executive branch for reflection.

The organization and operation of the National Congress should be determined by law.

“But according to the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Right Party, and to national and international observers, the government could do what is stated in the Constitution, if the government had a real intention to do it.”

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #520, 30.10.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:

Friday, 30 October 200

Cambodia eyes Nov. 4 rice tender

2009-10-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 31, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

MACTAN, Cebu -- Cambodia aims to double exports in five years and play a bigger role in the global rice market.

Ny Lyheng, managing director of the Federation of Cambodian Rice Millers Associations, said on Thursday that his group also plans to tap new markets, including the Philippines, as he expressed interest to participate in the Philippine tender on November 4.

Mr. Ny said Ambassador Noe Wong and his staff at the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh recently toured the facilities of Baitang (Kampuchea) Plc. (Cambodia Green Plc), which operates the first and biggest rice milling plant in Cambodia. The plant has the capacity to produce 720 metric tons a day, Mr. Ny added.

Cambodia presently produces around eight million metric tons of paddy rice, only half of which is for domestic consumption. The other half, which translates to about 3 million MT of milled rice, is exported to Germany, France, Malaysia and other countries.

The target is to more than double exports to 8 million MT of milled rice by 2015, Mr. Ny said.

"Cambodia has great potential to be a major player (in the rice market). We can compete in terms of quality and quantity," Mr. Ny said.

To increase production, Mr. Ny said they will cultivate more lands for rice, increase the cropping periods, improve farming techniques and upgrade rice mills.

The government had provided the federation a loan, part of which was used to held upgrade milling equipment throughout the country.

"Now, 15% of our mills are ready to export. They are expected to start exporting in 2010," Mr. Ny told delegates to the World Rice Conference here that ended Thursday.

The rest of the mills will continue to cater to domestic requirements while upgrading their equipment.

Cambodia presently has 2.6 million hectares of ricelands. "We have a very big land area. We can increase our irrigated lands," Mr. Ny said.

Other emerging rice exporters are Myanmar, which targets to export 1 million MT next year; and Uruguay, whose paddy exports may reach 1.25 million MT, or about 800,000 MT of milled rice. -- Marites S. Villamor

Cambodia can deny Thaksin extradition bid by Thailand: Attorney-General

2009-10-30T18:08:00.001-07:00

http://enews.mcot.net/

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Mr Julasingh said he did not focus on anybody in particular, but would touch only on the principle that even though Thailand and Cambodia had signed an extradition treaty, in practice the country which was asked for the extradition has the full right to deny the request.

However, that country must justify its denial in line with international practice.

As for Mr Thaksin’s case, the Office of the Attorney-General has not been informed about his whereabouts so the office could not make the request.

If the police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm that Mr Thaksin is in Cambodia, Thai officials would seek extradition, but it depends on Phnom Penh's decision.

He added that Thailand had formerly denied such requests from some countries, but the kingdom was able to provide strong grounds to clarify its decisions in the past.

Mr Hun Sen told reporters during attending the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Thailand that Mr Thaksin could remain in Cambodia as his guest and could be his economic advisor, saying he was not interfering in Thailand's internal affairs, but that Cambodia has the right to exercise its sovereignty and make such a decision.

Ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006, convicted and sentenced to a two-year jail term for malfeasance in the controversial Bangkok Ratchadapisek land purchase, Mr Thaksin now living in self-exile abroad and is reportedly a close friend of Mr Hun Sen. (TNA)

Two commercial air routes between Vietnam and Cambodia to open

2009-10-30T18:07:00.003-07:00

10/30/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Cambodia State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) is coordinating with Vietnam’s flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to open two new air routes between the two countries, connecting Cambodia’s Sihanoukville City to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island and Can Tho City.

Each route will have a scheduled flight everyday.

The selected areas are attractive to tourists from both countries. According to Ho Vandy, President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, Phu Quoc Island and Can Tho City are both big tourism centres.

After the two new routes are put into operation, Phu Quoc and Can Tho are expected to supply a lot of tourists to Cambodia’s tourism industry.

City company exports first specialized autos to Cambodia

2009-10-30T18:07:00.001-07:00

A street-washing and plant-watering truck to be exported to Cambodia on October 30. (Photo: SGGP)

Friday ,Oct 30,2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation (Samco) delivered two specialized vehicles worth US$153,000 to representatives of Phnom Penh City Hall, Cambodia on October 30.

The vehicles include a specially made Isuzu drain-vacuum truck and a Hino street-washing and plant-watering truck.

It is the first time Samco has exported specialized automobiles to Cambodia and the company says it expects to export more such vehicles in the near future.

SAMCO is a state-owned manufacturing company in Ho Chi Minh City that specializes in repair and maintenance services for all types of cars.

It produces, builds and assembles buses and specialized vehicles including top names like Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Daihatsu, Hino, Hyundai, and Daewoo.

The company has a high-tech training center which receives support from international high-profile auto companies.

Samco provides inter-provincial and public transport services as well as builds and provides waterway transportation services.

By Ng.Kh - Translated by T.Huong

Cambodian beggars in HCM City

2009-10-30T18:06:00.001-07:00

Cambodian child beggars in HCM City.

30/10/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

VietNamNet Bridge – A small group of Cambodian child beggars have appeared in HCM City in recent months.

At 6pm at a crossroads on Dien Bien Phu street, three kids in ragged and dirty clothes, holding plastic bowls stand at traffic lights asking for small change.

The two older children collect the cash while a much younger child lies naked on the pavement.

They eventually disperse when they hear a police whistle. Next day they are back – but this time the group includes six children and two women.

The two women sat on the pavement while six children divided into three groups, work around the roundabout of Dien Bien Phu street.

From asking around reporters traced them back to a marshy piece of land along the Nguyen Huu Tho road, District 7, which looks like a dumping ground. There are several tents made of coconut leaves and a small house.

Local residents say the house owner pitied the children so he allowed them to live in the house free. They also said that there are over 50 Cambodian people who have been living in this area for around 7 months.

A Cambodian man, who can speak a little Vietnamese, told VietNamNet that they came from Cambodia and they often return home each 3-4 months.

These Cambodian earn their living by collecting waste and begging.

Local government has several times sent them back home but they returned, said Tran Mong Thanh, chairman of Tan Hung ward. Thanh said there are many other Cambodians in HCM City, not only in his ward.

Mai Thi Hoa from the HCM City Department of War Invalids and Social Affairs said that under the HCM City’s regulations, all beggars will be gathered at social patronage centres and then be sent back to their homes.

Tu Truc

Cambodia to warn people against A/H1N1, HIV/AIDS at water festival

2009-10-30T18:05:00.003-07:00

http://www.chinaview.cn/
2009-10-30

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities have prepared two messages on prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS and A/H1N1 virus at the upcoming water festival, government and international organization officials said Friday.

Sok Touch, director of the communicable disease control department of Ministry of Health said his ministry has prepared some 500,000 leaflets to be distributed during the three-day festival.

He said the leaflets recommend the attendees to the event to be well aware of the disease by which it encourages people to avoid the flu by "covering up cough and wash hands among others."

Also, Dan Bora, communication officer of Population Service International (PSI) said about 1,000 volunteers coordinated by PSIand in cooperation with national AIDS authority will hand out 250,000 condoms during the three-day event.

He said brothels will be the main target for distributions of the condoms.

Cambodia is known as a successful country in curbing with the spread of HIV/AIDS through a campaign of "100 percent condom use."

Chea Sokhom, secretary general of the National and International Festival Committee, said Thursday that 391 boats with more than 25,000 racers have been registered to take part in the water festival which is scheduled to begin from Nov. 1 through 3.

Cambodia's boat races or water festival is a three-day event crediting Cambodia's strong armed forces in defeating enemies by using boats.

King Norodom Sihamoni is expected to preside over the races, and will be accompanied by the government leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and members of the foreign diplomatic corps.

Every year, millions of Cambodians are coming from across the country and are flocking to Phnom Penh to view and enjoy the boat races.

The 1,700-meter race is held on the Mekong River in the capital in front of the Royal Palace.

Editor: Deng Shasha

The Holocaust In Cambodia

2009-10-30T18:05:00.001-07:00

http://www.australia.to/

Written by John Pilger

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

John Pilger recalls the stricken society he found in Cambodia in 1979 which he described in his epic dispatches and documentary, Year Zero: the Silent Death of Cambodia He reminds us that the Pol Pot horror emerged from the bombing ordered by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, and that Cambodia was again "punished" when its liberators came from the wrong side of the cold war and the Thatcher government send special forces to train the Khmer Rouge in exile

October 29, 2009 "Information Clearing House" -- The aircraft flew low, following the Mekong River west from Vietnam. Once over Cambodia, what we saw silenced all of us on board. There appeared to be nobody, no movement, not even an animal, as if the great population of Asia had stopped at the border.

Whole villages were empty. Chairs and beds, pots and mats lay in the street, a car on its side, a bent bicycle. Behind fallen power lines lay or sat a single human shadow; it did not move. From the paddies, lines of tall wild grass followed straight lines. Fertilised by the remains of thousands upon thousands of men, women and children, these marked common graves in a nation where as many as two million people, or more than a quarter of the population, were “missing”.

At the liberation of the Nazi death camp in Belsen in 1945, The Times correspondent wrote: “It is my duty to describe something beyond the imagination of mankind.” That was how I felt in 1979 when I entered Cambodia, a country sealed from the outside world for almost four years since “Year Zero”.

Year Zero had begun shortly after sunrise on April 17, 1975 when Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge guerrillas entered the capital, Phnom Penh. They wore black and marched in single file along the wide boulevards. At one o’clock, they ordered the city abandoned. The sick and wounded were forced at gunpoint from their hospital beds; families were separated; the old and disabled fell beside the road. “Don’t take anything with you,” the men in black ordered. “You will be coming back tomorrow.”

Tomorrow never came. An age of slavery began. Anybody who owned cars and such “luxuries”, anybody who lived in a city or town or had a modern skill, anybody who knew or worked with foreigners, was in grave danger; some were already under sentence of death. Out of the Royal Cambodian Ballet company of 500 dancers, perhaps 30 survived. Doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers were starved, or worked to death, or murdered.

For me, entering the silent, grey humidity of Phnom Penh was like walking into a city the size of Manchester in the wake of a nuclear cataclysm which had spared only the buildings. There was no power, no drinking water, no shops, no services of any kind. At the railway station trains stood empty at various stages of interrupted departure. Personal belongings and pieces of clothing fluttered on the platforms, as they fluttered on the mass graves beyond.

I walked along Monivong Avenue to the National Library which had been converted to pigsty, as a symbol, all its books burned. It was dream-like. There was wasteland where the Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral had stood; it had been dismantled stone by stone. When the afternoon monsoon rains broke, the deserted streets were suddenly awash with money. With every downpour a worthless fortune of new and unused banknotes sluiced out of the Bank of Cambodia, which the Khmer Rouge had blown up as they fled.

Inside, a cheque book lay open on the counter. A pair of glasses rested on an open ledger. I slipped and fell on a floor brittle with coins.

For the first few hours I had no sense of even the remains of a population. The few human shapes I glimpsed seemed incoherent, and on catching sight of me, would flit into a doorway. A child ran into a wardrobe lying on its side which was his or her refuge. In a crumbling Esso filling station an old woman and three emaciated infants squatted around a pot containing a mixture of roots and leaves, which bubbled over a fire fuelled with paper money: such grotesque irony: people in need of everything had money to burn.

At a primary school called Tuol Sleng, I walked through what had become the “interrogation unit” and the “torture and massacre unit”. Beneath iron beds I found blood and tufts of hair still on the floor. “Speaking is absolutely forbidden,” said a sign. “Before doing something, anything, the authorisation of the warden must be obtained.”

What compounded this was the isolation imposed on Cambodia by the West because its liberators, the Vietnamese, had come from the wrong side of the cold war, having driven America out of their country in 1975. Cambodia had been the West’s dirty secret since President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger ordered a “secret bombing”, extending the war in Vietnam into Cambodia in the early 1970s, killing hundreds of thousands of peasants. “If this doesn’t work,” an aide heard Nixon say to Kissinger, “it’ll be your ass, Henry.” It worked in handing Pol Pot his chance to seize power.

When I arrived in the aftermath, no Western aid had reached Cambodia. Only Oxfam defied the Foreign Office in London, which had lied that the Vietnamese were obstructing aid. In September 1979, a DC-8 jet took off from Luxembourg, filled with enough penicillin, vitamins and milk to restore some 70,000 children -- all of it paid for by Daily Mirror readers who had responded to my reports and Eric Piper’s pictures in two historic issues of the paper which sold every copy.

Following on from the Mirror, on October 30, 1979, ITV broadcast Year Zero: the silent death of Cambodia, the documentary I made with the late David Munro. Forty sacks of post arrived at the ATV studios in Birmingham, with £1 million in the first few days. “This is for Cambodia,” wrote an anonymous Bristol bus driver, enclosing his week’s wage. An elderly woman sent her pension for two months. A single parent sent her savings of £50. People expressed that unremitting sense of decency and community which is at the core of British society. Unsolicited, they gave more than £20 million. This helped rescue normal life in faraway country. It restored a clean water supply in Phnom Penh, stocked hospitals and schools, supported orphanages and re-opened a desperately needed clothing factory.

Such an extraordinary public outpouring broke the US and British governments’ blockade of Cambodia. Incredibly, the Thatcher government had continued to support the defunct Pol Pot regime in the United Nations and even sent the SAS to train his exiled troops in camps in Thailand and Malaysia. Last March, the former SAS soldier Chris Ryan, now a best-selling author, lamented in a newspaper interview “when John Pilger, the foreign correspondent, discovered we were training the Khmer Rouge in the Far east [we] were sent home and I had to return the £10,000 we’d been given for food and accommodation”.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Cambodian dad, four sons electrocuted

http://news.asiaone.com/

Fri, Oct 30, 2009

AFP

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH - A Cambodian father and his four sons died in a chain of electrocution on Friday when the front door to the family's corrugated-metal house cut into a power line, police said.

The deadly incident happened in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo commune when Mok En, 65, opened the door and it hit a power line connected to his home, triggering his electrocution, local police chief Sun Kanareth told AFP.

"When he opened up the door, it pinched the electric wire and he was immediately electrocuted and fell down with his left hand holding the door," he said.

"But the sons thought he had been hit by a fainting spell and they rushed to help him. So they were all electrocuted as soon as they touched the father," he added.

Four-fifths of Cambodians do not have proper access to electricity, and many use unsafe methods to tap into power grids.

Hun Sen, Thaksin and corrupt coalitions

2009-10-30T18:04:00.001-07:00

By Frank G. Anderson

Column: Thai Traditions

Published: October 30, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Last April the Bangkok Post, Thailand’s English-language daily, ran an article passing on a “leak” from the Royal Thai Air Force that it had tracked former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s private jet as it crossed the border into Cambodia, once each at Phnom Penh and Koh Kong.

At the time, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh denied any contact between Cambodia and Thaksin. He rhetorically asked why Thaksin would want to come to Cambodia, and added that his country could do nothing to help the fugitive prime minister. He also said, "I have never seen Thaksin come here to Cambodia.”

So perhaps a few eyebrows were raised when Cambodia’s prime minister indicated in late October that he had a warm place in his heart for Thaksin.

Hun Sen, as he arrived in Thailand on Oct. 23 for the latest ASEAN summit, loudly proclaimed that Thaksin was welcome in his country and that he would not extradite him to Thailand if so requested by Thai authorities. He even pointed out that Article 3 of a Thai-Cambodian extradition treaty prohibits the extradition of those accused of political offenses. He went further to suggest that he would appoint the fugitive to be his economic adviser.

In response, Thailand’s current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva politely but pointedly told the Cambodian leader that he should not let himself be used as a pawn, but should work with other ASEAN members to meet the organization’s goals

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban subsequently had a two-hour talk with Hun Sen explaining the Thai government’s position regarding Thaksin. Suthep came out of the meeting publicly confident that Hun Sen would not make any more such comments. Perhaps privately he knew better.

According to claims by the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy, the ousted prime minister had already established friendly relations – allegedly in the form of personal financial benefits – with the Cambodian government in parlaying Thai sovereignty over the temple of Khao Phreah Vihear that sits on the two countries’ border for offshore oil concessions from Cambodia, that Thaksin would allegedly benefit from.

Hun Sen’s apparent disregard for Thailand’s sensitivities is not really all that difficult to understand. Like Europe and other countries that considered hypocritical certain policies by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, so too it is likely that Cambodia feels Thailand is hypocritical – saying one thing but doing quite another.

Thai people, unsurprisingly, have different opinions concerning Hun Sen’s comments in support of Thaksin, but most appear to be critical. One pro-PAD activist, in fact, threatened to lead a large group of protesters to surround the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, mostly because of the Khao Phreah Vihear temple dispute, but also because of what is viewed as Cambodian government interference in domestic Thai politics.

One protest leader who did demonstrate against the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok said, “Hun Sen's action intentionally showed hostility to Thailand, its government and its military as well as the Thai people. It is interference in Thai politics.”

As if for Thailand to further shoot itself in the foot over the issue of handing Cambodia hundreds of acres of land around Khao Phreah Vihear, Thai TV viewers were treated to a speech by Lt. Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, an army specialist and flamboyant individualist, in a recent TV interview.

When asked about the real problem behind the Khao Phreah Vihear issue and why the army could not resolve what Thailand views as seizure of its territory, Sawasdipol replied, “The army … it’s a ‘play golf’ army, ‘country club’ type. That’s why.” This is the same man who had earlier helped train guards for the pro-Thaksin Red Shirts until told by his superiors to stop, and who had allegedly been involved in violence against the People’s Alliance for Democracy in 2008.

Thailand’s relations with its “friendly neighboring countries” Cambodia, Burma, Laos and Malaysia have been traditionally less than ideal – for the majority of people in each nation, that is. But for business and political sleight-of-hand on both sides, the relationship has been very lucrative. Thaksin and look-alike “investors” gained immense fortunes through various deals with all these countries, including telecommunications contracts, oil concessions, lumber operations, construction and more.

For his part, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has his hands full keeping together a weak political coalition that has been described as one where everyone gets what he wants, and may abandon the ship, sinking the coalition, if he doesn’t.

This coalition includes Pranawm Phokham, parliamentarian from Nakhonratchasima and board member of the Motherland Party, which is composed of both pro- and anti-Thaksin members. A glittering example of the fruit of Pranawm’s labor during his political life includes a multimillion dollar resort home, now under construction near a controversial forestry reserve region of Wang Nam Khiew in Nakhonratchasima province.

Pranawm was one of 28 members of parliament who voted for Abhisit to become prime minister. Quid pro quo for Pranawm may include Thailand’s own version of its U.S. counterpart, “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

(Frank G. Anderson is the Thailand representative of American Citizens Abroad. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand from 1965-67, working in community development. A freelance writer and founder of northeast Thailand's first local English language newspaper, the Korat Post – www.thekoratpost.com – he has spent over eight years in Thailand "embedded" with the local media. He has an MBA in information management and an associate degree in construction technology. ©Copyright Frank G. Anderson.)

Cambodian Youth Program Leader Awarded $25,000 Peace Prize

2009-10-30T18:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Phalen Lim fled Cambodia at the age of 2 in 1975, during the regime of the Khmer Rouge, and has never forgotten what it was like to start over as an immigrant in a new country. Now, the community leader is being awarded with a $25,000 California Peace Prize, reports The Orange County Register.

Lim and her family initially sought out help from the service agency The Cambodian Family (TCF) when they arrived in Santa Ana, California. Now, as the director of youth programs for the organization, Lim's job is to support and inspire young people to become balanced, healthy leaders. Serving refugees and immigrants, The Cambodian Family's emphasis is on community health, such as trauma resolution and stress reduction, employment services and youth programs.

The California Wellness Foundation, a private group whose mission is to improve the health and wellness of Californians, will present the peace awards tonight in San Francisco. It applauded Lim as an "integral leader in an agency that combats gang violence and promotes cultural pride and understanding in Santa Ana."

Lim mentors around 60 Cambodian and Latino youths, and impresses upon them the importance of working with what they have. She plans to put some of the prize money towards her son's education, and allocate a portion of it to the youngsters at The Cambodian Family.

Despite these accomplishments, she remains humble:

"I must have done something good to deserve it," she says now. But she's quick to add: "It's not just about me. It's about the work that I did and about the people that I serve."

You can donate to The Cambodian Family

"Neak Na Chea Sdach?" (Who is the real King?) a Poem in Khmer by Sam Vichea

2009-10-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

Posted by Visam

Decoration row makes no sense

2009-10-30T01:02:00.005-07:00

(Click on picture to zoom in)

By Tulsathit Taptim

The Nation

Published on October 30, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

If you don't know what all this fuss about the royal decoration thing is about, you're in good company. What will the government accomplish from stripping Thaksin Shinawatra of his honours? Why now? And what's the point of Thaksin's hardcore sympathisers trying to oppose the move?

I absolutely have no idea.

Yes, the "Sweet Home Phnom Penh" episode may have embarrassed the Thai government, but if revoking Thaksin's royal decorations is supposed to be some kind of revenge, then it's a short-sighted one. Not only will the idea weaken Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's "reconciliation" agenda, it also just doesn't make any sense.

If he is making this move out of sheer legal conviction, then why did he wait for so long? If it was meant to assuage the embarrassment caused by Cambodia's asylum offer to Thaksin, then shouldn't Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, too, be targeted? After all, he was the messenger in this whole saga and should perhaps be shot first.

After hitting Thaksin with a coup, freezing his assets, dissolving his parties and getting the Criminal Court to declare him guilty, why is it necessary to "deepen" the national divide by removing his honours?

I put "deepen" in quotation marks because I don't get that side of things either. Of course, taking away the royal decorations is not the smartest thing, but why is it making Thaksin supporters so angry that one of them was heard saying that the possibility of a civil war is more real than ever before?

Again, after being ousted in a coup, hit by the freezing of his assets, the dissolution of his parties and a guilty verdict, how would the revocation of royal decorations hurt Thaksin or his followers? Though this question is not as mind-boggling as this one: why do his followers care so much about his royal decorations?

The pro-Thaksin movement - strongly represented by the Pheu Thai Party, which is making a lot of noise about the government's plan to strip Thaksin of his honours - has been campaigning against the elite, the ammart (high-ranking royal servants) and everything associated with political inequality those elements have allegedly generated.

Now aren't royal decorations a strong symbol of the elite or the ammart, the very things that the red-shirt hardliners have been fighting against?

Why would stripping Thaksin of such a symbol embarrass him? Shouldn't the red shirts instead be glad that their hero would now be "pure" and "equal"?

Some may argue that the proposed action signifies great contempt for his past services to the nation.

However, that argument, too, attaches too much importance to a symbol the red-shirt extremists have tried to belittle in the first place.

Puea Thai: Thaksin being persecuted

2009-10-30T01:02:00.003-07:00

Published: 29/10/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

It’s hard for the government to deny that stripping deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of his police rank is political persecution, opposition Puea Thai Party deputy leader Kanawat Wasinsangvorn said on Thursday.

“Considering the ongoing political situation, most people believe Thaksin is being persecuted in order to reduce his credibility,” Mr Kanawat said.

The former premier was being discredited because Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was suffering continual setbacks.

“Lately, Mr Abhisit had lost face as five leaders of member countries did not show up at the opening ceremony of the Asean summit in Hua Hin last weekend,” he said.

In addition, the prime minister had destroyed previously good relations with Cambodia by using strong words in an interview in retaliation for the Cambodian prime minister's statements about Thaksin.

He claimed that Mr Abhisit was not acceptable to many leaders of Asean. The premier also lost face when a recent poll results showed that he was less popular than Thaksin.

Mr Kanawat said the continuing political retaliation will only escalate the problem of social divisions, and lead to violent confrontation.

He called on Mr Abhisit to be patient and use the limited time he had left in office to perform his duty, rather than playing political games.

He suggested the prime minister quickly settle the problems behind the train strike that inconvenienced so many passengers and the investment impasse in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, which he said was destroying investor confidence.

Helping out in Cambodia

2009-10-30T01:01:00.001-07:00

By MICHELLE LOTTER - North Shore Times

30/10/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

A Takapuna resident is volunteering her skills in language for a three- month Cambodia trip.

Fiona Whyte, a foreign exchange specialist, is looking forward to working with young Cambodian students through the Global Volunteer Network from November.

"To live and work in Cambodia, to be able to offer my knowledge and skills, that’s the really exciting

aspect of this opportunity."

She is paying for her own food and accommodation as she works with nine teachers from throughout the world as a language teacher in Phnom Penh on a project that provides affordable classes.

The aim is to raise money for the local non- government organisation Cambodian Rural Development Trust who works to improve livelihoods in rural Cambodian communities,

Ms Whyte says.

"Students pay a small fee to attend the classes and funds raised are used to improve the community in areas such as water, sanitation, livestock and agriculture production, and environmental awareness.

"Essentially I’ll be helping students improve their English skills while also assisting in the development of the community."

She travelled to Cambodia last year on a World Vision Cycle Charity Challenge that raised $63,000 and assisted 17,000 people in accessing clean water through the charity’s Cambodian projects.

"It was a wonderful experience made particularly special when World Vision was able to arrange for me to meet the two girls I sponsor.

"Even though we didn’t share the same language, we were able to connect. These people are warm, friendly and amazingly resilient."

She says she is looking forward to seeing the education, health and housing rights projects supported by the trust.

She will help facilitate fair trade with World Vision’s microfinance schemes to distribute goods which are sold in New Zealand.

Vietnam, Cambodia discuss security, extradition pacts

2009-10-30T01:00:00.001-07:00

Thursday, October 29, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Vietnam and Cambodia on Thursday discussed an agreement to strengthen public security ties as well as an extradition treaty to deal with crimes along their border areas.

Police said border crimes have become more complex and serious than previous years. Since the beginning of last year, more than 1,890 smuggling cases were detected involving goods worth US$6.2 million.

Other crimes, including drugs, arms and human trafficking, have also thrived along the Vietnam-Cambodia border, which stretches for nearly 1,200 kilometers.

Vietnam has 10 provinces bordering Cambodia with a total population of 12.65 million.

Reported by Bao Thien