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Dhamma talk by Maha Thera Dr. Hok Savann on December 14, 2019
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Making US–Cambodia relations great again
Chansambath Bong, Kansas State University
East Asia Forum, 14 December 2019
Since the new US Ambassador to Cambodia W Patrick Murphy presented his credentials to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on 19 October 2019, a number of developments have unfolded that indicate a potential diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries. Ambassador Murphy met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on 23 October and, two days later, Hun Sen advised cabinet officials to reinvigorate ties with Washington.
It may be too early to judge whether Hun Sen genuinely wants to improve relations with the United States, but his recent manoeuvring is noteworthy. Just two years ago Hun Sen accused Washington of colluding with the now banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) against his government.
On 10 November 2019, CNRP co-founder Kem Sokha was released from political house arrest. Sokha’s release may be viewed as an effort by the Hun Sen government to divert attention from CNRP party leader Sam Rainsy’s attempt to return to Cambodia after fleeing and the EU’s preliminary investigation into terminating Cambodia’s ‘everything-but-arms’ privileged trade status. But this event should also be viewed in the context of US–Cambodia relations, which deteriorated partly due to Sokha’s political arrest in September 2017.
Three days after Sokha’s release, Murphy met with Cambodian Minister of National Defense General Tea Banh to discuss revitalising military cooperation with an emphasis on joint exercises — halted since 2017 — and allowing US naval vessels to resume docking on the Cambodian coast. The Cambodian government also agreed to allow the Voice of America radio station to restart its broadcasting in the country after it was forced to close in 2017.
Hun Sen had his second meeting with Murphy less than a month after the first. The US envoy reportedly delivered two letters from US President Donald Trump. The first was an invitation to the special US–ASEAN Summit in 2020 and the second emphasised the significance of bilateral ties by affirming that US officials ‘do not seek regime change’ in Cambodia. Hun Sen enthusiastically applauded Trump’s summit initiative, noting that the meeting will enhance ties between ASEAN and the United States. He also endorsed the initiative of creating working groups to restore ‘trust and confidence’ between the two nations.
Conciliatory gestures made by Cambodia and the United States over the past month indicate an intentional move towards a détente by both sides. But it is too early to judge if and how long this rapprochement will continue. It is uncertain whether this is Hun Sen’s short-term strategy to ease Western pressure or whether he is concerned about the risk of Cambodian overdependence on China and wants to mend relations with the United States in order to put the country in a more balanced position.
Meanwhile, the United States has not fleshed out any major policy changes since Murphy’s arrival. It goes without saying that Murphy’s appointment — one of the most senior Southeast Asia experts at the State Department — is itself an indication of Washington’s increased attention on Cambodia.
The current rapprochement can be viewed as a result of increasing concern on both sides. Cambodia’s growing ties with China have created a number of domestic issues such as an increase in criminal activities committed by Chinese nationals, corruption and growing Sinophobia. Cambodia’s diplomatic credentials also suffered greatly after the 2012 ASEAN Summit and the first ever failure to release a joint communique. This led to allegations that Cambodia was turning into a Chinese military outpost, that Cambodian foreign policy is ‘an extension of Chinese foreign policy’ and that Cambodia is a ‘Chinese client state’.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s hardline approach had pushed Hun Sen closer to China. Washington should be reminded that Cambodia–China ties remain strong amid Western pressure and that Hun Sen is willing to risk deteriorating ties with the United States in order to secure an election victory, as he has done in the past. As Beijing’s influence continues to encroach on Cambodia, Washington should rethink its approach if it wants to prevent a ‘counter-hegemonic’ power like China from filling the vacuum.
The upward trajectory in US–Cambodia relations will depend on four key factors.
First, there are three sanction bills being considered by US Congress. If passed and signed into law, these bills will impose asset freezes and visa sanctions on senior Cambodian officials and there will be a review of Cambodia’s Generalized System of Preferences status. From recent exchanges between Hun Sen and Trump, the possibility of passing these bills anytime soon appears unlikely. Trump may not want to muddy the waters immediately after Hun Sen accepted his invitation to the 2020 US–ASEAN Summit. Passing these bills would be viewed as US political interference by Phnom Penh and Hun Sen’s inner circle, who have great influence on his foreign policy and may fear appearing on the US sanctions list. That said, sanctions imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act remains a possibility, as indicated in recent cases made against prominent businessman Try Pheap and General Kun Kim, both of whom part of the administration’s patronage machine.
Second, Phnom Penh will likely be cautious about its rapprochement with Washington in order to avoid antagonising its most vital political and economic ally in Beijing. This is particularly the case as the United States and China are locked into strategic competition in Asia.
Third, although the 2020 US–ASEAN meeting is a multilateral summit, it can positively affect Hun Sen’s impression of the United States’ commitment to Southeast Asia.
The last key factor is domestic politics. Although Kem Sokha has been released from house arrest, restrictions on his political rights remain a major roadblock to long term US–Cambodia rapprochement.
Whether Cambodia and the United States can resume friendly relations remains unclear. Although recent conciliatory gestures made by both sides suggest a trend towards rapprochement, major foreign policy changes by either side remain limited.
Chansambath Bong is a J William Fulbright Foreign Student Fellow and MA candidate in Security Studies at Kansas State University.
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ពិធីបំបួសដើមឈើរបស់ព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនចលនាមាតាធម្មជាតិបានបញ្ចប់ទោះអាជ្ញាធរខេត្តព្រះសីហនុ រារាំង
ដោយ អាស៊ីសេរី RFA 2019-12-14
ព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនចលនាមាតាធម្មជាតិ ដែលធ្វើពិធីបំបួសដើមឈើធំៗ ចំនួន ៩ដើម នៅក្នុងក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ ត្រូវបានអាជ្ញាធរខេត្តនេះរារាំង នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី១៥ ធ្នូ។
បុរសមួយក្រុម អះអាងថាជាអាជ្ញាធរខេត្តព្រះសីហនុបានមករារាំង ព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនអង្គការមាតាធម្មជាតិ មិនឲ្យធ្វើពិធីការបំបួសដើមឈើ ដែលបានបន្សល់ទុកតាំងសម័យសម្ដេចព្រះ នរោត្ដម សីហនុ នោះទេ។
យុវជនអង្គការមាតាធម្មជាតិបញ្ជាក់ថា មូលហេតុដែលជំរុញឲ្យពួកគាត់នាំគ្នាទៅបំបួសដើមឈើទាំងនោះ គឺដើម្បីថែរក្សា ដើមឈើទាំងនោះឲ្យបាននៅគង់វង្ស ក្រោយពីពួកគាត់ទទួលបានព័ត៌មានថា អាជ្ញាធរខេត្តគ្រោងកាប់ដើមឈើទាំងនោះចោល ដើម្បីពង្រីកផ្លូវ។
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| អាជ្ញាធរក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ ចុះមករារាំងព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនចលនាមាតាធម្មជាតិមិនឱ្យបន្តពិធីបំបួសដើមឈើ នៅទីតាំងរង្វង់មូលវិមានឯករាជ្យ ខេត្តព្រះសីហនុ នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩។ រូប៖ សកម្មជនចលនាមាតាធម្មជាតិ |
ពិធីបំបួសដើមឈើ ដែលអាជ្ញាធរហាមឃាត់នេះ គឺព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនចលនាមាតាធម្មជាតិ ធ្វើឡើងដោយរុំស្បង់ជុំវិញដើមឈើទាំងនោះ និងដាក់ពាក្យស្លោកថា (ដើមឈើជាតិ) បើអ្នកការពារខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំនឹងថែរក្សាអ្នក ហើយក៏មានការបិតរូបថតសម្ដេចតាផងដែរ ក្នុងគោលបំណង ដើម្បីស្នើសុំអាជ្ញាធរឱ្យថែរក្សាចំនួន ៩ដើម ដែលនៅសេសសល់ពីជំនាន់សម្ដេចព្រះ នរោត្ដម សីហនុ។
អាជ្ញាធរ ដែលចុះមករារាំងនេះ លើកហេតុផលថា ព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនអង្គការមាតាធម្មជាតិ ដែលទៅធ្វើពិធីបំបួសដើមឈើនោះ ពុំបានសុំការអនុញ្ញាតពីអាជ្ញាធរ។ ចំពោះក្រុមយុវជន និងព្រះសង្ឃវិញ លើកហេតុផលឡើងថា ផ្អែកតាមច្បាប់ការជួបជុំ និងប្រមូលផ្តុំ ដើម្បីធ្វើពិធីសាសនាបែបនេះ គឺមិនចាំបាច់តម្រូវឲ្យសុំការអនុញ្ញាតពីអាជ្ញាធរទេ។
ដើមឈើចំនួន ៩ដើម ដែលព្រះសង្ឃ និងយុវជនអង្គការមាតាធម្មជាតិ ទៅធ្វើពិធីបំបួសស្ថិតក្នុងទីតាំងរង្វង់មូលវិមានឯករាជ្យ ខេត្តព្រះសីហនុ។
ទោះជាមានការរារាំងពីអាជ្ញាធរក្រុងព្រះសីហនុក្ដី ក៏ទីបំផុតពិធីបំបួសដើមឈើតាមបែបសាសនានេះ បានប្រព្រឹត្តទៅរហូតដល់តាមការគ្រោងទុក៕
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កម្មករសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីន ជិត ២០០នាក់ នាំគ្នាតវ៉ា ដោយសារថៅកែចិនរត់ចោលមិនទូទាត់ប្រាក់បំណាច់
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| កម្មកររោងចក្រ ហុង ស៊ីង (Hong Xing) នៅភូមិដំណាក់ធំ សង្កាត់ស្ទឹងមានជ័យ ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ កំពុងតវ៉ានៅមុខរោងចក្រ នៅថ្ងៃទី១៤ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ដោយសារថៅកែរត់ចោលកម្មករ។ រូប៖ RFA |
ដោយ ខែ សុណង RFA 2019-12-15
កម្មករនៅសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញមួយកន្លែង ក្នុងខណ្ឌមានជ័យ ជិត ២០០នាក់ បន្តប្រមូលផ្ដុំគ្នាតវ៉ា ទាមទារសុំដំណោះស្រាយ ក្រោយពេលថៅកែសិប្បកម្មជាជនជាតិចិន បានរត់ចោល និងមិនទាន់បើកប្រាក់ឈ្នួលអស់។ សហជីពឃ្លាំមើលការតវ៉ា ប្រាប់ថា មន្ត្រីក្រសួងការងារសន្យាថា នឹងដោះស្រាយជូនកម្មករនៅថ្ងៃច័ន្ទ ដើមសប្ដាហ៍ក្រោយ។
កម្មការិនីម្នាក់ នៃសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីន (Hong Xing) លោកស្រី ហ៊ឹម សុខរឿន ឲ្យដឹងថា ក្រុមកម្មករចំនួន១៩០នាក់ បណ្ដាក់គ្នាតវ៉ា និងដេកយាមមុខកន្លែងសិប្បកម្មទាំងថ្ងៃ និងយប់ ចាប់តាំងពីថ្ងៃទី៩ ធ្នូ មក ព្រោះខ្លាចថៅកែលួចដឹកសម្ភារៈ និងម៉ាស៊ីនចេញពីទីតាំងសិប្បកម្ម៖ «ថៅកែ គាត់បិទទ្វារ រួចទៅ គាត់អត់គិតលុយបំណាច់ឆ្នាំ អតីតភាព ហើយនឹងប្រាក់ឈ្នួល។ ប្រាក់ឈ្នួលគោល គាត់ខុសគោលការណ៍របស់ក្រសួង»។
លោកស្រីបន្តថា ក្រោយការតវ៉ាច្រើនថ្ងៃមក មន្ត្រីក្រសួងការងារ បានចុះជួបកម្មករកាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៣ ធ្នូ និងបានណែនាំឲ្យកម្មករសរសេរលិខិតសុំដំណោះស្រាយ និងសន្យាថា ដាក់លិខិតនោះទៅថ្នាក់លើបន្ត។
សិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីន ស្ថិតនៅភូមិដំណាក់ធំ សង្កាត់ស្ទឹងមានជ័យ ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។ កម្មករអះអាងថា សិប្បកម្មតម្បាញនេះ ជាកន្លែងដេរផ្គុំ ឬដេរភ្ជាប់តួសំលៀកបំពាក់ ដែលយកមកពីរោងចក្រផ្សេងមក។ ក្រោយការដេរភ្ជាប់រួច សំលៀកបំពាក់ទាំងនោះ នឹងត្រូវបញ្ជូនទៅរោងចក្រមួយទៀត ដើម្បីដំឡើងម៉ាកយីហោ។ កម្មករឲ្យដឹងទៀតថា រោងចក្រធំ ជាដៃគូរបស់សិប្បកម្មនេះ គឺរោងចក្រ អឹមវ៉េ (MV) មានទីតាំងនៅខេត្តកំពង់ឆ្នាំង។
មន្ត្រីច្បាប់ នៃសហព័ន្ធសហជីពការងារកម្មករកម្ពុជា លោក ជិន សូនី ដែលឃ្លាំមើលករណីនេះ ឲ្យដឹងថា អាជ្ញាធរបានតម្រូវឲ្យកម្មករ ដាក់លិខិតទៅអាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋានសង្កាត់ និងខណ្ឌ ព្រមទាំងក្រសួងការងារអស់ហើយ ដោយមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការងារសន្យាថា នឹងចុះដោះស្រាយដល់ទីតាំងតវ៉ា នៅថ្ងៃទី១៦ ធ្នូ។ លោកថា បច្ចុប្បន្នក្រុមកម្មករ មិនទាន់មានគម្រោងតវ៉ា ឬដាក់ញត្តិទៅស្ថាប័នណាផ្សេងទៀតទេ ដោយរង់ចាំ មើលដំណោះស្រាយពីក្រសួងការងារ នៅថ្ងៃច័ន្ទសប្ដាហ៍ក្រោយសិន៖ «នៅទេបង ព្រោះថា ថ្ងៃច័ន្ទនេះ ប្រហែលជាមានដំណោះស្រាយ ខាងក្រសួងគាត់នឹងចុះមកសម្របសម្រួលរឿងហ្នឹង ថា តើយ៉ាងម្ដេចអ៊ីចឹងណាបង? មន្ត្រីក្រសួងការងារ បានចុះមកហើយ គាត់បានសួរនាំហើយ អ៊ីចឹងណាបង។ សួរនាំរឿងបញ្ហាទូទៅករណីហ្នឹង បើកពេលណា។ បានចុះមកសាកសួរហើយ បានឯកតោភាគីទេ បានតែខាងកម្មករទេ ព្រោះខាងថៅកែគាត់អត់នៅ អត់ដឹងទៅណា»។
អាស៊ីសេរី គ្មានប្រភពសុំការបញ្ជាក់ពីខាងភាគីថៅកែសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីន បានទេ នៅថ្ងៃទី១៤ ធ្នូ។ អាស៊ីសេរី ក៏មិនអាចសុំការបញ្ជាក់ពីអ្នកនាំពាក្យក្រសួងការងារ និងបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលវិជ្ជាជីវៈ លោក ហេង សួរ បានដែរ ដោយសារទូរស័ព្ទរោទ៍គ្មានអ្នកទទួល។
កម្មការិនីលោកស្រី ហ៊ឹម សុខរឿន រំលឹកថា មុនថ្ងៃបើកប្រាក់ឈ្នួលប៉ុន្មានថ្ងៃ ថៅកែប្រាប់ថា ឲ្យកម្មករឈប់សម្រាកពីរបីថ្ងៃ ព្រោះគ្មានសម្ភារៈដេរ តែដល់ថ្ងៃទី៩ ធ្នូ ជាថ្ងៃបើកប្រាក់ឈ្នួលសម្រាប់ខែវិច្ឆិកា ថៅកែបានបើកឲ្យម្នាក់ខ្ទង់មួយរយ (១០០)ដុល្លារ ហើយប្រាប់ថា សិប្បកម្មនឹងត្រូវសេង (លក់) ឲ្យថៅកែថ្មី រួចហើយថៅកែ ក៏បាត់ដំណឹងរហូតទៅ។ កម្មករថា ពួកគាត់នឹងតវ៉ារហូតមានដំណោះស្រាយ ទើបព្រមឈប់៕
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‘Don’t sell social land concessions’
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| Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara encouraged villagers not to sell the social land concessions and with it, their future and their children’s inheritance. CHEA SOPHARA VIA FACEBOOK |
Mech Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:29 ICT
Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara has appealed to villagers not to sell social land concessions they receive, as they are intended for them to live on and farm, and hand down to their children.
He was speaking to villagers at a ceremony to present Immovable Property Ownership Certificates for the concessions and celebrate the achievements of the Land Allocation for Social and Economic Development Project Phase II (Lased II) in Kampong Chhnang province.
The government, Sophara said, provided social land concessions to the poor and former members of the armed forces who were in need, to build houses and farm.
Vorn Sipha, the governor of Samaki Meanchey district, said that Sophara had appealed to those receiving social land concessions to use them to build a prosperous life, raising animals and growing crops to improve their livelihoods and climb out of poverty.
The minister also encouraged them not to sell the land which is their future and their children’s inheritance. He also asked villagers not to pawn the land title as they would lose should they be unable to meet the repayments.
“Sometimes villagers sell their social land concession or pawn the land title to get money to support their daily living or to expand their businesses.
“[Sophara] appealed to the villagers not to do this, and we have made efforts to implement his recommendations. But we cannot ban them from selling or pawning the land as they have the right to do so,” Sipha said.
The villagers who sold or pawned their lands were mostly former members of the armed forces because they were old and their children did not stay with them, he said.
“Please don’t sell the land or pawn the title because it could make things more difficult,” he said.
Sorn Kimroeung, a former soldier and policeman living in Samaki Meanchey district’s Svay Chuk commune, spoke of his happiness after receiving a 30m by 30m plot of residential land and 1ha of agricultural land.
He promised to take care of the government-granted social land concession and use it to make a living. “I received a house and land for farming. I was very happy when I received the land title,” he said.
Kimroeung said a small number of people who had received titles for social land concessions encountered financial difficulties due to the area not having enough infrastructures. Hence, they sold or pawned them.
“Some villagers pawned the land title or sold it as they are very old. They sell because [the area] lacks supplies of water and electricity, as well as hospitals, and this causes difficulties,” he said.
Sophara said the Lased II project had been implemented by the Secretariat of the National Committee for Sub-national Democratic Development, the General Department of Housing at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction and the Department of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Financial support was provided by the World Bank to the tune of $25 million, with a government budget of $1.86 million for the five-year implementation from August 2016 to next December.
Five provinces were targeted, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Tbong Khmum and Kratie, with 14 locations for social land concessions on a total of 17,042ha. Some 5,141 families had benefited.
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Ministry discusses moves to modernise justice system
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| Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana on Friday said his ministry is modernising the justice system with new technological innovations to build public trust and confidence in the Kingdom’s justice sector. POST PIX |
Long Kimmarita | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:28 ICT
The Ministry of Justice announced its plans on Friday of modernising the justice system with new technological innovations to build public trust and confidence in the Kingdom’s justice sector.
Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana made the remarks at a conference to discuss improvements to the current justice system, focusing on the use of modern technology, and addressing challenges in the implementation and enforcement of the law.
“The government’s policy is to prepare a digital economic programme in response to globalisation. The programme includes modernisation of the judicial system with the use of technology to give the people confidence in the justice system,” he said.
In a Facebook post, the ministry announced that provincial court chiefs and prosecutors across the country, including some 70 law enforcement officials, received training at the conference.
All trainees had reviewed the general landscape of other systems of law enforcement around the world, block chains, smart contracts, artificial intelligence, digital properties, as well as various problems which occurred with the application of technology in the justice sector.
“The conference aims to inform judges and prosecutors of new ideas so that they can learn about e-justice, block chains, smart contracts, justice forecasts, the use of artificial intelligence [to address judicial needs], and the uses and impact of technology in the justice system,” the ministry said.
Kandal provincial deputy prosecutor Tin Sochetra told The Post on Sunday that if the modernisation process pushes through, it will improve judicial work in the country, especially the quicker processing of cases and provision of services to the public.
“This is a very good initiative because the justice systems of other developing countries have long been developed whereas we have yet to develop ours. We have previously received training from foreign countries.
“Their management is good. Our country is preparing just like how other countries had, and this is something our officials are capable of doing,” he said.
Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) executive director Chak Sopheap commended the efforts of the ministry to improve the justice system, which has previously come under criticism.
“The government’s plans may be fruitful. But it will take a little time. As I said, trying to modernise [the justice system] is a programme that involves harnessing technological potentials to serve the interests of the people,” she said.
However, she said she wanted the Kingdom’s justice system to deliver due process that is open, reliable, and fair for all.
“What [the ministry needs to do] is to ensure that the public is given equal access to justice. Previously, the justice system had many loopholes including double standards among others.
“So, to build confidence among the people, the system should ensure that all have equal rights before the law and access to justice,” she stressed.
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Alleged land grab in Phnom Oral area
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| Chea Hean has claimed that Kampong Speu authorities colluded with a village representative to grab land in the Phnom Pral area. FACEBOOK |
Khorn Savi | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:40 ICT
Natural Resource and Wildlife Preservation Organisation director Chea Hean requested Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang to take back 243ha of land in Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary as state property.
Hean claimed that local authorities colluded with a village representative to grab the land for sale.
The letter to Samnang dated December 9, which was accepted by the provincial hall on Friday, complained to the governor about issuing land titles to El Sara, a representative of 25 families who allegedly grabbed 243ha of land in the protected area.
They prepared the land for sale for $1,900 per hectare, causing a wildlife sanctuary to lose part of its land, which was gazetted by a 1993 royal decree.
“[I] asked the governor to investigate and annul any letters sent to the ministries of Environment and Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction or the cabinet [through the governor] to help obtain the land in Doung village, Oral district's Tasal commune and revoke it for state property,” wrote Hean in the letter.
Hean told The Post on Sunday that according to the law, no one can be authorised to grab land in a wildlife sanctuary. But, in this case, the people and village and commune authorities [allegedly] colluded with help from environment and land officials to grab land for sale.
"They persuaded the people to thumbprint documents to possess the land so that the government would cut it for them on the grounds that it is their plantation.
"The decision to cut the land came about because the officials did not know that it was located inside the wildlife sanctuary as they only saw the documents with thumbprints sealed by the village, commune, district and provincial authorities," he claimed.
“First, they planned to issue land titles for the villagers, and then transfer ownership from them to others. They could directly grab the land, but used the people to get land ownership documents to send it to Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he claimed.
According to a letter on the land trade, it was sold to a broker for $1,900 per hectare on February 28. Now the broker is attempting to sell the land for $3,500 per hectare when he gets the land titles from the people, Hean claimed.
“Next week, authorities will issue the land titles for them and anyone who disagrees can file a complaint. So, as an NGO director [and to protect the land], I wrote [to the governor] to revoke it,” he said.
Provincial Department of Environment director Em Sokun denied the allegations, saying that Hean had just made accusations without evidence, affecting other people's rights.
“There is no cutting of land in the wildlife sanctuary for the people. It’s just defamation … no one has the right to grab state land for sale,” he stressed.
Samnang said he had not yet seen the letter from Hean, but that any attempt to possess land in a wildlife sanctuary is not permitted.
“I haven’t read the complaint letter yet, so I don’t know what to say [about the case],” Samnang said.
Hean also said he would file another letter to the provincial court to seek legal action against people who had colluded to grab the land.
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Kratie provincial court charges man for robbing and killing neighbour
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| A 32-year-old man was accused of robbing and killing a female neighbour in Roka Thom village. POLICE |
Kim Sarom | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:39 ICT
Kratie provincial police sent a 32-year-old man to court on Sunday after he was arrested for robbing and killing a female neighbour in Roka Thom village, in Prek Prasap district’s Chroy Banteay commune on Thursday.
Provincial police serious crime chief Huot Lim Heang said on Sunday that after questioning the suspect over the case, they sent him to court for further legal action.
“The suspect robbed the woman of money and jewellery, then killed her and escaped.
"We sent him to the court on a charge of committing murder,” Lim Heang said.
Prek Prasap district police chief Chan Sophalla said the woman – Chhum Nay Sim, 39 – and her husband had a six-year-old daughter and they were farmers in Roka Thom village.
The husband told the police that his wife was herding cattle behind their home in the village and she failed to return home for lunch, making the family concerned for her welfare.
When she still did not return home in the evening, her husband and neighbours went looking for her, but did not find her.
Sophalla said the next morning, someone spotted the victim's body about a few hundred metres from her home.
The police confirmed that 560,000 riel and a pair of platinum earrings belonging to the victim were missing, which they found and confiscated from the suspect.
After examining the body, police identified the suspect and managed to arrest him on Friday at his house, which is located about 1km from the victim’s.
“She was beaten to death with a stick. Some of her teeth were broken and there are bruises on her jaw and chest,” he said.
The suspect confessed that he saw the woman looking after the cattle alone in the forest while carrying a purse, so he killed and robbed her of the money and jewellery.
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KRP president hits out at wrongful arrest by police
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| The arrest of a man suspected of drug trafficking, storing and using drugs has been criticised. POLICE |
Mech Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:38 ICT
Khmer Rise Party (KRP) president Sok Sovann Vathana Sabung on Thursday criticised the police for the wrongful arrest of a man suspected of trafficking, storing and using drugs.
He also urged the authorities at all levels to carry out their duties and obligations lawfully to avoid public criticism.
His remarks came after the National Police’s Anti-Drug Department officials arrested a 19-year-old in connection to a case in the capital’s Stung Meanchey commune in Meanchey district on December 10. The arrest has drawn strong criticism from social media users.
In a Facebook post, Vathana Sabung announced that although he had given his full support to the police’s anti-drug campaign, the recent arrest saw violations by the authorities.
He said the authorities should have searched for evidence before detaining the suspect. If the suspect was not caught in the act, they needed to have evidence.
If, after a search, evidence of a crime was found, they could detain him and build a case to be forwarded to court.
“In the case of this person, he was suspected of being involved. The police should have taken in him for questioning and searched for evidence. He should not have been handcuffed before the search for evidence.
“After he was brought to the station, seven packets of drugs were found on him. Why didn’t the police search for evidence before arresting him?” he wrote.
He said as law enforcers, the authorities at all levels should carry out their roles and duties accordingly to avoid earning distrust and a loss of confidence from the public.
“However, if [the police] still make the same mistakes and fails to change, then the legal system has the authority to take action against the officers involved,” he said.
The Anti-Drug Department, in a Facebook post, announced that at 4:30pm on December 10, the department, along with Phnom Penh municipal court prosecutor Hoeng Bunthorn, cracked down on an illegal drug trafficking operation and detained the suspect, who was carrying 21.62g of methamphetamine while dealing with a client.
Based on the investigation, the department concluded that the suspect, “male, did traffic, store and use illegal addictive substances. Currently the Anti-Drug Department is building a case file on the suspect with the evidence to proceed with legal action”.
The department said the suspect’s arrest was made based on an investigation by specialists and carried out according to the law. Its deputy chief In Song said on Sunday that the suspect had been charged and sent to Prey Sar prison on Friday.
Meas Sovann, the director of the Drug Addict Relief Association of Cambodia, said the police had to have clear evidence, witnesses and warrants before arresting the accused.
If the public loses confidence in the police, he said it could undermine collaborations between residents and police forces in cracking down on drugs.
“If arrests are made contrary to the law, it will undermine efforts in the anti-drug campaign,” he said,
The Anti-Drug Department requested the public and media outlets to cooperate with the police to stop drug-related crimes.
“When our police are conducting an operation, please don’t report it yet. Let our police continue to investigate first so we can arrest the ringleaders and others involved,” the department said.
Both Anti-Drug department director Loek Vannak and secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs Meas Virith declined to comment on Vathana Sabung’s remarks.
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Sugary drinks to be banned at schools in Phnom Penh
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| Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng on Friday announced plans to reduce the consumption of sweet beverages in the capital. Heng Chivoan |
Khorn Savi | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:33 ICT
Phnom Penh has announced plans to ban the sale of sugary drinks at schools in line with the Partnership for Healthy Cities across 70 of the world’s urban areas in efforts to tackle non-communicable diseases.
Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng on Friday announced plans to reduce the consumption of sweet beverages in the capital, the Facebook page of the Phnom Penh municipal administration said.
“The Phnom Penh municipal administration will implement a reduction in the consumption of sugary drinks at schools as part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities.
“This is a world-famous network of 70 cities committed to saving people’s lives by preventing non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes,” it said.
More than 300 million people around the world are included in the Partnership for Healthy Cities, which receives financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, a partner of the World Health Organisation, and Vital Strategies.
Hem Sinareth, the director of Phnom Penh’s Municipal Department of Education, said he could not confirm the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall’s plans, but that the Ministry of Education had introduced plans to ban sugary food and drinks at educational institutions.
“I would like to inform you that the municipal and provincial departments of education have implemented the instructions of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport on the sale of prohibited foods at educational institutions for months,” Sinareth said.
In May, the ministry announced that to improve health, educational institutions are prohibited from selling food that had expired, alcohol, tobacco products, energy drinks, sweet drinks, coffee, ice cream and syrup drinks, chocolate, candy and chewing gum, as well as doughnuts and sweets.
Sinareth said the Municipal Department of Education had conducted inspections at schools to check if food vendors were complying with the ministry’s instructions.
Phnom Penh municipal Department of Health director Ngy Mean Heng said the announcement strengthened the ministry’s instructions on the prohibition of certain foods at schools.
He said from the end of last year until early this year, the municipal departments of health and education and the municipal administration have held seven workshops and carried out a month-long campaign through tuk-tuk, radio and television adverts to raise awareness among the capital’s residents on the effects of sweet drinks, which can lead to diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay.
Mean Heng said the workshops were attended by the directors of schools, councillors of the capital’s 105 communes, governors of its 12 districts and village chiefs.
He said in January and February next year, there will be further campaigns and workshops, with two teachers from 40 schools, pupils, parents and food vendors invited to raise awareness of the issue and to further strengthen the ministry’s instruction on ending the sale of sugary drinks at schools.
“We will carry out more campaigns together with workshops in January and February,” he said.
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New restroom at Wat Kiryvongsa Bopharam, Peace Meditation Center
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Dismay as former members of the CNRP to form new political party
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| Former Takeo lawmaker Ou Chanrath said on Sunday that he was not involved with the new party. He said he was asked to join but declined. Hong Menea |
Niem Chheng | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:43 ICT
Former members of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) have announced their decision to form a new political party following the trial of former president Kem Sokha. An assistant to Sokha and one of his lawyers have expressed dismay at him being connected to the new political party.
Eight ex-members of the CNRP, including former lawmakers Chiv Cata and Kang Kimhak, as well as committee board member Sim Sovanny announced the formation of the new political party last Thursday in a bid to return to the political stage.
Cata, Kimhak and Sovanny were politically rehabilitated early this year following the dissolution of the CNRP in late 2017 and 118 of its members banned from political activity.
The announcement said the prospective party would be the successor to all former opposition parties and would be made up of those who had a different vision to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
It also appealed to former opposition members and all Cambodians to join with them “for the sake of the nation”.
“This new political party will be a political mechanism to negotiate with the ruling party to demand freedom for Kem Sokha, protect the interests of millions of workers and solve the nation’s major problems,” the announcement said.
One of the eight co-founders said on condition of anonymity that the party’s name and major policies would be made public after its official announcement, possibly in February following Sokha’s trial for treason in mid-January.
The co-founder said forming the party was intended to see former CNRP officials return to politics, including from among the supporters of co-founders Sokha and Sam Rainsy, currently the “acting president” of the CNRP.
However, he said the presidency would be left unoccupied as it was intended that Sokha be invited to fill the role if he could return to the political arena after his trial.
The source said the new party was to be formed as it was not believed that the CNRP could be reborn after its dissolution. He said Sokha would not return to his previous Human Rights Party because to do so would demonstrate a split with Rainsy.
Early this year, nine of the 118 banned CNRP senior members were rehabilitated, including well-known former Takeo lawmaker Ou Chanrath.
However, Chanrath said on Sunday that he was not involved with the new party. He said he was asked to join but declined.
“This decision was made by them. I was not involved in that decision because I think the formation of a new party does not meet the current situation in the country.
“We are following the trial of Kem Sokha and whether access to the [EU’s] ‘Everything But Arms’ scheme would be retained,” Chanrath said.
He said he did not think the new party would be successful because its members were not among the high-profile figures that could win the hearts of CNRP supporters.
“I don’t think there will be much attention paid to this new party,” Chanrath said.
News of the formation of the party was met with criticism by some close to Sokha.
“Those who are attempting to form a new political party should stay true to their [party’s] principles and policies to help the nation. They should not try to link themselves to other people,” said Muth Chantha, the director of Sokha’s cabinet in reference to Sokha.
Chan Chen, one of Sokha’s four defence lawyers, said he was dismayed to hear that the founders of the new party had attached themselves to his client.
“It is regretful to hear that people who used to be [Sokha’s] colleagues and who used to work with him have done this. It is their right to form a new party, but they must not link themselves with people just for political gain,” Chen said.
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German government provides MRC €2 million more for Mekong support
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| MRC Secretariat CEO An Pich Hatda (left) and German Ambassador to Laos Jens Lutkenherm signed the funding agreement in Vientiane on Friday. MRC |
Ry Sochan | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 15 December 2019 | 23:35 ICT
The German government has provided an additional €2 million ($2.2 million) to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to enhance transnational water resource cooperation and support, and assist in efforts to monitor the transnational environmental impact of dams.
The funding agreement was signed by MRC Secretariat CEO An Pich Hatda and German Ambassador to Laos Jens Lutkenherm in Vientiane on Friday.
The fund aims to foster dialogue and cooperation on the planning and management of transboundary water resources among the countries of the Lower Mekong, the MRC said on Friday.
“This extra funding has brought the German contribution to the MRC to €6.45 million for the current strategic plan 2016-2020 and the beginning of the new plan 2021-2025.
“The funding aims to boost dialogue and cooperation on transboundary water resource planning and management among the four lower Mekong countries – Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam,” it said
According to the MRC’s latest flow data, the drought this year has caused the river’s water levels to be their lowest in the past 60 years. Most areas along the Mekong basin have been experiencing significant low water flow since June.
Germany’s support comes at a critical time, with countries along the Mekong facing difficult trade-offs between increasing development in energy, transport and agriculture, and their impact on the environment and the livelihoods of local people, Pich Hatda said.
“These emerging issues require meticulous and speedy monitoring and reporting for proper basin management. Thanks to Germany for making the work possible,” he said.
Pich Hatda told The Post on Sunday of activities to increase cooperation and dialogue in Cambodia through the grant.
“One of the primary areas is through joint transboundary cooperation for flood and drought management project in the Cambodian-Thai border area, including Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey, Battambong and Pailin provinces, and Sa Kaeo and Chonburi provinces in Thailand.
“Through this project, Cambodia and Thailand will be able to increase the capacity of transboundary integrated water resources planning and the forecasting of floods and drought, as well as associated information services, including early warnings of risks in the context of changing hydroclimatic conditions.
The project will also help improve water security, including measures against floods and droughts, to support economic and social development in the project area,” Pich Hatda said.
As the Mekong comes under pressure from the impact of water management projects for irrigation, hydropower and the supply of water, the MRC’s work would be even more important in monitoring and managing changes along the river basin, Lutkenherm said.
“Our additional grant should allow the MRC to fast-track work on assessing such impacts and ensure that decision-makers along the Mekong basin are aware of the consequences and take timely and appropriate action,” he said.
The MRC last month warned that severe drought has been predicted to last until January in countries along the Mekong, with Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand expected to be the hardest hit.
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តំណាងកម្មករ ៦នាក់ នៃសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីង ដាក់ញត្តិនៅសាលាខណ្ឌមានជ័យ តវ៉ាថៅកែរត់ចោលកម្មករ
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| ក្រុមកម្មករនៃសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីន (Hong Xing) នាំគ្នាដេកយាមមុខរោងសិប្បកម្ម នៅថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ក្នុងពេលតវ៉ាទាមទារថៅកែសិប្បកម្មនេះឱ្យដោះស្រាយប្រាក់សំណងដល់ពួកគាត់ ករណីរត់ចោលកម្មករ។ រូប៖ RFA |
ដោយ អាស៊ីសេរី RFA 2019-12-17
ក្រុមតំណាងកម្មករចំនួន ៦នាក់ នៃសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីង (Hong Xing) បាននាំគ្នា ដាក់ញត្តិ នៅសាលាខណ្ឌមានជ័យ នៅថ្ងៃទី១៧ ធ្នូ ដើម្បីទាមទារឲ្យតំណាងថៅកែសិប្បកម្ម ដោះស្រាយប្រាក់សំណង ជូនកម្មករ ករណីរត់ចោលកម្មករ ដោយមិនបានជូនដំណឹង និងមិនទាន់ទូទាត់សំណង។
កម្មការិនីម្នាក់ នៃសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីង លោកស្រី តេង ស្រីមុំ ប្រាប់ថា មន្ត្រីក្រសួងការងារ បានចុះមកជួបកម្មករ ម្ដងទៀត នៅថ្ងៃទី១៧ ធ្នូ និងណែនាំឲ្យកម្មករ ដាក់ញត្តិជាថ្មី ទៅអាជ្ញាធរខណ្ឌ។ លោកស្រីថា មន្ត្រីក្រសួងការងារ បាននាំតំណាងកម្មករ ៦នាក់ ហើយយកញត្តិទៅដាក់ តែមិនបញ្ជាក់ថា មានដំណោះស្រាយ ពេលណាទេ។ ទោះយ៉ាងណា លោកស្រីថា ក្រសួងការងារ បានបិទប្រកាស នៅមុខរបងទ្វារសិប្បកម្ម ដើម្បីកោះហៅថៅកែជនជាតិចិនឲ្យចូលខ្លួន យូរបំផុតត្រឹមថ្ងៃទី១៨ ធ្នូ ម៉ោង ២រសៀល។ លោកស្រីថា កម្មករកំពុងរង់ចាំមើលថា ថៅកែចូលខ្លួន ឬអត់ នៅថ្ងៃទី១៨ ធ្នូ មុននឹងទាមទារឲ្យអាជ្ញាធរផ្ដល់ដំណោះស្រាយ។
សិប្បកម្មតម្បាញ ហុង ស៊ីង ស្ថិតនៅភូមិដំណាក់ធំ សង្កាត់ស្ទឹងមានជ័យ ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ មានកម្មករសរុប ១៩០នាក់ ហើយបានប្រមូលផ្ដុំគ្នាតវ៉ា និងដេកយាមមុខរោងសិប្បកម្ម ទាំងថ្ងៃទាំងយប់ តាំងពីថ្ងៃទី៩ ធ្នូមក ដោយសារថៅកែជាជនជាតិចិន បានចាក់សោទ្វាររបងសិប្បកម្មទុកចោល ដោយមិនដឹងទៅណា។ ក្រុមកម្មកររំពឹងថា ថៅកែជនជាតិចិន នឹងចូលខ្លួនតាមការកោះហៅ ហើយអាជ្ញាធរ ត្រូវចាត់វិធនការឲ្យថៅកែទូទាត់សំណងប្រាក់ឈ្នួល ប្រាក់បំណាច់អតីតភាពការងារ ប្រាក់ផលប្រយោជន៍ផ្សេងៗ ជូនកម្មករ តាមច្បាប់ការងារ ប្រសិនបើសិប្បកម្មតម្បាញមួយនេះ រងការបិទទ្វារមែន៕
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តុលាការចាត់ចៅក្រមបីនាក់ដើម្បីបើកសវនាការលើសំណុំរឿងលោក កឹម សុខា
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| លោក កឹម សុខា ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ រូប៖ RFA |
ដោយ ហេង រស្មី RFA 2019-12-16
តុលាការក្រុងភ្នំពេញបានចាត់ចៅក្រមចំនួន ៣រួប ដើម្បីឲ្យចូលរួមបើកសវនាការរឿងករណីលោក កឹម សុខា ពីបទ «សន្និដ្ឋិភាពជាមួយបរទេសនៅថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០២០ ខាងមុខនេះ។
នៅក្នុងដីកាកោះហៅឲ្យចូលរួមសវនាការចុះថ្ងៃទី៩ ធ្នូ ប៉ុន្តែទើបនឹងចេញផ្សាយនៅថ្ងៃទី១៦ ធ្នូ របស់តុលាការក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បានចាត់តាំងសមាសភាពលោក កូយ សៅ ប្រធានចៅក្រមប្រឹក្សា និង លោក សេង លាង លោក ឆាម ច័ន្ទពិសិដ្ឋ ជាចៅក្រមប្រឹក្សា។ ការចាត់តាំងសមាសភាពចៅក្រមជំនុំជម្រះនេះ គឺកើតឡើងក្រោយពេលដែលចៅក្រមស៊ើបសួរតុលាការក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ចេញដីកាបញ្ជូនសំណុំរឿងលោក កឹម សុខា ទៅជំនុំជម្រះ នៅថ្ងៃទី១៥ មករាខាងមុខ។
សង្គមស៊ីវិលមើលឃើញថា សំណុំរឿងលោក កឹម សុខា នឹងត្រូវបញ្ចប់ដោយដំណោះស្រាយនយោបាយជាងផ្លូវច្បាប់។
នាយករងទទួលបន្ទុកផ្នែកឃ្លាំមើលសិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៃអង្គការ លីកាដូ (LICADHO) លោក អំ សំអាត មើលឃើញថា សំណុំរឿងលោក កឹម សុខា នឹងត្រូវបញ្ចប់ដោយដំណោះស្រាយនយោបាយជាងដំណើរការផ្លូវច្បាប់ដោយសារតែកន្លងមកនៅពេលនយោបាយមានសភាពធូរស្រាលសំណុំរឿងទាំងប៉ុន្មានពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងបក្សប្រឆាំងក៏ត្រូវបញ្ចប់ដែរ៖ «អ្វីដែលសំខាន់គឺការដោះស្រាយនយោបាយទេប្រសិនបើពាក់ព័ន្ធសំណុំរឿងនយោបាយឬក៏សកម្មជននយោបាយដែលលើកលែងតែករណីព្រហ្មទណ្ឌឬក៏បទល្មើសព្រហ្មទណ្ឌផ្សេងៗ គឺតុលាការនឹងដំណើរការតាមនីតិវិធីហ្នឹង។ប៉ុន្តែបើរឿងនយោបាយតាមខ្ញុំសង្កេតឃើញក៏ចប់ទៅវិញដោយដំណោះស្រាយនយោបាយហ្នឹងដែរបាទ»។
ការលើកឡើងរបស់លោក អំ សំអាត គឺធ្វើឡើងបន្ទាប់ពីតុលាការក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ចាត់ចៅក្រម ៣រួប ឲ្យចូលរួមបើកសវនាការរឿងករណីលោក កឹម សុខា ពីបទ «សន្និដ្ឋិភាពជាមួយបរទេសនៅថ្ងៃទី១៥ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០២០ ខាងមុខ។ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៩ ធ្នូ សាលាឧទ្ធរណ៍បានសម្រេចច្រានចោលបណ្ដឹងរបស់ក្រុមមេធាវីលោក កឹម សុខា ដែលប្ដឹងទាស់នឹងដីកាបញ្ជូនសំណុំរឿងលោក កឹម សុខា ទៅជំនុំជម្រះនេះ៕
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VN, Cambodia hold drills for disaster preparedness
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| Prime Minister Hun Sen (right) meets with Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Phan Van Giang (left) on October 30 to discuss the upcoming joint military exercise. HUN SEN’S FACEBOOK PAGE |
Mech Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 16 December 2019 | 23:07 ICT
Prime Minister Hun Sen said the joint military exercise between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the People’s Army of Vietnam held from December 10-18 is to enhance disaster preparedness and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
He said this at the graduation ceremony of the University of Health Sciences on Monday in response to Facebook users who expressed concern that exercises in Svay Rieng province’s Chantrea district could pave the way for a Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia.
Hun Sen assured the people that the military exercise was his initiative and was held to increase mutual trust and improve emergency response capabilities.
The prime minister noted the disasters faced by the Kingdom, adding that Cambodia should conduct joint exercises with neighbouring countries to coordinate civilian-military assistance in case of such disasters.
He said: “Neighbouring countries must cooperate with us for the effective management of disasters along the border. For example, if there’s a forest fire along the Cambodian border, we must extinguish it before it spreads to the Thai or Vietnamese border.
“If the fire is from the other side, we must jointly prevent it from spreading because we are neighbouring countries and we want to protect our citizens against any possible disaster.”
Cambodia has been gripped with disaster twice, said Hun Sen. He recalled the 2011 flooding in Ratanakkiri province which had reached the border and prompted him to seek assistance from the Vietnamese army to help people along its border who could not cross into Cambodia because of the strong currents of the floods.
He said that aside from Vietnam, the Kingdom had also conducted military exercises with the US and China, among other countries.
“We previously conducted these with the US, China, and some other countries. Why can’t we conduct it with our neighbouring countries?” he asked.
Hun Sen said the exercises strengthened cooperation with nations who could provide disaster and emergency assistance similar to the relief and rescue missions conducted by the US Army, along with other countries, during the catastrophic Haiti earthquake in 2010.
Major General Thong Solimo, a spokesman at the General Command Headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, said the exercise was being conducted to strengthen capacities to rescue people in times of disaster, and strengthen cooperation, and maintain security and public order.
“The first step is to conduct the exercise by using drones to investigate and carry out emergency rescue operations.
“The second is to disseminate information to citizens about infectious diseases at the border and the distribution of humanitarian aid. There is no invasion as claimed by the opposition,” Solimo said.
A former lawmaker of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, Ou Chanrath, said the exercise by Cambodia and Vietnam will help strengthen cooperation and relations between the two countries in disaster preparedness.
“This is an agreement between two countries and it is common to conduct such exercises to strengthen relations.
“People are sensitive when they hear the word ‘Vietnam’ and that’s why accusations without clear basis have surfaced. The government has to be careful.”
In a press release issued on Friday, the Svay Rieng provincial administration said the exercise is being conducted to share experience and to mutually benefit the people of the two countries in case of a disaster.
The joint exercise sees the participation of 471 Cambodian and 65 Vietnamese soldiers.
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Top EU Envoy Urges Cambodia to Open Political Space With Two Months to Go on Trade Decision
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| High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell gives a press conference during the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Royal Palace of El Pardo near Madrid, Dec. 16, 2019. AFP |
RFA 2019-12-16
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union, has called on Cambodia to take “immediate action” to reinstate democratic freedoms with less than two months remaining until the bloc decides whether to suspend the Southeast Asian nation’s tariff-free access to its markets.
Borrell, who is also the Vice President of the European Commission—the EU’s executive branch—spoke Sunday with Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn, as part of several bilateral meetings with Asian counterparts on the margins of the 14th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) ministerial in Madrid, the European External Action Service said in a statement.
“The High Representative reiterated the importance of Cambodian authorities taking immediate action to open the political space in the country, to establish the necessary conditions for a credible, democratic opposition and to initiate a process of national reconciliation through genuine and inclusive dialogue,” the statement said.
Borrell’s comments followed a Nov. 12 preliminary report in which the EU warned that Cambodia has not taken enough measures to prevent a withdrawal of its Everything But Arms (EBA) status—which gives developing nations tariff-free access to the EU’s markets for all products except arms—noting the country’s further deterioration of civil, political, labor, social, and cultural rights since the launch of a review process in February.
Last week, in a statement accompanying its official response to the report, which was not made public, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, ahead of an EU decision on the matter in February 2020, it expects that the bloc will take into consideration “the government’s good faith efforts to implement all the relevant international conventions under the EBA regulations.”
The ministry also reminded the EU of the impact that the loss of EBA status would have on Cambodia’s “nearly one million female workers and the indirect effect on families and relatives supported by these workers’ wages,” but also suggested that it’s decision should “[respect] the principles of sovereignty and non-interference into Cambodia’s internal affairs.”
The ministry’s statement, which was not made public, was in stark contrast to recent comments from Prime Minister Hun Sen, who despite warnings from civil society that loss of EBA status would devastate Cambodia’s working class, has said he has no interest in meeting the EU’s demands.
Cambodia is the second-largest beneficiary of EBA trade preferences, accounting for more than 18 percent of all imports to the EU market under the EBA scheme in 2018.
EU imports from Cambodia totaled 5.3 billion euros (U.S. $5.8 billion) that year, nearly all of which entered the EU duty-free, taking advantage of EBA preferences.
Clothing and textiles—a crucial industry in Cambodia that employs around one million people—account for around 75 percent of EU imports from the Southeast Asian nation.
Impact of loss
The EU launched the process to strip Cambodia of its preferential trade terms following the arrest of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Kem Sokha in September 2017 and the Supreme Court’s decision to ban his party for its role in an alleged plot to topple the government two months later.
The ban, along with a wider crackdown on NGOs and the independent media, paved the way for Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament in the country’s July 2018 general election.
Speaking to RFA’s Khmer Service on Monday, Cambodian Confederation of Unions president Rong Chhun said that withdrawal of EBA status would not only cause Cambodia to lose hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars annually, but it would shatter the country’s economy and social system.
“If the country suffers from an unemployment crisis, tax collection will fall short and the banks will run out of money, leading to the government’s inability to pay civil servants,” he said.
“Cambodia could see unrest that could seriously affect social security,” he added, urging the government to heed the EU’s demands on improving human rights and democracy.
Koul Panha, director of the advocacy group Comfrel, told RFA that Cambodia cannot expect to rely on China—which Hun Sen’s government has pivoted to from the West in the wake of last year’s controversial election—to make up for the shortfall that comes with an EBA withdrawal, because “China also benefits from the EBA through many of its investments in Cambodia.”
“Chinese investors probably want to see Cambodian government do its best to negotiate with the EU to retain the EBA so that they can continue to benefit from it, particularly as the Chinese are involved in their own trade issues with the U.S.”
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
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Twenty-six Chinese held in operation for kidnap
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| 26 Chinese nationals involved in a kidnapping case in China were arrested in a Sino-Cambodian joint operation in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town on Friday. Facebook |
Long Kimmarita | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 16 December 2019 | 23:15 ICT
The National Police are questioning 26 Chinese nationals involved in a kidnapping case in China, following their arrest in a Sino-Cambodian joint operation in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town on Friday.
Provincial court spokesman Teng Samay said on Sunday that after obtaining an arrest warrant from China, Cambodian and Chinese police raided two buildings – one in Kilometre 4 village in Phsar Kandal commune and another in Poipet commune – and arrested the 26 Chinese nationals.
“They have been taken to the Ministry of Interior before being returned to China. We cooperated with China in this operation. We checked the warrant of arrest which had the names of the Chinese nationals on it,” he said.
Provincial police chief Ath Khem said the suspects were involved in a kidnapping case in China and escaped to Cambodia.
“During the arrest, we tied their hands and transported them on a mini-bus from Poipet town to the Ministry of Interior while waiting for further action in accordance [with Cambodian] and Chinese laws,” said Khem.
National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun said officials are questioning the suspects one by one to build a report. However, he could not confirm when they plan to send the suspects back to China.
Rights group Adhoc spokesman Soeung Sen Karuna called for a thorough investigation into the case to guarantee that the suspects apprehended were indeed complicit in the crime. He noted that sometimes, criminal repatriation is not always the best course of action.
“We are concerned that they were arrested on [false] accusations at a time when China is having problems with activists,” said Sen Karuna, adding that he does not support the occurrence of any criminal activities in Cambodia.
A report from the Ministry of Interior said that from 2014 to July of this year, Cambodian authorities had sent back 2,700 Chinese nationals under an agreement between the countries under Cambodian immigration law.
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លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ចោទថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ពឹងវៀតណាម និងចិន ឲ្យជួយការពារអំណាចក្បត់ជាតិរបស់ខ្លួន
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| លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ប្រធានគណបក្ស ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា និងលោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធានស្ដីទីគណបក្ស សង្គ្រោះជាតិ។ រូប៖ ហ្វេសប៊ុក លោក ហ៊ុន សែន និង RFA/Sorn Chanratha |
ដោយ អាស៊ីសេរី RFA 2019-12-17
លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បានអះអាងថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានពឹងពាក់ប្រទេសវៀតណាម និង ចិន ដើម្បីឲ្យជួយរក្សា និងការពារអំណាច នៃទង្វើក្បត់ជាតិឲ្យខ្លួន។ មន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាលបដិសេធការចោទបែបនេះ ហើយថា លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ឃោសនាតាមរបៀបជនបរាជ័យ ក្រោយការអំពាវនាវ គ្មានអ្នកគាំទ្រ។
ប្រធានស្ដីទីគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្លែងនៅមុខអ្នកគាំទ្រនៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក អះអាងថា ដៃគូរបស់លោក គឺលោក កឹម សុខា មិនបានប្រព្រឹត្តិកំហុសក្បត់ជាតិអ្វីឡើយ តែលោក ចោទថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន មេដឹកនាំរបបក្រុងភ្នំពេញឯណោះទេ ទើបជាជនក្បត់ជាតិ និងបានពឹងពាក់ប្រទេសវៀតណាម និងចិន ឲ្យជួយការពារអំណាចឲ្យខ្លួន៖ «»
បន្ថែមពីនេះ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បង្ហោះសារក្នុងហ្វេសប៊ុក (facebook) ថា ក្នុងនាមប្រជារាស្ត្រខ្មែរ នៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដែលមិនហ៊ាននិយាយស្ដី ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរនៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកមានសិទ្ធិសេរីភាពពេញលេញក្នុងការសម្ដែងមតិ ដូច្នេះលោកប្រកាសថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ជាជនក្បត់ជាតិ មិនមែន លោក កឹម សុខា ទេ។ មេដឹកនាំបក្សប្រឆាំងរូបនេះ ទាមទារឲ្យតុលាការរបបក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បញ្ឈប់សកម្មភាពកាត់ទោស លោក កឹម សុខា នៅថ្ងៃទី១៥ មករា ព្រោះលោកថា ជាការធ្វើឡើងតាមបញ្ជារបស់លោក ហ៊ុន សែន៖ «»
ជុំវិញការលើកឡើងរបស់លោក សម រង្ស៊ី នេះ អ្នកនាំពាក្យរដ្ឋាភិបាល លោក ផៃ ស៊ីផាន ហៅការចោទប្រកាន់នេះថា ជារឿងផ្ដេសផ្ដាស ហើយការចោទបែបនេះជាញយៗ ដោយសារភាពបរាជ័យ និងមិនអាចធ្វើឲ្យពលរដ្ឋគាំទ្របាន។ លោកអះអាងថា លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ចោទថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលម្ដងពឹងពាក់វៀតណាម ម្ដងចិន ម្ដងអាមេរិក ជាទម្លាប់ទៅហើយ៖ «»
អំពើក្បត់ជាតិ មានចែងនៅក្នុងផ្នែកទី១ ជំពូកទី២ នៃក្រមព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ ឆ្នាំ២០០៩។ បទល្មើស ក្បត់ជាតិ មានច្រើនសណ្ឋាន ដូចជា ចារកម្ម ប្រគល់ដែនដី ឬកងទ័ព ឬសម្ភារៈទ័ព ឬព័ត៌មានអន្តរាយដល់ការការពារជាតិឲ្យរដ្ឋបរទេស សន្និដ្ឋិភាពជាដើម។ បទក្បត់ជាតិ នៃក្រមព្រហ្មទណ្ឌឆ្នាំ២០០៩ មានឫសគល់ចេញពី មាត្រា ៣៣ នៃក្រមក្បត់សឹក និងមាត្រា២២០ និង២២០ត្រី នៃក្រមព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ ឆ្នាំ១៩៥៦ សម័យរាស្ត្រនិយម។
នៅឆ្នាំ២០១៧ រដ្ឋាភិបាលក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បានចោទប្រកាន់ ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក កឹម សុខា ថា បានក្បត់ជាតិ ក្រោមរូបភាពសន្និដ្ឋិភាពជាមួយរដ្ឋបរទេស គឺសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ច្រើនឆ្នាំមកហើយ ដើម្បីផ្ដួលរំលំរដ្ឋាភិបាលរបស់លោក ហ៊ុន សែន។ ជាង ២ឆ្នាំមកនេះ តុលាការ រកមិនទាន់ឃើញថា លោក កឹម សុខា បានឃុបឃិតគ្នា ជាមួយសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក មែន ឬអត់ទេ។ តែសហគមន៍អន្តរជាតិ កំពុងទាមទារឲ្យរបបក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ស្ដារលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ឡើងវិញ ដោយ បញ្ឈប់ការចោទប្រកាន់ លោក កឹម សុខា និងសកម្មជនបក្សប្រឆាំងទាំងអស់ គោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស សេរីភាពសារព័ត៌មាន លើកលែងតែប្រទេសកាន់លទ្ធិកុម្មុយនិស្ត ដូចជា ចិន រុស្ស៊ី និងវៀតណាម ជាដើម ដែលគាំទ្រចំណាត់ការរបស់របបក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ក្នុងការគាស់រំលើងលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ៕
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Dhamma talk by Maha Thera Dr. Hok Savann on December 16, 2019
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