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Kingdom committed to combat wildlife trade

October 3, 2018, 9:10 pm
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A baby pangolin is fed milk at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. Sahiba Chawdhary

Niem Chheng | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 02 October 2018 | 11:01 ICT

The Ministry of Environment has expressed its commitment to combat wildlife crimes, Environment Minister Say Sam Al said. He invited all stakeholders to take part in the effort.

Speaking at the British Ambassador’s residence on Sunday to discuss awareness of the illegal wildlife trade, Sam Al said the Kingdom already has mechanisms and laws in place to tackle the issue.

“As a UN member, Cambodia is ready to cooperate with international organisations and all countries in preserving natural resources as well as preventing and combating the illegal wildlife trade,” he said.

Ministry spokesperson Neth Pheaktra said on Monday, that the government has actively clamped down on illegal wildlife trafficking over the years.

He said since 2012 the authorities had seized more than 79kg of rhino horns, 42 tonnes of ivory samples, 167 bears and 375 pangolins. They also arrested 3,441 suspects.

And between 2016 and last year, 6,422 animal traps were found and destroyed.

A Wildlife Alliance Cambodia representative said yesterday that ministry officials and rangers from his organisation had recently detained two people in Cardamom National Park for illegally hunting animals.

They were caught red-handed and in possession of two homemade guns, a chainsaw and an illegal fishing tool, all of which were confiscated. The suspects have been sent to the Koh Kong provincial court, he said.

Optimistic about Sam Al’s commitment, World Wildlife Fund-Cambodia director Seng Teak said: “We are working with the ministries of Agriculture and Environment to stop illegal wildlife hunting. I see the ministries have been working hard on this.

“I think government institutions must toughen punishment on illegal hunting. Even those who walk into the protected areas should be severely punished."

“Legal enforcement is the most important thing. Only when legal enforcement is strictly implemented can the problem be solved, otherwise, it would be hard,” he said.

Teak said the authorities must also act against wildlife markets by proactively checking the restaurants that are suspected to be serving exotic meats.

“If there is a sale, there is hunting. There should be a hefty fine imposed on those who sell,” he said.
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‘Human rights the price paid’ for Kingdom’s SEZ growth

October 3, 2018, 11:02 pm
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Workers worked in the factory at special economic zones. Supplied

Niem Chheng | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 11:32 ICT

The gains brought to the Kingdom by the establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) has come at a high price, with people becoming the victims of land grabs, poor labour conditions and environmental damage, reports the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR).

In its factsheet Cambodia’s Special Economic Zones and Human Rights, CCHR said the establishment of SEZs in 2005 was done with a lack of transparency and publicity, which left people unable to properly defend their rights. It also came without proper consultation with local communities, which resulted in forced evictions.

The wages and working conditions at SEZs, it said, were also poor. Moreover, the report said freedom of association at such workplaces were restricted, although unions have been allowed to be formed.

“While the advantages [SEZs] can bring in terms of economic development and trade are not to be neglected, the development and operations of SEZs are often intrinsically linked to human rights violations such as land grabs, poor labour conditions or environmental damage,” the report said.

SEZs come under the management of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) with a management group called the Cambodian Special Economic Zone Board (CSEZB), it said.

The Open Development Cambodia NGO recorded the situation at 38 SEZs across the Kingdom.

“Because they are public entities acting on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the CDC and the CSEZB must respect internationally recognised human rights as enshrined in the Cambodian Constitution and international treaties ratified by Cambodia at all times,” the report said.

“However, there is no effective grievance or reporting mechanism allowing communities affected by the SEZ to report human rights abuses, in contravention of the [Cambodian government’s] obligation to ensure that all human rights violations are properly investigated and effectively remedied.”

CCHR laid out five recommendations to improve the situation concerning SEZs. They include refusing the creation of an SEZ unless the authorities have made environmental and social impact assessments and consulted with affected individuals and communities.

Others are the reform of the legal regime governing SEZs to align with international best practice and international human rights law, ensuring sub-decrees in establishing all SEZs to be publicly accessible, ensuring freedom of association for workers, and creating an independent, impartial and effective grievance mechanism for complaints.

Vann Sophath, CCHR’s business and human rights project coordinator, said on Tuesday that the report was intended as a message to the government and relevant stakeholders to address negative aspects and so improve the running of SEZs.

“If a development faces high risk then it won’t be sustainable. So any development that [negatively] affects the rights of the [community] or its workers’ labour rights is unsustainable, and people will [protest], which leads to confrontation."

“If such a situation occurs, it may not [put off] investors. But if a development respects human rights and [operates] without any problems, then it will run smoothly with good investment,” Sophath said.

‘Systematic way’

He said he did not have figures for communities which are complaining of problems with SEZs because CCHR had difficulty in accessing such zones.

CDC secretary-general Sok Chenda Sophea, who is also a minister attached to the prime minister’s department, could not be reached for comment.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said SEZs were created by private companies or as a joint venture and so were not under the supervision of the government.

Therefore, he said, any such establishment came under the agreement between the local people and companies concerned.

However, he said as a requirement, such companies must conduct impact assessments and report to the government before starting operations. The company must also show its contribution to the development of the surrounding area.

Siphan went on to defend the rights given to workers by the government to discuss conditions with the companies.

“We are open to letting them have a union that will [voice] their demands and defend the interests of their members. Workers don’t need to protest because we can solve problems in a systematic way. Workers and company owners are partners,” he said.

According to the report, an SEZ is a specific geographic area where special administrative regulations apply, such as a different tax regime, or benefits from different legal or logistical arrangements in order to attract business and investment.
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Teachers’ Day petition denied

October 3, 2018, 11:03 pm
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A teacher conducts learning exercises during a class at Wat Koh High School in Phnom Penh in 2014. Pha Lina

Niem Chheng | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 10:13 ICT

The Phnom Penh City Hall has allowed the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (Cita) to use the new Freedom Park along the riverside to celebrate the upcoming World Teachers Day on October 5.

In so doing, it has rejected Cita’s initial request to use the old Freedom Park near Wat Phnom and restricted the event to go on from 8-9am, as stated in two-page meeting note obtained by The Post yesterday.

Cita had planned to march with hundreds of teachers from across the Kingdom under the slogan The right to receive a good education from quality teachers and to submit a petition to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, as well as Prime Minister Hun Sen.

In its petition, the teachers’ union also demands that the government increase salaries to at least 2,000,000 riel ($490) per month, create a corruption prevention mechanism at educational institutions, add learning materials in schools, and provide an additional 150,000 riel as bonus for the teachers during Pchum Ben and Khmer New Year.

The demands have all been resolved by the ministry, according to its official who attended the meeting.

Demonstration Law

City Hall rejected Cita’s request to march, citing the Kingdom’s Demonstration Law which forbids any public assembly of over 200 participants. It said it would deploy armed forces personnel at the old Freedom Park to block any gathering.

“The Daun Penh district administration, the Phnom Penh municipal police and military police will be ready to prevent any gathering at the park,” the note said.

It concluded that: “The requester must ensure it will not carry out any event that is intended to attack the King, government, neighbouring countries or the elites.”

Speaking to The Post yesterday, Cita president Uk Chhayavy said she was disappointed with City Hall’s decision, noting that it celebrates World Teachers Day every year.

“City Hall basically said if we follow their conditions, we would be provided with security. But if we disobey, Cita would have problems.This is as if it has threatened the teachers and students that will join us,” she said.

In a separate meeting, the minister, Hang Chuon Naron, said on Tuesday that the government would also celebrate World Teachers’ Day at the National Institute of Education.

It will be presided by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“At the event, 10 teachers will receive awards. So will the principals of high schools with more students getting A’s in the national examinations,” he said.

Unesco on Tuesday also issued a press release, saying it will celebrate World Teachers’ Day with the government.

Some 1,300 participants from the relevant ministries, development partners, NGOs, local authorities and teachers are expected to attend the event.

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Smart, ministries offer scholarships

October 3, 2018, 11:04 pm
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Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron shake hands with Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt in the signing ceremony yesterday. Heng Chivoan

Voun Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 09:17 ICT

Smart Axiata in collaboration with the ministries of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), and Posts and Telecommunication (MPTC), signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to “develop future talents and digital corporate leaders”. As part of this, 20 scholarships will be offered to students this year.

Smart aims to partner both ministries in developing top-talents and well-rounded individuals who are eager to actively contribute to the Kingdom’s growth in the new digital era.

As part of the MoU, the company has committed to investing $1.5 million into two programmes – the SmartEdu Scholarship Program and the SmartEdu University Student Development Program (USDP).

A portion of the investment will be from Smart’s contribution towards the Royal Government’s Capacity Building and R&D (CBRD) Fund.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron said: “Smart has continued to be a strong development partner in introducing education and tech innovation initiatives, including the SmartEdu Scholarship Program and SmartStart Young Innovator Program.

“I am particularly intrigued by the USDP’s comprehensive learning framework that will not only provide knowledge but also encourage ‘learning by doing’”, he said.

Thirty undergraduates have already benefitted from the SmartEdu Scholarship Program which was launched in 2016, and which targets financially challenged Grade 12 graduates with good academic results.

The programme has been enhanced this year with the inclusion of Discovery Days, half-day development workshops for high school students and an Introduction Camp for this year’s 20 selected scholars.

Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications permanent secretary of state, Sarak Khan said: “In line with the Royal Government’s Rectangular Strategy IV, MPTC will further accelerate its efforts to find new measures to develop Cambodian ICT talents.

“We are excited that the CBRD Fund has been utilised effectively by Smart with its partners to expand the SmartEdu brand to cover leadership development programmes with a digital spin.

During the MoU signing ceremony, Smart also officially launched the USDP, which emulates the successful Axiata Young Talent Program conducted in Malaysia.

Under the programme, 48 top Cambodian university students will take part in a 13-day stay-in bootcamp that will provide participants with theoretical, experiential, personal and relational development opportunities through workshops, business simulations and coaching, centred around various industries.

The winning teams will receive cash prizes while the top five participants will receive a fully-sponsored two-month work exposure at Axiata Group in Malaysia.

The MoU and the newly launched USDP form part of Smart’s commitment to advance Cambodia through education and innovation, in partnership with the two ministries, said Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt.

“This annual programme will be immersive and exciting. I am certain it will unlock many future digital leaders and CEOs,” Hundt said.

University students can apply to join the USDP before October 22. For more information, follow the ‘Smart for Cambodia’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/smartforcambodia or visit www.smartedu.kh.
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Asia markets down as oil up

October 4, 2018, 1:03 am
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Tokyo up 0.1 per cent after the Nikkei saw its highest close in 27 years with the yen at its weakest since November. Martin BUREAU/afp

AFP | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 11:30 ICT

Oil prices built on gains Tuesday after another blistering rally but most markets were in retreat as traders brushed off a positive lead from Wall Street and the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal.

Crude has motored in recent weeks on concerns about supplies after sanctions are imposed on Iran next month, while OPEC’s decision not to ramp up output, upheaval in Venezuela, a strong dollar and a drop in oil rigs have also pushed prices higher.

“Right now, we’re just in a bull market for oil because of the prospects of a very tight market later on in the year,” John Kilduff, founding partner at New York-based hedge fund Again Capital LLC, told Bloomberg News.

Both main contracts jumped almost three per cent Monday and clocked up fresh gains in Asia, with observers and key players in the sector now eyeing $100 a barrel.

Uncertainty ends

Kim Kwangrae, a commodities analyst at Samsung Futures, added: “The market’s very keen to figure out the size of the impact from the Iranian supply disruptions and whether Saudi Arabia and Russia are able to make up for the losses.

“At the same time, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement is also improving the overall sentiment on oil.”

New York traders sent the Dow and S&P 500 higher after the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was announced on Sunday to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The deal drew an end to months of uncertainty after Donald Trump had threatened to tear up the decades-old NAFTA.

However, Asia was unable to follow suit. Hong Kong reopened after a long weekend to fall 2.4 per cent, with data indicating a drop in Chinese manufacturing activity denting sentiment.

The “HSI is trading with a negative bias, playing catch up from yesterday’s holiday, in reaction to the weaker China [manufacturing] data”, said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. “It’s more than apparent Hong Kong investors are in no mood to join the revamped NAFTA festivities.”

Sydney shed 0.8 per cent, Singapore fell 0.5 per cent and Seoul was off 1.3 per cent.

Wellington, Taipei, Jakarta and Manila were also well down.

But Tokyo edged up 0.1 per cent after the Nikkei on Monday saw its highest close in 27 years with the yen at its weakest since November.

Markets in China were closed for a holiday.

London fell 0.3 per cent in early trade, while Paris lost 0.6 per cent and Frankfurt shed 0.4 per cent.

In forex trade, the euro faced selling pressure on concerns about Italy’s finances after its populist government agreed on a massive spending boost that blew out its budget, while eurozone finance ministers warned Rome to abide by fiscal rules.

High-yielding and emerging market currencies were mostly down as dealers looked for safer bets. The dollar broke 15,000 Indonesian rupiah for the first time since 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, while Mexico’s peso and the South African rand were more than one per cent off against the greenback.

South Korea’s won, the Australian dollar and the Russian ruble were also sharply lower.
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Sihanoukville tourism First half of 2018 sees 1.3M visitors

October 4, 2018, 1:03 am
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Hin Pisei | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 08:43 ICT

The Preah Sihanouk provincial Department of Tourism says Preah Sihanouk province received more than 1.3 million tourists during the first semester of this year.

Of this, over one million were domestic tourists and 290,782 foreign, with Chinese accounting for 84,664 – up 10.12 per cent compared to the same period last year.

However, the beaches in the province – once regarded as some of the world’s most beautiful – have been littered by ongoing development projects in recent years.

A significant influx of Chinese tourists and investors to Sihanoukville has left it rife with construction sites, bringing with it consequences that could leave a negative impact on the tourism industry as a whole.

To address this, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon met provincial authorities and other stakeholders on Monday to explore ways to address some of the challenges facing tourism development in the province.

Khon said the challenges in Sihanoukville, including security, environment, infrastructure, and tourism services management, have eroded the area’s popularity.

Khon has told the authorities to manage trash effectively and prevent dirty water from flowing into the sea.

Recently, private companies were caught filling Praek Treng beach, causing public outrage. After criticism, the government ordered the authorities to remove the landfill.
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Naga announces $1B gaming revenue

October 4, 2018, 1:03 am
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A view of NagaWorld building yesterday. Pha Lina

Hor Kimsay | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 08:36 ICT

NagaWorld saw the largest growth in its VIP operations, where “rollings” – a term which refers to the amount bet by gamblers – increased by 128 per cent to $25 billion for the first three quarters of this year.

Its parent company, Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp Ltd, released its third quarterly report on Monday, showing a 94 per cent increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) to $1.07 billion.

Mass market table buy-ins were up 57 per cent to $887.6 million while electronic gaming machine (EGM) bills-in rose 22 per cent to $1.6 billion.

NagaCorp chairman Timothy Patrick McNally said the opening of Naga 2 in November last year significantly increased the appeal, range and quality of Mass Gaming, Non-Gaming and VIP offerings.

The NagaWorld Complex – comprising of Naga 1 and Naga 2 – is connected via an underground shopping mall known as the NagaCity Walk.

“The group is in the advanced stages of planning for the development of a Naga 3. Based on feedback from stakeholders, the group is confident that additional capacity is necessary to further fuel business growth (in gaming and non-gaming) to position the group as one of the most successful integrated resorts in Asia.”

No information was given on where Naga 3 will be built.

NagaCorp’s quarterly report did not reveal profits during the nine months. However, its 2017 report showed that NagaWorld earned a net profit of $255.2 million last year.

Last year, NagaCorp reported paying $8.12 million in income tax while its gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the same year was $926 million – an effective tax rate of 0.87 per cent based on the company’s GGR.

Cambodia has one of the lowest effective tax rates in the world for casinos. A 2015 report from accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers noted that Macau had a 35 per cent tax on GGR, while Australia had a rate of between 10 and 45 per cent. Singapore imposed between five and 15 per cent.

The deputy director-general of the MEF’s Finance Industry Department, Ros Phirun, said yesterday that although casino laws in Cambodia have not been finalised, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) collects tax revenue from them based on the target determined in national budget law.

Phirun did not release the amount of tax revenue collected from the gambling sector last year but said it achieved 96 per cent of the target. He said there are 133 licensed casinos in Cambodia, of which nearly half are in Preah Sihanouk province.

“Currently, the draft law is at the Council of Ministers. After the law is finalised and put in place for implementation, we hope that tax collection revenue from the gambling sector will increase,” he said.

San Chey, the executive director of the NGO Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, said increasing revenue of the casino business should not be welcome news, but instead a worrying trend of social risk.

“I don’t believe yet that the tax collection revenue from casino businesses has been contributing to a solution of the issue. More revenue from gambling means more taxes, but do we really get more tax revenue?” he asked.

Of the increasing number of casinos in Preah Sihanouk province, Chey said there is a lot of negative impact due to the increase in gamblers.

If law enforcement is not strong enough, the social impact of the increasing revenue of casino businesses is also a cause for concern, he said.

“We always wonder that behind the massive increase in casino business revenue, who are the losers? What is the negative impact on our society?”
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Villagers file complaint with police

October 4, 2018, 2:00 am
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Mech Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 04 October 2018 | 08:44 ICT

Koh Chiveang commune residents have filed a complaint to the Ek Phnom district authorities in Battambang province accusing the 508th Military Police unit of extorting money from local fishermen.

Ek Phnom district governor Mil Sophil told local media that his team had received reports from a number of villagers, some of whom are fishermen from Koh Chiveang commune.

They urged the authorities to step in and remove the officers from the 508th unit and other involved units that had allegedly extorted money from fishermen on the Tonle Sap river.

“In their report, the villagers blamed all military police units but mainly focused on the 508th unit which claimed the [fishermen] had committed some illegal crimes in a prohibited area of the river."

“This was an excuse to extort money from them. The people became furious and demand that those from the unit be removed,” he said.

“We have already prepared a report which we will send to the higher authorities soon. After the report is reviewed at the district level, we will send it to the provincial authorities next week,” said Sophil.

The Post obtained a copy of the report from the district authorities, which said the head of the 508th unit had demanded money from the people.

“The military police did not protect people. They arrested some and demanded $10,000. We want officers of the unit who extorted money from us to be removed,” the report says.

Rights group Adhoc’s senior officer Soeng Senkarona said the crackdown was unreasonable.

“The officers carry out clampdowns on powerless people while the rich and the powerful are untouched. People are not very happy about this,” Senkarona said.

National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy could not be reached for comment as of press time.
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Tonle Sap Vietnamese ‘reluctant’ to move

October 4, 2018, 2:42 am
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Vietnamese people live on the Tonle Sap river in Kampong Chhnang town. Pha Lina

Mech Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 08:18 ICT

While more than 100 ethnic Vietnamese families out of the 300 living in floating houses on the Tonle Sap River in Kampong Chhnang province are willing to be relocated, a small number are holding out.

A Vietnamese national who wished to remain anonymous said the remaining families were hesitant to move as the new location is too far, making it difficult to earn a living and for their children to go to school.

But the province’s Vietnamese Association head, Bour Yang Bea, welcomed the authority’s decision.

“It’s good when we move to land. They can get benefits such as access to hospital and school and find jobs. Some don’t want to move because they worry about the loss of income,” he said.
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Busan film fest seeks ‘reunion’ after disaster

October 4, 2018, 2:51 am
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South Korean director Jero Yun speaks about his film ‘Beautiful Days’, the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival, in Seoul. afp

AFP | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 12:17 ICT

ORGANISERS of Asia’s largest film festival have issued a rallying cry to its supporters as the event emerges from years of starring in its own political drama.

The Busan International Film Festival hopes to draw a line under its role in a bitter row over the sinking of the Sewol ferry – one of South Korea’s deadliest ever disasters – which divided and traumatised the nation.

“This edition of the festival is a reunion,” said Lee Yong-kwan, chairman of the BIFF organising committee.

“This year is about our recovery and a return of our status. It’s about expansion and reformation.”

The festival opens on Thursday with the world premiere of South Korean director Jero Yun’s “Beautiful Days”, which focuses on a North Korean family reunited after the mother escapes south looking for a better life.

Its theme of reconciliation seems a fitting one considering the troubles BIFF has endured since the festival screened a controversial documentary about the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014.

“The Truth Shall Not Sink with Sewol” was critical of the then-government’s handling of the tragedy in April 2014 that left more than 300 people dead, most of them school children.

Investigations into and charges against festival organisers followed, along with significant funding cuts, as the dispute between BIFF and the government played out in public.

Lee and former deputy festival director Jay Jeon were initially removed from their posts but have been reinstated for this year’s edition, while the new government of President Moon Jae-in has thrown its support behind the festival.

“We hope this year to become a place that once again brings filmmakers together and that the festival can be back on track,” said BIFF programmer Nam Dong-chul.

The 23rd edition of the BIFF runs from October 4-13 and will feature 323 films from 79 countries, including 115 having their world premieres.

The Korean film industry is expected to be out in force on opening night with an array of local celebrities gracing the red carpet, including star of the opening film Lee Na-young, as well as Park Hae-il and Moon So-ri, who have brought the Zhang Lu-directed romance “Ode to the Goose” to the festival.

K-Pop star turned actress

Joining them will be the likes of Hollywood producer Jason Blum (of Oscar-nominated “Whiplash” and “Get Out” fame), acclaimed Chinese art-house darling Zhao Tao (“Ash is the Purest White”) and Indian hit-maker Rajkumar Hirani (“3 Idiots”).

Oscar-winning Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto will also be in town to accept BIFF’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award as well as to perform on opening night.

Highlights of the festival’s main programmes include the world premiere of multi-award-winning Hong Kong auteur Stanley Kwan’s latest, the theatre-themed “First Night Nerves”.

Local films as always feature prominently, with 16 world premieres in the Korean Cinema Today section including the debut as a lead actress from sometime K-Pop star Choi Soo-young (Girls Generation) in “Memories of a Dead End”.

The festival’s main competition – the New Currents award for first- or second-time Asian filmmakers – will this year be contested by 10 films from seven countries.

It features a rare Bhutanese production, the drama “The Red Phallus” from Tashi Gyeltshen.

Hong Kong filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping – famed for his work on the Oscar-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and on Hollywood’s “Matrix” franchise – has returned to the director’s chair for the actioner “Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy”.

The film will bring the festival to a close on October 13 with its world premiere.

“The unique part of BIFF is that it represents a wide range of cultures and filmmakers,” said Yuen.

First-time Malaysian director Zahir Omar is among the new talents on show.

Omar is bringing his stylised thriller “Fly By Night” to BIFF for its world premiere and said being accepted by the region’s preeminent festival felt “surreal”.

The Busan festival “allows us the space and support to develop our art”, said Omar.

“Many international festivals overlook [Asian filmmakers’] efforts, but [BIFF] has become a festival that we all aspire to get into at some point in our careers.

“To say it is a big event would be an understatement.”
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Neither rich nor crazy: labourers’ plight in Singapore shown in film

October 4, 2018, 2:53 am
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Singaporean actor Liu Xiaoyi (centre) acts during filming for ‘A Land Imagined’ in Singapore. PHILIPP ALDRUP/AKANGA FILM ASIA/AFP

AFP | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 03 October 2018 | 11:07 ICT

A WORLD away from the opulence showcased in hit rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians”, a critically acclaimed film noir is shedding light on a less well-known side of Singapore – the precarious existence of its migrant workers.

“A Land Imagined” tells the story of a Chinese labourer who goes missing while working on a building site, and the efforts of a world-weary detective to track him down.

His lonely life serves as a window into the world of the approximately 280,000 foreign workers who toil to build the affluent city-state’s glittering skyscrapers and ubiquitous residential high-rises.

The movie debuted in August at the Locarno Festival, where it won the top prize, and features atmospheric scenes of bleak construction sites, drab workers’ dormitories, and rain-lashed, neon-lit streets.

Singaporean director Yeo Siew Hua said the film aimed to raise awareness about the lives of migrant labourers who have flocked to the wealthy city from poorer parts of Asia and are often regarded as “outsiders”.

“When we talk about the migrant workforce in Singapore, there is a certain blindness, especially in mainstream society,” Yeo told AFP.

“The film tries to show them as humans, as people with hopes and dreams.”

Contrasting depictions

It had its debut around the same time as the US release of Hollywood film “Crazy Rich Asians”, which was a box-office hit and won plaudits for its Asian-majority cast – but its depiction of the city-state could not be more different.

The rom-com, about an American-Chinese economics professor and her Singapore boyfriend, focuses on the ultra-wealthy ethnic Chinese elite and features well-known sights, such as the impressive waterfront skyline.

“A Land Imagined” follows the life of Wang Bi Cheng from China, who works for a land-reclamation company – about a quarter of Singapore sits on reclaimed land.

This is a long-running source of controversy as sand is imported for reclamation from other parts of Asia, a practice that green groups say causes environmental damage in the supplying countries.

He lives in a shared dormitory next to a busy road and spends his nights playing computer games in a cybercafe – befriending the sassy woman who works there – and hangs out with a Bangladeshi labourer who is struggling with debts.

When Wang goes missing, police send in a jaded detective, Lok, who is shocked when he encounters the migrants’ living conditions.

NGOs working with foreign labourers in the city-state of 5.6 million welcomed the film for drawing attention to their lives.

Stephanie Chok, advocacy and communications manager from campaign group Home, said challenges for foreign labourers range from poor living conditions to long working hours and unscrupulous employers withholding wages or underpaying them.

Depictions of workers’ lives in the film ring true, such as huge, self-contained dormitory complexes in less desirable parts of Singapore and employers holding on to workers’ passports to prevent them from leaving, she said.

Huge debts

Wang’s Bangladeshi friend, Ajit, is unable to leave Singapore due to debts – a common problem for foreign labourers, who often take out loans for fees to secure work and are unable to pay them back due to low salaries, according to rights groups.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, however, insists that surveys it has commissioned show the vast majority of foreign workers are satisfied with working in the city and consider it “an attractive destination country”.

The ministry has a “comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure that foreign workers in Singapore are properly managed, and that their wellbeing is not compromised”, a spokesman said in a statement.

It said workers were protected by laws in areas including payment of salaries, compensation for work injuries and ensuring they have accommodation of a decent standard.

After its success at Locarno, the film is heading to other festivals, including Hamburg and Vancouver, and will have a commercial release in Singapore at the end of the year.

Those fighting for a better lot for foreign labourers praised the effort to draw greater attention to their difficulties.

“When we tell Singaporeans about the issues that the migrant workers face, they say ‘no, no, Singapore is a country where we have very good laws, and these things cannot be happening’,” Ethan Guo, from NGO Transient Workers Count Too, told AFP.

“I think general awareness of the plight that these migrant workers go through is what we feel is needed more in Singapore.”
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Four receive jail terms over Preah Sihanouk land dispute

October 4, 2018, 3:16 am
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Villagers rally at the Preah Sihanouk provincial court on Wednesday, demanding the release of four people involved in a land dispute. ccfc

Soth Koemsoeun | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 04 October 2018 | 09:29 ICT

Preah Sihanouk provincial court yesterday sentenced four representatives of the O’ksach community in Otres commune, Stung Hav district, Preah Sihanouk province to a year in jail and a five million riel fine.

The decision was handed down after the court ordered the detention of “those who used violence against property owners”.The case of the accused involved a land dispute with Oknha Tan Tab and Lonh Vannak.

Meantime, some 300 people who were present in front of the court during the trial, sang songs and demanded the court drop the charges and release the accused – Luch Touch, 55, Kao Heng, 43, Nhgang Cheat, 35, and Men Ken, 36.

They said the four should be released to be reunited with their families for the coming Pchum Ben Festival.

Sun Sophat, who represented the community, said: “The court has decided and announced that the four have to serve one-year sentences and each has to pay a fine of five million riel.

“This case is absolutely unfair. If the court does not drop the charges against them, where will they find the money to pay this tycoon? We are very disappointed in this court.”

Court deputy prosecutor Lim Bun Heng said the sentence would be reduced to seven months.

Six people were arrested by the police and sued by Tan Tab on May 7, as they cleared grass and weeds on their own land which they have been legally occupying since 1992.

Four of the six were convicted in the provincial court with “causing violence to the property owner” according to Article 253, while the other two were released after being detained following a complaint by the tycoon.

According to Article 253 of the Land Law, the four could have faced a fine of up to 25 million riel and imprisonment of between six months and two years.

The coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) president Theng Saroeun claimed that the people hardly won any land dispute cases which were taken to court. Nonetheless, they should file a complaint to the Appeal Court.

He said that tycoons sue citizens as a threat not to engage in land disputes against them and that it was not the first time the court had ruled against the people in such cases.

“This case might be due to corruption. Since the government granted economic land concessions to the companies, the people protested to the top state institutions."

“But those institutions have issued intervention letters to the provincial authorities in order to settle the cases for the people, but have not [done so]. All we see are complaints filed against the people instead,” he said.
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តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង​លើក​ពេល​ករណី​បង្គាប់​ឲ្យ​កសិករ​៤​នាក់​ចូល​ឆ្លើយ​ដោះសា

October 4, 2018, 3:17 am
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ទិដ្ឋភាព​នៅ​ខាង​ក្រៅ​តុលាការ​ខែត្រ​ស្វាយរៀង នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​២៧ មករា ២០១០។ RFA

ដោយ ម៉ៅ សុធានី RFA 2018-10-04

ក្រុម​កសិករ​ដែល​រង​ការ​ចោទ​ថា បាន​រំលោភ​កាន់កាប់​ដី​ឯកជន​របស់​រដ្ឋ នៅ​ស្រុក​រមាសហែក ៤​នាក់ ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង បានសម្រេច​លើក​ពេល​ជំនុំជម្រះ​ករណី​របស់​ពួកគាត់ ដោយសារ​ក្រឡាបញ្ជី​ជាប់រវល់​ទៅ​ធ្វើ​បុណ្យ។ សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល​ឃ្លាំមើល​ករណី​នេះ ចង់​ឃើញ​មានការ​សម្របសម្រួល​គ្នា​បញ្ចប់​ជម្លោះ ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​គ្រប់​ភាគី​ទទួល​យក​បាន ជាជាង​ការ​បន្ដ​ប្ដឹង​ឡើង​តុលាការ ដែល​ធ្វើ​ករណី​នេះ នៅតែ​បន្ត​អូស​បន្លាយ។

កសិករ​ជាប់ចោទ​ទាំង​៤​នាក់ បាន​សម្ដែង​ការ​ខកចិត្ត​ចំពោះ​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង ដែល​បាន​ចេញ​ដីកា​បង្គាប់​ត្រឹមត្រូវ ប៉ុន្តែ ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​សវនាការ ស្រាប់តែ​លើក​ពេល ដោយ​មិន​ជូនដំណឹង​ជាមុន។

កសិករ​ជា​ជនជាប់ចោទ​ម្នាក់ អ្នកស្រី ខៀវ សារ៉ុន ឲ្យ​អាស៊ីសេរី​ដឹង​ថា នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៣ តុលា ក្រុម​កសិករ​ទាំង​៤​នាក់ បាន​នាំគ្នា​ចូល​ទៅ​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្ត​តាម​ដីកា​បង្គាប់ ប៉ុន្តែ ក្រោយពេល​រង់ចាំ​ជាច្រើន​ម៉ោង​នៅ​ក្នុង​សាលាដំបូង មាន​មនុស្ស​ម្នាក់ បាន​ទូរស័ព្ទ​ប្រាប់​អ្នកស្រី​ថា សវនាការ​ត្រូវ​លើក​ពេល ដោយសារតែ​ក្រុម​មន្ត្រី​តុលាការ ជាប់រវល់​ទៅ​ធ្វើ​បុណ្យ៖ «ពេល​ពួក​ខ្ញុំ​ទៅដល់​កន្លែង​តុលាការ​នឹង​អើ​ពួក​ខ្ញុំ ទៅដល់​មួយ​ស្របក់ បាន​មាន​គេ​ចេញ​មក​ប្រាប់ ថា​ក្រឡាបញ្ជី​អត់​នៅ​ទេ​គាត់​រវល់​កន្លែង​តែ​ទៅ​ធ្វើបុណ្យ គាត់​អត់​នៅ​ទេ គាត់​អត់​មាន​ប្រាប់​ហេតុផល​អី​ទៀត​ផង គាត់​ប្រាប់​ហេតុផល​តែ​ប៉ុណ្ណឹង»។

អ្នកស្រី ខៀវ សារ៉ុន និង​កសិករ​៣​នាក់​ផ្សេងទៀត មាន អ្នកស្រី ម៉ន ស៊ីណា លោក ធឿន វ៉េង និង លោក សំ វឿន ត្រូវ​បាន​តំណាង​អយ្យការ​អម​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង ចេញ​ដីកាកោះ ឲ្យ​ចូលរួម​សវនាការ នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​០៣ តុលា វេលា​ម៉ោង​៩​ព្រឹក ជា​កំហិត ដើម្បី​ឆ្លើយ​ដោះសារ​ពី​ការ​ចោទប្រកាន់​លើ​ខ្លួន ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​បទ​ចោទ ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ខូចខាត​ដោយ​ចេតនា និង​រំលោភ​កាន់កាប់​ដីធ្លី​ឯកជន​របស់​រដ្ឋ ប្រព្រឹត្តិ​នៅ​ភូមិ​ស្រែឬស្សី ឃុំ​អំពិល ស្រុក​រមាសហែក ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​០៤ ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៨ មេសា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៨ តាម​បញ្ញត្តិ​មួយ​ចំនួន​នៃ​ក្រមព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ និង​ច្បាប់​ភូមិបាល​ឆ្នាំ​២០០១។

កាលពី​ពាក់កណ្ដាល​ខែ​កុម្ភៈ តំណាង​អយ្យការ​អម​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង បាន​ចេញ​ដីកា​បង្គាប់​ឲ្យ​ពួកគេ​ទាំង​៤​នាក់ ផ្ដល់​ចម្លើយ​លើ​បទ​ចោទ​ម្ដង​រួចហើយ និង​បាន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​ត្រលប់​ទៅផ្ទះ​វិញ។

កសិករ​រង​ការចោទប្រកាន់​ម្នាក់ទៀត ឈ្មោះ ធឿន វ៉េង ហៅ​ការ​ចេញ​ដីកា​កោះហៅ ប៉ុន្តែ ក្រោយមក​ត្រូវ​បាន​លើក​ពេល​វិញ ដោយ​មិនបាន​ជូនដំណឹង​ជាមុន ជា​ការ​មិន​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ទេ និង​គ្មាន​ភាព​ទទួលខុសត្រូវ​លើ​ការងារ​របស់​ខ្លួន ខណៈ​ដែល​ពលរដ្ឋ​ជាង​២០០​នាក់ បាន​ទៅ​ឈរ​ចាំ​មើល​ការ​សម្រេច​ក្តី​របស់​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៣ តុលា៖ «ដល់ពេល​ធ្វើ​អ៊ីចឹង​ឲ្យ​ពលរដ្ឋ​គាត់​វាយ​តម្លៃ​ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញា​បាន​ហើយ​គាត់​ឲ្យ​ខ្ញុំ​ទៅដល់​ពេល​ខ្ញុំ​ទៅដល់​គាត់​អត់​នៅ​អ៊ីចឹង​ក្នុងនាម​ខ្ញុំ​ជា​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​អស់ ជំនឿ​ចិត្ត»។

ពលរដ្ឋ​អះអាង​ថា ថ្វីបើ​ពាក្យបណ្ដឹង​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​តំណាង​អយ្យការ​កោះហៅ​អ្នកភូមិ ជា​ច្រើនដង​មក​ហើយ ប៉ុន្តែ រហូត​មក​ដល់​ពេល​នេះ ពួកគេ​មិន​ដឹង​ពិត​ប្រាកដ​ថា នរណា​ជាដើម​បណ្ដឹង​នៅឡើយ​ទេ។ ជម្លោះដីធ្លី​ដ៏​រ៉ាំរ៉ៃ រវាង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​ឃុំ​អំពិល និង​នៅ​ឃុំ​គគីរ ក្នុងស្រុក​រមាសហែក ប្រមាណ ៤៤០​គ្រួសារ ជាមួយ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ឈ្មោះ អិន.ខេ.វី (NKV) ដែល​ទទួល​សិទ្ធិ​វិនិយោគ​ដាំ​អំពៅ​លើ​ដី​របស់​រដ្ឋ​ទំហំ​ប្រមាណ​ជិត ៧០០​ហិកតារ បាន​ពើប​ប្រទះ​ស្ថានភាព​តានតឹង​ខ្លាំង បន្ទាប់ពី​ពុំ​មាន​ដំណោះស្រាយ​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ ហើយ​ថែមទាំង​តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង ចេញ​ដីកា​កោះហៅ​តំណាង​កសិករ ៤​រូប ឲ្យ​ឡើង​តុលាការ​ជា​ញឹកញាប់។

ក្រុម​កសិករ​នៅ​ឃុំ​អំពិល នៃ​ស្រុក​រមាសហែក​ជារឿយៗ តែង​បាន​ឡើង​ដាក់​ញ្ញត្តិ​នៅ​តាម​ស្ថាប័ន​ជាតិ​ធំៗ នៅ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ដើម្បី​ទាមទារ​យក​ដីធ្លី​ទាំងនោះ​មកវិញ ដោយ​ពួកគេ​អះអាង​ថា ដី​នោះ ជា​ដី​របស់​ពួកគេ ហើយ​ត្រូវ​បាន​អាជ្ញាធរ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង ឃុបឃិត​គ្នា​ជាមួយ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ឯកជន​រំលោភ​យក។

អាស៊ីសេរី​មិនទាន់​អាច​សុំ​ការ​ឆ្លើយ​តប​ពី​ខាង​ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញា លោក គង់ ច័ន្ទខេមរិទ្ធ ដែល​ចេញ​ដីកា កោះហៅ​នៅឡើយ​ទេ ជុំវិញ​ករណី​លើក​ពេល​សវនាការ​នេះ។

អគ្គលេខាធិការ​សម្ព័ន្ធ​សហគមន៍​កសិករ​កម្ពុ​ជា លោក ថេង សាវឿន ហៅ​ដីកា​កោះហៅ​តំណាង​ពលរដ្ឋ ឬ​តំណាង​កសិករ​ទាំង​៤​នាក់ គឺ​រូបភាព​នៃ​ការ​គំរាមកំហែង ដើម្បី​បន្ទច់បង្អាក់​សកម្មភាព​តវ៉ា​របស់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ និង​ហាក់​ជា​ការ​គេចវេះ​ពី​ការទទួលខុសត្រូវ ក្នុង​ការ​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ចប់​ជម្លោះ៖ «ការចោទប្រកាន់​នឹង​ការ​ប្ដឹងផ្ដល់​នឹង​កើតឡើង តាំងពី​ឆ្នាំ​២០១៧​មក​ម្ល៉េះ ហើយ​មកដល់ ពេលនេះ​ទើប​មានការ​កោះហៅ យើង​ដឹង​ថា ប្រជាជន​សហគមន៍​ទាំងអស់ គាត់​ត្រៀមខ្លួន​រួចរាល់​ផង​ដែរ ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ និង​បញ្ចប់ ជម្លោះ​របស់ គាត់​ហ្នឹង»។

ក្រុម​កសិករ​ទាំង​៤​នាក់​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា គិត​ត្រឹម​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៣ តុលា ពួកគេ​មិនទាន់​បាន​ទទួល​ដំណឹង​ថា សវនាការ​នឹង​ត្រូវ​លើក​ពេល​ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ណា​ទេ។ យ៉ាងណា អគ្គលេខាធិការ​សម្ព័ន្ធ​សហគមន៍​កសិករ​កម្ពុជា លោក ថេង សាវឿន យល់ថា ដើម្បី​បិទ​បញ្ចប់​ជម្លោះ​នេះ អាជ្ញាធរ​មូលដ្ឋាន​នៅ​ខេត្ត​ស្វាយរៀង គួរ​ជជែក​ជាមួយ​ភាគី​ទាំងពីរ គឺ​ខាង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន និង​ខាង​ពលរដ្ឋ ដោយ​បើក​ចំហ ហើយ​រក​វិធី​សមស្រប​ណាមួយ ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​ភាគី​ទាំង​២​ទទួល​យក​បាន ទើប​ជម្លោះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​បិទ​បញ្ចប់​ទាំងស្រុង៕
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ក្រសួង​ការងារ​ស្នើ​ដល់​ម្ចាស់​សហគ្រាស​បើកប្រាក់​ឈ្នួល​ដល់​កម្មករ​មុន​ថ្ងៃ​ភ្ជុំ​បិណ្ឌ

October 4, 2018, 3:20 am
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រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​ការងារ និង​បណ្ដុះបណ្ដាល​វិជ្ជាជីវៈ លោក អ៊ិត សំហេង ថ្លែង​នៅ​ក្នុង​សិក្ខាសាលា​ពិគ្រោះ​យោបល់​ស្ដីពី​សេចក្ដី​ព្រាង​ច្បាប់​ស្ដីពី​ប្រាក់​ឈ្នួល​អប្បបរមា នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២២ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៧។ RFA

អាស៊ីសេរី RFA 2018-10-04

បុគ្គលិក​​សហគ្រាស​គ្រឹះស្ថាន​រដ្ឋ និង​ឯកជន​ទាំងអស់ នឹង​អាច​ឈប់​សម្រាក​ចូលរួម​បុណ្យ​ភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ​ចំនួន​បី​ថ្ងៃ ដោយ​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់ខែ​ចាប់ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៨ ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១០ តុលា។

​ក្រសួង​ការងារ និង​បណ្ដុះបណ្ដាល​វិជ្ជាជីវៈ អំពាវនាវ​ដល់​ម្ចាស់​សហគ្រាស​គ្រឹះស្ថាន​ទាំងអស់ ដែល​ស្ថិត​ក្រោម​ដែន​អនុវត្តន៍​ច្បាប់​ស្ដីពី​ការងារ អនុញ្ញាត​ឱ្យ​បុគ្គលិក​របស់​ខ្លួន​ឈប់សម្រាក​រយៈពេល បី ថ្ងៃ ដោយ​គិត​ប្រាក់​ឈ្នួល​ឱ្យ​ធម្មតា និង​រៀបចំ​បើកប្រាក់​ឈ្នួល​ឱ្យ​បុគ្គលិក​របស់​ខ្លួន ឱ្យ​បាន​មុន​ថ្ងៃ​ភ្ជុំ​បិណ្ឌ ឬ​បើកប្រាក់​បុរេប្រទាន​យ៉ាងតិច ៥០% ឱ្យ​ទៅ​កម្មករ ក្នុង​ករណី​ដែល​សហគ្រាស​គ្រឹះស្ថាន មិន​មាន​លទ្ធភាព​បើកប្រាក់​ឈ្នួល​ទាន់​ពេលវេលា​នោះ​ទេ។

មាត្រា ១៦៤ នៃ​ច្បាប់​ស្ដីពី​ការងារ​ចែងថា សហគ្រាស​ដែល​មិន​អាច​បញ្ឈប់​ការងារ ដោយ​សកម្មភាព​របស់​ខ្លួន​តម្រូវ កម្មករ​និយោជិក​ទាំងឡាយ​ដែល​ជាប់​ធ្វើ​ការងារ​ក្នុង​ថ្ងៃ​ឈប់​បុណ្យ ត្រូវ​មាន​សិទ្ធិ​ទទួល​ក្រៅ​អំពី​ប្រាក់​ឈ្នួល​នៃ​ការងារ​ដែល​ខ្លួន​បាន​ធ្វើ នូវ​ប្រាក់​បំណាច់​មួយ​ដែល​នៅ​លើ​បន្ទុក​របស់​និយោជក។

ពិធីបុណ្យ​កាន់បិណ្ឌ និង​ភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ មាន​រយៈពេល ១៥​ថ្ងៃ រាប់​ចាប់ពី​ថ្ងៃទី២៥ ខែ​កញ្ញា រហូត​ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៩ ខែ​តុលា៕
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The XXIst Century’s Chéy Chétha

October 4, 2018, 3:22 am
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KhmerPAC  | September 30, 2018

My dear Kacvey,

You and your students certainly have friends of Khmer Krom origin and whose historical memory is still vivid and painful about how Chéy Chétha II, in 1623, gave away about 34,300 square miles of Khmer land to Vietnam that later, in the 18th century, incorporated into its own territory.

The 21st century is witnessing and living through the same experience and reality that Cambodia is transforming itself into a vassal state or a colony territory, the chef d’oeuvre of the weak strongman. How ironic future history of Cambodia is revealing: the ex-Khmer Rouge who proclaimed to be the strongman who oppressed and repressed Cambodia and Cambodians is progressively handing over Cambodia to the power of money from the Northern Capital. When the weak strongman dies – no man lives forever – his soul wold be doubly judged: one by Hades for being part of the genocidal Khmer Rouge, and two by history for being the Chéy Chéetha XI for letting the people from the Middle Kingdom to come and take over the land of the Khmer Leu.

Somewhere, under a banyan tree on the sidewalk of the silk road, two men share their secrets:

Phnuoy Mék: May I greet you my lord, and long live your reign!
On Ze: Not too loud, banyan branches have ears.
Phnuoy Mék: My lord, I thank you for having made me who I am since 2012.
On Ze: You’ve been a good boy for us, and you’ve served us well.
Phnuoy Mék: For your desire, nothing cannot be impossible in srè khmok so long you let me know.
On Ze: Listen carefully. So far, it’s only the beginning. I have a big belly, so my belt is long, and the road I’m travelling is much longer than the historical silk road.
Phnuoy Mék: My lord, I’m all ears.

On Ze: I want to make your country and its sea a 1st outpost of my objective to control the whole region: the economy will serve the military.
Phnuoy Mék: Yes, my lord. Money first and army later.
On Ze: Not only that, but also millions of my subjects. I need my people to execute my plan. Your guys are not up to the level of my plan.
Phnuoy Mék: I close my eye for their arrival by air, sea or land.
On Ze: Yes, that’s why the casinos are an indispensable instrument: my subjects use entertainment to disguise their true identity.
Phnuoy Mék: My lord, the more the casinos, the fuller my coffer.
On Ze: We supply you with more than yo wish, even if you would wish to use it as a pyre.
Phnuoy Mék: Your desire is my obligation, my lord.
On Ze: Don’t do anything behind my back to upset Ngouy.
Phnuoy Mék: Please count on me, my lord. Ngouy is sulking and pouting, but I told him that I am very thankful to him for what he’d done to me since the time I left the khmèr krâhârm to join him in 1977, facilitated my return in early 1979 and until I started to embrace your feet.
On Ze: I deal with him on my own, but just make sure that Ngouy’s people around you do not do foolish thing.
Phnuoy Mék: My lord, I hear your voice.
On Ze: You’ve done a great job in shutting up your people’s mouth against you. The same thing must apply towards me and my gamblers.
Phnuoy Mék: In my previous association with the khmèr krâhârm, I’ve learned how to make them “bak sbaat.” They are still under that spell, and my lord should not worry.
On Ze: I have to leave now; anything else you wish?
Phnuoy Mék: My lord, have you thought about “after me”?
On Ze: Oh yes, I have. You seem to forget that Ngouy had groomed you and you have neglected not to groom anybody for “after you.”
Phnuoy Mék: I do, my lord; any of my 3 sons can be my dauphin.
On Ze: But none of them has had training in my hometown like you had in Ngouy’s hometown.
Phnuoy Mék: Please absolve my sin, my lord.
On Ze: You shouldn’t worry about your “after me.” Since the end of the cultural revolution, I am the secretary general number 5. So, change makes changes. You have done enough for me that, “after you”, the spot will not be empty.
Phnuoy Mék: My lord, are my days numbered?
On Ze: I don’t read cards, but my plan includes the ephemerality of the person; nobody lives forever nor is absolutely indispensable in the future. After you go, your land remains … for our use.
Phnuoy Mék: What will happen to my three sons?
On Ze: They can still enjoy the remnant of your wealth … elsewhere.
Phnuoy Mék: Oh no, are you making me the Chéy Chétha of the XXIst century?
On Ze: I don’t make you Chéy Chétha. You make yourself like Chéy Chétha … without knowing it.
Phnuoy Mék: Why didn’t I see it?
On Ze: Your Chéy Chétha was about woman. You are about power and money. All things you have done have consequences that your eye can’t see. Good Bye.
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Former CNRP Lawmaker Calls For Release of Party Members Still Held in Jail

October 4, 2018, 3:24 am
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Protesters shout slogans against Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen during a rally outside UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 28, 2018. AP

2018-10-03 RFA

Former Cambodian opposition party lawmaker Ou Chanrath called on the government on Wednesday to free all members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party still held in the country’s jails, saying their release will pose no threat to national security.

“They should be released because they are political prisoners,” Ou Chanrath said, speaking to RFA’s Khmer Service in an interview.

“Their release will have no impact on Cambodia’s national security, and it will be in the national interest,” he said.

Ou Chanrath’s call for the prisoners’ release comes amid reports that Cambodia’s Ministry of Justice is preparing a list of more than 300 convicts’ names to be sent to Prime Minister Hun Sen, with the request that he forward the list to King Norodom Sihamoni to ask that those prisoners be pardoned or have their jail terms reduced.

That list will apply only to women who have children or are pregnant, or to convicts who are elderly or ill, however.

Speaking to reporters this week, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Chin Malin said that CNRP prisoners still in jail are not yet qualified for pardons or reductions in the their prison terms.

On Sept. 12, Human Rights Watch called on Hun Sen to release all political prisoners and drop all charges against them, arguing that recent releases and pardons were merely “attempts to regain international legitimacy after sham elections.”

Political prisoners profiled

The New York-based rights group issued the appeal as it launched “Political Prisoners Cambodia,” a new webpage that profiles political prisoners jailed in the country that Hun Sen has now ruled for 33 years.

He added five years to his tenure in office in July elections in which his party won every seat after he banned the CNRP, Cambodia’s only viable opposition party.

Hun Sen has made a practice of heavy-handed crackdowns on his critics, followed by a relaxation of restrictions after facing international condemnation.

In August, the Cambodian king granted a royal pardon at Hun Sen’s behest to 14 jailed CNRP activists who were serving long sentences for “insurrection” in connection with anti-government street protests in 2014 that turned into violent clashes with police and security forces.

The move followed the release on bail from pre-trial detention of former CNRP leader Kem Sokha a year after he was arrested on treason charges widely seen as politically motivated.

The 65-year-old opposition chief’s release carried the conditions that he must stay within a block radius of his home, cannot meet with CNRP officials or foreigners, and cannot join or host any rallies or political activities, his lawyer said.

Kem Sokha, who had previously been denied bail six times despite fears he was suffering from ill health, still faces up to 30 years if convicted of treason.

Denied medical treatment

Meanwhile, a former council deputy chief for Poipet commune jailed in Banteay Meanchey province on charges of “incitement to violence” has been refused permission to seek medical treatment outside of jail and is in failing health, according to his wife.

Chao Veasna, a member of the Sam Rainsy Party, one of two parties that combined to form the CNRP, is suffering from fevers and other chronic conditions including skin disease, his wife Vong Kimhong told RFA’s Khmer Service in a recent interview.

“The prison has allowed other prisoners to get treatment outside jail except for my husband. This is very unfair to my family,” Vong Kimhong said.

Speaking to RFA in response, provincial correction center director Um Siphan called Vong Kimhong’s allegations unfounded, adding, “[Chao Veasna’s] health is normal, and he has been exercising.”

“If he was sick, our staff would have brought him to a hospital,” he said.

Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney.
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អ្នក​នាំពាក្យ​ហៅ​អ្នក​គ្រោង​ធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​នៅ​ជប៉ុន​ ​ជា​ «​ក្រុម​សំរាម​»

October 4, 2018, 3:25 am
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អ្នក​ចូលរួម​ស្វាគមន៍​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន នៅ​អាមេរិក​។ រូប ហ្វេសប៊ុក SPM

បែន សុខហ៊ាន | ភ្នំពេញ-ប៉ុស្តិ៍ Publication date 04 October 2018 | 09:51 ICT

ភ្នំពេញៈ បន្ទាប់ពី​បាតុកម្ម​លើ​ទឹក​អាមេរិក ដើម្បី​ប្រឆាំង និង​គាំទ្រ​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ទៅ​ចូលរួម​មហាសន្និបាត​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ​ត្រូវបាន​បញ្ចប់​បាតុកម្ម​មួយ​ទៀត​នឹង​ត្រូវ​ផ្ទុះ​ឡើង​ជាថ្មី​លើ​ទឹកដី​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន ដើម្បី​ប្រឆាំង​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ទៅ​ចូលរួម​ជំនួប​កំពូល​មេគង្គ-ជប៉ុន នៅ​ចុង​សប្ដាហ៍​នេះ​ជា​បាតុកម្ម​ដែល​អ្នក​នាំពាក្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​ដោយ​ «​ក្រុម​សំរាម​» ​ដែល​អាច​ត្រឹមតែ​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព​តាម​ចិញ្ចើមផ្លូវ​។

តាម​ការគ្រោងទុក​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន​នឹង​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​ទៅ​កាន់​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន​ចាប់ពី​ថ្ងៃទី​ ៦ ដល់​ថ្ងៃទី​ ១០ ខែ​តុលា ដើម្បី​ទៅ​ចូលរួម​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​កំពូល​នៃ​កិច្ចសហប្រតិបត្តិការ​មេគង្គ-ជប៉ុន លើក​ទី​ ១០ ជាមួយ​បណ្ដា​មេដឹកនាំ​ក្នុង​តំបន់​ផ្សេង​ទៀត​ដែល​គ្រោង​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​នៅក្នុង​ទីក្រុង​តូក្យូ​ចន្លោះ​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​ ៨ ដល់​ថ្ងៃទី​ ៩ ខែ​តុលា​ខាង​មុខ​។

ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ក៏​គ្រោង​ធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​ផ្សេង​ទៀត​លើ​ទឹកដី​អឺរ៉ុប ដើម្បី​ប្រឆាំង​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​លោក​ ហ៊ុន សែន ដូច​គ្នា​នាឱកាស​ដែល​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន គ្រោង​ទៅ​ចូលរួម​ជំនួប​កំពូល​អឺរ៉ុប-អាស៊ាន​នៅក្នុង​ទីក្រុង​ប្រ៊ុចសែល​ប្រទេស​បែលហ្ស៊ិក​នៅ​ថ្ងៃទី ១៩ ខែ​តុលា​ផង​ដែរ​។ នេះ​បើ​តាម​ការប្រកាស​របស់​ប្រធាន​ចលនា​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​លោក​ សម រង្ស៊ី លើ​ទំព័រ​ធ្វីធើរ​របស់​លោក​។

ក្នុង​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​ ៤ ​ថ្ងៃ​លើ​ទឹកដី​អាមេរិក​កាលពី​សប្ដាហ៍​មុន​ដើម្បី​ទៅ​ចូលរួម​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ទូទៅ​លើក​ទី​ ៧៣ ​នៃ​មហាសន្និបាត​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ និង​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ផ្សេង​ទៀត​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ពើបប្រទះ​នឹង​បាតុកម្ម​ប្រឆាំង​តវ៉ា​របស់​អ្នក​គាំទ្រ​អតីត​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ដែល​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ កុំ​ទទួល​ស្គាល់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​របស់​លោក​ដែល​កើត​ចេញ​ពី​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ដែល​ក្រុមប្រឆាំង​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា​ជា​ «​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ក្លែងក្លាយ​» និង​ក៏​មាន​ការប្រមូលផ្តុំ​គាំទ្រ​ស្វាគមន៍​រូបលោក​ផង​ដែរ​។

លោក ហៃ វណ្ណា ប្រធាន​ចលនា​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ប្រចាំ​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន និង​ជា​អ្នករៀបចំ​បាតុកម្ម​ប្រឆាំង​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ប្រាប់​ភ្នំពេញ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍​កាលពី​ម្សិលមិញ​ថា ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ដែល​រស់នៅ​ និង​ធ្វើការ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន​នឹង​ចូលរួម​ធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​ដើរ​ក្បួន​ក្នុង​ទីក្រុង​តូក្យូ ដើម្បី​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​វត្តមាន​របស់​លោក​ ហ៊ុន សែន​។

លោក​ថ្លែង​ថា​៖ «​យើង​រំពឹង​ថា​បងប្អូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ដែល​មិន​ពេញ​ចិត្ត​នឹង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​មិន​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ និង​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​មិន​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ និង​មិន​ពេញ​ចិត្ត​នឹង​វត្តមាន​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន មក​ចូលរួម​តំណាង​ឲ្យ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ​ក្នុង​មហាសន្និបាត​មេគង្គ-ជប៉ុន​នឹង​មក​ចូលរួម​»​។

លោក​រំពឹង​ថា​នឹង​មាន​អ្នកចូលរួម​តវ៉ា​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​វត្តមាន​របស់​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន លើ​ទឹកដី​ជប៉ុន​ប្រមាណ​ ១ ​ពាន់​នាក់​។ លោក​ក៏​សង្ឃឹម​ថា​សំឡេង​របស់​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​នឹង​ឮ​ដល់​សហគមន៍​អន្តរជាតិ​នឹង​បន្ត​ដាក់​សម្ពាធ​បន្ថែម​ទៀត​លើ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យ​វិល​ទៅ​រក​គន្លង​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ជាថ្មី​។ «​គោលបំណង​ដែល​យើង​ធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​នេះ​គឺ​យើង​គ្រាន់តែ​ចង់​ប្រាប់​ទៅ​អន្តរជាតិ​ជាពិសេស​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន​ថា ក្នុង​នាម​យើង​ជា​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​តំណាង​ឲ្យ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស ក៏ដូចជា​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​នៅក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន​យើង​មិន​ទទួល​ស្គាល់​ការបោះឆ្នោត​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី​ ២៩ ខែ​កក្កដា​កន្លង​ទៅ​នោះ​ទេ​»​។

ប៉ុន្តែ​លោក ផៃ ស៊ីផាន អ្នក​នាំពាក្យ​ទីស្ដីការ​គណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​កាលពី​ម្សិលមិញ​ជឿ​ថា​នឹង​មាន​ក្រុម​អ្នកគាំទ្រ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​ដូច​គ្នា​គាំទ្រ និង​ទទួល​ស្វាគមន៍​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​លោក​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​លើ​ទឹកដី​ជប៉ុន​។

លោក​បន្ត​ថា សកម្មភាព​របស់​ក្រុម​បាតុករ​គាំទ្រ​អតីត​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​មិន​ប៉ះពាល់​ដល់​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​គណៈប្រតិភូ​កម្ពុជា​ទេ​។ ជាមួយ​គ្នា​នេះ​លោក​ចាត់​ទុក​ក្រុម​ប្រឆាំង​ថា​ជា​ «​ក្រុម​សំរាម​» ​ដែល​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព​នៅ​តាម​ចិញ្ចើមថ្នល់​ដែល​តែងតែ​អុកឡុក​គណៈប្រតិភូ​កម្ពុជា​។

លោក​ថ្លែង​ថា​៖ «​អ្នក​បាតុកម្ម​គឺ​គ្រាន់តែ​ជា​ក្រុម​មួយ​ក្ដាប់​តូច​ដែល​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​វត្តមាន​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​ការងារ​របស់​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​។ វា​នឹង​មិន​ប៉ះពាល់​អ្វី​ (​ដល់​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​)​ទេ ព្រោះ​ពួកគេ​គ្រាន់តែ​ជា​សំរាម​នៅ​តាម​ចិញ្ចើមថ្នល់​។ ពួកគេ​គ្មាន​ឥទ្ធិពល​អ្វី​ទេ ព្រោះ​សម្ដេច​ជា​តំណាង​ប្រជាជាតិ​ខ្មែរ​ទាំងមូល ហើយ​ដំណើរ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​លោក​នៅ​ជប៉ុន​គឺ​លោក​ទៅ​ជា​ផ្លូវការ​តំណាង​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ​...​ដែល​ខុសពី​ក្រុម​សំរាម ដែល​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព​តាម​ចិញ្ចើមថ្នល់​»​។

យ៉ាង​ណា​ក្ដី​លោក ហង្ស វិទូ អ្នកវិភាគ​នយោបាយ​ថ្លែង​ថា​លោក​ហាក់​មើល​មិន​ឃើញ​ពី​ឥទ្ធិពល ឬ​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព​ខ្លាំងក្លា​ណា​មួយ​ពី​ការធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​របស់​អតីត​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​នៅ​ក្រៅ​ប្រទេស​នោះ​ទេ​។

លោក​ថ្លែង​ថា​៖ «​ជារួម​ខ្ញុំ​យល់​ថា ការធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​នេះ​គ្រាន់​តែ​ជា​និមិត្តរូប​មួយ​ដែល​មាន​ឥទ្ធិពល​តិចតួច​មិន​មាន​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព​អី​ទេ សម្រាប់​ឲ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ (​កម្ពុជា​) ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការផ្លាស់ប្ដូរ​គោលជំហរ​អ្វី​មួយ​»​។

ទោះ​យ៉ាង​ណា​លោក វិទូ មាន​សុទិដ្ឋិនិយម​ចំពោះ​គោលជំហរ​របស់​ជប៉ុន ដែល​លោក​ថា​ពួកគេ​ចង់​ឃើញ​កម្ពុជា​មាន​ការគោរព​លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ពិតប្រាកដ​មួយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​។ «​សូម​កុំភ្លេច​ថា​គោលបំណង​របស់​ប្រទេស​ជប៉ុន ដែល​សហការ​ជាមួយ​កម្ពុជា​មិនមែន​ត្រឹម​តែ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង​នយោបាយ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ទេ ប៉ុន្តែ​វា​ទាក់ទង​ដល់​រឿង​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ទៀត​។ ជប៉ុន​តែងតែ​គោរព​ក៏​ដូចជា​លើកស្ទួយ​ឲ្យ​កម្ពុជា គោរព​លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ឲ្យ​បាន​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​»៕
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Chinese, Asean suppliers could face fresh challenges under United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

October 4, 2018, 3:35 am
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New deal includes tougher rules on the sourcing of cars and garments

Keegan Elmer | South China Morning Post,  Wednesday, 03 October, 2018, 9:30pm

Asian manufacturers could find it harder to sell their products in American markets under a new deal signed by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and could risk long-term isolation in key industries, analysts say.

“In the long term, as long as the supply chains are shifting towards North America, it will be harder for countries elsewhere to break into the North American market,” said Henry Gao, a professor of trade policy at Singapore Management University.

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) tighter country of origin rules and labour standards for the car and garment manufacturing industries mean production of those products could shift back to North America, which would be a blow to Asian producers.

The deal, announced on Monday, includes tougher rules stipulating that raw materials used in garment manufacturing, such as sewing thread, must be sourced from suppliers in one of the three signatory countries.

“[The rules] are likely to limit the ability of Vietnamese companies to fill demand for inputs in the textiles sector,” said Maxfield Brown, head Dezan Shira’s Business Intelligence Unit for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.



Vietnam exported about US$60 million worth of sewing thread, pocketing fabric, narrow elastic bands and coated fabric to the three nations last year, according to figures from Dezan Shira.

The USMCA also states that 40 to 45 per cent of the all car parts bought by the signatory nations must have been produced by workers making at least US$16 an hour.

“This seems designed to attract car manufacturing back to the US and Canada and away from Asia and Mexico,” said Cuz Potter, an associate professor at the Korea University Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul.

China might also be affected by conditions that prevent USMCA members from signing deals with “non-market economy” countries. Under the terms of their accession to the World Trade Organisation, both China and Vietnam have non-market economy status.

While it is unclear on what grounds USMCA members will determine the status of members, analysts said the clause could be seen as a move by the United States to stop Canada or Mexico signing a free-trade deal with China.

“The USMCA could heighten the debate about when China and Vietnam will shed their NME [non-market economy] status,” said professor Chin Leng Lim from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

But Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said the impact of the USMCA should not be overstated as the deal was built on the North American Free Trade Agreement, whose rules had been in place since 1994.

“Most of effects … have already been absorbed in Southeast Asia,” he said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Asian suppliers face fresh challenges under terms of North American pact
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Defence Ministry to ‘add new blood’ to Kingdom’s military

October 4, 2018, 3:35 am
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Soldiers participate in a military training exercise in Kampong Speu in 2013. The Ministry of Defence says it would select 680 recruits to study and work in the RCAF this year. Heng Chivoan

Mech Dara | The Phnom Penh Post
Publication date 04 October 2018 | 09:20 ICT

The Ministry of National Defence is set to add new blood into the Kingdom’s armed forces, with its military academy starting a new round of enrollment and recruitment to fill nearly 700 vacancies.

While the ministry said the recruitment is meant to protect the Kingdom’s peace, sovereignty and the people’s well-being, observers are sceptical, claiming the armed forces is often used to protect powerful private companies and the political elite.

In a press release, the ministry’s undersecretary of state Phuong Siphan encourages applicants to take part in its active armed force unit, royal armed forces and specialised technical army, among others.

“Applicants of both genders who would like to work for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces can register to take an examination,” he said.

Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat said the ministry will select 680 recruits to study and work in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).

“Candidates for the RCAF must be Cambodian citizens, aged 18 to 25, and be healthy and physically fit for their tasks. They must also possess a high school diploma and a clean criminal record,” he said.

He said the recruitment is an annual process aimed to protect the national boundaries, peace, the people’s well-being, and replace army officers who have reached retirement age.

Socheat said RCAF will start accepting applications from October 16 to December 7. Applicants are required to submit applications at the National Defence University and military garrisons 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

RCAF commander Hun Manet said the Defence Ministry enlists new army officers every year to fill positions left vacant after senior army officers retired.

“Peace and national stability are protected by the armed force. They defend the country and people without discrimination and regardless of their political affiliation."

“Their duties and responsibility are to protect the government, defend the constitution and serve the country."

“They have the right to follow any political party they like, but their duty is to protect the nation, not the party,” he said.

Manet said the academy has taken measures to ensure transparency throughout the enrollment and recruitment process.

Rights group Adhoc spokesman Soeng Senkarona welcomed the new recruitment but urged the defence ministry to prevent the armed forces from protecting private companies and powerful individuals.

“I don’t think the armed forces should be used to protect private companies and individuals. We should use them only to protect the government,” he said.
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Dhamma talk by Maha Thera Dr. Hok Savann on October 3, 2018

October 4, 2018, 3:36 am
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