KI Media |
- Thai Professor Sees Politics as Crux of Border Problem
- Asean: rethinking nuclear energy use
- Viet Nam, Thailand step up bilateral ties [-Troubles ahead for Hun Xen?]
- Politics has no place in ending the border row
- Panich plans Prey Sar prison return to visit Veera, Ratree
- Than Shwe tells new cabinet to end corruption [... April fool is in the horizon!!!]
- Cambodian garment workers clash with police
- Need answer on Cambodian extortionate hospital system
- Appeal gets under way for former Khmer Rouge security chief
- Prawit [Wongsuwon] does U-turn on Bogor meeting
- "WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?" US screening dates in April
- Sinatoons: The Preah Vihear Shield
- CCHR Press Release - Consultation on draft NGO law is neither open nor meaningful (in Khmer)
- Former Khmer Rouge security chief Duch appeals conviction
- Lawyers appeal for release of ex- Khmer Rouge leader Duch
- Khmer Rouge jailer appeals war crimes conviction
- Defense Calls For Acquittal of Khmer Rouge War Criminal
- Prawit: Border talks must remain bilateral
- No need for border meeting in third country: [Thai] Defence Minister
- RI still wanted and needed in border dispute, Marty says
- Cambodia's Disabled Fight Poverty, Inequality
- Police beat Cambodian garment workers
- Thailand reported near submarine deal with Germany
- Libyan woman muzzled after accusing Gaddafi's troops of rape: Silencing dissenters, the ideal method of dictatorial regimes incl. Cambodia
- Libyan Rebels Reclaim Oil Centers in Sweep West
| Thai Professor Sees Politics as Crux of Border Problem Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:43 PM PDT
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer Washington, DC Monday, 28 March 2011
A Thai professor of Southeast Asian studies told a group in Washington this week that despite the efforts of Asean to solve a border dispute, no solution is possible without improvements in the Thai political situation. Indonesia, the acting head of Asean, needs both Cambodia and Thailand to agree to the terms of a potential monitoring mission, which would help ensure a ceasefire along the border that both sides agreed to after deadly violence in February. However, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a visiting professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, told a group at the East-West Center in Washington that Indonesia's efforts are constrained by the People Alliance for Democracy, a political group that is unhappy with the way Bangkok has handled the border issue. "I think that the focus now would be on the polarization in Bangkok," he said, referring to growing rift between political movements and their divided support of the political figures. The border has turned into a lightning rod for some groups who want to see more Thai land carved out of disputed areas that Cambodia also claims. The PAD, which has shifted its support away from the current premier, Abhisit Vejjajiva, is protesting his handling of the border issue as Thai politics ramps toward a national election. "So before the election, no solution," Thitinan said. "If no election, then what? Because then it could be a coup." Without an election, he said, a national unity government will have to be formed, "but then you have to change the constitution, or suspend of provision to enable this national unity government to be formed outside the constitutional framework." The complex political situation in Thailand has hampered efforts by different public officials to reach an agreement on the Thai-Cambodian border, despite efforts by a joint border committee and other officials. Both sides have had troops amassed along the border since Preah Vihear temple was listed as a World Heritage site under Cambodian administration, in July 2008, sparking nationalistic protests in Bangkok and on the border. Sporadic fighting built to the fiercest clash, in February, which killed at least 10 people and damaged the temple. Indonesia has since tried to broker a peace arrangement and is hoping to send a monitoring mission of 30 to be divided evenly between the two countries. However, it is unclear whether Thailand is willing to participate in talks, tentatively scheduled next week in Indonesia, which could pave the way for the monitors. Cambodia has said it will not consider a bilateral solution—something Thailand prefers—and has asked for third-party monitoring. Thitinan, who is also a professor at the Chulalongkorn University of Thailand, said the mission carries a political risk for Asean, especially if there is no solution to the overall problem or if more fighting continues. Michael Yahuda, a visiting professor at George Washington University, who attended the discussion, told VOA Khmer afterward that the dispute over the border is historical in nature, not one of political ideology—such as in China or North Korea. The border dispute could therefore have a solution, depending on the internal politics of Thailand. "I think it's not something that can be settled very quickly," he said. "I think it's something that's going to carry on for some time, and as long as Thai politics are conflictual and uncertain, the issues won't go away."   | ||
| Asean: rethinking nuclear energy use Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:23 PM PDT
March 28, 2011 By Kavi Chongkittavorn Nuclear crisis in Fukushima, Japan, has prompted Asean members to rethink their nuclear energy policies. Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have said that they would reassess the future construction of nuclear plants. Be that as it may, these countries, albeit the potential nuclear risk, have very little choice because of their industrialization plans and energy demands. Worse of all, Asean citizens have not yet taken up the low-carbon conscience in their everyday life. Before the current crisis in Japan, there is a growing consensus, in particular Asean, that the nuclear power is the way to go for the cleaner and greener energy option. To use fossil fuels, renewable energy resources and other alternatives can be costly and greatly impact on climate changes. At this juncture, so the conventional wisdom goes, it is important that Asean needs to devise a policy with diverse energy portfolio but with a nuclear energy option. Other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia including Cambodia have followed this path. Despite this realization, Asean has been slow in putting together common protocols and standards regarding the civilian nuclear use. In 2010, Asean agreed that the Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub Sector Network would serve as the key body to assist the Asean members in their civilian nuclear energy cooperation but there has been little progress since then. This inertia has a long history. In 1971 after Asean adopted the doctrine of Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) to protect itself from all possibilities of external interventions, the grouping's senior officials begun to work on a no-nuke treaty, known as Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ), right away. Asean was a latecomer. At the time, Latin America and Africa had already established a nuclear weapons free zone as part of their efforts to promote world peace and security. Over two decades of political uncertainties in the region, the SEANWFZ treaty was finally ready for the Asean leaders' signatures in 1995 during the fifth Asean summit in Bangkok. There was one major concern at that time—the US attitude towards the treaty. The incident of 1984 between the US and New Zealand was still fresh in the mind of Asean leaders, who did not want to strain their relations with the US. Wellington refused to allow the American aircraft carriers with nuclear weapons to enter its maritime territory. It took more than a decade to heal the broken friendship. Although the treaty mentioned the peaceful use of nuclear energy and radiological safety regime, it was mainly focused on the intention of nuclear powers. Since the SEANWFZ came into force in 1997, Asean has been urging all nuclear powers to accede to the treaty. Some of them including China and Russia have expressed the readiness. Today, Asean and the US continue to discuss the SEANWFZ terms, especially those focused on the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in the no-nuke areas. Two years ago, the grouping made initiative contacts with India and Pakistan—the two Asian nuclear powers outside the non-proliferation regime. Since the no-nuke treaty was focused primarily on preventing nuclear attacks and the introduction of nuclear weapons in the region, there is a renewed urgency to focus on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Asean—to discuss the issue more openly to find common grounds, policies norms and standards. During the Asean foreign ministerial meeting in Hanoi last April, the report of Burma's ambition to build nuclear bombs was discussed but without any major decision. Thailand wanted an assurance from Burma that any future use of nuclear power would be strictly for civilian use and could be monitored by international agencies such as International Atomic Energy Agency. At that meeting, Bangkok surprised Asean colleagues with a two-page list of peaceful use of nuclear energy. Thailand urged the Asean members to be transparent with its nuclear power policies as well as calling for increased exchange of information among governments and energy regulators. As part of the continued effort, dozens of energy regulators from six Asean countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei) met in Bangkok last week and agreed that from now on they have to coordinate more on their energy demand management and plans to ensure energy sufficiency and safety. As is well known, the discussion on nuclear energy, especially the construction of nuclear power plants and their sites, remains highly sensitive and has been confined so far within the national boundaries. Vietnam has made the decision to build two nuclear power plants in the central region in Ninh Thuan with Japan's assistance while Indonesia and Thailand, despite their huge and urgent energy demands, struggle over locations and providers. Obviously, in a more democratic country, there would be more political and geographical challenges that need to be addressed and overcome, especially from burgeoning civil society groups. In the case of Thailand, the country's Power Development Programme has made clear that it would need five nuclear power plants with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts each beginning 2020. In response to Japan's nuclear crisis, Energy Minister Wattana Channukul said the programme would be reviewed. Last week, the residents and environmentalists from Uban Ratchatani were first to react by writing a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva urging him to halt the construction plan. Uban Ratchatani is one of the five locations including Nakhon Sawan, Trat, Surat Thani and Chumporn selected for a fleasibility study. Thailand aside, Asean must get its act together on a common region-wide nuclear power plan in which all stakeholders in the Asean community of 600 million peoples get involved.   | ||
| Viet Nam, Thailand step up bilateral ties [-Troubles ahead for Hun Xen?] Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:16 PM PDT Viet Nam always desires that Thailand and Cambodia will continue to deal with their conflicts through peaceful negotiations, on the basis of fundamental principles of international law, the UN Chapter and in the spirit of friendship and solidarity in the bloc, for the benefit of the two countries' people, and for peace, stability, cooperation in the region and the world at large, he stressed. VNA 23/03/2011 - Viet Nam and Thailand will preserve and effectively develop bilateral mechanisms to deepen their cooperative relations. This was confirmed by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya at their talks in Hanoi on March 23. The two sides expressed their belief that bilateral ties would further prosper in the future, contributing to each country's development. They agreed to urge their ministries, agencies and localities to work together to successfully celebrate the 35 th anniversary of diplomatic ties on August 6. Deputy PM Khiem expressed his hope that the Thai Foreign Minister's visit would contribute to bolstering friendship and multifaceted relations between the two countries. For his part, the Thai Foreign Minister spoke highly of Viet Nam for its role as ASEAN Chair in 2010, expressing his delight at achievements the two sides recorded in multilateral forums. He also took the occasion to inform his host about progress over recent conflicts in the Thailand-Cambodia border. Deputy PM Khiem affirmed that Viet Nam welcomed the two neighbours' agreement to hold meetings of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee and Joint Border Committee on Demarcation of Land Boundary, Indonesia on April 7 and 8. Viet Nam always desires that Thailand and Cambodia will continue to deal with their conflicts through peaceful negotiations, on the basis of fundamental principles of international law, the UN Chapter and in the spirit of friendship and solidarity in the bloc, for the benefit of the two countries' people, and for peace, stability, cooperation in the region and the world at large, he stressed. Both host and guest committed to continue their cooperation at regional and international forums, contributing to raising ASEAN's position in the world arena.   | ||
| Politics has no place in ending the border row Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:07 PM PDT 29/03/2011 Bangkok Post The Foreign Ministry will be keeping a close eye on parliament today as three minutes from the Joint Boundary Commission are deliberated again. The joint parliament postponed consideration of the minutes from Friday last week after it took five hours to debate the documents, which have been put on the parliament's agenda four times already. The documents are opposed by some senators and members of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy and Thai Patriots Network who fear that approval could lead to Thailand losing territory in its border dispute with Cambodia. They are calling for the revocation of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding signed by Thailand and Cambodia which facilitated the JBC meeting and the proposal of the minutes. However, if these opponents to the proceedings looked at the issue with more open minds, they would see that the three minutes do not threaten Thai sovereignty. They are merely a starting point for smoothing further negotiations between both countries, particularly regarding the dispute over the border area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has defended the MoU, saying it is an existing tool and a framework for negotiations on the border problems. "More importantly, the MoU is vital to show the World Heritage Committee [WHC] that border negotiations surrounding the Hindu temple between Thailand and Cambodia have not been concluded," he said. Recognising that the dispute is ongoing led the WHC to postpone making a decision on Cambodia's proposed area management plan for Preah Vihear under the World Heritage listing process. Under the MoU, Thailand and Cambodia have set an agreement and a master plan for the joint survey and boundary demarcation. The tasks include searching for and restoring all 73 original boundary markers, preparing Orthophoto maps (scale 1:25,000) of the area, surveying the landscape and conducting border demarcation. As Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva put it last Friday, Cambodia is closely following the debate and is seeking to turn a bilateral dispute into an international issue. It has already successfully attracted the attention of the United Nations and Asean. If it was claimed that Thailand did not sincerely try to hold talks through bilateral mechanisms, Cambodia might more easily rouse further foreign intervention. Mr Abhisit yesterday ordered the Foreign Ministry to explain the issue to the public more fully. Nobody wants Thailand to lose a single piece of land, but if the issue continues to be influenced by politics, those involved should share responsibility for the consequences.   | ||
| Panich plans Prey Sar prison return to visit Veera, Ratree Posted: 28 Mar 2011 05:04 PM PDT
29/03/2011 Anucha Charoenpo Bangkok Post Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, who along with six other Thais was convicted in January of illegal entry into Cambodia, is planning to visit the two who remain jailed in Phnom Penh. Mr Panich, an MP for Bangkok, and four others were released from Prey Sar prison by the Phnom Penh Municipality in January after being handed suspended sentences. But Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkhwamkid and his secretary, Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, were convicted of further charges of espionage and jailed for eight and six years, respectively. Pending approval from the Cambodian government, Mr Panich, who spent a month in the prison while awaiting judgement, will accompany relatives of Veera and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon on the trip to Phnom Penh. They will make the trip immediately after receiving this approval. "I am waiting for a reply from the Cambodian government as to whether they will allow me and the detainees' relatives to visit Veera and Ratree at the prison," said Mr Panich. The MP asked the Foreign Ministry last Thursday to send a document seeking permission for the visit from the Cambodian government. "I really want to meet [Veera and Ratree]," said Mr Panich. "I will tell them that neither I nor the government have ever ignored them and we intend to help them return to Thailand as soon as possible." Meanwhile, Veera's mother, Wilaiwan, repeated her call for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to help her son before the general election. "The prime minister promised to help my son," said Mrs Wilaiwan. "That's why I want the case to be solved within this government's tenure." The Phnom Penh Municipality court on Jan 21 handed nine-month terms to Mr Panich and four others for illegally entering Cambodia on Dec 29. They had all served almost one month and the court suspended the remaining eight, allowing the five Thais to be released from prison and to travel home. They also each paid fines of 1 million riel, or about 10,000 baht.Veera and Ratree's judgements followed on Feb 1 and they have both since applied for a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni.   | ||
| Than Shwe tells new cabinet to end corruption [... April fool is in the horizon!!!] Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:59 PM PDT
Monday, 28 March 2011 Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Retiring Burmese junta leader Senior General Than Shwe has advised outgoing and newly elected cabinet ministers in Naypyidaw to tackle corruption, according to sources close to the government. In a farewell speech at military headquarters on Saturday, the 78-year-old junta leader said that bribery and corruption must end, and he acknowledged for the first time that Burma was below Laos and Cambodia in gross domestic product. Sources said the comments were particularly noteworthy because of the admission that Burma is essentially at the bottom of all Southeast Asian economies. The date of the final handover of executive power to president Thein Sein has not been announced. Than Shwe invited ministers to seek his consul and it is rumoured that he will retain an office at an unknown location. A source close to the government said that the oath of office for the ministers of the new government will be taken on Tuesday, March 29. Earlier, lawmakers said the ministers would be put into office sometime during the first week of April. Burma shares with Afghanistan the second to last place after Somalia in the world's corruption index report by Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).   | ||
| Cambodian garment workers clash with police Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:36 PM PDT By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH, March 28 (Reuters) - At least eight female garment workers were injured on Monday in clashes with Cambodian riot police, who used shields and electric shock batons to end a protest over a factory closure, witnesses and a union said. Some demonstrators were pushed to the ground and shocked with batons when police with guns and riot gear were deployed to forcibly end a road blockade by an estimated 1,000 female workers who were demanding unpaid wages and compensation after a local factory went bankrupt. The clashes were the latest setback for an industry that forms a vital part of Cambodia's fledgling $10 billion economy. The garment sector was badly hit during the global economic slump from 2008 and more recently has been plagued by strikes over low pay and working conditions. "Police were ordered to beat up workers, some were hit in the heads and shoulders and others were pushed to the ground," said Chhoeun Chanthy, a 30-year-old garment worker . "We were not afraid, we were peaceful." Chea Mony, president of the Cambodia's Free Trade Union (FTU), told Reuters the total number of injured was unknown and some workers were being held in police custody. "This is very serious. These workers were only in dispute with employers," Chea Mony said. "This violence is not justified," he said, adding that a government committee tasked with dealing with such disputes was "useless". Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth declined to comment and a legal representative for the factory was unavailable. Garment manufacturing is Cambodia's third-biggest currency earner after agriculture and tourism. About 30,000 jobs were lost in 2009 after a drop in sales to the United States and Europe. The downturn led to a strike by more than 210,000 garment factory workers last year and more mass strikes have been threatened over a controversial move by the government to regulate trade unions. Cambodia exported garments, textiles and shoes to the value of $2.3 billion in 2009, down from $2.9 billion in 2008. According to the World Bank, the sector is in recovery and exports grew 24 percent in 2010 after a 20 percent contraction. An estimated 300,000 of Cambodia's 13.4 million people work in the sector and send vital cash to impoverished rural villages where many people live on less than $1 a day. Cambodian factories produce clothes for many Western brands, including Gap Inc , Nike Inc , Marks and Spencer Group PLC , Tesco PLC , H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, Puma , Next Plc and Inditex , the world's biggest clothing retailer and owner of Zara. (Editing by Martin Petty)   | ||
| Need answer on Cambodian extortionate hospital system Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:32 PM PDT Hi, I am a frequent reader of your posts as well as your partners blog. Today I am writing because I want to know the policy of Cambodian hospital and its staffs member. My relative was sick and admitted himself in the hospital in Phnom Penh. He paid them each time they present a bill to him and so the staffs there treat him well. When he is nearly out of money, he told them honest that he have no money left to pay them and wished to go home with just medicine so he can take care of himself at home but they say it is ok for him to get the full medical treatment in the hospital. So he stays there for almost a week and he gets better until he ask again to go home and also told them that he need to find money to pay them. The doctor who treated him know very well that he is short of money. So yesterday they argued over the bill because they want him to pay them which is fine, he will pay but he need to get out of the hospital to find the money however, they won't release him out until he pay them in full which is ridiculous! How can a person find the money while in the hospital? He told them he need to go out to find the money and pay them when he can, just give him times to make the money but the doctor and his team won't listen. They demand he pay now but how can he?! Now they want to sue him for not paying and this is outrageous policy! My relative is willing to pay but he need to get discharge from the hospital to work and make money to pay back. How can these group of medical team expect him to pay them when they keep him in the hospital? Is this common in Cambodia? Do Dr and hospital sue patient who cannot pay immediately all the time? I just need to find justice for my relative. The doctor is writing up report that he is a disruptive patient, causing trouble to their work etc which is so untrue! How can a professional be so unreasonable? Now my relative is stress over this and he is still in the hospital but they won't give him any more medicine or treat him at all. They are ignoring his pain. I know that my relative is at fault for not paying but circumstance make him unable to pay because he runs out of money and need to get back to work to make money and pay. Why don't they understand? Are there any organization or anything I can do to help him out to win this case because tomorrow Monday morning, they are going to the police station to sue him. Thank you for reading my complaint and I hope to hear back from you soon. Rea ---------- Dear Rea, It is sad that Cambodian hospital system is so corrupt that doctors and hospital staff have so often become predatory and extortionate toward their patients. In the West, doctors and medical staff have been trained to observe the medical ethics strictly- meaning the life and the health of the patients come first before money. As far as I know, this practice is common, but it is not a hospital or the government's policy, but have been rampantly practised by corrupt and unethical doctors and medical staff. I don't know if any NGOs can help, but you can try the Cambodian Human Rights Centre (Ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org ) or Licadho (Licadho@camnet.com.kh) or go to one of the ruling or opposition MPs to ask them to intervene.   | ||
| Appeal gets under way for former Khmer Rouge security chief Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:22 PM PDT Monday, Mar. 28, 2011 By ROBERT CARMICHAEL - dpa PHNOM PENH, Cambodia The prosecution at the international war crimes court on Monday rejected as baseless the grounds for acquittal sought on appeal by Comrade Duch, the Khmer Rouge's former security chief. Duch headed the notorious torture and execution center known as S-21. The tribunal last year sentenced him to 35 years for his role in the deaths of at least 12,272 detainees from 1976 to 1979. Earlier on Monday, lawyers for Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, said the U.N.-backed tribunal lacked jurisdiction over their client since he was not a senior Khmer Rouge cadre and had merely followed orders. But prosecutor Chea Leang argued that the defense challenge to the court had come far too late and ought to have been made at the start of the trial in early 2009. She added the court had previously ruled Duch fell within its remit as one of those "most responsible" for the regime's crimes. "In addition, Duch himself frequently acknowledged his responsibility for crimes committed within the framework of S-21 as chief of the center," Chea Leang said. Monday marked the start of Duch's appeal against his conviction of war crimes and crimes against humanity. His sentence was reduced to 19 years for time already served and as compensation for being held illegally prior to trial. The appeal was scheduled to last three days, with a verdict expected in June. Defense lawyer Kar Savuth gave an address in which he called for his client to be acquitted since he claimed the court did not have jurisdiction over Duch and had erred in prosecuting and convicting him. "And during the Khmer Rouge regime, there was no law - the Communist Party line was used in its place," he said. "And if there was no law, then there was no crime." Anne Heindel, a legal adviser for DC-Cam, a genocide research organization in Phnom Penh, said the defense's tack was unconvincing. "They keep making the same argument over and again that Duch does not fall within the category of senior leaders and those most responsible," Heindel said. "I don't really think that the judges will find any of (those arguments) compelling." She said it was likely that the 68-year-old defendant would end up with a longer sentence, something the prosecution has sought. Duch is the first person the international court has found guilty of crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia between 1975-79. The tribunal was established to try surviving senior leaders and those considered "most responsible" for crimes committed by the ultra-Maoist regime. Duch has been prosecuted in the latter category. Duch's nine-month trial in 2009 saw him mount a spectacular turnaround when in its final days he reversed his "guilty but sorry" plea, and asked to be acquitted and released. His appeal comes months ahead of the start of the second - and possibly final - case that the Khmer Rouge tribunal will hear. Four senior former Khmer Rouge leaders are set to face trial on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in the deaths of up to 2.2 million people from execution, disease, starvation and overwork. All four deny the charges. The four are: Nuon Chea, the movement's ideologue; head of state Khieu Samphan; foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith. The Khmer Rouge's most senior leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.   | ||
| Prawit [Wongsuwon] does U-turn on Bogor meeting Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:16 PM PDT
Bangkok Post Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has made a U-turn by agreeing to attend next month's General Border Committee meeting on the dispute with Cambodia - on the condition that host nation Indonesia does not get directly involved in the talks. Gen Prawit had originally vowed to stay away from the talks, set for Bogor, Indonesia, on April 7 and 8, as he objected to the involvement of a third country in an issue which he says can still be resolved bilaterally. However yesterday he said he had "no problem" with the location, so long as Indonesia did not take part in the forum. Gen Prawit and Cambodian Defence Minister Teah Banh will co-chair the meeting. A key issue in the talks between the two generals is the plan of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to despatch Indonesian observers to both sides of the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear temple, which has been the site of recent military clashes. Gen Prawit insisted security problems at the border would be "able to be discussed" between the two countries without outside interference. People contacts and border trade ties showed no ill-effect from the border tensions, he said. Gen Teah Banh reportedly proposed the GBC talks be held in parallel with the next Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting. However, Gen Prawit rejected the proposal and insisted that the JBC forum be organised first. The JBC was formed to demarcate the border between the two countries under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Bangkok and Phnom Penh in 2000. The GBC's mission is to thrash out security issues between the two countries. The next round of the JBC is subject to joint parliamentary approval of the documents in Bangkok. Senators and MPs will resume discussions on the issue today amid continuing protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). PAD key members yesterday filed a letter asking MPs not to accept the three JBC documents, in what was the group's third push to derail the approval. PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan and key member Praphan Koonmee filed the letter signed by alliance core leader Chamlong Srimuang with the parliamentary secretariat. The letter argues that the 2000 MoU had not received the consent of parliament and His Majesty the King, so it was unconstitutional and the JBC was thus void. Mr Parnthep also dismissed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's recent remark that if the Thai parliament did not accept the documents, border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia might become multilateral issues. Mr Parnthep said even if Thailand rejected the documents, it would be impossible for Asean and the United Nations to get involved in the border spat. As the parliament will consider the issue today, a government source said the prime minister had urged his coalition partners during the cabinet meeting yesterday to have their MPs vote for parliamentary acceptance of the JBC's proceedings today.   | ||
| "WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?" US screening dates in April Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:12 PM PDT  WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA? US screening dates in April For details on all screenings see HONOLULU - Friday April 1 AAS-ICAS Film Expo 2011 BERKELEY - Wednesday April 6 University of California at Berkeley SAN JOSE - Thursday April 7 Khemara Rangsey temple SEATTLE (1) - Saturday April 9 Harambee center, Renton SEATTLE (2) - Tuesday April 12 University of Washington LONG BEACH (1) - Thursday April 14 Art Theatre of Long Beach RIVERSIDE, California (between April 8 and 17, exact date TBA) Riverside International Film Festival LONG BEACH (2) - Saturday April 16 Mark Twain Neighborhood Library LOWELL - Tuesday April 19 Lowell National Historical Park MINNEAPOLIS - Sunday April 24 Minneapolis-St Paul International Film Festival ST PAUL, Minnesota - Tuesday April 26 Macalester College ATHENS, Ohio (between April 22 and 28, date TBA) Athens International Film Festival For details on all screenings of Who Killed Chea Vichea?   | ||
| Sinatoons: The Preah Vihear Shield Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:57 PM PDT
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| CCHR Press Release - Consultation on draft NGO law is neither open nor meaningful (in Khmer) Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:37 AM PDT | ||
| Former Khmer Rouge security chief Duch appeals conviction Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PDT Mar 28, 2011 DPA Phnom Penh - The prosecution at the international war crimes court on Monday rejected as baseless the grounds for acquittal sought on appeal by Comrade Duch, the Khmer Rouge's former security chief. Duch headed the notorious torture and execution centre known as S-21. The tribunal last year sentenced him to 35 years for his role in the deaths of at least 12,272 detainees between 1976-79. Earlier on Monday lawyers for Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, said the UN-backed tribunal lacked jurisdiction over their client since he was not a senior Khmer Rouge cadre and had merely followed orders. But prosecutor Chea Leang argued that the defence challenge to the court had come far too late, and ought to have been made at the start of the trial in early 2009. She added that the court had previously ruled Duch fell within its remit as one of those 'most responsible' for the regime's crimes. 'In addition, Duch himself frequently acknowledged his responsibility for crimes committed within the framework of S-21 as chief of the centre,' Chea Leang said. Monday marked the start of Duch's appeal against his conviction of war crimes and crimes against humanity. His sentence was reduced to 19 years for time already served and as compensation for being held illegally prior to trial. The appeal was scheduled to last three days, with a verdict expected in June. Defence lawyer Kar Savuth gave a rambling and repetitive address in which he called for his client to be acquitted since he claimed the court did not have jurisdiction over Duch and had erred in prosecuting and convicting him. 'And during the Khmer Rouge regime, there was no law - the communist party line was used in its place,' he said. 'And if there was no law, then there was no crime.' Anne Heindel, a legal advisor for DC-Cam, a genocide research organization in Phnom Penh, said the defence's tack was unconvincing. 'They keep making the same argument over and again that Duch does not fall within the category of senior leaders and those most responsible,' Heindel said. 'I don't really think that the judges will find any of (those arguments) compelling.' She said it was likely that the 68-year-old defendant would end up with a longer sentence, something the prosecution has sought. Duch is the first person the international court has found guilty of crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia between 1975-79. The tribunal was established to try surviving senior leaders and those considered 'most responsible' for crimes committed by the ultra-Maoist regime. Duch has been prosecuted in the latter category. Duch's nine-month trial in 2009 saw him mount a spectacular turnaround when in its final days he reversed his 'guilty but sorry' plea, and asked to be acquitted and released. His appeal comes months ahead of the start of the second - and possibly final - case that the Khmer Rouge tribunal will hear. Four senior former Khmer Rouge leaders are set to face trial on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in the deaths of up to 2.2 million people from execution, disease, starvation and overwork. All four deny the charges. The four are: Nuon Chea, the movement's ideologue; head of state Khieu Samphan; foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith. The Khmer Rouge's most senior leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.   | ||
| Lawyers appeal for release of ex- Khmer Rouge leader Duch Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:27 AM PDT
RFI Lawyers for former Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch have called for his release arguing that he was only acting under orders when he oversaw the deaths of some 15,000 people at the Tuol Sleng prison in the late 1970s. Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, was sentenced to 30 years in jail in July by Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was the first Khmer Rouge official to face an international tribunal and both the defence and prosecution are appealing against the sentence in a three-day hearing at the court. His lawyer claims that Duch had only the very lowest rank in the communist party and was simply following orders from his superiors. The 'superior orders' defence was most notably used during the Nuremberg trials after World War Two when it was ruled that it did not absolve Nazi war criminals of responsibility for their actions. His defence team say that the tribunal had no right to try Duch because he was not of the regime's senior leaders and have called for him to be aquitted. At his trial, the 68-year-old Duch was initially given 35 years in jail, but the sentence was reduced for the years spent in illegal detention. Given time already served, he could walk free in less than 19 years. The prosecutors, whose own appeal will be heard on Tuesday, want Duch's sentence increased to life to be communted to 45 years for time served in unlawful detention. A ruling on the appeals in expected in late June. Four more of the Khmer Rouge regime's former members are due to go on trial later this year and Duch is expected to appear as a witness in the case.   | ||
| Khmer Rouge jailer appeals war crimes conviction Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:22 AM PDT By Suy Se PHNOM PENH, March 28, 2011 (AFP) - Lawyers for former Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch called for his release on Monday, arguing at an appeal that he was only following orders when he oversaw the deaths of some 15,000 people. Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, was sentenced to 30 years in jail in July by Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role at Tuol Sleng torture prison in the late 1970s. He was the first Khmer Rouge cadre to face an international tribunal, and both defence and prosecution are appealing against the punishment in a three-day hearing at the court. During his trial, the jailer repeatedly apologised for overseeing mass murder at the prison -- also known as S-21 -- but shocked the court by finally asking to be acquitted in November 2009. Duch's lawyer Kar Savuth told the Supreme Court Chamber that his client had only the "very lowest rank" in the communist party and was simply following orders from above. "Duch was just a minor secretary who had no real authority to make decisions or to do anything contradictory to the direction or the order from the upper echelons," he said. The "superior orders" defence was most notably used at the Nuremberg trials after World War II, when it was ruled that it that it did not absolve Nazi war criminals of responsibility for their actions. The Duch defence team argued that the tribunal had no right to try their client because he was not one of the regime's senior leaders, nor one of those most responsible for the crimes committed. "Duch was just a tool used by those people and he should fall outside the jurisdiction of the (court) for this reason," Savuth said. "If there is any doubt (about jurisdiction) then the accused should be acquitted and not found guilty." Duch, wearing a white jacket and a powder-blue shirt, said the main point of his appeal was the court's jurisdiction to try him, rather than questions of fact. "So this is purely a legal matter," he said, before returning to his seat. At his trial the 68-year-old was initially given 35 years in jail but the sentence was reduced for the years spent in illegal detention. Given time already served, Duch could walk free in less than 19 years, to the dismay of many victims of the 1975-1979 hardline communist movement. Clair Duffy, a court monitor with the Open Society Justice Initiative, said it was "a risky time" for the defence to be raising the jurisdiction issue "which would usually have to be raised... at pre-trial stage at the latest". The prosecution urged the court to dismiss the defence appeal. "Duch is the most responsible person for the crimes committed within the framework of S-21," said co-prosecutor Chea Leang. The prosecutors, whose own appeal will be heard on Tuesday, want Duch's sentence increased to life, to be commuted to 45 years for time served in unlawful detention. A ruling on the appeals is expected in late June. For Norng Chan Phal, a former child survivor of S-21, the acquittal request proved too much. He stormed out of the courtroom on Monday afternoon, throwing his water bottle on the ground in anger. "This is crazy," yelled the man, who was about nine years old when he walked out of Tuol Sleng. Led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Khmer Rouge wiped out nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population through starvation, overwork and execution. S-21 in Phnom Penh was at the centre of the regime's security apparatus and thousands of inmates were taken from there for execution in a nearby orchard. Duch has been detained since 1999, when he was found working as a Christian aid worker in the jungle. He was formally arrested by the tribunal in July 2007. Four more of the regime's former members -- including "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea -- are due to go trial later this year and Duch is expected to appear as a witness in the case.   | ||
| Defense Calls For Acquittal of Khmer Rouge War Criminal Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:20 AM PDT
Robert Carmichael, Voice of America Phnom Penh March 28, 2011 Defense lawyers for Comrade Duch, the former head of the Khmer Rouge's notorious S-21 prison, have asked the UN-backed war crimes tribunal to repeal his prison sentence. Comrade Duch, the Khmer Rouge's former chief jailer, appeared at the war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh Monday seeking his acquittal. Last year, the United Nations-backed tribunal sentenced Duch to 35 years in prison after ruling he was responsible for the deaths of more than 12,000 detainees at S-21 prison, which heheaded between 1976 and 1979. The sentence was reduced to 19 years because of time served and other factors. The Khmer Rouge used the S-21 prison to detain and torture thousands of perceived enemies of the revolution, before executing them. But on Monday Duch's lawyers told the court their client should be set free since he was not a senior member of the Khmer Rouge movement, and had merely been following orders. The defense's appeal centered on its argument that the court lacked the jurisdiction to try Duch. But the one-hour speech delivered by Duch's lead lawyer was rambling and repetitive, and ultimately unconvincing. Anne Heindel, a legal advisor with the genocide research organization DC-Cam, was present at Monday's hearing. Heindel says she would not be surprised if Duch ends up getting a longer sentence on appeal, not least since the prosecution has a much stronger case. "Based on what the prosecution says, because they've laid out a number of very compelling arguments," Heindel said. "And based on what we've seen this morning I'd be surprised if the defense actually has any arguments to counter them." The tribunal has a mandate to try senior surviving leaders and those considered most responsible for crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge movement's rule of Cambodia. The prosecution says that means there are two categories of potential defendants - senior leaders and those most responsible. But the defense says there is just one category - senior leaders who are also most responsible. And since Duch was not a senior leader who devised policy, the court should not have tried him. Legal experts do not consider that to be a strong argument, but it is a sign of how weak Duch's position is. Duch has admitted his role in the deaths of thousands of people. The judges did ask the prosecution to justify the conclusion that there were two categories. International prosecutor Andrew Cayley told the court that the United Nations and the government had agreed on that approach. "The U.N. Group of Experts prior to the agreement in 1999 stated very clearly there were two types of individuals who should be prosecuted - namely senior leaders with responsibility over the abuses, as well as those at lower levels who are directly implicated in the most serious atrocities," said Cayley. Cayley said legislation enacted by the Cambodian government subsequently confirmed the division of suspects into two categories. Additionally, the prosecution said, Duch's defense lawyers did not challenge the court's jurisdiction until the close of the trial - which was far too late. Duch's appeal is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday and represents his last chance for release. The court will deliver its verdict in June.   | ||
| Prawit: Border talks must remain bilateral Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:16 AM PDT 28/03/2011 Bangkok Post Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon agrees that Thailand and Cambodia can discuss their border disputes in Indonesia, but insists that any such talks must be bilateral and Indonesian authorities must not be involved. Gen Prawit was responding on Monday to a report that his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh proposed that the next meetings of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) and of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) be held together in Indonesia. Gen Prawit said Gen Tea Banh had not informed him of his proposal yet. He said the next meeting of the GBC and JBC should not be held at the same time. The JBC meeting should come first because the GBC meeting's agenda is security along the Thai-Cambodian border and was ''discussable''. There should not be a problem, the defence minister said. At the next GBC meeting the two sides will discuss problems in implementing agreements over the disputed border area, security along the border, illegal labour, drug smuggling and other crime. When Gen Prawit was asked by the reporters what he would say if Cambodia insisted the meeting take place in Indonesia, he said Thai authorities would have no problem with that, but both sides would need to talk first. However he insisted the GBC meeting must be bilateral. '' Asean (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has agreed that Indonesia will take part only in the news conference and will not attend the meeting. We have no problem if things remain this way,'' Gen Prawit said. The general reiterated his previous position that the Thai-Cambodian border dispute does not affect the travel or trade of people in either country and the two sides can still sit around a table and negotiate,. There, there should be no need to hold the JBC and GBC meetings in a third country. Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) spokesman Panthep Puapongpan has filed a petition with the House of Representatives, again demanding that parliament refuse to endorse the three JBC memos under the 2000 MoU regarding border issues. The PAD claims that parliamentary endorsement of the three memos, which were signed in 2009 and in 2008 by the Joint Boundary Commission, would result in a significant loss of territory. The government will table the three memos in parliament tomorrow.   | ||
| No need for border meeting in third country: [Thai] Defence Minister Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PDT BANGKOK, March 29 (MCOT online news) - Thai Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan on Monday stood firm that there is no need for the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to meet in a third country, emphasising that the border conflict is a bilateral issue between the two neighbours. The Thai defence minister expressed his stance following reports that his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh said the upcoming JBC meeting will be held in Indonesia, which is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Gen Prawit said the Cambodian defence minister has not yet talked to him about the matter but said the two countries have no need for the border meeting to take place in a third country as the dispute can be solved at the bilateral level. "I look at the overall situation, the people of the two countries can still cross the border normally and border trade is still business as usual with no border closure," Gen Prawit said. "Thais can cross the border to Cambodia while the Cambodians can also visit Thailand. So why can't we hold the meeting in the two countries?" Tension along the Thai-Cambodian border was renewed after clashes between soldiers of the two countries erupted near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on Feb 4, leading to casualties among the troops and civilians from both sides, as well as forcing the evacuation of villagers living on both sides of the disputed area. The JBC meeting was scheduled to be held in Thailand in February but was deferred after the deadly clashes. Meanwhile, key leaders of the 'Yellow Shirt' People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Monday submitted a letter to lawmakers at the Thai Parliament to oppose the possible approval of the minutes of three JBC meetings scheduled to be considered in the joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate tomorrow. PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongphan said the movement decided to lodge a third complaint letter regarding the three JBC documents. The group accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of distorting information on the case and of trying to convince the legislators to endorse the documents. Mr Panthep however said it was unnecessary for the PAD supporters to stage rally at Parliament tomorrow, but the group will closely monitor the joint sitting. Another Yellow Shirt leader, Prapan Koonmee, said the PAD legal team will discuss its next move if the minutes of the three JBC meetings are finally approved by Parliament. The PAD has opposed parliamentary endorsement of three previous memos by the JBC, claiming they may end up in the loss of Thai territory adjacent to the ancient temple. They also demanded revocation of the MoU signed with Cambodia in 2000. The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Phnom Penh, and UNESCO named it a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied to register the status. Both countries claim a 4.6-square-kilometre strip of land adjacent to the cliff-top temple.   | ||
| RI still wanted and needed in border dispute, Marty says Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:36 AM PDT Mon, 03/28/2011 Mustaqim Adamrah The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia is confident that Thailand and Cambodia remain committed to settling their border dispute despite reports that the Thai military is opposed to a proposal to have a team of Indonesian military experts observe the disputed area. "To date there has been no formal communication from either government that suggests a change of position," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. "On the contrary, the consent — both written as well as informal communication — that we received is of continuous hope and expectation that Indonesia, current chair of ASEAN, will continue to play its good role." At an Indonesian-brokered ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 22, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to accept a team of Indonesian observers to the disputed border area adjacent to the ancient Khmer Hindu temple of Preah Vihear, where heavy fighting erupted in February. Indonesia also called for meetings of the Thai-Cambodia General Border Committee (GBC) and Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) on March 24 and 25, but later postponed them to April 7 and 8 in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. But more than a month later the observer team remains in Jakarta and Thailand's military now says it is not needed. Indonesia said Thursday that ASEAN's plan to send Indonesian military observers to the disputed Thai-Cambodia border had stalled, as it was awaiting approval from Bangkok and Phnom Penh, particularly concerning the exact coordinates where the observers should visit. "While the terms of reference of the team have yet to be finalized and while the observation team has yet to be deployed, we must not lose sight of the big picture: Through our engagement, the situation at the border which before saw exchanges of gunfire, exchanges of artillery, bombings, displaced persons, now has become more stable," he said. "After all, it is not Indonesia asking to be there. They are the ones who have asked us to be there." He also said it was up to Thailand and Cambodia to preserve the border negotiations and approve the dispatch of the observation team. "We have no particular preference; where the meeting should take place, whether it's in Phnom Penh, whether it's in Thailand; whether it involves Indonesia or does not involve Indonesia. That's for the parties to decide," Marty said. Thai army chief Gen. Prayut Chan-O-Cha said last Wednesday the observers were not wanted in the disputed area, which is near an 11th-century temple, because it was too dangerous and they would only complicate matters, Thai media reported last Thursday. Thai media also reported that Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had voiced support Thursday for Gen. Prayuth's opinion that no third party should be involved in the GBC meeting as it was a bilateral issue. He said Indonesia, in its capacity as ASEAN chair, or any other country, should not meddle in the border committee meeting. Gen. Prayuth said he and other Thai military commanders intended not to attend the GBC meeting in Bogor proposed by Indonesia and agreed to by Cambodia. "This written statement comes from certain individuals in Thailand — something that's interesting but does not really affect our position," Marty said.   | ||
| Cambodia's Disabled Fight Poverty, Inequality Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:31 AM PDT  Landmine explosions/casualties still affect thousands Monday, 28 March 2011 Written by Catherine Wilson Asia Sentinel Cambodia remains littered with millions of unexploded devices left over from 30 years of civil war, the brutality of the Khmer Rouge and conflict with Vietnam. The government itself believes that as many as 2 percent of the country's 14.7 million people are disabled with landmine casualties a significant proportion. Poung Mai, who lost both legs when he stepped on a landmine, is one of those victims. He and Chhum Sopheap, who has suffered from polio, are seated on the ground in the midday sun next to the ticket kiosk inside the entrance gates to the National Museum in Phnom Penh with a basket of books to sell, each one carefully wrapped in plastic to lessen the inevitable damage from perpetual sun and dust. They are among more than 60,000 physically disabled in Cambodia who struggle against poverty, discrimination, unequal access to education and employment and an under-funded and under-resourced state support system. Cambodia is one of the poorest and most landmine contaminated countries in the world and the challenge of achieving economic inclusion, education and rehabilitation of the disabled is considerable. Numerous demining organisations, such as the Cambodian Mine Action Center, are steadily working to clear the country of millions of unexploded bombs and ordnances in rural regions, especially in the northwest close to the border with Thailand. With 80 percent of the population residing in rural provinces, the prevalence of landmines has significantly reduced access to agricultural land, forests and water resources, and led to one of the highest rates of disability in the world as people in farming communities are maimed and killed as they go about their daily lives. According to the Cambodia Mine Victim Information System (CMVIS), there were 286 landmine casualties in 2010, an increase on the 244 reported in 2009 and 271 in 2008, with 15 new casualties in January this year. It estimates that since 1979 there have been 63,821 mine casualties, which corresponds to 39 landmine deaths and injuries every week for 31 years, with about 44,000 survivors. Poung Mai is from Prey Khmoa village in Prey Veng province where his family were rice farmers. "During the civil war in Cambodia, the government [Khmer Rouge] arrested me and I was made to work in forestry, woodcutting," he said, "and then I stepped on a landmine." He was 28 years of age when both legs were amputated. "After I stepped on the landmine, it was difficult," he continued, "I went around begging everywhere, at the market, to feed my family." Poung has seven children. In 1990 he was removed by authorities to a center that provided food and shelter, but no prospect of livelihood. He subsequently left and found his way to Phnom Penh, where he continued to beg until he joined the Angkor Association for the Disabled in 2009, an organization of people with disabilities founded by Sem Sovantha, who suffered double amputation by a landmine, to provide shelter and training to members and campaign against discrimination. Chhum Sopheap, also from Prey Veng province, came to Phnom Penh in 1997, sleeping on the streets until he started selling books at the National Museum in 2007. Both say that the very small income they earn from selling books, on average $4.00 per day, enables them to rent a room and leave behind homelessness, which is often accompanied by alcoholism, mental ill-health, hunger and disease. Belonging to a disabled organization has also marginally improved their experience with the public, they say. "When they are not with an association," Sem Sovantha explained, "there is a problem with the authorities. When they have an association, people will accept them and talk to them." However, negative social attitudes and discrimination toward the disabled, such as physical harassment, social ostracism and economic exclusion, remain widespread. Chhum claims that he mostly receives a positive response from visitors and tourists at the National Museum, "but the official in the area is not so happy about us, because he thinks it is not appropriate for us to be selling to tourists." Local tour guides also attempt to dissuade visitors from being patrons. "The customer would like to buy," Chhum explains, "but the customer believes the tour guide when he says 'no, no', because at another shop the tour guide will get a commission." According to a 2009 ILO report, "People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable groups in Cambodian society. They lack equal access to education, training and employment. While many workers with disabilities have considerable skills, many have not had the opportunity to develop their potential." The Cambodian government introduced a Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2009 to support the right to employment without discrimination, and in the same year adopted a National Plan of Action for Persons with Disabilities, including landmine survivors, in order to better address needs and provide services. The stated priorities of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation include strengthening and expanding welfare and rehabilitation services for the disabled, but, according to the Cambodian Disabled Peoples Organization, lack of human and financial resources has hindered real progress toward these goals, although the work of NGOs has resulted in the provision of more vocational training courses. "Social acceptance and social attitudes toward disabled people and landmine amputees can be improved step by step through the Royal Government having a Disability Law and National Plan for persons with disability," a CDPO spokesperson said, "The problem in Cambodia is that we have the laws, but no budget to implement them." In the meantime, Chhum Sopheap and Poung Mai strive to sell their books, many of which are biographies and stories of Cambodians, like themselves, who have struggled through the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge era and are determined to not only survive, but live to see a better future.   | ||
| Police beat Cambodian garment workers Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:27 AM PDT At least eight female garment workers were injured on Monday in clashes with Cambodian riot police, who used shields and electric shock batons to end a protest over a factory closure, witnesses and a union said. Monday, March 28, 2011 Reuters At least eight female garment workers were injured on Monday in clashes with Cambodian riot police, who used shields and electric shock batons to end a protest over a factory closure, witnesses and a union said. Some demonstrators were pushed to the ground and shocked with batons when police with guns and riot gear were deployed to forcibly end a road blockade by an estimated 1,000 female workers who were demanding unpaid wages and compensation after a local factory went bankrupt. The clashes were the latest setback for an industry that forms a vital part of Cambodia's fledgling $10 billion economy. The garment sector was badly hit during the global economic slump from 2008 and more recently has been plagued by strikes over low pay and working conditions. "Police were ordered to beat up workers, some were hit in the heads and shoulders and others were pushed to the ground," said Chhoeun Chanthy, a 30-year-old garment worker . "We were not afraid, we were peaceful." Chea Mony, president of the Cambodia's Free Trade Union (FTU), told Reuters the total number of injured was unknown and some workers were being held in police custody. "This is very serious. These workers were only in dispute with employers," Chea Mony said. "This violence is not justified," he said, adding that a government committee tasked with dealing with such disputes was "useless". Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth declined to comment and a legal representative for the factory was unavailable. Garment manufacturing is Cambodia's third-biggest currency earner after agriculture and tourism. About 30,000 jobs were lost in 2009 after a drop in sales to the United States and Europe. The downturn led to a strike by more than 210,000 garment factory workers last year and more mass strikes have been threatened over a controversial move by the government to regulate trade unions. Cambodia exported garments, textiles and shoes to the value of $2.3 billion in 2009, down from $2.9 billion in 2008. According to the World Bank, the sector is in recovery and exports grew 24 percent in 2010 after a 20 percent contraction. An estimated 300,000 of Cambodia's 13.4 million people work in the sector and send vital cash to impoverished rural villages where many people live on less than $1 a day.   | ||
| Thailand reported near submarine deal with Germany Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:16 AM PDT  Mar 28, 2011 DPA Bangkok - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has approved a plan for the Royal Thai Navy to purchase six secondhand submarines from Germany for 7.7 billion baht (257 million dollars), a newspaper reported Monday. The U-206 Class subs, which are intended for missions in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, would constitute Thailand's first submarine fleet, to be commanded by Rear Admiral Suriya Pornsuriya, the Bangkok Post said. The Thai navy has had submarines on its wish list for many years. It commissioned its first aircraft carrier, the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, in 1997. The submarine purchase is part of a long-term plan by the Abhisit government to buy weapons for the army, navy and air force over 10 years at a total cost of more than 500 billion baht. Military budgets in Thailand have skyrocketed since the army overthrew the government in 2006. Since then, the military has reasserted its pivotal role in Thai politics although civilian governance was restored in 2008. Previous plans to deploy submarines have been criticized on the grounds that the Gulf of Thailand was too shallow for their effective use. The U-206 Class sub was first deployed in the 1970s and is one of the smallest attack submarines in the world with a displacement of about 500 tons. It is said to be particularly effective in depths of about 20 metres. It runs on diesel engines and electric motors and is tasked for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying and reconnaissance. With a crew of 22, the sub can be armed with eight torpedoes and 24 mines. The German navy has operated the subs for more than 30 years but is in the process of decommissioning them. The submarine purchase was expected to be proposed to the Thai cabinet for formal approval in the near future.   | ||
| Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:28 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8W6PwhFkLk&feature=relmfu   | ||
| Libyan Rebels Reclaim Oil Centers in Sweep West Posted: 28 Mar 2011 12:24 AM PDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zeYxjWBX7o&feature=player_embedded   |
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