A Change of Guard

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Saturday 30 June 2012

Civil society: The implication of Mam Sonando to the "secessionists" was politically motivated

Civil society: The implication of Mam Sonando to the "secessionists" was politically motivated.

សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល៖ ការ​ភ្ជាប់​លោក សូណង់ដូ ក្នុង​តំបន់​អបគមន៍​ទំនង​ជា​នយោបាយ 
ដោយ ម៉ម មុនីរតន៍ 2012-06-29 Radio Free Asia

ក្រុម​អ្នក​ច្បាប់​ឯករាជ្យ​មួយ​ចំនួន និង​មន្ត្រី​អង្គការ​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល ហៅ​ការ​គំរាម​របស់​លោក ហ៊ុន សែន តាម​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ច្បាប់ ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​ប្រធាន​សមាគមន៍​អ្នក​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ថា ទំនង​ជា​ចេតនា​នយោបាយ​ក្នុង​ន័យ​ដើម្បី​បញ្ចប់​ការ​រិះគន់​នានា។

ការ​គំរាម​នេះ ខណៈ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ព្យាយាម​ភ្ជាប់​ករណី​របស់​ប្រធាន​សមាគមន៍​មួយ​នេះ​ទៅ​នឹង​ តំបន់​អបគមន៍ ដែល​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា​ជា​ឥរិយាបថ​ផ្ទុយ​ពី​ច្បាប់​របស់​ប្រទេស​នោះ។

The wedding of Hun Sen's and Bun Rany's god children: Singers Ouk Narim and Chhorm Chhorpum


តា​រាច​ម្រៀង​ពីរ​ដួង ជា​កូនធម៌ សម្ដេច​តេ​ជោ និង​លោកជំទាវ រៀបការ​
(ថ្ងៃទី 29 មិថុនា 2012, ម៉ោង 07:09:PM) | ដោយ: ចៅ​ចិត្រ​ Cambodia Express News
The wedding of Hun Sen's and Bun Rany's god children: Singers Ouk Narim and Chhorm Chhorpum. Their wedding was organised by Hun Sen's wife, Bun Rany. She was actively in charge of inviting all important government officials, VIPs and businessmen.

Chhorm Chhorpum is the daughter of singer Chhorm Chhorvin, the niece of singer Chhorm Bunyong and the niece of the the lead singer of American band Dengue Fever, Chhorm Nimol.
ភ្នំពេញ: អាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍ របស់លោក អ៊ុក ណា​រី​ម និង​ឆោម ឆ​ពុំ បាន​ប្រ​ព្រឹ​ត្ដ​ដោយ​ភាព​អ​ធឹ​ក​អធម​បំផុត ក្រោម​ការចាត់ចែង របស់លោក​ជំទាវ ប៊ុន រ៉ានី​ហ៊ុនសែន ហើយ​ក៏មាន​ភ្ញៀវ​កិ​ត្ដិ​យស​សុទ្ធតែជា​មន្ដ្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់ និង​ជា​ភរិយា របស់​មន្ដ្រី​ធំ​ក្នុង​ជួរ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​។ អាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍ តារាចម្រៀង​មួយគូរ​នេះ នឹង​ទទួលភ្ញៀវ ចំនួន​ជាង​១០០​តុ​នៅ​អាគារ G កោះ​ពេជ្រ នា​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃទី​២៩ ខែមិថុនា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២​។​

​ពិធី​នេះ​ បានប្រារឰ​ទៅដោយ​រលូន ហើយ​គ្មាន​អ្នកណា ម្នាក់​ទ្រាំ​មិន​ស្ងើចសរសើរ​ចំពោះ​អាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍​របស់​តារា​ពីរ​ដួង​នេះ​ទេ នឹង​អាចនិយាយបាន​ទៀតថា ជា​ប្រ​វ​ត្ដិ​សាស្ដ្រ​នៃ​មង្គលការ​របស់​តារា​សិល្បៈ​ខ្មែរ​។ ទោះជា​ធ្លាប់មាន​ពិធីមង្គលការ​របស់​អ្នកសិល្បៈ​មុនៗ ក៏​មិនអាច​ប្រៀបផ្ទឹម​បានដែរ​។​

Interview with Tep Vanny and Bo Chhorvy, representatives of the Boeung Kak Lake residents

ការ​ដោះលែង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​និង​ដំណោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ការ​បណ្តេញ​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅដ្ឋាន​ដោយ​បង្ខំ (ហេឡូ​វីអូអេ ២៨ មិថុនា ២០១២)  
អ្នកស្រី​ ទេព​ វន្នី​ និង​អ្នកស្រី​ បូ ឆវី ​តំណាង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​ ពិភាក្សា​អំពី​ការ​ដោះលែង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​​នា​ពេល​ថ្មីៗ​នេះ និង​ដំណោះស្រាយ​លំនៅដ្ឋាន នៅ​ក្នុង​​​កម្មវិធី​ហេឡូ​វីអូអេ​។ (រូបថត៖ VOA Khmer)
ថ្ងៃសុក្រ, 29 ខែមិថុនា 2012 ដោយ សុខ ខេមរា វីអូអេ​ | វ៉ាស៊ីនតោន
សូម​ស្តាប់​សំឡេង​ទាំង​ស្រុង​នៃ​កម្មវិធី​ហេឡូ​វីអូអេ​ ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២៨ មិថុនា ២០១២៖

ការ​ដោះលែង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​និង​ដំណោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ការ​បណ្តេញ​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅដ្ឋាន​ដោយ​បង្ខំ (ហេឡូ​វីអូអេ ២៨ មិថុនា ២០១២)
Listen to the audio of the interview below:

តំណាង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​អាជ្ញាធរ​និង​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ វាស់វែង​ដីធ្លី​​ជូន​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​ដើម្បី​បញ្ចប់​ជម្លោះ​និង​ការ​ រងទុក្ខ​ទោស​របស់​អ្នក​ភូមិ។​ នេះ​បើ​ តាម​ការ​អះអាង​របស់​អ្នកស្រី​ ទេព​ វន្នី​ និង​អ្នកស្រី​ បូ ឆវី ​តំណាង​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បឹងកក់​ ដែល​ចូលរួម​ក្នុង​កម្មវិធី​ហេឡូ​វីអូអេ​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ព្រហស្បតិ៍​ ដើម្បី​ពិភាក្សា​អំពី​ ប្រធានបទ​ស្តី​ពី​ «ការ​ដោះលែង​អ្នកភូមិ​បឹងកក់​និង​ដំណោះស្រាយ​រឿង​ការ​ បណ្តេញ​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅដ្ឋាន​ដោយ​បង្ខំ»។

អ្នកស្រី​ទេព វន្នី​ ជា​ជន​រងគ្រោះ​ម្នាក់​ដែល​ទើប​រួច​ពី​គុក​ដោយសារ​ការ​តវ៉ា​រឿង​ការ​ បណ្តេញ​ចេញ​ពី​លំនៅដ្ឋាន។​ ហើយអ្នកស្រី ​បូ ឆវី ​ទើប​រង​ការ​វាយប្រហារ​ដោយ​ គ្រេច​ដៃ​ ដោយសារ​ការ​តវ៉ា​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ​ហើយ​ត្រូវ​បង្រ្កាប​ដោយ​ក្រុម​ប៉ូលីស

Cambodia to Host ASEAN Regional Forum

26 June, 2012 2012
Xinhua Web Editor: dingxiaoxiao 

Cambodia, as the chair of ASEAN in 2012, will host the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, Post Ministerial Conference, the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum, and the 2nd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' meeting on July 6-13, Cambodian foreign ministry said in a press release on Friday.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will presided over the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, and Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong will chair the remaining meetings, said the press release.

U.S. Diplomats Hope to Ease Tension between China and U.S.

June 29, 2012 | Posted by Kevin Webb 
The Atlanta Black Star
Next week will bring the start of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Post-Ministerial Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which may bring a diplomatic turning point for USA-China relationships. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be present at the ASEAN conference, where forum members have expressed fears that the region may become an area of “dangerous strategic competition” between the two super powers.
“As Washington gears up diplomatic efforts in Southeast Asia, it is equally important for the United States to maintain a sound relationship with China for the prosperity and peace of the Asia-Pacific region,” US Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific Kurt Cambell said on Wednesday. “One of the most important things for us at the forum is to make it clear, particularly to colleagues in ASEAN, that we are committed to a strong, stable and durable relationship with China.”

Rights Group: Indigenous Peoples Exploited in Rush for Resources

Friday, 29 June 2012
Photo: by Ron Corben, VOA, Boonrian Chinnarat holds a net he once used to catch giant catfish at his house in Chiang Kong district of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Feb. 7, 2011. He blames the disappearance of the fish partly on China's upstream dams.
 
“It’s definitely increasing, like the resource exploitation in indigenous peoples' territories."

BANGKOK -- Human rights organization Minority Rights Group International says unprecedented demand for natural resources globally, but especially across Asia, is leading to ethnic conflict and displacement of indigenous communities.

In its annual report released Thursday, the group says the demand for resources covers such areas as logging and dams, oil, gas or mineral extraction, coastal tourism, commercial fisheries, conservation parks and large scale agriculture.

Clinton Prepares for Major Asean Security Meeting

 Friday, 29 June 2012
Photo: AP, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
 
"Clinton’s visit to Cambodia for the Asean forum will entail delicate diplomacy on a number of issues."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton travels to Cambodia next month for a major regional conference hosted in Phnom Penh, where a host of diplomatic challenges awaits.
The Asean Regional Forum will focus on security in Southeast Asia, but it will also host many of the world’s major players, including North Korea, which said through Cambodian diplomatic channels it will be willing to talk to the US bilaterally and to reopen moribund six-party talks.
The contentious issue of the South China Sea will also likely be on Clinton’s agenda, as she moves to further engagement in the region.
Analysts say the issues of the South China Sea issue, democracy and human rights all stand as obstacles to greater US influence in Southeast Asia, which has keenly felt the growing political and economic influence of China in recent years.
Cambodia, which is this year’s rotating head of Asean, is especially friendly with China, which is a major benefactor of military and economic aid.

Cambodia Ambiguous on Plans for French Architect

French architect Devillers 'holding funds' for Bo Xilai
Gu Kailai with Patrick Devillers Photo: REX FEATURES

By KEITH BRADSHER 
The New York Times
Published: June 22, 2012

HONG KONG Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that the country had no plans to extradite to China or France a detained French architect with links to a disgraced Chinese politician and his wife, but that the architect was not yet being set free, either. 
Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, said that he did not know how long the architect, Patrick Devillers, would be held, nor why he was being held.
Hor Nahong, Cambodia’s foreign minister, said late Thursday night that Mr. Devillers was still being investigated. The police in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, said earlier in the week that Mr. Devillers had been arrested about two weeks ago at China’s request. Chinese government offices were closed on Friday in observance of a national holiday, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry declined earlier in the week to comment on Mr. Devillers.
The French Embassy in Phnom Penh had no immediate comment.

The CPP Family Tree

The CPP Family Tree                                                                                                   

Cambodia Medical Exercise 2012 concludes

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia  — After spending 20 days in the hot, humid climate of Cambodia, sailors and Marines with 3rd Medical Battalion wrapped up Cambodia Medical Exercise 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 21. The battalion, a part of Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, participated in the exercise to enhance military-to-military relationships between U.S., Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Cambodian government medical personnel.
“The exercise went well,” said Lt. j.g. Kevin D. Reid, operations officer for the exercise. “We met the objective set for us by III MEF and U.S. Pacific Command, which directed the battalion to build host nation medical capabilities.”

The power of the free will has prevailed over the power of greeds


Anonymous said...

Let's hope that they have learned the hard lesson and stay out of trouble next time. Go home, enjoy your freedom, and take good care of your family, and be good mothers for your kids, not get treated like some criminals.
-------------------------------
Anonymous said...

This guy poster@1:03am is shameless. He wasn't happy to see justice prevailed and injustice was crushed due to the power of the free will of individual who have fought an oppressor and won big.This poster doesn't know what's right or wrong. He lived in the jungle for too long, that's why his brain is frying by the power of greeds.

Don't let the oppressors win!!! Don't let the thieves win!!! Don't let the CPP scare you. Fight back hard to get your freedom. Keep on fighting and working together and we will accomplish big result like today's victory.

កិច្ចសម្ភាសន៍លោកស្រីសូសាវឿននិងRF1



 Nak Bomraoh Tarm Yonhos - Ms So Savoeun



SOVAT CHEA MEADA - Ms So Savoeun


Golden memories


"LEA HEUY PAILIN" by Pen Ran


"Phka Oeil Phka Phkol" - Sinn Sisamouth & Ros Serey Sothea



Chivit Kjnom Samrab Neak - Sinn Sisamouth

Friday 29 June 2012

Video of the release of the 13 jailed Boeung Kak women

Video of the release of the 13 jailed Boeung Kak women.
ស្ត្រី​អ្នក​បឹងកក់​ថា​ប្រព័ន្ធ​យុត្តិធម៌​គាបសង្កត់​ពួក​គាត់

ស្ត្រី​អ្នក​បឹងកក់​១៣​នាក់​ត្រូវ​បាន​ដោះលែង

China vows to oppose military provocation [China flexing military muscle against America]


A Chinese warship powers through the swell as it approaches Sydney Harbour. China says it will resolutely oppose any military provocation in its territorial waters, remarks which appeared to be directed at the United States, Vietnam and the Philippines 

28th June, 2012 
Agence France Press

China said Thursday it would resolutely oppose any military provocation in its territorial waters, remarks which appeared to be directed at the United States, Vietnam and the Philippines.

China's military has established routine naval patrols in the South China Sea, "indisputable territory" of the nation and a matter of "national sovereignty," defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.

"We will resolutely oppose any military provocations," Geng said in statements posted on his ministry's website.

"The determination and will of China's military to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering."

Geng's remarks came as the United States launched the largest-ever "Rim of the Pacific" naval exercises in Hawaii, involving 22 nations, including the US, India, Russia, Australia and the Philippines.

Cambodia's press team tutored by China [Chinese indoctrination of a new breed of neo-Khmer Rouge propagandists]


From Baghdad to Phnom Penh: The mouthpiece of Saddam Hussein of Iraq (top) and the mouthpiece of Saddam Hun Sen of Cambodia (Tith Sothea).

Friday, 29 June 2012 
By David Boyle 
Phnom Penh Post 

Cambodia's government media mouthpiece, the Press and Quick Reaction Unit, has been under the careful tuition of comrades from the People’s Republic of China on dealing with deceptive foreigner reporters, the unit reported this week.

But government sources were silent yesterday on what exactly the Council of Ministers’ PRU had been learning from the communist state, which is ranked 174th on the 179-country Press Freedom Index.

The PRU reported that it was engaged in a fruitful exercise with China to help “mitigate negative impacts of foreign dissemination of misinformation and disinformation on government policies as well as the foreign allegations levelled against Cambodia and China.”

Sources from the PRU yesterday either said they didn’t know the details of the training or declined to comment.

Ex-Phnom Penh police chief's appeal hearing postponed [Heng Pov! You have no chance in Hun Sen's court]

Friday, 29 June 2012 
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 
Phnom Penh Post
120629_04b
Former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov enters the Appeal Court yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post
The Court of Appeal postponed a hearing yesterday for former Phnom Penh municipal police chief Heng Pov because his attorney and another person accused in the same case were unable to appear.

Court officials did not give a new date for the hearing.

Pov is appealing a 2009 conviction and 18-year prison sentence for the attempted murder of Thong Uy Pang, who was the owner and publisher of the Koh Santepheap newspaper.

No place like home: Hun Sen's trail of destruction


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHLiWcTZFJE

Can progress and justice co-exist in Cambodia, a country where development leaves a trail of destruction? 

29 Jun 2012 
101 East Al Jazeera 

For years, Cambodia's Boeung Kak Lake has been the centre of a David-and-Goliath battle between its residents and the government. Thousands of residents have been forcibly evicted; their homes destroyed for nominal compensation in the name of developing prime real estate in the capital, Phnom Penh.

Locals have cried foul since authorities awarded a 99-year lease to Shukaku Inc - owned by Senator Lao Meng Khin - in 2007 to develop the area, which is home to some 4,000 families. Over the years, villagers who resisted eviction were harassed by security forces and even thugs, often resulting in violent clashes. Those who accepted relocation found themselves in remote areas lacking basic amenities.

The remaining residents witnessed bulldozers turn their neighbourhood into a construction site, as the once scenic lake was filled to make space for a high-end residential and commercial area.

Khmer Rouge tribunal finds two defense lawyers guilty of misconduct [Those who dare to challenge Hun Sen are always banished to a life of exile!]

PHNOM PENH, 29 June 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - The trial chamber of the Khmer Rouge tribunalannounced Friday that Dutch and American defense lawyers for Pol Pot's former deputy had been found guilty of misconduct.

In a statement, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) said that the decision was accompanied by notifications to the bar associations of Amsterdam and the State of New York.

The ruling affects Dutch lawyer Michiel Pestman  (pictured) and American colleague Andrew Ianuzzi, who have been defending Nuon Chea, the former chief ideologue of the Khmer Rouge regime also known as Brother Number Two.

Under ECCC rules, the trial chamber said it could "take future action, including sanctions against or refusal of audience to any member of the Nuon Chea defense who fails to heed this warning."

Foreigners 'step over the line' by taking part in protests


PHNOM PENH, 29 June 2013 (Cambodia Herald) - Foreigners 'step over the line' by taking part in local political protests as some reportedly did this week, a self-described long-term Western observer of Cambodia says.

Referring to a photo reportedly showing a Western woman in a headband with Cambodian protestors including children on Wednesday, blogger Casey Nelson says "other Westerners were present as well ... to my knowledge, this is the first time that Westerners have visibly participated" in such protests.

SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES ...

According to Nelson, "these protests have the potential to generate significant long-term consequences for Cambodia, Cambodian society and the Cambodian people.

"The issues driving the protests have a considerable political component and the solutions are not universally agreed upon by Cambodians," the blogger wrote Thursday.
"Much more importantly, the consequences of such protests for Cambodia may be positive or negative or a mix.

... BUT MOST FOREIGNERS WILL LEAVE

Kampong Chhnang officials complain about late salaries

KAMPONG CHHNANG, 29th June 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - Local district and municipal officials say they have not been paid since April.

"Organization staff are paid regularly. But we officials are paid once every three or four months," one told Cambodia Express News (CEN), an affiliate of The Cambodia Herald.

"We hope senior officials will take action to solve the problem so that we can get our salaries regularly."

Boeung Kak 13 vow to fight on [The power of the free will has prevailed!]

Friday, 29 June 2012 
Khouth Sophak Chakrya 
Phnom Penh Post
120629_04a
Members of the ‘Boeung Kak 13’ celebrate with supporters after being released yesterday. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post
Criminal convictions and more than a month in Prey Sar prison have done little to frighten the Boeung Kak 13, who yesterday vowed to keep fighting their land dispute until it is won.

“We are free,” Tep Vanny said at her home in Boeung Kak. “But we remain convicted criminals.”

The Court of Appeal reduced the women’s sentences on Wednesday from two-and-a-half years to one month and three days – time they had already served – but upheld guilty verdicts from their lawyer-less three-hour trial on May 24.

But Vanny said yesterday the women were innocent and believed the guilty verdict had been upheld because the authorities wanted to scare them into ending their protests.

“But I’m not afraid and I’m not scared. We will continue until there’s a solution.”

Teens strumming a new tune

Wednesday, 27 June 2012 
By Roth Meas
Phnom Penh Post
120627_17
Students at the Music Arts School prefer learning Western instruments like the guitar or piano over traditional Cambodian ones. Photograph: supplied
People carrying guitars on the street have been a rare sight in Cambodia over the past 10 years.

But now, as the Kingdom’s young population continues to grow creatively, musical-instrument shops are popping up around the capital, with more people interested in learning to play, especially teenagers.

Since its founding a year ago in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang I neighbourhood, The Music Arts School, an NGO aimed at promoting arts education, has received as many as 170 students, 70 to 80 per cent of whom have been Cambodians.

Students range from age four to adults, but the majority are between 15 and 16.

Chapei singer forays into English songs

Friday, 29 June 2012 
By Roth Meas 
Phnom Penh Post
120629_06b
Chapei perfomer Neang Sarith has broken a language barrier with a cautionary song about alcoholism sung in English. Photograph: Roth Meas/Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia's traditional guitar-like instrument, the Chapei, has a longer neck that curves and just two strings to pick, but those who play it often invent their lyrics while they’re playing. The songs are a bit like spoken-word poetry but more spontaneous. They’re usually based on legends or carry a social message, but always sung with humour.
Let's listen to Duong Sokea sang Chapei at at Sunnybrook Hotel in Cabramatta in september 2011.

Most famous Chapei singers are blind, and almost all perform in Khmer only. Two weeks ago, however, 29-year-old Neang Sarith broke the language barrier when he performed in English for the first time on National TV.

“I’d already sung in Khmer quite often,” Sarith told 7Days. “So this time, I wanted to do it in English because I want people, beyond Cambodians, to understand about our Chapei.” The song itself may have particular relevance to expats; it’s a cautionary tale urging a heavy drinker to reduce his intake to keep his life from falling apart.

Cambodia and China: No Strings Attached? [Who say no string attached?]

by Guest Blogger for Joshua Kurlantzick
June 27, 2012 
blog.cfr.org
China's Vice President Xi Jinping toasts with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) after signing an agreement on cooperation at council of minister in Phnom Penh December 21, 2009. China's Vice President Xi Jinping toasts with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) after signing an agreement on cooperation at council of minister in Phnom Penh December 21, 2009 (Chor Sokunthea/Courtesy Reuters).

Laura Speyer is an intern for Southeast Asian studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Just three years ago, Chinese vice president Xi Jinping claimed that “Sino-Cambodian relations are a model of friendly cooperation.” This week, Vice President Xi may have reason to reassess Cambodia’s willingness to “cooperate” with—some might say “obey”—its powerful neighbor. The issue highlighting power dynamics between the two countries is the extradition of Patrick Devillers, a French citizen allegedly involved in the increasingly bizarre imbroglio surrounding Bo Xilai and his wife Gu Kailai, who is suspected of murder.
Two things happened on June 13: first, the Cambodian government arrested Mr. Devillers at Beijing’s behest, although the Chinese government did not specify what charges they wished to investigate. Second,  He Guoqiang, a member of China’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee, arrived in Cambodia for a three-day goodwill visit during which he negotiated a series of loans worth $430 million.  There are no official connections between Beijing’s arrest and extradition requests and the generous loan provisions. Still, the Chinese government might have had reason to believe it could trade monetary aid and investment for a few pesky evaders of the Chinese penal system—it has happened before.

A lesson for Iraq in Cambodia

By Muhammad Cohen
Asia Times Online
Jun 30, 2012 

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's Khmer Rouge mass murder sites affect visitors in different ways. For me, it meant weeping throughout and being unable to reconcile the contrast between massive, deadly brutality on display and the seemingly gentle, friendly Cambodia of today.

Cambodia does itself and the world a great service by preserving the memories of the millions that died during the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge reign of terror under the leadership of Pol Pot. Both Tuol Sleng, the prison known as S-21, and Cheoung Ek, the so-called Killing Fields, remain powerfully evocative even after the passage of decades. But their most important modern day lesson may be waiting to be learned 6,500 kilometers (3,900 miles) away in Iraq.

Some displays at the two sites are positively chilling. At Cheoung Ek, 15 kilometers south of capital city Phnom Penh, a Buddhist stupa towers over the site's 129 mass graves. The bottom level of the stupa holds clothing from the estimated 20,000 people executed and buried there.

Cambodian villagers protest controversial Laos dam


PHNOM PENH
Fri Jun 29, 2012 
 
(Reuters) - Cambodian villagers demonstrated on Friday against a controversial Lao hydropower dam that activists say is being built in defiance of an agreement to assess its potentially damaging impact on millions of people first. About 200 villagers whose livelihoods depend on the Mekong River urged a halt to the Thai-led construction of the $3.5 billion Xayaburi dam, which has angered Cambodia's government and triggered a rare rebuke by Laos's biggest ally, Vietnam.
"This dam won't just affect the people in our country but will also affect many parts of Laos," said Buddhist monk So Pra, organizer of the protest in Kompong Cham province, 124 km (77 miles) from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
The Xayaburi dam is one of dozens planned as part of Laos's aggressive push to boost its tiny $7.5 billion economy and become the "battery of Southeast Asia" by exporting the vast majority of its power.
Foreign governments are concerned Laos is prioritizing its growth ambitions over ecological and environmental protection.

Hun Sen's son to manage land dispute [The Robber Hood of Cambodia: The father stole the land and the son to give it back!]

 The Robber Hood of Cambodia: The father stole the land and the son to give it back!

Thursday, 28 June 2012 
By May Titthara 
Phnom Penh Post 

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s June order that land be cut from economic land concessions and returned to displaced villagers – a move that has alternately inspired gratitude and scepticism – now has a high-profile public face: one of his sons.

Hun Manith, deputy chief of Hun Sen’s cabinet and his third-oldest child, was appointed deputy secretary-general of the National General Secretariat for Land Disputes, according to an entry in the Royal Book released on June 15.

The appointment makes Manith second-in-command of the agency, which was tasked by the premier with measuring and granting land to people displaced by land disputes.

Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann yesterday expressed hope that Manith would help displaced villagers, but added that a lot of young Cambodians had the experience and ability to hold such positions, and lamented the fact that such opportunities in Cambodia were in the hands of one individual.

Agreement Concerning the Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Neutrality and National Unity of Cambodia


The signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1991. First three figures from right had been united in their anti-Vietnamese resistance movement together up to this point in history. Sihanouk [third from right] had justified his shallow nationalism and his trade-mark fickleness in politics with his admission that his Khmer subjects had lived better lives under Vietnam's tutelage than they had done under the Khmer Rouge! Second from right - Ieng Mouly - another bright actor who quickly crawled his way into the gold cage laid for former rebels by Hanoi. Having secured himself a ministerial position within the Hun Sen regime he set about repaying his new patrons by lecturing to former combatants and followers, urging them not to fall into the trap of being "used by others" - presumably men as opportunistic and as unprincipled as himself? Khieu Samphan [first right, along with Nuon Chea et al now standing trial] maybe the only person in this picture to  be feeling genuinely hard done by both politically and on a personal level - the rest are just content to applaud the tragi-comedy that is present-day Cambodia - School of Vice
 “The other parties to this Agreement hereby solemnly undertake to recognize and to respect in every way the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia.
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, the People's Republic of China, the French Republic, the Republic of India, the Republic of Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
In the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Convinced that a comprehensive political settlement for Cambodia is essential for the long-term objective of maintaining peace and security in South-East Asia,
Recalling their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and other rules of international law,
Considering that full observance of the principles of noninterference and non-intervention in the internal and external affairs of States is of the greatest importance for the maintenance of international peace and security,
Reaffirming the inalienable right of States freely to determine their own political, economic, cultural and social systems in accordance with the will of their peoples, without outside interference, subversion, coercion or threat in any form whatsoever,
Desiring to promote respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant international instruments,
Have agreed as follows:


Boeung Kak 13 Vow To Continue Demonstrations

 Thursday, 28 June 2012
Photo: by Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
As the 13 women gathered for a meeting Thursday, Tho Davy, 25, said that her time in jail had “not traumatized” her, but had instead strengthened her will to continue protesting.
 
“I have to join and support my people, and also I’m a member of the Boeung Kak community.”

Thirteen Boeung Kak protesters released from jail Wednesday say they will continue their demonstrations until they obtain more land on a real estate development in the capital.
Representatives wasted no time in meeting after their release from prison following a decision by the Appeals Court Wednesday.

“The strike to get land is legal,” said Heng Mom, one of the representatives given reprieve from a two and a half year sentence after a more than a month in jail. “I have to join and support my people, and also I’m a member of the Boeung Kak community.”

Opposition Merger Means ‘a Chance To Win,’ Analyst Says

Thursday, 28 June 2012

In the wake of minor wins in the local commune elections early this month, two opposition parties are now in negotiations to merge together for next year’s general election.
Officials from the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties are set to meet next month in Manila to lay groundwork for a possible merging before the national election scheduled for July 2013.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, sees this as a positive move. The election law provides advantages to a bigger party, he said. And an opposition merger will make it easier to field competent candidates and to spend money wisely, he said.
“If they stay separated it gives a lot of advantages to the Cambodian People’s Party,” Ou Virak told VOA Khmer. “If these parties merge, they have a chance to win in 2013.”

As Two Sides Meet, Slow Progress in Preah Vihear Border Dispute

 Thursday, 28 June 2012
Photo: by Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Worapong Sanganetra, left, head of Thailand’s side of the working group, sit along with Neang Phat, right, a military general and chairman for Cambodia. 
 
"... the meeting had lasted so long because a discussion between the two countries was like one between siblings."

The Cambodian and Thai border working group met over disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple late into Wednesday night, with participants claiming afterwards slight progress toward reconciliation during a meeting that was at times tense.

Both sides said they would continue talks in Bangkok later this month to discuss the removal of land mines and the participation of an observer mission for the withdrawal of troops.
Neang Phat, a military general and chairman of the Cambodian side of the Joint Working Group, said there had been “progress.”

Yep: Anti-Semitic "Elmo" Ran Cambodian Porn Site, "Welcome To The Rape Camp"

gothamist.com

62812elmo.jpg
Sandler during his arrest on Sunday (screenshot)
When we saw the crazy, anti-Semitic Central Park Elmo being led away in cuffs we thought, "Ha-ha New York, you're full of shoe-licking weirdos" and then went about our business of being cool and indifferent about witnessing bizarre human behavior on a daily basis. But this is New York, meaning that of course this Elmo has a despicable, depraved past. The Times caught up with the Elmo, Adam Sandler (yep), and finds that he once worked for the Girl Scouts and ran a pornography site in Cambodia named "Welcome to the Rape Camp."
That site was actually the focus of an academic paper published in the Journal of Sexual Aggression by Donna Hughes, a professor at the University of Rhode Island. According to Hughes' paper, the site featured a "live bondage sex show."

Global Media Conference Yields Ideas for Cambodian Internet

Thursday, 28 June 2012
Photo: AFP
Cambodian men are using internet at a coffee shop in Phnom Penh, file photo. 
 
“The Internet fee in Cambodia is cheaper, even though a lot of people cannot afford to use it.”

Keo Kounila is Cambodian blogger who recently attend the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum in Bonn, Germany.
After meeting amid some 1,500 participants, she told VOA Khmer she had garnered new ideas to help develop Cambodia, including organizing seminars to help university students make better use of computers and the Internet.

Thursday 28 June 2012

East Asia 2012 - A Conversation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi



One-on-One Conversation with a Leader
A conversation with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Interviewed by
• Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

With
• Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Member of Parliament of Kawhmu Constituent, Myanmar

Freedom rings for Boeung Kak 13 [Justice has prevailed!]

Thursday, 28 June 2012 
Shane Worrell and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
Phnom Penh Post
120628_01
The ‘Boeung Kak 13’ leave the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh yesterday after learning that they would be set free. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
Cries of “We’re free, we’re free” were heard as 13 Boeung Kak lake women were released from Prey Sar prison last night to the cheers of hundreds of their supporters.
Similar scenes of jubilation were witnessed hours earlier when the women cried and embraced each other in the Court of Appeal upon being told they were to be freed.

After a four-hour hearing, a panel of three judges upheld the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s guilty verdict delivered on May 24, when the women were tried in three hours without a lawyer.

But when the judges an­nounced that the women’s sentences would be reduced to one month and three days – time already served – applause erupted.

“We thank the Appeal Court judges,” a tearful Tep Vanny, 31, said after learning her release was imminent. “Because of the injustice of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, we have come here today, but I would like to say thank you for this hearing.”

Border villagers claimed Vietnam planted border posts inside Cambodian territory

By Khmerization
27-06-2012 
Radio Free Asia

A border post was planted  only about 100 metres from the houses of villagers in Alung Chrey and Thloch Trach villages, which is the birth place of National Assembly Heng Samrin.

Even Cambodian officials said they did not swap these two villages with Vietnam, villagers said a border post was already planted inside Cambodian territory.

Tan Toy, a villager in living Thlock Trach, said after the post was planted, he dare not go to a bush behind his house to cut trees to sell because whenever he venture into the backyard bush, the Vietnamese soldiers have always tried to capture him or they have shot at him.

Villagers said they faced hardship since the border post was planted in 2008, however, only now that the news  has surfaced that Heng Samrin's birth place of Thlock trach village has been ceded to Vietnam.
ពលរដ្ឋ​តាម​ព្រំដែន​អះអាង​ថា​បង្គោល​ព្រំដែន​វៀតណាម​បោះ​ចូល​ដី​កម្ពុជា 
ដោយ ទីន ហ្សាការីយ៉ា 
27-06-2012 Radio Free Asia
បង្គោល​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា វៀតណាម នៅ​ភូមិ​អន្លង់ជ្រៃ និង​ភូមិ​ថ្លុកត្រាច ដែល​ជា​ស្រុក​កំណើត​របស់​លោក ហេង សំរិន ប្រធាន​រដ្ឋសភា​នោះ មាន​ប្រវែង​ប្រមាណ​១០០​ម៉ែត្រ​ពី​ផ្ទះ​អ្នក​ភូមិ​អន្លង់ជ្រៃ។

RFA/Uon Chhin,: The picture of Anlung Chrey village, which is only located about 100 metres from the border post.
២៦-មិថុនា-២០១២៖ ភូមិ​អន្លង់ជ្រៃ ដែល​ជា​ស្រុក​កំណើត​របស់​លោក ហេង សំរិន ស្ថិត​នៅ​ចម្ងាយ​ប្រមាណ ១០០​ម៉ែត្រ​ពី​បង្គោល​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា-វៀតណាម។

ទោះ​បី​ជា​ខាង​មន្ត្រី​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ព្រំដែន​បាន​អះអាង​ថា ភូមិ​នេះ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​មិន​ដោះ​ដូរ​ជាមួយ​វៀតណាម​ក្ដី ប៉ុន្តែ ក្រុម​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​មួយ​ចំនួន​រស់​នៅ​ក្នុង​ភូមិ​ទាំង​ពីរ​នេះ បាន​អះអាង​ថា បង្គោល​ព្រំដែន​នោះ​បាន​បោះ​ចូល​មក​ទឹក​ដី​កម្ពុជា។
ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ឈ្មោះ តាន់ តយ នៅ​ភូមិ​ថ្លុកត្រាច ឃុំ​កក់ ស្រុក​ពញាក្រែក បាន​រៀប​រាប់​ថា បន្ទាប់​ពី​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ព្រំដែន​នៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ បាន​បោះ​បង្គោល​ព្រំដែន​នៅ​ជិត​ភូមិ​របស់​គាត់។ ពួក​គាត់​មាន​ការ​លំបាក​ក្នុង​ការ​ចូល​ទៅ​កាប់​កូន​ឈើ​នៅ​ក្រោយ​ផ្ទះ​យក​មក​ លក់ ពីព្រោះ​ថា​នៅ​ពេល​ចូល​ទៅ​ក្នុង​ព្រៃ​ម្ដងៗ ត្រូវ​ប្រឈម​នឹង​ទាហាន​វៀតណាម​ដេញ​ចាប់ និង​បាញ់​គំរាម​ជានិច្ច។

Party renews support for Hun Sen's candidature [Remember, Hun Sen said he will rule until he is 90- that's another 30 years away]


Give our kids a better deal
Cambodian People's Party honorary chairman Heng Samrin, left, and Prime Minister Hun Sen [and where is Chea Sim, the CPP's president?]

PHNOM PENH, 28 June 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Honorary Chairman Heng Samrin announced the party's renewed support Thursday for Hun Sen as candidate for prime minister after next year's elections.

"The party supports Prime Minister Hun Sen's candidature for the fifth and next legislature," he told a ceremony marking the 61st anniversary of the party's foundation.

Heng Samrin, also president of the National Assembly, noted that the former Khmer People's Revolutionary Party was founded on June 28, 1951, in the struggle for independence.

He said the anniversary celebrated the deep gratitude to those who struggled and made brave sacrifices for independence, peace, freedom, territory and development.

Risqué movie actress [Vang Sreyno] denies cancer rumours

Vang Sreyno

Thursday, 28 June 2012
By Sou Vuthy 
Phnom Penh Post 

Actress and singer Vang Sreyno finally denounced breast-cancer rumours last Friday while attending the wedding of actor Souk Sophea.

“I’m sick of this kind of rumour,” the singer, who took a break from her career two years ago, said.

The beauty, hit the spotlight for a revealing scene in the 2005 movie Human or Ghost, said: “I wouldn’t be standing here smiling and talking to reporters if I had breast cancer.”

Vang Sreyno is one of several celebrities alleged to have undergone breast-enlargement surgery, the most popular form of cosmetic surgery in Cambodia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sou Vuthy at vuthy.sou@phnompenhpost.com

Missing songstress is said to be in Singapore [Singer Sok Pisey 'missing in action'?]

Thursday, 28 June 2012
By Seth Kimsoeurn 
Phnom Penh Post

Nobody knows the where-abouts of pop singer Sok Pisey (pictured), who has been MIA for more than a month.

Some say she has gone to the US, others say she’s in hospital with a skin disease.

Lay Sokchamroeun, the director of Sunday Entertainment Production, has claimed the singer is in Singapore with family:

“Sok Pisey asked for a three-month break to study aesthetics in Singapore. It is not true that she is hiding because of any kind of severe skin disease.”