A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Sam Rainsy arrives back from an overseas trip and went straight to Freedom Park 30/4/14 លោកសាមរង្ស៊ីត្រឡប់ពីទស្សនកិច្ចនៅបរទេសហើយធ្វើដំណើរទៅទីលានប្រជាធិបតេយ្យភ្លាមៗ

Post by Cambodia National Rescue Party គណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ.


Anonymous Cambodia Takes Local News Website Offline [Soy Sopheap's Deum Ampil website has been hacked and wiped clean by Anonymous!]

BY  | APRIL 29, 2014
The Cambodian arm of the global hacking group Anonymous claimed late Sunday to have wiped clean the Deum Ampil (DAP) news website and its online archive, warning other news outlets that they will be targeted too if they publish “false information.”
The attack, which lasted about 12 hours, caused the usually busy page of the government-aligned site to go blank, replaced with a message that read: “Sorry, we are updating, we will be back soon.”
“We will never end, we will continue looking for justice for Cambodians,” Anonymous Cambodia said in a post on its Facebook page.
“The size of our hacking is getting bigger and bigger; the more you speak, the more we do,” the group wrote. “Recently, the [DAP] website did not back up and lost their important data. Please to other media centers: Do not publish false information as this website did, otherwise you are going to get the same result over the coming days.”
DAP director Soy Sopheap said the forced shutdown was highly destructive.
“The damage was quite large; it almost closed our website down,” he said, adding that further security measures are now being considered.
“I will try my best to protect it, because Anonymous warned that they would get us back and it concerns me a lot, as I have 200 staff working with me on that website,” Mr. Sopheap said. “It is not only me, but also my staff—they are at risk if we lose the website.”

Planning delays oil refinery’s progress

Construction on Cambodia’s $2.3 billion oil refinery has been set back again, this time due to planning delays, the project’s local partner, Cambodia Petrochemical Company (CPC), confirmed yesterday.
The landmark oil refinery was slated to begin construction in December 2013 following a $1.67 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank), but Hann Khieng, CPC co-owner, said yesterday that more detailed planning was required before the project could begin.
“I believe we will be able to start groundbreaking soon, maybe in mid-November this year since the weather in the next few months will make it difficult for construction to start,” he said.
The plant, which will be built on 80 hectares between Preah Sihanouk and Kampot, is now expected to be finished in late 2016.
Khieng said the company will import crude oil from the Middle East, which will then be processed at the plant. He expects the plant to produce five million tonnes of oil per year for both domestic and off-shore markets.
Cambodia imports more than a million tonnes of oil a year from abroad to supply local demand.
Kim Natacha, executive director of Cambodia for Resource Revenue Transparency said the plant would help prepare Cambodia for its future plans for offshore oil extraction but warned that its environmental impact would need to be fully understood.

Mechanics school on the way

A man walks past a Hyundai dealership showroom in Phnom Penh
A man walks past a Hyundai dealership showroom in Phnom Penh yesterday. Hyundai will be one of the sponsors for a new auto-mechanics training school in Phnom Penh.Pha Lina
A new auto-mechanics training school at the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPI) that aims to train select Cambodian youth and support a shortage in the labour market officially commenced construction yesterday.
In partnership with the Ministry of Labour, joint sponsors the Korean International Cooperation Agency and Hyundai Motor announced the $670,000 public-private intiative during a groundbreaking ceremony at the government’s training institution in Por Sen Chey district .
Pich Sophoan, secretary of state at the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, said the new training centre will help to increase the job supply to meet industry demand in Cambodia.
“Cambodia needs to match its worker training programs with its real labour market needs. And thus setting up this centre, which will work closely with the private sector, is a good move,” Sophoan said at yesterday’s ceremony.
Hyundai will enlist teachers from South Korea to help support the centre, which is expected to be completed by October, the car-maker said.
Bun Phearin, president of NPI, said the project will give more opportunities, especially to those who have not finished high school, a chance to study in vocational training.
“After graduating from this training center, they are going to be professional workers for car garages, car assembly factories or professional self employment,” he said.

Sam Rainsy: The opposition CNRP is ready to talk with the ruling CPP លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បញ្ជាក់​ជា​ថ្មី​ថា គណបក្ស ប្រកាន់​ជំហរ​ចរចា​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​​

ដោយ៖​ ណាត សុភាព និង ស៊ុន ណារិន​ | ថ្ងៃពុធ ទី30 ខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ2014, VOD

ស្តាប់សំឡេង៖​

ចម្លងទុក

ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្លែងទៅកាន់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មាននៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃពុធនេះ(រូបថត៖ ណាត សុភាព)
ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ​នេះ បញ្ជាក់​ជា​ថ្មី​ថា គណបក្ស​របស់​លោក នៅ​តែ​ប្រកាន់​ជំហរ​ចរចា​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ដោយ​មាន​ឆន្ទៈ​ពិតប្រាកដ​ក្នុង​ការដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ប្រទេសជាតិ​។​
លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្លែង​បែប​នេះ​ទៅកាន់​អ្នកគាំទ្រ ដែល​បាន​ទៅ​ទទួល​លោក នៅ​ព្រលានយន្តហោះ​អន្តរជាតិ​ភ្នំពេញ នៅវេលា​ម៉ោង​៩​ព្រឹក​នេះ​។ លោក​បន្តថា លោក​ទទួលបាន​ការគាំទ្រ​ច្រើន​ពី​ក្រៅ​ប្រទេស ដោយ​លោក​បាន​ជួប​ជាមួយ​មន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់​របស់​ប្រទេស​ហូឡង់ បារាំង និង​ប្រទេស​ដទៃ​ទៀត​។ លោក​បញ្ជាក់ថា លោក​សង្ឃឹមថា ដំណោះស្រាយ​នឹងមាន​ឆាប់ៗ​នេះ ហើយ​បញ្ហា​ផ្សេងៗ​ដែល​ត្រូវ​ដោះស្រាយ​នោះ រួមមាន​បញ្ហា​ជីវភាព​រស់នៅ​របស់​ពល​រដ្ឋ ភាព​គ្មាន​ការងារ​ធ្វើ និង​ពលករ​ចំណាកស្រុក​ជាដើម​។​
លោក សម រង្ស៊ី បញ្ជាក់ថា គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ត្រៀមខ្លួន​ជានិច្ច​ដើម្បី​រក​ដំណោះស្រាយ​ប្រកប​ដោយ​សន្តិវិធី ដោយ​សង្ឃឹមថា ភាគី​មួយ​ទៀត​មានបំណង​ចង់​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ប្រទេស​ជាតិ​ពិតប្រាកដ «ជំហររបស់យើងគឺ យើងត្រៀមខ្លួនជានិច្ចដើម្បីរកបញ្ហាជូនប្រទេសជាតិយើង ដោយសន្តិវិធី មិនមែនអាស្រ័យលើតែគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិទេ តែយើងសង្ឃឹមថាភាគីមួយទៀតនោះ ក៏មានបំណងរកដំណោះស្រាយចំពោះបញ្ហាប្រទេសជាតិដែរ»។
មន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា លោក ជាម យៀប មាន​ប្រស​សន៍​ថា គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​មិន​អាច​ចរចា​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ទេ បើ​ការ​ទាម​របស់​គណបក្ស​នេះ​ផ្ទុយ​ពី​ច្បាប់​ធម្មនុញ្ញ​នោះ​ «ចំនុចណាដែលខុសច្បាប់ ឧបមាថា ដូចសុំដាក់ គជប ក្នុងស្ថាប័នធម្មនុញ្ញ គឺថា គជប គ្រាន់ជាស្ថាប័នរដ្ឋបាល ប៉ុននោះទេ អ៊ីចឹងយើងឃើញថា មានចែងនៅក្នុងជំពូកទី៧ មាត្រា៧៦ កថាខណ្ឌចុងក្រោយ មានចែងអស់ហើយ យើងឃើញថាមិនចាំបាច់ទេ ហើយចំពោះការបោះឆ្នោតមុន[អាណត្តិ]ក៏ទៅមិនរួចដែរខុសរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ មាត្រា៧៨ នៃរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញមិនអាចបោះឆ្នោតមុខអាណត្តិ កណ្តាលអាណត្តិបានទេ»។
កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​ចន្ទ លោកនាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បានប្រកាសថា លោក​មិន​ចង់​និយាយ​រឿង​នយោបាយ ដែល​ទាក់ទង​នឹង​ការចរចា​ ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​តទៅទៀត​ទេ ខណៈ​ការចរចា​ជាមួយ​លោក សម រង្ស៊ី នៅ​ជាប់គាំង​ត្រង់​ចំណុច​បោះឆ្នោត​មុន​អាណត្តិ​។​
នាយក​ប្រតិបត្តិ​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អព្យាក្រឹត និង​យុត្តិធម៌ ដើម្បី​ការបោះឆ្នោត​ដោយ​សេរី និង​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ (​និចហ្វិច​) លោក ហង្ស ពុទ្ធា វិភាគ​ថា គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ជៀស​មិន​ផុត​ពី​ការជួប​ចរចា​គ្នា ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ​ភាព​ជាប់​គាំង​នយោបាយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​នោះ​ទេ​។ លោក​ផ្តល់​ជា​អនុសាសន៍​ថា គណបក្ស​ទាំង​ពីរ​គួរព​ន្លឿ​ន​ការចរចា​ឲ្យ​បាន​ឆាប់ ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ​ភាព​ជាប់​នយោបាយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​ «ខ្ញុំសូមផ្តល់អានុសាសន៍ យ៉ាងខ្លីថា ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមិនមែនជារបស់អ្នកណាម្នាក់ របស់គណបក្សនយោបាយណាមួយទេ។ អ៊ីចឹងការចាំបាច់ណាស់ ដែលត្រូវតែចរចាដើម្បីដោះស្រាយឲ្យបាននូវបញ្ហាយឺតយាវ ក្នុងការអនុវត្តន៍នេះ»។

Sam Rainsy calls for a national accord to resolve national issues លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ថា​បក្ស​នយោបាយ​គួរ​រួបរួម​គ្នា​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ជាតិ

សម រង្ស៊ី ហ្វឹកហាត់​បាតុករ ៦១០
លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ថ្លែង​ទៅ​កាន់​អ្នក​គាំទ្រ​ដែល​ចូល​រួម​ហ្វឹកហាត់​ធ្វើ​បាតុកម្ម​នា​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៤ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៣។
RFA/Mom Sophon
មេដឹកនាំ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​លោក សម រង្ស៉ី ប្រកាស​ថា គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ទាំង​អស់​ត្រូវ​រួម​សហការ​គ្នា​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​របស់​ជាតិ​ទាំង​មូល។ ការ​ប្រកាស​បែប​នេះ ធ្វើ​ឡើង​នៅ​ព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣០ ខែ​មេសា ក្នុង​ដំណើរ​វិល​ត្រឡប់​ពី​បរទេស​វិញ នា​អាកាសយានដ្ឋាន​អន្តរជាតិ​ភ្នំពេញ ក្នុង​ពេល​ដែល​លោក​ឆ្លើយ​សំណួរ​របស់​អ្នក​កាសែត​ជុំវិញ​លទ្ធផល​នៃ​បេសកកម្ម​នៅ​តំបន់​អឺរ៉ុប។
ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ លើក​ឡើង​ថា កម្ពុជា​កំពុង​ជួប​បញ្ហា​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​ដែល​គ្រប់​ភាគី​ត្រូវ​តែ​រួម​គ្នា​ដោះស្រាយ។ បញ្ហា​ទាំង​នេះ រួម​មាន​បញ្ហា​ទំនាស់​ធ្លី បញ្ហា​ព្រៃឈើ បញ្ហា​ជីវភាព​រស់នៅ​របស់​រាស្ត្រ​ក្រីក្រ បញ្ហា​យុវជន​អត់​មាន​ការងារ​ធ្វើ និង​បញ្ហា​ចំណាកស្រុក​រាប់​ម៉ឺន​រាប់​សែន​នាក់​ក្នុង​១​ឆ្នាំៗ​ជាដើម។
លោក សម រង្ស៉ី មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ប្រទេស​នៅ​ក្នុង​តំបន់​អឺរ៉ុប ចង់​ឲ្យ​អ្នក​នយោបាយ​ខ្មែរ​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ដោយ​សន្តិវិធី ហើយ​ជំហរ​របស់​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ គឺ​ចង់​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​ជជែក​គ្នា​ជាមួយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា ដើម្បី​ស្វែង​រក​ដំណោះស្រាយ​សមស្រប។
«សំឡេង»
បន្ទាប់​ពី​ឆ្លើយ​សំណួរ​របស់​អ្នក​កាសែត​នៅ​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​រួច លោក សម រង្ស៉ី បាន​​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​ទៅ​កាន់​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ដើម្បី​គាំទ្រ​អ្នកស្រី មូរ សុខហួរ និង​សមាជិក​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ក្នុង​យុទ្ធនាការ​រំដោះ​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ចេញ​ពី​ការ​គ្រប់គ្រង​របស់​ក្រុម​សមត្ថកិច្ច​រដ្ឋាភិបាល។
លោក​​ក៏​បាន​ថ្លែង​ទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​បើក​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​មក​វិញ បន្ទាប់​ពី​ទីលាន​សម្រាប់​បញ្ចេញ​មតិ​មួយ​​នេះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​អាជ្ញាធរ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​បិទ​តាំង​ពី​ដើម​ខែ​មករា មក​នោះ។ លោក​បញ្ជាក់​ថា តាម​រដ្ឋ​ធម្មនុញ្ញ ពលរដ្ឋ​គ្រប់រូប​មាន​សិទ្ធិ​សេរីភាព​ពេញលេញ​ក្នុង​ការ​សម្ដែង​មតិ ហើយ​លោក​នឹង​ទៅ​ជួប​ពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​ទីលាន​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​ជា​រៀងរាល់​ថ្ងៃ។
គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​ជូន​ដំណឹង​ពី​ការ​ជួបជុំ​ឃោសនា​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២ ខែ​ឧសភា ប៉ុន្តែ​ការ​ជួបជុំ​នេះ មិន​ត្រូវ​បាន​អាជ្ញាធរ​អនុញ្ញាត​ឡើយ។ សាលា​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ថែម​ទាំង​​ហាម​ឃាត់​មិន​ឲ្យ​កម្មករ និង​សហជីព​រៀបចំ​ពិធី​ជួបជុំ​ក្នុង​ទិវា​ពលកម្ម​អន្តរជាតិ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១ ខែ​ឧសភា នោះ​ទេ ព្រោះ​សំអាង​ថា រង់ចាំ​ការ​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត​ពី​ភាព​ពី​ហេតុការណ៍​បង្ក​ហិង្សា​នៅ​ផ្លូវ​វ៉េងស្រេង រួច​រាល់​សិន។
យ៉ាង​ណា​ក៏ដោយ សំណុំ​រឿង​អំពើ​ហិង្សា​នៅ​ផ្លូវ​វ៉េងស្រេង​នោះ ត្រូវ​បាន​បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​កាន់​តុលាការ​រួច​រាល់​ហើយ។ ក្នុង​នោះ​មនុស្ស ១៣​នាក់ ត្រូវ​បាន​តុលាការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ពី​បទ​បំផ្លិចបំផ្លាញ​ទ្រព្យ​សម្បត្តិ​សាធារណៈ និង​បង្ក​អសន្តិសុខ​សង្គម ហើយ​ជន​ជាប់​ចោទ​ទាំង​នោះ នឹង​ឡើង​សវនាការ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៦ ខែ​ឧសភា ខាង​មុខ។

Former refugee warns Cambodia not ready to accept asylum seekers

April 30, 2014 - 6:29PM Read later Beau Donelly
No fond memories: Youhorn Chea fled Cambodia more than 30 years ago when the Khmer Rouge was in power.
No fond memories: Youhorn Chea fled Cambodia more than 30 years ago when the Khmer Rouge was in power. Photo: Wayne Taylor
Like it was yesterday, Youhorn Chea recalls being crammed into the back of a truck by people smugglers and making the dangerous 300-kilometre journey across the Cambodian border into Thailand.
It has been more than 30 years since he fled the Khmer Rouge regime, which claimed both his parents and five of his siblings, but he still remembers every detail; navigating landmines, armed gangs swarming the jungle, soldiers indiscriminately shooting refugees in the night.
After a year in a Thai refugee camp, Mr Chea eventually made it to Australia with his family. Now president of the Cambodian Association of Victoria, he has condemned the federal government's plan to resettle refugees in Cambodia, saying the south-east Asian country is still plagued by human rights atrocities.
''They shoot their own people there,'' he said. ''The treatment for the refugees would be very bad. If they don't listen, they will just eliminate them. They will shoot a refugee.''
Mr Chea said news of the controversial deal was designed to scare asylum seekers from coming to Australia.
''I think it will work,'' he said. ''The Cambodian people still do not have any real freedom, so how can they give freedom to the refugees? There is corruption, no freedom of speech, and they discriminate against poor people. Contacts in Cambodia tell me the government is almost like the puppet of the Vietnamese regime again. The Australian government just wants to close their eyes.''
Mr Chea said the Australian-Cambodian community was "disgusted" by news of the plan. ''They all say the same thing, they can't understand why Australia would send refugees there. No one wants to go there.''  

Cambodian woman run over by harvester at ANZ-linked Phnom Penh Sugar development

Updated Mon 28 Apr 2014, Watch the video here.
Nineteen-year-old Tha Seng Hak cannot get the images of her mother's gruesome death out of her head.
"When I close my eyes, I see all these images of what happened to her," she said, standing beside a sugar cane field in Kampong Speu, a two-hour drive west of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
"Her arm and leg were detached."
Just six weeks ago, Ms Hak was working with her mother in the sugar can fields, which are owned by Phnom Penh Sugar.
The company is owned by ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat, who, with the help of a loan from ANZ Bank, has transformed this area into the largest sugar operation in Cambodia.
But the development has come at a cost to the local people, and none have paid a heavier price than Ms Hak's family.
After being forced to leave the land they occupied to make way for the company's sugar plantation, Ms Hak says her mother, Hol Mom, was left with no option but to accept a job working in the fields for Phnom Penh Sugar.
Six weeks ago, with her daughter just metres away, Ms Mom was run over and killed by a sugar harvester while she slept in the fields during a work stoppage.
"When they reversed a little bit the driver thought something was stuck in the machine, and when one of them tried to look inside the machine he saw arms and legs stuck inside it," she said.
She says she then told her supervisor to conduct a head count and went looking for her mother.
"I ran back and saw my mother's scarf and then I fell down. I saw that my mother's arm and leg was inside the machine," she said.
"My mother was a big woman when these things happened to her, her whole body was in small plastic bags, not even 20 kilograms."

UN Official Calls for ‘Proper Investigation’ into Post-Election Violence

Kong Sothanarith, Suy Heimkhemra, VOA Khmer. 

29 April 2014 
Protesters raise clenched fists with banners printed with detained activist Vorn Pao in front of the Appeals Court during a rally in Phnom Penh, file photo.
Protesters raise clenched fists with banners printed with detained activist Vorn Pao in front of the Appeals Court during a rally in Phnom Penh, file photo. 

A senior UN rights official on Tuesday urged Cambodia to conduct a proper investigation into violence that has taken place since the July 2013 elections, as well as to speed up land titles for indigenous groups.
 
Flavia Pansieri, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, is on a five-day visit to Cambodia, looking into post-election violence that has killed at least seven people and left 23 activists facing charges of incitement.
 
Pansieri met with Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Tuesday, saying afterward that a “proper review of events” should take place “whenever there are confrontations.”
 
"Cambodia should pursue any violation through the rule of law and its commitments to international human rights standards," she said.
 
Pansieri also spoke at a land-titling workshop, where she urged Cambodia to protect land rights for the indigenous.
 
"At least 15 languages are spoken in Cambodia today, highlighting the myriad cultures the country must protect," she said.
 
“Land concessions are receiving more priority over communal land titles,” she said, estimating that 22 percent of the country’s land surface was taken up by concessions.
 
Tek Vannara, executive director of the NGO Forum, said Cambodia’s strategies to protect the indigenous should be speeded up. “That means they’ll have rights and power to control their lands and protect their natural resources.”

CCHR Open Letter concerning Draft Cybercrime Law

Dear all,

Please see below and attached both in Khmer and English an open letter from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights ("CCHR") expressing its serious concerns regarding certain provisions of the draft Cybercrime Law, a copy of which CCHR obtained after it was leaked to the public in early April 2014, and the Royal Government of Cambodia’s (the “RGC”) refusal to publicly release an official copy.

This open letter was sent to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, and copied to Samdech Akeak Moha Sena Padey Decho Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia; H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Ministry of Interior; and H.E. Ang Vong Vathana, Minister of Justice, on 28 April 2014.

If you should require any further information or wish to discuss this topic, please contact CCHR at this e-mail address or CCHR Freedom of Expression Project Coordinator Ramana Sorn via telephone at +855 (0) 17 655 591 or e-mail at ramanasorn@cchrcambodia.org

Kind Regards, 
CCHR 

-----

H.E Prak Sokhon
Minister of Post and Telecommunications
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia


28 April 2014

Open Letter from CCHR concerning Draft Cybercrime Law

Dear H.E Prak Sokhon,

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) is writing to express its serious concerns regarding certain provisions of the draft Cybercrime Law, a copy of which CCHR obtained after it was leaked to the public in early April 2014, and the Royal Government of Cambodia’s (the “RGC”) refusal to publicly release an official copy.

CCHR is concerned about a number of provisions in the draft Cybercrime Law, especially Article 28, which prohibits publications on a number of vaguely defined grounds and provides for heavy prison sentences and fines. Some of the most problematic provisions seek to prohibit content deemed to "generate insecurity, instability and political cohesiveness,"[1] content deemed to "be non-factual which slanders or undermined the integrity of any governmental agencies,"[2] and content "deemed damaging to the moral and cultural values of the society," including "manipulation, defamation, and slanders."[3] These provisions are unreasonably vague and give excessive liberty to the RGC to determine which content is harmful, a dangerous strategy already in practice with the Cambodian Criminal Code 2009. Instead, the draft Cybercrime Law should clearly and explicitly state the extent of restrictions: content that is going to be deemed ”illegal” must be narrowly and unambiguously defined so as to avoid the possibility of abusive judicial interpretation and any content restriction must be exceptional and absolutely necessary.

Furthermore, CCHR is concerned that Article 28 (4), which prohibits content “undermining the integrity of any governmental agencies,” is clearly written to provide the RGC with a weapon to silence activists and organizations that speak out against RGC policies and actions. With this provision, the Cybercrime Law could hinder the ability of civil society to monitor the RGC’s activities – a crucial role in an emerging democracy – as well as serve to silence any political opposition. Moreover, Article 35 includes “dissolution” as an accessory penalty for legal entities – which would include civil society organizations such as CCHR – that commit offenses under Articles 21 to 32 and places an improper restriction on freedom of expression.

Finally, the proposed composition of the National Anti-Cybercrime Committee (the “NACC”), as outlined in Article 6 of the draft Cybercrime Law, is problematic. The inclusion of predominantly high-ranking members of the RGC in the NACC will not lead to the creation of an independent review institution for internet usage. Instead, the Cybercrime Law should legislate the establishment of an independent working group made up of (inter alia) technical experts, members of civil society organizations and academics to properly investigate and analyze website content prior to prosecution or blocking requests and before requests are forwarded to the judiciary.

CCHR Press Release - CCHR condemns the reiteration of the ban on assemblies in Phnom Penh and urge security forces to refrain from using excessive violence against protesters

CCHR PRESS RELEASE – Phnom Penh, 30 April 2014

CCHR condemns the reiteration of the ban on assemblies in Phnom Penh and urge security forces to refrain from using excessive violence against protesters

Today, ahead of the celebration of International Labor Day and the start of the council election campaign period, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) strongly condemns the reiteration of the ban on assemblies in Phnom Penh and urges security forces to refrain from using excessive violence against protesters.  
On 29 April 2014, an announcement by Phnom Penh Governor Par Socheat Vong, was published on the website of Phnom Penh Municipality, banning all public assemblies starting 1 May 2014. Following the announcement, letters were sent on 30 April 2014 to union associations and the Cambodian National Rescue Party, stating they could not hold public assemblies on Labor Day and between 2 May 2014 and 16 May 2014, the council elections campaign period.
The right to freedom of assembly has been on hold in the Kingdom of Cambodia (“Cambodia”) since 4 January 2014. The ban is unlawful, seriously disproportionate and excessively broad and is in clear violation of international and domestic provisions protecting the right to freedom of assembly, including the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia. CCHR calls on the international community to strongly urge the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) to immediately restore the right to freedom of assembly and to ensure free and fair elections by allowing all parties to campaign fairly.
In addition, the Municipal Hall’s public announcement mentions that 500 police and military police personnel have been deployed in each district of Phnom Penh to implement the ban during the campaign period. Considering the repeated use of excessive force by Cambodian security forces, which have already led to the death of at least four people since the beginning of 2014, CCHR urges security forces to exercise restraint and avoid violence.
CCHR Executive Director Chak Sopheap comments:
“Instead of respecting the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, the RGC's decision to refuse civil society groups and the opposition to hold demonstrations in Freedom Park on Labor Day and ahead of the upcoming elections is a grave violation of these rights. In the context of a deteriorating human rights situation, the Phnom Penh Municipality's decision to reiterate the ban on all assemblies and demonstrations in Phnom Penh during the election campaign is a thinly veiled attempt at silencing the opposition. All such bans must be lifted immediately; doing anything less will severely harm the development of democracy in Cambodia.”

For more information, please contact CCHR Executive Director Chak Sopheap via telephone at +855 (0) 1194 3213 or e-mail atchaksopheap@cchrcambodia.org or CCHR Consultant Elise Tillet via telephone at +855 (0) 77 70 97 23 or e-mail atelise.tillet@cchrcambodia.org  

Please also find the Press Release attached in PDF format in English, the Khmer version will follow shortly. 

Kind regards, 
CCHR

Aussie Jane Upton reveals what life in Cambodia is really like

APRIL 30, 2014
Spot the tourist.
Spot the tourist. Source: Supplied
AUSTRALIAN Jane Upton has been living with her boyfriend in Battambang, Cambodia for almost a year. Working as a volunteer with a Cambodian NGO, she explains why life is nothing like it is in Australia ...
I cycle to work every morning, enjoying the relative cool of low 30s before it inevitably hits 40 plus degrees in a couple of hours. I pass a family of five, all jammed onto a motorbike and they stare impassively at me.
I smile and wave at the kids and I’m rewarded with big toothy grins and a shouted “hello!” and a shy smile from their mother.

The best way to get around. Read the full article and see more pictures here.

Cambodia agrees "in principle" to resettle asylum seekers bound for Australia

Cambodia solution ... Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is expanding the "club" of nations willing to take asylum seekers bound for Australia.
Cambodia solution ... Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is expanding the "club" of nations willing to take asylum seekers bound for Australia. Photo: Andrew Meares
Cambodia has agreed "in principle" to resettle asylum seekers bound for Australia, after weeks of speculation as to whether the controversial deal would go ahead.
In principle, the government has agreed 
On Tuesday night, Cambodia's Secretary of State at the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the decision for the south east Asian country to resettle asylum seekers had been made.
Initial agreement to take asylum seekers ... from left, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen talks with Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Defence Minister Tea Banh.
Initial agreement to take asylum seekers ... from left, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen talks with Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Defence Minister Tea Banh. Photo: AP
"In principle, the government has agreed ... and we will do the work according to international standards," said Ouch Borith, Secretary of State at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Mr Borith met with a representative of the United Nations on Tuesday in Phnom Penh.
Human rights groups have condemned the Abbott government for seeking an agreement to send asylum seekers to Cambodia, one of South-East Asia's poorest countries, which has one of the worst human rights records in Asia.
The country is dependent on hundreds of millions of dollars a foreign aid, with Australia sending $US244 million to Phnom Penh over the past three years.
The United Nations refugee agency has warned resettlement countries are obliged to deliver education and labour rights and “not just safety.”
“Cambodia is a country that has its own set of difficulties, including economically,” Volker Turk, the UNHCR’s director of international protection,” said on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to speculate. The government has not contacted us on this . . . it’s not just about safety, it’s about fundamental human rights.” he said.
Mr Morrison has not publicly revealed details of the agreement.
But he said in a television interview on April 10 it would involve asylum seekers currently detained on the tiny South Pacific nation of Nauru.
Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, said Cambodia’s capacity to take care of asylum seekers or refugees is low and Australia is shirking its international obligations.
“Uighurs from China or human rights activists from Vietnam can explain about Cambodia’s shoddy record towards refugees,” he said.
“This proposal is absolutely shameful and deserves public condemnation across the region, from Phnom Penh to Canberra, and by the UNHCR.”
The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri, who is visiting Cambodia said the United Nations would provide support.
"What we think is important is to note that Cambodia is well aware of its international commitment to human rights standards," Ms Pansieri said.
"To the extent there is any need for cooperation, we stand ready to provide support to ensure that standards are met."
The announcement comes as the 1177 asylum seekers in Nauru were told they would be given a temporary five-year visa on the island and would be given work rights for the same amount of time, but would not be permanently resettled there.

King Sihamoni left for a visit France on 29th April ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​យាង​ទៅ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​នៅ​បារាំង​

ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ព្រះបាទ​សម្ដេច ព្រះ​បរមនាថ នរោត្តម សីហមុនី ៦១០


មន្ត្រី​ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ព្រះករុណា ព្រះបាទ​សម្ដេច​ព្រះ​បរមនាថ នរោត្តម សីហមុនី ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​នៃ​ព្រះរាជាណាចក្
រ​កម្ពុជា យាង​ទៅ​បំពេញ​ព្រះរាជ​ទស្សនកិច្ច ​នៅ​សាធារណរដ្ឋ​បារាំង នៅ​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៩ ខែ​មេសា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។ មន្ត្រី​ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ព្រះករុណា ព្រះបាទ​សម្ដេច​ព្រះ​បរមនាថ នរោត្តម សីហមុនី ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​នៃ​ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ​កម្ពុជា យាង​ទៅ​បំពេញ​ព្រះរាជ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​នៅ​សាធារណរដ្ឋ​បារាំង នៅ​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៩ ខែ​មេសា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។ ​លោក អ៊ុំ ដារ៉ាវុធ នាយក​ព្រះរាជ​ខុទ្ទកាល័យ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ និង​ជាទី​ប្រឹក្សា​ព្រះរាជ​លេខាធិការដ្ឋាន​របស់​សម្ដេច​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រី មុនីនាថ សីហនុ។ លោក​បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​អង្គារ ថា ទស្សនកិច្ច​របស់​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​ទៅ​កាន់​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ពេល​នេះ មាន​រយៈពេល​ជាង ១០​ថ្ងៃ ហើយ​ជា​ព្រះរាជ​ទស្សនកិច្ច​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​ពាក់​កណ្ដាល​ឯកជន និង​ពាក់​កណ្ដាល​ផ្លូវ​រដ្ឋ។ ​ លោក​បន្ត​ថា អម​ដំណើរ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​ទៅ​កាន់​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ពេល​នេះ មាន​មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង​ជា​ច្រើន​រូប​ទៀត៖ «លោក​យាង​ទៅ​ហ្នឹង​ពាក់​កណ្ដាល​ឯកជន និង​ពាក់​កណ្ដាល​ផ្លូវការ ពីព្រោះ​លោក​យាង​ទៅ​ហ្នឹង​ក្នុង​ព្រះរាជ​តួនាទី​លោក​ជា​សមាជិក ​មួយ​រួប​នៃ​អ្នកនិពន្ធ ឬ​សិល្បករ​ល្បីៗ របស់​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ដែល​បាន​ថ្វាយ​ឲ្យ​លោក ៣​ឆ្នាំ​មុន។ ក្នុង​នោះ​មាន​អ្នក​និពន្ធ អ្នក​សិល្បករ​ល្បីៗ ខាង​សរសេរ​អក្សរសាស្ត្រ​បារាំង ជាដើម​ហ្នឹង ដែល​គេ​សុំ​តែងតាំង​លោក ៣ ឬ ៤​ឆ្នាំ​មុន ឲ្យ​ចូល​ជា​សមាជិក​ពេញ​សិទ្ធិ។ ព្រោះ​គេ​បាន​បើក​កម្មវិធី​នៅ​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ហើយ​លោក​ត្រូវតែ​យាង​ទៅ​ពេល​នេះ»។ ​លោក អ៊ុំ ដារ៉ាវុធ ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​អាច​នឹង​យាង​និវត្តន៍​ពី​ប្រទេស​បារាំង មក​កាន់​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​វិញ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១២ ខែ​ឧសភា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤៕​

កំណត់ចំណាំចំពោះអ្នកបញ្ចូលមតិនៅក្នុងអត្ថបទនេះ៖ ដើម្បី​រក្សា​សេចក្ដី​ថ្លៃថ្នូរ យើង​ខ្ញុំ​នឹង​ផ្សាយ​តែ​មតិ​ណា ដែល​មិន​ជេរ​ប្រមាថ​ដល់​អ្នក​ដទៃ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ។


Tuesday 29 April 2014

Investors wary as anti-Vietnamese feeling grows in Cambodia

BY PRAK CHAN THUL

PHNOM PENH, April 29 Tue Apr 29, 2014

(Reuters) - It took just one word to fire up the mob that beat Tran Van Chien to death after a minor road accident in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
The 30-year-old carpenter was standing among onlookers on Feb. 16 when someone shouted "yuon," a term widely seen as derogatory to the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Vietnamese who call Cambodia home. Seconds later, the crowd turned on Tran Van Chien.
"There were so many people I couldn't help," recalled his sister, Tran Yaing Chang, shuffling through photos of his funeral. "He was killed instantly."
Cambodians have long borne a grudge against the Vietnamese.
For centuries Cambodia was caught between more powerful Thai and Vietnamese kingdoms and for generations, many Cambodians have believed Vietnam wants to take over their land.
At various times, Cambodian politicians have found it useful to play up that fear.
In late 1978, Vietnamese forces invaded to overthrow the Khmer Rouge who vilified Vietnam and launched cross-border raids. Vietnam occupied Cambodia for the next 11 years.
Recently, the resurgent opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has stoked anti-Vietnamese sentiment, seeking to capitalise on long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen's association with Vietnam.
Hun Sen first came to power in a government installed by the invading Vietnamese and his enemies have long played that up in a bid to undermine his legitimacy.
The opposition tried to exploit the distrust of Vietnam in an election last year some observers called racist, with party leader Sam Rainsy routinely using the term "yuon", an old word for Vietnamese that many find offensive, to refer to Vietnamese.

Three arrested in attack against journalists

Give our kids a better deal 
Photo/CEN


PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) – Three gangsters were arrested after they committed violence against three journalists during their coverage of a suicide case in Psar Thmey II commune of Daun Penh district. 

The journalists from Bayon, Hang Meas and Apsara television stations and online website CEN (Cambodia Express News) rode their motorcycles home after reporting suicide case, but they were blocked and beaten by the gangsters. 

One of the journalists from Bayon television station suffered injuries in his hand, back and head after he was attacked by the gangsters. 

CEN reporter said that he and the other two reporters were not injured in the attack after they phoned the local police for intervention. 

Police said that the three people attacking the reporters were identified as 21-year-old Tang Sinvay, 19-year-old Sreng Rattanak and 19-year-old Duong Sarith.

CNRP lawmaker files suit against official

Opposition lawmaker-elect Lim Kim-Ya filed charges with Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday morning against a government official he claims led an attack on a peaceful crowd at Freedom Park last Monday.
Ket Khy, a Cambodia National Rescue Party lawyer, told the Post that Kim-Ya was seeking financial compensation for the attack, which he claims was ordered by Daun Penh District Deputy Governor Sok Penh Vuth. Kim-Ya was struck around the face during the violence.
“I filed the complaint for [Kim-Ya], who accuses Sok Penh Vuth and his accomplices, the blue uniformed men, of using violence on him,” he said, referring to Daun Penh district security guards. “He also demands $10,000 in compensation.”
If the court proceeds with the case, the requested charges of intentional violence under aggravating circumstances could carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Four other alleged victims also met with Khy yesterday and are preparing to file their own complaints in the next couple of days, he said.
Penh Vuth could not be reached for comment.
Kim-Ya was at the scene in support of fellow CNRP member Mu Sochua, who has been on a campaign to enter the park, which remains off limits to protesters, since the beginning of the month.
Sochua, who had vowed to file her own charges, said yesterday that she is “waiting for authorisation from senior members” of the CNRP.
After first discussing the situation with Khy, Sochua met with European Union Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain.
“I showed him footage of [last week’s] beatings . . . I told him it was systematic and planned ahead of time,” she said. “He was very receptive.”