Fishermen bound for home

Sen David

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Twelve Cambodian men who were trafficked onto Thai fishing boats and forced to work as slaves will arrive home from Indonesia this morning after Cambodian and Indonesian authorities and the International Organization for Migration rescued them, officials said yesterday.

Koy Kuong, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, said the men were recently freed after most of them had illegally crossed into Thailand to find jobs, but had become victims of human trafficking and had been sold to Thai fisherman.

The men had endured months of hard labour near the Maluku Islands, he said.

“Now they are being looked after at an immigration office in Indonesia and waiting to be sent back to Cambodia,” he said yesterday, adding that they would be repatriated today.

Am Sam Ath, a senior human rights monitor for Licadho, said many Cambodians were compelled to travel abroad for work because they were unemployed or because they believed they could make more money for their family by doing so.

Many did not understand the dangers of human trafficking and were easily lured and cheated by brokers, he said.

“I appeal to police to arrest the brokers, so the number of cases of human trafficking can be reduced,” he said. 

Chhiv Phally, a deputy of the anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection department at the Ministry of Interior, said officials were investigating the case involving the 12 men as well as other cases in which Cambodians had been trafficked.

“Police must catch the brokers to find justice for all the victims,” he said.

Last year, almost 90 Cambodian were repatriated from Malaysia, Indonesia and Mauritius after being trafficked through Thailand. 

Representatives from Cambodia, Thailand, China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam gathered in Phnom Penh last week to discuss cracking down on trafficking at the countries’ borders.

Nepotism in Cambodia

Monday, January 16, 2012

Dictator Hun Xen (L) standing next to Mini-me (aka 2-moon general Hun Manet)

15 January 2012
By Yun Samean
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Oss Srok

Political observers in Cambodia are concerned that high ranking government officials are transferring important government positions to their relatives and cronies.

On Saturday 14 January, the ministry of Defense nominated Hun Manit, Hun Xen’s second son, to the position of deputy intelligence director of the ministry and he was also promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel rank as well. The ministry also nominated Chea Dara, the deputy chief of staff, to the position of army intelligence director, replacing general Mol Roeup who croaked last week at the age of 60.

The nomination of Hun Manit is the second nomination of another one of Hun Xen’s sons to an important position in the army rank. In 2011, the ministry nominated Hun Manet, Hun Xen’s oldest son to the position of deputy chief of staff, in addition to his duty as director of the terrorism department and deputy commander of Hun Xen’s bodyguard unit.

Pol Saroeun, the chief of staff, was quoted by the Chinese news media as saying that this nomination was based on the army achievement and experience of the nominees. He added that the intelligence department had many successes during the border dispute conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.

Nevertheless, Dr. Lao Mong Hay, a Cambodian commentator, saw in this latest nomination an intention to promote Hun Xen’s son to take over his father’s position in the future.

He warned that, in the past, power in Cambodia used to be conferred to the leaders’ children or cronies, however, under the current situation, Cambodians may no longer accept this situation: “Due to changes, the people are more knowledgeable and they understand much more about freedom. [Therefore] this new generation of leaders and this new group of leaders could face difficulties.”

On 07 January, Chea Xim, the CPP president, announced that Hun Xen will be the CPP candidate to premiership in 2013, as well as in subsequent mandates. Analysts believed that Hun Xen is paving the way for Hun Manet to take over his position in the future. Hun Xen, who is currently 59, led Cambodia for the past 26 years and he plans on keeping his leadership role well into the future.

Human rights officials claimed that Hun Xen’s leadership is turning Cambodia into a dictatorship led only by his CPP party.

On Saturday, Phay Siphan, mouthpiece of the Council of Sinisters, rejected these accusations.

ប្រែពាក្យបាក

high ranking government officials

Reference

http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2012/01/nepotism-in-cambodia.html

Protest blocks national road

Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

Equipment sits at a digging site yesterday in Dangkor district, where villagers burned tyres and blocked National Road 2 to protest against a company they claim is encroaching on their farmland.

Phak Seangly 

Thursday, 12 January 2012

More than 100 residents from two villages in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district burned tyres on National Road No. 2 yesterday to protest against an earthmoving company’s diggings, which they said were causing their land to sink and collapse.

Residents of Srey Snom and Kraing Svay villages, in Prek Kompoes commune, told the Post the Khutdyvathana company dug up and removed “truckloads” of dirt from an adjoining property each day.

This had created a huge hole, causing the villagers’ land to collapse into it.

The villagers fear their houses will be next.

They blocked the busy road to demand that the company stop digging, saying it was affecting their rice fields and plantations and the company’s trucks were polluting the environment.

Sum Siem, 45, said her four hectares of rice fields had sunk in the past three years. She had reported the issue to the company and authorities, but had not been offered a solution.

“If they keep digging, we worry that one day there will be no more rice fields for us to use,” she said.

Resident So Mony said Khutdyvathana had been excavating on the site for three years, creating a deep hole.

As much as eight hectares of some villagers’ land had been damaged, So Mony said.

“We are protesting to ask them to shut down their operation, because it makes our rice fields collapse,” he said.

Korn Soken, deputy chief of Prek Kompoes commune, said digging was affecting the villagers’ land and had an impact on the environment. 

The authority had asked the company to solve the problem in the past, but it had not complied, he said.

Huon Savuth, an assistant to Khutdyvathana’s director, said the company had met with villagers and agreed to compensate some of them. “Only three or four families have been affected, not hundreds,” he said.

Dangkor district governor Nut Puthdara could not be reached for comment.


ប្រែពាក្យ​ពិបាក


 burned tyres                               ដុតកងទ្ឃាន
 company’s diggings                     ក្រុមហ៊ុនជិកដី
 sink and collapse.                       រលុះ  បាក់ដី  
a huge hole                                 រណ្តៅជ្រៅ
 rice fields                                   វាលស្រែ
excavating                                   ជិកដី
had not complied                          មិនបានអនុវត្តទេ
compensate                                 បា្រក់សំណង




Reference


http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012011253912/National-news/protest-blocks-national-road.htm

Workers will return to factory

Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post

Garment factory workers protest outside Chea Ly (Cambodia) Co Ltd yesterday in Phnom Penh.

Mom Kunthear 

Thursday, 12 January 2012

More than 400 workers who participated in a strike outside the Chea Ly garment factory in the capitol’s Dangkor district yesterday said they would return to work today after the factory agreed to comply with one of their demands.

Worker representative Um Sopheap said the workers had begun the strike to demand that the company remove a Chinese manager who allegedly cursed, shouted and fired workers that he did not personally like.

Workers also protested that a number of employees had up to US$100 withheld from their monthly paychecks.

“About 80 of the more than 400 striking workers demanded salary that the company did not give them for December. They lost between $7 and $100,” he said.

One of those workers, Horm Vutha, said that although the company promised to provide the withheld salary at a later date, he needed it immediately.

“We need all of our salary. We work for money to support our family, if they cut our salary, how can we live?”

Horm Vutha also said he and other workers were worried the company would not comply with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s November decree mandating a $5 pay raise for garment factory workers. Horm Vutha said he had heard nothing from the company about the impending pay raise, which was intended to begin this month.

The administrative director of the factory, known as Pheng, said the company had agreed to comply with the workers’ demands to remove the Chinese manager. 

As for the other demands, the official said: “We will find a resolution…if they return to work.”

Um Sopheap confirmed that workers would indeed return to work today since the company had accepted one of their demands.


ប្រែពាក្យពិបាក


 a strike                                         កោដកម្ម
garment factory                              រោងចក្រកាត់ដេរ
comply with                                     អនុវត្តតាម
cursed, shouted and fired                ជេរប្រទិច​  ស្រែកគំហក់  បណេញចេញ
 not personally like                          មិនដូចជាមនុស្ស
withheld                                          ដែលបានកាត់ប្រាក់ខែ
salary                                             បា្រក់ខែ
decree                                            អព្យាក្រិត
about the impending pay raise          ស្តីអំពីការដំទ្ឃើងបា្រក់ខែ ដែលនឹងកើតទ្ឃើង
The administrative director of the factory        ប្រធានរដ្ឋបាលក្រុមហ៊ុន
As for the other demands                  សម្រាប់ការទាមទាដទៃ


Reference


http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012011253910/National-news/workers-will-return-to-factory.html

Some offered Borei Keila solution

A WOMAN EVICTED FROM THE BOREI KEILA COMMUNITY IN PHNOM PENH TAKES WATER FROM A POT AT THE TUOL SAMBO RELOCATION SITE YESTERDAY. PHA LINA

Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Kim Yuthana 

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

The owner of development firm Phan Imex has pledged to grant plots of land, equipment and food to some families who were relocated to Kandal province’s Ponhea Leu district this week after they were violently evicted from Phnom Penh’s Borei Keila community.

On Tuesday, more than 100 police, military police and company security guards demolished more than 200 homes in Borei Keila, in a clash that left at least 10 people injured. 

Eight residents were arrested and charged with intentional violence and obstructing public officials. They are being detained in Prey Sar prison.

Yesterday, Phan Imex owner Suy Sophan said she would grant 75 of the 197 families who relocated to Srah Po village in Phsar Daek commune – which the company previously referred to as Phnom Bat village – five-by-12-metre plots of land.

The remaining 122 families had already received flats at Borei Keila in eight buildings constructed by the company, Suy Sophan said. 

“They received houses from our development project, so we cannot give them land,” Suy Sophan said yesterday, as she, municipal and provincial officials verified which families would receive land, equipment and food in the village.

“The poor residents who were provided with nothing from our project will suffer from injustice if we give land to those greedy​​ cheaters,” she said.

In 2003, Phan Imex agreed to build 10 buildings on two hectares of land to provide housing for 1,776 families, in exchange for development rights to 2.6 hectares. 

The company constructed eight buildings before suspending construction in 2010, leaving almost 400 families in limbo. 

More than 60 families were still seeking on-site housing at Borei Keila in accordance with the 2003 contract, 39-year-old Borei Keila representative Chum Nhann said.

Evicted families moved to resettlement sites in Tuol Sambo village, on Phnom Penh’s outskirts, and Srah Po village, in Kandal province, where some families had already relocated.

Resident Phoung Linda, who received an apartment in Borei Keila, said she had come to the village to obtain housing for her younger sister but had been told by the company that they counted as one family.

Some residents from among the 75 families yesterday accused other families of cheating to obtain land when they had already received housing.

Am Sam Ath, senior monitor with rights group Licadho, called for the firm to provide the land to villagers who had not yet received flats and had rented houses in Borei Keila.

Residents in the village said yesterday they did not have fresh water, adequate sanitation, proper housing  or kitchen equipment.

In Tuol Sambo village 27, relocated families are expected to receive land titles, according to local officials and Borei Keila residents.

ប្រែពាក្យពិបាក

The owner of development firm                          ម្ចាស់ក្រុមហ៊ុនអភិវឌ្ឍន៏

 pledged                                                                   បានសន្យា 

plots of land                                                            ផ្លង់ដី

evicted                                                        បានបណេ្តញ

demolished                                                              បានរុសរើ

obstructing                                                               ប្រឆាំង

equipment                                                    សំភារះ

suspending construction                                        ពន្យាលពេលការសាងសង់

limbo                                                                           គុក

 resettlement sites                                                   ទៅកាន់ទីលំនៅ

 adequate sanitation                                      បង្គន់អនាម័យ

 fresh water                                                   ទឹកស្អាត

Reference

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012011053863/National-news/some-offered-b-keila-solution.html

Cambodia's king, prime minister make first trip on bus to far eastern province

Updated: 2012-01-10 16:08:00

(Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, January 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and other cabinet members are making their first trip together on a bus to far eastern province of Mondulkiri near Vietnam border.
Sry Thammarong, minister attached to the prime minister, said Tuesday that Prime Minister Hun Sen is accompanying King Norodom Sihamoni and are joined by other cabinet members in a visit to Mondulkiri province, some 520 km east of Phnom Penh.
He said the two-day trip"is intended to see the real lives of people living in remote provinces and to inspect the rural development especially infrastructure as well as distributing some gifts to villagers".
The minister added that"it is the first time for the king and the prime minister to make such a joint road trip to remote areas".
Prime Minister Hun Sen suggested several years ago that once the national road from Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri province is completely built, he might invite his majesty the king to make a joint trip.
Due to several decades of civil war, many parts of the country, especially the communication and transportation lines, have been destroyed.
Mondulkiri province was originally accessed from Vietnamese side, but is now  accessible from the Cambodian side. It is being connected to other eastern provinces such as Rattanakiri province.
Sihanmoni came to throne in 2004 following his father Norodom Sihanouk's abdication.

ប្រែពាក្យពិបាក



cabinet members                                          ​ សមាជិកគណរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី
 are making their first trip                            ធ្វើដំណើរជាលើកដំបូងរបស់ពួកគេ
attached to                                                     បានចូលរួម
 is accompanying                                            អមដំណើរ
infrastructure                                                 ហេត្ថារចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ
suggested 
 majesty the king                                           ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ
Due to                                                             ក្នុង
communication                                              ​ ទូរគមនាគមន៏
accessed                                                         ច្រក់ចូល
throne                                                             សោយរាជ្យ
abdication                                                       ការដាក់រាជ្យ


Reference


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2012-01-10/content_4918908.html

Preah Vihear landmine kills officer

Tep Nimol 
Monday, 09 January 2012 

A landmine killed a deputy police chief who was patrolling in a forest at the Cambodia-Thailand border in Preah Vihear province on Friday, an official said yesterday.

Leang Bunkheang, 48, deputy police chief for the protection of border 793, stationed near Daun Tom temple, died instantly when he triggered a “coconut-sized” mine with his hand while sitting down while on patrol with soldiers in Choam Ksan district, Chea Lay, police chief of the protection of border 793, said.

“The working group who went with him could not save him . . . He was dead at the scene.”

Saem Pornreay, a Cambodian Mine Action Centre spokesman, said many mines in Preah Vihear had been there more than 30 years and he urged police, soldiers and residents along the border to be careful. Since 1979, 64,000 people have been either killed or maimed by unexploded ordnance in Cambodia, he said.

ប្រែពាក្យពិបាក

A landmine                                 ចំការមីន
a deputy police chief                  អនុប្រធាននគបាល
was patrolling                             កំពង់យាមល្បាត
stationed                                     បានឈរជើង
a Cambodian Mine Action Centre spokesman          អ្នកនាំពាក្យមជ្ឈមណ្ខលកំចាត់មីននៅកម្ពុជា
maimed                                        ពិការ
unexploded ordnance                   គ្រាប់មិនទាន់ផ្ទុះ

Reference

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012010953841/National-news/preah-vihear-landmine-kills-officer.html

King father requests funeral arrangements

Kim Yuthana 
Monday, 09 January 2012 

Photo by: Pha Lina

King Norodom Sihanouk (right) gestures after returning to Cambodia in October 2011.

King Father Norodom Sihanouk has asked that after his death, his ashes be placed inside a shrine in the Royal Palace, following a Buddhist ceremony, said a message from him released on Saturday.

Palace officials were quick to note, however, that the rare message from the former king who celebrated his 90th birthday last October 31 not be interpreted as a signal of declining health.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, per­s­on­al assistant to Norodom Sihanouk, told the Post yesterday that “the Royal message was not intended to shock”. The prince explained that the former king, who led Cambodia’s independence from France, was simply preparing those who loved him for his eventual passing away.

The King Father’s health was normal and doctors were on call should he become ill, the prince said.

When Norodom Sihanouk returned from China to celebrate his 90th birthday, he said he would reside permanently in Cambodia.

He said he had “absolutely de­cided not to leave Cambodia” again, and that doctors would be sent from China to treat him here.

ប្រែពាក្យពិបាក

be placed inside a shrine                         នឹងត្រូវដាក់នៅក្នុងកោដិ
ashes                                                         អដ្ឋិធាតុ
released                                                    បានចេញផ្សាយ
not be interpreted                                     មិនត្រូវបានបកស្រាយ
a signal of declining health.                      សញ្ញានៃការធ្លាក់ចុះព្រះរាជសុខភាព
to shock                                                     ភ័យខ្លាច


Reference

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012010953842/National-news/king-father-requests-funeral-arrangements.html

Cambodia's political parties launch campaigns forSenate election

Updated: 2012-01-07 12:18:00

(Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, January 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's political parties on Saturday have begun​​​ electoral campaigns for the third legislature of the Senate to be held on January 29.

The campaign will be lasted until January 27.

There are only two main political parties participated in the election. They are the rulingCambodian People's Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party, a main opposition party in thecountry.

According to the National Election Committee (NEC), the Senate has 61 seats, but the electionis held for only 57 seats as 2 senators will be appointed by the King and the other 2 by the​  National Assembly.

Each of the two parties has named 57 full candidates and 57 reserve ones to the NEC to compete in the election.

The Senate election will be voted by the 123 Members of Parliament and 11,353 commune councilors nationwide.

Chea Sim, the CPP's President, said on Saturday that the party would strictly respect concerned electoral law, order and procedures.

"I have a strong belief that incumbent members of the National Assembly and commune councilors will vote for the CPP as they have seen clear positions, actions, achievements and policies of the party," he said in speech in commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of January 7victory day.

The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in January 2006, at that time,there parties, Cambodian People's  Party, Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Part, joined the contest.As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, the Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy party two seats.

ប្រែពាក្យពិបាក

legislature                                         ការបោះឆ្នោត

Senate                                               ព្រឹត្តសភា

 the National Election Committee               គណកម្មការជាតិរៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោត

has 61 seats                                     ​ មាន៦១ កៅអី

candidates                                         បេក្ខជន

commune councilors                        ក្រុមព្រឹក្សាឃុំ

procedures                                         ព្រះរាជ្យអាជ្ញា

 incumbent members of the National Assembly     សមាជិកសភាដែលកំពង់កាន់អំណាច

achievements                                      សមីទ្ធផល

 commemoration of the 33rd anniversary      ពិធីរំលឹកខួបលើកទី ៣៣ 

victory day                                            ថ្ងៃជ័យជំនះ

contest                                                  ប្រកួតប្រជែង

Reference

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2012-01-07/content_4899490.html