The other Screenings At META HOUSE this Week

Friday, November 13, 2009
* Friday, 7 PM, we are proud to screen "WHO MOVES PHNOM PENH?": Media students from the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh present their new short film series. 22 mini documentaries take you amongst construction workers, to the kitchen of noodle makers, or into the middle of a traditional Khmer boxing practice session (2009, 70 mins). Filmmakers will be present at the screening (Q&A).
* Saturday, 7 PM, the MESSENGER BAND presents “LAND LOST, CULTURE LOST”. Former garment factory workers are singing “a-capella” about pressing social issues. Tonight’s live performance, music videos (featuring the blind Chapei star Kong Nai) and Q&A with the artists is followed by the innovative community video project “LAND LOST CULTURE LOST”. The film tells the story of a land dispute in Ratanakkiri though the eyes of ethnic Jarai villagers from one of Cambodia’s remotest areas. It’s shot by the villagers and screened in the original version with English subtitles.
* On Sunday, 6 PM, we are hosting a SPECIAL CHARITY ART AUCTION with original works by German artist Herbert Mueller. The revenues will support a project for children in Kandal province and Cambodian students from the faculty of Medicine.
The auction is followed by the film “KANDAHAR” (2001, 82 min). It serves as a timely memorial to the brutality of the Taliban regime. When a woman receives a letter from her sister in Afghanistan which makes her think that she is going to kill herself, she sets off on a perilous journey to the country in search of her sibling.

The other Screenings At META HOUSE this Week

Friday, November 13, 2009
* Friday, 7 PM, we are proud to screen "WHO MOVES PHNOM PENH?": Media students from the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh present their new short film series. 22 mini documentaries take you amongst construction workers, to the kitchen of noodle makers, or into the middle of a traditional Khmer boxing practice session (2009, 70 mins). Filmmakers will be present at the screening (Q&A).
* Saturday, 7 PM, the MESSENGER BAND presents “LAND LOST, CULTURE LOST”. Former garment factory workers are singing “a-capella” about pressing social issues. Tonight’s live performance, music videos (featuring the blind Chapei star Kong Nai) and Q&A with the artists is followed by the innovative community video project “LAND LOST CULTURE LOST”. The film tells the story of a land dispute in Ratanakkiri though the eyes of ethnic Jarai villagers from one of Cambodia’s remotest areas. It’s shot by the villagers and screened in the original version with English subtitles.
* On Sunday, 6 PM, we are hosting a SPECIAL CHARITY ART AUCTION with original works by German artist Herbert Mueller. The revenues will support a project for children in Kandal province and Cambodian students from the faculty of Medicine.
The auction is followed by the film “KANDAHAR” (2001, 82 min). It serves as a timely memorial to the brutality of the Taliban regime. When a woman receives a letter from her sister in Afghanistan which makes her think that she is going to kill herself, she sets off on a perilous journey to the country in search of her sibling.

BBC- A Cambodian man (a Thai national) has been arrested for allegedly spying for Thailand as a major cross-border row intensifies.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who works for the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, was accused of seeking out the flight details of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The former Thai prime minister, wanted in Thailand to serve a jail sentence for corruption, has been playing golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mr Thaksin's presence in Cambodia has outraged Thailand.
Bangkok fears Mr Thaksin's ability to spur opposition to the current government and resents Cambodia's rejection of an extradition request.
In exile for two years, Mr Thaksin accepted a role as economic adviser to the Cambodian government and arrived in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Tuesday.
Espionage charge
Siwarak Chothipong was arrested and charged with supplying Thailand with details of Mr Thaksin's flight schedule, said Cambodian national police spokesman Kirt Chantharith.

BBC- A Cambodian man (a Thai national) has been arrested for allegedly spying for Thailand as a major cross-border row intensifies.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who works for the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, was accused of seeking out the flight details of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The former Thai prime minister, wanted in Thailand to serve a jail sentence for corruption, has been playing golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mr Thaksin's presence in Cambodia has outraged Thailand.
Bangkok fears Mr Thaksin's ability to spur opposition to the current government and resents Cambodia's rejection of an extradition request.
In exile for two years, Mr Thaksin accepted a role as economic adviser to the Cambodian government and arrived in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Tuesday.
Espionage charge
Siwarak Chothipong was arrested and charged with supplying Thailand with details of Mr Thaksin's flight schedule, said Cambodian national police spokesman Kirt Chantharith.

BBC- A Cambodian man (a Thai national) has been arrested for allegedly spying for Thailand as a major cross-border row intensifies.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who works for the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, was accused of seeking out the flight details of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The former Thai prime minister, wanted in Thailand to serve a jail sentence for corruption, has been playing golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mr Thaksin's presence in Cambodia has outraged Thailand.
Bangkok fears Mr Thaksin's ability to spur opposition to the current government and resents Cambodia's rejection of an extradition request.
In exile for two years, Mr Thaksin accepted a role as economic adviser to the Cambodian government and arrived in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Tuesday.
Espionage charge
Siwarak Chothipong was arrested and charged with supplying Thailand with details of Mr Thaksin's flight schedule, said Cambodian national police spokesman Kirt Chantharith.

BBC- A Cambodian man (a Thai national) has been arrested for allegedly spying for Thailand as a major cross-border row intensifies.

Siwarak Chothipong, 31, who works for the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, was accused of seeking out the flight details of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The former Thai prime minister, wanted in Thailand to serve a jail sentence for corruption, has been playing golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mr Thaksin's presence in Cambodia has outraged Thailand.
Bangkok fears Mr Thaksin's ability to spur opposition to the current government and resents Cambodia's rejection of an extradition request.
In exile for two years, Mr Thaksin accepted a role as economic adviser to the Cambodian government and arrived in the capital, Phnom Penh, on Tuesday.
Espionage charge
Siwarak Chothipong was arrested and charged with supplying Thailand with details of Mr Thaksin's flight schedule, said Cambodian national police spokesman Kirt Chantharith.

Holy cow! Cambodian villagers worship calf with hide of dark, reptile-like skin

0 comments 8/23/2009 12:08:00 AM Posted by Viasna
Labels: Cambodia's News

DAMNAK SANGKE, Cambodia — Villagers in this poor community in central Cambodia live hand to mouth, but many dug into their pockets to help pay for a funeral here Friday for a three-day-old calf with a dark, reptilian hide that many believed was holy.

Outh Kdep, the calf's owner, said villagers believed in the animal's divinity because there had been a drought in the area for three months, but it rained the day after it was born.

The female calf was born Tuesday and died Thursday in this remote village in Pursat province, some 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of capital Phnom Penh. It had thick, dark, scaly skin like a crocodile's, and legs with odd markings.

Yim Rith, 60, a community leader, said Cambodians have for centuries worshipped a Cow God believed to bring peace and prosperity. The deity disappeared from their land long ago, but the calf may have been a sign it was returning to help them, he said.

Hundreds of villagers flocked to see the animal, lighting incense to pray for its well-being and collecting its saliva, believed to cure illness. The flood of visitors panicked the cow's mother, affecting her ability to enough produce milk to feed the calf, and it died.

But the faithful were undeterred. The calf's corpse was placed on a plastic sheet, and people washed water over it in the hopes of making the liquid holy.

Srey Nak, 72, said that when some was applied to her joints and teeth, long-standing pains and aches went away.

"But I am very upset that the Cow God came to live with us for just three days and has now died," she said. "If she stayed longer, then many sick people could have been treated."

Un Dary, General Director of Religious Affairs for Cambodia's Ministry of Cults and Religions, said he did not know about the case, but that many Cambodians, who are almost all Buddhists, also subscribe to animism — a belief that spirits can inhabit all sorts of living and inanimate objects.

Whenever an odd animal makes an appearance, he said, it is cause for the superstitious to celebrate. He speculated that the freak appearance of the calf may have been due to a vitamin deficiency or virus.

Outh Kdeb, 40, grieved for her calf Friday.

Had it lived a bit longer, she said, "my family and the people in this area as well as the whole entire Cambodian nation would have achieved more peace and prosperity."

The animal was buried in a rice field near her house Friday. She said villagers pooled 150,000 riel ($35), and she contributed 200,000 riel ($50) for a ceremony with six Buddhist monks to give thanks and wishes for the soul of the God Cow. They prayed for it "to be reborn as soon as possible."

Click Here To Read More......

Holy cow! Cambodian villagers worship calf with hide of dark, reptile-like skin

0 comments 8/23/2009 12:08:00 AM Posted by Viasna
Labels: Cambodia's News

DAMNAK SANGKE, Cambodia — Villagers in this poor community in central Cambodia live hand to mouth, but many dug into their pockets to help pay for a funeral here Friday for a three-day-old calf with a dark, reptilian hide that many believed was holy.

Outh Kdep, the calf's owner, said villagers believed in the animal's divinity because there had been a drought in the area for three months, but it rained the day after it was born.

The female calf was born Tuesday and died Thursday in this remote village in Pursat province, some 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of capital Phnom Penh. It had thick, dark, scaly skin like a crocodile's, and legs with odd markings.

Yim Rith, 60, a community leader, said Cambodians have for centuries worshipped a Cow God believed to bring peace and prosperity. The deity disappeared from their land long ago, but the calf may have been a sign it was returning to help them, he said.

Hundreds of villagers flocked to see the animal, lighting incense to pray for its well-being and collecting its saliva, believed to cure illness. The flood of visitors panicked the cow's mother, affecting her ability to enough produce milk to feed the calf, and it died.

But the faithful were undeterred. The calf's corpse was placed on a plastic sheet, and people washed water over it in the hopes of making the liquid holy.

Srey Nak, 72, said that when some was applied to her joints and teeth, long-standing pains and aches went away.

"But I am very upset that the Cow God came to live with us for just three days and has now died," she said. "If she stayed longer, then many sick people could have been treated."

Un Dary, General Director of Religious Affairs for Cambodia's Ministry of Cults and Religions, said he did not know about the case, but that many Cambodians, who are almost all Buddhists, also subscribe to animism — a belief that spirits can inhabit all sorts of living and inanimate objects.

Whenever an odd animal makes an appearance, he said, it is cause for the superstitious to celebrate. He speculated that the freak appearance of the calf may have been due to a vitamin deficiency or virus.

Outh Kdeb, 40, grieved for her calf Friday.

Had it lived a bit longer, she said, "my family and the people in this area as well as the whole entire Cambodian nation would have achieved more peace and prosperity."

The animal was buried in a rice field near her house Friday. She said villagers pooled 150,000 riel ($35), and she contributed 200,000 riel ($50) for a ceremony with six Buddhist monks to give thanks and wishes for the soul of the God Cow. They prayed for it "to be reborn as soon as possible."

Click Here To Read More......

Reaction to Thailand’s formation a naval base

Tuesday, August 18, 2009Everyday.com.khTranslated from Khmer by Socheata
A high ranking Cambodian government official reacted on Monday to Thailand’s formation of a naval base in Koh Kut Island, located in Trat Province. The Cambodian official called the formation of this naval base a violation of the 2000 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Cambodia and Thailand, and that it is a threat to Cambodia’s national security as well. Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, made this statement after reports indicated that Thai royal navy battleships were ordered to patrol near the overlapping waters between Thailand and Cambodia in order to counter any action taken by Cambodia. Phay Siphan told RFA: “Therefore, the naval threat will affect the national security of the kingdom of Cambodia. Furthermore, the use of troops to resolve border issues or to protect waters in the Thai-Cambodian Gulf is not in agreement with the 2000 MOU.” Phay Siphan said that Cambodia will deliver a diplomatic note to Thailand for its sending of battleships to the overlapping sea waters area.

Reaction to Thailand’s formation a naval base

Tuesday, August 18, 2009Everyday.com.khTranslated from Khmer by Socheata
A high ranking Cambodian government official reacted on Monday to Thailand’s formation of a naval base in Koh Kut Island, located in Trat Province. The Cambodian official called the formation of this naval base a violation of the 2000 MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Cambodia and Thailand, and that it is a threat to Cambodia’s national security as well. Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, made this statement after reports indicated that Thai royal navy battleships were ordered to patrol near the overlapping waters between Thailand and Cambodia in order to counter any action taken by Cambodia. Phay Siphan told RFA: “Therefore, the naval threat will affect the national security of the kingdom of Cambodia. Furthermore, the use of troops to resolve border issues or to protect waters in the Thai-Cambodian Gulf is not in agreement with the 2000 MOU.” Phay Siphan said that Cambodia will deliver a diplomatic note to Thailand for its sending of battleships to the overlapping sea waters area.

Higher costs expected in Cambodia stretch of Trans-Asia Railway

Tue, 18 Aug 2009DPA
Phnom Penh - A key link of the Cambodian stretch of the Trans-Asia Railway, which will eventually connect Singapore with Kunming in China, will need extra cash to fund its construction, local media reported Monday. The section of the railway examined in a recent study will run 255 kilometres east from near the capital Phnom Penh and connect to Vietnam's railway at Loc Ninh.The feasibility study by the China Railway Group estimates this stretch will cost between 500 million and 600 million US dollars, the Phnom Penh Post newspaper reported.The study blamed the higher-than-expected cost on the number of bridges needed to span the Mekong and other rivers between Phnom Penh and Vietnam. It stated that two bridges spanning 1,500 metres and 1,000 metres in length would cost up to 266 million dollars. Smaller bridges would add another 120 million dollars.

Higher costs expected in Cambodia stretch of Trans-Asia Railway

Tue, 18 Aug 2009DPA
Phnom Penh - A key link of the Cambodian stretch of the Trans-Asia Railway, which will eventually connect Singapore with Kunming in China, will need extra cash to fund its construction, local media reported Monday. The section of the railway examined in a recent study will run 255 kilometres east from near the capital Phnom Penh and connect to Vietnam's railway at Loc Ninh.The feasibility study by the China Railway Group estimates this stretch will cost between 500 million and 600 million US dollars, the Phnom Penh Post newspaper reported.The study blamed the higher-than-expected cost on the number of bridges needed to span the Mekong and other rivers between Phnom Penh and Vietnam. It stated that two bridges spanning 1,500 metres and 1,000 metres in length would cost up to 266 million dollars. Smaller bridges would add another 120 million dollars.

1.6 million hectares of land leased by Hun Xen's regime to Saudi Arabia

Grab the land
According to reports, Arab investors are buying agricultural land in Israel. Aug 17th, 2009Aarti NagrajKippReportWealthy individuals from the Gulf countries have recently purchased hundreds of acres of agricultural land in the occupied region of Galilee, reported Israel Radio this week. Farmers in Galilee reportedly tried to prevent the sale, but failed to do so as they did not have sufficient funds to buy the land from its owners. The Israel Lands Administration told the radio station that it could not interfere with the deal because the lands are privately-owned.While the move has come under heavy criticism from political leaders in Israel, if true, it is the latest example of the increasing importance being given to agricultural land by people in the Arab world.In recent years, in a bid to reduce food imports, several Gulf countries have been investing heavily in farmland in developing countries such as Pakistan, the Philippines and Ethiopia. Last year, Gulf States imported 80 percent of their food at a cost of $20 billion.According to reports, Cambodia has a $546 million loan from Kuwait for agricultural projects, a $200 million venture with Qatar and has leased 1.6 million hectares of land to Saudi Arabia.The Philippines is in talks with Qatar to lease around 100,000 hectares of agricultural land, and has a $500 million joint agri-business venture with Kuwait. Saudi also recently announced that it would allocate around $240 million to establish fruit plantations and support aquaculture and halal food processing projects in the Philippines. The UAE has 3,000 hectares in the country for agriculture projects.Vietnam announced plans to establish a $1 billion investment fund with Qatar last year primarily for investment in food production for export.But it’s not just for food, Gulf countries are also looking at the financially lucrative side of the agricultural industry.Last year, the Qatari Investment Authority founded a company, Hassad Food, only to invest in existing agricultural businesses and projects around the world and re-export the produce.“We are driven by profits and not just food security and right now the economic crisis has created a lot of opportunities for us to invest in financially distressed companies,” its chairman, Nasser Mohamed Al Hajri told Reuters earlier this month. The company is in talks with a number of agricultural companies in Argentina and other parts of South America, he said.Earlier this month, Jenaan, a private agricultural investment firm in Abu Dhabi announced a AED925 million farmland deal in Egypt. The company plans to grow wheat on 42,000 hectares in south-western Egypt, and according to Jenaan, the produce will be “strictly for Egyptian consumption.In July this year, Sami al-Araji, the head of the Iraqi National Investment, said during a visit to the UAE that the country was planning to offer agricultural land on a long-term rental basis to investors from the Gulf in order to revive its agricultural sector.However, this growing trend has come under criticism from international bodies; Jacques Diouf, the head of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said recently that a new kind of “neo-colonialism” could appear from land deals where poor Southeast Asian countries produce food for export to rich Gulf States rather than feed their own malnourished people.Earlier this year, the United Nations also said that farmers’ rights could be compromised in developing nations because of rich countries buying up their farmland.

1.6 million hectares of land leased by Hun Xen's regime to Saudi Arabia

Grab the land
According to reports, Arab investors are buying agricultural land in Israel. Aug 17th, 2009Aarti NagrajKippReportWealthy individuals from the Gulf countries have recently purchased hundreds of acres of agricultural land in the occupied region of Galilee, reported Israel Radio this week. Farmers in Galilee reportedly tried to prevent the sale, but failed to do so as they did not have sufficient funds to buy the land from its owners. The Israel Lands Administration told the radio station that it could not interfere with the deal because the lands are privately-owned.While the move has come under heavy criticism from political leaders in Israel, if true, it is the latest example of the increasing importance being given to agricultural land by people in the Arab world.In recent years, in a bid to reduce food imports, several Gulf countries have been investing heavily in farmland in developing countries such as Pakistan, the Philippines and Ethiopia. Last year, Gulf States imported 80 percent of their food at a cost of $20 billion.According to reports, Cambodia has a $546 million loan from Kuwait for agricultural projects, a $200 million venture with Qatar and has leased 1.6 million hectares of land to Saudi Arabia.The Philippines is in talks with Qatar to lease around 100,000 hectares of agricultural land, and has a $500 million joint agri-business venture with Kuwait. Saudi also recently announced that it would allocate around $240 million to establish fruit plantations and support aquaculture and halal food processing projects in the Philippines. The UAE has 3,000 hectares in the country for agriculture projects.Vietnam announced plans to establish a $1 billion investment fund with Qatar last year primarily for investment in food production for export.But it’s not just for food, Gulf countries are also looking at the financially lucrative side of the agricultural industry.Last year, the Qatari Investment Authority founded a company, Hassad Food, only to invest in existing agricultural businesses and projects around the world and re-export the produce.“We are driven by profits and not just food security and right now the economic crisis has created a lot of opportunities for us to invest in financially distressed companies,” its chairman, Nasser Mohamed Al Hajri told Reuters earlier this month. The company is in talks with a number of agricultural companies in Argentina and other parts of South America, he said.Earlier this month, Jenaan, a private agricultural investment firm in Abu Dhabi announced a AED925 million farmland deal in Egypt. The company plans to grow wheat on 42,000 hectares in south-western Egypt, and according to Jenaan, the produce will be “strictly for Egyptian consumption.In July this year, Sami al-Araji, the head of the Iraqi National Investment, said during a visit to the UAE that the country was planning to offer agricultural land on a long-term rental basis to investors from the Gulf in order to revive its agricultural sector.However, this growing trend has come under criticism from international bodies; Jacques Diouf, the head of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said recently that a new kind of “neo-colonialism” could appear from land deals where poor Southeast Asian countries produce food for export to rich Gulf States rather than feed their own malnourished people.Earlier this year, the United Nations also said that farmers’ rights could be compromised in developing nations because of rich countries buying up their farmland.

Ransom demanded for missing ship

Writer: AFP
Published: 15/08/2009 at 08:30 PM
A ransom has been sought for a Russian-crewed cargo vessel that disappeared two weeks ago, Finnish police said Saturday, as a Russian frigate headed in the direction where the vessel had been spotted.
The ransom demand was made to the Finnish owners of the Arctic Sea, police said, with the vessel's disappearance having set off an intense search by the Russian military and deep concern over its fate.
"Yes, it is true that there has been a demand for ransom, which is money, and the demand has been made to the company which owns the ship, Solchart Management in Finland,'' Finnish Detective Chief Superintendent Jan Nyholm told AFP.
The company could not be immediately reached for comment.
Officials in Cape Verde and France said Friday the ship had been spotted off the archipelago, which lies off Africa's western coast, but Russia has not confirmed the sighting.
The French military said Saturday it was likely the ship remained in the same area and a Russian warship seemed headed towards it.
"A small Russian frigate that was located in the Mediterranean is currently headed toward the south, probably to meet up with the Arctic Sea,'' said French Commander Jerome Baroe.
Moscow's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said Russia would not give out details of the search for the time being.
"The data necessary to search for and identify the Arctic Sea ship is being checked and double-checked in the most thorough manner,'' he told Russia television.
"The rest of the information, including the Arctic Sea's location coordinates, is not subject to disclosure,'' he said, citing the interests of the search operation and the crew's well-being.
A European Union spokesman has said it appeared the ship, which disappeared after passing through the English Channel in late July, had been attacked twice.
It had been due to arrive in Algeria on August 4 with a cargo of sawn Norwegian timber worth more than a million euros (1.42 million dollars).
Pirate attacks in European waters are extremely rare, and the ship's disappearance on one of the world's main shipping routes has led to intense speculation over what may have occurred.
Moscow's ambassador to Cape Verde Alexander Karpushin has said the Cape Verdean military has not officially informed him of the spotting.
He also said searches for the ship were continuing with Russian ships, submarines and satellites "and other means of detection'' but declined to provide details on where they were taking place.
Experts have debated whether pirates, a mafia quarrel or a commercial dispute were behind the disappearance of the Maltese-flagged ship, which left Finland on July 23.
A European Union spokesman said Friday that the ship appeared to have been attacked twice but not in "traditional'' acts of piracy.
"From information currently available it would seem that these acts, such as they have been reported, have nothing in common with 'traditional' acts of piracy or armed robbery at sea,'' Martin Selmayr said, without providing details.
The ship is linked to an automatic tracking system but the last signal was received on July 30, showing it was off the coast of northwestern France.

Ransom demanded for missing ship

Writer: AFP
Published: 15/08/2009 at 08:30 PM
A ransom has been sought for a Russian-crewed cargo vessel that disappeared two weeks ago, Finnish police said Saturday, as a Russian frigate headed in the direction where the vessel had been spotted.
The ransom demand was made to the Finnish owners of the Arctic Sea, police said, with the vessel's disappearance having set off an intense search by the Russian military and deep concern over its fate.
"Yes, it is true that there has been a demand for ransom, which is money, and the demand has been made to the company which owns the ship, Solchart Management in Finland,'' Finnish Detective Chief Superintendent Jan Nyholm told AFP.
The company could not be immediately reached for comment.
Officials in Cape Verde and France said Friday the ship had been spotted off the archipelago, which lies off Africa's western coast, but Russia has not confirmed the sighting.
The French military said Saturday it was likely the ship remained in the same area and a Russian warship seemed headed towards it.
"A small Russian frigate that was located in the Mediterranean is currently headed toward the south, probably to meet up with the Arctic Sea,'' said French Commander Jerome Baroe.
Moscow's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, said Russia would not give out details of the search for the time being.
"The data necessary to search for and identify the Arctic Sea ship is being checked and double-checked in the most thorough manner,'' he told Russia television.
"The rest of the information, including the Arctic Sea's location coordinates, is not subject to disclosure,'' he said, citing the interests of the search operation and the crew's well-being.
A European Union spokesman has said it appeared the ship, which disappeared after passing through the English Channel in late July, had been attacked twice.
It had been due to arrive in Algeria on August 4 with a cargo of sawn Norwegian timber worth more than a million euros (1.42 million dollars).
Pirate attacks in European waters are extremely rare, and the ship's disappearance on one of the world's main shipping routes has led to intense speculation over what may have occurred.
Moscow's ambassador to Cape Verde Alexander Karpushin has said the Cape Verdean military has not officially informed him of the spotting.
He also said searches for the ship were continuing with Russian ships, submarines and satellites "and other means of detection'' but declined to provide details on where they were taking place.
Experts have debated whether pirates, a mafia quarrel or a commercial dispute were behind the disappearance of the Maltese-flagged ship, which left Finland on July 23.
A European Union spokesman said Friday that the ship appeared to have been attacked twice but not in "traditional'' acts of piracy.
"From information currently available it would seem that these acts, such as they have been reported, have nothing in common with 'traditional' acts of piracy or armed robbery at sea,'' Martin Selmayr said, without providing details.
The ship is linked to an automatic tracking system but the last signal was received on July 30, showing it was off the coast of northwestern France.

Acting chief on hand on 'Petition day'

Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 15/08/2009 at 02:29 PM
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva disclosed on Saturday that he had assigned acting police chief Pol Gen Wichien Pojphosri to take responsibility in maintaining peace and order on the petition day.
Mr Abhisit said he had directed the acting police chief to come up with measures to prevent supporters of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship from confronting with the blue-shirts, supporters of Newin Chidchob, leader of the Friends of Newin faction inside the Bhumjaithai party.
The red-shirts plan to present the petition for Thaksin pardon to the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary inside the Grand Palace on Monday.
On the same that the Supreme Court, located nearby the Grand Palace, will rule on the corruption case involving Mr Newin and 43 others over the Agriculture Ministry's purchase of 90 million rubber saplings between 2004 and 2006. Mr Newin was deputy agriculture minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra administration at the time.

US-Cambodians Ready for August Festivals

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington13 August 2009
Cambodians in the US should mark their calendars for Aug. 15, no matter where they are, with events planned on the east and west coasts.
Cambodians are preparing for a forum on cultural, civilization and social issues to be held Aug. 15 in Takoma, Washington, aimed at building solidarity, relationships and a chance to exchange experiences among Cambodians in the US.
Organizers expect many participants from neighboring states, along with Washington state lawmakers, and they plan to have several guest speakers knowledgeable in religion, culture, tradition, education, law, history and deportation issues.
One of those guest speakers, Ros Darachan, said she was planning to discuss parenting skills, which can be quite different between the US and Cambodia.
Cambodian parents usually advise their children to respect their siblings, parents and elders and to speak morally, while they rarely show love to their children, worrying they may misbehave, she said.
“American parents like to encourage and show love to their children, so that children will show love back to their parents,” she said.
The Cambodian cultural forum will also present a photo slideshow of Cambodian traditions, such as the delivery of a child, first-year baby photos, and wedding and funeral ceremonies.
Washington state has the third-largest population of Cambodians, after California and Massachusetts.
“We hope and believe that all our brothers and sisters will learn from each other, understand each other and travel into the future together, with strong solidarity and a good alliance,” Yon Saray, a participant in the forum, said.
Meanwhile, the Cambodian community in Lowell, Mass., plans to have its own festivities Aug. 15, with a boat festival that has been running since 1997. The festival will include exhibitions, classical dance and traditional modeling.
The Lowell boat festival sees participants of many nationalities, with competitors from Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and the US joining the Cambodian hosts. But while participants and onlookers from many states usually attend, Cambodia has failed in recent years to field any boats. Many people say this is because of a lack of care

Hun Sen Chides Mu Sochua’s Appeal Decision

By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh13 August 2009
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday appeared to mock opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua, saying she made a mistake by suing him and forcing him to defend himself in a suit of his own.
Mu Sochua was fined for defamation earlier this month after she brought a suit against the premier for allegedly sexist remarks in a speech in April. Mu Sochua has vowed to appeal the decision.
“You were doing press conferences and filed a complaint against me, but now I’ve won the case in the municipal court,” Hun Sen said at a graduation speech in Phnom Penh, in apparent reference to Mu Sochua, who is the Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker for Kampot province.
“[They] said I sued a woman. Why can’t I?” Hun Sen said. “Can’t women make mistakes? [She] said she represents women; this type of woman can’t represent women; don’t make yourself so strong.”
“Now I said this,” the premier continued. “If you file another complaint, go ahead. I will continue by filing another complaint.”
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said the party supported Mu Sochua’s decision to appeal.
“The Sam Rainsy Party fully supports Mu Sochua,” he said. “Any decision she consciously makes will get the party’s support.”

Lawmaker Worried Over Recent Hun Sen Remarks

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington14 August 2009
A new round of barbs opened between an opposition lawmaker and Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday, with the Sam Rainsy Party’s Mu Sochua cautioning the premier to curb rhetoric about a crackdown on the opposition.
On Wednesday, Hun Sen responded to critics of the government by saying he had the power to eliminate the opposition through force in only two hours but hadn’t.
“I as the prime minister use the court of law, and it is the same as the armed forces if it is not allowed,” Hun Sen told a forum in Phnom Penh. “Is it the rifles or what? I only need two hours to take over all of Phnom Penh. If you want to try, from this hour, I only need two hours, not longer than that, to grab you all.”
Mu Sochua, who is in the US, told VOA Khmer Thursday she was “horrified” by the comments.
“I think that such language should not be used at all, especially by a leader,” she said.
Mu Sochua was fined earlier this month in a suit brought by Hun Sen after she charged he had defamed her in a derogatory speech in April.
She has said she will appeal the decision, which spot-lighted alleged political bias in the courts.
The government and the courts have come under increased scrutiny lately, following a rash of court cases against opposition lawmakers, journalists and rights workers that critics say could mark a crackdown on government dissent.

Asean rift on rice, sugar

August 15, 2009
By Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation

Other Asean countries have pressured Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines for a reduction in their tariffs on highly sensitive products, including rice and sugar, under the Asean Free Trade Agreement (Afta).

They fear that failure to do so will affect progress towards the goal of an Asean Economic Community.

The move came after the three countries' failure to fulfil Afta commitments for substantive reductions in tariffs, thus potentially prolonging the process of integration under a single market.

A senior Commerce Ministry source said yesterday that during the current Asean Economic Ministers Meeting, there had been a call from other member countries for Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to fulfil the grouping's commitment to bring down import tariffs on rice and sugar.

"Other Asean members fear that the breaking of the commitment will create conflict among Asean countries. They would focus on seeking compensation in solving disputes between each other, if the three nations did not follow through on the commitment," said the source.

Under Afta, the three countries have kept rice and sugar on lists of highly sensitive products, maintaining high tariffs on those items.

Indonesia has only committed to cutting its tariff for rice to 25 per cent in 2015, and the tariff on sugar from 30-40 per cent to 5-10 per cent in the same year.

Malaysia has only committed to lowering its tariff for rice from 40 per cent to 20 per cent next year, while the Philippines has retained a high import duty of 40 per cent on rice import under the World Trade Organisation. The latter has also restricted its import quota to 350,000 tonnes a year.

Thailand, Singapore and Brunei, meanwhile, have committed to bringing down tariffs to between zero and 5 per cent for highly sensitive products next year, while Laos, Burma, Cambodia, and Vietnam will delay tariff reductions on seven highly sensitive products for a further five years.

According to a Commerce Ministry report, Thailand will suffer the most if Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines do not further reduce their import duties on rice and sugar. Sugar exports to Indonesia would be especially affected.

Will Laos beat Hun Xen to become "the battery of Asia"?

Laos to dam Mekong



Laos intent to dam the Mekong River will adversely impact fish migration.

Friday, August 14, 2009
FIS (Fish Information & Services)
LAOS

The landlocked south-east Asian country of Laos wants to become “the battery of Asia” by damming the Mekong River to produce hydroelectricity. The country’s mountains and rivers are ideal for dams, to produce energy that could be sold to its power-hungry neighbours, such as Thailand.

Hydroelectricity could prove to be a valuable
resource for a country where 10.6 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of USD 1.25 per day.

However, many of the people of Laos depend on the Mekong river for their livelihoods. The river is home to over 1,300 different species of fish and is one of the world's largest inland fisheries, reports Aljazeera.

Critics claim that these dams will block fish migration, cause environmental damage and affect millions of people who depend on the rivers.

But the Laos government, which Transparency International rates as being 151st out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, is determined to press ahead. The fear for many is that, despite generating a large amount of income for the country, the people who currently depend on the river would not see the benefits.

The single-party state is building eight hydro-electric projects on the Mekong River and another 50 on its tributaries.

To Van Truong, director of the Southern Region Irrigation Planning Institute, explained that the operation of hydroelectric plants in the upstream area of the Mekong will impact the water level, power capacity, agriculture, aquaculture, water transportation and environment of all the Mekong River downstream countries, VietNamNet Bridge reports.

“Hydro-power dams in China and reservoirs in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia will slow down the the natural flow of the Mekong River, change its course and sources of nutrition, which in turn will affect the growth of fish and the livelihood of the people along the river,” Truong said.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental body that deals with all river-related activities, has now kicked off a study to look at proposed hydropower developments on the Mekong River and their impact on the people living along it. The results are expected by July or August next year, AFP reports.

There are a total of 11 plans for dams being studied by Cambodia, Laos and Thailand but in China, there are already eight existing or planned mainstream dams, the MRC said.

More than 60 million people in the lower Mekong basin depend on the river system for food, transport and economic activity, the MRC said, adding that it is home to the world's most valuable inland fishery.

By Michel Loubet
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Will Laos beat Hun Xen to become "the battery of Asia"?

Laos to dam Mekong



Laos intent to dam the Mekong River will adversely impact fish migration.

Friday, August 14, 2009
FIS (Fish Information & Services)
LAOS

The landlocked south-east Asian country of Laos wants to become “the battery of Asia” by damming the Mekong River to produce hydroelectricity. The country’s mountains and rivers are ideal for dams, to produce energy that could be sold to its power-hungry neighbours, such as Thailand.

Hydroelectricity could prove to be a valuable
resource for a country where 10.6 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of USD 1.25 per day.

However, many of the people of Laos depend on the Mekong river for their livelihoods. The river is home to over 1,300 different species of fish and is one of the world's largest inland fisheries, reports Aljazeera.

Critics claim that these dams will block fish migration, cause environmental damage and affect millions of people who depend on the rivers.

But the Laos government, which Transparency International rates as being 151st out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, is determined to press ahead. The fear for many is that, despite generating a large amount of income for the country, the people who currently depend on the river would not see the benefits.

The single-party state is building eight hydro-electric projects on the Mekong River and another 50 on its tributaries.

To Van Truong, director of the Southern Region Irrigation Planning Institute, explained that the operation of hydroelectric plants in the upstream area of the Mekong will impact the water level, power capacity, agriculture, aquaculture, water transportation and environment of all the Mekong River downstream countries, VietNamNet Bridge reports.

“Hydro-power dams in China and reservoirs in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia will slow down the the natural flow of the Mekong River, change its course and sources of nutrition, which in turn will affect the growth of fish and the livelihood of the people along the river,” Truong said.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental body that deals with all river-related activities, has now kicked off a study to look at proposed hydropower developments on the Mekong River and their impact on the people living along it. The results are expected by July or August next year, AFP reports.

There are a total of 11 plans for dams being studied by Cambodia, Laos and Thailand but in China, there are already eight existing or planned mainstream dams, the MRC said.

More than 60 million people in the lower Mekong basin depend on the river system for food, transport and economic activity, the MRC said, adding that it is home to the world's most valuable inland fishery.

By Michel Loubet
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Will Laos beat Hun Xen to become "the battery of Asia"?

Laos to dam Mekong



Laos intent to dam the Mekong River will adversely impact fish migration.

Friday, August 14, 2009
FIS (Fish Information & Services)
LAOS

The landlocked south-east Asian country of Laos wants to become “the battery of Asia” by damming the Mekong River to produce hydroelectricity. The country’s mountains and rivers are ideal for dams, to produce energy that could be sold to its power-hungry neighbours, such as Thailand.

Hydroelectricity could prove to be a valuable
resource for a country where 10.6 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of USD 1.25 per day.

However, many of the people of Laos depend on the Mekong river for their livelihoods. The river is home to over 1,300 different species of fish and is one of the world's largest inland fisheries, reports Aljazeera.

Critics claim that these dams will block fish migration, cause environmental damage and affect millions of people who depend on the rivers.

But the Laos government, which Transparency International rates as being 151st out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, is determined to press ahead. The fear for many is that, despite generating a large amount of income for the country, the people who currently depend on the river would not see the benefits.

The single-party state is building eight hydro-electric projects on the Mekong River and another 50 on its tributaries.

To Van Truong, director of the Southern Region Irrigation Planning Institute, explained that the operation of hydroelectric plants in the upstream area of the Mekong will impact the water level, power capacity, agriculture, aquaculture, water transportation and environment of all the Mekong River downstream countries, VietNamNet Bridge reports.

“Hydro-power dams in China and reservoirs in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia will slow down the the natural flow of the Mekong River, change its course and sources of nutrition, which in turn will affect the growth of fish and the livelihood of the people along the river,” Truong said.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental body that deals with all river-related activities, has now kicked off a study to look at proposed hydropower developments on the Mekong River and their impact on the people living along it. The results are expected by July or August next year, AFP reports.

There are a total of 11 plans for dams being studied by Cambodia, Laos and Thailand but in China, there are already eight existing or planned mainstream dams, the MRC said.

More than 60 million people in the lower Mekong basin depend on the river system for food, transport and economic activity, the MRC said, adding that it is home to the world's most valuable inland fishery.

By Michel Loubet
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Hong Kong movie star [Jackie Chan] to visit Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A famous Hong Kong movie star, Jackie Chan, will visit Cambodia and give a lecture in the university here later this year, the official news agency AKP reported on Friday.

If the schedule will not be changed, Chan will arrive in Cambodia on November 10 and will stay here for three days, according to AKP.

While he is in Cambodia, Chan will give lecture to students at the University of Cambodia the experiences and humanity work that he has achieved and engaged with, and after that he will be awarded with an honorable doctoral degree in humanity, Kao Kim Hourn, president of the University of Cambodia, said earlier.

Lawmaker Worried Over Recent Hun Sen Remarks

SRP MP Mu Sochua reading out an article of the Cambodian ConstitutionBy Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington14 August 2009
Click here to listen to the audio program
A new round of barbs opened between an opposition lawmaker and Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday, with the Sam Rainsy Party’s Mu Sochua cautioning the premier to curb rhetoric about a crackdown on the opposition.On Wednesday, Hun Sen responded to critics of the government by saying he had the power to eliminate the opposition through force in only two hours but hadn’t.“I as the prime minister use the court of law, and it is the same as the armed forces if it is not allowed,” Hun Sen told a forum in Phnom Penh. “Is it the rifles or what? I only need two hours to take over all of Phnom Penh. If you want to try, from this hour, I only need two hours, not longer than that, to grab you all.”Mu Sochua, who is in the US, told VOA Khmer Thursday she was “horrified” by the comments.“I think that such language should not be used at all, especially by a leader,” she said.

Chea Sim aide accused of passing bad cheque, warned of legal action

Friday, 14 August 2009 15:03 Meas Sokchea

Photo by: Photo Supplied

Yin Sovanny, adviser to CPP president Chea Sim.

AN adviser to Senate and Cambodian People's Party President Chea Sim has been accused of issuing a bad cheque to a former provincial governor, who on Thursday threatened legal action in the case.

The cheque, numbered 000171, was issued by Canadia Bank on behalf of CPP member Yin Sovanny. Showing an amount of US$30,000, the cheque was to be sent to ANZ Bank, but the transfer was invalidated due to insufficient funds in Yin Sovanny's account, according to a document recently obtained by the Post.

The former provincial governor and intended recipient of the cheque, who asked to remain anonymous, said Thursday that Chea Sim's adviser Yin Sovanny had agreed to transfer him $30,000 in exchange for a sand-dredging business owned by the governor. Sand dredging can be environmentally destructive and is banned in many countries.

"We made an agreement, and he wrote me a cheque on June 5 from his account at Canadia Bank, but when I went to cash the cheque, the people at the bank told me it had bounced," the former politician said, adding that he would file a legal complaint against Yin Sovanny if he does not settle the debt.

Photo by: Photo Supplied

A bank document details the bounced cheque allegedly passed by Yin Sovanny.

"If he issued this cheque when he knew he had no money, that's fraud. I've tried to contact him many times since June, but he hasn't responded," the governor said.

Reached by phone Thursday, Yin Sovanny refused to discuss the case at length, saying that he has been travelling. He said only that he knew it had been reported in the local press, but that the press had the facts wrong.

"I cannot speak much now because I have been staying in Korea. Wait for me. I will come back on Monday," he said.

Canadia Bank could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Conviction 'blow to Cambodia media freedom'

Hang Chakra (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)Friday, August 14, 2009Liam CochraneABC Radio Australia
The conviction of a newspaper editor in Cambodia this week over articles inquiring into government corruption will increase the control of the ruling Cambodian People's Party's over the media, observers say.The Phnom Penh Appeal Court upheld a criminal conviction on editor Hang Chakra.Chakra looks set to spend a year in jail on charges of disinformation after publishing articles earlier this year alleging widespread corruption by officials working for Cambodia's deputy Prime Minister, Sok An.Rights group Human Rights Watch and non-government agencies say the verdict is the latest in a series of legal attacks against critics of the government. Defamation chargeMoeun Chhean Narridh, director of the Cambodian Institute for Media Studies, told Radio Australia's Connect Asia Chakra is the editor-in-chief of Khmer Majest Throp newspaper, an opposition-aligned publication."He was charged with damaging the national interest, as well as defaming the Council of Ministers."Kathleen O'Keefe, co-founder of the Phnom Penh Post and a media trainer, said: "What we are seeing is that the judiciary is increasingly being used to attack anybody who expresses dissenting opinion."It's really part of a larger attack or larger crackdown on free expression, which has been intensifying since 2005."Ms O'Keefe believes the conviction will have a major impact on the media, "particularly in the wake of last year's assassination of a journalist in Phnom Prenh just before the elections, (which) sent a resounding message to the entire press corps that they should think very, very carefully before writing anything."In July last year, journalist Khim Sambor - a contributor to another paper alligned to the opposition Sam Rainsy party - was riding on a scooter with his 21-year-old son when two men on a motorcycle shot him dead and fatally wounded the son.ImportantMs O'Keefe said: "I think the Chakra case, it's very important, because it notes regression of freedom of expression. This is the first time in many, many years that a journalist has not only been imprisoned, but he's tried and convicted on criminal charges."Until recently, we were moving away from killing journalists in the streets and putting them in jail."Continuing critical comments about the media were more intimidation "but they were less violent. So what we are doing is returning to the violence and the imprisonment of media".Narridh said the present environment confirmed to Cambodian journalists that they "have to exercise censorship by refraining from reporting on controversial or sensitive issues related to corruption, land grabbing or injustice committed by rich businessmen or high-ranking officials."So even the usually outspoken opposition newspapers have now tried to keep a low profile," the media studies head said.

Coping with global connections

Daily Times
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Anne-Laure Porée

Even after growth returns, Cambodia will still have to figure out how to hitch its industry to the global economy profitably rather than be a supplier of garments produced by cheap labour

Defying the gloom descending on the tourism sector brought about by the global crisis, the Cambodian capital’s airport recently launched a hopeful initiative: a new airline. Cambodia Angkor Air was launched to boost tourism between the capital and Siem Reap near the famed ruins of Angkor Wat. With tourist arrivals falling sharply since late last year, this may signal a triumph of hope over reality. If anything, the hopes and fears surrounding Cambodia’s tourist revenue and garment trade underline how the fortune of the country has become intertwined with the larger world.

Since peace came to Cambodia in the last years of the last century, the country has emerged as a poster child of globalisation in Southeast Asia. In the middle of this decade, Cambodia enjoyed double digit growth and even hoisted itself up to 6th place in the rank of the fastest growing economies for the 1998-2007 period.

And now the country is experiencing the downside of dependence on the world. The sectors most affected by the crisis — tourism and garment export — are the ones that have seen the most development thanks to the integration of Cambodia into the global economy a decade ago, after peace was restored in the country. At this time, the economy was opened to foreign investors, who poured money into the garment industry, taking advantage of supports granted to Cambodia such as the Most Favoured Nation and the Generalised System of Preferences. This status provided access to the American market and it enabled other Asian investors — Chinese in particular — to get round their own quotas or the Least Developed Country status conferred upon them by the UN.

But the happy days are now threatened by the shrinking world market. Of the four major pillars of Cambodian economy — the garment industry, tourism, construction and agriculture — three are seriously impaired by the global crisis. With 70 percent of Cambodia’s garment production going to the US, the declining American economy, choosey shoppers and stay-at-home tourists have led to job losses in Cambodia.

The figures released in late July by the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) showed a worse than anticipated loss: exports dropped almost 30 percent and one garment worker in 6 lost her job in the first six months of 2009. Most of these workers are women who transfer a substantial part of their earnings to their family living in rural areas in order to supplement farming-based incomes. In some villages, every family has one or several members working in the garment factories based in the Phnom Penh suburbs. Some go for unpaid leaves or part time jobs, some enter prostitution, but most decide to go back to their village in order to work in the rice fields.

According to Van Sou Ieng, GMAC president, Cambodia is much more severely affected by the crisis than other Asian countries because the industry sector in Cambodia is less competitive.

Tourism has suffered from the economic crisis, and the fallout from the swine flu. In Siem Reap, located next to the famed Angkor temples, a spot visited by more than 1 million tourists in 2008, the situation is described as “catastrophic” by hotel managers. The drop in Western tourists’ arrivals has a direct impact on tourism generated incomes — foreigners spent 1.6 billion dollars in 2008. The Ministry of Economy and Finance expects a drop in tourism growth of 7 to 8 percent this year.

The construction sector is also affected: many foreign investors have delayed, reduced or slowed their projects. The capital Phnom Penh started to change face in 2008 with the building of huge towers, business centres and shopping malls but activity slid in the second half of 2008, leaving workers without employment. Such trends have had significant consequences, particularly among the banking sector. Cambodians, who speculated on land as investment, are now facing difficulties because the prices of land and real estate have plunged and they can’t sell and get cash.

The hardest hit, of course, are the poorest of the poor who count each riel. For them, any drop in income, as well as any unexpected crisis, immediately results in cutting down the number of meals per day.

Agriculture, the fourth pillar of the Cambodian economy and the least exposed to global currents, could bolster the country’s 2009 growth, which is forecast at 2.1 percent. The agricultural sector (with 4.3 percent growth expected in 2009 depending on weather conditions) is essentially based on rice farming and fishing. But the part of agriculture that has drawn foreign interest proves to be a mixed blessing.

In northeastern Mondolkiri province, plans by a French company to set up a rubber plantation have created a conflict that symbolises the double edged sword of globalisation. For several months, Bunong, a Montagnards ethnic group, has been fighting against the project — as their farmland gets swallowed up by the rubber company that has an agreement with the Cambodian government. The company is expected to make huge profits, a part of which could return to the community via the salaries of the plantation workers and the development of a new city.

The crisis has forced the government to pay attention to those left behind by globalisation. “We thought that the private sector could solve every problem but we have to reconsider the role to be played by the State in order to palliate the deficiencies of the market,” says Hang Chuon Naron, Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The crisis has also led to calls for injecting government funds into the economy and for pushing reforms, in particular against endemic corruption. But the government would rather let the storm blow over, waiting for growth to come back in developed countries, hopefully pulling the country out of its recession in the process.

In the meantime, some hopes turn to the mineral, oil and gas resources development. But the revenues from these productions will be mainly derived from exports of raw materials with no local added value, whereas imports of manufactured goods will increase. Even after growth returns, Cambodia will still have to figure out how to hitch its industry to the global economy profitably rather than be a supplier of garments produced by cheap labour. Cambodia is beginning to learn the challenge of being part of an integrated world. —YaleGlobal

Anne-Laure Porée is a journalist based in Phnom Penh

Petrol prices jump 3pc with more hikes likely

Photo by: Sovan Philong
Customers leave a Sokimex petrol station in Phnom Penh on Wednesday

The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Nguon Sovan and Chun Sophal

Rising global oil costs blamed for price climb at local pumps

PRICES at petrol stations climbed about 3 percent Wednesday, despite calls last week from Prime Minister Hun Sen for lower fuel costs, and petroleum officials said additional price spikes should be expected as world oil prices rise.

Caltex, Total and Tela stations on Wednesday raised petrol prices to 4,200 riels [US$1.02] per litre for super petrol, from 4,050 riels Tuesday, and 3,950 riels for regular petrol from 3,850 riels.

Sokimex prices also rose to 4,150 riels for super from 4,000 riels, and 3,900 riels from 3,800 riels for regular.

Bin Many Mialia, business division manager at the Thai energy firm PTT, said Wednesday that oil prices have sharply increased in the last few weeks, which he attributed to a devaluation of Cambodia's currency and weather-related transportation difficulties.

He added that there were no signs that petrol prices would drop. "If the price of crude or refined oil remains flat for another week, we will increase our prices an additional 100 riels to 150 riels per litre next week," Bin Many Mialia said.

Chhun Oun, managing director of Tela Cambodia, also cited rising world oil prices as an explanation for local price hikes, but added that petrol prices could come down by the end of the year if other economic indicators begin to improve.

Each player in Cambodia's oil market is driven by a different set of motives in establishing their prices, said Nay Chamnap, a communications specialist at Chevron (Cambodia), in an email Wednesday.

"At Caltex, changes in the landed cost of product, foreign exchange fluctuations, freight rates, government taxes/excise and the like all have a direct effect on pricing," she wrote. "However, these are not the only determinants of price, and at the end of the day, market forces and competition play a crucial role."

Stephane Dion, managing director of Total Cambodge, wrote in an email Wednesday that the complexity of the world oil market makes valid forecasts of future pricing nearly impossible, even for seasoned experts.

"One might assume that there will be further tensions on the oil product market ... leading to higher prices," he said.

Finance Minister Keat Chhon said Wednesday that, while it could not intervene, the government urged fuel companies to keep their prices down.

"The ministry constantly calls meetings with those petroleum companies to advise them to sell gasoline according to the imported prices of gasoline, not based on the price on the international market," he said.

Petrol prices in Cambodia reached a record high of 5,800 riels per litre in August 2008. In January, prices dropped to 2,900 riels, but have climbed steadily since then.

Tearing at the seams

Photo by: Sovan Philong
Garment workers buy snacks during a break outside the Tack Fat garment factory in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Ith Sothoeuth and James O'Toole

Government and NGOs are scrambling to stitch a safety net as the struggling garment industry sheds thousands of jobs.

As the economic downturn tightens its stranglehold on Cambodian exports, the statistics suggest there is more pain to come: The number of labour strikes between January and June has almost doubled since the same period last year. Of the 23 cases, 17 were related to the garment industry, according to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police.

This is just one of many grim indicators for the sector. The Ministry of Commerce predicts garment exports will fall by "at least" 30 percent this year. The Cambodian Development Resource Institute says wages fell by 18 percent between May 2008 and May 2009. Since January, according to the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, 78 Cambodian garment factories have closed and 30 more have suspended production.

While US imports from Cambodia have declined sharply, exports to the US from regional competitors such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and China have increased. "There's concern not just over the economic downturn, but about competitors in the industry," said Chan Sophal, president of the Cambodian Economic Association. Other garment-producing nations in the region are passing Cambodia by, Chun Sophal said, because of lower labour costs or more efficient production.

"We bring more efficient machines; we try to encourage workers to be more efficient; we try to negotiate for cheaper raw materials ... [but] everything is hitting rock bottom already," Roger Phan, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, told the Post.

A recent report by the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) estimated that 60,000 Cambodian garment workers have lost their jobs since the economic downturn began, and said more layoffs are sure to come.

Further job losses will be felt across the Cambodian economy. UNIAP estimates that of a population of 14 million, about 2 million Cambodians depend on the garment industry - 400,000 through direct employment and another 1.6 million through remittances.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everything is hitting rock bottom already.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Searching for new jobs
NGOs and the government are trying to address the issue through vocational training, but identifying industries to absorb former garment workers - the majority of whom are unskilled and have limited education - is proving a challenge.

Helen Sworn is the director of Chab Dai Coalition, a partnership between NGOs and private companies to retrain women from the garment sector.

She said that although vocational training programmes abound in Cambodia, many of them are designed with insufficient attention to the demands of the labour market. "It's great to have another sewing programme," she said, "but where are those girls going to go?"

Many former garment workers turn to the entertainment sector, Sworn said, including jobs in beer gardens, massage parlours and sex work. "That's been a lure for them ... because it's low-skill and they earn a similar amount to what they get in the garment factories." Such jobs often put women at risk of sex trafficking, she warned, adding that there are also "huge issues of debt bondage".

Heng Suor, director general of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, said roughly 40,000 former garment workers, from an applicant pool of around 70,000, had participated in government-sponsored retraining programmes ranging in length from one to four months. The government has yet to consider the issue of job placement, he said.

Buot Channy, 30, has been working at Phnom Penh's Tack Fat garment factory since 2004. Six months pregnant, she worries about losing her job, although she is critical of the irregular pay and reduced hours. "It seems irregular; sometimes we have work to do, sometimes we don't, and the paycheck is always difficult to get," she said.

Sok Kim, 46, is another Tack Fat employee. She, too, is worried about losing her job and has already prepared for that scenario. "I have bought a sewing machine for my house," she said. "If I lose my job, I will go back to my home in Takhmao." Like Buot Channy and other workers interviewed, she was unaware of the Ministry of Labour's retraining programme.

Photo by: (SOURCE: EMC)
Cambodian jobs are plotted according to their vulnerability to the economic crisis and their suitability for low-skill workers.

Going back home
Leaving the capital and heading home may be the best option for many laid-off garment workers, according to Chan Sophal. He cited agriculture as one of the most promising sectors, as did Michael Smiddy, a senior consultant at Emerging Markets Consulting. Of the 40,000 spots in the Labour Ministry's programme, over 30,000 are reserved for agriculture. The sector is as low-skill and labour-intensive as factory work, with excellent potential for growth, Smiddy said. Crop yields are improving, and profits will increase further if processing facilities are improved, he added.

For some, however, the loss of a factory job means not a new career but early retirement. Ouk Sokha, a worker at Phnom Penh's GoldTex Garment Manufacturing Ltd, said she often worries about unemployment but has no contingency plan. "Maybe I would go back to my hometown in Prey Veng," she said. "I am too old to find a new job."

pretty girl

Hun Sen to officials: Collect all motor taxes

The Phnom Penh Post
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Chun Sophal

PRIME Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday ordered all tax and customs officials to collect outstanding duties on motorbikes and automobiles throughout the Kingdom that have not paid required import and road fees.

In a speech Wednesday to more than 1,300 students at a graduation ceremony at the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said officials must go directly to police stations and collect taxes on all vehicles that have been confiscated for not keeping current on fees.

"We want this tax-collection measure to be effectively implemented throughout the country and want everyone to understand this problem," he said.

Kum Nhem, deputy director general of Cambodia's General Department of Customs and Excise, said Wednesday that his officials would work with police in every province to collect tax on all vehicles with outstanding fee balances.

"Under this measure, we hope that tax revenues will increase," said Kum Nhem.

Cambodia's customs office reported last week that US$51.4 million in taxes had been collected in July this year, but did not specify how much of that amount related to automobile fees.

Suon Van Hong, deputy director of the Department of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said Wednesday that more than 800,000 motorbikes and more than 200,000 automobiles have been registered with the ministry.

He added that the department did not have exact figures on how many vehicles were currently operating without having paid taxes.