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.
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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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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