No deal, no return, Rainsy says

A journalist poses a question to opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who spoke to reporters on Thursday via video link from France, where he is in self-imposed exile. Sam Rainsy said during the press conference that he would not return to Cambodia unless a “political compromise” is reached with the government. (Photo by: Pha Lina)

Friday, 26 March 2010
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

OPPOSITION leader Sam Rainsy said during a video conference Thursday that he would not return to Cambodia in the absence of a “political compromise”, something the ruling Cambodian People’s Party has already come out against.

Speaking to reporters from France, where he is living in self-imposed exile, Sam Rainsy said he would not appear for court hearings stemming from charges filed against him in Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The court charged him earlier this month with falsifying public documents and spreading disinformation. He faces up to 18 years in prison if convicted.

“We will not go to play with the puppet court,” he said. “I must keep my freedom to do research.”

He was referring to his research into Vietnamese border incursions, which he discussed at length again on Thursday. The opposition leader has been sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for his role in uprooting border posts in Svay Rieng province in October, and the most recent charges were prompted by the release of maps his party said offered “unprecedented evidence” of Vietnamese border incursions.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said last month that there would be no compromise for Sam Rainsy, and that the opposition leader would not be able to participate in elections scheduled for 2013.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan reiterated that position on Thursday, saying that Sam Rainsy would be tried in accordance with the law.

“He destroyed public property and spread disinformation,” Phay Siphan said.

“He must resolve this problem. I won’t speak about a political compromise. We must take the law as the highest authority,” he added.

Choung Chou Ngy, Sam Rainsy’s defence lawyer, said Thursday that his client had not received any recent summons from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Government lawyer Ky Tech said he had been summoned to answer additional questions about the complaint against Sam Rainsy, but that he did not know when a hearing would be held.

Cambodian vigilante mob kills two bandits: police

Angry Cambodian villagers attack three alleged bandits
One of the thieves who was still alive (Photo: DAP news)

PHNOM PENH, March 26 (AFP) - A mob of about 400 Cambodians armed with stones, iron bars and wooden sticks, attacked three alleged bandits being held by police, killing two of them, police said Friday.

The incident took place on Thursday night after the three men allegedly used a gun to rob two sisters of their motorcycle on the outskirts of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, said Born Sam Art, police chief of Dangkao district.

He said the women called the police, who engaged in a brief gunfight with the alleged robbers before arresting them.

But about 400 villagers from three nearby communes then "grabbed the robbers from police and attacked them with stones, iron bars, and wooden sticks," Born Sam Art told AFP.

He said two of the bandits were killed on the spot while a third remained critically injured. Police fired warning shots to disperse the vigilante group.

In a bizarre twist, the injured criminal was initially thought to be dead and taken away with the two other bodies, but awoke as Buddhist laymen were preparing to cremate them, Born Sam Art said.

Angry mobs often attempt to take justice into their own hands in Cambodia, where the judicial system is widely believed to be weak and corrupt.

Angry village mob in Cambodia kills suspected bike thieves

The throng of about 400 villagers was so frenzied that police got scared, chief says


An angry village mob in Cambodia armed with bamboo sticks and stones beat to death two suspected robbers, dragging them away from police who had arrested them for stealing a motorcycle, police said Friday.

The throng of about 400 villagers was so frenzied that police got scared, said Maj. Bonn Sam Ath, a police chief in the district of Dangkor, on the western outskirts of the capital.

“The villagers threatened to attack us if we refused to hand over the suspects to them,” Bonn Sam Ath said. “We had no choice. They would have beaten us too if we protected the suspects.”

The men were among three people arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing a motorcycle from two sisters, who were riding it when attackers hit them over the head with pistols. The women were hospitalized in critical condition.

Word spread through the village that police had detained suspects, prompting a crowd led by relatives of the victims to await their arrival near the police station, said Bonn Sam Ath, adding that police initially tried to protect the suspects.

The third suspected robber survived by pretending he was dead, he said. Police do not plan to press charges because they do not know which members of the mob were responsible for the murders, he added.

Mob killings are not uncommon in rural Cambodia, where police are often seen as corrupt and villagers take justice into their own hands.

UN Should Create Top Post to Aid Khmer Rouge Tribunal: OSJI

Source: Open Society Justice Initiative

Corruption and Budget Questions Demand Donor, UN Attention

New York—Political interference, corruption, and funding shortfalls may cripple the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, states a report released today by the Open Society Justice Initiative. The organization calls for increased engagement from the United Nations and donor countries.

"The court has made substantial progress to date, but its future is uncertain," said Open Society Justice Initiative Executive Director James A. Goldston. "Appointing a permanent senior advisor at the UN assistant secretary-general level would provide critical leadership and oversight to help the court achieve its mission."

The report criticizes ongoing political interference with the judicial process, notes weaknesses in existing mechanisms to curb corruption, and calls attention to impending budget shortfalls. It recommends that senior officials of the Court, the UN, and the Cambodian government publicly reaffirm the importance of judicial independence, establish effective whistleblower and witness protection measures, and require periodic public progress reports from the independent counselor in charge of corruption complaints. It also calls on the US and the EU to increase funding.

"A court with secure and adequate funding is in a much stronger position to operate with independence and integrity," said Goldston. "Donors need to ensure that the tribunal has the funding it needs, while also maintaining pressure on the government of Cambodia to let justice run its course."

The court is currently seeking donor contributions to meet budget demands for 2010 and 2011. With Japan planning to decrease its funding levels, other countries will need to bridge the gap in order to cover basic operating costs, as well as to improve outreach programs and bolster anticorruption mechanisms.

Recent Developments at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia: March 2010 is the latest in a series of regular Justice Initiative publications offering news, analysis, and recommendations on the tribunal

Villagers in Rattanakiri protested against a Vietnamese company for grabbing their lands

Hundreds of villagers from Lumchor commune in O'Yadao district of Rattanakiri province claimed a Vietnamese company is continuing to bulldoze their lands and intransigently refusing to pay any compensation to them, reports Radio Free Asia.

Villagers said as of 25th March, the Vietnamese mining company named Hang An Rattanakiri, has used heavy machinery to bulldoze their rice fields and vegetable gardens without paying any compensation for the damges to their lands and crops.

The villagers claimed that Hang An Rattanakiri had used 4 bulldozers and 10 Vietnamese workers to bulldoze their lands since the beginning of January. On 14th January, 50 villagers had chased them out from the village and confiscated the company's machinery, but it returned later.

Villagers said the company's machinery had been actively digging and bulldozing their vegetable gardens and rice fields up until today. "They dig in the vegetable farms and in the forests. They dig illegally even in the forests and they have dug 6 metres deep inside the ground and all the lands have been destroyed", said a villager.

Mr. Sev Thven, chief of Lumchor commune, said Hang An Rattanakiri, had received a mining licence from the Ministry of Mining and Energy to explore for minierals in O'Yadoa from 2010 to 2011.

Hem Vanthorn, director of Office of Mining in Rattanakiri, said any companies that receive permits from the Ministry of Mining and Energy have every right to conduct their explorations on the concessions granted to them. However, he said the companies must consult the villagers if their lands have been impacted.

A week ago, hundreds of villagers in Kampong Speu rose up, rioted and burned down offices of a Sugar Firm owned by Senator Ly Yong Phat, a senator from the ruling Cambodian People's Party, they accused of grabbing their lands.

Thai Defence Minister: Security Law may be imposed at Mekong Summit venue

BANGKOK, March 25 (TNA) - A stringent security law may be imposed at the venue of the Mekong Summit which Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend next month, said Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said Hun Sen would attend the First Mekong River Commission Summit on April 4-5, accompanied by Foreign Minister Hor.
Namhong and other top officials.

Gen Prawit said security will be tightened when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attends the summit, involving Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, in the resort town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan, southwest of Bangkok. The meeting is scheduled for April 2-5.

The Thai defence minister said that he would oversee security measures at the venue himself, with Internal Security Act may be imposed only at areas.
around the meeting venue.

It will be Hun Sen's first visit to Thailand since the two neighbouring countries downgraded ties and recalled their ambassadors in November after the Cambodian leader appointed ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.

The Cambodian government also refused the Thai government's request to extradite Thaksin to serve a two-year jail term for violating conflict of interest laws in helping his wife purchase a plot of prime Bangkok land at a lower than market price while he was in office.

The fugitive ex-premier now lives abroad, mostly in Dubai. He frequently addresses his red-shirted supporters via video link. The demonstrators have been encamped at Bangkok's Phan Fah Bridge for more than a week to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament.

The Thai defence minister called on the Red Shirts not to rally at the meeting venue.

He added that the number of soldiers to be deployed and security measures will be discussed later by the top military brass.

China reveals Mekong data in boost for drought response

China has agreed to provide information on Mekong water levels with the lower basin countries

BANGKOK — China has agreed to provide information on Mekong water levels in a major boost for efforts to respond to an alarming decline in the river's flow, authorities said Thursday.

Activists in Thailand have said that Chinese dams are responsible for record-low levels on the critical waterway, but poor rainfall in the region has also been identified as a factor.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) said that China would share data from its upstream monitoring stations on the Mekong -- on which more than 60 million people depend for drinking water, transport, irrigation and fishing.

"This is very positive news, as it shows that China is willing to engage with lower basin countries," MRC secretariat chief Jeremy Bird said in a statement.

"It will clear ambiguity on this issue and further build the trust necessary to jointly address other critical issues facing the basin, such as food security and climate change," he added.

The move comes ahead of a four-nation summit hosted by Thailand next month to discuss management of the Mekong which is suffering from the lowest water levels for 20 years.

The leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam will meet in the resort town of Hua Hin south of Bangkok.

Southeast Asia Drought Triggers Debate Over Region's Water Resources

The Dachaoshan dam in Dachaoshan, Yunnan province, China, which is located on the upper Mekong River, 28 Aug 2001

A drought across southern China and Southeast Asia has brought the Mekong River to its lowest level in 50 years. The drought has led to debate over the vital resource and the effects that economic development, especially dam construction, may have on the river flow.

In northern Thailand, the wide Mekong River is known as Mother River. It travels from headwaters in the Tibetan plains over 4,000 kilometers to the South China Sea.

But this year, the river has fallen to its lowest level in decades.

Julian Wright manages a guest house on the Mekong River's banks at Khon Kaen in northern Thailand. Wright says there are more sand banks visible in the river than in past years.

"I couldn't pronounce it being absolutely the lowest but it's certainly the lowest I've ever seen. The hopper that collects water from the town might find itself beached, then we might find we have a running water problem," he said.

The Mekong runs through China's southern Yunnan Province, through parts of Burma, Thailand and Laos, and then moves through Cambodia and Vietnam before reaching the sea.

Severe water shortages

This year, the dry season in Southeast Asia has been far drier than normal. And the southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan are suffering a severe drought. Over 20 million people face water shortages with some 6.5 million hectares of crops affected.

"This is a one in 50-year occurrence - with a return period of 50 years - so it's quite severe," says Ian Makin, an engineer and senior water resources management specialist with the Asian Development Bank. "Now the problem comes is that in the dry season most people that are cropping in the Mekong Basin are using pumps and when the water level drops further than normal they can't let water out into their fields and they're struggling to keep the crop alive."

In towns, water resource officials have asked communities to conserve water. Barges and ferries normally plying the river have been forced to halt services, because in some areas, the river is nearly dry. And in low-lying areas in Vietnam's fertile Mekong delta, the drought means salty ocean water can move onto farm land, damaging the soil.

Damming the Mekong River

Environmental and rights organizations in Thailand say dams on waterways in southern China contribute to the river's low levels.

The Save the Mekong Coalition, an alliance of environmental groups, criticizes China's management of the river and dams built in China.

"It's not a natural drought - but it's also the impact from the large scale infrastructure which is the dam upstream and the fishermen and farmers have been suffering from the change of the eco-system of the Mekong River very much. And they suspect that this is because of the way the damming upstream controls the water flow," said Pianporn Deetes, a coalition spokeswoman.

China has completed the Xiaowan hydroelectric dam, the second largest hydro-electric station in the country, on the upper reaches of the Mekong. Eight others are being built in Yunnan Province.

Jeremy Bird heads the Mekong River Commission, made up of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. He dismisses concerns about the dams and blames the drought for the low water levels.

"Looking at the flow records that we have, we see no reason to suggest any operation of those projects upstream has made the situation worse. In fact, there's some evidence to suggest that if those dams had not been in place then the lower water levels may have been experienced even earlier in January," said Bird.

Possible water conflicts

Sensitivities over the Mekong's flows have led to talks between China and Thailand on how the dams may affect water levels. Chinese officials reject claims the dams contribute to low water levels.

Early next month, China will attend a summit of leaders from Mekong River nations in Bangkok. The leaders hope to find ways to better manage the river.

There are fears that rising populations will mean increased use of the Mekong for drinking water, farming, fishing and transportation. Smith Dhanrmasaroja, head of Thailand's National Disaster Warning Center, thinks Southeast Asia may eventually face conflicts over water.

"Of course they will fight. Each country they will fight for water. We will have a war, a water war in this region and people when they need to water to drink you know they will fight for everything. So conflict between Lao, Thai, Myanmar, Kampuchea (Cambodia), that thing is going to happen - we will wait and see," he said.

In a report released this week, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific expressed similar concerns about water security in the region.

The report warns that water shortages in the region are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.

Wholesale 99-year lease of Koh Rong to Kith Meng, one of Hun Xen's cronies

Hun Xen's crony Kith Meng

Environmental Survey To Prepare Cambodia's ‘Koh Rong' Island For High-End Tourism

PRESS RELEASE

(Bangkok - March 25, 2010) - Global integrated design and engineering consultancy firm Scott Wilson Group plc. has been appointed by The Royal Group of Cambodia to conduct an Environmental Evaluation and Social Impact Analysis of the Cambodian island of Koh Rong, laying the groundwork for Asia's first environmentally planned resort island.

In addition Scott Wilson has been appointed to develop the infrastructure on Koh Rong including road network, marina, international airport and utility services to jump start tourist development which places the beaches of Koh Rong within a travel time of 3 hours from Hong Kong and Singapore.

With over 80 offices worldwide, Scott Wilson offers strategic consultancy and multi-disciplinary professional services in buildings & infrastructure, environment & natural resources and roads sectors.

Koh Rong developer, The Royal Group, is headed by Chairman Kith Meng, one of Cambodia's most prominent tycoons, with interests extending to Cambodia's railways and ANZ Bank in Cambodia.

The Koh Rong archipelago, 30 minutes by boat from the coastal town of Sihanoukville, is being billed as the "next Asian Riviera" - following Phuket, Koh Samui and Bali.

Koh Rong covers 80 sq. kms, with a population of just 1,500 in small fishing villages. The island is known amongst off-the-beaten-track travelers for its pure white sand beaches and crystal clear waters and remains virtually untouched.

The Royal Group, one of Cambodia's most dynamic and diversified business conglomerate with substantial interests in property and infrastructure development, has been granted a 99-year lease by the Cambodian government to develop Koh Rong as the "first environmentally planned resort island in Asia".

The Royal Group is committed to sustainable development of Koh Rong, ensuring that the impacts on the environment are minimized and positive environmental benefits are realized throughout the development phases of the island. Most importantly the development objectives are that Koh Rong must stay a ‘Paradise Forever'.

The study will identify environmentally sensitive areas and draw recommendations for developing the pristine Cambodian island of Koh Rong for international tourism and real estate development. The study will be followed by detailed Environmental Impact Studies for the unique marine resources (Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Fisheries) as well as the island's flora and fauna. A crucial element of this will be monitoring developments and their impacts on the environment and local communities. Re-forestation, marine resource protection, waste management, poverty alleviation and employment creation for the local community are key elements of the development program.

Heading the social impact studies and infrastructure planning and development for Scott Wilson is Lauri Van Run, General Manager of the leading global design and engineering consultancy's Malaysia office. Lauri has been working with Scott Wilson since 1991 and has over 20 years experience as project manager of large infrastructure development projects, particularly in the planning, design and construction of multidisciplinary projects such as airports. Prior to joining Scott Wilson Lauri spent five years with the United Nations.

"The master plan for Koh Rong presents perhaps a unique opportunity to create virtually from the beginning a truly ecologically sustainable large scale resort community," said Mr. Van Run.

Development of the pristine "eco-island" is being carefully planned to foster the natural environment and local communities while creating a "high-end" resort destination. A development plan that realises best real estate value in balance with environmental protection - one that results in minimum environmental and social impact is currently being developed by Scott Wilson together with Hong Kong-based MAP Architects.

Opportunities for local villagers including agricultural initiatives such as organic farming, waste management, environmental awareness, improved education and medical care for the community and a future hotel management school are high on the list of priorities. It is important to provide the local community with the opportunity for employment, skills training and improvement of their livelihoods. Initial consultations have been held with chiefs and village leaders.

Along with top-end resorts, two golf courses are planned.

Mr. Van Run said: "Koh Rong is an un-spoilt paradise of pristine beaches and spectacular natural forests. It offers a unique opportunity to create the ultimate ecologically managed island, with ecologically sustainable resorts with sound investment potential."

"The Koh Rong story is similar to that of Samui and Phuket 30 years ago," said Mr. David Simister, Chairman of CBRE Thailand, the exclusive advisor and sole agent for developing the island. "It is one of the last undiscovered paradises in South-East Asia with the potential to become the next Asian Riviera."

The new airport on will be the principal gateway to Cambodia's ‘Next Asian Riviera' and a critical catalyst for the island' development," he said.

Gallup: Only 3% have positive views of their present life situation ("thriving" in wellbeing) in Cambodia ... most likely they are the CPP leaders

Scale of wellbeing: A simple-minded view by KI-Media

Suffering:

Struggling:
Thriving:
Daily Experience: Forced evictions

Global Wellbeing Surveys Find Nations Worlds Apart

March 25, 2010
By Cynthia English
Gallup

Ten percent or lower are "thriving" in 41 of 155 countries or areas

Cambodia Survey Result:

• Thriving: 3%
• Struggling: 75%
• Suffering: 22%
• Daily Experience: 7.6

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup's global snapshot of wellbeing reveals a vast divide that underscores the diversity of economic development challenges around the world. The percentage who are "thriving" ranges from a high of 82% in Denmark to a low of 1% in Togo.

Using data collected in 155 countries or areas since 2005, Gallup classifies respondents as "thriving," "struggling," or "suffering," according to how they rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale based on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale.

Adults within each of the four major regions are often worlds apart in how they evaluate their lives. Africa has the lowest wellbeing; no country in this region has a thriving percentage higher than 25%. In fact, of the 41 countries where the thriving percentage is 10% or lower, more than half are in Africa. Conversely, in the Americas, where "thriving" is highest, the only countries with less than a quarter thriving are Cuba (24%) and Haiti (4%). "Thriving" in the Americas is highest in Costa Rica (63%) and Canada (62%), followed closely by Panama (58%), Brazil (58%), and the United States (57%).

There is a clear wellbeing divide between the wealthier countries of northern, western, and central Europe and some poorer countries within eastern and southern Europe. Self-reported wellbeing is lowest in Bulgaria (6%) and highest in Denmark (82%) and Finland (75%). In several of the largest European economies, like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, wellbeing falls roughly in the middle. Similar disparities are evident in Asia. Thriving is 60% or higher in New Zealand (63%), Israel (62%), and Australia (62%) and 10% or lower in 11 nations. Cambodia rounds out the bottom with 3% "thriving."

Read the complete findings from Gallup's Global Wellbeing report including data for all 155 countries.

For complete data sets or custom research from the more than 150 countries Gallup continually surveys, please contact worldpollpartners@gallup.com or call 202.715.3030.

Survey Methods

Using the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale, Gallup measures life satisfaction by asking respondents to place the status of their lives on a "ladder" scale with steps numbered from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates the worst possible life and 10 the best possible life. Individuals who rate their current lives a "7" or higher AND their future an "8" or higher are "Thriving." Individuals are "Suffering" if they report their current AND future lives as a "4" and lower. All other individuals are "Struggling."

Results are based on face-to-face and telephone interviews with approximately 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted between 2005 and 2009 in 155 countries. For results based on the total samples, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error ranges from ±2.1 percentage points in China to ±5.8 percentage points in Zambia. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls

Rochester man creates school in Cambodia

Birth of an opportunity for Cambodian students

3/25/2010
Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota, USA)

Rochester resident Kim Sin closes his eyes and daydreams.

He remembers seeing the children in his native Cambodia, sifting through trash looking for a meal. But he envisions a place where the children can make a decent leaving and learn English, doing so with books donated by those in southeastern Minnesota.

The dream isn't too far from reality.

Sin, 33, and several friends have created a school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that teaches English to about 200 people, from young children to 20-year-olds.

[Thai] Govt mulls invoking ISA in Hua Hin [for Mekong Summit]

The government is studying whether to enforce the Internal Security Act in the resort district of Hua Hin to secure the safety of leaders attending the Mekong summit next week.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday said he would consult all armed forces commanders about measures for the summit, including the ISA.

"I wanted to plead with all groups not to rally against the summit," the minister said.

The Mekong River Commission summit will take place from April 2 to 5. The commission is made up of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Burma and China have agreed to send observers to the meeting in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is due to attend the meeting in what will be his first visit to Thailand since the neighbours downgraded ties in a row over former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in November last year.

Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan said Hun Sen would focus purely on the Mekong issue and there were "no plans at all" for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The leaders of all four countries would address the severe drought that has lowered levels on important waterways including the Mekong River.

Drought here in Thailand continues to affect Udon Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Trang.

In Udon Thani's Non Sa-at district, the Sokrang reservoir, which is the main source of tap water in the province, has dried up, posing the threat of a water shortage for 1,600 households in Non Sa-at and Nong Waeng districts.

The Kumphawapi Waterworks that supervises tap water production in Non Sa-at has decided to make tap water available only from 5am to 10am and from 3pm to 8pm.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, tap water is no longer available in six villages in Bang Saphan Noi district. The Pak Phraek Tambon Administration Organisation has had to distribute up to 60,000 litres of water a day to houses in six villages, said Sathaphon Somchit, the Pak Pharek TAO president.

In Trang, drought has affected more than 22,000 families and almost 10,000 rai of farmland.

Therapy helps Khmer Rouge victims overcome pain

Monks in orange robes are reciting prayers. A group of men and women is sitting in front of them. Their heads are bowed and some are crying. They are in a temple in the Killing Fields, not far from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

17,000 were killed in this place alone under the Khmer Rouge regime that lasted from 1975 to 1979. Those praying survived. They are taking part in a therapy course that is run by the Transcultural Psycho-Social Organization Cambodia (TPO).

“It felt like I was in hell”

One of the participants, Sam Rithy, was arrested and tortured in prison. The Khmer Rouge, which wanted to establish a classless society, thought that he needed to be rid of his “bourgeois side” since he lived in the city.

“They hit me with a weapon until I was unconscious. They killed innocent children in jail and let children starve to death. It felt like I was in hell. I never thought I would survive,” he recalls.

The method that the TPO uses – Testimonial Therapy – was developed in Chile after the dictatorship fell. Participants work through their experiences of torture, war and human rights abuses, with qualified therapists.

Sleep problems and depression

Sam Rithy has problems sleeping and Im Sam At is depressed. The two are sitting in a cafe in Phnom Penh, speaking about their experiences. Im Sam At is massaging her forehead:

“I think about the past too much,” she says. “My husband was executed. I was a widow at 22. I lost my children and my mother. I feel very very lonely.”

It is part of the therapy to write down memories and try to piece fragments together. Participants then go back to the Killing Fields together but only after they have been “debriefed”, explains Sarat Youn, one of the TPO’s therapists.

“We tell them that this place is not a good place to visit and will remind them of really bad past experiences. We tell them that if they need to cry, they should. They should not keep it in but should release their pain.”

Religious ceremony helps release pain and suffering

In the final ceremony, the therapists read out the stories of each person. Sam Rithy seems calm and composed as Sarat Youn reads his story. He nods over and over again.

Sam Rithy then gives the document to the head monk, who blesses it. The monk then wraps a red band around Sam Rithy’s wrist.

Sarat Youn explains that the religious ceremony can help victims release their pain and find peace. The monks relieve the victims of suffering and memories that they have kept deep within themselves for years by taking the documents and blessing them.

Those who have gone through the therapy say that they feel more hope and energy afterwards.

More blasts rock Bangkok amid protests

Provincial hall and a government building hit as police investigating explosions say TNT devices used in attacks

Bangkok : Thailand said yesterday it would upgrade security measures after two more blasts hit government buildings, the latest in a string of minor attacks since anti-government protests erupted this month.

The rallies mounted by supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra have been met with a heavy security deployment, including a lockdown on parliament that has triggered an opposition boycott.

Authorities said that the new blasts, which hit a provincial hall on Bangkok's northern outskirts and a government building west of the capital on Wednesday, had hit weak spots in the operation involving 50,000 personnel.

"We have to adjust our operation to curtail the attacks," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters at parliament, adding that he had instructed officials to step up security measures.

Government in control

"Intelligence reports say they want to create unrest to show that the government cannot control the situation, but I want to reassure the Thai people that the government is in control," he said.

The blasts, which follow eight other minor explosions since the protests began on March 14, caused minor damage but no injuries.

Most of the incidents have involved grenades, but police investigating the provincial hall blast said they believed it was a TNT explosive device.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday extended a tough security law enacted for the demonstrations, applying it to Bangkok and nearby districts for an additional week as the red-shirted protesters vowed fresh actions.

Opposition Puea Thai lawmakers boycotted parliament for a second day yesterday to protest tight measures including concrete and razor-wie barricades surrounding the building and thousands of soldiers and police on duty.

The president of the upper house Senate, Prasobsuk Boondej, also criticised the military presence as an over-reaction and said some senators had problems entering the building.

Hun sen for summit

Cambodian leader Hun Sen will attend an April summit in Thailand, officials said yesterday, his first visit since the neighbours downgraded ties in a row over ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors in November after Hun Sen appointed Thaksin as an economic adviser and refused Thai requests to extradite him.

Cambodian garment workers facing uphill battle in global downturn – UN

Garment workers going home on motorcycles in Cambodia [File Photo]

Source: UN News Centre

25 March 2010 – Even those Cambodian garment workers who were able to hold on to their jobs in the face of global economic challenges have not escaped the current downturn unscathed, a new survey led by the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has found.
Factory closures or cutbacks due to reduced orders forced many garment workers in the South-East Asian nation out of a job. One in 10 unemployed workers lost their positions two or more times last year, with most still looking for work.

A study assessing 1,200 employed and 800 unemployed workers in the capital, Phnom Penh, finds that many with work have had their salaries slashed and now feel as though they do not have enough money to cover remittances and basic needs such as food, health care and transport.

Many of those who lost their jobs but managed to find new ones are working under less favourable conditions, seeking assistance from trade unions for assistance on challenges such as asking for leave and late wage payments.

Even though laid-off workers have looked for jobs in other garment factories, only one third of them succeed in finding work.

Those looking outside the garment industry typically try to find jobs in the service sector to work as salespeople, tailors or food vendors.

Even though many would like to enroll in training programmes, the cannot, and the families of some workers, both employed and unemployed, have sent additional family members – mostly women – to find work to deal with the loss in income.

“The information we are gathering though the survey has been helpful in identifying action that can be taken by a range of stakeholders to help struggling workers, strengthen the garment sector, and better prepare the country to deal with future economic setbacks,” said Tuomo Poutiainen, chief technical adviser at ILO’s Better Factories Cambodia initiative.

Based on the survey results, ILO is calling for employment policies promoting productive employment, enhancing social protection and working with employers to be compliant with labour laws.

The study was commissioned by the ILO with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and was carried out by the Cambodia Institute of Development Study (CIDS).

Join the audience in the trial opposing Sam Rainsy to Hor 5 Hong

VENEZ AUJOURD'HUI ASSISTER AU PROCES OPPOSANT HOR NAM HONG A SAM RAINSY A PARIS

Ce jeudi 25 mars, à partir de 13 heures, venez nombreux assiter à l'audience de la Cour d'Appel de Paris (Chambre de la Presse) où Sam Rainsy sera confronté avec Hor Nam Hong dans un procès en diffamation intenté par le deuxième contre le premier. Il faut aider la vérité à triompher pour que justice puisse être rendue un jour au peuple cambodgien victime du génocide khmer rouge de 1975 à 1979.

Rendez-vous AUJOURD'HUI, dans la solidarité et la dignité, au Palais de Justice, Ile de la Cité.
Paris 1er - Métro Saint Michel

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Join the audience in the trial opposing Sam Rainsy to Hor 5 Hong

Today, Thursday 25 March, starting from 1PM, come in large number to join the audience at the Paris Appeal Court (Chambre de la Presse) where Sam Rainsy will be confronted by Hor 5 Hong in a defamation lawsuit brought by the latter against Sam Rainsy. The truth shall prevail so that justice can, one day, be rendered to the Cambodian people who were victimized by the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge genocide.

See you Today in solidarity and dignity at the Palais de Justice, Ile de la Cité, Paris 1er, Metro Saint Michel.

Son of 2-star general Chea Morn arrested … for robbery

2-star General Chea Morn (L) (Photo: Reuters)

26 March 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Siem Reap provincial authority indicated that Chea Sophal, the son of General Chea Morn, the commander of the army region 4, was arrested by military police on 24 March and sent to the court for sentencing. An anonymous source from the Siem Reap military police indicated that the arrest is related to a robbery that took place 5 years ago in Chong Kaosou village, Slor Kram commune, Siem Reap city. The same source said that he does not know the cause of the robbery, but Chea Sophal was sentenced in absentia to 5 years of jail time for robbery. The source indicated that, following the sentence, Chea Sophal appeal the court decision. On 24 March, Judge Ith Samphos held another trial and in the afternoon of that same day, the judge decided to sentence Chea Sophal to 6-1/2 years of jail time for robbery and illegal use of firearms.

hea Dara unfit to be a general of Cambodia?

Chea Dara's wild and baseless claim against Cambodia's opposition party is unbecoming of a RCAF general (Photo: AFP)

Border dispute fomented by groups opposing the Khmer and Thai governments (sic!): Chea Dara

24 March 2010
By Tin Zakariya
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A high-ranking RCAF officer, who is currently in charge of the Preah Vihear temple area, accused Cambodia’s opposition and Thailand’s opposition of fomenting the border dispute in Preah Vihear temple that is dragging for more than one year now.

This declaration was made by Chea Dara, the commander of the RCAF zone 4, during a presentation given at the Council of Ministers on border defense by the RCAF on 24 March 2010.

4-golden star General Chea Dara, the RCAF deputy commander-in-chief in charge of the Preah Vihear temple area, said that is was the opposition group to the Cambodian government that fomented problems involving the border dispute in Preah Vihear temple and that this situation lasts until now (sic!).

Chea Dara said: “The CPP resolved several problems and it was successful. Right now, the Cambodian opposition to the CPP, in addition to the Thai group that opposes Cambodia, they push for a handing of the sword to the Thai opposition. Because the Cambodian opposition cannot win the election over the CPP, that’s why they dream this up….”

Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, issued an immediate reaction, saying that the SRP does not owe anything to any foreign country, and the SRP does not cooperate with any country to destroy its own country.

Yim Sovann claimed: “We never gave our land to the foreigners, and we never asked for help from any foreign countries, nor do we owe any country. Therefore, we are not getting ourselves involved with any country to destroy Cambodia by giving our land to the foreigner, we never want to do something like that. What we are doing daily is to protect our territories.”

UNESCO decided to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site at the beginning of July 2008, then on 15 July 2008, several hundred of Thai black-clad soldiers invaded a Cambodian pagoda located near Preah Vihear temple and this led to a confrontation between the Cambodian and Thai armies that lasted until now.

Dr. Hang Puthea, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC), indicated that the army is a neutral institution, i.e. it must not serve any political party.

Hang Puthea said: “The army is a neutral institution for Cambodia, it does not belong to any political party. However, when an official or a [government] employee uses a forum or his position to serve a political party, I think that this could be a problem.”

Yim Sovan also indicated that the opposition MPs never betray the nation, quite to the contrary, the opposition party protects our lands from the border aggression both along the east and west borders. He also asked that high-ranking RCAF officer not be involved in political issues.

Montrey Vay Tob - "The beating officials": A Poem in Khmer by Srey Sra'Em

CCHR calls on RGC to take action to protect and promote freedom of expression and assembly

Cambodian Center for Human Rights

PRESS RELEASE
Phnom Penh, 25 March 2010
For immediate release

Actions Speak Louder Than Words:
CCHR commends RGC’s acceptance of UPR recommendations, calls on RGC to take action to protect and promote freedom of expression and assembly

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (“CCHR”) welcomes the acceptance by the Royal Government of Cambodia (the “RGC”) of all 91 recommendations made by the members of the United Nations Human Rights Council following the Universal Periodic Review (the “UPR”) of Cambodia’s human rights record held in December 2009. The CCHR calls on the RGC to pursue the substantive changes required to implement each of the recommendations it has embraced.

The CCHR draws particular attention to the recommendations made in relation to freedom of expression and assembly. The CCHR and other NGOs made a joint submission to the UPR process in April 2009, which raised serious concerns about the decline of freedom of expression and assembly in Cambodia in recent years (the “Joint Submission”). The UPR Working Group’s Report reflected a number of recommendations made in the Joint Submission. Of particular note is the inclusion of recommendations pertaining to the (1) decriminalization of disinformation and defamation, (2) allowing opposition members to speak freely and (3) reform of the judiciary to make it truly independent.

It is hoped that the RGC’s acceptance of these recommendations signals a change in direction, particularly with respect to freedom of expression and assembly, culminating in changes to law and policy. For example, the CCHR hopes that the RGC heeds the UPR Working Group’s recommendations and makes the necessary amendments to the Penal Code to bring it in line with international standards and ensures that criminal law is not used as a tool to curtail freedom of expression. Similarly, the CCHR hopes that the RGC’s acceptance of the recommendation to respect the freedom of expression of members of the opposition is evidenced by an acceptance of the legitimate role of opposition parties, and an end to the practice of suspending the parliamentary immunity of opposition lawmakers.

The CCHR applauds the engagement of the RGC in the UPR process and trusts that its acceptance of the recommendations are not mere words but will be followed by concrete actions to protect and promote freedom of expression and assembly in Cambodia.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ou Virak, President, CCHR
Tel: +855 12 404051
Email: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org

Cambodia: New Regulations Fail Refugees

Source: Human Rights Watch

Revised Procedures Aided Unlawful Return of Uighurs to China

(New York, March 24, 2010) – New Cambodian asylum regulations do not meet Cambodia’s obligations under the United Nations Refugee Convention, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen today.

On December 20, 2009, three days after Hun Sen signed new procedures for determining refugee status, the Cambodian government forcibly returned 20 ethnic Uighur asylum seekers to China in violation of international law. Strikingly, the document outlining the procedures, known as a sub-decree, allows the interior minister to ignore both the procedures and the recommendations on refugee status of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

“Cambodia’s new regulations allow the government far too much leeway to deny refugee status and to forcibly return people who fear persecution,” said Bill Frelick, refugee policy director at Human Rights Watch. “And the return of the Uighurs to China three days later raises major doubts about whether Cambodia takes its obligations toward refugees seriously.”

Human Rights Watch said the new regulations would be especially dangerous in politically sensitive cases like those involving the Uighurs, some of whom may now face the death penalty in China.

Human Rights Watch’s letter to Hun Sen provides a point-by-point analysis of the refugee sub-decree and urges him to amend it to bring it into conformity with the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which Cambodia is a party. It also urges the Cambodian government to consult with the UN refugee agency to allow it access to all people seeking asylum in Cambodia, and to respect and honor the agency’s exercise of its mandate to recognize and protect refugees in any country, including Cambodia.

To read Human Rights Watch’s letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen, please visit:

http://www.hrw.org/node/89303

To read Human Rights Watch's analysis of the Sub-decree on Procedures for Examination, Recognition, and Provision of Refugee or Asylum Status for Aliens in the Kingdom of Cambodia, please visit: http://www.hrw.org/node/89296

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Cambodia, please visit:
http://www.hrw.org/en/asia/cambodia

For more information, please contact:
In Washington, Bill Frelick (English): + 1-202-641-4344; +1-240-593-1747 (mobile)
In San Francisco, Brad Adams (English): +1-917-535-4093 (mobile)
In Washington, Sara Colm (English; Khmer): +301-980-8835

Developments in U.S. Climate Change Policy and the ‘Green Diplomacy’ Initiative

Invitation

On Green Drinks tomorrow, Juhani Platt, the Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer at the US embassy in Phnom Penh, will briefly introduce:

Developments in U.S. Climate Change Policy
and the ‘Green Diplomacy’ Initiative

Most people still have to get used to the US taking a leadership role on green topics. If you want to know the details of the new policies and how it translates to action on the ground, please come. Juhani can also tell us about the green measures that the US embassy in Phnom Penh is taking to reduce its ecological footprint.

Date: 25 March 2010. Starting at 18.00 and you are invited.

Venue: Baitong Restaurant, 1st floor. No. 7, Street 360, BKK1, Phnom Penh (opposite to the international school of Phnom Penh).

Check www.greendrinks.org for more info. Or mail us at greendrinks@kamworks.com. Please note that drinks will be at own expense.

Upcoming drinks are:

25 March 2010 Starting at 18.00
29 April 2010
27 May 2010
24 June 2010
29 July 2010
26 August 2010
30 September 2010
28 October 2010
25 November 2010
30 December 2010

We hope to see you!

Patrick Kooijman and Jeroen Verschelling
Kamworks ltd

phone: +855 99 872220 (direct)
skype: kamworks_jeroenv
@: jeroen@kamworks.com
www.kamworks.com
www.MoonLight-lantern.com

Kamworks: Solar energy for rural electrification

Baitong is located at # 7, Street 360, Sangkat Beoung Keng Kang I, Phnom Penh. Street 360 is opposite the Caltex on Norodom Boulevard (south of the Independence Monument) and is also the home of La Cedre Restaurant and Le Jardin Café. At Baitong, we serve high-quality, healthy and fairly-priced Asian food in a relaxing, natural and modern environment.

We use the finest fresh and organic ingredients, offer friendly and efficient service, and embrace the local community.

2010 Cambodian New Year Celebrated In Long Beach

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
By Ashleigh Oldland
Staff Writer
Uptown Gazettes (Long Beach, California, USA)

April marks the beginning of a new year for Cambodians. The angel Mondar Tevy, who wears a flower behind her ear and cat’s eye gemstones around her neck, is said to ride her donkey down to earth and bless the coming year.

In celebration of the 2010 Cambodian New Year, the nonprofit Cambodian Coordinating Council (Cam-CC) is hosting two events, a parade on Sunday, April 4, and a party on Saturday, April 10.

Dan Durke, event coordinator and spokesman for Cam-CC, said the sixth annual Cambodian New Year Parade on Anaheim Street from Junipero Avenue to MacArthur Park, will feature between 70 and 100 parade entries. Marking the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, the procession starts at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Junipero and Anaheim.

Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to come together for the parade, filling the Cambodia Town street with unique and colorful floats, musicians and traditional and modern Cambodian dancers, Durke said.

Officially taking place from April 14 to 16, the Cambodian New Year is one of the biggest celebrated holidays for Cambodians, Durke said.

“It is the Buddhist new year, but also, our people finish harvesting at this time of year, so we celebrate that,” he explained.

On Saturday, April 10, the 2010 Cambodian New Year Celebration will take place at El Dorado Park Regional Park in Area III (enter from Spring Street between Studebaker and the 605 Freeway) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Religious ceremonies, exotic food, traditional games, face painting and live performances will be a part of the public event.

Admission to the celebration is $40 per vehicle, which includes the $7 park entry fee. Discounted tickets may be purchased in advance at participating locations — visit www.cam-cc.org for a list of vendors.

Durke said the parade and celebration are especially significant in Long Beach because the city has the highest population of Cambodians living outside of Cambodia.

“This is a place for family and friends to gather and reunite,” he said. “A lot of us have been dispersed in the area. This allows us to find each other.”

The population of Cambodians in Long Beach is largely due to Cambodian refugees settling in the area, a precedent set in the 1960s when the first Cambodian student in the United States came to Long Beach to learn English, Durke said.

The event coordinator also said two events are something anyone can enjoy — even those who are not Cambodian.

“We have a little bit of everything for people to do,” he said. “We would like to invite everyone to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.”

With the message, “Suor Sdey Chhnam Thmey,” Cam-CC officials said they wish the Long Beach community a happy Cambodian New Year.

Applications for parade entries or booths for either event are being accepted now.

For more information, visit www.cam-cc.org.

Cambodians to march against rising hemlines on schoolgirls' skirts

Thu, 25 Mar 2010
DPA

Phnom Penh - Teachers and students from schools in the capital plan to march this weekend in an effort to persuade the government to ban creeping hemlines on schoolgirls' skirts, local media reported Thursday.

The Khmer Teachers' Association said the protest, which will involve around 300 teachers and students, would help to protect local culture from foreign influences.

"I want to improve and retain the Khmer culture that we had many years ago - some Khmer women have changed their manner by copying other cultures and wearing short skirts or sexy clothes in schools and public places," the body's director Sean Bunheang said.

He told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper that such influences could destroy Cambodian culture, and wants the Ministry of Education to ban schoolgirls from wearing skirts that sit above the knee.

He said the ministry ought to take measures against students who continue to dress contrary to custom.

"I see that some female students don't wear the Khmer student uniform," he added. "It seems like a Western uniform."

Ouch Sophorn, a 23-year-old male English literature student, said he noticed many female students wearing short skirts.

"We always turn back to see them," he admitted. "I like to see them wearing short skirts, but I wouldn't want my sister or my girlfriends to do that. I think it is not our tradition."

An official at the Ministry of Education said existing rules decreed that female students should wear skirts that hang below the knee, adding that he approved of the march since it would remind students to dress appropriately.

China to provide water data on dams [along the Mekong River]

25/03/2010
Apinya Wipatayotin and Theeraporn Saiwirat
Bangkok Post

China has agreed to provide water level data from two dams in Yunnan province until the end of this year's drought in the lower Mekong River basin, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti says.

China recently sent a letter to the Mekong River Commission saying it was willing to provide it with hydrological data from Jinghong and Manwan dams, the minister said.

The data will be delivered every Monday at 9am starting from this week and will end at "the end of drought", the letter says. The data includes information on water levels, flow and rainfall at 8am on each day.

The cooperation comes after growing pressure from countries in the lower basin, including Thailand and Laos, which have complained that dams in China are contributing to problems leading to the lowest water levels ever seen in the Mekong.

Thailand has demanded China cooperate more closely on water management during the drought season.

Mr Suwit praised the Chinese decision to release the water information to other countries through the commission, calling it a significant step in closer collaboration with other countries sharing the resources of the river,

"It is a historical success since the establishment of the Mekong River Commission 15 years ago. The cooperation indicates China's sincerity in dealing with the problem. It is a mutual step for creating trust between us," he said.

The step resulted from talks when Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva this month.

Mr Suwit expressed confidence the information from the hydro-meteorological stations would be useful for the river basin management.

"The information is important. It lets us know where the problem is. Dams retain only 4% of water flowing to the Mekong."

The problem will be high on the agenda at the Mekong River Commission summit to be held in Hua Hin from April 2 to 5. China will attend the meeting as an observer. The MRC comprises Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In another development, Mr Suwit said the drought season for this year was likely to extend to June and would cause more problems for farmers.

Only the Srinagarind dam in Kanchanaburi has a water level over 80%, unlike the rest which average about 40%, he said.

Activists working on Mekong River issues, meanwhile, said they plan to hold a parallel forum to discuss the water crisis when the MRC summit is held in Hua Hin. The public forum will be held at Chulalongkorn University.

The day after the two-day forum, the Mekong People Network in Thailand would submit a letter to China through its ambassador to Bangkok to call on Beijing to take responsibility for water problems facing countries downstream.

Faces of Cambodia

25/03/2010
Ploenpote Atthakor
Bangkok Post

Dutch artist Peter Klashorst is preparing for a painting exhibition to be held in Cambodia's notorious Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum next month. The opening of the exhibition will coincide with the museum's reopening after renovations, with support from Unesco. He talks with 'Outlook' about his work and hope of pursuing his latest art scheme.

How and why did you get involved in this project?

I visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh and took pictures with my mobile phone. The whole atmosphere moved me. That same day I flew back to Bangkok with those faces still in my memory. That evening I painted their portraits. I was intrigued by this time in history and wanted to do an exhibition regarding this topic, so eventually I got in contact with Unesco, which is renovating part of the museum. They were very interested in the idea of art being part of the project. Joining Unesco to our team also makes it easier for us to look for external funding for the project.

Will you paint more in Phnom Penh?

Yes, I am now in Phnom Penh. At the moment, I am experimenting with different methods of painting, different canvases. ... I have visited the killing fields a few times and the museum to take further pictures and sketches.

Will all the paintings be portraits of female victims?

No, portraits are only a small part of the work. I don't know how many paintings I will make. I always work a lot, and the whole situation is very inspiring and gives me a lot of energy. It will be like an avalanche of paintings. It's true that most of my subjects are female. When you make a portrait of someone, the person is still alive, so somehow you become like that person. When you paint a person with a nervous twitch, you almost catch the same twitch from them. You become one with the person and the poser becomes the painter in a way. You make the portrait together. So every portrait you paint is also a self-portrait and a portrait of the whole world. These were painted from photographs taken on my mobile phone, but they put shivers down my spine. It was as if these people were helping me make the paintings the same way as if they were alive and with me in my atelier. Thai people believe in reincarnation and ghosts, so my Thai friends who visited my studio said they would never want to sleep in the same room as the paintings. The strange thing is that I have a daughter who is 5 years old, and one of the children I painted looks exactly like her. It could have been my own child, so maybe reincarnation is true.

Have you changed your normal working process for this project?

The work process is different for this project because of the its complex historical and political context. I'm trying to gather as much information as possible about Southeast Asia, and, of course, the Khmer Rouge period in particular. I will let it all soak into my system and spit it out on canvas, and let my instincts do the rest. I'm not a politician, but an artist. I live through my emotions.

Are there other activities in the project apart from the exhibition?

There will be a documentary film and a workshop for art students. All are non-profit. I am paying for the whole project out of my own pocket and we are waiting for different parties (apart from Unesco) to contribute financially. The paintings that are shown here were sold to an English collector for 300,000 baht, which went back into the project.

Is 'Faces Cambodia - Never Again' the exhibition's title?

There is no title yet. I will have to discuss that with Unesco and the potential funders, depending on their role.

In your proposal, it says this is not a political project. How can you avoid that since it is apparent that the Hun Sen government makes use of Tuol Sleng and the killing fields for political gains over its enemies?

I never said that art is non-political. I think art without political or social context only serves as mere decoration and, although I cannot judge my own work, I hope it will stir people's thoughts; otherwise it has failed. However, I'm not part of any political movement, only my own paint and brush movement. Of course I realise that a museum like this always has a political background and politicians will always try to exploit it for their own means, but I have no part in that and believe that such a macabre place will always stir up controversy. Concerning the remains of the victims, although we cannot ask them, I think they would have agreed to have themselves shown in this way. Although it may may seem cheap and disrespectful, it attracts people to their story, and those people's thoughts will be with them. In a way, the same goes for the photographs. These people were never asked to be photographed and never gave their permission to be displayed. When people look at a photograph or a skull, it helps them identify with the victims and I hope my paintings can help people reflect on what happened here. Art will be here forever and governments will come and go. Vita Brevis Ars Longa (Life is short; art is forever).

Decisive Evidence of Border Encroachment: Summary and Conclusions

(Photo: Ly Meng Huor, RFI)

March 24, 2010

DECISIVE EVIDENCE OF BORDER ENCROACHMENT

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

I- My previous work on the border issue (October 2009 - February 2010)

My first purpose was to show that the so-called temporary border post # 185 made up of six wooden poles which I uprooted on October 25, 2009 in Koh Kban Kandal village, in Samraong commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, was located in fact within Cambodia’s territory, at a significant distance from the real and legal border between Cambodia and Vietnam, because the poles were planted in the middle of a Cambodian farmer’s rice field.

But in the process of doing the limited work as stated above, a team of several Cambodian and French experts assisting me has examined the border situation for the entire Samraong commune involving four different locations of newly erected "border" markers (# 184, 185, 186 and 187). We found that the locations were all inside Cambodia. Then we realized that the type of border encroachment we discovered in Samraong commune could have as well taken place in other communes, other districts and other provinces given the same political and administrative context that has prevailed in Cambodia since 1979.

In January and February this year, we presented evidence of border encroachment in two reports available at http://tinyurl.com/yeaoxyf and at http://tinyurl.com/ykbq57f.

In the first set of documents, we showed that the newly-planted so-called temporary border posts # 184, 185, 186 and 187 in Samraong commune were all inside Cambodia whether we based our observations and analyses on the official 1952 French SGI 1/100,000 map deposited at the UN in 1964, the 1966 US Army 1/50,000 map or more recent Google Earth satellite imagery. We estimated that the four so-called temporary border posts had been wrongfully planted inside Cambodia at a distance between 300 meters and 500 meters from the legal international border as delineated on both the French map and the US map.

In the second set of documents, we identified three real and legal border points in the vicinity of Samraong commune but in a zone now controlled by Vietnam. The geographical coordinates of those border points are specified in the 1985 Border Treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam (available at the Council of Ministers' website http://www.pressocm.gov.kh/border/11.php). As a matter of fact, we could confirm that those official border points are effectively located on -- or extremely near -- the border line as delineated on existing maps. However, we noticed that, on the two recognized maps as well as on satellite imagery, those three official border points are located much to the East of the newly-planted "temporary border posts" # 184 through 187, meaning that the latter clearly encroach on Cambodia’s territory, in stark violation of the 1985 Border Treaty.

Therefore, the so-called temporary border post I pulled out last year (# 185) and those nearby (# 184, 186 and 187) were not real border posts: They had been illegally planted well inside Cambodian territory, on Khmer farmers’ rice fields.

The result of our previous work as described above is now confirmed by the new report attached herewith, which is more elaborated, more exhaustive and most authoritative.

II- The new report (March 23, 2010)

To read the full report please click at http://tinyurl.com/y8s2ntw

This 14-page report in French titled "Géoréférencement des Cartes Trang Bang et Duc Hue" or Georeferencing of Trang Bang and Duc Hue Maps, was written by Mr Régis Caloz, a physicist and map expert specialized in Geographic Information System (GIS), who was a professor at the renowned Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, in Switzerland. I was introduced to Mr Caloz by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Here are the main points of the report:

1. All the maps and official documents that we have used so far are real, genuine and authentic (pages 2 to 4).

2. The analytical methods and tools we used previously were, on the whole, accurate. But more sophisticated, more refined and more precise methods and tools are used in the new report (pages 4 to 10).

A theoretical mistake we made previously related to a datum conversion has been fixed but with no change whatsoever in the final result (page 10): “The GPS locations under WGS 84, directly converted into UTM 48 without change in the ellipsoid and introduced on the (digitalized) Duc Hue map in UTM 48 under Everest (India) 60, coincide with the points obtained by following the procedure used for the first assumption which logically includes a datum conversion.”

["Les points GPS sous WGS 84, convertis directement en UTM 48 sans modification de l’ellipsoïde et introduits sur la carte Duc Hue en UTM 48 sous Everest (Indes) 60, se superposent aux points obtenus en suivant la procédure de la première hypothèse comportant logiquement la conversion de datum."]

3. All the results we found previously are confirmed by the new report, which only brings more certainty and more precision to our previous conclusions, in particular (pages 10 to 14):

a) The so-called temporary border posts # 184, 185, 186 and 187 are located at a distance of respectively 368 m, 319 m, 493 m and 483 m from the real and legal border, with a margin of error of plus or minus 100 m. In the worst case, those fake and illegal border posts are located at 268 m, 219 m, 393 m and 383 m from the real and legal border, meaning well inside Cambodia’s territory (page 12).

b) Even the controversial 1985 Border Treaty is being violated, with Vietnam continuously moving the de facto (imposed) border into Cambodia’s territory. The continuous encroachment has followed a two-step process (pages 13 and 14):

• First, the administrative frontier was displaced from the original legal border line -- where we can spot the three border points 1985-143, 1985-144 (very near to Canal 1 on Google satellite imagery, page 14) and 1985-145 -- to a more recent canal (Canal 2 on Google satellite imagery) dug in 1979 in Cambodia's territory, between 100 m and 300 m to the west of the original legal border line. Canal 2 currently represents the de facto border line.
• Second, there is presently an attempt to move again the border line from the 1979 canal (Canal 2) to the new "temporary border posts" 184, 185, 186 and 187 planted between 100 m and 300 m further to the West in 2008-2009, infringing on rice fields belonging to Cambodian farmers I have been trying to defend.

c) The current government in Phnom Penh has shown its negligence and/or incompetence when it comes to dealing with the defense of Cambodia’s territorial integrity as enshrined in the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and in the Kingdom’s Constitution.

Sam Rainsy
Member of Parliament