Wednesday, 6 May 2009

The Phnom Penh Post News In Briefs

In Brief: Child rape cases on the rise

Written by Mom Kunthear
Wednesday, 06 May 2009

A senior child rights monitor at the rights group Licadho said Tuesday that the first period of 2009 saw an increase in the number of child rape cases reported compared with the same period last year. "There were 31 cases reported in the first three months of 2008, and now there are 65. So that makes us worry," Pean Rathamanith said, adding that Kampot, Battambang, Kandal and Phnom Penh have the highest numbers.


In Brief: Nuon chea to remain behind bars

Written by Georgia Wilkins
Wednesday, 06 May 2009

Detained former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea is to remain in prison until at least September after judges on Monday dismissed a request by his lawyers for his release. In a press statement Tuesday, judges claimed that provisional detention was "still a necessary measure to prevent the [detainee] from exerting pressure on witnesses or destroying evidence" and to preserve public order. Nuon Chea has been in detention at the ECCC since his arrest in 2007.


In Brief: Defence appeals graft decision

Written by Georgia Wilkins
Wednesday, 06 May 2009

Three other defence teams at the Khmer Rouge tribunal have joined lawyers for Nuon Chea in appealing a decision on the issue of corruption at the UN-backed court. Lawyers for Ieng Thirith, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan have filed appeals over the court's decision in April not to take investigative action on an alleged kickback scheme at the court. Though judges claimed it was not in their jurisdiction to investigate such claims, lawyers argued Monday that judges have the inherent power to ensure the integrity of their own proceedings, and wihout such an investigation their clients' rights to a fair trial would be violated.


In Brief: Swine flu renamed

Written by Nguon Sovan
Wednesday, 06 May 2009

THE National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) said it plans to change the official name of swine flu to H1N1 to avoid potentially serious repercussions on the country’s pork industry. The flu that broke out in Mexico has not been detected in Cambodia, said Pao Samy, secretary general of NCDM on Tuesday. He said that the flu spreads in cold weather, rather than hot climates like Cambodia. Sok Touch, director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Communicable Disease, said Tuesday that the government would use the new name from now on. “The virus did not originate from pigs, so if we use the term ‘swine flu’, it will have a serious impact on the pig business in Cambodia.” He said that health officials are on alert to strengthen disease tracking and preparedness.


In Brief: Power imports to begin

Written by Nguon Sovan
Wednesday, 06 May 2009

Electricity imports from Vietnam are set to commence next month, which officials say will reduce the number of blackouts in Phnom Penh. "The city will no longer have block-by-block power cuts as of next month when the 200 MW line from Vietnam to Phnom Penh is scheduled to come into use," said a senior Electricite de Cambodge (EdC) official who asked not to be named. "It will double the electrical supply capacity and around 200,000 families in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampong Speu and Takeo will be able to access the power." He said that EdC is currently capable of supplying 190 MW of electricity to 280,000 families in Phnom Penh and Kandal. Demand for electricity in Phnom Penh has far outstripped supply, and city officials resort to blackouts to make up for the shortfall.

No comments: