Saturday, 8 August 2009

Tropical storm Goni: Nearly 100 missing in sea off S China

www.chinaview.cn

2009-08-08

HAIKOU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 100 ships' crew members from Cambodia, Vietnam and China are missing in heavy seas off south China's Hainan Island, a local official said Saturday.

More than 20 ships in the area had been affected by gale conditions resulting from tropical storm Goni, said Xie Fuchun, an official with the Hainan Province's Bureau of Maritime Affairs.

Rescue vessels and helicopters are being used to locate the missing crewmen, said Yang Pansheng, the bureau head. The exact number of rescue craft is not known.

In Guangdong, a female passenger was killed and the driver is missing after flooding blocked a bus route. Twelve houses have been destroyed and nearly 200,000 people affected by storm-related problems.

Goni, the seventh storm to hit China this year, was 19.2 degrees north and 108.3 degrees east at 10 a.m. Saturday, 30 kilometers from Dongfang City in the west of Hainan.

Packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour, it was moving southwestwards at a speed of five kilometers an hour and was likely to land on the island within 12 hours, said the island's meteorological station.


Editor: Li

Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region

Associated Press
2009-08-08

Two tropical storms will hit East Asia on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Goni is forecast to bring considerable rain and thunderstorms to China's southeastern Hainan Island and Hong Kong later in the day.

Morakot is expected to weaken from typhoon to tropical storm strength before making landfall in southern China near Fuzhou early Sunday. It will nevertheless bring intense wind and heavy rain to coastal areas and inland.

Elsewhere, a low pressure system will move northeastward up Japan, bringing moderate to heavy rain to the country. Temperatures in Tokyo and Seoul will hit the upper 20s Celsius, while Shanghai will see temperatures in the lower 30s.

For Australia, a low pressure system will sweep through the Great Australian Bight before moving into Victoria and New South Wales. There will not be a tremendous amount of moisture involved with this system, but areas of light to moderate precipitation will fall in Victoria in the afternoon and evening.

Another low pressure system will move inland north of Cape Leeuwin late in the day and into Monday. The rest of the country will remain dry and under the influence of a high pressure system.

Sydney will rise into the upper 10s C, while Melbourne will see temperatures a few degrees lower and Brisbane will rise into the lower 20s C.

Chinese American Hero: Dr. Haing S. Ngor


August 7, 2009

Name in English: Dr. Haing S. Ngor
Name in Chinese: 吴汉[吳漢]
Name in Pinyin: Wú Hàn
Gender: Male
Birth Year: 1940-1996
Birth Place: Samrong Young, Cambodia
Philanthropy: Yes

Profession (s): Medical Doctor, Actor

Education: Medical Doctor, Royal Khmer University, School of Medicine

Awards: 1984, Academy Award - Best Supporting Actor, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; 1984, British Academy Film Award - Best Actor, British Academy of Film and Television Arts; 1984, British Academy Film Award, Best Newcomer to Film, British Academy of Film and Television Arts; 1984, Golden Globe - Best Supporting Actor, Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Contribution (s): Dr. Haing S. Ngor was born in Cambodia, the son of an ethnic Chinese father and Khmer mother. He was trained as a doctor specializing in gynecology and obstetrics and was working in the capital, Phnom Penh, when it fell to the communist Khmer Rouge in 1975. The Khmer Rouge’s extreme anti-Western and anti-intellectual policies placed Ngor in immediate danger. Ngor had to hide his glasses and pretend to be an uneducated common laborer because people who were suspected of being among the intellectual classes were immediately executed. There was widespread starvation, killings, and torture in the following years as the Khmer Rouge immediately forced all city residents into the countryside as part of their policy of destroying everything to create their utopian agrarian society. Dr. Ngor’s wife and child died during a premature birth because of the lack of medical supplies and the fact that Ngor couldn’t risk showing his medical education. He was also tortured at various times, having half a finger chopped off and was hit in the ankle with an axe during interrogations to find out his previous profession. Each time he convinced his interrogators that he was an illiterate taxi driver. Every member of his family was killed except for a young niece, just some of the over 2 million Cambodians that died under the Khmer Rouge.

In 1979, the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia gave Ngor and many other Cambodians the chance to flee the country. Ngor ended up in a refugee camp in Thailand with his niece and flew with her to America in August 1980. He became a social worker at the Chinatown Service Center in Los Angeles helping Southeast Asian refugees resettle in the United States because his medical license wasn’t recognized here. In 1983, he was asked to play the part of a fellow Cambodian survivor, Dith Pran, in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” His performance in recreating the Khmer Rouge horror was so powerful and moving that he became only the second Asian and the second non-acting professional to win an Academy Award for acting. Other critically acclaimed acting roles followed including “Heaven & Earth” in 1993. Ngor served as Grand Marshall of the 1992 Chinese New Year Golden Dragon Parade in Los Angeles. He was shot and killed during a suspected robbery in 1996.

Despite his sudden fame, Ngor was devoted to improving conditions in Cambodia and improving the lot of Cambodian refugees in the United States. He used his wealth to bring medical supplies and establish clinics in Cambodia. He helped found two aid organizations for refugees in camps near the Thai-Cambodian border: Aides aux Personnes Deplacees, based in Brussels, and Enfants d’Angkor, based in Paris. He also continued to work as a social worker dealing with refugees in Los Angeles. In 1990, he established the Dr. Haing S. Ngor Foundation which raised funds to support aid projects in Cambodia. The foundation built an elementary school and operated a small sawmill that provided jobs and an income for local families.

Electricity Use in Cambodia Does Not Yet Meet Proper Standards – Friday, 7.8.2009

Posted on 8 August 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 624
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

“Phnom Penh: Nowadays, electricity use and management in Cambodia, by both the state and the private sector, is not yet up to international standards.

“A Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Mr. Ith Prang, said during the closing of a workshop at the Phnom Penh Hotel on 6 August 2009, ‘The ministry and the Royal Government of Cambodia intend to manage electricity use both in the state and in the private sector to meet standards like in modern countries such as America, Canada, China, Japan, and Russia. Therefore, from now on, we have to strengthen and study also hydro-electricity standards at the present time, so that they comply with international standards.’

“Mr. Ith Prang added that now, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is drafting detailed electrical technical standard recommendations for the field of civil construction, and also for electrical technology and for hydro-electric establishments in Cambodia.’

“According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Energy of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Mr. Bun Narith, at present, the management and the usage of electricity in Cambodia do not follow proper standards, including the general use of energy, the connection of electricity from place to place, the building of different construction elements along the roads where electric posts are planted etc… ‘These are problems that we need to improve in the future.’

“The head of the Department of Hydro-Electricity of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Mr. Much Chhun Hon, said that care has to be taken so that the production, dispatch, distribution, and use of electricity are effective and safe, and the means for these activities, including all tools and materials, must be handled under real, proper standards, both in state and in private services.”

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #256, 7.8.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 7 August 2009

New challenges to ASEAN

Andy Rachmianto , Jakarta Sat, 08/08/2009

On Aug. 8, 2009, ASEAN will celebrate its 42nd anniversary. It is quite natural that when celebrating its anniversary, ASEAN should ask itself what has been achieved and what should be done in the future. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) made a historic move when its leaders adopted the ASEAN Charter in Singapore in 2007.

At the Singapore Summit, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the ASEAN Charter could be the catalyst for speeding up and strengthening regional integration, and could enhance the process by which ASEAN transforms from a loose association to an ASEAN community. It also provides for an elevation of ASEAN into a rule-based and people-centered organization with a legal personality that rests on the pillars of political-security cooperation, economic cooperation and sociocultural cooperation.

The charter is based on the principles of respecting fundamental freedoms, the promotion and protection of human rights, the promotion of social justice and the upholding of the United Nations Charter and international law.

However, following its adoption, some people representing civil society have criticized the charter. Some even argue the charter is irrelevant as it does not reflect "the ideals of ASEAN".

To some extent, this assessment may be correct, taking into account that there is no provision in the charter that clearly mentions the involvement of "the people" and the establishment of any institutionalized mechanism allowing civil society to contribute to ASEAN's decision making process.

More importantly, is whether ASEAN really can act together in facing future challenges at the regional level, including its own internal problems such as the tension between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear Temple, overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea or the problematic regime in Myanmar? How ASEAN will react to ongoing global crises such as climate change, energy security, food security and financial crises? Or how will ASEAN respond to the newly emerging regional architecture in the Asia Pacific, especially with the rise of China and India as regional powers?

The current regional architecture in the Asia Pacific is really a major challenge for ASEAN. Following the establishment of ASEAN, there are now other pillars of regional mechanisms that exist in the region, namely: the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the ASEAN Regional forum (ARF), the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) with China, Japan and Korea and the East Asian Summit (EAS). Since ASEAN as a group has been actively involved in all these regional mechanisms, ASEAN can only play its role if its members can cooperate more cohesively to solve the aforementioned internal problems in the region.

But how will ASEAN be able to play a convergent role among all these regional mechanisms? The answer is clear; it is necessary to consolidate all the existing regional mechanisms in order to avoid duplication in terms of focus of cooperation and activities. For instance, which forum or mechanism should deal with social and economic cooperation and which one should be responsible for strategic political and security dialogue.

There is another serious challenge that ASEAN needs to deal with in the future - the institutional-building of a new regional architecture in the Asia Pacific. For the last few years, at least, among Track-Two communities, the idea of shaping a new East Asian institution as an overarching body for strategic dialogues and security cooperation has been thoroughly discussed. In their views, if it is based on size, population, GDP and strategic importance, the new institution or mechanism should not be a large group. Countries that would be eligible to join this new grouping are Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US. They will be called the G-8 for East Asia.

But in order to make this grouping reliable as a future concert of power in East Asia, ASEAN as a group should be included, at least be represented by the chair and the secretary-general of ASEAN. Although it is not likely this new regional architecture will come into being in the near future, ASEAN should still be able to respond once the discussion of this new idea becomes more official in the region.

In this context, the proposal made by the Australian prime minister on the establishment of an Asia-Pacific community is an indication that a process leading to a totally new overarching regional architecture in the Asia Pacific has already started.

Behind Kevin Rudd's idea is a regional institution that spans the entire Asia Pacific region and is capable of engaging in a full spectrum of dialogue, cooperation and action on economic and political matters and future security challenges. The proposal was also aimed at overcoming the compartmentalization of existing regional institutions by creating an effective leadership forum where major political, economic and security issues can be dealt with holistically rather than piecemeal.

Therefore, sooner or later, ASEAN should be ready to respond to it. Happy anniversary!

Troops withdraw over hostage fears

Joint patrols to calm Preah Vihear tensions

Writer: WASSANA NANUAM
Published: 8/08/2009

The army has cancelled overnight stays by troops with their Cambodian counterparts at Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara for fear of them being held hostage.

Ten troops were stationed at the temple day and night in the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area.

They were recently ordered to leave the temple after finishing their daytime tasks and to return again the next morning, said a source with the Suranaree Task Force.

Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara is at the foot of the mountain where the disputed Preah Vihear temple is located.

Since July 15 last year, 10 soldiers have been deployed at Wat Kaew Sikha Khiri Sawara. Another 20 Thai troops are stationed around the temple.

"In the event of rising border tensions, those Thai troops [living at the temple] could have been in danger," the source said.

The Cambodian troops have occupied the temple for several years and tended to think the temple was theirs, the source said.

Despite a previous agreement between Thai and Cambodian troops that the temple is an unarmed zone, the Cambodian troops had yet to drop their weapons, but demanded the Thai troops strictly follow the agreement.

"Since it's a policy, we have to follow," said the source, conceding the withdrawal of the Thai troops from the temple could be perceived by the Cambodian side as a victory.

Another agreement adopted by both sides is joint border patrolling in the Phu Makhuea area where Thai and Cambodian troops have clashed repeatedly due to misunderstandings, said the source.

The joint patrol unit consists of 18 soldiers from each side. Thailand and Cambodia keep about 3,000 troops each in the disputed area.

Army chief Anupong Paojinda said yesterday the army stood firm in wanting to resolve border disputes with Cambodia through peaceful negotiations.

"We live next to each other and can never move away. Should Thailand get the Preah Vihear temple back if we fight? The answer is no.

"So we have to work with Cambodia to develop the temple and make use of it," he said.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob yesterday met visiting Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin and discussed the Thai-Cambodian border dispute.

Mr Chai asked his Cambodian counterpart to speed up negotiations regarding settlement of the disputed area.

Day Inn Angkor Resort Reintroduces Itself to the Public

Day Inn Angkor resort, a four-star hotel located in Cambodia, has been renamed as Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort.

[ClickPress, Fri Aug 07 2009] Day Inn Angkor Resort, one of the finest hotels in Cambodia, has been renamed as Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort. The new resort name reflects the hotel’s four-star quality, and guests will find it as the perfect place to stay if they want to explore the wonders of Siem Reap.

Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort can only be described as one word: luxurious. Guests will find themselves immersed in a lush, tropical environment during their stay. Designed by French architects, the well-crafted establishment complements the natural beauty of Cambodia.

The hotel offers deluxe rooms with a private balcony or terrace so that guests will be able to appreciate the picturesque view of its well-maintained garden. When not out visiting the local attractions, guests can take a refreshing dip in the hotel’s swimming pool.

With an accommodating hotel staff, guests will feel pampered and well-cared for. Aside from having a stress-free vacation, their taste buds will surely be in for a treat with the hotel’s delicious dishes. Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort’s Tropicana Restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, giving hotel patrons a chance to sample the finest of Khmer, Asian, and Western cuisine.

After a long day of visiting the Angkor temples, guests can unwind with a traditional Khmer massage. The Cambodia resort also has outdoor lounging facilities where they can recount their exciting day over a delectable dinner with their loved ones as they are serenaded by Khmer melodies.

Visitors in town for a business function will find the hotel’s facilities suitable for important meetings, having conference and meeting rooms that have state-of-the-art business equipment.

Other hotel features include wireless Internet, a poolside bar, a fitness club/gym, and souvenir gift shops for those who want to buy a souvenir of their fun-filled vacation. Indeed, whether on a vacation or a business trip, guests will find that this resort in Cambodia will meet their every need.

For more information about Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort and its online reservation service, visit http://www.royalbayinnangkor.com.


About Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort

Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort is located near Angkor Wat, one of Cambodia’s most famous landmarks. The hotel was designed by French architects and is set amidst a beautifully kept tropical landscape. It offers deluxe rooms and modern amenities at a reasonable price and is a favorite place to stay in because of its courteous staff, wonderful facilities, and convenient location since it is also minutes away from the airport and various shopping areas.

Contact Information

Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort
Oum Khun Str, Module 1,
Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap District,
Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Tel: (855-63) 760 500, (855-63) 760 502
Fax: (855-63) 760 503
E-mail: reservation@royalbayinnangkor.com
Website: http://www.royalbayinnangkor.com

Day Inn Angkor Resort Reintroduces Itself to the Public

Day Inn Angkor resort, a four-star hotel located in Cambodia, has been renamed as Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort.

[ClickPress, Fri Aug 07 2009] Day Inn Angkor Resort, one of the finest hotels in Cambodia, has been renamed as Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort. The new resort name reflects the hotel’s four-star quality, and guests will find it as the perfect place to stay if they want to explore the wonders of Siem Reap.

Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort can only be described as one word: luxurious. Guests will find themselves immersed in a lush, tropical environment during their stay. Designed by French architects, the well-crafted establishment complements the natural beauty of Cambodia.

The hotel offers deluxe rooms with a private balcony or terrace so that guests will be able to appreciate the picturesque view of its well-maintained garden. When not out visiting the local attractions, guests can take a refreshing dip in the hotel’s swimming pool.

With an accommodating hotel staff, guests will feel pampered and well-cared for. Aside from having a stress-free vacation, their taste buds will surely be in for a treat with the hotel’s delicious dishes. Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort’s Tropicana Restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, giving hotel patrons a chance to sample the finest of Khmer, Asian, and Western cuisine.

After a long day of visiting the Angkor temples, guests can unwind with a traditional Khmer massage. The Cambodia resort also has outdoor lounging facilities where they can recount their exciting day over a delectable dinner with their loved ones as they are serenaded by Khmer melodies.

Visitors in town for a business function will find the hotel’s facilities suitable for important meetings, having conference and meeting rooms that have state-of-the-art business equipment.

Other hotel features include wireless Internet, a poolside bar, a fitness club/gym, and souvenir gift shops for those who want to buy a souvenir of their fun-filled vacation. Indeed, whether on a vacation or a business trip, guests will find that this resort in Cambodia will meet their every need.

For more information about Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort and its online reservation service, visit http://www.royalbayinnangkor.com.


About Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort

Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort is located near Angkor Wat, one of Cambodia’s most famous landmarks. The hotel was designed by French architects and is set amidst a beautifully kept tropical landscape. It offers deluxe rooms and modern amenities at a reasonable price and is a favorite place to stay in because of its courteous staff, wonderful facilities, and convenient location since it is also minutes away from the airport and various shopping areas.

Contact Information

Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort
Oum Khun Str, Module 1,
Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap District,
Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Tel: (855-63) 760 500, (855-63) 760 502
Fax: (855-63) 760 503
E-mail: reservation@royalbayinnangkor.com
Website: http://www.royalbayinnangkor.com

Thai-Cambodia border situation normal

Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 8/08/2009

The situation along Thai-Cambodia border including areas nearby the ancient Preah Vihear temple is still normal, Army Region 2 commander Lt Gen Wibulsak Neepal said on Saturday.

The discussions on disputed border area between Thailand and the neighboring country continued smoothly and it is believed that the border problem will be gradually resolved, Lt Gen Wibulsak said.

Asked about the called for a reopening of Preah Vihear national park for Thai and foreign tourists to visit the Khmer ancient temple, the commander of army region 2 said it would take sometimes before the national park can be reopened. It will need a joint agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on where the tourists can visit for their safety.

At least two dead as Typhoon Morakot slams into Taiwan (2nd Roundup)


Asia-Pacific News
Aug 7, 2009

Taipei - Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan Friday, leaving at least two persons dead, four missing and four foreign ships grounded off Taiwan's coast.

A woman walking in Keelung, northern Taiwan, was swept into the sea and drowned, and a woman cyclist drowned after winds swept her and her bicycle into a flooded ditch.

Four fishermen are listed as missing after their fishing boats overturned in choppy seas and they fell overboard, local television reports said.

Dozens of Taiwanese were injured after being hit by falling objects or when their motorbikes were blown over, according to the Broadcasting Corporation of China said.

The typhoon also grounded four foreign ships, two from Cambodia, one from Indonesia and one from the Marshall Islands, the Transport Ministry said.

President Ma Ying-jeou warned the public to remain on guard as the rainfall may continue and increase. He urged islanders to stay home to prevent accidents outdoors.

Morakot, the strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan this year, formed over the Pacific Ocean earlier this week. It brought strong winds and torrential rains to Taiwan Thursday and Friday as it charged towards Taiwan.

By 10 pm (1400 GMT) Friday, the eye of the typhoon was 40 kilometres south-east of Hualien on the east coast.

Moving at 11 kilometres per hour (kph) in a north-easterly direction, it was packing centre winds of 144 kph and gusts of 180 kph.

If it maintains its course and speed, Morakot is expected to make landfall early Saturday, and then cross the Taiwan Strait and slam into China's south-east coast Saturday night or Sunday morning, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Morakot however is expected to weaken after crossing Taiwan.

The typhoon cut off power to about half a million homes and paralyzed Taiwan's road and air traffic.

On Friday, 144 domestic flights and 255 international flights were canceled while several takeoffs were delayed.

Taiwan has declared Friday a 'typhoon holiday' to prevent typhoon- related accidents. Several counties and cities said they will continue to have a typhoon holiday Saturday despite Morakot's expected departure.

Malaria disaster risk

Malaria is transmitted when a female Anopheles mosquito takes a blood meal
© CDC


07 August 2009

Two studies could spell disaster for malaria management, with the first evidence of a malarial strain resistant to a first-line drug, and signs that a widely used insect repellent could be neurotoxic.

Researchers in Cambodia have found the first indications that a strain of malaria has become resistant to artemisinin, the primary drug treatment in many countries.1 Experts have suggested that this resistant strain is likely to spread - and could pose a serious threat to millions of vulnerable people in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The study was carried out in the city of Pailin, western Cambodia, where the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite was found to be far less susceptible to artemisinin treatment than usual. Artemisinin is currently the 'gold standard' of malaria medication, and great efforts have been made to establish use of the drug in developing countries.

The researchers, based in Thailand and led by Nicholas White, say that containment measures are urgently needed, but it is probably too late to prevent the strain from spreading outside Cambodia.

'This is the first warning of disaster,' says Peter Winstanley, a clinical pharmacologist at the University of Liverpool. 'We know that previous malarial drug resistances, such as to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, have come out of this same area in the past and caused havoc.'

But Winstanley notes that Asia is not where the strain is likely to cause the most harm. 'The place that we need to worry about is Africa. Artemisinin is an uncomplicated drug - it can be given orally and is relatively cheap. There aren't many alternatives in poor regions like Tanzania and not much in the pipeline.'

Brian Greenwood, a malaria expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine agrees that the news is troubling. 'Threats like this are extremely difficult to contain, so it is only a matter of time before it reaches Africa,' he told Chemistry World. 'Unlike swine flu, however, this will spread more slowly, so it could be ten years before we start seeing real problems.'

Adding to the trouble, another warning was raised this week after European biochemists found that DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), the most widely-used insect repellent, can act as a neurotoxin in insects and mammals.2 The researchers say that questions need to be asked about the safety of the popular spray-on chemical, developed around fifty years ago and now used by more than 200 million people a year.

The findings indicate that DEET acts in the same way as nerve gas - inhibiting the action of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme needed to break down and recycle an important neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. But Greenwood downplayed the findings, noting that many clinical studies have been performed on DEET over the years.

'One can never be completely sure about safety - but DEET has been used very widely and for a long time,' he says. 'Also, most users are only exposed to small amounts, so we can be confident that the majority of people will suffer no side-effects.'

Lewis Brindley

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UTSA collaborates with Cambodian universities on research, teaching, study abroad


Top photo: Associate Professor Wayne Wright (left) and Betty Merchant (right), dean of the College of Education and Human Development, watch as President Ricardo Romo signs an agreement with Cambodian universities. (Photo by Mark McClendon) Bottom photo: Wayne Wright greets Chantham Chea, president of Pannasastra University in Cambodia.

UTSA Today
http://www.utsa.edu

By Kris Rodriguez
Public Affairs Specialist

(Aug. 7, 2009)--In an effort to extend global outreach, UTSA President Ricardo Romo signed agreements with two Cambodian universities, which will allow faculty and students from the three universities to collaborate in research, teaching and participation in study abroad programs.

"I think it's really important for our students to get to know the rest of the world," said Romo. "We would be left behind if we didn't try to be a bit more proactive in setting up programs that would allow the students to see other parts of the world. We need to take advantage of these kinds of connections with other universities and let our students reap the benefits of those kinds of networks."

One memorandum of understanding is with Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia's first and largest university. After opening in 1960, it was shut down from 1975 to 1979, along with all other schools and universities, by the Khmer Rouge. The university reopened in 1980. The second agreement is with Pannasastra University, a prestigious private university opened in 2000 by Cambodian Americans who fled the country because of the genocide. They returned to their home country with advanced degrees and started the university.

The collaborative efforts began earlier this year when Wayne Wright, UTSA associate professor of bicultural-bilingual studies, traveled on a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at RUPP in the master of education program. Wright, who is fluent in Cambodian, chose the country in order to contribute to the rebuilding of the education system devastated by genocide and decades of civil war. Additionally, he was able to introduce his children to the Cambodian language, history and culture and reconnect with his wife's family who live near the capital.

"I'll be supervising five master's students on their theses at RUPP and finishing up a research project I started with one of the faculty members there," said Wright. "My hope is to find funding to support a big collaborative research project related to teacher training in Cambodia that can involve all three universities."

Downturn pushes exporters to eye Cambodia

Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper
Friday, August 07, 2009

As the wheels of Vietnam’s export machine to the U.S. and Europe begin to slow, local shippers are turning their attention to the often overlooked neighboring market of Cambodia.

Nguyen Thi Hong, deputy chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee, told Sai Gon Giai Phong (Sai Gon Liberated) newspaper, the city’s total export turnover last month fell by 13.9 percent from the same period last year.

But it was a very different story in impoverished Cambodia. During the same stretch, exports from Vietnam soared 44 percent over July last year, she said.

Cambodia, home to 14 million people and one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries recorded average economic growth of ten percent from 2004 to 2008. Much of that progress can be tracked back to the UN-backed Paris Peace Accord between the government and Khmer Rouge in 1994.

The country has opened up a great deal since then and today the free market is king.

Between Vietnam and Cambodia - which have often had a turbulent relationship - two-way trade has risen on average by 40 percent annually over the past few years, from US$935 million in 2006 to $1.2 billion in 2007 and nearly $1.7 billion in 2008.

Made-in-Vietnam goods have also gained a foothold in Cambodia through fairs and trade events held in the country.

About three years ago, Vietnam was the third largest exporter to Cambodia after China and Thailand. At present, Vietnamese exporters are offering a wide range of products in Cambodia, from construction materials to consumer goods and household appliances.

Tran Huu Duc, public relations director of Vietnamese food producer Dong Tam Nutrition Food Joint-stock Co. (Nutifood), said his company’s dairy products for the elderly are hugely popular in the country.

But in a possible case of the chickens coming home to roost, most Vietnamese exporters are still unable to gain a better foothold in the market as distribution networks in the country are firmly in the hands of Cambodian firms.

Red tape and fierce competition from Chinese and Thai imports are also among the obstacles for Vietnamese businesses to further explore the neighboring market.

Ho Chi Minh City-based multi-service Saigon Trading Group (SATRA) is working on a plan to build a duty free supermarket chain at the Moc Bai and Tinh Bien border gates between the two countries, Hong said.

A number of warehouses designed for Vietnamese goods will also be set up at Vietnam-Cambodia border gates to help Vietnamese exporters save transportation costs.

Satra is also teaming up with Cambodian business conglomerate Sokimex Group to build a supermarket for Vietnamese products in the country and provide Cambodian language courses for Vietnamese businessmen.

Tribunal, Organizations To Coordinate Outreach

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

Khmer Rouge tribunal officials met with local rights organizations Friday in a bid to strengthen cooperation between the court and civil society and to improve outreach to victims of the regime.

Outreach activities for the tribunal are currently conducted separately among non-governmental organizations and the court’s Victims Unit.

“The aim is to avoid repetitive outreach activities, which cause a waste of resources and a waste of time and make trouble,” said Kassie Nou, coordinator for outreach activities of the Victims Unit.

The groups met Friday to discuss ways they might work together to inform the public about the proceedings and encourage them to file testimony or complaints as civil parties in upcoming trials.

The tribunal is currently undertaking its first trial, for Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch, who faces atrocity crimes charges.

Police Continue Interrogation Torture: Expert

Chhiev Huor Lay, a senior prison researcher for the rights group Licadho.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
07 August 2009

Cambodia’s legacy of violence is continuing to manifest itself in the penal system, leading to a high number of abuse cases of suspects and detainees, a rights expert said Thursday.

Police officials are following the example of those who have gone before them, using violent interrogation tactics, and they lack training on the proper questioning of suspects, said Chhiev Huor Lay, a senior prison researcher for the rights group Licadho. And the abuse occurs with impunity, he said.

“Torturing for answers results in poor justice, because when a person is hurt, he will say anything to avoid a beating,” Chhiev Huor Lay said, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

In 2008, there were 85 cases of reported torture in police interrogation, including one female, he said. In the first 8 months of 2009, there have been 42 reported cases, including three women.

Cambodian and international law are both designed to protect prisoners from torture in interrogation, but Chhiev Huor Lay said he had found that suspects often feel they deserve to be tortured because they’ve committed a crime.

As a result, many instances of torture go unreported.

“They are afraid of revenge [from police], and that no one can find justice for them,” he said. “That’s why they don’t file a complaint.

In Court Deal, Investigator Leaves Province

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
06 August 2009

A prominent human rights investigator has been pulled from Ratanakkiri province after he came under investigation from the provincial court for incitement, officials said Thursday.

In a deal with the court, Pen Bunnar, an investigator for the respected rights monitor Adhoc, will be transferred to another province, Adhoc officials said.

Pen Bunnar had worked in Ratanakkiri, which suffers a high rate of land-grabs and other abuses, for the past five years.

He was charged with incitement of violence when he attempted to coordinate the assembly of 121 families in a dispute over 200 hectares of land with the DM Group, Ltd., in Lumphat district.

Chan Saveth, chief of Adhoc’s monitoring unit, said Pen Bunnar will be moved to Svay Rieng province and will be replaced by another investigator, Sam Arin, who will move over from Mondolkiri province.

Chan Saveth said Adhoc wished to “reduce the conflict” between his group and the provincial authorities “because the conflict benefits neither side.”

“To protect people’s interests, Adhco had to soften its stance to join and cooperate with the provincial authority in the direction of developing human rights,” he said.

Ratanakkiri judge Thor Saron said the court had advised an umbrella group of rights organizations, “particularly Adhoc,” to move Pen Bunnar “to solve the penal charge.”

“If Pen Bunnar has no duty in the territory of Rattanakiri province, it is easy to end the case and the court can compromise, drop his case and avoid [his] detention,” the judge said. “A newcomer has not made any mistakes in Ratanakkiri province, and a new person can make a good relationship with and work with all levels of the provincial authorities.”

Pen Bunnar told VOA Khmer Thursday he was leaving.

“I hope the natural environment will not be destroyed by illegal deforestation when I leave the province,” he said.

Cambodian Women in US Struggle With Abuse

By Nuch Sarita, VOA Khmer
Original report from Long Beach, California
07 August 2009

Cambodian women and children are under threat of domestic violence in their American homes, living with physical or emotional scars and often feeling they cannot escape. However, two social workers told VOA Khmer, help is available.

“Domestic violence among Cambodian-Americans in society is committed by men against their wives, girlfriends, or children,” said Prom Sony, a domestic violence counselor for the Cambodian Association of America, in Long Beach, Calif.

As a result of the violence, women suffer from post-traumatic stress and paranoia, Om Raksmie, a domestic violence case manager, told VOA Khmer in an interview. Cambodians in America face two especially difficult problems in terms of assimilation. First, there are many Cambodian families in America experiencing intense cultural conflicts. Second, some refugees find the effects of multiple traumas suffered during the civil war and the Khmer Rouge interfering with their daily lives.

Cambodian women are valued for their domestic abilities, including childrearing. Many manage their families’ budgets and, from an American point of view, seem relatively powerful. But they cannot challenge their fathers, uncles, husbands, or even grown sons in public.

Prom Sony said in an interview that Cambodian women who struggle in abusive relationships continue to provide good care for their children. She recounted the story of a woman abused by her ex-husband for many years, even as she raised four girls.

“This woman was abused physically, emotionally and financially,” Prom Sony said. “She has a scar on her face until today from a hard object that her husband used to hit her face. For her protection, the woman was evacuated to a women’s shelter in Arizona for a year. Her ex-husband was arrested a few weeks after the incident. Nowadays this lady survives on her own, raising all four daughters by herself. She’s an independent woman and still single. Besides raising the four children, she also has to take care of her elderly disabled mother. This lady is working full time at a doughnut shop to support the family. To this day, her ex-husband hasn’t paid any child support and has even asked to reunite with her, though she refused.”

While physical abuse can cause severe and long-lasting scars, emotional and psychological abuse can be even more devastating. It can make the victim feel isolated and helpless, as if she cannot escape the situation.

“This is not true,” Prom Sony said. “Resources are available to help the victims of domestic violence and their children. The Cambodian Association of America provides services and activities such as domestic violence education, advocacy and court-document support, support groups, group counseling and much more.”

Om Raksmie described a single mother with four children, two boys and two girls. The woman was physically attacked and medically treated for her injuries.

“She was hospitalized for several months,” Om Raksmie said. “This woman was stabbed seven times in her chest and was also cut open along her abdomen. She sustained a severe head injury from a hard object that was used to hit her. At first, the first doctor was very pessimistic that she’d be able to survive her injuries. Now she is disabled and has lost some of her memories. Prior to this, this woman raised four children on her own. Her abuser is currently serving a life sentence in jail. This victim was living at a shelter for abused women with all of her children. Now she is on her own with her three children, as her eldest son has moved out.”

The problem of domestic violence is multifaceted. The abused woman’s response is directly related to the family origin, culture and society in which she lives. The abuse is cyclical, as many women who are victims have witnessed abuse in their homes since they were children.

Disabled Soldiers Protest Absence of Pay

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

More than 170 disabled former soldiers gathered in protest Friday against the provincial authorities of Banteay Meanchey, who they say have not paid them a raise in their monthly disability benefits.

All disabled soldiers in Cambodia receive monthly compensation of varying amounts depending on rank. Each of the 173 protesters in Banteay Meanchey should receive between 80,000 riel and 250,000 riel, about $20 to $62.

That amount includes a 20 percent bump provided by a directive from Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2008.

But soldiers say they are not seeing the raise in their monthly payments, and that those payments sometimes don’t arrive at all.

Choeung Chanthol, 48, who lost the use of his right arm fight the Khmer Rouge in Thmar Pouk district in 1988, told VOA Khmer the disabled soldiers needed the increase to their payment to cover the increased cost of living.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen provided us with an increase of 20 percent, so we must get it,” he said.

“We need the money, because we are very poor,” said Moeun Sak, 42, who is paralyzed in the left arm and leg. “We do not have any jobs, so we depend on the payment from the government.”

Oum Chantha, chief of Banteay Meanchey’s provincial cabinet, said Friday the authorities have received a request from the disabled soldiers and are working on the problem.

“We will not allow this problem for the disabled,” he said. “All the disabled must wait for the resolution from the provincial governor later this month.”

EU Marks Concern Over Freedom of Expression

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 August 2009

Three members of the European Union met with Foreign Ministry officials Friday to express their concerns over a recent deterioration of the human rights climate.

The EU, represented by British Ambassador, German Ambassador and the European Commission Charge d’Affairs, met with the ministry’s secretary of state, Ouch Borith, officials said.

The EU said it was concerned “specifically with regard to freedom of expression and the rule of law,” the British Embassy said in a statement.

“The EU expressed concern in this context over a number of instances in which criminal charges of defamation and disinformation have been used against representatives of civil society, the media and the political opposition,” the embassy said.

The EU has a rotating presidency, currently held by Sweden, but it is represented in Phnom Penh by the British Embassy.

Government and court officials are facing increased scrutiny after a raft of cases in the court that appear aimed at dissenters.

Respect for democratic principles and human rights “plays a central part in the political and development relationship between the EU and Cambodia,” the embassy said. “The EU noted that transparency, the rule of law, freedom of expression and open political debate are indisputable elements of democracy.”

One journalist has been jailed on defamation charges, another folded his newspaper to avoid the same, and two Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, including Mu Sochua, were stripped of their immunity as they were sued in different cases for defamation.

Mu Sochua was fined more than $4,000 this week when she lost a suit to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who claimed she had defamed him by lodging a complaint in court over allegedly sexist remarks in a speech in April.

The EU representatives called on the government to take measures to ensure it was “conforming to its national and international commitments, including under the UN human rights instruments to which it is a party,” the embassy said.

Om Yentieng, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and the head of the government’s human rights body, declined to comment, saying he had not yet seen the EU statement.

Pregnant drug smuggler describes 'unimaginable nightmare' in Laos

Samantha Orobator arrives at Heathrow airport. Photograph: AP

Samantha Orobator arrives back in UK and is taken to Holloway prison to complete sentence

Esther Addley and Sam Jones

guardian.co.uk

Friday 7 August 2009

Samantha Orobator, the pregnant British woman who was jailed for life in Laos for smuggling heroin, described her ordeal as an "unimaginable nightmare" as she returned to the UK today.

The 20-year-old from Peckham, south London, was handed over to British officials yesterday in the Laotian capital, Vientiane, after an agreement was reached between the Foreign Office and the Laos government. She landed at Heathrow airport just before 7am.


In a statement released this afternoon, she said: "I would like to thank all those who were involved in my return, including various British government officials, for their efforts on my behalf and for their support.

"Meanwhile, I would be grateful for a little peace as this has been a very traumatic experience both for me and for my unborn child."

Orobator, who has been permitted to serve the rest of her sentence in the UK, was met by a waiting prison van as she got off the plane. Wearing a white hat and loose trousers, she laughed as she stepped onto the tarmac along with three travel companions.

Uniformed police stood by as she was led into the van to take her to Holloway prison, which has a mother and baby unit. Her return to the UK comes in time for the birth of her child, which is due next month.

Orobator faced a death sentence after being caught with 680g (1.5lb) of heroin at Vientiane airport last August. She was spared a firing squad after becoming pregnant in circumstances that remain unexplained while in the women-only wing of Phonthong prison.

Orobator was allowed to transfer to Britain after the Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant travelled to Laos last week and signed a memorandum of understanding.

A spokesman for the charity Reprieve said Orobator, who travelled with a midwife and representatives from the Ministry of Justice, would undergo health checks when she arrived at Holloway. She was due to meet her lawyers at about 8am to discuss her case. Her mother was flying in from Dublin in the hope of seeing her.

Katherine O'Shea, of Reprieve, said: "When she arrives at Holloway she will have some health checks and then hopefully her family will be able to see her. Her mother really hopes she will be able to see her but at the moment she does not know if that's going to be possible – we will have to wait and see."

Her MP, Harriet Harman, said she was "relieved" at Orobator's return. Khenthong Nuanthasing, a spokesman for the Laos foreign ministry, said the prisoner's return was a humanitarian gesture taking her pregnancy into account.

A second British prisoner, John Watson, 47, remains in custody in the country. Reports have suggested he smuggled his sperm to Orobator to make her pregnant and save her life. Bryant said he was concerned for Watson's health.

Watson was transferred from Phonthong prison some time ago, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said, but "the Lao authorities have not given us information as to where he is being held". Human rights campaigners fear that he may have been transferred to a worse prison as punishment.

British officials have received assurances that he will be transferred into British custody "in the very near future". Watson was arrested in 2003 and is serving life for trafficking amphetamines, which carries a lesser sentence than heroin.

NTT DoCoMo eyes Mobitel Cambodia

Friday, 7 August 2009

Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo is interested in buying Millicom International Cellular’s (MIC) stake in Cambodian cellco CamGSM (Mobitel), writes Reuters citing Toshinari Kunieda, senior vice president and managing director of DoCoMo's global business. The Japanese company believes the acquisition would boost its presence in Southeast Asia, although the report stresses that DoCoMo has not yet decided whether to make a bid for Mobitel, and will consider other merger and acquisition possibilities in the country. Kunieda added that DoCoMo is also considering investing in Sri Lanka, and could look at Luxembourg-based MIC's Sri Lanka asset Celltel among other possibilities. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, CamGSM was established in April 1996 as a joint venture between MIC (58.4%) and the Royal Group of Cambodia (41.6%), and the same month was awarded a 25-year (extended to 35 years in 1999) GSM-900 licence by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Cambodia (MPTC). Services were launched in March 1997 under the Mobitel banner. At 30 March 2009 it was the country’s largest cellco by subscribers, with a mobile customer base of 2.17 million, representing 46.4% market share.

In other news, rival Cambodian cellco Smart Mobile is to launch ANZ Banking Group’s payment service dubbed WING, writes local newspaper Phnom Penh Post. The service allows payment by mobile phone using the WING Tinh Card, a top-up system starting at USD1. WING's managing director, Brad Adams, said deals with other mobile phone providers are also planned. The solution also launched on the network of Telekom Malaysia International Cambodia (TMIC), which operates under the brand name Hello, in April this year.

EU voices concern over freedom of expression in Cambodia+

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 7 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The European Union expressed concern to the Cambodian government Friday over the freedom of expression and the rule of law in the country.

The EU message of concern came three days after a Cambodian court ordered an opposition lawmaker to pay 16,500,000 riel ($4,000) in fines after she was convicted in a defamation lawsuit filed by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Phay Siphan, a spokesman of the Council of Ministers, said the Cambodian government respects the concern of its critics and insisted that the government observes the rule of law and ensures that freedom of expression is fully respected.

Representatives of the European Union in Phnom Penh met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to convey the European Union's concerns, the EU office in Phnom Penh said in a statement.

"The EU expressed concern in this context over a number of instances in which criminal charges of defamation and disinformation have been used against representatives of civil society, the media and the political opposition," the statement said.

The European Union urged the Cambodian government to take actions to ensure that it conforms to national and international commitments on human rights.

Cambodian and international human rights groups have also expressed concern over the freedom of expression in Cambodia.

According to Club of Cambodian Journalists, eight defamation suits have been filed against Cambodian reporters since early this year.