Showing posts with label khmer news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label khmer news. Show all posts
A Cambodian man shot and seriously wounded by Thai soldiers while foraging along the borders
Jan 3, 2010Monday, January 04, 2010
By Khmerization
A 25 year-old Cambodian man was shot and seriously injured on the left leg by Thai soldiers while he and 2 friends were foraging for wild vegetable and hunting animals on top of the mountains along the Khmer-Thai borders on 3rd January 2010, reports Radio Free Asia.
Phoeuth Phim was shot when he and friends went picking for wild vegetable and set up traps to catch animals on the mountain in Banteay Chmar commune in Thmor Puok district of Banteay Meanchey province.
Mrs. Chea Saroeun, mother of the victim, said her son and his friends were foraging and hunting inside Cambodian territories. "They shot him on the left leg. Everyday he always went to set up traps to catch wild animals and pick wild prich (a kind of wild vegetable) leaves for his wife to sell at the market. They (the Thai soldiers) are very cruel, they shot him even while he is inside Khmer territories. If they entered Thai territories then they deserved to be shot, but they were actually inside Khmer territories", she said.
Currently, Phoeuth Phim was sent for treatment at Cambodia-Japan Friendship Hospital in Mongkolborey district in Banteay Meanchey province. His two friends were unhurt.
read more “A Cambodian man shot and seriously wounded by Thai soldiers while foraging along the borders”
By Khmerization
A 25 year-old Cambodian man was shot and seriously injured on the left leg by Thai soldiers while he and 2 friends were foraging for wild vegetable and hunting animals on top of the mountains along the Khmer-Thai borders on 3rd January 2010, reports Radio Free Asia.
Phoeuth Phim was shot when he and friends went picking for wild vegetable and set up traps to catch animals on the mountain in Banteay Chmar commune in Thmor Puok district of Banteay Meanchey province.
Mrs. Chea Saroeun, mother of the victim, said her son and his friends were foraging and hunting inside Cambodian territories. "They shot him on the left leg. Everyday he always went to set up traps to catch wild animals and pick wild prich (a kind of wild vegetable) leaves for his wife to sell at the market. They (the Thai soldiers) are very cruel, they shot him even while he is inside Khmer territories. If they entered Thai territories then they deserved to be shot, but they were actually inside Khmer territories", she said.
Currently, Phoeuth Phim was sent for treatment at Cambodia-Japan Friendship Hospital in Mongkolborey district in Banteay Meanchey province. His two friends were unhurt.
Backlash against Rogue Chinese Investors Alarms Beijing
By Antoaneta Bezlova
In Vietnam, where the communist party rules unrivalled in much the same way as in China, the state leaders have come under fire for undermining the country’s sovereignty by giving Chinese companies too many contracts to mine valuable natural resources.
BEIJING, Jan 4 (IPS) - As China moves up in the world and the need for investment in its own infrastructure declines, Chinese investors and financiers are eyeing lucrative contracts in less developed countries, winning bids to build dams, power plants and highways from Burma to Uzbekistan and Angola.
read more “Backlash against Rogue Chinese Investors Alarms Beijing”
In Vietnam, where the communist party rules unrivalled in much the same way as in China, the state leaders have come under fire for undermining the country’s sovereignty by giving Chinese companies too many contracts to mine valuable natural resources.
BEIJING, Jan 4 (IPS) - As China moves up in the world and the need for investment in its own infrastructure declines, Chinese investors and financiers are eyeing lucrative contracts in less developed countries, winning bids to build dams, power plants and highways from Burma to Uzbekistan and Angola.
Irate Sivarak demands answers
Dec 14, 2009
Sivarak Chutipong gives his mother, Simarak na Nakhon Phanom, a kiss on the cheek at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday on his return from Cambodia. SOMCHAI POOMLARDGovt, Kasit under fire to explain 'spy' drama
15/12/2009
Bangkok Post and AFP
Pressure is mounting on the government and the Foreign Ministry to take responsibility for the arrest and conviction of Sivarak Chutipong who returned to Thailand yesterday.
Mr Sivarak was the first to attack Thai authorities, demanding that Kamrob Palawatwichai, the first secretary of the Thai embassy in Cambodia, speak out and restore his damaged reputation by confirming he was not involved in a government attempt to get the flight schedule of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Puea Thai Party which, with the help of de facto leader Thaksin, pushed hard to get a pardon for Mr Sivarak after he was convicted last week by a Phnom Penh court for spying, vowed to take the issue to parliament to grill the government during the censure debate next month.
Yesterday the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by the opposition party, made further moves on the issue by demanding Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Mr Kamrob appear before it to clarify the spying allegations.
Mr Sivarak was the first to attack Thai authorities, demanding that Kamrob Palawatwichai, the first secretary of the Thai embassy in Cambodia, speak out and restore his damaged reputation by confirming he was not involved in a government attempt to get the flight schedule of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Puea Thai Party which, with the help of de facto leader Thaksin, pushed hard to get a pardon for Mr Sivarak after he was convicted last week by a Phnom Penh court for spying, vowed to take the issue to parliament to grill the government during the censure debate next month.
Yesterday the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by the opposition party, made further moves on the issue by demanding Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Mr Kamrob appear before it to clarify the spying allegations.
Kamrob did not request Thaksin's flight plan: [Thai] MFA
December 15, 2009
The Nation
The flight plan of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was not a topic of telephone conversation between Thai diplomat Kamrob Palawatwichai and Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong, secretary to the foreign minister Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said on Tuesday.
Chavanond was speaking in rigorous defence of Kamrob's role which led to Sivarak's conviction for spying in Phnom Penh.
"Statements by Kamrob and Sivarak have confirmed Kamrob did not ask for the flight plan," Chavanond said.
read more “Kamrob did not request Thaksin's flight plan: [Thai] MFA”
The Nation
The flight plan of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was not a topic of telephone conversation between Thai diplomat Kamrob Palawatwichai and Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong, secretary to the foreign minister Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said on Tuesday.
Chavanond was speaking in rigorous defence of Kamrob's role which led to Sivarak's conviction for spying in Phnom Penh.
"Statements by Kamrob and Sivarak have confirmed Kamrob did not ask for the flight plan," Chavanond said.
Extended German relief aid for victims of Typhoon Ketsana
Dec 13, 2009Cambodia: Extended German relief aid for victims of Typhoon Ketsana
Source: Government of Germany
Phnom Penh, 11 December 2009 - With the aim to support those victims of typhoon Ketsana who have lost their houses and suffer from food shortages due to the devastating tropical storm the Federal Republic of Germany has, in addition to its previous assistance, provided 200.000 Euro relief aid. The additional assistance is channelled through the German Organisation Welthungerhilfe in cooperation with the local Ketsana Emergency Response network. The assistance will bridge humanitarian assistance provided earlier and will support efforts to reconstruct communal infrastructure in Ratanakiri Province. The affected population will also receive agricultural inputs in order to prepare for the next harvesting season.
read more “Extended German relief aid for victims of Typhoon Ketsana”
Source: Government of Germany
Phnom Penh, 11 December 2009 - With the aim to support those victims of typhoon Ketsana who have lost their houses and suffer from food shortages due to the devastating tropical storm the Federal Republic of Germany has, in addition to its previous assistance, provided 200.000 Euro relief aid. The additional assistance is channelled through the German Organisation Welthungerhilfe in cooperation with the local Ketsana Emergency Response network. The assistance will bridge humanitarian assistance provided earlier and will support efforts to reconstruct communal infrastructure in Ratanakiri Province. The affected population will also receive agricultural inputs in order to prepare for the next harvesting season.
Thai-Cambodian ties no closer to being restored
13-12-2009
Editorial Desk
The Nation (Thailand)
Has the tension eased between Thailand and Cambodia? Yes. Is the diplomatic row between the neighbouring countries nearer to a solution? Probably not. Cambodia's royal pardon, granted to the convicted Thai "spy" so swiftly after a Phnom Penh court sentenced him to seven years in prison, seemed as politically motivated as the man's arrest itself, and it has left both countries' volatile relationship as unpredictable as ever.
read more “Thai-Cambodian ties no closer to being restored”
Editorial Desk
The Nation (Thailand)
Has the tension eased between Thailand and Cambodia? Yes. Is the diplomatic row between the neighbouring countries nearer to a solution? Probably not. Cambodia's royal pardon, granted to the convicted Thai "spy" so swiftly after a Phnom Penh court sentenced him to seven years in prison, seemed as politically motivated as the man's arrest itself, and it has left both countries' volatile relationship as unpredictable as ever.
Freed Thai engineer to meet ex-premier Thaksin before release in Cambodia
BANGKOK, Dec 13 (TNA) -- Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering whether to again request the Cambodian government to detain and then extradite fugitive, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra if he visits Phnom Penh on Monday, Panithan Watanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday.
Hun Sen’s Political Pawn
Op-Ed by Khmerization
Saturday 12th December, 2009
“The arrest and the release of Siwarak Chotipong is Mr. Hun Sen’s political and diplomatic game, set up to canvass political supports back home and to use as a diplomatic weapon to fight against the Thai Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva.”
The Thai spy’s case, the arrest and the release of Mr. Siwarak Chotipong, has been played out like a soap opera on prime time television. In fact, it is a drama with the script written by Mr. Hun Sen and the soap opera being directed by Mr. Hun Sen alone and the hero being the Pheu Thai Party of Thailand which is claiming credit for his release for its domestic political consumption to satisfy its Thai electoral constituents back home. And the victims of all this political game are Siwarak Chotipong and his poor mother who has to endure the pain and the suffering of seeing her son being handcuffed, incarcerated and used as a political pawn.
read more “Hun Sen’s Political Pawn”
Saturday 12th December, 2009
“The arrest and the release of Siwarak Chotipong is Mr. Hun Sen’s political and diplomatic game, set up to canvass political supports back home and to use as a diplomatic weapon to fight against the Thai Prime Minister Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva.”
The Thai spy’s case, the arrest and the release of Mr. Siwarak Chotipong, has been played out like a soap opera on prime time television. In fact, it is a drama with the script written by Mr. Hun Sen and the soap opera being directed by Mr. Hun Sen alone and the hero being the Pheu Thai Party of Thailand which is claiming credit for his release for its domestic political consumption to satisfy its Thai electoral constituents back home. And the victims of all this political game are Siwarak Chotipong and his poor mother who has to endure the pain and the suffering of seeing her son being handcuffed, incarcerated and used as a political pawn.
EU donates 1.3 mln USD for human rights work in Cambodia
Dec 9, 2009PHNOM PENH, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The European Union said Wednesday it will donate another new EC funding of around 900,000 euros (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars) for human rights projects in Cambodia.
In a statement released by the EU delegation to Cambodia, the EU said the new funding is made just on the day that marks the 61st International Human Rights Day.
"The rule of law is the foundation of any healthy society," said Rafael Dochao Moreno, Charg d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Cambodia.
"The EU attaches great importance to civil society as a partner in driving the country toward the respect for human rights and functioning democracy," he said.
In support to human rights actions in Cambodia, the EU has provided in grants a total of around 10 million U.S. dollars since 2003, implemented by some 20 international and national NGOs.
Six new human rights projects selected for funding will be signed on Dec. 17, including Legal Aid of Cambodia, Cambodian Anti Trafficking Networks and Royal University of Law, etc.
read more “EU donates 1.3 mln USD for human rights work in Cambodia”
In a statement released by the EU delegation to Cambodia, the EU said the new funding is made just on the day that marks the 61st International Human Rights Day.
"The rule of law is the foundation of any healthy society," said Rafael Dochao Moreno, Charg d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Cambodia.
"The EU attaches great importance to civil society as a partner in driving the country toward the respect for human rights and functioning democracy," he said.
In support to human rights actions in Cambodia, the EU has provided in grants a total of around 10 million U.S. dollars since 2003, implemented by some 20 international and national NGOs.
Six new human rights projects selected for funding will be signed on Dec. 17, including Legal Aid of Cambodia, Cambodian Anti Trafficking Networks and Royal University of Law, etc.
Suriyasai: Thaksin Uses Thai Engineer for Political Gain
Dec 1, 2009The secretary-general of the New Politics Party has raised suspicions about the Thai engineer's mother for seeking assistance from the Pheu Thai Party.
He also believes that Thakin is using the engineer for political gain.
Secretary-General of the New Politics Party Suriyasai Katasila has made a comment about Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's criticism of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Suriyasai believes that Cambodia is prepared to confront Thailand on many issues.
He has also said that the cancelation of a 1.4 billion Baht loan from Thailand, the closure of Cambodian territorial waters to Thai fishing boats, and the rejection of an invitation to participate in World AIDS Conference in Thailand are clear indications of the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Suriyasai has also called for Abhisit to start telling people the truth in order to prepare for contingency and that the prime minister needs to choose the country's interests over the diplomatic etiquette.
Suriyasai has also claimed that it is clear that Hun Sen is willing to be Thaksin's political tool by trying to create turmoil in Thailand and using people's lives to serve his own self-interest.
Suriyasai has raised suspicions about Simarak Na Nakhon Panom , the mother of the Thai engineer jailed in Cambodia, for seeking assistance from Pheu Thai Party.
The secretary-general of the New Politics Party has said that if Thaksin is really sincere about helping, then why the Thai engineer has been in prison for weeks.
Also, he said Simarak has criticized the government for proceeding too slowly with the case, even though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just arranged for the mother to meet with her son last week.
He stated that all of these strange behaviours are leading Thai people to believe that the case might be a hoax.
Suriyasai has also guessed that eventually, the Thai engineer will be granted amnesty and Thaksin will be given all the credit.
He believes this could lead to the risk of many more Thai citizens being used as political tools.
read more “Suriyasai: Thaksin Uses Thai Engineer for Political Gain”
He also believes that Thakin is using the engineer for political gain.
Secretary-General of the New Politics Party Suriyasai Katasila has made a comment about Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's criticism of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Suriyasai believes that Cambodia is prepared to confront Thailand on many issues.
He has also said that the cancelation of a 1.4 billion Baht loan from Thailand, the closure of Cambodian territorial waters to Thai fishing boats, and the rejection of an invitation to participate in World AIDS Conference in Thailand are clear indications of the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Suriyasai has also called for Abhisit to start telling people the truth in order to prepare for contingency and that the prime minister needs to choose the country's interests over the diplomatic etiquette.
Suriyasai has also claimed that it is clear that Hun Sen is willing to be Thaksin's political tool by trying to create turmoil in Thailand and using people's lives to serve his own self-interest.
Suriyasai has raised suspicions about Simarak Na Nakhon Panom , the mother of the Thai engineer jailed in Cambodia, for seeking assistance from Pheu Thai Party.
The secretary-general of the New Politics Party has said that if Thaksin is really sincere about helping, then why the Thai engineer has been in prison for weeks.
Also, he said Simarak has criticized the government for proceeding too slowly with the case, even though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just arranged for the mother to meet with her son last week.
He stated that all of these strange behaviours are leading Thai people to believe that the case might be a hoax.
Suriyasai has also guessed that eventually, the Thai engineer will be granted amnesty and Thaksin will be given all the credit.
He believes this could lead to the risk of many more Thai citizens being used as political tools.
Chavalit slams PM on Cambodia row
Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has slammed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for saying there could be someone trying to "instigate a situation" after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his unhappiness with Mr Abhisit and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
Mr Abhisit should not say anything like this which could affect relations between the two countries without information to back it up, he said.
Gen Chavalkit refused to comment on Mr Hun Sen's aggressive stance.
He believed the government was trying to mend the situation, but it would take time to heal the conflict between the two governments.
read more “Chavalit slams PM on Cambodia row”
Mr Abhisit should not say anything like this which could affect relations between the two countries without information to back it up, he said.
Gen Chavalkit refused to comment on Mr Hun Sen's aggressive stance.
He believed the government was trying to mend the situation, but it would take time to heal the conflict between the two governments.
Cambodia’s Struggle with Justice
Things have been difficult for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), pretty much from the start. The one thing the UN-backed court charged with holding the leadership of the Khmer Rouge responsible for their crimes had going for it was that its first defendant, Kaing Guek Eav, better known by his nom de guerre Duch, admitted his guilt. His trial was therefore supposed to offer the chance for a traumatized nation to hear the truth about what happened under the Khmer Rouge, rather than decide on the merits his guilt or innocence. This is the process that Cambodia has gone through for months as testimony was heard and Duch admitted his responsibility in running one of the most notorious prisons under the Khmer Rouge. That is until Friday, when Duch did an about face and demanded his release due to his innocence of all charges.
To make things even more complicated, his international and local trial teams then offered up two different, and quite contradictory, defenses. His international lawyers asked the court to consider his remorse and limit the possible 40 year prison sentence, while his local lawyers claimed that the court was not competent to hold the trial at all. If nothing else, that’s a pretty big difference of opinion.
As this news story broke, you could almost see international human rights lawyers from around the world just shaking their heads. That is because while shocking, the about face and its aftermath wasn’t really that much of a surprise to longtime observers of the court. After all, the ECCC became much more accustomed to bad news rather than good even before it started holding trials. Duch’s reversal and his trial teams’ floundering was just one more event in a long line of embarrassing storylines to emerge from the court, whether it be political interference, corruption, or just plain incompetence on behalf of court staff.
All ad hoc international courts, whether truly international like the ICTY and ICTR, or hybrids like the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the ECCC, go through difficult times where they must prove their competency, jurisdictional rights, and their ability to produce fair justice. As the FPA’s War Crimes blog shows, this is a constant process. And while things have not always gone smoothly in terms of government cooperation with these ad hoc courts, the one thing that all these court other than the ECCC had in their favor was at least tacit support from the governments most directly involved, whether that be Croatia and Bosnia, or Rwanda and Sierra Leone. The ECCC has never had this; instead it has faced quite the opposite, with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen repeatedly making it clear that he rather see the court fail than fulfill their mandate.
Friday’s courtroom drama demonstrated how important such political support is, and how difficult it will be for the ECCC to continue with new trials unless something dramatic changes. While there are many lessons that can be learned from the experience of the ECCC, this one should be first and foremost. In the meantime, it is those who suffered under the Khmer Rouge who stand to lose the most, as their calls for justice are left ignored and abused by those in power.
read more “Cambodia’s Struggle with Justice”
To make things even more complicated, his international and local trial teams then offered up two different, and quite contradictory, defenses. His international lawyers asked the court to consider his remorse and limit the possible 40 year prison sentence, while his local lawyers claimed that the court was not competent to hold the trial at all. If nothing else, that’s a pretty big difference of opinion.
As this news story broke, you could almost see international human rights lawyers from around the world just shaking their heads. That is because while shocking, the about face and its aftermath wasn’t really that much of a surprise to longtime observers of the court. After all, the ECCC became much more accustomed to bad news rather than good even before it started holding trials. Duch’s reversal and his trial teams’ floundering was just one more event in a long line of embarrassing storylines to emerge from the court, whether it be political interference, corruption, or just plain incompetence on behalf of court staff.
All ad hoc international courts, whether truly international like the ICTY and ICTR, or hybrids like the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the ECCC, go through difficult times where they must prove their competency, jurisdictional rights, and their ability to produce fair justice. As the FPA’s War Crimes blog shows, this is a constant process. And while things have not always gone smoothly in terms of government cooperation with these ad hoc courts, the one thing that all these court other than the ECCC had in their favor was at least tacit support from the governments most directly involved, whether that be Croatia and Bosnia, or Rwanda and Sierra Leone. The ECCC has never had this; instead it has faced quite the opposite, with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen repeatedly making it clear that he rather see the court fail than fulfill their mandate.
Friday’s courtroom drama demonstrated how important such political support is, and how difficult it will be for the ECCC to continue with new trials unless something dramatic changes. While there are many lessons that can be learned from the experience of the ECCC, this one should be first and foremost. In the meantime, it is those who suffered under the Khmer Rouge who stand to lose the most, as their calls for justice are left ignored and abused by those in power.
Thai-Cambodian border's situation worrying: Thai senior official
BANGKOK, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Vasin Teeravechyan, advisor to the Thai Foreign Ministry and co-chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) Friday expressed his worries about the Thai-Cambodian border's situation.
His view was made after the Cambodian government on Thursday evening announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's earlier recall of its Ambassador Prasas Prasavinitchai to Cambodia.
The diplomatic retaliation occurred after ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra was officially appointed as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni.
As the tension between the two neighboring countries is going on, Vasin is concerned about the possible clash at the Thai-Cambodian borer to happen, Thai News Agency reported.
The event might also add difficulties to the mutual cooperation on the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as actually it is already difficult to solve the border dispute, he said.
However, by this time the diplomatic retaliation has not yet directly affected the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission's working, he said.
"If Cambodia cancels the appointment of Thaksin, it will be understandable and no need to say any thing, Thailand will send the ambassador back to Cambodia," Vasin said.
The two neighbors have also been engaged in a conflict about a 4.6-square kilometers border area claimed by both sides adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
Both countries have historically laid claim to the temple, which now sits on Cambodian soil following the action of the International Court of Justice which awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia in 1962.
However, the temple can practicably only be accessed from Thailand.
read more “Thai-Cambodian border's situation worrying: Thai senior official”
His view was made after the Cambodian government on Thursday evening announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's earlier recall of its Ambassador Prasas Prasavinitchai to Cambodia.
The diplomatic retaliation occurred after ousted former Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra was officially appointed as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni.
As the tension between the two neighboring countries is going on, Vasin is concerned about the possible clash at the Thai-Cambodian borer to happen, Thai News Agency reported.
The event might also add difficulties to the mutual cooperation on the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) as actually it is already difficult to solve the border dispute, he said.
However, by this time the diplomatic retaliation has not yet directly affected the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission's working, he said.
"If Cambodia cancels the appointment of Thaksin, it will be understandable and no need to say any thing, Thailand will send the ambassador back to Cambodia," Vasin said.
The two neighbors have also been engaged in a conflict about a 4.6-square kilometers border area claimed by both sides adjacent to the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
Both countries have historically laid claim to the temple, which now sits on Cambodian soil following the action of the International Court of Justice which awarded the ancient temple to Cambodia in 1962.
However, the temple can practicably only be accessed from Thailand.
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