REAKSMEY KONGKEA

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodia has celebrated the achievements and developments of “Khmer Visual Arts: 30 years of Survival and Development.” More than 700 government officials from the National Assembly of Cambodia, the Senate, artists, writers, film actors, film producers, students, researchers, and music composers attended the national seminar. The event of the Khmer Visual Arts was conducted over two days from the 21st to the 22nd July 2009 at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall in Phnom Penh, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA). Prime Minister Hun Sen made closing remarks on the end of the second day. He said that 30 years after liberation from the Pol Pot regime, Khmer Visual Arts continue to thrive and Cambodia has become the natural center for the preservation of old and the production of new Khmer art. “Khmer Visual Arts represent the culture, colors and identity of Cambodian people and the artist is therefore the soul of the people. To preserve and develop...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Chhuon Sathia, 19, has received a scholarship for study in Cuba following a successful year of study under The University of Cambodia’s Samdech Hun Sen–Handa National Scholarship program. Sathia is the older of two brothers in his family, who live in Thmey Village, Rokar Krao commune, Daunkeo district, Takeo province. He was born there in 1990. He is now studying Information Technology (IT) at The University of Cambodia (UC) in Phnom Penh. Sathia studied at Chea Sim-Takeo High School in Takeo province, earning his Baccalaureate in 2008. He applied to study Information Technology at UC following the introduction of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen “Vision 100”scholarship and Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008. He recently passed another scholarship exam that will open the door to six years of study in Cuba. “I am overjoyed to have passed the Cuban scholarship exam, just as happy as I was in 2008 when I learned I had passed the UC scholarship exams. The ch...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian government is now taking strict measures to control all technology systems including landline telephones, mobile phones online companies and internet shops to prevent terrorism and other illegal activities in the country. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has invited all relevant companies for a meeting on July 24 at the National Police Commissioner’s Headquarters in Phnom Penh to address the issues, according to Sok Phal, Deputy General Commissioner of the National Police. The Deputy General Commissioner said while technology is developing rapidly and the use of mobile phones and the internet is increasing, it is easier for terrorists to use these media to commit crime. He added that to prevent these abuses, the government will take action to control all posts, telecommunications and internet providers. The government has also issued a circular dated July 8, 2009 asking all company operators to cooperate in...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 40 Cambodian media representatives and journalists from the newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and online news sources have attended a two-day workshop from July 18 – 19 2009 on “The Role of Journalism in Rural Development”. The workshop was held at Kirirom Hillside Resort, in Kampong Speu province. The Training was conducted by the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) with financial support provided by the Friedrich-Naumann Stiftung fuer die Freiheit (FNS) organization. The training focused on the roles and responsibilities of journalists in writing articles relating to agriculture and Cambodian domestic products in order to promote rural development, local products and national agricultural products and organic produce on the domestic market. Reporting stories about Cambodia’s irrigation systems and the matter of food security were also considered. During the training, different topics and experiences rela...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA There are 18 Taekwondo fighters on the national team, according to Hem Samnang, Secretary General of the Cambodian Taekwondo Federation (CTF). He was speaking to The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 22. The Secretary General said that Sorn Elit, 22, is currently the best Taekwondo fighter in Cambodia. He has attended many competitions both at home and abroad and has achieved success in both fields. In 2008, he won the national heavyweight title in the Taekwondo championships. “I am very proud of Sorn Elit as he is the best fighter in Cambodia,” Samnang said. “I believe that he will continue to bring honor to the country, the sport and himself as he competes in still more competitions at home and in the international fighting arena. He is completely committed to his training schedule and is a credit to the sport.” The Secretary General said that to improve Elit’s skills, the CTF sent him to get Taekwondo training in South Korea over two weeks in 2007. The CTF plans...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The six Cambodian delegates will leave for the 13th World Swimming Championship, scheduled over nine days from the July 25 to August 2, 2009 in Rome, Italy. The delegates will depart on July 21. Their number will include two national male swimmers and a couple of female junior swimmers. They will be supported by one coach and one member of the sport’s governing body. The World Swimming Championship is organized by the International Amateur Swimming Federation (IASF), which was founded in the 1950s, according to Hem Thon, National Coach and Secretary General of the Khmer Amateur Swimming Federation (KASF). He also said that 115 countries besides Cambodia would send swimmers to Italy to take part in the competition. “This is the third year that Cambodia has sent a swimming team to the World Swimming Championships. We are looking forward to competing with the best swimmers in the world and hopefully winning a couple of medals for our country. It is also be a great...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The “I am precious” competition has launched on July 15, 2009 at the International Labor Organization (ILO) Better Factories Cambodia office in Phnom Penh. The “I am precious” campaign is a joint event in a collaboration with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MoLVT), ILO Better Factories Cambodia (ILO BFC), the Garment Manufacturers’ Association in Cambodia (GMAC), the Garment Industry Productivity Center (GIPC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Workers Unions and Precious Girl Magazine. Prak Chantha, Secretary of State of the MoLVT, welcomed the establishment of the “I am precious” campaign and said this campaign will highlight Cambodian garment workers’ special skills and talents. Chantha said the program would also point to possible growth in modeling for the garment industry and boost the morale of garment workers in the industry as a whole. “I think that this program will help garment w...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Meas Chhen, 20, one of The University of Cambodia’s Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008 students, was born in Tbeng Meanchey district, Preah Vihear province. He has four other brothers and two sisters in his family. He is now studying English Literature at The University of Cambodia (UC). He is the fourth brother to take the opportunity to embark on a course of further study. Chhen studied at Chea Sim-Tbeng Meanchey High School in Preah Vihear Province, earning his Baccalaureate in 2008. He applied to study English Literature at UC following the introduction of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen Vision 100 scholarship and the Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships in 2008. “I am lucky as I passed The University of Cambodia scholarship exams. It has opened the door to a world of academic work with one of the most prestigious universities in the Kingdom; and thanks to the generosity of the scholarship providers, I get to study here for free,” he told The...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia will defend Preah Vihear Temple and Cambodian territorial integrity though all measures will be taken to avoid the use of military forces. Phay Siphan, Secretary of State and Spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said that the Government is determined to defend Cambodia, Her independence and sovereignty. He said that his government would work hard and strive to defend and preserve Preah Vihear temple, maintaining it as a World Heritage site under Cambodian stewardship. “The government is determined to defend our nation and we will not lose one millimeter of it to foreign nations,” he told reporters at a press conference on July 15 at the Council of Ministers. He was speaking on the first anniversary of the Thai incursion at Keo Sekhakiri Svara pagoda located in Preah Vihear province. Siphan continued to say that Cambodia still looks for a peaceful resolution to the matter based on respect for sovereignty and the rules of civil...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Lightning is still a major concern for Cambodians as many are killed by lightning every year during the rainy season, according to Dr. Seth Vannareth, Deputy General Inspector and Director of the Meteorological Department in the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MoWRAM). She was speaking to The Southeast Asia weekly on July 17. Dr. Vannareth said that according to a recent report, the number of Cambodian people who were killed by lightning has increased this year, compared to the same period the previous year. From January to May 2009, 95 people were killed by lightning in Cambodia while 50 people were killed throughout the whole year 2008. She suggested that a possible reason for this was the increase in mobile phone use, lightning being attracted to these and other electronic devices. She also suggested that a lack of knowledge about protective measures was also responsible for the increase. Finally, she said that climate change and the hot tempera...

By BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA 26 Civil officers from ten different ministries and eight provinces over the nation have participated in spokesperson training over five days, from July 13 to 17, 2009 in Phnom Penh. The training was organized by the Ministry of Information and sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America in Cambodia. Participating authorities included the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of the Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport. There were also delegates from the Council of Ministers and representatives from eight provinces including Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pailin, Kampong Cham, Rattanakiri, Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk and Mondulkiri. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, said it marked the second time that the government has organized su...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia is working to reduce the impact of the global economic downturn on the nation’s economy through the creation of social safety nets. There will also be measures to increase agricultural productivity, diversify agricultural products, and accelerate land, fisheries and forestry reforms. In addition, new agricultural techniques will be introduced, rural infrastructure will be refurbished, loan markets modernized and expert procedures rationalized. “I think that agricultural development is a central feature of our efforts to reduce poverty. If we can improve and strengthen our agricultural activities, we will then be able to reduce the impact of the economic downturn,” he said during his closing remarks to a National Forum on “Food Security and Nutrition: Social Safety Nets in Cambodia” on July 7. The Premier said the government would design macro-economic policies to ensure economic stability. This will be achieved with the introdu...

By BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA As part of the continuing Dr. Handa Eminent Lecture Series, a presentation on “Thai Parliamentary Politics 2009” was conducted by The University of Cambodia (UC) on June 6. The lecture was presented by Dr. Paul Chambers, Senior Research Fellow of Heidelberg University in Germany. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, UC President and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, introduced the lecture and said that it was important for students to learn about the politics of neighboring countries. The presentation also provided an opportunity for students to widen their field of interest beyond the scope of their chosen disciplines. “This lecture is very important and useful for UC’s students and it will be an opportunity for them to learn about politics, development and international relations,” he said during his opening remarks. Dr. Paul Chambers, Senior Research Fellow of Heidelberg University in Germany, said he was honored to be asked ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Chen Thearith, 19, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008” students, has provided an interview to The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 9. Thearith is the older of two brothers. His parents are farmers living in Tbong Khmom district, in Kampong Cham province where he born in 1990. Thearith is now studying International Relations at the University of Cambodia. HE said he was relieved to have passed the scholarship exams from The University of Cambodia in 2008. They took away the financial strain of finding tuition fees. Thearith pointed out that he studied at Tbong Khmum High School in Kampong Cham province, earning a Baccalaureate in 2008. He applied to study International Relations at UC following the introduction of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen “Vision 100”scholarships and “Samdech-Handa National Scholarships” in 2008. “I decided to study International Relations with The University of Cambodia as I know that it is the b...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA With financial support from the Friedrich-Naumann Stiftung fuer die Freiheit (FNS) organization and in coordination with the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), the Cambodian Institute for Development Studies (CIDS), has launched a new project called the “Ownership in Development Program”. The program was introduced on June 6 and it aims to promote ownership on the behalf of local stakeholders working on the development process in Cambodia. According to Dr. Kang Chandararot, CIDS President, this is the first time that such a project has been organized in Cambodia. Its main objective is to encourage the sharing of development experience and insights at different levels of society and among different groups. The program will also identify methods to encourage a sense of ownership and personal responsibility, thus ensuring the fullest development advantage. The program will also provide plenty of opportunity to “brainstorm” new idea...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A joint Cambodian Vietnamese demonstration of the sport of Vovinam was held on July 6 at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh to illustrate the advantages of taking part in sporting activities. The competition was also a first step in the process of having the sport listed by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) as one worth studying. The Cambodia Vovinam Federation (CVF) organized the demonstration. It involved representatives from the national Vovinam teams of both countries. Rat Sokhorn, Advisor to the National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin and President of the Cambodian Vovinam Federation, said this was the second year that a Vovinam celebration has been held. The sport is known in Vietnam as Viet Vo Dao. It is a traditional martial art and MoEYS is looking to create a national team to represent Cambodia in international competition. Both Cambodians and Vietnamese nationals share an enthusiasm for the sport and this is grounds enough to ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Among tattooists in Cambodia, Chan Tra, 46, is the only tattoo artist to retain the ability to ink a wide range of subjects in different styles. His modern counterparts are limited in their repertoire in comparison. His subjects include the human form, birds and abstract patterns. Chan Tra is now an expert in drawing Ankor Wat on the skin of foreign clients, thus turning them into walking, talking promotional materials for Cambodia’s tourist sector. Chan Tra was born in 1963 in Sihanouk province and has two sons and one daughter. He is an orphaned and a Survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. He lost his entire family during the years of terror between 1975 and 1979. “I have loved drawing and painting ever since I was a child and practised my art every day before the arrival of the Pol Pot regime. Consequently, I like the art of tattooing and it makes a solid source of income to keep my wife and kids happy,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during a personal i...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Around 100 undergraduates from universities and faculties from five regions have taken part in the Nationwide Undergraduate Sports Competition from June 25 to the 9th July 2009 at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. The competition was organized by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport to promote student health, according to Kem Sy Huoth, Chief of the Administrative Office in the Ministry. “The main purpose of the competition is to increase student participation in sports. These competitions will promote good physical health and draw attention away from undesirable behavior such as drug abuse,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview. Sy Huoth said that this year’s undergraduate sports competition would be divided into categories for both male and female contenders. There will be a football tournament, a volleyball competition, basketball and an athletics meet. In all cases, two competitions will be arranged for male and female teams. ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The National Culture and Morality Center (NCMC) has provided training for 3,150 people including hotel and guest house owners, street children, child laborers and former drug addicts. Representatives from Phnom Penh, Kampong Chhnang, Kandal and Takeo provinces will be trained in how to detect cases of human trafficking and drug abuse. They will also be given guidance in how to prevent traffic accidents. About 150 people including hotel and guest houses owners and representatives of disadvantaged youth attended the training in Phnom Penh. It was conducted by the NCMC, in collaboration with the Phnom Penh Municipal Traffic Police Office, the Anti-Human Trafficking Police Office, and the Anti-Drugs Police Office of the Ministry of the Interior. Po Samnang, President of NCMC, a local Non-Governmental Organization formed in 1992, said that the training program was supported and funded by the General Police Commissioner and the National Authority for Combating Drugs ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The National Malaria Center Director Dr. Duong Socheat has said that dengue fever is one among many cruel and potentially fatal diseases to affect Cambodians. “Dengue fever is completely preventable. Why then do we allow it to infect our children and why do we risk their lives when the solution is easy to implement?” he asked, during opening remark delivered to the Ant Dengue Campaign on June 30 in Phnom Penh. Dr. Socheat said people could beat the scourge of dengue fever through simple measures such as keeping the domestic environment and the wider community clean, paying attention to areas where rainwater might pool, and using mosquito nets at night. “I appeal to everybody to join the anti dengue fever campaign and to help us with this simple work. These tasks are straightforward, they involve no heavy work and they might just save the life of someone you hold dear,” he said. Dr. Ngan Chantha, Deputy Director of the National Malaria Center, and Manager of the...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship 2007” students, Am Pov, 29, has provided an interview to The Southeast Asia Weekly on June 30. He is the third in a family of five brothers and two sisters. The family lives in Baseth district, Kampong Speu Province, where he born in 1980. Am Pov is a Buddhist monk staying at the Svay Porpe Pagoda in Phnom Penh. In addition, he studies Information Technology (IT) with The University of Cambodia. To claim his position, he passed scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in August 2007. “I became a Buddhist monk in 1997 when I was living in Korng Pisey district in Kampong Speu province. I decided to join the Pagoda because it offered me the chance to study both Dharma and gain a foundation in general education. My aim was – and still is – to support my family and help develop my nation,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview on June 30. Am Pov said that a...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) has announced that high-ranking officials have been involved in irregular activities, using their positions to make money via replacement of students, teachers and Ministry officers across the country. Im Sethy, Minister for Education Youth and Sport, said that in recent years, many education officials have been involved with these practices. He said these activities could only have a negative effect on the Ministry’s reputation and honor and would inevitably lead to ugly accusations of corruption. “I have noted that many senior ministry officials receive money from teachers or education officers to expedite their replacement or transfer to another position. This activity constitutes an offense and it has called the honor of the Ministry into question. Therefore, I appeal to all officials to avoid involvement in this business; there is no place for it in a reformed education system. These are public funds for o...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship 2007” students, Am Pov, 29, has provided an interview to The Southeast Asia Weekly on June 30. He is the third in a family of five brothers and two sisters. The family lives in Baseth district, Kampong Speu Province, where he born in 1980. Am Pov is a Buddhist monk staying at the Svay Porpe Pagoda in Phnom Penh. In addition, he studies Information Technology (IT) with The University of Cambodia. To claim his position, he passed scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in August 2007. “I became a Buddhist monk in 1997 when I was living in Korng Pisey district in Kampong Speu province. I decided to join the Pagoda because it offered me the chance to study both Dharma and gain a foundation in general education. My aim was – and still is – to support my family and help develop my nation,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview on June 30. Am Pov said that a...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Over 500 students from The University of Cambodia (UC) attended the “Student’s Entertainment Show” in Phnom Penh on June 21. The UC Student Senate and UC Debate Club, both active and energetic organizations of The University of Cambodia, organized the Show. The program included singing in both Khmer and English, and a display of traditional Khmer and modern fashions. There were also modern dance performances and an extra special talent show. All of this was produced and presented by students of the University. UC President Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the student show is organized every year as a way to celebrate the University’s anniversary and to have some fun after the end of a hard term’s work. The event provides opportunities for UC students to learn how to work and manage their social activities, all part of the latent functions of university life, he said, adding that th...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Government has confirmed the presence of the influenza A/ H1N1 virus in Cambodia and called on Cambodian people to be careful, but to avoid panic. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that four people have been affected with the A/H1N1 virus and a further six people are under the strict observation of Cambodian medical authorities. Samdech Hun Sen said that the four cases are the first to be discovered in Cambodia, following the spread of the virus in neighboring countries and regions. “We have four A/H1N1 cases in Cambodia now, but we should not be surprised by this situation. I appeal to all people in Cambodia to be careful and not to panic. Some countries have experienced thousands of cases but they manage to keep the situation in perspective,” he said during opening remarks delivered to a graduation ceremony on June 25 in Phnom Penh. “We have to take care and treat those infected people until they get better. We will not allow them to go back their countrie...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has marked International Anti-Drugs Day at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on June 26. The event underlined the dangers of the spread of drugs in Cambodia. The celebration was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife. About 10,000 students, former drug addicts, police and government officials attended the Anti-Drug gathering. It was organized by the National Authority for Combating Drug in Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) in Cambodia. The Premier said the drug problem is a global issue but it is now becoming a main concern in Cambodia. He added that Cambodia has now become one of the more notorious drug hubs in the region and the number of people using drugs has increased. This will certainly have a negative effect on the Cambodian economy and society. Roughly 46,000 people use illegal drugs in Cambodia and the rate is thought to be on the in...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Chheng Sovannka, 20, one of The University of Cambodia’s Samdech Techo Hun Sen Vision-100 Scholarship 2007 students, has described her wishes and life as a student. Chheng Sovannka was born in 1989 in Phnom Penh and she is the oldest of three sisters. Her father is an officer working with the National Authority for Combating Drugs in the Ministry of Interior and her mother is a house-maker. Sovannka is now studying English Literature at the University of Cambodia as well as Accounting at the Royal University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. She passed the scholarship exams offered by the University of Cambodia in 2007. “I passed the scholarship exams with grade B. I now enjoy the benefits of study for free, thanks to the generosity of the University authorities,” she told the Southeast Asia Weekly on April 24. Sovannka pointed out that she studied at Preah Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh, earning a Baccalaureate in 2007. She applied to study English Literature at ...