REAKSMEY KONGKEA

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Ten teams of disabled volleyball players from eight countries, including Cambodia, Canada, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, and Malaysia, will be arriving in Phnom Penh in order to attend the World Organization of Volleyball Disabled (WOVD) 2009 World Cup for six days from December 15-20. The Cambodia 2009 WOVD Volleyball World Cup will be hosted by the Cambodian National Volleyball League (CNVLD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, Youth and Rehabilitation and Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen as a patron, according to Pich Piseth, CNVLD’s National Team Manager. He added that it will be sponsored by the Cellcard Company. Piseth said that the WOVD Volleyball World Cup will take place at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh and entry is free for all people in Cambodia. “It is the second time that CNVLD will host the disabled volleyball world cup in Cambodia and we are very honored and proud that Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the Prime Minister o...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Approximately 53 businessmen from Hong Kong and Macau met with 47 Cambodian businessmen at a seminar on November 16 in Phnom Penh in search of investments and business opportunities in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Chinese and Cambodian Business and Investment Seminar was co-organized by the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and supported by the Embassy of the Peoples’ Republic of China in Cambodia. Pan Sorasak, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Commerce, said in his opening remarks that the government has attached great importance to developing close friendships in the international community and that China is one of Cambodia’s closest friends. The relationship between Cambodia and China has been building comprehensively through much cooperation in relation to the economy, trade and investment, said Sorasak. He added that the Royal Government of Cambodia receives preferential tariff treatment on 418...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Approximately 53 businessmen from Hong Kong and Macau met with 47 Cambodian businessmen at a seminar on November 16 in Phnom Penh in search of investments and business opportunities in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Chinese and Cambodian Business and Investment Seminar was co-organized by the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and supported by the Embassy of the Peoples’ Republic of China in Cambodia. Pan Sorasak, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Commerce, said in his opening remarks that the government has attached great importance to developing close friendships in the international community and that China is one of Cambodia’s closest friends. The relationship between Cambodia and China has been building comprehensively through much cooperation in relation to the economy, trade and investment, said Sorasak. He added that the Royal Government of Cambodia receives preferential tariff treatment on 418...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen–Handa National Scholarship” winners in 2007, San Rithy, 22, spoke with The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview on November 20. San Rithy was born in 1988 in Kean Svay district, in Kandal province. San Rithy has four sisters and one brother, and he is the fifth brother in the family. San Rithy is now studying Economics at The University of Cambodia (UC) in Phnom Penh and also English Literature with the Institute of Foreign Language in Phnom Penh. He passed the scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh in 2007. “I think that I am very lucky that I passed the scholarship exams from The University of Cambodia and have the opportunity to study with UC without paying money,” he said. “To reach my bachelor degree goal, I think that I have to study hard to complete my degree in the next two years.” The scholar student San Rithy emphasized that before he applied for study with UC, he...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Trade and commercial officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Bhutan, the Gross National Happiness Commission and members of Bhutan’s private sector met for discussions with Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce experts, UNDP officials, and representatives from GTZ, DANIDA, and the Cambodian private sector for five days from November 17-21 in Phnom Penh in order to learn about Cambodia’s Trade Development Strategies. Cambodia’s Trade Development Strategies and Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) strategy were presented by Pan Sorasak, Secretary of State in Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with officials from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and representatives from GTZ, DANIDA, and other Cambodian private sector officials during a workshop on November 19 in Phnom Penh. “As an experienced country, Cambodia now is pleased and honored to share its Trade Development Strategies and Trade Sector Wide Approach (Trade SWAp) experience with the v...

BY BUT H REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian Ministry of Health has announced that counterfeit drugs and illegal health care service are still a major concern and threaten development and poverty reduction in Cambodia. This announcement was made by the Under Secretary of State Dr. Sea Huong, Representative for Dr. Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health, and also Chief of the Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Combating Counterfeit Medicines and Illegal Health Care Services in the Ministry of Health during a regional seminar on “Combating Counterfeit Drugs” in Phnom Penh on November 19. The Under Secretary of State said that currently the counterfeit medicines, poor quality of medicines and illegal health care services are a main concern for the development of Cambodia as well as other developing countries in the world. He added that these problems are spreading out and seriously threatening peoples’ health and lives as well as ruining development, social economies and the daily liv...

BY BUT H REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian Ministry of Health has announced that counterfeit drugs and illegal health care service are still a major concern and threaten development and poverty reduction in Cambodia. This announcement was made by the Under Secretary of State Dr. Sea Huong, Representative for Dr. Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health, and also Chief of the Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Combating Counterfeit Medicines and Illegal Health Care Services in the Ministry of Health during a regional seminar on “Combating Counterfeit Drugs” in Phnom Penh on November 19. The Under Secretary of State said that currently the counterfeit medicines, poor quality of medicines and illegal health care services are a main concern for the development of Cambodia as well as other developing countries in the world. He added that these problems are spreading out and seriously threatening peoples’ health and lives as well as ruining development, social economies and the daily liv...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Approximately 450 local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and about 300 people, including NGO representatives, government officials, students and farmers from across the country, attended the 8th Civil Society Fair and 3rd National PECSA Networking Event under the theme “Working Together for Social Accountability” for two days from November 17-18 at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh. Nouth Saan, Secretary of State for the Ministry of the Interior and Representative of Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, Minister of the Interior, who presented on the opening day of the event, appreciated Cambodian civil society’s initiative in creating the 8th Civil Society Fair and 3rd National PECSA Networking Event in Phnom Penh. The 8th Civil Society Fair showcased the NGOs’ strong efforts and hard work in building and developing Cambodia as well as the Royal Government’s ro...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Meta House, in collaboration with the Smart Mobile Company, organized a “Save the Environment Event” in Phnom Penh on November 20 involving networking and awareness-raising discussions on the issues of climate change and environmental protection for Cambodians. Lydia Parusol, General Manager of the Meta House which is a German non-governmental organization, said that it marked the first time that Meta House has organized a Save the Environment Event in Phnom Penh. She said that the main purpose of the event was to provide a platform of networking discussions and awareness for the issues of climate change and environmental protection for people in Cambodia. It will also raise awareness about climate change and environmental protection in Cambodia. “In Cambodia, people have already heard the slogan “Save the Environment!”, but do they know how? This Friday Green Night’s Save the Environment is the first educative event of a series we are planning together wit...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Meta House, in collaboration with the Smart Mobile Company, organized a “Save the Environment Event” in Phnom Penh on November 20 involving networking and awareness-raising discussions on the issues of climate change and environmental protection for Cambodians. Lydia Parusol, General Manager of the Meta House which is a German non-governmental organization, said that it marked the first time that Meta House has organized a Save the Environment Event in Phnom Penh. She said that the main purpose of the event was to provide a platform of networking discussions and awareness for the issues of climate change and environmental protection for people in Cambodia. It will also raise awareness about climate change and environmental protection in Cambodia. “In Cambodia, people have already heard the slogan “Save the Environment!”, but do they know how? This Friday Green Night’s Save the Environment is the first educative event of a series we are planning together wit...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Approximately 450 local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and about 300 people, including NGO representatives, government officials, students and farmers from across the country, attended the 8th Civil Society Fair and 3rd National PECSA Networking Event under the theme “Working Together for Social Accountability” for two days from November 17-18 at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh. Nouth Saan, Secretary of State for the Ministry of the Interior and Representative of Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, Minister of the Interior, who presented on the opening day of the event, appreciated Cambodian civil society’s initiative in creating the 8th Civil Society Fair and 3rd National PECSA Networking Event in Phnom Penh. The 8th Civil Society Fair showcased the NGOs’ strong efforts and hard work in building and developing Cambodia as well as the Royal Government’s ro...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Five Cambodian associations conducted a joint press conference on November 13 in Phnom Penh to raise their concerns about the tensions and dropping of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand. The press conference was jointly organized by the Cambodia-ASEAN Civil Society Organization (CACSO), the Cambodia-ASEAN Human Rights Association (CAHRA), the Social Congress Agency for Cambodia (SCAC), the Cambodia-ASEAN Youth Association (CAYA), and The League of Cambodian Students and Intellectual Coordination Committee (LECASTINCOCO), which represented a total of 48 local associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Cambodia. Thao Veasna, President of the Cambodia-ASEAN Human Rights Association (CAHRA), said that the main purpose of the press conference was to address the civil societies’ concerns about current situations relating to the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s presence in Cambodia, including the recent dropping of relatio...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship” winners in 2007, 21-year-old Bun Chanmary, provided an interview to The Southeast Asia Weekly on November 12. Chanmary was born in 1988 in Baray district, Kampong Thom province and has two sisters and three brothers. She is the third sister in her family. She is now studying Law at The University of Cambodia (UC) and also Finance and Banking at Panhasastra University in Phnom Penh. Her parents are farmers and remain living in their hometown. Chanmary passed the scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh in 2007. Before she passed the UC exams, she studied at the Kampong Chheuteal High School in Prasat Sambo Preykup district, Kampong Thom province and earned a Baccalaureate in 2007. “I am happy that I passed the UC exams because I never thought that I could get the scholarship from UC. It is very fortunate for me in my life that I can continue my studies i...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC) was officially established on November 10 in Phnom Penh to promote the health and safety of construction workers in Cambodia. The establishment of BWTUC was made through a founding congress jointly organized by the Cambodia Construction Trade Union Federation (CCTUF), the Cambodian Federation of Building Woodworkers (CFBW) and the Cambodian Labor Federation (CLF), supported by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training. The BWTUC merges the CCTUF, CFBW and CLF. Yim Serey Vathanak, Project Organizer of the Building and Wood Workers’ International Cambodia Project (BWWIC), said that it marked the first time a federation such as BWTUC has been established in order to forge unity and solidarity among the unions in Cambodia. The purpose of the BWTUC’s establishment is to show solidarity and unity and to reduce the challenges ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Nhim Vanda, Senior Minister and Vice-President of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) said that Cambodia is one of four countries which were seriously affected by the recent Typhoon Ketsana in Asia. The Senior Minister said that from September 26-October 2, Typhoon Ketsana affected eight provinces, including 73 districts, in Cambodia. These eight provinces were Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Rattanakiri, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang and Kratie. The Senior Minister continued to say that the Ketsana storm also killed a total of 43 Cambodian people, injured 67 people, seriously affected 22,800 families, displaced 6,210 families, destroyed 1, 022 houses, and destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice fields in Cambodia. The natural disaster caused by the Ketsana storm caused over US$140 million in damages, excluding the social and economic effects...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 300 people, including Cambodian government officials and businessmen, gathered in Phnom Penh to attend a conference on “Cambodia and the World After the Financial Crisis” on November 12. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Supreme National Economic Council and featured a lecture by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he was appointed by royal decree as Personal Advisor to Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Economic Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia on November 4. The fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin discussed his own visions and experiences relating to growth and developments of the world economy and its challenges before and after the global crisis erupted in Cambodia. He also described his global work experience developing the economic and financial sectors and his plans to make key recommendations to the Cambodian government. Commenting on Cambodia’s economic context, Thaksin recom...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Pin Yathay, 65, was the first and only Cambodian witness to tell the world about the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields while the genocide was still happening from 1975-1979. During this period, Khmer Rouge leaders gained control of Cambodia and killed many people throughout the country. Pin Yathay is also the only survivor among eighteen relatives. The rest of his family died of starvation. “I think that I am very lucky as I survived the Khmer Rouge terror regime,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during a personal interview in Phnom Penh. “I am now waiting to see truth and justice for my family as well as for other victims who were killed during the three years of the Khmer Rouge regime.” In order to find justice for his relatives and the other victims who were killed, the survivor Pin Yathay said that he recently registered as a civil plaintiff in the Khmer Rouge Court. He has also prepared to submit his two books to the court, in which he wrote about witnessing ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Approximately 40 American medical doctors and volunteers from the Faith Medical Mission provided free health check-ups and treatment for Cambodians on November 4 in Stung Meanchey commune, Phnom Penh. The health check-up and treatment included eye checks, teeth checks as well as treatments, and other general health checks and disease treatment, according to Key Pov, Director of the David Construction Company and Facilitator of the Faith Medical Mission. The Director Key Pov said that during the check-ups and treatments, American doctors also provided free glasses and medicine for those who have eye problems. He said it marked the first time his company, in collaboration with the Faith Medical Mission, has provided healthcare for poor people in Phnom Penh. “The main purpose of the Faith Medical Mission’s activities is to provide free health check-ups and treatment for poor people who are not able to get their health checked and treated at the private clinics, he...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA An Borith, 19, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship” winners in 2007, interviewed with The Southeast Asia Weekly on November 5, telling about his wishes for the future. Borith was born in 1990 in Prey Chhor district, Kampong Cham province. He is the youngest child in his family, having three older sisters. He is now studying Computer Science with The University of Cambodia (UC) and also Management at the National University of Management (NUM) in Phnom Penh. Borith’s father is working as Director of the Provincial Economy and Finance Department in Kampong Cham province and his mother makes a living doing business in Prey Chhor district. An Borith passed the scholarship exams offered by UC in Phnom Penh in 2007. Before he passed the UC exams, he studied at the Norodom Ranariddh-Kantha Bopha High School in Prey Chhor district, Kampong Cham province and earned a Baccalaureate in 2007. “I am happy that I passed the scholar...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA An Borith, 19, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship” winners in 2007, interviewed with The Southeast Asia Weekly on November 5, telling about his wishes for the future. Borith was born in 1990 in Prey Chhor district, Kampong Cham province. He is the youngest child in his family, having three older sisters. He is now studying Computer Science with The University of Cambodia (UC) and also Management at the National University of Management (NUM) in Phnom Penh. Borith’s father is working as Director of the Provincial Economy and Finance Department in Kampong Cham province and his mother makes a living doing business in Prey Chhor district. An Borith passed the scholarship exams offered by UC in Phnom Penh in 2007. Before he passed the UC exams, he studied at the Norodom Ranariddh-Kantha Bopha High School in Prey Chhor district, Kampong Cham province and earned a Baccalaureate in 2007. “I am happy that I passed the scholar...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Dengue Fever is a growing concern for Cambodian children. That was the clear announcement made by Dr. Ngan Chantha, Deputy Director of the National Malaria Center and Director of the National Dengue Fever Center in the Ministry of Health. Dr. Chantha stated that since April of this year until the end of October, there have been approximately 20,000 Cambodian children under the age of 15 who have been affected by Dengue Fever and a total of 34 children who have died from the disease throughout the country. Dr. Chantha continued to say that the provinces with the highest rates of infection are Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Takeo, Kampot, Kratie and Siem Reap. Questioning why more children have been affected this year, Dr. Chantha proposed that it may have to do with climate change, lifestyle changes, or the growth of dams, roads and other construction in Cambodia. “I have noted that the number of people affected and who have died from Dengue Fev...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia (ECCC) has announced that the co-investigating judges’ judicial investigations of Case No.002 against jailed former Khmer Rouge leaders will be completely done by the end of December 2009. The announcement was made by Reach Sambath, Chief of Public Affairs of the ECCC. Reach Sambath said that the Khmer Rouge tribunal co-investigating judges planned to submit Case No. 002 against Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith for ECCC’s plenary session after the completion of these investigations. “We are now happy to announce publicly that the co-investigations of Case No. 002 against Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith will be completed by the end of December 2009. We hope that after the completion of the co-investigations, the ECCC will be able to try the jailed former Khmer Rouge leaders before they die,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during a telephone interview on October 6. Rel...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai Prime Minister, was appointed as Personal Advisor to the Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and also as Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia in charge of Economic Affaires. The appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra was made by a Royal Decree on November 4 signed by His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information and Spokesman for the Royal Government of Cambodia, appreciated the appointment of the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as Personal Advisor to the Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. The Minister said that the government has decided to appoint Thaksin Shinawatra as the Prime Minister’s Advisor because Thaksin’s case is politically motivated, as he was ousted from the position of Thai Prime Minister through a military coup d’etat on September 19, 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. As a result of the appointment, Thaksin Shinawatra can enter Cambodi...