REAKSMEY KONGKEA

By BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA), in collaboration with the governor of Koh Kong province, will organize the “Koh Kong International Kite Festival,” which will take place from January 6-7, 2010 in Koh Kong province with the participation of over 100 kite lovers from countries. Koh Kong is one of the most beautiful coastal provinces in Cambodia. It is 280 kilometres away from Phnom Penh and borders Thailand. Thai Noreak Sathya, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said that the ten participating countries include Cambodia, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Sweden, and Thailand. The Secretary of State Noreak Sathya continued to say that it marks the first time as his ministry will hold the International Kite Festival in Koh Kong province in Cambodia. The main purpose of the festival is to celebrate the 31st Anniversary of the V...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Six National Disabled Volleyball teams from six countries and international sports officials from nine countries attended the “World Organization of Volleyball for the Disabled (WOVD) World Cup 2009” for five days from December 14-19, held at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The teams were from Cambodia, Germany, Malaysia, Poland, Canada, and Slovakia. The Cambodia 2009 WOVD Volleyball World Cup was organized by the Cambodian National Volleyball League (CNVLD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, which is under the patronage of Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, and sponsored by the Cellcard Company. The Opening Ceremony of the World Cup competition was presided over by Lok Chum Teav Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC). President Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen said that the today’s event has encouraged disabled Cambodians to become strong, patient, devoted, and industrious in doing their bes...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodia sent a total of 19 sport subjects with 121 athletes for the 25th Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) hosted in Laos. The 25th SEA Games tournament took place from December 9-18, in Vientiane, Laos, with the participation of eleven countries including Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. As results, Cambodian athletes won 40 medals from the international competition. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), said Cambodia’s athlete teams won a total of 40 medals including 3 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 27 bronze medals from the competition. “It is a very proud and high honor with our Cambodian athletes who have won 40 medals from the 25th SEA Games in Laos for our nation in this year,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during a personal interview on December 19. “I think that this victory will bring Cambodia to the wo...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has planned to enlarge its state broadcasting of both TVK and National Radio of Kampuchea (NRK) 918KHz and FM 105.75 MHz to reach all people in all villages, communes, districts and provinces throughout the country. The aim is to educate and inform people about the important news relating to their health care, education, community developments, prevention of human trafficking, domestic violence and other government’s policies, said the government officials. Thach Phen, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Information, said that to spread out the news reaching all people in Cambodia nationwide, the government plans to increase the number of the state television TVK’s branch offices and radio stations to be located in all cities and provinces across the Kingdom of Cambodia in the future. “The media has played an important role to provide the information and education for our people everywhere in Cambodia and I hope that through ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2007” students, Din Vandara, 20, spoke with The Southeast Asia Weekly on December 24. Din Vandara was born in 1989 in Phnom Penh. He has two sisters in his family. His father is a military officer working with the Royal Air Force Unit in the Ministry of National Defense and his mother is a fried-rice seller living in Phnom Penh. Din Vandara is now studying Finance and Banking with The University of Cambodia (UC) after he passed the UC’s scholarship exams in 2007. Before he passed the UC exams, he studied at the Chbar Ampov High School in Phnom Penh and earned a Baccalaureate in 2007. “I am happy that I passed the scholarship exam of The University of Cambodia in the major of Finance and Banking in 2007,” he said. “I thank Samdech Hun Sen and Dr. Haruhisa Handa very much for offering me the scholarship to study with UC without paying.” Din Vandara said that he decided to study Finan...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodia and Korea launched the “Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB)” on December 22 in order to introduce Cambodians to the newest Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Cambodia. The launch of the “T-DMB” system was organized by the Cambodian Ministry of Information, Korea Radio Promotion Association (KRPA) and Korean Communications Commission of Republic Korea, and the launching ceremony of the T-DMB was presided over by Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, and Lee Kyung JUNG, Ambassador of the Korean Embassy in Cambodia. Kem Kunawadh, Government Delegate in Charge of the General Director of the National of Television Kamouchea (TVK), said that it marked the first time Cambodia has launched the “T-DMB” television system. General Director Kunawadh continued to say that this establishment of the newest ICTs or T-DMB system was made through the good cooperation between the Kingdom of Cambodia and The Republic of Korea in promo...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Many Russian business people and investors will come to do business in Cambodia in the future to generate work for Cambodian people and reduce poverty in Cambodia thanks to the peace, political stability, and good cooperation between the two countries, said Russian officials. Dilyara Ravilova Borovik, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Cambodia, said that the bond of friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and Russia has been improving all sectors. She added that due to the good friendship and cooperation, many Russian investors as well as Russian tourists will come to begin their own trades or businesses in Cambodia in the near future. “Cambodia is an old friend of Russia. I noted that currently the bond of friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and Russia has been improving and the relationship of Cambodian and Russian leaders are also good. I believed that due to good cooperation and relations, many Russian businesspeople or...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST), an international nongovernmental organization of the BBC and independent charity that promotes development through the innovation use of media, has launched its report about Media and HIV on December 23 in Phnom Penh. The presentation of the BBC World Service Trust’s research and learning was conducted by the BBC WST’s researchers, aiming to find effective methods and solutions to prevent and reduce the effect of HIV and AIDS in Cambodia. Charles Hamilton, head of the project, said that the BBC World Service Trust has been working in Cambodia since 2003 on a variety of projects covering the thematic areas of health and governance. He added that in 2003, the BBC World Service Trust embarked upon a three year project focusing on HIV and AIDS and maternal and child health, working in close collaboration with several broadcasters to produce large scale media health campaigns in Cambodia. Hamilton went on to say that the projec...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Six National Disabled Volleyball teams from six countries and international sports officials from nine countries attended the “World Organization of Volleyball for the Disabled (WOVD) World Cup 2009” for five days from December 14-19, held at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The teams were from Cambodia, Germany, Malaysia, Poland, Canada, India, and Slovakia. The Cambodia 2009 WOVD Volleyball World Cup was organized by the Cambodian National Volleyball League (CNVLD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, which is under the patronage of Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, and sponsored by the Cellcard Company. The Opening Ceremony of the World Cup competition was presided over by Lok Chum Teav Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC). President Dr. Bun Rany Hun Sen said that the today’s event has encouraged disabled Cambodians to become strong, patient, devoted, and industrious in doing th...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Heng Oddam, 20, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008” students, was born in Sourng district, Kampong Cham province. He has one brother and one sister and he is the second brother in his family. His father is a police officer and his mother is housewife living in Kampong Cham province. Oddam is now studying English Literature at The University of Cambodia (UC) after he passed the UC’s scholarship exams in 2008. Before applying for studies with UC, he studied at Tbong Khmum High School in Kampong Cham, and earned a Baccalaureate in 2008. He then applied to study English Literature with UC following the introduction of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen “Vision 100”scholarships and “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships” in 2008. “When I passed the UC scholarship exam I felt very excited because I never had this opportunity before and I think that I am lucky that I passed the scholarship exam of The University of Cambo...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has launched its latest Human Development Report, entitled “Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development” about overcoming development barriers in Cambodia. The official launch was announced by UNDP Cambodia Resident Representative Douglas Brokerick with the participation of about 200 people representing media groups, relevant non government organizations, and related government ministries on December 17 at the Hotel Cambodiana in Phnom Penh. Douglas Brokerick said that the Human Development Report is a flagship UNDP publication that has framed debates on some of the most pressing challenges our planet faces, examining issues as diverse water, human rights, democracy, climate change, and migration. The first Human Development Report was published in 1990, and next year, UNDP will celebrate 20 years of producing this report. “These reports have helped advance the notion that development is about expanding the ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has conducted its “4th Cambodia Import-Export and One Province and One Product Exhibition 2009,” an important trade forum to encourage and attract foreign business people and investors to Cambodia. The “4th Cambodia Import-Export and One Province and One Product Exhibition 2009” was organized by the Ministry of Commerce for four days from December 15-18 at the Mondial Center in Phnom Penh, and the event was presided over by Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance, and also Honorary Chairman of the Supreme National Economic Council in Cambodia. The Deputy Prime Minister said that this is the fourth year in a row in which this significant trade event has been held to showcase the business community of both national and international levels for businesses and investments being carried out in the country. He added that Cambodia has always strived to provide a will to serve the common interest of ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) provided trainings on Community Management and Capacity Building for Self-Reliant and Sustainable Poverty Alleviations for communal council members, teachers, government officers, farmer representative communities, framers, local NGOs, and relevant stakeholders nationwide in Cambodia. The courses are under the financial support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) and European Community. Dr. Yang Saing Koma, President of CEDAC, said that since the project began in March 2007, a total of 130 students (41 females representing 31 percent) have graduated from the Community Management Courses throughout the country. He added that FNF and CEDAC have implemented a three-year project from 2007-2009 on “Community Management and Capacity Building for Self-Reliant and Sustainable Poverty Alleviations” in Cambodia, funded by European Commission. “The goal of the project is to contribut...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 200 Cambodians officials from provincial and district culture and fine art departments throughout the country attended the “ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint” workshop at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA) in Phnom Penh on December 16. Samraing Kamsan, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said that the workshop marked the first time his ministry has organized this important event for the ministry’s officials in order to share information and knowledge on ASEAN, especially the ASCC Blueprint and the establishment of ASCC in 2015. The main purposes of the workshop are to publish a blueprint of the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community for all based cultural institutions to be well informed; create a working plan and program in accordance with the ASEAN blueprint, seek new and important knowledge about the blueprint in order to improve the establishment of ASCC in Cambodia; and also to document and publish ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of the University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008” students, Heng Oddam, 20, was born in Sourng district, in Kampong Cham province. He has one brother and one sister and he is the second brother in his family. His father is a Police Officer and his mother is housewife living in Kampong Cham province. Heng Oddam is now studying English Literature at the University of Cambodia (UC) after he passed the UC’s scholarship exams in 2008. Before applying for studying with The University of Cambodia, Heng Oddam studied at Tbong Khmom High School in Kampong Cham Province, and earning his Baccalaureate in 2008. He applied to study the English Literature at UC following the introduction of the Samdech Techo Hun Sen “Vision 100”scholarship and “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships” in 2008. “When I passed the UC’s scholarship exams I feel very excited because I never have this opportunity before. I think that I am lucky that I pass...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Nang Ravuth, 52, was the first Cambodian person to introduce the Japanese Aikido to Cambodia in 2002. Ravuth began his training in Aikido with a veteran Japanese coach in Cambodia in 2002 and he later became the first Aikido coach in Cambodia in 2002. Currently, Ravuth holds a 2-black belt dans of Aikido from Japan and he is now the President of the Cambodian Aikido Club in Cambodia. Ravuth has received four-black belt dans from Japan including one black belt dan of wrestling and one black belt of Sambo in Cambodia. From 1983 to 1990, he was the Cambodian National Competitor of Wrestling, Judo and Sambo, and he has attended many international competitions of wrestling, Judo and Sambo abroad. Nang Ravuth was a former painting artist for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts from 1979 to 1990, and a graphic designer for UNESCO in Cambodia from 1992 to 2003. “I spent almost for my life training and playing the sport in Cambodia. I am now spending from eight to ni...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarship” students, Ly Souchen, 23, spoke with The Southeast Asia Weekly on December 9, describing her academic experience. Souchen is the oldest of two daughters in her family and her parents are businesspeople living in Phnom Penh, where she was born in 1988. Ly Souchen is now studying Business Management (BM) at The University of Cambodia (UC) in Phnom Penh after passing the scholarship exams on September 22, 2007. “I think that it is my great opportunity to have a chance [to study at] UC, which is the best university in Cambodia. I would like to thank UC’s President Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and Samdech Hun Sen so much for offering me the scholarship to study at UC,” she said. “I [am honored] and very happy to be a scholarship student of the Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. I commit to study hard and work hard and when I graduate from UC, I will work for the development and the benefit of my coun...

BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Ministry of Planning and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Cambodia have official released a final result of 2009 nation-wide establishment survey in Cambodia. The final result was conducted by the National Institute of Statistics in the Ministry of Planning, supported by the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of Japan. Chhay Than, Senior Minister and Minister of Planning, said that because of the limited budget of the Cambodian government , the National Institute of Statistics stopped conducting the establishment survey since the completion of the ADB project in 2003. The Minister continued to say that since finishing the ADB project, the NIS has received JICA support for conducting establishment surveys in some provinces, preparing a nation-wide establishment listing of Cambodia in 2009 and preparing the 2011 Economics Census of Cambodia in line with the Statistical Master Plan (SMP) 2008-2015. “As you are aware, the 2009 nation-wid...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will continue its assistance, including financial and technical, for improving and developing sustainable socio-economic development in Cambodia, according to Son Dung-Il, Deputy Representative of KOICA Cambodia Office. Son Dung-Il said that to promote and accelerate social development and economic growth in Cambodia, KOICA will be continuing its hard work helping the Cambodian government prepare and design poverty reduction strategies and programs in Cambodia. He added that KOICA will also continue its financial and technical assistance for development in Cambodia in order to help it become a developed and industrial country in future. Lee Kyung-Soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia, said that Cambodia is one of Korea’s key partner countries in terms of Oversea Development Assistance (ODA) programs. Lee Kyung-Soo continued to say that in the early 1990s, Korea’s grant aids to Cambodia started o...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodia’s Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) officials announced that the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cancers, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and blood pressure now are threatening Cambodian lives and affecting economic growth and social development in Cambodia. “NCDs are still the main concern for the people in Cambodia. The diseases threatened Cambodian lives but also affected social development and economic growth in Cambodia,” said Dr. Heng Taykry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health. According to a recent research study conducted by the Ministry of Health, one in ten adults have diabetes and one in four adults have high blood pressure in Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Battambang provinces. 12 percent have high blood pressure in Siem Reap province. In rural areas, five percent of adults have diabetes. Dr. Heng Taykry said that diabetes and high blood pressure are serious factors which cause stroke, heart attack, n...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The trafficking of women and children is a main concern for the countries throughout the world, and especially in Cambodia. To prevent this problem, the Royal Government of Cambodia is now working hard to prevent human trafficking. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs, said that to prevent the trafficking of women and children in Cambodia, her ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitations, other relevant ministries, and concerned Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and private sectors have been working hard to promote human trafficking awareness and provide training for people throughout the country. The Minister continued to say that the government has also ratified many of the United Nations’ conventions relating to the violation of human rights, human trafficking, child labor, sexual slavery, sexual exploitation and international crimes. She stated that the government has signe...