REAKSMEY KONGKEA

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Four-Star General Chea Dara, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and also Chief of the 4th Frontline Direction United Commandment in Charge of Preah Vihear Border, said that Cambodia has enough capacity and modern weapons and ammunitions for fighting and defending its sovereignty, integrated territory and borders. General Chea Dara continued to say that since Cambodia has had conflict on the Thai border conflict the fighting occurred in 2008 and 2009 in Preah Vihear province, under the direct orders and leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the RCAF’s troops now have strong minds and willing to defend their borders. The General made this announcement when he made his first presentation on “Preah Vihear situation and his report on Cambodia-Thai Borders since the beginning of the fighting until today” at the Council of Ministers on March 24th. About 300 high-ranking officials from the Royal Government, the National Assembly, Sen...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Toyota Cambodia Company Limited which was originally named “T.T.H.K” established in 1993 was inaugurated and displayed a new series of modern Toyota vehicles on the 25th of March 2010 in Phnom Penh. The inauguration ceremony of the modern Toyota cars was celebrated under the presidency of Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Japanese Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Phnom Penh. Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon said that Toyota Cambodia’s establishment has contributed to the economic growth, poverty reduction, development and the progress in Cambodia. He said that the Cambodian government is ready to welcome an incentive to both local and foreign investors doing businesses or investments in Cambodia in order that they can help the government to generate jobs for people as well as to reduce the poverty. “I believe that the new Toyota car series which are imported by the Toyota Cambodia will contrib...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Nget Sina, 20, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008” students. Sina was born in 1990 in Samrong district, Takeo province and has one sister and a brother. He is the oldest brother in his family and his parents are farmers living in Samrong district, Takeo province. Sina is now studying the Information Technology (IT) at The University of Cambodia (UC), and also studying his Environment major at the Panhasastra University (PU) in Phnom Penh. He passed the scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh in 2008. He studied at the Samdech Ov High School in Samrong district of Takeo province, and earned a Baccalaureate before he passed the UC scholarship in 2008. “I decided to study the IT major at The University of Cambodia because I wanted to become an IT Computer Programmer in the future. I also wanted to establish my own computer company or internet provider in Cambodia in order to make mone...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) groups now are faced with a high epidemic rate of HIV /AIDS because they have unprotected sex, by not using a condom. Te risks of contracting HIV or AIDS are very high according to the National MSM Network officials. And could seriously have an affect on the country’s society. Authority (NAA), said that there are concerns over the groups of MSM, and the high rate in Cambodia of people having sex without the use of a condom that can lead to HIV or AIDS. Dr. Sam An continued to say that according to NAA’s report and research, there are between 20,000 and 30,000 MSM people living in 24 cities and provinces in which 8.7 percent of them have got HIV. “I am now very concerned about the epidemic of HIV/AIDS among the MSM in Cambodia. Most of them now are still having sex without the use of condoms and these behaviors are very risky for them because they will contract HIV and AIDS and spread it to their partners and families,” he told th...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Ten selected football teams from cities and provinces have attended the “Metfone Cambodian League 2010”, starting from March 27th to August 22nd, 2010 at the National Sport Complex in Phnom Penh, and this competition is organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia, sponsored by Metfone Company. Ouk Sethycheat, Secretary-General of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), said that it marked the first time FFC has organized “Metfone Cambodian League” in Phnom Penh to select the best football player for Metfone Cambodia League in 2010. The 10 footfall teams participating are the top ten teams in Cambodia and they were selected by FFC to attend this football tournament in Phnom Penh, he said, adding that the competition will take place every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at the National Sport Complex. Relating to the Metfone Cambodian League 2010’s tournament, Sethycheat said that the teams participating in the Metfone Cambodian League 2010’s tournament wil...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 200 Cambodian people will attend the “Samdech Techo Hun Sen Chess Championship” for over three days from April 1st-3rd at the National Stadium Complex in Phnom Penh. The Samdech Techo Hun Sen Chess Tournament, organized by the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) and the Cambodian Chess Federation (CCF), are aiming to select the best players of chess in Cambodia in 2010. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), said that the Samdech Techo Hun Sen Chess Tournament is the first time the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia and the Cambodian Chess Federation will organize “Samdech Techo Hun Sen Chess Championship 2010” in Cambodia. “We are very proud to organize the Tournament it’s a historical event as we are going to hold this competition in Cambodia,” he said during a press conference at NOCC on March 10th. Chamroeun said that the main purpose of the chess competition is to select the best players...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 18 under 16-year old Girls Football Teams with over 300 people from 23 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Cambodia have attended the “ISF U16-Barclays Girls Football Tournament” on March 13th at the old stadium in Phnom Penh in aiming to promote the women’s football playing in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The under16 year-old Girls Football Competition was organized by the Indochina Starfish Foundation (ISF) in partnership with Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), and funded by the Barclays Capital which is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, based in London, United Kingdom. Samuel Schweingruber, Director of Women’s Football of Football Federation of Cambodia, and Director of the SALT Academy Battambang province, and also Football Coordinator of the Indochina Starfish Foundation, said that it marked the second time FFC and ISF organized this Tournament in Phnom Penh, in aiming to promote the development of foot...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Son Samnang, 20, one of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2008” students. Samnang is the first son among five brothers who are now living in Kampong Speu province where he was born in 1990. He is now studying English Literature at The University of Cambodia (UC), and he is also studying Banking and Finance at the Royal University of Law and Economics Science in Phnom Penh. Samnang had earned a Baccalaureate when he studied at the Kampong Speu High School in 2008 before being passing the scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia. “I decided to apply for scholarship to study English Literature at UC because I know that this university is one of the best universities in Cambodia. I decided to study English Literature major because I wanted to be a good English speaker and also a future English teacher in Cambodia,” he said during an interview with The Southeast Asia Weekly on March 16th. To achieve his goal, Sa...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The British Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and The University of Cambodia (UC) have organized the Debate Session on Climate Change Topic “What Can ASEAN Do About Climate Change”, aiming to raise awareness on climate issue for young generation especially students in Cambodia on March 16th at the UC office. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Personal Advisor to Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the debate session is very important because it will provide the chance for students to share and learn about climate change issue in Cambodia as well as in region or in the world. “Climate Change is the issue of concerns for our next generations, and it is also a global concern for people in the world, therefore many conventions, treaties and protocols to protect the environment were adopted and signed by many states,” he said during opening remarks during the debate session at T...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Hydro Chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are still the main concerns for Cambodia in which they will destroy the ozone layer and are braking down in the lowest part of the atmosphere. To combat the use of HCFCs in Cambodia, the government is now working hard in making strategic plans for the HCFC phase out, according to the government officials. Khieu Muth, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Environment, said that HCFCs are main concerns for Cambodia. They are now using them for refrigeration, aerosol propellants, foam manufacture and air conditioning in Cambodia. He added that HCFCs have affected us on the lowest part of the atmosphere, and pose a much smaller risk to the Ozone layer which will lead to having the climate change. “To combat HCFCs, the Ministry of Environment is in collaboration with other concerned ministries and NGOs and now are working hard in protecting the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of mankind,” he said...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The World Wide Fund for Nature also known as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in collaboration with Forestry Administration and General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MoAFF) have launched the first Filed Guide of the Rattans of Cambodia on March 17th, aiming to contributes an important step towards sustainable rattan management as it describes the diversity, ecology and characters of rattan in Cambodia. The first Field Guide of the Rattans of Cambodia was written by Mr. Khou Eang Hourt, a Cambodian Senior Botanist, and supported by WWF which is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries in the world. Men Phimean, General Director of the Forestry Administration in Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, said that this guide book is very impor...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has singed two agreements with in ¥ 959 million (US$ 10.5 million), aiming to enhance economic development and the progress in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The agreement for two grant aid projects was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance and Mr. Suzuki Yasujiro, Chief Representative of JICA to the Cambodian Office in Phnom Penh on March 18th. The two grant agreements singed include the Project for Construction of Neak Loeung Bridge with a total of ¥ 239 million, and the Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System in the amount of ¥ 720 million. H.E. Keat Chhon said that these two aid projects are important because they will contribute to the social and economic development and the progress in Cambodia. He added that the Japanese grant aid will also help the Royal Government of Cambodia in accelerating its econ...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Although the fallout from the world and global economic crisis, Cambodia’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) has gained slight growth in 2009 and is going to grow up approximately five percent in this year. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen while opening remarks at Cambodia Outlook Conference on the scheme “Returning to a High Growth Economy-Policy Priorities and Action for Growth and Sustainable Development” on March 17th. Cambodia’s GDP has gained “slight growth” last year and it is going to grow another 5 percent this year, according to a preliminary financial result which was released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance at the Cambodia Outlook Conference. Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the Cambodia’s GDP growth from last year remained positive but it was only slight growth if compared to previous years’ GDP growth before the global economic crisis has taken place in Cambodia. “These positive economic results are supported by...

BY BUITH REAKSMEY KONGKEA In response to a request from the Royal Government of Cambodia and with a view for strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and the Royal Government of Cambodia and to promote and address climate change with special emphasis on the adaptation to and mitigation of climate change as well as on the improvement of access to clean energy, the Government of Japan has decided to extend its ODA Grant Aid of up to (¥ 2,859,000,000), approximately (US$ 31,800,000). The Exchange Note for Japan’s ODA Grant Aid was signed by H.E. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and H.E. Mr. KUROKI Masafumi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia. The signing ceremony was under the high presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on March 18th. The Japan’s ODA Grant Aid is aimed at contributing to the implementation of the four (4) following projects: ¥ 239,000,000 for the Project for Construction of...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 34 Cambodian football teams from companies and Non-Governmental Organizations in Phnom Penh, other cities and provinces have attended the “4th Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s Football Cup 2010” from January 7th to March 7th in Cambodia. The 4th tournament was organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), and it was funded by KTC Company, KTH Company, Hello 015, 016 company and SCA, and also supported by Deputy Prime Minster Sok An, Honorary President of FFC and Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema. Through the hard competitions, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Team won the first place this year (2010), when Phnom Penh Crown’s Football Team won took second place, and Preah Khan Reach (Royal Sword Football) Team came in at third position, according to FFC official rankings. General Sao Sokha, Chief of Military Police and President of the Football Federation of Cambodia, said “that it marked the fourth year as FFC has organized t...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2007” students, Chea Mengsreng, 22 has interviewed with The Southeast Asia Weekly on March 11th, describing about his hard learning it takes to get a scholarship. Mengsreng was born in 1989 in Kor Commune, Prey Chhour district, in Kampong Cham province and has one sister. He is the oldest in his family. He is now studying the Law at The University of Cambodia (UC) and also the English Literature at the Institute of Foreign Language (IFL) in Phnom Penh. Mengsreng’s parents are business people living in Phnom Penh. Mengsreng studied at the Bak Touk High School in Phnom Penh and he earned a Baccalaureate in 2007 before he passed the scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh in 2007. “I am now studying very hard to complete my Bachelor Degree in Law with The University of Cambodia,” he said. “I hope that with my hard study and hard work, I will pass my Bache...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The United Knowledge Company (Cambodia) (UK) and The Oxford University Press (OUP), are one of the most prestigious academic presses in the world and among the leading publishers of English Language Teaching (ELT) books and materials, has announced an exclusive partnership in order to distribute the English language teaching books and materials in Cambodia. This announcement of partnership was made in Phnom Penh on March 11th during a signing ceremony of the exclusive distribution agreement between Mr. Peter Marshal, Managing Director of the Oxford University Press, from the United of Kingdom and Mr. Meng Hieng, Managing Director of the United Knowledge Company. “I am very proud that the United Knowledge has been given the opportunity to present in Cambodia this publisher known around the world for its English training publishing program as well as its many other high quality of publications,” said Meng Hieng, before signing at the ceremony. . The language sch...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 64 government officials who are the chief and deputy-chief’s of information departments from 24 cities and provinces, have attended a one-day workshop on “Strengthening Partnership between National Radio of Kampuchea (NRK) and Capital-Provincial Information Departments to Promote the Quality of Broadcasting” in Phnom Penh. The workshop was organized by the National Radio of Kampuchea, which was funded by the World Bank, AusAid, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in order to promote the quality of NRK’s officials capacity and their broadcasting throughout the country. H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, said that “the workshop was very important because it has helped the ministry to improve and strengthening the NRK’s officers’ capacity as well as their quality of broadcasting so that they will able to produce the faster and interesting news and reports for broadcasting, for the people of Cambodia in the future”. The workshop has...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodian human resource capacity, in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for socio-economic development is set to make a great stride with the launch of a United Nations ICT capacity building program in Cambodia. Over 50 high-level appointed officials from 27 Cambodia’s ministries, 10 ICT Training Institutions and 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have attended the First National Workshop of the “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders” (Academy), a core developed by the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP) over four days at the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh from March 9th - 12th. The first national workshop was co-organized by the National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NiDA) and UN-APCICT-ESCAP aimed to promote the use of ICT for development in Cambodia. The workshop opening and signing ceremony...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has officially disseminated the Penal Code which is the system of punishment of Cambodia in order to spread the information for people nationwide in Cambodia. The National Conference on Dissemination of the Criminal Code was organized by the Ministry of Justice, and under the presidency of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia on March 10th. Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that “this Penal Code will replace the 1993 United Nations Transitional Authority of Cambodia’s (UNACT) provisional Penal Code which had been practiced over 15 years in Cambodia. He added that the Penal Code is very important because it is only legal tool which has been collected and comprising all legislations and laws to ensure the implementation of justice and rule of law in Cambodia”. “I used to comment previously that when the new penal code is used, the Ant-Corruption Law will also be adopted. Therefore, now the draft...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The National Assembly of Cambodia has unanimously approved a Draft of Anti-Corruption Law within 82 votes. The session of a long-waited Anti-Corruption Law debate was under the presidency of Samdech Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia on March 11th. Samdech Heng Samrin announced that the National Assembly and the Royal Government of Cambodia has agreed to maintain the meanings of original texts of the Draft on Anti-Corruption Law as they are meaningful for the legislature implementation in Cambodia. He added that the Draft of Anti-Corruption Law will become a legal tool for the Royal Government of Cambodia for its implementation in fighting against the corruption in Cambodia. “The National Assembly has unanimously passed the draft of Anti-Corruption Law after being conducted for a three-day session. The Law will be sending for the Senate to discuss the final approval and I hope that after it is passed and comes into effective, it will be...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 34 Cambodian football teams from companies and Non-Governmental Organizations in Phnom Penh, other cities and provinces have attended the “4th Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s Football Cup 2010” from January 7th to March 7th in Cambodia. The 4th tournament was organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), and it was funded by KTC Company, KTH Company, Hello 015, 016 company and SCA, and also supported by Deputy Prime Minster Sok An, Honorary President of FFC and Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema. Through the hard competitions, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Team won the first place this year (2010), when Phnom Penh Crown’s Football Team won took second place, and Preah Khan Reach (Royal Sword Football) Team came in at third position, according to FFC official rankings. General Sao Sokha, Chief of Military Police and President of the Football Federation of Cambodia, said “that it marked the fourth year as FFC has organized t...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Hun Sen-Handa National Scholarships 2007” students, Chea Mengsreng, 22 has interviewed with The Southeast Asia Weekly on March 11th, describing about his hard learning it takes to get a scholarship. Mengsreng was born in 1989 in Kor Commune, Prey Chhour district, in Kampong Cham province and has one sister. He is the oldest in his family. He is now studying the Law at The University of Cambodia (UC) and also the English Literature at the Institute of Foreign Language (IFL) in Phnom Penh. Mengsreng’s parents are business people living in Phnom Penh. Mengsreng studied at the Bak Touk High School in Phnom Penh and he earned a Baccalaureate in 2007 before he passed the scholarship exams offered by The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh in 2007. “I am now studying very hard to complete my Bachelor Degree in Law with The University of Cambodia,” he said. “I hope that with my hard study and hard work, I will pass my Bache...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 64 government officials who are the chief and deputy-chief’s of information departments from 24 cities and provinces, have attended a one-day workshop on “Strengthening Partnership between National Radio of Kampuchea (NRK) and Capital-Provincial Information Departments to Promote the Quality of Broadcasting” in Phnom Penh. The workshop was organized by the National Radio of Kampuchea, which was funded by the World Bank, AusAid, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in order to promote the quality of NRK’s officials capacity and their broadcasting throughout the country. H.E. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, said that “the workshop was very important because it has helped the ministry to improve and strengthening the NRK’s officers’ capacity as well as their quality of broadcasting so that they will able to produce the faster and interesting news and reports for broadcasting, for the people of Cambodia in the future”. The workshop has...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Cambodian human resource capacity, in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for socio-economic development is set to make a great stride with the launch of a United Nations ICT capacity building program in Cambodia. Over 50 high-level appointed officials from 27 Cambodia’s ministries, 10 ICT Training Institutions and 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have attended the First National Workshop of the “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders” (Academy), a core developed by the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP) over four days at the Intercontinental Hotel in Phnom Penh from March 9th - 12th. The first national workshop was co-organized by the National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NiDA) and UN-APCICT-ESCAP aimed to promote the use of ICT for development in Cambodia. The workshop opening and signing ceremony...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has officially disseminated the Penal Code which is the system of punishment of Cambodia in order to spread the information for people nationwide in Cambodia. The National Conference on Dissemination of the Criminal Code was organized by the Ministry of Justice, and under the presidency of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia on March 10th. Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that “this Penal Code will replace the 1993 United Nations Transitional Authority of Cambodia’s (UNACT) provisional Penal Code which had been practiced over 15 years in Cambodia. He added that the Penal Code is very important because it is only legal tool which has been collected and comprising all legislations and laws to ensure the implementation of justice and rule of law in Cambodia”. “I used to comment previously that when the new penal code is used, the Ant-Corruption Law will also be adopted. Therefore, now the draft...