First Khmer Rouge trial date set

Monday, 19 January 2009
BBC News

A UN-backed tribunal in Cambodia has set 17 February as the start date for the long-awaited first trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders.

Kaing Guek Eav - better known as Comrade Duch - will be the first in the dock, facing charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
He ran Tuol Sleng prison, where detainees were tortured and executed.

As many as two million people are thought to have died during the Khmer Rouge government in the late 1970s.

The process of bringing the regime's leaders to court has suffered years of procedural delays, and no major figures have yet stood trial.

Brutal Khmer Rouge regime

Duch was in charge of the notorious facility known as S-21 or Tuol Sleng, where about 15,000 prisoners were systematically tortured.

Those who survived the ordeal were sent for execution in the so-called "killing fields".

Officials have indicated that Duch cooperated with the investigating judges and is willing to testify in court, so correspondents say the trial should be a chance for survivors of the Khmer Rouge era to hear directly at last from one of the organisation's key figures.

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Cambodia's Funcinpec, NRP agree to alliance for may election [A case of "1+1=0"?]

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's two main royalist political parties, the Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), have decided to combine forces for May's district and provincial council elections, national media reported Monday.


Officials from the two parties met on Thursday to hold talks and agreed to assist each other in the upcoming election, in which commune councilors will vote to choose the first-ever district, provincial and municipal councils, Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay was quoted by the Cambodia Daily newspaper as saying.

"We have agreed to unite with each other during the council election on May 17," he told the newspaper.

He added that the two parties uniting to form a single party would make sense because the NRP was originally born out of Funcinpec.

NRP spokesman Suth Dina confirmed that the discussions between the two parties were held and the two parties would cooperate for the May election.

In late 2006, Prince Norodom Ranariddh formed the NRP shortly after being ousted from the presidency of Funcinpec, effectively splitting the royalist vote.

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Israeli investors are eyeing Cambodia

16 Jan 2009
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

Tzahi Selzer, first secretary and economic attaché of Israel embassy in Cambodia (residing in Bangkok, Thailand), paid an official visit to Cambodia on 15 January. His undertaking coincides with Israel’s wish to invest in Cambodia.
The Israeli representative gave an interview to the Deum Ampil (Tamarind tree) newspaper in which he indicated that his country is interested to invest in Cambodia in the agricultural sector and in communication.

“In May, we will organize an international exposition on agriculture in Tel Aviv. We invited the Cambodian minister of Agriculture to participate in it, as well as all his counterparts from all over the world,” Tzahi Selzer indicated. He also added that between 15 and 16 March, a meeting between Israeli and Cambodian businessmen and technicians would be organized in Phnom Penh. In fact, he indicated that Israel wishes to establish a commercial cooperation between the two countries.

“Some Israel investors are already in Cambodia. Most of them are in Sihanoukville. They work on bio-diesel and in the real estate sector. Other investors from Israel who have established in neighboring countries, would like to establish themselves here,” he said while recalling that the amount of Israeli investments in Cambodia is still very low.

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KRT defence supports probe

Monday, 19 January 2009
Written by Georgia Wilkins
The Phnom Penh Post

The head of defence at the Khmer Rouge tribunal has warned that if nothing is done to resolve the issue of corruption, it will hang over the court's head forever.

THE head of the defence section of the Khmer Rouge tribunal has thrown his support behind a criminal investigation into corruption at the court, warning that a litigious attempt by Cambodian judges to block the probe smacks of intimidation and threatens to tarnish the process.
"This could look like an attempt to intimidate defence lawyers into not providing rigorous defence or ensuring a fair trial for their client," Richard Rogers, interim chief of the defence support section, told the Post Friday.

"The only way to resolve the issue of corruption is through a full, proper and transparent investigation," he said, adding that he supports an investigation by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court into such allegations, which began after a defence team at the court made a complaint against the Extraordinary Chamber's administrators.

"It's clear the Cambodian government doesn't want to investigate [allegations], so there are few other choices left," he said.

Speaking in response to a statement on January 9 in which Cambodian judges at the internationally backed tribunal threatened the lawyers who made the civil complaint with "legal recourse", Rogers said he was concerned that such dialogue created an environment of intimidation that could impact the willingness of witnesses to come forward.

"If [witnesses] see judges publicly threatening lawyers, they might be less likely to come forward. It is important for judges to create an environment in which witnesses feel comfortable to come forward and help find the truth," he added Sunday.

Trial date still looms

On Friday, the tribunal concluded a two-day preparatory meeting for its first trial, that of Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, charged for his role as head of Tuol Sleng prison.

The meeting likely set a date for the trial, expected in March, but details are not expected until later this week.

Rogers said it was to everyone's benefit, including victims of the regime, for the issue of corruption to finally be put to bed.

"Unless [the issue of corruption] is resolved, the court will forever have it hanging over its head, [and] it will remain a major criticism of the court."

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Victims to have a say on whether KRT should try more suspects

Monday, 19 January 2009
Written by Robbie Corey-Boulet
The Phnom Penh Post

A DC-Cam survey will ask the victims of the KR regime to voice their opinions on the question: Should more people be put in the dock?

A SURVEY commissioned by the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam) will ask ordinary Cambodians to weigh in on the question that has divided the national and international prosecutors at the Khmer Rouge tribunal: Should additional suspects be brought to trial?
DC-Cam Director Youk Chhang said the survey, to be administered over the next few weeks, will give Cambodians not affiliated with the war crimes court an opportunity to voice their views as to how it should be run.

"The role of the ECCC is to provide a final judgment to the victims, and a fair judgment cannot be made unless they listen to the victims," he said. "Victims are not only the witness of history; they are also judges."

Robert Petit, the international prosecutor at the tribunal, filed a "statement of disagreement" last month after he failed to reach an agreement with Chea Leang, his Cambodian counterpart, on his proposal to submit more suspects for investigation.

Chea Leang has reiterated her opposition to expand the list of suspects beyond the five currently detained, saying such a move could stymie efforts at national reconciliation and overstretch the court's budget.

In addition to asking respondents whether they think the ECCC should try more than the five current detainees, the survey asks whether they think "the cost of the trials should be an important factor" in determining how many KR leaders to prosecute; if they expect additional prosecutions would lead to "public disorder or violence"; and whether they think the ECCC should wait for the trials of the current detainees to be completed before making fresh indictments.

Youk Chhang said he was forming a "professional team" to arrange for the survey to be conducted, adding that he expects to receive results by early February.

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SRP proposes a $500-million stimulus package to counter fallout from world economic crisis

Translation from Khmer

To :
Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister of Cambodia

Through: His Excellency Nguon Nhel, Acting President of the National Assembly

Object: Request to the Government to take appropriate measures, in particular to prepare a US$500-million economic stimulus package, in order to counter the fallout from the world economic crisis, which is taking an increasingly heavy toll on Cambodia.
Considering :

- Article 96 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia .
- Detailed information that has already been widely published regarding the world economic crisis which started more than a year ago and is extending to all countries especially in Asia .
- Factual developments in Cambodia which reflect the consequences of the world economic crisis, such as:

* sharp fall in the prices of agricultural products and similar decline in farmers' revenues and living conditions;
* drop in land prices, property market hit by glut, construction works have stopped in many places;
* factories have closed, tens of thousands of workers and employees in the garment, construction, tourism and service industries have lost their jobs;
* living conditions for the population as a whole keep deteriorating because retail prices and interest rates for borrowing money remain excessively high.

- In the State budget for 2009, which the National Assembly and the Senate adopted in December 2008, there is no provision whatsoever to address the new situation resulting from the world economic crisis.
- Many countries in Asia, such as Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, have prepared and are implementing economic stimulus packages amounting to several US$ billions for each country, as a response to the world economic crisis.

In line with the above object and considerations, I would like to request the Government to consider taking a number of appropriate measures in order to support economic activity and help Cambodia avoid the worst effects of the world economic crisis.

Among the proposed measures, there is a US$ 500-million economic stimulus package. A portion of the required funds should be obtained from internal borrowings while the rest should come from international assistance as a special emergency aid.

The State is to use the US$ 500 millions in order to implement a number of special projects, such as:

* setting up mechanisms to support agricultural prices on the market since they determine farmers' revenues and living conditions;
* building infrastructures that Cambodia lacks most (roads, railways, water-control and irrigation systems, housing for the poor);
* works to protect the environment and to restore the ecological system that has been disrupted nationwide, including replanting trees (reforestation) and dredging lakes and rivers;
* tax cuts and reduction in fees for the use of public services;
* special social allowances;
* loans with reduced (lowest possible) interest rates for the needy.

Like neighboring countries which are re-adjusting their economic policies and in order to help Cambodia compete with them, the State must actively intervene in the country's economy by implementing appropriate fiscal and monetary measures so as to boost economic activity and to create jobs by increasing aggregate demand in line with Keynesian theory of economics, which has regained general acceptance all over the word.

I hope that the Government will consider my proposals aimed at defending Cambodia's economy and the Khmer people's living conditions as elaborated above.

Phnom Penh , 16 January 2009

[signature]

Sam Rainsy
Member of Parliament
SRP President

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Land dispute intensifies in Siem Reap

17 Jan 2009
By Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from Khmer by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

About one hundred farmers from Chikreng commune, Chikreng district, Siem Reap province, burnt tires in front of the provincial court on Friday 16 January, in order to demonstrate their anger.

The farmers were camping in front of the court for the last three days, to demand for the release of a journalist and two villagers who were arrested on 26 December stemming from a land dispute case opposing two groups of farmers.

The dispute started in 2004 and it involves more than 400 hectares of land straddling two communes: Chikreng and Anlung Samnor. Each commune claims the ownership of the land.
In a letter sent to Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, on 16 January, Sou Phirin, Siem Reap provincial governor, sided with the Anlung Samnor commune villagers, saying that the land belonged to the latter. Chikreng commune villagers then exploded into a demonstration. Sou Phirin added in his letter: “Violence took place last December between the two opposing groups, and it led to the arrest of three people.” However, according to the angry Chikreng villagers, this decision by the governor was not fair and it was motivated by private interests. In fact, according to the Chikreng villagers, the land would belong to a high-ranking official in the region, this explained the reason for Sou Phirin’s decision.

On Friday, in spite of the incidents, no violence took place. However, the demonstrators threatened to continue their action until the three arrested men are freed. This situation worries human rights observers. It should be noted that more often nowadays, during land conflict cases, angry villagers tend to gather up in front of the court. This tendency reflects among many villagers their loss of confidence in the judicial system. Chan Saveth, an investigator for the Adhoc human rights group, indicated on Saturday 17 January that, if the number of land disputes seems to be stable, “the nature of the dispute has worsened. In 2008, we noted more than 300 land dispute cases, the majority of which involved army soldiers. We also noted that more often, arrests were made in land dispute cases,” he deplored.

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The US preaches "democratic and just government" in Cambodia ... but goes on to support Hun Sen's authoritarian regime: Go figure that out!

Chargè d’affaires Piper Campbell delivers remarks at an Asia Foundation sponsored event.

Chargè d’affaires Piper Campbell addresses the future of Cambodian/U.S. relations with the Asia Foundation

Le Royal hotel
January 12, 2009
Source: US Embassy in Phnom Penh

On the 12th of January at an Asia Foundation sponsored event entitled “America’s Role in Asia” the Chargè d’affaires spoke to a packed house at the Le Royal hotel in Phnom Penh on the many ways the U.S. is engaged with the Royal Government of Cambodia. In her remarks she noted that while we are welcoming a new President, Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia,
both the level of our engagement and the general direction of our efforts are not likely to change. She hypothesized that this was mainly due to the enormity of the issues that Cambodia faces such as poverty, weak rule of law and poor health – all of which require stable, long term solutions. She also listed the long term goals that the U.S. has which are “to see a country which is domestically stable and able to secure its borders; where government is democratic and just; where the government joins coordinated donors investing in the Cambodian people to improve health and education standards; and where a healthy economy raises more people out of poverty and provides an opportunity for business”. The Chargè concluded by concurring with the Foundation’s hope that the new US administration accords Asia the attention that its intrinsic importance to the US demands.

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[Vietnamese] Seeking strange foods for lunar New Year’s Eve

17/01/2009

VietNamNet Bridge – Many people prefer strange foods like worms, scorpions and snakes to popular food for the lunar New Year’s Eve like dog meat. They believe these “exotic” foods will help them avoid bad luck in the new year.

Lying in Dich Vong alley, Cau Giay district, Hanoi is Phuc Van Lai Restaurant, a familiar destination for those addicted to insects. The restaurant is more crowded at the year’s end.
A waitress at Phuc Van Lai, Nguyen Khanh Linh, said: “At the beginning, our restaurant provided normal food like pork, chicken, seafood but in recent years, we have had new cuisines processed from scorpions, crickets, and grasshoppers.”

Cuisines processed from insects at Phuc Van Lai are mainly fried or roasted with salt. The restaurant buys frozen insects from traders in Ha Tay.

The restaurant is very crowded at the year’s end so the restaurant has to buy insects at a higher price from the Nghia Tan wholesale market. According to Linh, the restaurant’s customers are mainly youngsters.

Located on Kim Ma road, in front of the Thu Le Zoo, Bao Lam Restaurant is always full. Many students chose the restaurant as the site of lunar New Year’s Eve parties before they return home.

The most famous cuisine at Bao Lam is sau chit, a species of worm, steamed with a special spice of the Thai ethnic group in the northwestern region. Some youngsters even like eating live chit worm.“Our class comes to this restaurant on special eves like Christmas, the Western New Year and particularly the lunar New Year’s Eve. It is quite difficult to eat chit worm but it is really nutritious,” said Le Trung Hoi, a student from the Stage and Movie University.

Bao Lam buys chit worms from ethnic minority people in northwestern provinces. This species of worm lives in ivory bamboo sections. Each section contains only one chit worm. Bao Lam charges VND40,000 per plate of 20-30 ivory bamboo joints.

The people in the southern province of Tay Ninh and some provinces near the border with Cambodia like cuisines made from crickets and spiders very much. They say these cuisines originated from Cambodia. At first, men tried these cuisines because it is said that these things can help them strengthen their “manly” power. After that, youngster tried and liked them as well.

Those who have higher incomes often go to Le Mat village, Long Bien district, Hanoi to taste cuisines made from snake. Le Mat is a famous snake-breeding village in Hanoi.

In Le Mat, dozens of restaurants lying along the village roads sell snake-made food. Popular names include Quoc Trieu, Van Duc, Xuan Chu, Trong Khach and Huong Que.

Nguyen Van Trong, 70, the owner of the Trong Khack Restaurant, said that more customers come to his restaurants at the year’s end, including foreigners.

The restaurant processes several tens of kilos of snakes per day. Trong’s daughter-in-law, Pham Thi Van, said that snake can be processed into ten major cuisines: soup, frying, grilling, grilled pie, fried snake skin, spring roll, etc. The restaurant also offers sticky glutinous rice with snake fat, snake with ginger soup.

Each customer can pay VND100,000-150,000 to taste cuisines made of coluber. Copperhead is more expensive, around VND700,000 per kilo. Customers will see restaurant staff catch live copperheads and turn them into cuisines in front of their very eyes!

“Some customers eat live copperhead heart,” Van said.

Many people choose snake for their lunar New Year’s Eve party because snake is a fatty food good for the winter.

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Hanoi's marching order to Heng Xamrin: Don't let any Vietnamese political dissidents into Cambodia

Vietnam treasures ties with Cambodia

January 17, 2009
Nhan Dan (Hanoi)

Neighbouring leaders hail their nations’ ties

Vietnam has a long-standing policy of respecting its traditional relationship and multi-faceted co-operation with Cambodia, and considers the rapport it enjoys with its neighbour as an invaluable asset of the two nations, said a government official.
Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made this remark during talks with his Cambodian counterpart, Heng Samrin, in Hanoi on January 16.

NA Chairman Trong said that Vietnam had a keen interest in Cambodia’s achievements and firmly supported the Cambodian Government’s policies for developing the country, for the prosperity and happiness of the people, and for peace and stability in the region.

He also said that the two countries’ NAs should adopt more concrete measures to ensure their own development, as well as their bilateral relations.

He welcomed the two countries’ ratification of a supplementary treaty to the Vietnam-Cambodia Treaty on Border Demarcation and the initial results of the two countries’ landmark planting scheme.

He stressed that the two sides should be determined to implement high-level agreements and work together in preventing hostile forces from using their territories to oppose the other and harming their bilateral relationship.

On this occasion, NA Chairman Trong thanked the Cambodian people for the valuable support and assistance they had given to Vietnam recently.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Cambodian NA and Government for creating a favourable environment for Vietnamese people to live and do business in Cambodia, as well as helping Vietnam to locate and repatriate the remains of its volunteer soldiers who fell in Cambodia.

Cambodian NA Chairman Heng Samrin praised the co-operation between the two legislative agencies, that had made positive contributions to the two countries’ harmonious relationship.

He suggested that the two agencies intensify their exchange of information, experiences and visits, and work together in implementing previously-signed co-operation agreements.

He said he was pleased with the expansion of bilateral relations into new fields, leading to greater levels of practical efficiency and accelerating each nation’s national construction and development processes.

He affirmed that the Cambodian NA and people had always supported their traditional rapport with Vietnam and attached great importance on developing this in the future.

He praised the results of a high-level meeting of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos to seek measures to boost trade and tourism, and develop transport and irrigation works with the aim of ensuring that the three countries’ border area is one of peace, stability and development, alleviating poverty and improving living conditions for locals.

Chairman Heng Samrin confirmed his country’s determination to work with Vietnam in completing all outstanding landmark plantation work during the first half of 2012.

On behalf of the Cambodian NA and people, he expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their effective support and assistance to Cambodia in their past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction and development, helping the Cambodian people to topple the genocidal Pol Pot regime.

The same day, NA Chairman Heng Samrin was received by President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Huynh Dam and attended a banquet hosted by NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in honour of him and his entourage.

The Cambodian NA leader began his official visit to Vietnam on January 15 and is scheduled to conclude his visit on January 19..

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