Tributes flow for union head

Written by Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Sebastian Strangio

Friday, 23 January 2009www.phnompenhpost.com

Five years after his death, two men convicted of union leader Chea Vichea's killing pay respects at memorial march, calling for fresh investigations. Photo by: AFP Nuon Kimsry, mother of newly released suspect Born Samnang, mourns the death of slain unionist Chea Vichea at Thursday's five-year commemoration near Wat Lanka. HUNDREDS of factory workers and civil society activists gathered Thursday for a commemorative march marking the fifth anniversary of the killing of outspoken trade unionist Chea Vichea - with participation this year from the two men convicted and imprisoned for his murder in 2004.

The event, organised by the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, began at 8am at the headquarters of the Free Trade Union of Workers (FTU) before marching to the site of Chea Vichea's assassination near Wat Lanka, where he was gunned down in 2004 while buying a newspaper.

"We hope the police and investigating judges will make an effort to investigate then arrest the real murderers and their accomplices," said Chea Vichea's brother and FTU President Chea Mony, welcoming the provisional release of suspects Born Samnang, 24, and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, on December 31.

"We have a small amount of justice due to the[ir] temporary release ... but we still have no real justice because the real murderers and their accomplices are living freely," he said.

The two men, released from prison pending retrial after the Supreme Court cited discrepancies in their case, joined civil society leaders in laying wreaths next to a portrait of Chea Vichea and issuing calls for an independent investigation into the labour leader's death.

"I am very happy that I have opportunity to pay my respects to the spirit of Chea Vichea," Born Samnang told reporters.

"I want to tell the people and the international community that I am not a killer. I hope the government will not allow the criminals to continue their activities against the people of our country."

Sok Samouen's father, Von Vann, 65, said the support of civil society and those close to Chea Vichea had helped secure their release.

"My son was released from prison because NGOs and Chea Vichea's family strongly believe he is not the killer. I hope the police and the court will arrest the real murderers soon so my son and Born Samnang will be stripped of their charges," he said.

They are not real murderers. They are plastic murderers set up by the police.


Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, also present at the march, called on US President Barack Obama to help bring the killers to justice.

"I want a full, serious investigation into this murder," he said.

Although there was a small police presence during the march, Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said in his speech that police had been employed to block traffic and did not engage in the "victimising" tactics of past years.

"From now on, we hope the authorities, including the police and military police, will not use electric batons and their gun-points to ‘protect' peaceful protesters," he said.

Rehabilitated
Although Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are technically guilty of Chea Vichea's murder - both were convicted of the crime by a Phnom Penh court in 2004 - Chea Mony vouched for their innocence and welcomed their presence at the event.

"We are happy to welcome [their] families to the five-year commemoration of my brother's death," he told the Post.

"They are not the real murderers. They are plastic murderers set up by the police to confuse the eyes of national and international observers."

However, as the Court of Appeal and Ministry of Interior prepare to reopen the investigation, some observers are divided on whether their provisional release - a first for Cambodia's judiciary - can be seen as an indication of growing independence, or a brief diversion from the standard of judicial interference.

US embassy spokesman John Johnson said the US government had hopes it was a step in the right direction.

"We welcome the serious and thorough way the Supreme Court Panel reviewed their cases," he said by email. "We presume [it] will guide the Appeals Court in their further work."

He also expressed hopes the court would "resolve this matter in a way consistent with Cambodian law and international standards of due process".

But others said that the decision could easily be reversed.

"They are on bail, meaning that they could be arrested at any time," said Mu Sochua, deputy secretary general of the Sam Rainsy Party, adding that the prospects of a fair inquiry into the Chea Vichea killing remained slim.

"It's been five years. If the government really wanted to have a truly independent investigation, they would have cooperated with the witnesses. But nevertheless, we have to have hope."

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak would not detail how the forthcoming investigation would proceed, but told the Post that Born Samnang and Sok Samouen had only been released temporarily and were both still accused of Chea Vichea's killing.

"The court has released them on bail but they have not yet completed their work," he said. "We will follow the court's decision."

But Mu Sochua said that the high turnout at the march would send a strong message.
"[This] is a message to the government that the Cambodian people, especially the workers, will continue to demand justice, and that the spirit of the democrats remains strong."

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Workers, police clash in Kandal

Written by May Titthara and Thomas Gam Nielsen

Friday, 23 January 2009

TAKHMAO Garment factory row turns violent over cuts to employees's bonuses. SHE was trying to save a younger co-worker from police violence, but 40-year-old Chamroeun Chan got hit herself as police and protesting garment workers clashed in front of the Yong Wa garment factory in Kandal province Thursday.

"I saw that my young colleague had been hit by the police and had fallen down, so I tried to help him back up, but another policeman hurled stones at me," she said.

Chamroeun Chan was among thousands of garment workers from two factories protesting a reduction of their annual bonus from US$50 to $20.

"We want to bring the money back to the provinces for the Chinese New Year and the money now [offered] is too little," said Sokhum Molina,
23, adding that the workers had received the annual bonus since 1998.

Takhmao district police Deputy Chief Mun Chea said 100 police officers had been deployed in the area and that the workers had wounded themselves while throwing stones at the police. "[They] broke a mirror of a police car and damaged some property," he said.

Chea Nana, a senior monitor with local rights group Licadho, said garment worker representatives from different unions made a compromise of $30 with company owners, but that the protesters had declined the result.

"The workers said they would not accept anything less than the $50," he said, adding that protests were set to continue today.

Kandal governor provincial Chhun Sirun, declined to comment on the case Thursday, and the garment factory management could not be reached.

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Central Market renovations begin with French flourish

Written by May Kunmakara

Friday, 23 January 2009

The $4.2 million renovation project, which has been funded by the French government, will take some two years to complete. Photo by: Sovann Philong The French ambassador and Phnom Penh Govenor Kep Chuktema throw jasmine on Thursday to symbolically start renovations. DESPITE the visible trappings of construction work - including huge scaffolds that have plunged the area around Phnom Penh's Central Market into traffic chaos - having been present for weeks, the 74-year-old structure's US$4.2 million renovation officially began Thursday with a ceremony at the site

"It is for you all," Kep Chuktema, governor of Phnom Penh, told vendors and gathered dignitaries Thursday at the ceremony to launch construction work in earnest.

The landmark Central Market is the first Phnom Penh market to have its own board of directors, organised by Phnom Penh Municipality, which will manage the market and work with vendors, he said.

Under the terms of the grant - which came from the French Development Agency (AFD) - the market will be renovated by French contractor Arte Villa Pare in cooperation with KOSAN, a French company, Kep Chuktema said.

The plan is to renovate and modernise the market, which has become dilapidated with old age. Originally built in 1935, the market was designed by French architects.

[central market] is continuing to become as famous as it used to be


"Central Market is an example for all other markets in Phnom Penh," Kep Chuktema said. "All the revenue made from charging vendors is not for my own use. It is for use in repairing the market and paving the roads and putting public lights in [the surrounding] Daun Penh district," he added.

"The market will continue to be as famous as it used to be," he said, adding that the new renovation will allow the market to stay open 24 hours because of new night security.

Eric Beugnot, director of AFD, said he was proud to be working on a market with so much history.

"I want to build a beautiful and modern market in the heart of the city in response to an increasing population of municipal dwellers and market vendors," he said.

Kep Chuktema said that once construction was finished, likely in 2010, the market would adopt the slogan: "If one does not know Phsar Thmey, one does not know Phnom Penh."

Vendors ‘very happy'
"The vendors are very happy with the new renovations because they will have new stalls and wider carparks," Central Market chief Sok Kimheng said. "However, the price will increase around 10 percent after the project is completed," he added.

Sok Leap, a souvenir seller at the market, said she was a bit concerned the construction, which would last two years, would impact her revenue.
"I don't know clearly how much they will increase the price of a stall," she said, adding that she was worried people would go to another market in the meantime.

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Ke Kim Yan removed from post

Written by Post Staff

Friday, 23 January 2009

GENERAL Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and long-time loyalist of Cambodian People's Party President Chea Sim, has been removed from his post in a sweeping reshuffle of the Kingdom's military leadership.

According to a royal decree broadcast Thursday on Apsara Television, Ke Kim Yan's deputy, General Pol Saroeun, has been appointed commander-in-chief, and seven officers have been bumped up to the post of deputy commander-in-chief, including Hun Sen loyalists General Kun Kim and General Meas Sophea.

When contacted by the Post Thursday, Pol Saroeun confirmed he had been promoted. When asked how he felt about it, he replied: "I am modest."

Nem Sowath, Cabinet chief for the Ministry of Defence, said that it was a routine reshuffle of the Kingdom's top brass. "There has been no problem," he said.

He added that Ke Kim Yan had led the army for many years and had made "enviable achievements" since being appointed to the post.

Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party , said the reshuffle was likely a result of internal CPP power politics.

"We have long heard rumours that Prime Minister Hun Sen had plans to remove Ke Kim Yan from commander of RCAF because of an internal dispute," he said, referring to speculation that has abounded since 1997 when reports of Ke Kim Yan's death in the factional fighting sent his family fleeing to Thailand. Although the reports proved erronrous, it later emerged Ke Kim Yan had disputed an order to deploy the army on the streets of Phnom Penh.

In 1999, when Hun Sen appointed Kun Kim to the general staff, observers cast it as a move by the prime minister to tighten his grip on RCAF.
A three-star RCAF general who declined to be named said that he was "very surprised" to hear of the transfer.

"If he was withdrawn from his post without real reason, there could be a reaction from soldiers and commanders," he said.

But Nguon Nhel, first deputy president of the National Assembly, denied the move was a sign of internal divisions in the party. "There is no such dispute in the CPP," Nguon Nhel said. "If there was a dispute, the CPP would not have such support."

Ke Kim Yan could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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Bird flu outbreak fears cool as residents test negative

Written by Cheang Sokha

Friday, 23 January 2009

But health officials remain on alert for a possible outbreak of H5N1 virus following a series of scares in Kandal province. Photo by: Heng Chivoan Men unload chickens in Phnom Penh. Fears of a bird flu outbreak have calmed: NEARLY 100 Kandal residents tested for the H5N1 avian influenza following outbreak fears last month have been declared free of the disease, according to officials at the Ministry of Health. Sok Touch, director of the Communicable Disease Control Department at the ministry, said that roughly 95 suspected cases of avian influenza had been investigated throughout the province, but none confirmed the local presence of the virus.

"We are continuing our examinations of the virus across the country," Sok Touch told the Post Thursday.

"In the cool season, outbreaks can occur more easily, so we are on alert to follow up any leads."

In November last year, 19-year-old Teng Sopheak from Kandal province's Kandal Stung district was hospitalised after consuming a chicken - a case officials later confirmed as avian influenza, also known as H5N1.

Leng Khan, director of the Deum Reus Health Centre in Kandal Stung's Cheung Koeub commune, said that soon after officials confirmed the presence of H5N1, about 18 people in the community were immediately called in for blood tests, all returning negative results.

Leng Khan said that residents in neighbouring villages were also tested by health officials with support from the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh.

"They are doing fine here right now," Leng Khan said. "Even Teng Sopheak is fine and is now harvesting his crops in Kampong Speu province."
Teng Sopheak was the eighth person confirmed to have contracted avian influenza in Cambodia, and was the only case recorded in the Kingdom in 2008. None of the seven previous cases survived.

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City officials brace for fire threats posed by Lunar New Year

Written by Khoun Leakhana

Friday, 23 January 2009

A damaged fleet of firetrucks could hinder efforts to contain unexpected fires caused by burning incense left unattended. Photo by: Sovann Philong Chinese New Year candles on sale in Phnom Penh last week. THE Phnom Penh Municipality has appealed to city residents to be vigilant and prevent fires caused by burning incense during the Lunar New Year, which begins Monday, as they prepare to deal with the threat posed by the holiday with a damaged fleet of firetrucks. Of 15 firetrucks operated by city officials, five are "old and broken", said Neth Vantha, office manager of the Municipal Police Fire Brigade.

"We are preparing our forces in accordance with the suggestion from the National Police chief to be ready to fight unexpected fires during the Lunar New Year," he said, adding that the night before the New Year begins [Sunday], was actually the time officials were most concerned about.

He said 88 officers will be deployed over the holiday period.

Concern among residents
Meas Malis, 29, who lives in Tuol Kork district, said she was not planning a big celebration because she is not of Chinese descent. But she said
she would be mindful of fire threats in light of the fact that she might not have much assistance should she need to put one out.

"I do not even have a fire extinguisher," she said. "We are careful, but if our neighbours are not careful, we will be worried about fires. Fires can jump to many houses" she said.

Neth Vantha said there were 44 fires in Phnom Penh during the first 10 months of 2008. The cause of the fires - which damaged 483 houses, two guesthouses and a factory, among other buildings - is known in only 22 cases.

He could not provide data on the number of fires that occurred during Lunar New Year last year

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Slumdog makes its debut in India

Slumdog Millionaire, the Mumbai-based movie nominated for 10 Oscars including best film, has finally opened in India.

The rags-to-riches tale, which has already won four Golden Globes, is being given as big a release in India as any major Bollywood film.

The film has won much praise in reviews in India but has also earned some criticism for exploiting poverty.

A fully dubbed Hindi version of the film has also been released to reach rural and small-town audiences.

Slum fund

The film, which was made on a budget of £7m ($9.6m), has already raked in nearly $50m at the box office in the US and Britain. The film's music director, AR Rahman, has become the first Indian to get three Oscar nominations.

Rahman told the Times of India: "I'm at the top of the world. Everything is a blur."

The film has created discussion in India about whether it exploits "poverty chic".

But the Times of India said film-goers should forget "the twitter about aggrieved national sentiment" and enjoy "a piece of riveting cinema".

The producers have announced that a portion of the box-office proceeds will go a welfare fund set up for the betterment of slums in Mumbai (Bombay).

The film revolves around 18-year-old Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel, who wins the jackpot on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Jamal participates in the game show not for money but to reach his missing girlfriend Latika, played by Freida Pinto, who watches the programme without fail.

The film stars well-known Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Irfan Khan.

Kapoor said at the Thursday night premiere: "We are really, really emotional. All of us just can't stop hugging each other."

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Malaria illnesses decline in Cambodia in 2008

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of reported malaria cases and deaths in Cambodia respectively dropped by 8.5 percent and 25 percent in 2008 over the previous year, national media on Friday quoted the National Malaria Center as saying.

The number of confirmed malaria cases decreased to 59,840 in 2008 from 54,784 in 2007, and deaths to 184 from 241, according to the center.

"The trend is downward but it is not sharp," Rashid Abdur, malaria scientist for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Cambodia, told English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily.

Meanwhile, Duong Socheat, director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control Program, attributed the dip primarily to early diagnosis and treatment, and better health education particularly in rural areas.

Durable mosquito nets treated with insecticide have also contributed to the progress against malaria.

"One net can last for three to five years," he added.

According to the WHO, about a half million Cambodians live in forested regions where malaria transmission is intense.

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News Analysis: Are Britain's hopes to join euro dashed?

by Dongying Wang

LONDON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- With the rapid depreciation of the once strong British pond against euro in the recent years and the uncertainty of the country's economy in the face of the ongoing global economic downturn, an urgency has come for Britons to join the euro but the chance might slip through their fingers due to their persisted reluctance.

STATUS OF EURO

"The euro has become increasingly a candidate for the status of a reserve currency alongside, or in substitution for the dollar," Lord Lea, an economist and life peer of the House of the Lords told Xinhua.

"Familiarity with the euro is now self-reinforcing in Africa, Asia, Latin America as well as in the OECD area," Lord Lea said, adding "The pound is nowhere by comparison."

It is widely believed that at the worst point, investors will give up all but four big global currencies: the dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan. In that case, Britain will see no way out, he added.

Euro membership has returned to British agenda. It comes on the10th anniversary of the launch of the European single currency, which has been adopted by 16 of the 27 European Union member states.

Since its introduction in 1999, the euro has been the second most widely-held international reserve currency after the U.S. dollar. The possibility of the euro's becoming the first international reserve currency is now widely debated among economists.

BRITONS' RELUCTANCE TO ADOPT EURO

Despite the euro's 10-year success, skepticism towards the currency has not diminished in Britain. The strength of the euro has yet to draw Britain closer to the continent. A majority of Britons are still adamantly opposed to joining the euro, arguing that keeping monetary autonomy would benefit the British economy.

A latest poll has showed that 70 percent of Britons still reject the euro, up from 55 percent in 2005.

The big challenge for Britain in adopting the euro is to get a referendum passed, said Lord Lea, who was a member of the British Treasury Advisory Group on the euro. In many of the states which have adopted the euro, there was no such a referendum.

"If we had had the chance of a public vote to join the euro or not in Germany, I am absolutely sure, we would have kept the Deutsche Mark rather than switching to the euro, "said Professor Ralph E. Hartleben at University of Applied Sciences, in Weiden inder Oberphalz, Germany.

"The pound's long history, and heritage as part of British identity are the main reasons for Britons rejecting the euro," said Hartleben, adding "If I were British, I also would like to stick to the pound, as in Germany the euro has nearly doubled all prices."

Lord Lea expressed understanding for Britain's nostalgia of the pound. "However it is the reality that Britain, as an EU member, functions within the regional policies and systems," he said.

He insisted it's at the EU level that Britain can make the quickest process in securing accountability and taxation transparency of multinational businesses, including multinational banks and associated new financial instruments.

OUTLOOK OF BRITAIN'S ECONOMY

Being hit hard by the downturn, Britain has been warned of expecting a difficult year ahead, and a 2.9 percent shrink in GDP in 2009.

Lord Lea believes that Britain's gloomy economic outlook will lessen the opposition to the euro entry in the coming five years. Instead of suggesting an exact time for Britain's adoption of the single currency, he stressed the policy of "not wait and see," but "prepare and decide."

Lord Lea, who was vice president of the European Trade Union Confederation, restated the point made in 1999 by the British Trades Union Congress that if the euro entry delay persisted for a period of years, Britain would become less attractive for inward investment.

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Indian PM to have heart bypass surgery

MUMBAI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to have a heart bypass surgery Saturday, reported local news channel Times Now.

Manmohan Singh is likely to be admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Friday, due to his blocked cardiac arteries and convalesces, the report said.

Doctors say there is no threat to the prime minister's life. The 76-year old prime minister will need rest for three to four weeks.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee will preside over the Cabinet meetings during the prime minister's absence. Internal orders on Pranab's expanded duties are ready.

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