Watch out!

Click here to watch the slide show

Multimedia slideshow about “visual pollution” in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, now invaded by advertising signs of all sorts, springing up everywhere like mushrooms and quite unsightly, to say the least.

Images by Vandy Rattana and John Vink/Magnum. Sound by John Vink

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Watch out!

Click here to watch the slide show

Multimedia slideshow about “visual pollution” in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, now invaded by advertising signs of all sorts, springing up everywhere like mushrooms and quite unsightly, to say the least.

Images by Vandy Rattana and John Vink/Magnum. Sound by John Vink

Read more!

90 years old lady cares for a 60 years old disabled daughter

The 90 year-old Mrs. Ma Krem and her 60 year-old daughter, Soum Phan.

Koh Santepheap newspaper
13th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

A 90 years old lady from Kampot is struggling to care for her 60 years old disabled daughter due to old age and poverty.

90 year-old Ma Krem, who is from Chress village, Kampong Trach district in Kampot province, said that she and her crippled daughter survived only on the generosity of their neighbours.

The 90 year-old lady said that her husband died in 1983 and all her children, except one, died during the Pol Pot time. She added that her surviving daughter, who is very poor, is struggling to raise her children, let alone helping to feed her and her crippled daughter.

She said that her daughter, Soum Phan, who is also blind and deaf, was crippled since birth. After giving birth to Soum Phan, neighbours told her to abandon the baby but she refused by vowing that she will care for Soum Phan until the end of her life.

She said that in 1979, when the Khmer Rouge forced them to walk through minefields up the Dangrek Mountains, she carried Soum Phan in a basket at one end of the pole while she carried her belongings at another end of the pole. But she refused to abandon her, whereas many parents at that time have abandoned their babies because they can’t take the babies with them.

Neighbours said that the 90 year-old lady and her 60 year-old crippled daughter are living in real hardship. She is surviving on the generosity of neighbours who took pity on her and her daughter.

Through Koh Santepheap, she is appealing to generous people, local and overseas, foreigners as well as Cambodians, to help her and her daughter through to the new year.

Koh Santepheap can be contacted at: kohsantepheap@citylink.com.kh, or at: kohdaily@gmail.com .

Read more!

90 years old lady cares for a 60 years old disabled daughter

The 90 year-old Mrs. Ma Krem and her 60 year-old daughter, Soum Phan.

Koh Santepheap newspaper
13th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

A 90 years old lady from Kampot is struggling to care for her 60 years old disabled daughter due to old age and poverty.

90 year-old Ma Krem, who is from Chress village, Kampong Trach district in Kampot province, said that she and her crippled daughter survived only on the generosity of their neighbours.

The 90 year-old lady said that her husband died in 1983 and all her children, except one, died during the Pol Pot time. She added that her surviving daughter, who is very poor, is struggling to raise her children, let alone helping to feed her and her crippled daughter.

She said that her daughter, Soum Phan, who is also blind and deaf, was crippled since birth. After giving birth to Soum Phan, neighbours told her to abandon the baby but she refused by vowing that she will care for Soum Phan until the end of her life.

She said that in 1979, when the Khmer Rouge forced them to walk through minefields up the Dangrek Mountains, she carried Soum Phan in a basket at one end of the pole while she carried her belongings at another end of the pole. But she refused to abandon her, whereas many parents at that time have abandoned their babies because they can’t take the babies with them.

Neighbours said that the 90 year-old lady and her 60 year-old crippled daughter are living in real hardship. She is surviving on the generosity of neighbours who took pity on her and her daughter.

Through Koh Santepheap, she is appealing to generous people, local and overseas, foreigners as well as Cambodians, to help her and her daughter through to the new year.

Koh Santepheap can be contacted at: kohsantepheap@citylink.com.kh, or at: kohdaily@gmail.com .

Read more!

Khmer Soldier dress

Illegal border marker found on top of Dangrek Mountains

The Preah Vihear task force officials inspect the illegal border marker at point 766 on the top of Dangrek Mountains.(All phots are from Koh Santepheap, Photos by Vontha).

Koh Santepheap newspaper
12th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Cambodian border officials have dismantled an illegal border marker on top of the Dangrek Mountains, suspected to have planted by Thai soldiers. First it was suspected that the border marker has just been freshly planted, but after close examination it was concluded that it was planted 15-20 years ago during the Cambodian civil war.

The illegal marker was found by accident by bush trackers on 9th March, 2009 who then reported the find to the Cambodian officials.

A Preah Vihear task force, led by Maj-Gen. Sor Thary, deputy governor of Preah Vihear province, comprised of Brig-Gen. Som Bopharoth, commander of Preah Vihear region, Mr. Kao Lung, governor of Choam Ksan district and included 40 other Cambodian border officials, set off to search for the alleged illegal border marker on the morning of 11th March.

The group climbed the Dangrek Mountains at border point 500 east of An Sess Pass, reaching the mountain top at 11 o’clock in the morning. The group climbed through dangerous and inaccessible areas for 7 hours. They reached border point 766, the point where the illegal border marker was found, at 6 o’clock in the afternoon.

Border point 766 is the highest point of Dangrek Mountains which is located in Teuk Krohorm (Red Water) commune in Choam Ksan, about 9 kilometres east of An Sess border pass.

The alleged illegal border marker was made from a steel pipe and is about 15cm in diametres which was buried about half a metre deep and sticks out about half a metre high above the ground. It was buried with concrete very solidly and was located at co-ordinates VA98,956-8365 of point 766, which is the highest point of the Dangrek Mountain.

After carefully examining the marker, the group decided to dismantle it. The group said that this border marker was located about 1 kilometre from the Thai military barracks. The group added that the Thai soldiers did not know that they were there.

The border marker was suspected to have been planted by Thai soldiers during the Cambodian civil war in the mid-1980s.

The group stayed there only about one hour and because night time is approaching they decided to descend the mountains at about 7 o’clock, walking through perilous minefields in the dark of the night. Because it is too dangerous to walk through the minefields at night time, the group decided to sleep half way on the mountains. At 6:30am, the group continued the journey and reached the foot of the mountain at 9am. The group then reached Choam Ksan at 11am on the 12th of March.

---------------------------------

The task force members stop to get some water from the natural pond.

The task force travel to point 500 on top of Dangrek Mountains.

The task force officials reached point 500 on top of Dangrek Mountains.

The Cambodia border task force officials climb to border point 766.

Cambodian officials inspect the illegal border marker.

The border marker that has been dismantled.

Read more!

Khmer Soldier dress

Illegal border marker found on top of Dangrek Mountains

The Preah Vihear task force officials inspect the illegal border marker at point 766 on the top of Dangrek Mountains.(All phots are from Koh Santepheap, Photos by Vontha).

Koh Santepheap newspaper
12th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Cambodian border officials have dismantled an illegal border marker on top of the Dangrek Mountains, suspected to have planted by Thai soldiers. First it was suspected that the border marker has just been freshly planted, but after close examination it was concluded that it was planted 15-20 years ago during the Cambodian civil war.

The illegal marker was found by accident by bush trackers on 9th March, 2009 who then reported the find to the Cambodian officials.

A Preah Vihear task force, led by Maj-Gen. Sor Thary, deputy governor of Preah Vihear province, comprised of Brig-Gen. Som Bopharoth, commander of Preah Vihear region, Mr. Kao Lung, governor of Choam Ksan district and included 40 other Cambodian border officials, set off to search for the alleged illegal border marker on the morning of 11th March.

The group climbed the Dangrek Mountains at border point 500 east of An Sess Pass, reaching the mountain top at 11 o’clock in the morning. The group climbed through dangerous and inaccessible areas for 7 hours. They reached border point 766, the point where the illegal border marker was found, at 6 o’clock in the afternoon.

Border point 766 is the highest point of Dangrek Mountains which is located in Teuk Krohorm (Red Water) commune in Choam Ksan, about 9 kilometres east of An Sess border pass.

The alleged illegal border marker was made from a steel pipe and is about 15cm in diametres which was buried about half a metre deep and sticks out about half a metre high above the ground. It was buried with concrete very solidly and was located at co-ordinates VA98,956-8365 of point 766, which is the highest point of the Dangrek Mountain.

After carefully examining the marker, the group decided to dismantle it. The group said that this border marker was located about 1 kilometre from the Thai military barracks. The group added that the Thai soldiers did not know that they were there.

The border marker was suspected to have been planted by Thai soldiers during the Cambodian civil war in the mid-1980s.

The group stayed there only about one hour and because night time is approaching they decided to descend the mountains at about 7 o’clock, walking through perilous minefields in the dark of the night. Because it is too dangerous to walk through the minefields at night time, the group decided to sleep half way on the mountains. At 6:30am, the group continued the journey and reached the foot of the mountain at 9am. The group then reached Choam Ksan at 11am on the 12th of March.

---------------------------------

The task force members stop to get some water from the natural pond.

The task force travel to point 500 on top of Dangrek Mountains.

The task force officials reached point 500 on top of Dangrek Mountains.

The Cambodia border task force officials climb to border point 766.

Cambodian officials inspect the illegal border marker.

The border marker that has been dismantled.

Read more!

Border talks: Alleged incursions to be raised

Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIAN military commanders said they will press their Thai counterparts during a meeting near Preah Vihear temple today to ensure their troops abstain from making new incursions into Cambodian territory. The meeting, they say, follows a renewed effort from Thai soldiers to put their stamp on Cambodian land by erecting fences and taking patrols into land that does not belong to them. Sao Socheat, deputy commander of Military Region 4, said Cambodian military officials would refer to a 2000 memorandum of understanding requiring soldiers on both sides to abstain from advancing into each other's territory. "If they accept it, then they should not be able to move their troops into Cambodian territory," he said. "Thai soldiers have been moving into disputed territory. They must stop if our border committees are going to work together to demarcate the border," he said. Srey Doek, 3rd Division Commander and the highest-ranking RCAF official on the ground there, said the "problem will be raised during the meeting in order to prevent confrontations in the future".

Read more!

Border talks: Alleged incursions to be raised

Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIAN military commanders said they will press their Thai counterparts during a meeting near Preah Vihear temple today to ensure their troops abstain from making new incursions into Cambodian territory. The meeting, they say, follows a renewed effort from Thai soldiers to put their stamp on Cambodian land by erecting fences and taking patrols into land that does not belong to them. Sao Socheat, deputy commander of Military Region 4, said Cambodian military officials would refer to a 2000 memorandum of understanding requiring soldiers on both sides to abstain from advancing into each other's territory. "If they accept it, then they should not be able to move their troops into Cambodian territory," he said. "Thai soldiers have been moving into disputed territory. They must stop if our border committees are going to work together to demarcate the border," he said. Srey Doek, 3rd Division Commander and the highest-ranking RCAF official on the ground there, said the "problem will be raised during the meeting in order to prevent confrontations in the future".

Read more!

CPP backs NEC ban on foreign participation in council elections [... but it is OK for Vietnamese to vote in Cambodian elections?]

On the campaign trail in Phnom Penh during last year's general election. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Election watchdog Comfrel says military, police influence a higher priority.

THE ruling Cambodian People's Party said Monday it supports the ban on foreign citizens participating in the May 17 district, municipal and provincial elections.
In the election, votes will be cast by the 11,353 elected commune council members, but not by the public. The new bodies are part of the government's decentralisation program to improve representation among the National Assembly and the commune councils.

Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the Post his party agreed with last week's ruling by the National Election Committee and said it would help to prevent any violence that might ensue by inflammatory comments by foreigners.

He claimed the CPP had discovered foreigners helping the opposition Sam Rainsy Party in last year's general election, campaigning in Kampong Cham and Prey Veng.

"We are patient with criticisms made by Cambodian politicians, but we don't want to see electoral campaigns conducted by foreigners in support of opposition political parties," said Cheam Yeap. "Their criticisms look down on Cambodia and our people."

But SRP Secretary General and lawmaker Ke Sovannroth denied the allegation. She said the only foreigners who took part in the general election were international observers monitoring proceedings.

The election-monitoring body Comfrel said the NEC had missed the point and ought to focus on more relevant issues. Comfrel Executive Director Koul Panha said the issue of foreign participation was not a priority.

"It happens very rarely and would have no influence - foreigners respect the code of conduct," he said.

Koul Panha said the NEC ought to prioritise focussing on the role of the police and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in influencing election results. He said the NEC should issue clear regulations on how those bodies participated in elections.

NEC Secretary General Tep Nytha said the regulation was designed to remind all parties that foreigners were not allowed to take part in the campaign, and any party that flouted the rule could be fined.

Campaigning for the election will run from May 1 to 15 and is to see the CPP, the SRP, the Norodom Ranariddh Party and Funcinpec competing to win votes from the country's 11,353 commune councillors. The outcome will determine the composition of the parties at the higher-level district councils and the municipal and provincial councils.

Tep Nytha said CPP candidates were listed at 217 polling stations, the SRP had candidates at 205, Funcinpec candidates were at 71 and the NRP were at 62. A total of 17,293 candidates from the four parties are registered with the NEC.

The CPP's Cheam Yeap said his party was ready to compete with all four political parties in May's election and appealed to each party to actively build confidence among their voters.

"We aren't worried about the influence of those foreigners who back opposition parties, but we don't want foreigners coming here and insulting the Cambodian people," said Cheam Yeap.

Read more!

CPP backs NEC ban on foreign participation in council elections [... but it is OK for Vietnamese to vote in Cambodian elections?]

On the campaign trail in Phnom Penh during last year's general election. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Election watchdog Comfrel says military, police influence a higher priority.

THE ruling Cambodian People's Party said Monday it supports the ban on foreign citizens participating in the May 17 district, municipal and provincial elections.
In the election, votes will be cast by the 11,353 elected commune council members, but not by the public. The new bodies are part of the government's decentralisation program to improve representation among the National Assembly and the commune councils.

Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the Post his party agreed with last week's ruling by the National Election Committee and said it would help to prevent any violence that might ensue by inflammatory comments by foreigners.

He claimed the CPP had discovered foreigners helping the opposition Sam Rainsy Party in last year's general election, campaigning in Kampong Cham and Prey Veng.

"We are patient with criticisms made by Cambodian politicians, but we don't want to see electoral campaigns conducted by foreigners in support of opposition political parties," said Cheam Yeap. "Their criticisms look down on Cambodia and our people."

But SRP Secretary General and lawmaker Ke Sovannroth denied the allegation. She said the only foreigners who took part in the general election were international observers monitoring proceedings.

The election-monitoring body Comfrel said the NEC had missed the point and ought to focus on more relevant issues. Comfrel Executive Director Koul Panha said the issue of foreign participation was not a priority.

"It happens very rarely and would have no influence - foreigners respect the code of conduct," he said.

Koul Panha said the NEC ought to prioritise focussing on the role of the police and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in influencing election results. He said the NEC should issue clear regulations on how those bodies participated in elections.

NEC Secretary General Tep Nytha said the regulation was designed to remind all parties that foreigners were not allowed to take part in the campaign, and any party that flouted the rule could be fined.

Campaigning for the election will run from May 1 to 15 and is to see the CPP, the SRP, the Norodom Ranariddh Party and Funcinpec competing to win votes from the country's 11,353 commune councillors. The outcome will determine the composition of the parties at the higher-level district councils and the municipal and provincial councils.

Tep Nytha said CPP candidates were listed at 217 polling stations, the SRP had candidates at 205, Funcinpec candidates were at 71 and the NRP were at 62. A total of 17,293 candidates from the four parties are registered with the NEC.

The CPP's Cheam Yeap said his party was ready to compete with all four political parties in May's election and appealed to each party to actively build confidence among their voters.

"We aren't worried about the influence of those foreigners who back opposition parties, but we don't want foreigners coming here and insulting the Cambodian people," said Cheam Yeap.

Read more!