Troop reductions near Preah Vihear

Thailand and Cambodia will today begin reducing troop levels along the border near Preah Vihear temple, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Friday.

Mr Suthep said this should help ease the tension along the sensitive frontier.

He and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed during talks last weekend that the border dispute should be settled by peaceful means.

The deputy prime minister will tomorrow leave for Phnom Penh for another meeting with Mr Hun Sen.

Mr Suthep refused to comment when asked about senior Democrat MP Suthas Ngernmuen's threat yesterday to quit the party if the Bhumjaithai Party and Newin Chidchob were put in charge of the government's political actvities in the Northeast region.

Source: BKK Post

83 new H1N1 cases confirmed

Thai Public Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed 83 new cases of influenza A(H1N1) Thursday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in Thailand to 1,556 cases, with one patient remaining in critical condition.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodhi said that of the number, 1,523 have fully recovered and were discharged, while 28 patients are still being treated in hospitals.
A patient in a Chonburi hospital remains in critical condition.
The deputy minister added that the Ministry of Public Health will adjust the current preventive measures against the H1N1 pandemic.
The H1N1 'Special Track' will open at all hospitals, including private institutions, to rapidly facilitate patients suspected of having contracted the new virus strain.

Tearful evidence at Duch trial

A man who was a child prisoner at a notorious Khmer Rouge torture center 30 years ago testified today at the trial of the facility’s commander that he hid under a pile of clothes to escape a final purge of inmates before Vietnamese troops ended the regime’s reign of terror.
Norng Chan Phal, now a 39-year-old father of two, was eight when the Vietnamese stormed the capital, Phnom Penh. He was held at the S-21 prison, where some 16,000 men, women and children were brutally tortured before execution.
An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died from forced labor, starvation, medical neglect and executions under the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime.
Norng Chan Phal testified at the trial of prison commander Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch (pronounced DOIK), that his father was first taken away to the prison, and that he was later taken there with his brother and mother, whom he glimpsed behind bars one last time before she disappeared, and presumably was executed.
"I could see her on the second floor, holding her hands on the bars of the window, looking at me, and she did not say even a single word to us," Norng Chan Phal said.
He broke down weeping several times while speaking of his parents, prompting his lawyer to ask for a five- minute recess so he could compose himself. Chief Judge Nil Nonn urged him to be strong and carry on and said his testimony was the best chance for him to share the story of his parents and his suffering.
Duch is the first senior Khmer Rouge figure to face trial, and the only one to acknowledge responsibility for his actions. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes and murder, and could face a maximum penalty of life in prison; Cambodia has no death penalty.
Four other senior Khmer Rouge leaders are also in the tribunal’s custody awaiting trial.
The court heard emotional testimony this week from a handful of S-21 survivors, whose skills helped spare their lives.
Two men, now in their 60s, painted portraits of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot and other communist leaders that glorified them as heroes. Another, now nearly 80 years old, endured beatings, electric shocks and had his toenails pulled out. He was spared death because he was able to fix cars, tractors, sewing machines and typewriters.
Norng Chan Phal recalled Thursday his arrival with his brother at S-21 and how he didn’t realize it was a prison. After his mother was put in a cell, the siblings were housed with carpenters in the prison’s back yard, where they survived for a year on meals of porridge, he said.
When soldiers from Vietnam — which had invaded Cambodia after a series of bloody border clashes — were on the verge of capturing Phnom Penh in January 1979, Duch, according to his own earlier testimony, carried out orders to kill all the remaining prisoners. Staff were ordered to evacuate the city.
The former jailer told the court after Norng Chan Phal’s testimony that he could not have been a prisoner there because no children had survived. The extensive files left behind at the prison list Norng Chan Phal’s father as a prisoner, but not him or other family members.
Norng Chan Phal said that he and his brother hid under the pile of clothes among broken furniture in the prison’s backyard as Vietnamese forces approached.
In the hours before the Vietnamese arrived but after the Khmer Rouge left, he said he frantically looked for his mother.
"I climbed to the second floor but I could not see my mother, then I ran to the next building and I saw people lying inside the room. I could seeing them lying with blood and I was scared and I was crying and kept running, searching for my mother," he said.

Thailand to import 600,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine

Thailand, which has recorded five H1N1 deaths, will import 600,000 doses of anti-influenza vaccine in September or October, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday.

Abhisit said the vaccine will be dispensed first to high-risk groups, such as medical personnel, the state-run Thai News Agency reported.
He urged the public not to panic about the new virus, also known as swine flu, which has claimed five lives in the kingdom since the first victim was recorded on June 20.

Thailand and Cambodia order troops to be on alert

Both Thailand and Cambodia ordered their soldiers Thursday to be on alert in case fighting erupts at their disputed border, despite conciliatory remarks by the Thai prime minister.
Thailand last week asked the United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO, to reconsider its decision to formally list a temple on the border as a World Heritage site under Cambodia's domain. That move irritated Cambodia and the two sides have traded angry words ever since, raising concerns tension may escalate.
Old tensions over the issue were reawakened a year ago when UNESCO approved Cambodia's bid to have the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site, more than four decades after the World Court awarded possession of it to Phnom Penh.
Thailand protested the move, claiming that it undermined its claim to a small amount of adjacent land.
Several gunbattles have killed at least seven Thai and Cambodian soldiers since then, and both sides have refused to back away from their positions, each saying it has the rightful claim to the land.
Thailand's commander for the area, Lt. Gen. Viboonsak Neepan, said Thursday that Thai troops are ready "to promptly retaliate" if attacked but said the situation remained stable.
"Apart from the anxiety among troops caused by the talk, rumors and press coverage in the capitals, the situation on the ground has not changed," he said.
On the Cambodian side, Capt. Thim Thuy, who heads the Cambodian army company stationed at the temple, said his troops received orders four days ago to be ready to fight since Thai soldiers reportedly have mobilized troops and heavy weapons to the front line.
"It's very hard to avoid any armed conflict ... if the Thai soldiers keep moving in their forces," he said. "We have received an order to be ready for fighting at any time."
Both sides have claimed the other is massing troops but declined to cite numbers.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has sought to reduce the pressure by emphasizing peaceful solutions, saying that officials on the ground have good mutual understanding despite provocative statements made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"Both countries have to come to an understanding that there is no victory for anyone in a war. There will only be losses on both sides," he told reporters, dismissing strong statements by Hun Sen as matters of "domestic politics."
Abhisit acknowledged, however, that both sides were likely to remain cautious as "everyone fears they will be at a disadvantage, militarily."
Cambodia and Thailand share a 800-kilometer (500-mile) land border, part of which has never been clearly demarcated because each country relies on different maps.

Sourse :AP - Friday, July 3

Cambodia donates $1.2 mln to World Food Program to reduce hunger

Cambodian government on Wednesday donated 1.2 million U.S. dollars to World Food Program to help reduce the hunger and malnutrition in this country, according to WFP statement. The statement released Wednesday said the donated fund will help provide food assistance to over 800,000 poor rural Cambodian people affected by food insecurity brought on by last year's high food prices and this year's global economic crisis. "WFP is very grateful for this generous contribution," said Jean-Pierre de Margerie, WFP Cambodia's representative. According to the statement, it's the third donation from Cambodian government to WFP since 2007, but did not elaborate the total amount contributed. Yim Chhay Ly, deputy prime minister and chairman of Council for Agriculture and Rural Development said Cambodia remains fully committed to support such objectives. WFP is supporting Cambodia's government in its efforts to improve the food security of Cambodia through all its activities, assists nearly one million of the poorest and most food insecure people in the country. WFP also, in addition to school feeding, implements operations in support of mother and child health, support TB and HIV patients, and project that support the creation of agricultural assets.
Source: Xinhua

Expatriates in Cambodia open two community houses

The Association of Overseas Vietnamese in Cambodia inaugurated two floating community houses on June 29 as gifts from the Ho Chi Minh City Association in Support of Poor Patients. These houses were built for Vietnamese fisherman families in two communes in Kal Dieng district, Pursat province, to hold meetings, cultural activities, wedding parties or memorial ceremonies. The house for the Vietnamese community in Koh Keo commune is worth 10,000 USD, covering over 60 sq. m. while the other for those in Koh K’Ek commune was built at a cost of 8,000 USD. At the inauguration ceremony for the second house, the President of the donating organisation’s Thu Duc district Cell, Nguyen Thi Nguyet, also delivered a gift of notebooks and textbooks for poor students in the community. She said donors expected that these houses would not only help improve the living conditions of expatriates but also encourage them to maintain their Vietnamese cultural identity in the country of Angkor Watt. This is the second time Kal Dieng district has received floating houses from their homeland. The two previous houses are used as Vietnamese language classrooms, one of which was a gift from the late Prime Minister, Vo Van Kiet. Deputy President of the Kien Giang province Association in Support of Poor Patients, Nguyen Thi Lien, promised to raise more funds back home to help fix up the two old floating houses, which are deteriorating.

Swine flu claims fifth fatality in Thailand

Thailand on Wednesday notched up its fifth flu death, a 15-year-old student of Chon Buri province.The student became the youngest victim of the influenza 2009The student had chronic illness including brain tumor and diabetes.

DFID - Cambodia office to close

30 June 2009
The Department for International Development will close its office in Phnom Penh in 2011, after ten years of work in Cambodia, and will gradually withdraw its support before then. We will honour all existing commitments, which include a health programme which runs until 2013.
Since we opened our office in Phnom Penh in 2001, Cambodia has made good progress rebuilding itself following decades of conflict and genocide.
During the last ten years of our programme, DFID has made significant impact in Cambodia. An improved health care system, reduced rural poverty and better management of public finances means that Cambodia is in a stronger position than it was a decade ago.
DFID’s work in Cambodia has:
Improved access to decent health services, saving many lives. In particular, improving medical care for children has seen child and infant deaths fall by almost a third since 2000.
Improved access to HIV treatment which means 92 percent of sufferers can now get the anti-viral drugs they need. At the same time, marketing HIV prevention and promoting the use of condoms means that HIV rates among the vulnerable 15-19 year old age group has fallen to less than 1 per cent.
Built proper robust infrastructure which means one in three Cambodians in all 24 provinces benefit from better roads, schools, wells and basic infrastructure
At the same time, with DFID’s support to improve public financial management, Government tax revenues have grown significantly in recent years (by 19 percent in 2008) - meaning it is much better placed to provide vital public services such as health and education in coordination with existing donors.
In deciding to gradually withdraw DFID’s support to Cambodia, we took into account the large number of donors present in Cambodia and the growing levels of aid that Cambodia receives. Following extensive consultation over the last six months, it was felt UK aid could have a larger impact on reducing poverty elsewhere in the world, where there are greater numbers of poor people and fewer international donors.

Cambodia-Thailand talks on border issue "fruitful": Cambodian PM

PHNOM PENH, June 30 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that the talks he had made with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on Saturday were "fruitful and honest."
He said the meeting, which was held in a private and close-door form.
Elaborating the content of the talks, Hun Sen said the Thai delegation, upon his prior warning, did not raise Preah Vihear issue, but many other topics such as those related to joint development projects between the two nations.
Attributing to the points, he said, "We talked about developments of overlapping maritime areas that aimed at exploiting oil and gas, among others development projects."
The premier, however, said he did reiterate how to ease border tension in general and to avoid further armed clashes and urged Thailand to withdraw their troops from the area near Preah Vihear Temple.
He said Cambodian troops will never withdraw unless 30 Thai troops deployed near Preah Vihear temple first withdraw.
Also, during the talks, Hun Sen said he had warned Thai side not to fly their military aircraft over Cambodian territory, saying his armed forces have been newly equipped with modern ground-to-air missiles.
Hun Sen, however, said his statement meant nothing to show off his country's armament or any will to have warfare, but they were stocked and would be used only for self-defense purposes.
Cambodia and Thailand have had border dispute after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was listed as World Heritage site in July last year.

Cambodia gets more time to submit Preah Vihear plans

Cambodia has until February next year to submit its plan for safeguarding and developing the Preah Vihear temple, Natural Resource and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said yesterday.

The World Heritage Committee's decision initially obligated Cambodia to submit its plan by February this year, following the temple's heritage inscription last July.
However, Phnom Penh has not been able to submit many details of the plan, including a map of buffer zones around the site, owing to its boundary conflict with Thailand.
Fortunately, the delay has given Thailand a chance to campaign for a joint nomination of the Hindu temple with Cambodia, Suwit said.
The controversial Preah Vihear attracted renewed international attention after Thailand maintained its objection to the temple's inscription, which resulted in an angry outburst from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and tension at the border.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva did not discuss the campaign for a joint nomination. However, he did say that since Cambodia has more time to submit its plan, it would have an opportunity to follow the World Heritage Committee's decisions and clear up any difficulties along the border.
"We have expressed our concerns to the World Heritage Committee over several sensitive issues because we don't want to have problems or any tension with Cambodia," Abhisit said.
However, acting government spokesman Panitan Watanayagorn interpreted the delay as a victory for Thailand, following Suwit's heavy campaign during the committee's meeting in Spain from June 23 to 30.
He said the delay would give Thailand a chance to seek better understanding from members of the World Heritage Committee.
"The government hoped the World Heritage Committee would allow the two countries to jointly run the temple," Panitan told reporters.
Army chief General Anupong Paochinda said he would redeploy troops to border areas adjacent to the Hindu temple in accordance with the government's policy to pave the way for a peaceful solution.
"We don't have a timeframe, but it depends on the satisfaction of both countries. We have a common intention not to use force," he said.

National Bank of Cambodia to implement Oracle Flexcube

National Bank of Cambodia is to implement Oracle's Flexcube core banking package as it bids to modernise the country's antiquated financial system.

The central bank will use the system to automate operations across deposits, loans, foreign exchange, money markets, securities, funds transfer and asset management.
Thai Saphear, head of the governor's office, National Bank of Cambodia, says: "We see technology as a key enabler in the modernisation of our financial system and are taking steps to deploy a core banking system that provides a platform for effectively and efficiently managing growth."
Supported by the Asian Development Bank, the implemenation project will be led by Oracle in association with local companies interFlex and Neeka.
InterFlex will provide National Bank of Cambodia with environmental software and implementation services for the core banking implementation. Neeka, part of the Thakral Group of Companies, will provide the hardware infrastructure and support services for the project.

Jackso death "drives fans suicidal"

Nearly a dozen of Michael Jackson's fans have reportedly committed suicide following the King Of Pop's sudden death.
Australians fans are said to be seeking help from a suicide prevention hotline, US media reported Tuesday.
At least 50 callers seeking help from suicide prevention hotline Lifeline Australia have told counsellors that Jackson's death on June 26 has left them distressed.
Gary Taylor from London, who owns Jackson's's online fan club has said that he was aware of about 12 suicides following the performer's death.
"It is a serious situation that these people are going through but Michael Jackson would never want this," News.com.au quoted Taylor as saying. "He would want them to live," he added.
Lifeline CEO Dawn O'Neil said that while there has not been 'a dramatic increase' in calls to counsellors, people have spoken about how Jackson's death has affected them.
"We have had some calls related to this," said O'Neil. "In some cases, (a celebrity's death) can be very distressing," O'Neil added.
The calls came as a friend to the famous family, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, urged fans not to "self-destruct."
"This is a time when hearts are heavy," Jackson said. "There is great pain but great cause to celebrate Michael's life. It made Michael happy saying 'We Are The World'. Don't self destruct," he added.

ASIAN MINISTERIAL MEETING - Cabinet to consider Internal Security Act on Phuket

The Cabinet will today consider a proposal to enforce Internal Security Act on Phuket during upcoming Asian ministerial meeting which will be attended by US Secretary of State.

An informed source said Tuesday that the Act, if approved, will give authority to Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), which is chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, to be responsible for the regional meeting's security.
The imposing will put Phuket under the act from July 10 to 24.
The Asian foreign ministers' meeting is scheduled to be held from July 16 to 23. It was postponed twice after red shirted protesters broke into the meeting's nearby building in Pattaya in April.
The Phuket meeting will be attended by ministers of 26 countries including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Phuket will host the 42nd Asean Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the 16th Asean Regional Forum (ARF) on Phuket.

The Isoc reasoned that the imposing of the Act is necessary following the Pattaya chaos which it said tarnished the country's images and reputations as well as the economy.
The authority also said in the proposal that its intelligence report showed that some ill-intentioned group, from both inside and outside the country, may again try to stage unrest during the meeting, similar to that in Pattaya.
The imposing will cover the Phuket island as well as a radius of five kilometers on the sea of the island.

TYPE-A (H1N1) INFLUENZA - Naval conscript third fatality

Thailand yesterday reported its third fatality resulting from type-A (H1N1) influenza as 41 new cases were added, bringing the accumulated number of infections to 1,330.
The latest casualty was a 21-year-old naval conscript at Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province.
Of all the 1,330 accumulated cases, 1,309 have recovered with only 18 now in hospital.
Of the new cases, 29 are students and 4 were people who recently returned abroad.
The director-general of the Medical Service Department, Dr Rewat Wisarutwej, said the naval conscript was admitted to hospital on June 22 with high fever and breathing difficulty.
The unnamed victim's both lungs were infected, resulting in the respiratory failure.
Department of Medical Service's deputy director general, Dr Boonreun Triruenworarat said another unnamed 47-year-old, who is a cleaner, is also in critical condition due to the H1N1 infection.
This person, suspected to have contracted the flu virus from his workplace, is a smoker and drinker who reportedly had little rest before falling ill.
"The severity of this new flu also depends on a person's immunity," Public Health Ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said.
In the wake of the type-A(H1N1) influenza fatality in Thailand, Public Health Minster, Witthaya Kaewparadai has assigned the Medical Service Department to send health experts to support medical team in hospitals where patients with influenza A (H1N1) had been admitted.
Dr Tawee Chotepitayasunon, chairman of the ministry's influenza academic team, also has urged medical workers to prepare for a further spread of the influenza A (H1N1) across across the country.
The ministry will also set up a call center to provide update information about the treatment of influenza A (H1N1) for all medical workers.
There will also be a study on risk factors affecting the severity of type A (H1N1) so that doctors could provide better treatment to patients.
At present, data shows that 70 percent of high-risk patients are people with chronic disease, children age under five year old and elderly people age over 65 year old.
However, Rawat suggested that patient with flu-like symptom and having trouble breathing should undergo treatment and receive antiviral drug immediately before patient progress to severe symptom such as pneumonia and die later.

Duch releases feeling after confession

Trial of former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, has proceeding for three months. Now defense lawyer Kar Savuth representing Duch told Rasmei Kampuchea about Duch’s condition and reason why his client admits crimes before Cambodia’s war crimes court.
Can you describe mental condition of your client? How does he feel after three months of trial?
He has released his feeling as admitting his guilt and he reported to the court on who were the most senior murderers in Democratic Kampuchea (DK) and who ordered him to the killing in which he put the order to his subordinates. So he released his feeling and made apology for all the victims’ family. Every seven-day, especially during the Holy Day, he dedicates to the deceased for apology and their spirits to live in peace.
At this point, your client told the court that he was writing a personal statement of apology and confession. When will the statement be disseminated?
Yes, when the trial comes to an end.
This week, Tuol Sleng prison surviving witnesses will appear in the court. Is Duch ready to be confronted with the witnesses?
Yes, he is ready. He had been confronted with witnesses since the phase of investigation. Now he is confronted with the witnesses again before presiding judges. So he is not feared of the truth. Except for exaggeration, he admits all crimes committed at S-21 security center led by him.
In the last hearing of the previous week, your client told that he had just changed stance from blaming Democratic Kampuchea for crimes to acknowledging his crimes instead after meeting with two defense lawyers. Can you explain why you urge your client to admit guilt?
In law of Democratic Kampuchea leaders’ trials, shortly speaking, only two types of persons are to face trials. First: former Democratic Kampuchea senior leaders; second: those most responsible for crimes and the grave breaches of the national and international law. The two types are composed of only 14 persons. Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, is not in the 14 persons. So, I urged him to admit all crimes occurring at S-21. Let him to do confession because his name is not in the types of persons.
If he admits crimes, is it meant he is being confronted with conviction?
If he admits guilt and found guilty of being most responsible for crimes and the grave breaches of the national and international law, he will not fear for the conviction. If not found guilt, the lawyers see that Duch is not in the 14 persons. The lawyers are not feared to urge Duch confess his crimes.
How about your client’s health condition?
His health condition is normal, but in a little problem. As you see how many judges, prosecutors, civil parties, and defense lawyers are in the hearing? All of them put questions to him in the morning and afternoon’s hearing. So he is difficult to think.
Unofficial Translation

Tuol Sleng prison survivor testifies first time

Phnom Penh: A Tuol Sleng prison or S-21 torture center survivor on 29 June 2009 testified for the first time before Cambodia’s war crimes court in trial of former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Geuk Eav, alias Duch.
Vann Nath, 63, artist and former Tuol Sleng prisoner of Khmer Rouge regime, participated as witness and the first person amongst other Tuol Sleng survivors to appear in the court.
With short hair, white eyebrows, long sleeves, and tucking shirt in his black pants, Vann Nath was sitting and turning his face to judges in courtroom.
Vann Nath was summoned to be witness to recount inhumane activities and brutal torture he experienced with in Tuol Sleng prison. The torture caused the deaths of an estimated 16,000 people under supervision of Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch.
Vann Nath called Duch ‘East Brother’ as in the regime, Duch was called such a name.
Before court, Vann Nath described evacuation from his Battambang province’s house when Khmer Rouge took power on 17 April 1975. Until 30 December 1977, Vann Nath was arrested, being accused of enemy. Until 7 January 1978, Vann Nath was sent to Tuol Sleng prison. Recalling past as prisoner, Vann Nath wept, keeping his eyes to the floor and expressing his suffering.
In Tuol Sleng detention cell, he like others was leg-ironed regularly and was living with hellish condition which was worse than animals. In the cell, prisoners ate only two or three spoonful of water gruel. Every two or three-day, they were allowed to take bath, by shooting water into the cell.
Vann Nath outlined, as grasshoppers and crickets encircling lamps felt to the ground, the prisoners secretly took them for eating because of hunger.
Until over a month, Vann Nath was sent to art room. Vann Nath said drawings he painted then save his life.
Vann Nath claimed he saw torture with his own eyes. The prisoners were tied behind their backs then their heads were dipped into the water filled jar. For other torture, he just heard the prisoners screaming while he was working in the art room.
13 drawings by Vann Nath were included into Duch’s accusation case. Some black and white and color drawings were presented in the hearing. The drawings depict his life and Tuol Sleng’s friends who were blindfolded and tied with hummock ropes, being escorted to the prison and brutally tortured.
Vann Nath said he painted the 13 drawings as he saw the prisoners being tortured and screaming with pain and the victims told him.
Responding to French Judge Jean Marc Lavergne, Vann Nath outlined that at the Khmer Rouge’s Tuol Sleng prison, he worked harder to draw the pictures to survive. All the aspects cannot be erased from his feeling. They still haunt him.
Vann Nath said he participated as witness to tell the torture at Tuol Sleng to the next generation because he like other prisoners was arrested and accused of enemy without guilt.
Jean Marc Lavergne questioned Vann Nath, “What do you want from the hearing.”
Vann Nath responded he wanted justice to be rendered to himself and other victims and any form of justice is based on judge’s decision.
Duch was sitting and listening carefully with a pile of documents on the table on the side of the courtroom. Duch was not allowed to speak.
Before testimony of Vann Nath, trial chamber president Nil Nonn reduced some witnesses from the lists on with reasons that some witnesses have similar testimony.
General public attended Duch’s trial held on 29 June 2009 in the main courtroom, including international journalists.

UN official to seek meeting with Hun Sen to resolve Duch dispute

Christophe Peschoux has denied testimony that he told former Tuol Sleng prison chief Duch that he could serve a prison sentence in Belgium.
THE UN human rights representative for Cambodia said Sunday that he would request a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen to resolve a misunderstanding about a meeting with former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, that occurred 10 years ago.
Hun Sen said last week during the first visit of Surya Subedi, the UN's new rights envoy, that Christophe Peschoux, country representative for the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, attempted to help the former Khmer Rouge leader escape prosecution in Cambodia and instead serve a prison sentence in Europe shortly after his 1999 arrest.
Peschoux has said the account of their meeting was incorrect. He told the Post Sunday he would meet with Om Yienteng, the head of Cambodia's Human Rights Committee, to arrange a meeting with Hun Sen to "solve" the problem directly.
"The best thing is to have a direct conversation. We have old issues to resolve," Peschoux said Sunday.
"I don't want a verbal exchange through the media, so this is the next logical step to preserve our own long-term interests," he added.
Peschoux interviewed Duch in Battambang province in May 1999 and was part of a small group of people who advocated that the former Khmer Rouge leader should be tried legitimately outside the country.
Duch, who is currently being tried at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, has testified that the UN official told him during the interview that he could serve a prison setence in Belgium.
"Peschoux made an effort to find political exile for me, but it was not realised. They asked me to be in jail in Belgium on May 3, 1999," Duch told judges at the war crimes court in April.
PM to ‘investigate' caseThough Peschoux has denied this, Hun Sen said last week that he would "not allow" Peschoux to remain in Cambodia if Duch's version of events turned out to be true.
"I will investigate this issue, and I will send the documents to the UN human rights body in Geneva," he said during a speech at Chaktomuk Theatre.
"We will not allow you [Peschoux] to stay in Cambodia quietly, and it is not a funny issue," he added.

Michael Jackson leaves about 1.2 billion USD after his death

Although the cause of Michael Jackson's death was preliminarily recorded as cardiac arrest, widespread speculation from the outside world has since thrown this into doubt. On June 27 his family hired an independent pathologist to conduct a second postmortem to clarify the cause of death. The looming dispute over the enormous inheritance Jackson left and who will get custody of his children remains unsettled.The Los Angeles County coroner's office conducted its first autopsy the day after Jackson's death on June 25. The office announced that there was no indication of any external trauma or murder, but the final autopsy results could take weeks. The late pop singer's family has ordered a second independent autopsy however, either because they do not trust the official autopsy results or they wish to compare the results of the two autopsies for peace of mind.Having led an extravagant life, Jackson fell into financial crisis over the last 10 years, and accumulated debts of around 500 million USD. Nevertheless, he left a huge inheritance of about 1.2 billion USD or more, which may further increase by another 100 million USD with fans rushing to buy his albums and souvenirs. It is said that Jackson made at least two wills before his death, planning to leave his estate to his three children and his mother. According to sources, he left his three children 200 unpublished songs, possibly valued at 100 million USD, to guarantee they will be able to live comfortably in the future. This is a decision Jackson made several months before his death; no debtor has the right to use these songs to offset debts.

Cambodia, Bahrain to sign joint agreement of diplomatic establishment

The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Bahrain will sign a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations to expand the cooperation between a country in South East Asia and a country in the Middle East, a Cambodian official said on Monday. Hor Nam Hong, Cambodia's deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, and his Bahraini counterpart will sign the joint communiqué of creating the official diplomatic ties, said Koy Khong, under secretary of state and spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry. "It is the first time for the two countries to mend the diplomatic ties," he said, adding that in future the two countries will expand cooperation on tourism, investment, trade, and economy. According to a press release from the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, Hor is to join the first ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Meeting, to be held from June 29 to 30, in Manama, Bahrain. At the meeting, "we will talk about the cooperation on the global economic and financial crisis, combating terrorism, poverty reduction, sustainable development and economy," Koy Khong said. The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Gulf group includes Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Xinhua

HDMB TARGETS TO OPERATE BANK IN CAMBODIA BY JULY 31

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- Hwang-DBS (Malaysia) Bhd (HDMB) is a step closer towards operating a commercial bank in Cambodia.
HDMB said Cambodia's Minister of Commerce had on June 26 issued a certificate of incorporation of HwangDBS Commercial Bank Plc (HDCB) which is effective from June 19, 2009.
As required by the National Bank of Cambodia, HDCB targets to start operations in Cambodia by July 31, subject to a final licence to be issued by the National Bank, HDMB said in announcement on Bursa Malaysia.
HDCB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the HDMB and will operate as a commercial bank in Cambodia.
Currently, HDCB has an issued and paid-up capital of US$2 comprising two ordinary shares of par value US$1 each.
The issued and paid-up capital of HDCB will be increased to US$20 million, comprising 20 million ordinary shares of par value US$1 each, all to be issued to HDMB before the start of business operations. -- BERNAMA

Lightning kills 5 in a day

LIGHTNING strikes killed five people in Cambodia in a single day, a newpaper reported on Sunday.
Two people were killed in Kampot province, in Cambodia's south, while three were killed in the central provinces of Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu, according to the newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily.
It said four of the victims, all killed on Friday, were farmers working in the fields - a group especially at risk when they continue to work during rainstorms.
Around 50 Cambodians were killed by lightning in the first four months of 2009, while the official toll for last year was 95 deaths.
Experts say the tropical South-east Asian country, with its many rivers and lakes, is particularly prone to cloud formations which generate intense lightning storms.
These formations can lie just 50 metres (164 feet) above the earth, and anyone underneath is vulnerable to lightning strikes.
Cambodia's government is trying to raise awareness in the provinces of measures to protect against such natural disasters, according to Long Saravuth, weather expert at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.
'We hope there will be fewer deaths as more and more people become well-informed about safety during lightning storms,' he said on Sunday.

Defence Minister: Situation along Thai-Cambodian Border Remains under Control

The defence minister revealed that the situation remains normal along the Thai-Cambodia border near Preah Vihear after peace negotiations between the two countries. General Prawit Wongsuwan, Thailand's Defence Minister revealed that the situation along Thai-Cambodia border remains in peace after Thailand has negotiated with Cambodia leader. The defence minister has accompanied the deputy prime mimister Suthep Thaugsuban in a recent visit to Cambodia. He further informed that the talk in reducing tension along Thai-Cambodian border went well. He said that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a plan of not to create violence along the border. However, with regard to the removal of troops out of the border, the defence minister said there will be another meeting to disccuss on this matter with Cambodia border authorities whether or not both sides will withdraw troops from the border area. The defence minister reaffirmed that the situation along the border near Preah Vihear temple is back to normal. Meanwhile, the shops at the Thai-Cambodia crossing gate have been back to regular trading and ready to welcome visitors. Hoever the national park of Preah Vihear, which is the gateway to the temple from the Thailand side remains closed for security reasons.

Flu death toll rises to 3, total cases 1,330

Latest victim was naval conscript at Sattahib Base, total cases in Thailand rise to 1,330A naval conscript succumbed to the type-A (H1N1) influenza infection Monday morning, raising to three the number of the flu fatalities, the director-general of the Medical Department said.
Doctor Rewat Wisarutwej, the director-general of the Medical Department, also reported 41 new cases of type-A (H1N1) influenza, raising the accumulated number of the cases in Thailand to 1,330.
The naval conscript suffered from bleeding in lungs and his heart beating stopped several times Sunday night.
Doctors put him on respiratory system but he succumbed to the disease at 9 am Monday, Rewat said.

Leader to invest US$150mil in new Cambodia power plant

GEORGE TOWN: Leader Universal Holdings Bhd will invest in a new power plant worth US$150mil to US$160mil in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, which is expected to commence operations in 2012.
Group managing director and chief executive officer Sean H’ng Chun Hsiang said the power-purchase agreement for the 100MW coal-fired power plant, which would replace the earlier agreement executed for the 200MW project, would be inked soon.
“We are also in talks with banks now and expect to finalise the financing for the project before the end of this year. We hope to start construction work on the plant soon,” he told StarBiz.

In February 2007, the group announced its winning bid to develop a 200MW coal-fired power plant in Sihanoukville with a local Cambodian partner on a 50:50 joint venture.
However, on Feb 1, 2009, it announced that the Cambodian government had approved to split the 200MW plant into two projects of 100MW each, allowing each original shareholder to develop its own project.
On June 11, Leader said it had formed a joint venture with Cambodian International Investment Development Group Co Ltd to develop the plant.
Leader owns 80% of the joint-venture company, which is also planning to develop another 700MW coal-fired power plant in Sihanoukville.
“This project will be progressively developed after the completion of the 100MW plant in 2012.
“The 700MW plant will be carried out in various phases, with each phase having the capacity to generate 100MW-200MW of power supply, to gradually meet the energy needs of Cambodia,” H’ng added.
Presently, the capacity of the power plants in Cambodia was around 410MW, compared with the forecast demand of 808MW by Electricite du Cambodge (the local state-owned power company), H’ng said.
“The demand is expected to increase to 1,915MW in 2015, eventually hitting 3,867MW in 2020.
“There are vast business opportunities for the power business in Cambodia. We have been building some power distribution lines there. We hope to also explore opportunities in the area of power transmission,” he added.
Leader’s first power plant, using heavy fuel oil, is located in Phnom Penh, catering to its one million population.
For the first quarter 2009, the power business contributed 8% to the group’s total revenue of RM444.7mil and 35% of its total operating profit of RM26.6mil.
On the group’s cable business, Leader’s order book as at end-March stood at about RM700mil, excluding some major recurring orders.
“Almost 40% of the group’s total revenue in the first quarter was from export orders. The group exports to over 20 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Oceania.
“We will continue to look at new opportunities in the overseas markets. The group is confident of the near-term prospects, given the implementation of the Government’s stimulus packages and also the demand arising from the implementation of the Bakun power transmission projects,” he added.
On the group’s revenue for 2009, H’ng said that although the prices of both aluminium and copper had increased recently, they were unlikely to hit the peak seen in 2008.
“Thus, we expect the group’s revenue to be correspondingly lower this year. The cost of aluminium and copper are mostly passed through to our customers.
“So although the movement of prices of aluminium and copper will impact our revenue, it will not materially impact our bottom line,” he said.
For the group’s first quarter ended March 31, revenue dropped by 31% compared with the previous corresponding quarter due to lower aluminium and copper prices.
The average London Metal Exchange price of copper was US$7,796 per tonne for the first quarter 2008 compared with US$3,428 for the first quarter of 2009. Similarly, the average price of aluminium dropped from US$2,742 per tonne in the first quarter 2008 to US$1,360 in the 2009 quarter.

Rocket blast injures soldiers near Samdach PM Hun Sen's home

Rockets exploded on Sunday at a Cambodian military base near the prime minister's residence, state-run television said, and military officials said the incident was an accident.
Military and police officials said the explosion was caused by a fire started accidentally by a mechanic working on a truck at the base on the southern outskirts of the capital, Phnom Penh.
"A truck driver and his assistant were wounded, one of them seriously," TVK television said in a statement issued by the office of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
At least nine trucks were damaged in the fire.
"A number of rockets were accidentally fired from the truck," a military security guard told Reuters.
It was not known if the prime minister was at home when the explosions occurred.

Elated Thaksin invites campaign teams to Dubai

The Phue Thai Party's landslide victory in the by-election in Si Sa Ket yesterday, following hot on the heels of its by-election conquest in Sakhon Nakhon, proves the solid allegiance that northeasterners still hold for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Pheu Thai chairman Chalerm Yoobamrung said.
Thaksin's popularity has brought Surachart Charnpradit his polling triumph, Chalerm said in congratulating the Pheu Thai candidate during a press conference.
Thaksin called Pornsak Charoenprasert, an MP for Si Sa Ket, asking him about the results.
When Thaksin was told that the Pheu Thai candidate beat his rival handily, he responded with a cheer and told both the Si Sa Ket and Sakhon Nakhon campaign teams to visit him in Dubai, Pornsak said.
They are expected to see Thaksin in two weeks after the Election Commission endorses them.
As of 7.30pm, the count showed the Pheu Thai candidate with 106,915 votes against just 68,560 votes for Sakulthip Angsakulkiat of the Chart Thai Pattana Party.
Somsak Prissanananthakul, a core leader of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, conceded defeat.
Some polling stations in nine districts witnessed a higher turnout than others.
EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said the EC accepted five election complaints about political bias by government officials, solicitation of voters by trucking them to balloting stations and mudslinging against candidates.
He said he expects the voter turnout would reach 60 per cent, higher than Sakhon Nakhon's 58 per cent.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit questioned the use of funds by the Internal Security Operations Command, which held a secret meeting at a Bangkok hotel.
He suspected that the agency was mapping out tactics to block the growth of the Pheu Thai Party.
He said 11 MPs from government coalition parties and former People Power Party MPs from northern and northeastern provinces expressed interest in joining Pheu Thai because they sensed that the party's popularity remained strong.

INFLUENZA 2009 - Team to study first fatalities

Doctors need to know more about risk factors

A Public Health Ministry academic team will today consider the risk factors behind the first two deaths linked to type A (H1N1) influenza that have been reported since the virus hit Thailand on late April.
The move came after the Ministry's Bureau of Epidemiology reported a 42-year-old-man, who had not been categorised as a high risk patient of influenza A (H1N1), died on Saturday morning. Citing information from the United States and Mexico, Dr Tawee Chotepitayasunon, chairman of the ministry's influenza academic team, said high risk patients of influenza A (H1N1) - children under five, pregnant women and elderly people with chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes - would be tested. But this victim, who recently returned from abroad, had no congenital disease. He fell ill on June 18 with fever and a running nose. He had gone to a pub in Bangkok with friends before developing flu-like symptoms.He was admitted to hospital on June 23 with a high fever, coughing and pneumonia. He was also given oseltamivir, but his condition worsened, and he died on Saturday morning. The other victim, a 40-year old woman, a heart patient, died on June 20 after five days of treatment." We need to know how people with mild symptoms progress to severe symptoms and die. We need more research to find out the other risk factors indicating a change in health conditions when the virus infects humans," he said. " We hope we will come up with new information that helps us know clearly about this new flu virus as we now only know about its spread and severity," he said.Yesterday the Public Health Ministry reported 80 new cases of Type-A (H1N1) influenza cases, lifting the confirmed cases in Thailand to 774. Of the new cases, 68 are students and three from the general public, he said, adding that 20 patients are still hospital. Another three cases were under the close watch of doctors, including two navy conscripts in Chonburi province. Department of Medical Service's director-general, Dr Rawat Vitruthvej said one navy conscript is in critical condition with difficulty breathing. His condition has improved slightly and he is being supported by a medical team from Rajavithi hospital. A-57-year-old woman, admitted to private hospital, is gradually recovering but remains in intensive care unit.Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai urged provincial health officers and medical workers at hospitals nationwide to be ready for the type-A (H1N1)influenza. " Medical teams should be prepared to respond immediately for cases in critical condition," he said. He also expressed concern over seasonal flu infection among students as the virus has already spread and infected 10,000 people across country. However, he was certain the Public Health Ministry could handle the pandemic and contain the spread of the virus, despite the death at the weekend.However former deputy health minister Vicharn Meenchainant said the government has failed to control the spread of disease, charging it had hidden information and delayed treatment for patients with the new flu virus."The government is trying to inform the public the disease has no severity, but it is still spreading and has a virulence higher than seasonal flu. Moreover, it is not clear use of the current antiviral drug can control the disease," he said."More and more people will die if the government does not take action for this situation seriously," he said. Witthaya said the Public Health Ministry did not hide any information over the spread of disease. " We should not politicise this issue as it is one of the life and death of people," he said.