Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday warned critics they risk legal action if they call the country a "dictatorial regime."
"Be careful with the language of 'dictatorial regime.' Be careful, (or) one day legal action will be used," Hun Sen said during a graduation ceremony in the capital, Phnom Penh.
The premier's warning appeared to be aimed at those who allege senior Cambodian officials have recently used defamation lawsuits against critics to impede freedom of expression.
"This is a constitutional monarchy," Hun Sen said. "Don't curse it as a dictatorial regime - be careful!"
"(And) when legal action is used, you guys would say freedom of expression is prohibited, but your expression is wrong," he said.
Hun Sen's remarks came a day after a court found outspoken opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua guilty of defaming him and ordered her to pay more than $4,000 in fines and compensation.
Local human rights group Licadho said the verdict was "predictably unjust, and shows yet again how the courts are controlled by the government and used as a weapon against its political opponents."
There have been three defamation or disinformation convictions against Cambodian government critics in just over a month, the United Nations human rights office said Wednesday.
New York-based Human Rights Watch recently alleged Hun Sen's government aimed to silence political opposition and critics with a "campaign of harassment, threats, and unwarranted legal action."
Source: AFP
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
PM Warns Critics About Calling Cambodia "Dictatorial Regime"
Thailand and Cambodia resume ministerial talks
Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand resumed joint policy talks for the first time in three years Wednesday after months of fractious relations over a border temple dispute.
Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya met at a Bangkok hotel to discuss the spat and deeper economic ties.
Violent clashes near the ancient 11th century Preah Vihear have left seven soldiers dead since July 2008 when the temple was granted UN World Heritage status.
High level delegations have met at various times over the past year in an attempt to heal rifts, but Wednesday's meeting is the first time since 2006 that ministers have convened their joint policy commission.
The body had previously met once a year to oversee relations between the two countries.
Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over the Khmer ruins for decades. Although the World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, its most accessible entrance is in northeastern Thailand.
Tensions have also arisen over disputed waters where both countries have granted oil and gas exploration rights to private companies.
After Wednesday's meeting both foreign ministers said the talks signified progress in relations.
"We agree to speed up the border talks so that the existing problems will be solved," Hor Namhong told a press conference.
"We also agreed to cooperate over human trafficking, as Cambodia faces this problem," he said.
The pair said they would resume a Joint Technical Committee on the maritime dispute and vowed the disagreement would not be an obstacle.
"Our problems will not trouble our relations. Whatever our troubles are, we will solve them," Kasit said following the two-hour meeting.
Senior officials met a day earlier in Bangkok, where they kicked off the talks covering cooperation on the economy, trade, education and the border issue.
The ministers also agreed to advance plans for visa exemption scheme when they celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
They also signed an agreement that will allow some prisoners, after serving minimum periods of imprisonment, to be transferred in order to serve their remaining sentences in their own countries.
Source: AFP
TYPE A (H1N1)-Decline in new cases, deaths
Minister cites rising awareness about the virus
Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday that the number of infections and deaths caused by the typeA (H1N1) virus has dropped over the past week, mostly because people were more aware of the disease and were not panicking.A source from the ministry said yesterday that so far 10,045 people have been infected and 81 have succumbed to the virus. However, he said the ministry's deputy permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit will announce the official numbers at a press conference today.Last week, the ministry said 65 had died since the disease broke out in May, and 8,879 people had been infected. He said the number of cases this week had dropped because not only were people not panicking, they were also seeking treatment immediately. He also complimented health care volunteers, especially those in Ubon Ratchathani province, for keeping an eye out for infections.Meanwhile, Witthaya said his ministry was still vigilant because even people with no underlying diseases had succumbed to the disease.Deputy director of the Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Dr Veerasak Kaitpadungkul, said an 11yearold boy had died from the virus yesterday, bringing the total of fatalities in the province to four. The boy was admitted at hospital on August 1 with high fever and troubled breathing. Apparently, he had had a high fever for more than 15 days before he was taken in for treatment, and tested positive to the virus.Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima public health office chief, Dr Chuwit Likhityingwara, said the hospital also admitted two pregnant women with flulike symptoms, and one tested positive to the virus.One of the women, a 16-year-old who was sixmonths pregnant, had a miscarriage and died from severe pneumonia. She did not test positive to the virus.The second woman, an 18yearold who is also sixmonths pregnant, is in critical condition. She has been transferred to the Ramathibhodi hospital and is being treated with the antiviral zanamivir. Her unborn baby is in normal condition. Chiang Mai public health office deputy chief, Surasing Visaruthrat, said more than 10 healthcare workers had already contracted infections either at work or at home, but all had made a full recovery.Meanwhile, Witthaya said few clinics nationwide had agreed to dispense the antiviral drug oseltamivir because they did not want to shoulder the burden. He said he would extend the deadline for clinics to join the programme to August 17.Director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), Dr Vitthit Attavejchakul, said his agency will come up with the first dose of the liveattenuated vaccine, even though it has still not undergone animal or human trial.The vaccine was supposed to be tested on humans this month after the National Ethic Committee had given the study its green light.
Source: The Nation
SAMUI'S ACCIDENT-Bangkok Airways crash kills captain, injures 11
The co-pilot was injured in the accident, Puttipong said, adding that Chartchai had flown for Bangkok Airways for 19 years.
The captain also had 17 years' experience flying the ATR 72-500.
The accident took place amid heavy rain as the pilots attempted to land.
Eyewitnesses said there was a loud noise when the aircraft hit the tower following the landing, after which a fire broke out that killed the pilot and injured 11 others.
The ATR72-500 can seat 70 passengers.
Koh Samui Airport is closed temporarily while the Civil Aviation Department investigates the cause of the accident.
Puttipong said four passengers received serious injuries: two Britons, one Spaniard and one Italian.
Bangkok Airways' insurers will be responsible for compensation. The aircraft is covered by Bangkok Insurance for US$250 million (Bt8.5 billion).
The airline yesterday cancelled seven flights out of Koh Samui Airport and another seven to the island.
Passengers on Koh Samui were transferred by boat to Surat Thani Airport for charter flights to Bangkok.
Bangkok Airways is allowed to operate 34 flights a day to Koh Samui, while Thai Airways (THAI) has a twice-daily service.
THAI senior executive vice president Narongsak Sanga-pong said the national flag carrier also had to suspend its service to Koh Samui, due to the airport's closure.
As a result, two return flights were suspended, affecting 292 passengers.
Once the airport reopens, the company will resume its normal flight schedule.Treated in hospital
Injured passengers
Bangkok-Samui HospitalThanawat Premrudee, 35, co-pilotLinda Thongkorn, 28, crew memberSupanasa Namjit, 25, crew memberNicolas Havel, 39, BritonPanteli Pantelis, 39, BritonJoyce Goosleng, 26, BritonClaire Ballantye, 38, BritonElodie Lacovangelo, 41, SwissMirella Gastaldi, 39, ItalianBan Don Inter HospitalAbreheam Gzaaf, 42, DutchLucar Gzaaf, 11, Dutch
TYPE A (H1N1)-Flu's fatalities reaches 81 Wednesday
Thailand on Wednesday announced an additional 16 fatalities of new strain of influenza, bringing the country's death toll to 81, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr Paijit Warachit said.
The figure was lower than the previous week's toll of 21, which the Public Health Ministry attributed to the public's more awareness of the virus.
"People have a better understanding of the flu and better access to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu," a statement from the ministry said.
Nine men and seven women were killed by influenza between July 26 and August 2, 12 of whom had underlying illnesses when they became infected, it said.
Source: The Nation
Cambodia expects garment exports to drop 30 per cent in 2009
Phnom Penh - The Cambodian government expects garment exports will decline by at least 30 per cent this year due mainly to lower demand in the key US market, local media reported Wednesday. "It is clear that this year's garment exports will drop at least 30 per cent because consumers in the United States have cut purchases," Mean Sophea, the head of the Ministry of Commerce's trade preferences department, told The Phnom Penh Post.
Earlier this year the government said it expected garment exports to drop just 5 per cent in 2009.
However, trade union president Chea Mony predicted that exports would fall even further.
"We are concerned that the situation of Cambodia's garment exports will deteriorate even further than that predicted by the [ministry] unless the government can get rid of rampant corruption in the garment sector," said Chea Mony.
Garments are Cambodia's key foreign exchange earner, generating 3.1 billion US dollars last year. Most garments are exported to the US market and the European Union.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Clinton, 2 journalists depart NKorea for US (AP)
Monday, August 3, 2009
TYPE A (H1N1) -Banquets great site for infections
Chinese banquets are prone to spread the type-A (H1N1) influenza among patrons, as most event halls hosting them are poorly ventilated, while serving spoons are not regularly used and eating utensils not properly cleaned or sanitised, the Public Health Ministry warned yesterday.
The ministry's permanent secretary Prat Bunyawongwiroj said such banquets or similar events with large gatherings were still regarded as high risk for spreading the disease.
Prat earlier visited a hospital in Ayutthaya province where five pregnant women with the influenza had been admitted for treatment. He said three had recovered and discharged. The other two were still being treated, but were no longer on life-support systems and could breathe on their own.
Prat did not comment on speculation that the hospital had hidden details about the admission of the five pregnant patients.
One woman, 36, gave birth prematurely to a baby boy, who was also infected with the disease. The other woman, 39, also gave birth but there was no sign of the baby being infected.
A 50-year-old inmate in the provincial prison has been diagnosed with the flu and is being treated at hospital. Her case has prompted concern among local corrections authorities that an outbreak could develop among inmates. There are five prisons in the province.
Source: The Nation
