United States Department of State Released Report on Human Rights Violation Committed by Armed Forces against Citizens – Friday, 27.2.2009

Posted on 28 February 2009. Filed under: Week 601 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 601

“Businesspeople and powerful officials used courts and armed forces such as police, soldiers, and military police to evict citizens from their land and their houses without proper compensation.

“The US Department of State released the 2008 report about many cases of human rights abuses in Cambodia, caused by armed forces to evict citizens from their houses to grab their land illegally. The report described also tortures against suspects and prisoners at prisons, and the arrests of citizens and extrajudicial killings, as well as the restriction of the freedom of expression.

“The report of the US Department of State continued that most armed forces that used violence are from the military and the police, and they are not prosecuted for what they did.

“The report added that there were 40 cases of extrajudicial killings, where 16 cases were committed by police and 15 cases by military. Frequently, tortures at prisons become normal to force to obtain answers.

“The report of the US Department of State concluded that while corruption is still widespread, land disputes and evictions of citizens from their houses are still a major problems.

“The Minister of Information and government spokesperson, H.E. Khieu Kanharith, could not be reached for comment on 26 February 2009 after the annual report was released by the US Department of State, stating that armed forces were leading the violation of human rights and are involved in extrajudicial killings in Cambodia, where 40 such cases happened.

“Recently, civil society organizations in Cambodia were involved in drafting legislation relating to the establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Committee and an independent human rights committee in Cambodia, with fund allocated by the National Assembly every year for this task.

“Civil society officials said that the report of the US Department of State about the situation of human rights violations, evictions of citizens, and corruption occurring in Cambodia is true, especially about the extrajudicial killings, and about some perpetrators who are not brought to be prosecuted according to the law.

“Such human rights violations show a lack of efforts by the government that lets a culture of impunity exist in Cambodia. If such human rights violations still continue to happen, that means that citizens cannot protect their rights if human rights violations happen, especially the right to freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate against violations of any law.” Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #351, 27.2.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 27 February 2009

Cheat Khmer, Vol.1, #27, 27-1.2.2009

  • Mr. Sam Rainsy: “If the King Grants an Amnesty in a Fine Case [with a fine of Riel 10 million, approx. US$2,500, charged by the National Election Committee], I Will Donate this Amount to the Kuntheak Bopha Hospital”

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #126, 27.2.2009

  • The Permanent Committee of the National Assembly Decided to Suspend Mr. Sam Rainsy’s Immunity
  • Khmer Citizens Support the Government’s Action to Close the Football Betting and Slot Machines [of Cambosix, a big betting and gambling company with many branches in Cambodia, is now closed]
  • Two Students Who Hit a Teacher Are Jailed for Six Months and Ordered to Pay US$2,000 Compensation [Phnom Penh]
  • [The president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia] Chea Mony: [the former Phnom Penh police chief, who is involved in many murder cases] Heng Pov Might Disclose the Mystery behind the Murder of His Older Brother Chea Vichea

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1884, 27.2.2009

  • [The Minister of Foreign Affairs] Goes to Attend the ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin in Thailand [scheduled to be held from 27 February to 1 March 2009]
  • Three Japanese Naval Ships Visit Cambodia
  • The Club of Cambodian Journalists Ask Journalists to Adhere to the Code of Conduct Firmly

Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #351, 27.2.2009

  • United States Department of State Released Report on Human Rights Violation Committed by Armed Forces against Citizens

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6589, 27.2.2009

  • The Tribunal Suspends the Hearing of the Complaint, Asking to Be Out of Bail for the Suspect Ieng Sary due to Health Problem
  • 18 Companies Receive Economic Concession Land of Nearly 80,000 Hectares, while 1,267 Farmers’ Families Lack Land for Cultivation in Kompong Thom
  • Billionaire Bill Gates Grants US$100 Million to Assist Research on AIDS
  • Police Against Human Trafficking and Protecting Minors Arrest an American Man in Siem Reap [for debauchery involving children]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.16, #3698, 27.2.2009

  • Sam Rainsy Asks Swiss Banks to Check Dirty Money of High-Ranking Khmer Officials Deposited There

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4832, 27.2.2009

  • America Says that the Human Rights Situation in Cambodia Is Not Yet Good
  • Cambodia Encourages the European Community to Sign an Aid Project Worth Euro 77 Million [approx. US$98 million – about the provision of finance for basic studies, commercial governance, and human rights to be implemented from 2007 to 2010]
  • 2010-2012 Public Investment Program Needs Capital of US$2.8 Billion
  • 70,000 Cambodian People Die of Smoking Cigarettes per Year [according to a research by the World Health Organization and by the Ministry of Health of Cambodia]

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Not Only the Rich, but Also Middle Class People Go to Foreign Doctors – Thursday, 5.2.2009

Posted on 6 February 2009. Filed under: Week 598 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 598

“Phnom Penh: Disobeying medical ethics, the lack of human resources, the shortages of modern tools for analysis and treatment, result in a situation where many Khmer doctors no longer are considered as serious providers of care for Khmer citizens. The number of Cambodian citizens going to receive medical checkups and treatments in neighboring countries is greatly increasing.

“As the reasons behind, we found that the prices of treatments in foreign countries, especially in Vietnam, are similar to the prices in our own country, but the friendliness of foreign doctors towards patients is probably another factor that provides the warm feeling towards patients receiving health checkups and treatments in foreign countries, even though they know that it requires higher expenses contributing to the economy of other countries.

“Mr. Kosal (name changed to maintain his privacy), who frequently goes to Vietnam to receive health checkups said that in Vietnam, before a doctor treats an illness, they thoroughly check, they do not just say something and then inject drugs, or to set up a bag of fluid for an intravenous drip, as doctors in Cambodia almost every time do, to get money.

“He added that doctors in other countries speak friendly and from a position of medical ethics, hospitals show to have sanitation standards, and they have modern tools which make patients feel confident when going to have health checkups and treatments in other countries.

“He emphasized, ‘When I say so it is not to advertise their country, or to humiliate our own nation, but the lack of a medical ethos of Khmer doctors, besides their unprincipled words, uncertain checking methods and treating people just for money, demanding money before the treatment, extending the illness [so that patients have to stay longer and spend much money for the treatment], and unqualified skills, make patients no longer feel warmly toward such doctors.’

“He continued to say, ‘I don’t believe that there are no outstanding doctors in Cambodia, and these do not adhere to immoral values,’ adding, ‘but white doctor’s clothes represent pureness, but not all who wear such clothes do respect what the value of their white clothes indicates.’

“Whether those who go to foreign countries are mostly the rich was explained by Mr. Kosal like this. The fees for treatment in the country mentioned are comparable to Cambodia, but there are additional expenses: for the service of interpreters, for accommodation, food, and for travel. Mr. Kosal added that middle class people also go for treatment, not only the rich. In addition to the mutual trust between those providing health checkups and patients in Vietnam or in other countries, pharmacies in these countries sell medicine to customers on the basis of prescriptions from expert doctors, and especially, in these countries, if a doctors do not have the specialization to treat a certain illness, they will not try to provide treatment, but they will help to refer such patients to another hospital with experts for the illness which a patient has.

“Mr. Kosal went on to say that in general in Cambodia – besides treating any kind of illnesses whether or not they are specialized, and injecting bags of fluid through intravenous drips, which is a method they prefer to use to get much money – some of the doctors scare patients, recommending to receive [unnecessary] operations, so that they can earn more money without really caring about people’s health and lives.

“Mr. Bunthoeun (name changed to maintain his privacy), who frequently goes to receive regular checkups for his liver disease, said, ‘Doctors in Vietnam carefully check illnesses. We learn from them and in their country, they work around-the-clock, making regular visits to take turn caring for patients, unlike in Cambodia, where doctors demand free time on Saturdays and Sundays.

“He added that in that country, people prefer to go to state hospitals rather than to private hospitals, because doctors at state hospitals earn bigger salaries than doctors at private hospitals, which are required to pay high taxes to the state.

“The basis for such trust is explained by Mr. Bunthoeun by saying that in that country, the government often sends doctors to be upgraded by training in foreign countries according to their skills, but not based on nepotism. On the contrary, in Cambodia doctors pay bribes to receive training, and if they fail exams they demand to continue their studies. As a result, when they become doctors, some do not have qualified skills for their career, and then they treat patients without certainty what to do, by just injecting drugs based on vague assumptions.

“Mr. Bunthoeun criticized also that some doctors in Cambodia, who have little knowledge, become proud of themselves, and even when they have almost created more problems for patients, they do not call them, and if they write prescriptions, they write them in French, in order to show off that they are knowledgeable, and their handwriting is difficult to read.

“He asked, ‘Why don’t they write in Khmer? If it is “vitamin,” why not write “វីតាមីន​” in Khmer, so that it is understandable? Why is it written in French?’ Creating trust will help reduce that patients leave to foreign countries, which wastes resources of the national economy, because if ‘doctors can create trust in the country, people will not go abroad.’

“The director of the Mekong Phnom Penh Clinic, which always sends patients to foreign countries according to their requests, Mr. Kong Kimchan, said that to send a patient to Vietnam costs between US$300 and US$400, adding that not only the rich, but also middle class people can go, and the fees for treatments are lower than in Cambodia, but a lot of expenses are needed for accommodation, food, and travel.

“As for the fact that many Khmer patients leave to go abroad, he said, ‘I do not know what to say about human resources in Cambodia, so that many people no longer have trust.’

“Mr. Kong Kimchan added that many factors influence people to no longer have trust; talking about human resources, we also have many, but the private services at some places, and the uncertainty people in general feel, and insufficient knowledge, are reasons affecting other human resources. He went on to say that also belated transportation facilities in emergencies at some localities affect the trust of the people. Although patients are transported to state hospitals, they no longer have trust.

“He continued to say, ‘Reorganizing the system for all people at the basis is good, because patients are not only in the cities, and I do not believe that Khmer doctors exaggerate the general situation of illnesses, because they also want a good reputation.’

“Regarding the lack of tools as a problem, he said, ‘We have received assistance to have many tools, and human resources are also many, but we do not share information well. Therefore, people do not know what we did and how many people we saved. After we would have published such information, what can we do? Are there enough arguments to be presented? In other countries, they have arguments and they have tools.’ He added, ‘We still have shortages; we need additional tools and additional training of human resources.’

“Do hospitals in Cambodia really have the problems as mentioned above? The director of the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, Mr. Say Sengly, recognized, ‘The quality of our services is really limited if compared to neighboring countries, but at present, we are reforming everything, the medical ethos, the techniques, and the procedures for the care of patients.’

“He added, ‘If we talk about the rights of customers and of service providers, the service providers have to take care of patients, but we do not restrain patients, if they want to go to neighboring countries to find better qualified treatment. He continued to say that as for making patients afraid, and the excessive use of too many intravenous drips, it seldom happens at state hospitals, but frequently it happens in private clinics so as to receive much income.”Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4813, 5.2.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 5 February 2009

Cheat Khmer, Vol.1, #12, 5.2.2009

  • Mr. Sam Rainsy Will Appear to Explain His Position to the [Phnom Penh Municipal] Court on 11 February 2009 [on a complaint lodged against him by the National Election Committee, as he has not paid Riel 10 million, approx. US$2,500, for defamation – related to a speech during the election campaign in 2008]
  • [Around 3,000] Workers of a Shoe Factory Strike to Demand that the Factory Owner Obeys the Labor Law

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #112, 5-6.2.2009

  • [Adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of the Cambodian Human Rights Committee] Mr. Om Yentieng Reacts to a Report of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association ADHOC [voicing concerns over serious land disputes, poor law enforcement, and impunity in 2008 – Mr. Om Yentieng said, ‘I think I cannot agree with the ADHOC’s report, and though some problems arose, I do not deny them, but it seems that I cannot agree with the assessment, and it is not done well.’]
  • [Former director of the Phnom Penh Department of Education] Mr. Chea Cheat Is Appointed to Replace Mr. Oum Hoeung, Who Is Sent into Retirement

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1865, 5.2.2009

  • Serbia Deploys Ambassador [accredited in Indonesia also] to Cambodia for the First Time
  • A US Ten-Stories Tourist Cruise Ship [with around 1,393 tourists from more than 100 countries] Docks in Sihanoukville
  • Agricultural Researchers of Singapore and Taiwan Come to Study Land Availability and Quality in Cambodia for Investment
  • The United States of America Warns North Korea about Missile Testing as Creating Trouble

Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol.7, #335, 5.2.2009

  • 19 Generals Are Appointed Advisors to Samdech Hun Sen after the Shift of H. E. Ke Kim Yan [as the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces commander-in-chief]

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #337, 5.2.2009

  • [Minister of Foreign Affairs] Hor Namhong Demands Euro 100,000 [approx. US$130,000] Reparation from [opposition party president] Sam Rainsy, but the French Court Reduces It to One Euro [regarding Mr. Sam Rainsy’s book, defaming him, that he was, as Boeng Trabaek prison chief, also victimizing innocent Khmer citizens; but the court allows the publishing of the book after deleting one sentence defaming Mr. Hor Namhong]

Khmer Sthapana, Vol.2, #197, 5.2.2009

  • Dey Krahom Residents Protests in Front of the Headquarters of the 7NG Company to Demand US$20,000 as Compensation [among the 1,465 Dey Krahom families, 45 try to demand US$20,000 compensation]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6570, 5.2.2009

  • Appeals to the Tamil Tiger Insurgents [by the USA, the European Union, Japan, and Norway] to Surrender [because their fate comes almost to and end through the Sri Lankan government military forces]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.16, #3679, 5.2.2009

  • A Person Who Was Close to [top Khmer Rouge leader] Pol Pot [Van Sith, an important former Khmer Rouge official in charge of commerce] Died. It is a Significant Loss for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal [according to the Documentation Center of Cambodia, he died in late 2008]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4813, 5.2.2009

  • Not Only the Rich, but Also Middle Class People Go to Foreign Doctors
  • Negotiation in Bangkok: Thailand Continues to Demand to Use the Word Pra Vihan [พระวิหาร in Thai – Preah Vihear ព្រះវិហារ in Khmer] Which Blocks Border Marker Settings

    • A personal note:

    In Europe, at the French-German border, we use, of course, both languages on the border signs: “France” and “Frankreich,” and “Allemagne” and “Deutschland” – no problem.

    As for a big city which, during the centuries, was sometimes German and sometimes French – the French call it “Strasbourg” and the Germans call it “Straßburg.”

    It is surprising that this common sense question of the two languages is mentioned as posing the difficulties, while there has no mutual agreement ever been announced where to put the markers in the widely contested area – always considering the very restricted Cambodian claim – “for the time being” – expressed by the Cambodian side in the Joint Communique of 18 June 2008.

  • Five Children Found to Have Survived the Tuol Sleng Prison [in videos about the Tuol Sleng prison recently provided by Vietnam, taken at the time of the liberation of the prison by Vietnamese soldiers in 1979, who documented it on film] the Documentation Is Now Being Sought to Be Used as Witness Material
  • The Government Creates a New Committee to Solve Investors’ Problems
  • France Asks to Permit again International Adoptions of Children from Cambodia, but Cambodia Suggests to Consider Some Conditions [1. Should single persons be allowed to adopt children or not?, 2. Should families that already have two children be allowed to adopt another child?, and 3. Should gay families be allowed to adopt a child?]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.16, #3480, 5.2.2009

  • The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Has Received 94 Civil Party Victim’s Complaints for the Case of Former Tuol Sleng Prison Chief Duch [Kaing Gek Eav]

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Perception and Reality – Again – Sunday, 18.1.2009

Posted on 19 January 2009. Filed under: *Editorial*, Week 595 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On Monday, 12 January 2009, we had the 100,000th visit to the Mirror – starting from January 2007.

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The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 595

In the Mirror, we have taken up the public importance of perceptions several times over the years.

Actually, we had raised this question at the beginning of the publication of The Mirror on the Internet in January 2007, with reference to Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia under the tile “Perception and Reality.” At his inauguration, he had pointed to the important role of perceptions held by the public – which may or may not conform to reality, but are nevertheless extremely important for the political situation of a country.

And Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar, as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, took up the concern for the role of perceptions, saying that “negative developments do not contribute to creating a climate of confidence in the world, which is vitally necessary for all of us, regardless of different faiths and beliefs, to live in peace and harmony.”

Not only the reality is important – but how it is understood and interpreted what is heard and seen – this too is extremely important. Some good things may be misunderstood as if they were bad. But if many things heard and seen result in negative perceptions, it can have deeply devastating consequences for a seemingly well functioning society.

This week, we list up some reports – really not knowing how the public can help to clarify what is confused, to avoid moving further down into the dark.

The international Human Rights Organization Human Rights Watch had, in its 2009 report covering the situation of many countries, also criticized Cambodia.

Human Rights Watch does not report only about notoriously criticized countries like Myanmar, but it deals also with the human rights situation – to name some more countries – in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and in the United States of America. Many of these countries take problems raised very seriously.

The brief Cambodia section of the Events of 2008 is followed by about 20 additional, detailed background documents

The content of all this is – unfortunately – not new: criticism of the criminal justice system, cases of intimidation, violence, imprisonments. Endemic impunity, rampant corruption, and illegal plundering of natural resources. And: Cambodia is due to be reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Commission in December 2009.

Most cases had been reported in the Khmer press during the year, quite a number also we had mirrored.

The official Cambodian reaction was reported in the Cambodia Daily as follows:

“Om Yentieng, head of the government’s human rights committee, dismissed the report’s findings, saying Human Rights Watch was defaming the country with lies and, in the process, making themselves foolish.

‘I refuse all of the accusations,’ he said, ‘they are just trying to make up things, or they just want to spoil heir name. They are playing the role as a puppet in order to gain an advantage for themselves.’”

(Cambodia Daily, 16 January 2009)

As an illustration of the gap between this perception and the reality we point to some reports mirrored during the past week – small and big events:

  • When people need public certifications or documentation, there are often no publicly displayed fees, saying transparently what is to be paid – “The price of a certificate, to get employment, to register the place of residence, or to get married is US$5.00, but the price goes up with its urgency – US$5.00 for one month – US$45.00 for 15 days, US$100.00 for one week, and US$150.00 for one day.” Similar arrangements may be in place in other countries too. But the report claims what is said to be general knowledge: “…these extra charges do not go to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.”
  • When a family had lost their new born son in a hospital formerly supported by Japan, the following financial dealings were reported. They had been going on for some time, but nobody had dared to speak up. – “There are notices written on the walls of the Japanese hospital with big Khmer letters on blue background, saying please do not pay anything to the staff, but only to the cashiers. Patients who are not able to pay for the services are invited to contact a monitoring group, and if someone asks for money in addition to the prescribed fees, they should be reported to the monitoring group. The service charges are approx. US$3.50 for a woman delivering her first baby; the normal room charge is approx. US$2.50 per night. – However, everything is different from the above prohibition notice. Each patient pays extra money in addition to the services, such as approx. US$10.00 to US$30.00 for doctors, approx. USUS$2.50 to each medical staff who injects three syringes three times per day etc. A woman said that, when the head of her baby appeared half way, first the doctors asked her how much money she would offer them. That woman offered them approx. US$12.00, but the doctors demanded more. Because she begged that that was all the money she had, they agreed. This is an incredible story, but that was what that woman said herself. Another woman staying in the next bed offered the doctors US$5.00, but only when they arrived at the sum of US$30.00 they agreed.”
  • When defense lawyers at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal were unable to get information about alleged kickbacks of Khmer staff – to higher level persons, for having received their positions – which would have satisfied them that there will be no unfairness in the trials, they finally filed a request for clarification of these corruption allegation at the Phnom Penh court. Now they feel intimidated by judges who prepare to sue them for defamation – instead of being grateful that the allegations could be refuted by a court forever.
  • When a delegation from the Senate and from human rights groups tried to inspect and to check forest sites allegedly cleared for planting rubber trees in Ratanakiri, the DM Group, the company under suspicion, prevented them from fulfilling their task.
  • When a Danish Woman had bought several thousand over-the-counter painkiller tablets with codeine, that can be easily and legally bought at many pharmacies all over Phnom Penh, and she tried to mail them at the Post Office – they are cheap here, and she hoped to sell them abroad to make some small extra money to support her son – she was arrested. Now she was convicted to serve 15 years in prison and fined approx. US$7,500 for drug trafficking. None of the press report said anything about any involvement with illegal substances.
  • When 234 families felt threatened as owners of their land by the Heng Development Company, they were satisfied that the Kandal provincial court had confirmed their land rights on 26 February 2007. But now the company deployed machinery and started to clear their land. When the legal owners protested, the company told them that the Kandal court had made a wrong judgment. The Military Police in Kandal Stung, led by their commander – a nephew of the director of the Heng Development Company – deployed 20 to 30 armed military police who opened fire with their AK-47 rifles – at least three men were seriously injured.
  • When it was reported that the US company PHI Mining had bought the Indochina Mining Corporation, now a subsidiary of PHI Mining, and that it now cooperates with the Cambodian company Angkor Metal Corporation, it was not big news. But maybe it had been big news before, and we had missed to see it – or it should have been big news. As we have mirrored yesterday, his cooperation relates to Cambodian natural resources , where the initial valuation of this copper ore area is estimated at USUS$1 billion. And we also mirrored yesterday that the Angkor Metal Corporation does not disclose much about itself in the way other companies do, though the US partner company writes that the “Founders of Angkor Metal Corporation include a son and a son-in-law of Mr. Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, thus ensuring political support to acquire and extend mining license.”

    • The Constitution of Cambodia says:

    The National Assembly shall approve the national budget, State planning, loans, financial contracts, and the creation, modification and annulment of tax. (Article 90)

    We do not have information about any public bidding for the financial contract for national mineral resources, which the Angkor Metal Corporation finally got, neither do we have information on the status of the National Assembly approval procedures for the project and loan agreements – in the range of US$500 million – which are, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, already signed by Cambodia and by Kuwait.

    As stated initially, in public politics the perception of what is going on is often more important for the public democratic process than the reality – so we raised all the issues above – all based on information which was either in Cambodian newspapers, or which is available publicly on the Internet. Prime Minister Badawi had accepted, therefore, the need for self-criticism in searching for the reasons for such perceptions. But at the same time he considered it necessary to engage in identifying what he saw as “wanton violations of human dignity, natural justice, human rights and international law.”

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    Thursday, 28.8.2008: Nephews of Khmer Prime Minister Cause Five People to Die during Third Term Royal Government

    Posted on 29 August 2008. Filed under: Week 575 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 575

    “Nephews of Prime Minister Hun Sen have caused four people to die in traffic accidents during the third term government that will come to an end next month. Relatives of innocent people who died because of Mr. Hun Sen’s nephews mostly were paid US$4,000 in order to save the perpetrators from being convicted.

    “Early 2004, a nephew of Mr. Hun Sen was involved in a traffic accident near a fence at the Olympic Stadium where he was with his group of children of the rich, causing four innocent people to die, because of a brutal gun fire. In that event, a nephew of the Prime Minister who holds the surname Hun and his group drove a car and hit people, but none was injured. After chatting with each other for a moment, a heavy shootout with firearms started; it was the gunfire from the faction of Mr. Hun Sen’s nephew which hit a seller of Lout Chha – a fried rice and coconut seller – resulting in the death of four people, and then the perpetrators and their group paid US$4,000 to the families of each victim.

    “Also, a nephew of Prime Minister Hun Sen, Hun Chea, drove a car and hit a person, killing him, in Phnom Penh last week, and the perpetrator paid US$4,000 compensation, like in the killing of four people in 2004.

    “However, causing a person to die this time agitates people from the legal profession as well as a well-known newspaper of the United States. Furthermore, officials of the government said that a person who causes the death of another person like this will not be able to avoid a conviction according to the law.

    “A lawyer, an official of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, reported to The Cambodia Daily that drivers involved in accidents that result in the death of a persons cannot legally escape from a conviction of a crime by paying a compensation to the family of the dead victim.

    “However, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information and the government spokesperson, seemed to protect the perpetrator, Mr. Hun Sen’s nephew, in a press conference on Sunday.

    “It is reported that Mr. Hun Chea, Mr. Hun Sen’s nephew, had paid a compensation of US$4,000 to the family of the victim who rode on his small motorcycle and died through the accident, but there is no legal action taken. Mr. Khieu Kanharith said that doing so [paying a compensation to the victim’s family] is legal in Cambodia.

    “Lawyer Kea Eav, also an expert in traffic law, and Mr. Ung Chun Hour, the director of the Transportation Department of the Ministry of Public Work, said that anyone who causes an accidents that leads to the death of another person, cannot legally avoid a criminal investigation and prosecution towards finding solutions according to the criminal code. They recognized, however, that this law is frequently not practiced. Mr. Kea Eav criticized the speech of Minister Khieu Kanharith as a misunderstanding, as it is against the law that the authorities would let such cases to be solved on the basis of compensation payments. He added, ‘Accidents which result in the death of another person are a crime that cannot be solved through compensation. A compensation payment cannot stop criminal proceedings.’

    “Mr. Ung Chun Hour, a co-drafter of the new traffic law, said that frequently, the authorities violate this law to solve problems through compensation payments outside of the judicial system. He continued to say, ‘They are wrong, if they do not use the judicial system, though frequently also the victims’ families want to avoid to use legal procedures which take very long before a solutions is achieved.’

    “Mr. Jeffrey M. Kahan, a legal and development advisor of the Cambodian Defenders Project, said that there is not one clause in the legislative procedure code which allows a compensation payment to stop a clearly criminal procedure.

    “The traffic law states, ‘Anyone who causes an accident which leads to an unintentional killing will be convicted to serve from one to three years in prison, and will be charged with between Riel 2 million [approx. US$490] and Riel 6 million [approx. US$1,480]. This clause does not talk about compensation.’

    “Mr. Joel Brinkley, a well-known writer, whose article was published in the Modesto Bee in California/USA, wrote an article on 22 August 2008 with the title ‘The world leader in corruption is – Cambodia.’ This article pointed to an accident caused by a nephew of Prime Minister Hun Sen, killing an innocent person, but the perpetrator was able to avoid to be caught in the net of the law. This article in the Modesto Bee makes officials of the government feel uneasy, as the Minister of Information tried to explained things in a press conference on Sunday.

    “As a matter of fact, during the third term government, Mr. Hun Sen’s nephews caused the death of five people, and this does not include such different cases as that Oknha Hun To hit Mr. Nuon Vuthy, a Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian, a few days ahead of the election, at the Prek Kdam Ferry Dock.” Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #231, 28.8.2008

    Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
    Thursday, 28 August 2008


    Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1731, 28.8.2008

    • Siam [Thailand] Announces Cancellation of Negotiation [on removal of all troops from the Preah Vihear Temple] Scheduled to Be Held in Siem Reap on 29 August [due to the crisis in Thailand, reports Kampuchea Thmey – but a Thai Foreign Ministry statement denied that the cancellation is related to the Bangkok demonstrations]
    • Siamese [Thai] Criminal Court Prepares to Issue Arrest Warrants for the Leaders of the Demonstrations
    • Election Observation Supplies Worth More Than US$180,000 Transferred by European Community to 17 Cambodian Non Governmental Organizations
    • Number One [condom plus brand] Lubricant Is Surprisingly Used [by women factory workers] to Cure Pimples [Sihanoukville]


    Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #231, 28.8.2008

    • Nephews of Khmer Prime Minister Cause Five People to Die during Third Term Royal Government


    Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #84, 28.8.2008

    • Cambodia and Thailand Will Cooperate to Promote Tourism at the Preah Vihear Temple Area [according to The Nation of Thailand]


    Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6435, 28.8.2008

    • Traffic Accidents in Cambodia: More Than Four People Die Each Day; in 2007, More Than 1,000 People Died and More Than 7,000 Were Injured


    Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3550, 28.8.2008

    • US Federal Bureau of Investigation Prepares to Investigate the Murder of a Moneaksekar Khmer Journalist


    Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4679, 28.8.2008

    • Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos Sign Border Agreements


    Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3395, 28.8.2008

    • Siem Reap Governor [Sou Phirin] Allows Businesspeople to Cut 60 Hectares of Flooded Forest Where Fish Lay Eggs
    • Boeng Kak Lake Residents Worried and Concerned While the Company Tests Soil Pumping [from the Mekong to the Lake] for the First Time [Phnom Penh]

    Click here to have a look at the last editorial – some fundamental challenges into the future

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    Monday, 25.8.2008: United States of America Grants More Than US$34 Million for Heath and Education Projects in Cambodia

    Posted on 26 August 2008. Filed under: Week 575 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 575

    “Phnom Penh: The government of the United States of America and the Royal Government of Cambodia will sign two bilateral agreements at a total cost of US$34.3 million as donor funds for 2008, from the U. S. Agency for International Development [USAID] to promote priority sectors in Cambodia – health and education.

    “The [signing] ceremony will be held on 25 August 2008 and will be presided over by Samdech Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Mr. Joseph Mussomeli, the US Ambassador to Cambodia, Mr. Hor Namhong, a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ms.
    Erin Soto, USAID Mission Director, who will sign on behalf of the US government. These new funds will add to nearly US$200 million since USAID granted funds for the health and education sectors of Cambodia since 2002.

    “An announcement by the US Embassy on 23 August 2008 said that the first agreement will be a grant of a total volume of US$32.2 million to strengthen the health sector as a priority. This fund will promote all activities aiming at the reduction rate of infections and of the impact of HIV/AIDS, and the prevention and the wiping out of big infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and bird flu, in order to improve child and maternal health and reproductive health, and to strengthen the public heath system, also including the strengthening of additional technical skills for health staff.

    “The second agreement will provide more than US$2 million in total to support plans of the Royal Government of Cambodia for the education sector. The funds will be used for the existing programs to improve the quality of education as the basis to increase access to schools for Cambodian children, as well as for children of minority peoples, and for those who do not get access to employment [disabled persons?], and also support the schooling of very poor children. This activity will also focus on the implementation of new study programs at the national level with educational standards which will cut down the rates of dropping out of school and of the repetition of classes through the enhancement of the quality of teaching and through assessments of the results of the students’ studies.

    “In addition to the activities in the health and education sectors, USAID assists also some programs for the benefit of all the Cambodian citizens, including programs to strengthen human rights, the rule of law, of basic good governance, and of decentralization, the fight against corruption, the development of the private sector, and the fight against human trafficking. USAID expects to grant US$57.5 million to Cambodia in 2008.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4676, 24-25.8.2008

    Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
    Monday, 26 August 2008


    Deum Tnot, Vol.1, #32, 25-26.8.2008

    • Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh, the Former President of the Third Term National Assembly and Co-President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Had [a huge number of] 59 Advisors and 66 Assistants


    Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1728, 24-25.8.2008

    • National Election Committee Rejects Opposition Party’s Request to Show Evidence [of irregularities for deleting voters’ names – NEC claims that the names were deleted a long time ago]
    • Many Mountains in Pailin Seriously Destroyed [by powerful people’s land grabbing]


    Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #229, 24-26.8.2008

    • People Talking on Mobile Phones Were Killed by Lightning, because [Posts and Telecommunication Minister] So Khun Is Poor in Communication Technology [???]
    • Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha Will Take Evidence to Complain to UN Together, in Early September [over irregularities in election]


    Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6432, 25.8.2008

    • Government Official [Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith] Accuses an American Newspaper [The Modesto Bee] of Insulting Cambodia [an article by Pulitzer Prize winner former journalist and now professor of journalism at Stanford University Joel Brinkley, quoting the Phnom Penh Post report and the US Ambassador about a fatal traffic accident and impunity: “The world leader in corruption is – Cambodia”]


    Rasmei Angkor, Vol.11, #1351, 25.8.2008

    • Robbers Shot at Gold Seller and Robbed Him of Nearly 300 Chi of Gold [worth approx. US$30,000]; the Gold Seller Is Wounded and a Neighbor, Who Tried to Help Him, Was Shot Dead [by robbers – Angkao, Phnom Penh]


    Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4676, 24-25.8.2008

    • United States of America Grants More Than US$34 Million for Heath and Education Projects in Cambodia
    • Samdech Krom Preah [Prince Norodom Ranariddh] Decides Not to Enter Politics [according to Prince Thomico]
    • Thai Opposition Group Announces to Hold a Large Demonstration to Expel the Government on 26 August 2008

    Click here to have a look at the last editorial – some fundamental challenges into the future

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    Monday, 18.8.2008: Ministry of Interior and Federal Board of Investigation Discuss Details How to Find the Murderer Who Shot the Moneaksekar Khmer Journalist to Death

    Posted on 19 August 2008. Filed under: Week 574 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

    The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 574

    “Last Monday, US embassy officials in Cambodia reported to journalists that the [US] Federal Board of Investigation [FBI] and Cambodian police officials are discussing details that are needed to be clear for the cooperation to investigate the murder of a journalist of Moneaksekar Khmer, Mr. Khim Sambo. The spokesperson of the US embassy in Cambodia, Mr. John Johnson, said that the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia and the FBI are discussing details on how the Cambodian side and the FBI should cooperate with each other to investigate to seek the murderer who killed the journalist of Moneaksekar Khmer, Mr. Khim Sambo, and his son, Khat Sarinpheata.

    “The US embassy spokesperson in Cambodia, Mr. John Johnson said, ‘The Ministry of Interior of Cambodia and the FBI are deciding how to cooperate with each other, but an official decision has not yet been made.’ Regarding this issue, national and international observers are carefully following these events, because the cooperation between the FBI and the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia, administered by Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, may soon lead to identify the murderer. Especially they want to know the real reasons for the murder of Mr. Khim Sambo and his son, so that justice can be found for the victims and their family.

    “It should be remembered that a journalist of Moneaksekar Khmer, Mr. Khim Sambo, 47, and his son Khat Sarinpheata, 21, were shot dead by the murderer on a road near the Olympic Stadium on the evening of 11 July 2008, while they were riding on a moto back from exercising in the Olympic Stadium. Previously, General Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh police chief, had said that police had drafted a ‘wanted’ circular with a sketch of the face of the suspected murderer with the cooperation of witnesses at the site of event, and with the victims’ family. They do not know when the police will publish the sketch of the murderer who killed Mr. Khim Sambo and his son in public.

    “Recently, General Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh police chief, had stated his suspicion that the reason for the murder of Mr. Khim Sambo and his son might be individual rancor on Khat Sarinpheata. However, investigating officials of local human rights organizations do not agree with this assumption of General Touch Naroth, because the murderer shot Mr. Khim Sambo before shooting his son, Khat Sarinpheata. As for the victims’ family, they claimed that Khat Sarinpheata never had disputes or rancor with anyone, and they suggested that police should continue to carefully investigate this case.

    “Senior officials of the Sam Rainsy Party stated their opinion that the murder of Mr. Khim Sambo might be involved with politics, because Mr. Khim Sambo was a pro-opposition party journalist. Another point is that Mr. Khim Sambo and his son were killed during the fourth term parliamentary election campaign. The murder of Mr. Khim Sambo makes the editor-in-chief and all staff of Moneaksekar Khmer concerned very much about their own safety when traveling and going to cover information, and they would like to call on the police to arrest the real murderer to be prosecuted soon.

    “Since the murderer of Mr. Khim Sambo and his son, since the evening of 11 July 2008 until Monday, 18 August 2008, more than one month has passed, but the police has not showed their clear position seeking the murderer. Therefore, it is very good that the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia and the FBI of the United States are discussing details together for the investigation to seek the murderer who killed Mr. Khim Sambo and his son. Because of cooperation in the investigation between the Cambodian police and the FBI, the murderer and those who have ordered it might not be able to escape from the law.

    “Officials of human rights organizations in Cambodia noted that sine 1994, twelve journalists have been shot dead, but police has never arrested the murderers to be prosecuted. Because the FBI of the United States now cooperates with the Ministry of Interior of Cambodia to seek the murderer who shot dead Mr. Khim Sambo and his son, national and international observers hope that the murderer will be arrested to be punished soon.

    “It should be noted that on 16 July 2008, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia issued an official statement related to the shooting dead of Mr. Khim Sambo and his son. The statement of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia called on the police of the government of Cambodia to undertake full, quick, and trustworthy investigations to bring those who committed this crime to the court, to be tried in order to also clear any suspicions about the reasons for the murder.

    “Moneaksekar Khmer and national and international journalists as well as officials of human rights organizations in Cambodia hope that, with the cooperation between the FBI and the police of the Ministry of Interior, the murderer who killed Mr. Khim Sambo and his son might be found to be prosecuted soon. Moreover, searching for the murderer who shot dead Mr. Khim Sambo and his son might put an end to the culture of impunity of killing journalists in Cambodia also. While the murderer of Mr. Khim Sambo and his son is being hunted to be prosecuted, other criminals may not dare to kill other journalists, knowing that they cannot escape prosecution according to the law.” Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3541, 18.8.2008


    Apologies – now we have the headlines only – text translation is coming later. This can happen when working with very limited resources.

    Norbert Klein

    Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
    Monday, 18 August 2008


    Deum Tnot, Vol.1, #31, 18-19.8.2008

    • Cruel Armed Forces Trampled Yesterday on Will of Demonstrators against Siamese [Thai] Thieves Who Invade Khmer Land [17 August 2008 in Phnom Penh – demonstrators led by Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association president Rong Chhun and the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia president Chea Mony were dispersed]
    • Funcinpec Continues to Support Cambodian People’s Party to Create a Big-Headed Royal Government


    Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1722, 17-18.8.2008

    • A Number of Invading Siamese [Thai] Soldiers Have Withdrawn from the Disputed Area
    • Prince Thomico: Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh] Can Return to Cambodia if He Stops Entering Politics


    Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #224, 17-18.8.2008

    • Prince Norodom Ranariddh Wants the Position of President of the Constitutional Council instead of Ek Sam Ol [according to a Royal family member]


    Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3541, 18.8.2008


    • Ministry of Interior and Federal Board of Investigation Discuss Details How to Find the Murderer Who Shot the Moneaksekar Khmer Journalist to Death
    • Sam Rainsy Party Continues to Submit Complaints to the Constitutional Council over Irregularities in the Elections
    • Observers Do not Trust It Will Be Possible to Eliminating Corruption at Khmer Rouge Tribunal
    • Cambodian People’s Party Officials Concerned about Reshuffle of Provincial and of Town Governors, and of Police Chiefs


    Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4670, 17-18.8.2008

    • Samdech Dekchor [Hun Sen] Confirms: No Reshuffle of Provincial Leaders


    Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #33, 17-18.8.2008

    • Sam Rainsy Goes against Election Results Just Protesting to Get Positions in National Assembly Committees
    • Electricity Companies in the Provinces Start to Increase the Fees – in Line with Cambodian People’s Party Policy [mocking]

    Click here to have a look at the last editorial – in this post-election period when many things are not yet settled, there is apprehension while waiting

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    Friday, 18.7.2008: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia Issued a Statement to Address the Impunity of Murderers and Attempts to Murder Journalists

    Posted on 19 July 2008. Filed under: Week 569 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

    The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 569

    “On 16 July 2008, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR] in Cambodia issued an official statement with the title ‘The Murder of Khim Sambo, a Journalist of Moneaksekar Khmer, and of His Son’ on 11 July 2008. This statement has raised, in many paragraphs, the issues of press freedom, and of impunity for criminals. It started by sharing sadness as follows:

    “The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia expresses its concerns and sadness about the murder of Mr. Khim Sambo and of his son, Khat Sarinpheata, on 11 July 2008 in the center of Phnom Penh. The OHCHR would like to share sad condolences with the family, friends, and colleges of the victims, and would like to join with others to express our sadness about their death with all who mourn together.

    “While it is too early to decide whether his murder is related to articles that he had written, there is a certain context, raising the suspicion that ‘His work might be a reason for his murder.’

    “Mr. Khim Sambo was an experienced journalist working with Moneaksekar Khmer which is oriented towards the Sam Rainsy Party, which is in the opposition.

    “OHCHR stressed the following in the statement:

    “By not thinking about the reasons for this murder, one could not influence the public view that causes fear of politics among the citizens and in their feelings. Therefore, it is very important that the authorities of the government investigate this case soon, fully, and dependably, and bring the criminals to be sentenced to the court, to resolve all doubts about this murder. Such action would be an assurance, better than anything else in the context of impunity, which still continues for the murderers of journalists in the past, with the impression that criminals are above the law, and journalists are not protected.

    “The murder on a journalist is a denial of the basic right of the freedom of expression. A murder during the parliamentary election campaign towards the 27 July 2008 throws a shadow on the election campaign, where there had not yet been any serious violations so far, compared to previous elections. This murder not only destroyed the victim’s family, friends, and colleges, but it also destroyed newspapers, the journalists’ community, rights and freedoms of expression, and it destroyed as well the possibility of a proper participation by opposition parties in Cambodia.

    “The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia recently noticed that violations against journalists had decreased significantly, compared to the 1990ies. More disputes with journalists are now solved by the courts, but regrettably, activities from criminals still continue stronger than the use of civil courts actions against destructive activities. This murder causes fear that journalists become shooting targets for murderers again.

    “It is indispensable to secure the right to freedom of expression, based on the Constitution, where the authorities protect the journalists from violence; but defamation cases have been approached through criminal lawsuits rather than through civil court actions. The freedom of expression for anyone, to be used peacefully and freely, contributes to publicly discuss concerns in society – this is a key condition to develop a democratic environment.

    “The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia is ready to cooperate with the Ministry of Information and other relevant institutions as well as with other concerned people to find what should be done to strengthen, to promote, and to protect the peaceful implementation of the rights of the freedom of expression and of press freedom, that are recognized by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

    “Information background: Impunity – murders and attempt of murders of journalists in the past:

    “The murder of Mr. Khim Sambo is similar to eight other murders and attempts of murder of journalists in Cambodia since 1994 – in all cases the criminals still continue to live happily with impunity. Those cases are:

    “Mr. Nuon Chan, editor-in-chief of Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, was shot dead by two people riding on a motorcycle in Phnom Penh on 7 September 1994.

    “Mr. Sao Chandara, a journalist of Koh Santepheap, was shot dead on 8 December 1994 in Kompong Cham. A military official was sued, but not sentenced, and he was free from any punishment. The Appeals Court decided to file an appeal against this decision to absolve him from punishment, but the appeal was not filed at the Supreme Court.

    “Mr. Ek Mongkol, a reporter of Radio FM 90 MHz, was shot with many bullets while he was driving along a road in the center of Phnom Penh on 21 October 1995. He survived the shooting.

    “Mr. Thun Bunly, editor-in-chief of Udom Katte Khmer was shot dead by two people ridding on a motorcycle in Phnom Penh on 18 May 1996. Half an hour before he was murdered, he told a friend that he was worried about his safety. In 1995, he had been accused and sentenced twice on accusations of publishing many articles criticizing the Royal Government.

    “Mr. Leng Sam Ang, editor-in-chief of Kumnit Koun Khmer, was hit and shot by police on 2 January 1997. He survived the attack.

    “Mr. Michael Senior, a freelance photographer who was originally Khmer, was shot dead by soldiers when he attempted to take pictures of many soldiers who were stealing goods in a market in Phnom Penh on 8 July 1997.

    Additional Background Information

    Tragedy in Cambodia hits home – A 23-year-old Canadian was among those killed in last months fighting in Cambodia

    PORT MOODY, British Columbia/Canada — Cambodia’s tragedy was brought home when a 23-year-old Cambodian, adopted and raised by a Port Moody couple, was killed July 8 1997. Michael Senior ran afoul of rampaging soldiers in Phnom Penh.

    A memorial service was held 12 July 1997 at Peter and Judy Seniors’ place of worship, Hillside Community Church in Coquitlam, when family members spoke about Michael and several representatives of the Cambodian community shared their thoughts about the crisis in Cambodia.

    “Michael had just gone out of his apartment,” explains his father. “He had a still camera. He saw some soldiers looting stores, and started taking pictures. One of the soldiers shot him in the leg.

    “His wife heard the shot, and came out. He was speaking in Cambodian, telling the soldiers he was sorry for taking the pictures. He and his wife started begging for mercy. The soldiers shot him in front of his wife, and she had to run for her life.”

    “We had her flown out of there the next day,” says Judy Senior. Srey-Pov Senior and her daughter Nina, nine months, arrived in Canada soon afterward and met Michael’s parents for the first time. The family attended a Cambodian memorial service 26 July 1997 at Fraserview Alliance Church in Vancouver. “It would be dangerous for Srey-Pov to go back,” Judy says. “We’re hoping she’ll be able to stay in Canada.”

    “Mr. Thong Uy Pang, editor-in-chief of Koh Santepheap was shot in Phnom Penh on 8 June 1998, but he survived the injury. Last year two grenades were thrown into this newspaper’s office.

    “Mr. Chuo Chetharith, reporter of Radio Ta Prum was shot dead when he arrived at his workplace, by two people riding on a motorcycle, on 18 October 2003.

    “Meanwhile, three other journalists died from violence, cases that have not been solved – Mr. Tou Chhom Mongkol, editor-in-chief of Antarakum died on 11 June 1994; Mr. Pich Em, technician of National Television of Cambodia in Sihanoukville, died on 5 May 1997; and Mr. Ou Sareoun, a journalist of Samleng Reas Khmer was also killed.

    “The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Charge of Human Rights in Cambodia agreed with analysts that impunity is the one major barrier which destroys the rule of law in Cambodia. In most cases when journalists were shot dead, the authorities always said that investigations are being continued, or are not yet finished, or have achieved little results. As a consequence – according to the OHCHR, no criminals have been brought to court to be punished for these crimes.” Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3362, 18.7.2008

    Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
    Friday, 18 July 2008


    Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1696, 18.7.2008

    • Cambodia and Thailand Wait for a Result of Negotiations on 21 July 2008
    • Konrad Adenauer Foundation Was Asked to Continue to Help Cambodia [it uses Khmer human resources for 90% of its work to develop the country; this request was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Mr. Wolfgang Meyer, representative of the organization, finishing his mission in Cambodia]
    • Korea International Cooperation Agency – KOICA – Helps to Construct More than 14 km of a Road in Chea Lea and Sambour Communes, Batheay District [Kompong Cham]

    Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #201, 18.7.2008

    • Khmer Soldiers from Two Regions [Battambang and Siem Reap] Are Sent to the Disputed Area; More Thai Para Soldiers Are Also Added


    Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #52, 18.7.2008

    • Nearly 500 Thai Soldiers Continued to Come into Khmer Land at the Preah Vihear Temple Region
    • Civil Society Organizations Call to Stop Violence during Election Campaign
    • Export of Garments Increase in 2008 [according to Mr. Mean Sophea from the Garment Export Department of the Ministry of Commerce, there is a 5% increase during the period of six months in 2008, and it will continue to rise up to 10% by the end of this year]


    Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6400, 18.7.2008

    • [Khmer] Fishery Official Was Shot Dead [by Vietnamese navy] and Another Official Has Been Arrested in [the Khmer] Sea when They Stopped an [illegal] Yuon [Vietnamese] Fishing Boat [then the Vietnamese navy intervened there was shooting – 17 July 2008 – Kampot]
    • Thailand Continues Increasing Troops; Thai Protesters Who Tried to March to the Preah Vihear Temple Were Blocked by [Thai] Pro-Government Personnel [17 July 2008 – Sisaket Province]
    • [14-year-old] Girl Disappeared, Five Days Later Her Body Was Found in the Jungle; She Had Been Raped and Killed by Breaking Her Neck [Kompong Cham]


    Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3515, 18.7.2008

    • If the Accused Can Talk to Each Other in Detention, It Might Affect the Investigation at the Khmer Rough Tribunal [but a co-lawyer of the former Khmer Rouge leader Mr. Nuon Chea, Mr. Son Arun, said recently that if the court would allow the five accused to sit and talk to each other two or three times per week, it might improve their health and help to release their stress and their hopelessness, so that this special court might finish the process with more success]


    Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4644, 18.7.2008

    • Thailand Still Builds Up Its Troops at the Border; [Thai Prime Minister] Samak: The Three Thai People [who entered Cambodia] Are Provokers; the Thai Army Commander-in-Chief [Anupong Paochinda] Orders Troops to Come Close to Borders; Thailand Mine Action Center [TMAC] Clears Mines Unilaterally
    • Cambodian Prime Minister [Hun Sen] Asked Thai Prime Minister [Samak Sundaravej] to Withdraw Troops from the Region at a Khmer Pagoda [through a letter dated on 17 July 2008]
    • MIG Masters Investment Group Co., Ltd [a Chinese company] Plans to Invest in Public Bus Transportation Sector in Phnom Penh


    Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3362, 18.7.2008

    • The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia Issued a Statement to Address the Impunity of Murderers and Attempts to Murder Journalists

    Have a look at the last editorial – The struggle towards openness and access to information happens in many places – and it may help to mutually learn from other experiences.

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