Cambodia Begins Creating Legislation against Cyber Crimes – Wednesday, 14.7.2010
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 673
Note:
As I will be traveling in, and then from the USA back to Cambodia from Thursday to Saturday, there will be delays – the next publications should be up during Sunday, 18.7.2010 – unless I can do something on the way.
Norbert Klein
“Phnom Penh: Cambodia starts to create legislation against cyber crimes as legal mechanisms for the country to help to deal with cyber crimes and other negative impacts relating to technology, that are happening in Cambodia, in the region, and around the world.
“A workshop about the creation of legislation against cyber crimes was held in the morning of 13 July 2010 at the Council of Ministers, and government officials, officials of national and international organizations, and representatives of Internet Service Providers, of telecom companies, of technology companies, of publication institutions, and of other relevant fields participated in the workshop.
“The head of the working group for the creation of legislation against cyber crimes, Mr. Nhek Kosal Vithyea said, ‘The advancement of technology is a double-edged sword. It can make many things easier and provides abundant benefits for quick development. But it also creates opportunities for criminals to use it to commit various offenses. In the present era of information technology, criminals try to get access to information stored on computers. The quality of information stolen, or the size of destruction caused by this problem, depends on the speed of the networks and on the tools that criminals use, and such activities can be done easily without limits. It is known that the first computer virus was created by a student of computer science of Cornell University on 2 November 1988 [by now he is a professor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. This virus was called ‘Morris Worm’ which affected more than 6,000 servers, wasting approximately US$98 million.
“He added that, in the Kingdom of Cambodia, information technology, such as telecoms, the Internet, electric banking systems, and electric commerce, has improved very quickly. Moreover, regarding national political and security affairs, technology plays a crucial role in maintaining security and stability in the country. He went on to say that taking the opportunity from the fast advancement of technology, terrorists might use Cambodian technology systems to attack the systems in other countries, or to distribute documents for terrorists, to create and recruit terrorist groups, and to communicate with other terrorism networks around the world. This shows that the Kingdom of Cambodia might encounter the above problems which are a big threat for politics, security, economy, society, and culture.
“It should be noted that, previously, there were some cases in Cambodia, like problems with a website of the Ministry of Interior in 2008, and with a website of the Council of Ministers in 2009, where data are kept on a server in the United States, into which bad computer programs had been embedded, infecting the computers of visitors to the website. The website of the Ministry of Environment, for which the data are kept on a server in Japan, was attacked by hackers changing the stored information. Internet Service Providers in Cambodia suffer from interference from abroad every day, often stopping their Operating System and creating a lot of trouble for users, including on the networks of the government etc.
“The head of Economic Crime Division of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alexander Seger, said that cyber crimes have strong negative impacts on all countries of our globe. Therefore, major international organizations, such as the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union, the European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nation [ASEAN] created protection and fighting back mechanisms, implementing different strategies, strengthening their capacities and technologies, establishing global cooperation, creating legal procedures, sharing information about technology, and establishing institutions to fight against cyber crimes.
“He added that in the Council of Europe, there is a pact on cyber crimes called the Budapest Convention on Cyber Crime (of 23.11.2001: ‘Treaty open for signature by the member States and the non-member States which have participated in its elaboration, and for accession by other non-member States’), which had been developed by the Council of Europe, signed by 47 countries, including some countries not in Europe, including Canada, Japan, South Africa, and the United States of America [but ratified and in force only in 18 countries]. He added that in the ASEAN region, some countries have already created laws against cyber crimes, but so far, Cambodia has not had a law and related procedures against it.
“The deputy head of the work team for the creation of a law against cyber crime, Mr. Nuon Sopharoth, said that Cambodia has already experienced many problems that allow cyber criminal activities to commit offenses using such technology. There are many cases where all must pay attention, to prevent cheating on the Internet to receive the inheritance from someone illegally, not to respond to electronic messages asking for passwords, or messages threatening someone, stealing of passwords, and the distribution of child pornography into computer systems, or the sending of spam mails.
“He added that the Royal Government pays much attention to different negative problems relating to technology that are happening in Cambodia, in the region, and around the world. In response, the Royal Government has created permanent measures, and this workshop showed the government’s efforts and the new achievements of the Royal Government to spread more understanding about the problem to the general public.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5249, 14.7.2010
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2300, 14.7.2010
- If There Are No Timely Actions, Flooded Forests [shelters for fish to lay eggs] around the Tonle Sap Lake Will Disappear within Three Years at the Latest [because of destructive actions by some people]
Khmer Amatak, Vol.11, #789, 14.7.2010
- Cambodia Has Its Independence and Integrity, but Human Rights are an Universal Issue so that International Organizations Have the Right to Express Their Concerns [like related to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #7007, 14.7.2010
- The Preah Vihear Governor [Mr. Oum Mara] Fell Ill after Visiting Laos [with vomiting and stomach ache; now he is being hospitalized in the Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh]
- Because of Love Sickness Two Men Committed Suicide: One Was Pained because His Wife Committed Adultery, and Another because of Jealousy [both of them died – Battambang and Sihanoukville]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.17, #3931, 14.7.2010
- The Ministry of Education Asked to Stop the Publication and Distribution of Some Books That Affect the Government [such as “Special General Knowledge Test Collection” and “General Knowledge Test” written by Mr. Pen Puthsaphea [one question, as an example: “The freedoms of citizens is already guaranteed by the Constitution, but what do you think about the use of the freedoms in Cambodia at present?” The suggested answer is that “some points are open, while some others are not”]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #214, 14.7.2010
- The Authorities Asked the Relevant Ministries to Investigate Companies Sending Workers Abroad [after a company was found and accused of forcing more than 200 workers, prepared to be sent abroad, to live in unhygienic conditions in a house in Russey Keo, Phnom Penh]
- Cambodia Prepares to Argue with Thailand Again over the Preah Vihear Temple during a Meeting of UNESCO [after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit announced that the position of Thailand about the Cambodian border issue is that he respects the 1962 judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, but he retains the right to appeal, and he does not recognize the map in 1904 created by France and Siam, and the Memorandum of Understanding of 2000 between Cambodia and Thailand; the latter will be brought for discussion to the Thai Constitutional Court, and the result will be sent to the parliament to ask for adoption]
- Human Rights Officials Are Concerned about Ms. Mu Sochua’s Case [the spokesperson of the United Nations, Mr. Rupert Colville, said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations is seriously concerned about the way in which the defamation proceedings against the opposition politician Ms. Mu Sochua were handled, saying that it shows “an alarming erosion of both freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary in Cambodia”]
- The Authorities Arrested [five] Representatives [among a group of 160] of Disabled People Who Came for a Land Protest [in front of the residence of Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh, while the cabinet of the Prime Minister had promised to solve their case on 14 July 2010; they demanded the land of 4,000 hectares in Kratie which had been promised to be distributed to them]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5249, 14.7.2010
- Cambodia Begins Creating Legislation against Cyber Crimes
- Japan Granted More Than US$920,000 for Mine Clearance in Battambang
- The United States of America Announced to Strengthen Commercial Ties with Cambodia [according to the US Ambassador to Cambodia, Ms. Carol A. Rodley; the export, mostly garment products, of Cambodia to the United States of America amounts to about US$2 billion, while the import from the United States to Cambodia is only more than US$100 million]
- The Ministry of Information Called for a Halt in the Transmission, and for the Deletion of Video Clips of Women Who Were Secretly Filmed by the Former Monk Neth Khai [while the women were nude, showering with holy water]
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Cambodia Will Hand Over Two Terrorist Suspects to Thai Embassy Officials on Monday – Monday, 5.7.2010
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 672
“On Saturday Cambodian police arrested two Thai citizens accused of being involved in planing a bomb attack in Bangkok last month. The two alleged terrorists will be handed over to Thai embassy officials today [5 July 2010].
“According to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that the Phnom Penh Post received on Sunday, Siem Reap police on Saturday evening arrested suspects Kobchai Boonplod, born on 19 July 1967, and Varissareeya Boonsom, female, born on 30 September 1967, accused of having performed a terrorist bomb attack on 22 June 2010 in Bangkok.
“The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Koy Kuong, said, ‘We had enough documents to confirm that they are bomb suspects before we arrested them.’ He added that the Cambodian authorities will hand over the two suspects to Thai embassy officials in Phnom Penh on Monday, 5 July 2010, at 9:30 at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
“He went on to say that Thai authorities spoke to the press last week, saying that the two suspects, who are masterminds of the bomb attack on the headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party [a member of the present Thai government coalition] on 22 June 2010, escaped to Cambodia, but Thailand did not ask Cambodia to arrest them.
“Mr. Koy Kuong added, ‘The Cambodian government promised to extradite the two suspects to Thailand though there was no request from Thailand. This shows the willingness of the Cambodian Government to fight terrorism, as the Cambodian government always cooperates with other countries to combat terrorism. Monday last week, the Thai press had quoted Police Lieutenant Colonel Benjapol Rodsawas, deputy chief of the Sa Kaew immigration office, as saying that Varissareeya Boonsom and Kobchai Boonplod left Thailand separately on Wednesday last week and escaped to Cambodia a day after the bomb attack outside the headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party at Phaholyothin Road in Bangkok. At that time, Cambodian officials rejected the information.
“Regarding this issue, the spokesperson of the Thai government, Mr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, stated yesterday that he could not comment on the situation until the perpetrators have been handed over to the Thai authorities today. But he welcomed the cooperation by Cambodia. He said, ‘In general, we welcome the cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia in all activities and we think that it encourages additional cooperation.’ Asked about the accusations by the Cambodian government, he said that he does not have a role to comment on the affairs or views of Cambodia.
“The executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, Mr. Chheang Vannarith, said that the arrest shows warming relations between both countries. He said, ‘I think that the Cambodian government takes a flexible position on bilateral ties with Thailand. I can see positive progress for bilateral ties.
“Both countries decided to withdraw their respective ambassadors in November last year, after Cambodia appointed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra [convicted for corruption in a land deal] as an economic advisor of the Cambodian government.” Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #207, 5.7.2010
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 5 July 2010
Deum Tnot, Vol.3, #108, 5-6.7.2010
- Mr. Chea Mony: My New Term [as president of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers] Is to Struggle to Demand a Salary Increase [to a minimum of US$93] and to Create a Labor Court
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2292, 4-5.7.2010
- Illegal Check Points Are Increasing at Night in Phnom Penh [to extort money from citizens traveling on motorcycles], but Higher Level Officials Ignore This [they check whether people wear helmets, have back-view mirrors, number plates, and a motorbike license. Even if there is no problem, teenagers cannot negotiate what fine to pay to be free, even when they did not commit any wrongdoings]
- [Ousted and fugitive prime minister] Thaksin Promises to Return to Thailand at the End of This Year [to unite the Thai nation]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #6999, 5.7.2010
- A Newly Created Site for Producing Mreah Prov Oil [an important ingredient for producing the drug Ecstasy – no information about who is involved – Veal Veng district, Pursat]
- An Inhuman Drunken Man Fatally Shot a Person for Pleasure [the perpetrator is not yet identified – Phnom Penh]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.17, #3923, 5.7.2010
- [Opposition party parliamentarian] Mu Sochua Will Return to Cambodia This Morning, While There Are Four Days Remaining for Her to Pay Her Fine [Riel 8 million or approx. US$1,860 for losing a defamation case with Prime Minister Hun Sen]
- Singapore Imports Sand to Enlarge Its Territory without Caring about the Destruction of the Cambodian Seashore Environment [according to Global Witness, this sea sand dredging threatens and affects fish as well as the bio-diversity of the sea]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #207, 5.7.2010
- Cambodia Will Hand Over Two Terrorist Suspects to Thai Embassy Officials on Monday
- Officials: The Number of Deaths from Lightning This Year Is Lower Than Last Year [63 people were killed during the first six months of 2010, in 2009, there were only 100 deaths]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5241, 4-5.7.2010
- 32% of the Total Size of Cambodia Are Bio-Diversity Protected and Conservation Areas
- Food Prices Increased by 30% within the First Six Months of 2010
Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
And please recommend The Mirror also to your colleagues and friends.
Samdech Dekchor: Isolation Sickness, Not to Work in Teams Does Not Lead to Success but to Danger – Friday, 4.6.2010
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 667
“Phnom Penh: In front of students and officials of the Royal University of Administration who received their degrees on Thursday, 3 June 2010, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, said that if somebody does not work cooperatively and works with a self-isolating attitude, such an approach does not lead to success but to danger.
“Presiding over the 54th anniversary of the creation of the Royal University of Administration, combined with the granting ceremony of degrees and certificates to students and to senior officials of the Royal University of Administration, held at the National Institute of Education, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen said, ‘A person should not be isolated but working in a team – to work together leads to success. To isolate oneself is like a dangerous sickness. Such people believe that if they leave the country, the nation will collapse, and if they leave their province, the province will be ruined.’
“The head of the Royal Government added that in any institution, both in the Royal Government and in the ministries, not all people commit corruption. If there are 100 officials, only two or three are corrupt. Therefore the others will cooperate to eliminate corruption.
“The head of the government publicly announced during this event that the leader of the country, as well as fellow officials, are servants of the people to provide services to them and not to dominate the people.
“In this sense, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen said that the higher positions they hold, and the more powerful they are, the more they have to lower themselves down to listen to others.
“He said, ‘We must think that we have to serve the people, but not to control them. Whether we hold high or low positions, we must listen to all arguments, and we must be honest to the people and do everything for them, but we must not do anything that affects them.’
“At the same time, Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen announced again that he will be the candidate for the position of prime minister in the 2013 elections, and that he has the total support of the Cambodian People’s Party. He said, ‘If you want Hun Sen to be prime minister, you have to vote for the Cambodian People’s Party, but Hun Sen alone cannot work, he needs the support by the party.’
“Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarians told Deum Ampil that the announcement about the candidacy as prime minister by Samdech Hun Sen does not mean that he will stay in this position forever. It depends on the upcoming votes by the people.
“The head of the Royal Government said that the activities of the Royal government in the previous terms and in the current fourth term show that the people support the government, and this will lead to success also in the next terms.
“On the same occasion, Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen recalled the three core points of the Win-Win Policy of the Royal Government that have led to total national unity and to progress:
- Guarantee the security of both the possessions and the lives of all persons who leave Pol Pot to join the government.
- Keep them in their roles that they played before. If they are soldiers, let them still be soldiers. If they were police, let them be police. And if they were district governors, let them be in their positions.
- Recognize both that they were a movement and they are no more a movement.”
Deum Ampil, Vol.4, #495, 4.6.2010
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 4 June 2010
Deum Ampil, Vol.4, #495, 4.6.2010
- Different Ideas between the Ruling and the Opposition Parties over the US$1.1 Billion Aid
- Samdech Dekchor: Isolation Sickness, Not to Work in Teams Does Not Lead to Success but to Danger
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2266, 4.6.2010
- Two Foreigners [living in Cambodia, a Bangladeshi and a Nepali] Were Sent to Court for Being Suspected as Members of a Terrorist Network [anonymous persons had written letters to some embassies, saying that there are foreign terrorists transiting through Cambodia – and then police investigated and arrested these two foreigners; but they claim that they are not involved]
- A Tropical Storm Destroyed Twenty Houses, Injured Fifteen People, and Killed Six Cows in Khsach Kandal District [Kandal]
Khmer Amatak, Vol.11, #775, 4.6.2010
- Khmer Kampuchea Krom People Will Celebrate [on 4 June 2010] the 61th Anniversary of the Loss of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Land [to Vietnam in 1949] while the Authorities of the Hun Sen Government Try to Restrict Them [this year the celebration is allowed only at the Samaki Reangsei pagoda in the Stung Meanchey commune, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #6973, 4.6.2010
- Cambodia Receives Pledges of US$1.1 Billion Development Aid [at the Cambodian Development Cooperation Forum 2010]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.17, #3897, 4.6.2010
- Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarians Support the Rights and the Benefit of Workers Who Plan to Strike without Public Marching, for Three Days [to demand an increase of salaries, and to press employers to obey the labor law of Cambodia]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #186, 4.6.2010
- Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarians Were Prevented from Visiting and Checking a Border Marker [in Takeo, as their visit was blocked by more than 30 armed forces and more than 50 local citizens]
- The Government Declared to Fight Corruption [Prime Minister Hun Sen said that there are only a handful of corrupt officials, and the government will encourage other officials to fight corruption together]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5215, 4.6.2010
- The Cambodian Embassy: Thai Police Tortured a Cambodian Worker [scars are seen on his body as a result of beating] to Get Him to Admit [that he was involved in destroying and burning a Thai bank; Cambodia asked Thailand to release him]
- The Number of Vehicles Countrywide Increased to More Than One Million [there are 1,391,565 vehicles where 1,135,638 are motorbikes; according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport]
Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
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Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Vowed to Support Development and Modernization of the Defense Sector – Tuesday, 19.1.2010
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 648
“Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen said on 18 January 2010 that the Royal Government firmly vowed to continue any necessary support to develop and to modernize the national defense sector of Cambodia, so that it has the sufficient, full, and appropriate capacity to comply with the progress and development of the country and the world, in order to promote our Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to be able to fulfill their role and obligation effectively.
“During his speech at the inauguration of the naval base in the Chroy Chongva commune, Russey Keo, Phnom Penh, he said that the Royal Government has carried out reforms which are considered as life-and-death tasks of Cambodia, and it has strengthened the capacity of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to fulfill their duties more effectively as fully professional and expert forces, so that it can participate in various missions.
“Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen said that the implementation of these reforms aims at making the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to have real skills and full capacity to continue to actively cooperate with the international community to prevent and combat terrorisms and other turmoil in the country and abroad, by being committed to implement all necessary measures to effectively prevent and suppress all types of crimes, such as drug smuggling and drug abuse, the trafficking of women and children, robbery, rape, and other offenses that trigger fear in the society and that create instability in Cambodia.
“Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen added that the Royal Government continues to encourage the thorough implementation of various reforms that have been planned so that they become more intensive and fundamental, including the careful and accurate checking of the number of soldiers, and the promotion of their capacity and solidarity, aiming to strengthen the quality and loyalty towards the nation, and to ensure that discipline and clean ethics are respected, with professionalism, and in order to fulfill their duties to protect the territorial integrity of land, sea, and air space, to guarantee national security, national independence, and sovereignty, so as to maintain public order and to protect all achievements of the nation under whatever the circumstances may be.
“As part of caring for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, the Royal Government of Cambodia has set up various policies to strengthen a sustainable social safety net, attempting to improve the livelihood of the military personnel and to help them to live happily as civil servants with their families and in their communities. Those measures include vocational training, addressing the problems of the livelihood for discharged soldiers, retired soldiers, soldiers who are not able to continue to work, or handicapped soldiers, and the families of soldiers who offered to sacrifice their lives, now offering them social concession land so that those veterans as well as their families have land to build houses, to create other jobs, and to do land cultivation to support their families and to be able to contribute to national productivity, to promote a stable basis for their lives.
[…]
“Samdech Hun Sen said that in the meantime, the Royal Government always adheres to the policy to consolidate security, stability, and public order for the country in a sustainable way.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2154, 19.1.2010
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Deum Ampil, Vol.4, #391, 19.1.2010
- The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur [Mr. Surya Subedi] Said that He Does Not Intend to Criticize Cambodia but He Just Wants to Contribute to Cambodia’s Development
- The Human Rights Party Parliamentarians Asked Thailand Not to Shoot and Kill Khmer Citizens [who illegally enter Thai territory]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2154, 19.1.2010
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Vowed to Support the Development and Modernization of the Defense Sector
- [Director of Sambok Khmum Radio] Mam Sonando: The 26 Seats of the Sam Rainsy Party Might Melt Away if It Does Not Unite [with other democrats]
Khmer Amatak, Vol.11, #720, 19.1.2010
- Siam [Thailand] Sends All Kinds of Weapons, Food, and Five Regiments to Prepare for Fighting at the Border
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.4, #583, 19.1.2010
- [Prime Minister] Hun Sen Wore His Five Stars in Public for the First Time while the Border Situation Is Tense
Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #6861, 19.1.2010
- [Two] Murderers Who Shot Dead an Anti-Drug Official in Kompong Cham Were Arrested [one of them admitted that it was due to rancor, because the victim had looked down on his family – Kompong Cham]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #92, 19.1.2010
- Viettel Tests Using 3G Service before Providing Them Next Year
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5103, 19.1.2010
- The Svay Rieng Authorities Warned They Will Take Action [according to the law] against the Sam Rainsy Party [if its officials maintain their intention to visit two villagers held over the removal of border markers]
- 66-Year-Old Man Lured Two Girls and Raped Them; One of Them Is His 12-Year-Old Granddaughter [he was arrested – Kandal]
Sereypheap Thmey, Vol.18, #1858, 19.1.2010
- The Svay Rieng Court Allows Three Representatives of the Opposition Party Delegates to Visit [two] Citizens Detained over Border Issues
- [Thai ousted and fugitive prime minister] Thaksin Shinawatra Canceled His Visit to Cambodia [reason is not given; according to his advisor]
Note:
See “Link:” in the Mirror of last Saturday, 16.1.2010.
Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
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Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen Claimed that the Non-Government Organizations Law Will Not Block the Freedom of Non Government Organizations – Wednesday, 25.11.2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 640
“Phnom Penh: Pointing to the importance to create a law about non-government organizations (NGOs) being drafted by the government, the Cambodian Prime Minister said on 24 November 2009 that previous problems caused by some NGOs encourage the government to create a law on organizations of different kinds, in order to ensure their proper operation, but this law will not affect the freedom of the NGOs.
“Examples raised by Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen during the 30th anniversary celebration of the partnership between NGOs and Cambodia, were of an organization which had been prosecuted in the United State regarding the adoption of children from Cambodia, which finally became human trafficking, and of another organization that sheltered under an NGO some years ago and had taken the British Embassy as its target for a terrorist attack, but this plan was suppressed in time by the government. [The terrorist] Hambali left Cambodia and was later arrested in Thailand, after the attack on the island of Bali in Indonesia.
“Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen said, ‘These examples do not imply that the Royal Government is suspecting other organizations that are implementing good activities of participating in terrorism, but please do not forget that some organizations are doing bad things.’ Therefore, we need a law to control NGOs. He stressed, ‘I guarantee that it is not an action to restrict the freedom of NGOs, please believe me.’
“During the 1980s there were just less than 30 NGOs in Cambodia. But by 2009, there are 3,207 NGOs and associations, where 1,933 are NGOs and 1,274 are associations, that is why Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen observed that Cambodia is a heaven for NGOs that carry out different activities.
“The claim about the practicality of an NGO law was made, while an NGO law is being drafted carefully by the Royal Government; some NGOs expressed the fear that the Royal Government will exercise prohibitive controls over NGOs through that law. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen said, ‘I am aware that some NGOs that have acted correctly, and they do not care too much about this law, but some organizations protested loudly, and I wonder why they claim to promote the rule of law, but they want to act without a law.’
“Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen added, ‘Anyway, we will neither restrict the freedom to creat NGOs, nor take away the funding of NGOs.’ He added that some NGOs demand that the government has to be transparent, providing information, but they themselves do not have such transparency. The Royal Government wants to know where NGOs get the money from and how they use it for what. ‘Just this they do not want to tell, but they oppose the government. The Royal Government also wants to know how much capital is from government, from development partners, and from NGOs, so that we can know the total amount of capital to allocate each year in each sector, where at present, we do not control it and we are not aware of how many activities are contributed by NGOs. This point creates difficulties for macro management or other relevant tasks.’ Samdech went on to say that sometimes, there are some overlapping activities of NGOs, and what is more problematic is that some NGOs had expressed their voice absolutely in the same way as opposition parties. Such organizations protest more than others, because they feel afraid, just because the laws in Cambodia do not allow political parties to receive funds from foreign donors.
“Samdech continued to say that in the first stage of law enforcement on NGOs, there will be difficulties. Anyway, the Royal Government will make it function smoothly.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2107, 25.11.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #3, 345.11.2009
- A Man Entered a House to Rape a 14-Year Old Girl when Her Parents Were Not at Home [the man was arrested – Battambang]
- The Laotian Prime Minister Will Arrive in Cambodia This Morning [to visit Cambodia officially on 25 and 26 November 2009]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #2107, 25.11.2009
- Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen Claimed that the Non-Government Organizations Law Will Not Block the Freedom of Non-Government Organizations
- The Cambodian Prime Minister Did Not Take Office by Robbing Power from Others like it Happened in a Neighboring Country [claimed Prime Minister Hun Sen]
- Three Top Drug Smugglers Were Arrested by Military Police in Takhmao [Kandal]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #538, 25.11.2009
- If [Thai Prime Minister] Abhisit Vijjajiva Closes the Border, It Does Not Cause Any Trouble for [Prime Minister] Hun Sen, but for Khmer Citizens [who earn their living at those border crossings; but Prime Minister Hun Sen still announced his firm opinion that Cambodia does not care about the warning from Thailand to maybe close the border]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6814, 25.11.2009
- Samdech Deckhor Hun Sen: Now It Should Be Time to Create a Law about Non-Government Organizations and Associations
- The Former Singaporean Prime Minister [Mr. Goh Chok Tong, now a senior minister] Visited Cambodia [to study the current situation, especially different measures that Cambodia has been taking to deal with the global financial crisis and other future problems]
Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #25, 53.11.2009
- Prosecutors [of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal] Asked to Jail [Tuol Sleng former prison chief] Duch for a Long Period [for the torture and murder of many people]
- Oddar Meanchey Villagers [of 36 families] Sleep on the Ground opposite the National Assembly [they escaped from arrest by the Oddar Meanchey authorities over land disputes with Oknha and senator Ly Yong Phat]
- Netherlands Wants to Invest in Solar Power [in Cambodia, worth US$300 million]
Rasmei Angkor, Vol.16, #1477, 25.11.2009
- Fire in Boeng Salang Commune Destroyed Two Houses and a Car, and Other Property Was Totally Burnt [the fire was caused by an electric fault – Phnom Penh]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #5056, 25.11.2009
- Drug Smugglers Shot Police in Response, Killing One Policeman and Seriously Injuring Two Others [two suspects, husband and wife, were arrested – Phnom Prek, Battambang]
- Thai Former Prime Minister Mr. Samak Sundaravej Died of [liver] Cancer [both disputing countries, Cambodia and Thailand, expressed condolences over his death]
Sereypheap Thmey, Vol.17, #1819, 25.11.2009
- The Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s Position is Upheld [by the Appeals Court] over [the president of the Khmer Civilization Foundation] Mr. Moueng Son’s Case [the court sentenced him to jail for two years for disinformation, over his comment about fixing of lighting at the Angkor Wat Temple]
Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.
And please recommend us also to your colleagues and friends.
Thursday, 11.9.2008: Response to the Opinion Piece Published in The Nation, which Undermines Friendship by Saying ‘When Cambodia Cries Wolf’
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 577
“Mr. Julio A. Jeldres, Samdech Euv’s [the King-Father’s] biographer, wrote a letter-to-the-editor of an English language newspaper in Thailand, The Nation, on 5 August 2008, in response to an opinion piece of a Thai citizen [published on 1 August 2008, who used the name Bangkokian] under the title ‘When Cambodia Cries Wolf.’
“Koh Santepheap would like to unofficially translate this respons, written in English, translating it into Khmer and publish it.
Note:
The response, Ambassador Jeldres’s letter-to-the-editor, was re-published in the Daily Documents section of website of Their Majetis Norodom Sihanouk and Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the King-Father and the Queen Mother of Cambodia – by the Royal Cabinet of His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk, Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, on 9 September 2008.
For the English Mirror, we link therefore the the royal website – by a mouse click here, the original text becomes available.
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6447, 11.9.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1743, 11.9.2008
- Cheam Yeap [a Cambodian People’s Party parliametarian]: Opposing Actions of Sam Rainsy Look Like a Competition [for high reputation] in the National Assembly [Ms. Mu Sochua, the Sam Rainsy Party deputy secretary general, said that the Sam Rainsy Party will send a letter to request a pardon from the King for the absences in the first session of the National Assembly planned for 24 September 2008]
- [Deputy Prime Minister] Sok An: Cambodia Will Not Leap Backwards in Fighting Terrorism [stated during the opening of a workshop about the implementation of anti-terrorist legislation on 8 and 9 September 2008]
- Victims of Tree Flling when a Tree Fell on Their House Ask Apsara Authority to Pay Compensation [10 September 2008 – Siem Reap]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #241, 11.9.2008
- Sam Rainsy Clearly Affirms Absolute Position Not to Attend the First Session of the National Assembly on 24 September 2008 [because of irregularities during the elections]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6447, 11.9.2008
- Response to the Opinion Piece Published in The Nation, which Undermines Friendship by Saying ‘When Cambodia Cries Wolf’
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3562, 11.9.2008
- Mr. Yim Sovann [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian] Criticizes Much Expenses of the National Assembly Budget
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4691, 11.9.2008
- European Observers: The Claim that 1.7 Million Vietnamese Had Voted Is a Pumped-Up Number [this reaction was voiced from Brussels, Belgium, on 9 September 2008, against a report that 1.7 million Vietnamese went to vote during the fourth term parliamentarian elections]
- Siamese [Thai] Troops Are Increased in Chub Angkunh, and They Prevent Cambodian Troops to Patrol [Oddar Meanchey]
- Siam [Thailand] Troops Try to Enter the Ta Krabei Temple, but Are Prevented by Cambodian Troops [Oddar Meanchey]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3406, 11.9.2008
- Investigating Agency of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation Will Arrive in Cambodia on 11 September to Investigate the Murder of the Journalist Mr. Khim Sambo and his [21-year-old] son [who were shot dead in the evening of 11 July 2008 near the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh]
Click here to have a look at the last editorial: Numbers – how to evaluate them: which realities do they really represent?
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Monday, 28.7.2008: Military Police Protecting Illegally Cut Wood Calls a Journalist into Their Fortress and Hit Him as a Warning
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 571
“Sihanoukville: A journalist was slapped in Stung Hav, Sihanoukville, by a military police officer who protects illegally cut wood in their fortress, and he warned the journalist not to use his camera, because he had already published a report clearly mentioning their names, together with their previous and current scandals, relating to colluding to protect illegally cut wood.
“The military police hit the journalist at 1:30 p.m. on 25 July 2008 at the Stung Hav administration post of Sihanoukville.
“It was reported that the victim, the journalist who was caught and hit by a military military police officer in their fortress, is Mr. Ruos Phina, aged 39; the offender is Mr. Nget Vutha, called Kim, a military police officer with the rank of captain of Stung Hav, Sihanoukville, and he is a former soldier who had just been included into the military police some months ago.
“Mr. Ruos Phina, the victim, reported to Kampuchea Thmey that on that day, he and another person, Vin Suon, also a reporter in Sihanoukville, were called by the military police official Nget Vutha into the Stung Hav administration post, to tell them to write a more positive report about their scandal, regarding the protection of illegally cut wood, because he had written already in a newspaper before. Mr. Ruos Phina agreed to meet them, and he went with another person, Vin Suon.
“Mr. Ruos Phina continued that after he arrived in the Stung Hav military police administration office, Nget Vutha immediately, without saying a word, hit him strongly in the face, knocking him down to the ground, where he was with serious pain. He hit him in front of many other military police, but they did not help to intervene, and let the offender Nget Vutha hit and insult him strongly in front of all of them.
“This shows clearly that violence was used to intimidate him, which seriously abuses his rights as a journalist, so he cannot stay still; he has to lodge a complaint to the law enforcement institutions so that they help to find justice for him. Especially, he will lodge a complaint to the commander of the Sihanoukville military police, Mr. Heang Rin, in order that he takes actions to solve the problem according to the law; and he hopes that Mr. Heang Rin will deal with this case fairly and not by being partisan, and if he does not solve it fairly for him, the journalist will not end it at this time.
“Regarding the bad activities mentioned above, citizens in Sihanoukville, who knew what had happened, criticized also that normally military police, who should enforce and uphold the law, collude with each other to protect illegally cut wood. Moreover, they even dared to distort the truth by calling the journalist in, to hit him at their fortress. Committing such evil activities, how can they uphold and implement the law and be respected by the people?
“The criticism continues to say that journalists are neutral publishers of information and are not partisan; if they see good activities, they write good things, and if they see evil activities, they write openly about these bad things, in order to contribute to develop society, to eliminate corruption and crimes which destroy society. Journalists are those who publicly criticize what is wrong to correct it, and to change from wrong to right. If members of the military police, like Mr. Nget Vutha, thinks that what a journalist had published is not true, he should clarify it, but he must not use violence by hitting and insulting the journalist, because this is against the law, and it is being hated by society very much.
“Mr. Heang Rin, the commander of the Sihanoukville military police, should check everything again, so that it does not disgrace other members of the military police.
“It should be remembered that previously, Mr. Ruos Phina had written about some scandals committed by Nget Vutha, like protecting illegally cut wood for a merchant who is a boss of a wood processing house behind the Phsar Leu market’s car station.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1704, 27-28.7.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 28 July 2008
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1704, 27-28.7.2008
- Military Police Protecting Illegally Cut Wood Calls a Journalist into Their Fortress and Hit Him as a Warning
- Forest in Conservation Region in Aural Mountain Starts to Disappear and Leads to Taking of Land Illegally [Kompong Speu]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #208, 27-28.7.2008
- Siamese [Thais] Are Training to Use Weapons in Order to Be Prepared in Case Bilateral Talk in Siem Reap [on Monday] Fail
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6408, 28.7.2008
- Along Cambodian-Thai Border at Oddar Meanchey, [five to six] Thai Black-Clad Soldiers [of the special border protection forces] Create Border Problems at Banteay Ampil District [entering about 100 meters from the Border Marker 22B in Kok Mon village and commune, Banteay Ampil, claiming they are in Thai territory]
- 16 Terrorist Bombs Attack at the Same Time in Western India, Killing 29 People [26 July 2008]
- According to a Report from Singapore, during a period of 51 Months, the Number of Tourists Declined [the decline results from problems of the world economy, from the rising price of traveling by plane, from the increasing price of fuel, as well as from problems of the international currency market]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3523, 28.7.2008
- [Opposition Party Leader] Asked to Re-Vote in Offices That Made Too Many Forms 1018 Leading to Unfair Results [identity documents required to vote were: national identification card, or passport, or civil servant, police, or army identification card, family booklet with identification pictures, or documents identifying monks; if Cambodian eligible voters do not have any of these documents, they could ask their Commune Council to establish an identification form know as Form 1018]
- Order to Close Radio FM 93.5 [on 26 July 2008, from which the Sam Rainsy Party had bought air time to broadcast its campaign program for nearly one month] Strongly Affected Election Atmosphere in Phnom Penh
- Siamese [Thai] Troops Continue to Dig Trenches at Keo Sekha Kirisvarak Pagoda although there Is a Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting of Both Countries Planned for Today
- The Appeals Hearing of Khiev Samphan to Be Temporarily Out of Detention Might Be Conducted Soon [according to an official of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal]
- Crimes of Cutting Trees in Kuleaen National Park Still Continue
Rasmei Angkor, Vol.15, #3523, 28.7.2008
- Temporary Results of the Fourth Term Election: Cambodian People’s Party Might Win 88 to 91 Seats [of a total of 123], Sam Rainsy Party Ranks Second [with 26 seats], Human Rights Ranks Third [with 3 seats], Norodom Ranariddh Party Ranks Forth [with 2 seats] and Funcinpec Ranks Firth [with 1 seat]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4652, 27-28.7.2008
- There Was a Clash between Sam Rainsy Party and Cambodian People’s Party, Injuring a Deputy Police Chief of Battambang District [at the end of the day of the election campaign on 25 July 2008]
- Venezuela Sells Fuel at US$100 per Barrel to Spain [in total 10,000 barrels]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3370, 27-28.7.2008
- Supreme Court Will Open Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh’s Hearing on 30 July 2008 [regarding Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhek Bun Chhay’s lawsuit, accusing the Prince of violating trust in the sale of the Funcinpec Chroy Chongva headquarters]
Click here to have a look at the last editorial of the Mirror – where we provided detailed information about the 2003 election results, to compare them with the election results of 2008, as they become available.
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Thursday, 24.7.2008: Develop Jobs and Provide Vocational Training to Reduce Poverty
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 570
“Phnom Penh: In order to help the citizens from poverty, strategies of the government have to emphasize the provision of jobs which promote productivity and increase family income – this means that jobs and work are important ways to free the citizens from poverty.
“During the third terms (2003 to 2007) of the Cambodian government led by Samdech Akak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, work and vocational training have significantly contributed to develop the national economy and to alleviate poverty of the citizens.
“The labor market is very broad and complicated, covering from work at small villages to work at big enterprises, with workers of different races. Nowadays, Cambodia’s main labor force reserve is in rural areas, so we should not overlook the need of our citizens who need the most basic and simple skills to improve the livelihood of their families.
“According to a report of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, in 2004, the agricultural sector used up to 60% of the total labor force, but this sector contributed only 32% to the GDP. This showed that agricultural productivity was still low, so that citizens working in this sector earned low incomes.
“Mr. Chea Sophoan, secretary of state of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, said recently in an intervention during a national conference about the improvement of the life of citizens through different accomplishments – implementing the Rectangular Strategy of the Royal Government from 2004 to 2007 – that as a result of training and other activities, the number of trainees in the technical and in the vocational sectors increased steadily, in 2005 there were 27,894; in 2006 there were 47,987; and in 2007 there were 88,367.
“In 2006, the number of students studying for university degrees was 94,310, where 92% studied skills related to the service sector, 5% studied related to the industrial sector, and 3% studied agriculture. As for students who studied in vocational technical schools (for ‘associate degrees’), the number was 16,912, equal to only 15%. So the supply of new members of the labor force did not responded to the needs of the labor market.
“At the same time when addressing problems in the agricultural sector, as seen above, also the garment sector faces problems.
“At the time when Vietnam became a member of the World Trade Organization [January 2007], quota for the export of garments came to an end.
“Barriers put up by the United States and by the European Community against garment imports from the People’s Republic of China will expire on 1 January 2009.
“The Generalized System of Preferences [GSP – a system under which industrialized countries grant trade preferences to developing countries] of the United States will continue until 2010.
“The economy of the United States is declining.
“The above factors provide the starting point for the competition of the Cambodian garment industry.
“Based on recent studies, the production efficiency is very low – around only 30% to 40% – but Cambodia should have reached the level of 60% to 70%. The increase in productivity is an important factor to bring success in international competition.
“Generally speaking, the quality and the level of education of the labor force are still low. Studies about the labor market show that the development of capacity and of skills of the labor force are an important factor to increase productivity, increase family income, and reduce poverty.
“To find adequate jobs for young people and to provide the labor market with a labor force that has enough capacity and skills requires to develop a realistic vocational and technical education system as a priority that cannot be disregarded.
“It should be noted that previously, the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training had set certain policy goals: 1. To provide services for those who seek jobs at private enterprises and institutions, and 2. To contribute to create more jobs, to reduce unemployment, and to increase income.
“It is therefore important to assist in training basic skills for citizens in rural areas. Such training not only helps to improve the livelihood of poor citizens, but it also provides opportunities for them to continually promote their levels of knowledge and skills through training, organized from low to higher levels, and the levels move up steadily. Vocational and technical educational systems are the second provider of an opportunity for young people who had lost the possibility for general studies when they were children in the general education system [from grade 1 to grade 12]. To help change the social situation of poor people is an important factor to gain social stability, and this could also bring harmony into the Kingdom of Cambodia.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4649, 24.7.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Deum Tnot, Vol.1, #16, 24-25.7.2008
- Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Eldest Son [Hun Manet] Was Assigned to a Position in the National Committee on Counter-Terrorism [with the rank of captain, by sub-decree #75, dated 29 January 2008]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1701, 24.7.2008
- Price of Fuel and Khmer Riel Remain Stable in July 2008 [fuel is Riel 5,750 per liter, and Riel 4,160 is equal to US$1.-]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #205, 24.7.2008
- The Complaint of Cambodia Is Not Yet Included in the July Agenda of the UN Security Council; Giovanni Boccardi, Chief, World Heritage Committee, Asia/Pacific Unit, Said That They Cannot Intervene in a Border Dispute
- Sam Rainsy Party Parliamentarians Asked the National Assembly [on 22 July 2008] to Consider the Joint Communique between [Deputy Prime Minister and Senior Minister in Charge of the Council of Ministers] Sok An and [former Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs] Nappadon Pattama to Be Invalid
- Khmer Troops Have Sent Weapons to the Disputed Region to Fight Air Force Planes and to Fight Tanks
- The Cambodian Confederation of Unions [on 23 July 2008] Called All Taxi Drivers and Bus Companies to Keep Prices of Transportation Normal during the Traveling Period [of workers] to Vote
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #57, 24.7.2008
- A Very Well-Known Pharmaceutical Company [P.P.M] in Cambodia Calls for the Use of Local Medicines [because most of Cambodian people prefer medicines imported from foreign countries]
- The UN Considers the Dispute between Cambodia and Thailand as a Hot Agenda
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4649, 24.7.2008
- Develop Jobs and Provide Vocational Training to Reduce Poverty
- The UN Will Hold a Meeting on Thursday Morning about the Preah Vihear Dispute
- [Minister of Information] Khieu Kanharith: Cambodia Takes a High Moral Stand to Solve the Border Issue [by depending on international regulations as policy]
- An Indian Rice Millionaire [who is a close friend of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Ke Kim Yan] Has Asked to Buy 100,000 Tonnes of Rice per Year from Banteay Meanchey [according to Ung Ouen, Banteay Meanchey governor]
- Son Killed Father Using a Sickle to Cut His Throat [because his father often caused domestic violence, Prey Chhor, Kompong Cham]
- A US General [General Norton Schwartz] Warned Russia about Basing Nuclear Weapons Capable Bombers in Cuba [22 July 2008]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3367, 24.7.2008
- The Second Negotiation of ASEAN about the Khmer-Siam [Thailand] Disputed Region Failed [23 July 2008]
- There Are Nearly 90,000 National, International, and Political Observers for the Election [on 27 July 2008]
Click here – and have a look at the last editorial – The Cambodian-Thai border crisis develops while the Khmer public is not aware what the Cambodian government representatives had agreed upon, to get the Preah Vihear Temple listed as a World Heritage Site, on a most narrowly defined piece of land.
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The Mirror 