Germany donates $300,000 for typhoon victims in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Federal Republic of German has donated another 200,000 Euro (about 300,000 U.S. dollars) for typhoon Ketsana relief in Cambodia, bringing a total aid so far to428,920 Euro (some 643380 dollars).

The aid was aimed at supporting the victims of typhoon Ketsana who have lost their houses and suffer from food shortages due to the devastating tropical storm, according to a statement released by Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany seen on Saturday.

"The assistance will bridge humanitarian assistance provided earlier and will support efforts to reconstruct communal infrastructure in Ratanakiri Province. The affected population will also receive agricultural inputs in order to prepare for the next harvesting season," it said.

In October, Germany provided its immediate assistance to Cambodia for the same relief amounting 228,920 Euro (about 343380 dollars).

Earlier, the international aid agency Oxfam warned that a food crisis is looming in flood affected communities in Cambodia following typhoon Ketsana hitting this country in September.

Oxfam estimated that 100,000 people are affected by the floods and 15,000 households are in need of immediate food assistance.

Ratanakiri province is one of eight provinces in the central and northern Cambodia that were affected by flooding.
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Thaksin announces visits to three Asian countries

PERMISSION: The former Thai leader did not confirm his itinerary, though he will likely visit Cambodia. Thai authorities said they would again seek his extradition

AFP, BANGKOK


Fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced yesterday on his online Twitter page that he would make a week-long trip to visit three Asian countries.

His visit to Cambodia last month, to take up an economic advisory role with the government, caused a diplomatic row after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen refused to extradite Thaksin to Thailand to serve a two-year jail term for graft.

“I have asked permission to visit and exchange views with three leaders in Asia for seven to eight days,” Thaksin said on his Twitter page, giving no further details.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday responded to rumors that Thaksin was planning a return to Cambodia and said the government would probably submit another extradition request if he did so.

“If he enters our airspace we will try to arrest him because he is facing a jail term. We are likely to request for his extradition once again,” Abhisit told reporters.

On Friday, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni pardoned Thai national Siwarak Chothipong, who had been sentenced to seven years in prison for spying on Thaksin during his visit to Phnom Penh.

The 31-year-old employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service will be released from prison on Monday, following his conviction on Tuesday for supplying Thaksin’s flight schedule to the Thai embassy.

The pardon drew immediate praise from the Thai government, which also called the case politically motivated.

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