Mixed reactions arise over possible return of direct U.S aid for Cambodia

Government welcomes, the opposition doubts, the ambassador supports, the expert becomes worried and the analyst hints changes, as local media reported on Tuesday the possible resumption of direct aid, including that for the military, by the U.S. for Cambodian government.
"Any assistance is useful for us," the Cambodian Daily quoted Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Minister of Defense Tea Banh as saying, while mentioning the U.S. Senate's proposed budget for the 2007 fiscal year, under which the Foreign Appropriations Subcommittee recommended that the ban on direct funding to the Cambodian government be lifted in exchange for the kingdom's cooperation to carry out the anti-terrorism war.
This might open the way for a proposed 55.8 million U.S. dollars in general aid to be delivered over the year, in addition to the one million U.S. dollars already earmarked for the Cambodian military.
The funds for the Cambodian military were committed in September but had not yet been received, Tea Banh added.
In addition, government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters that "it would be great if we can resume a normal diplomatic relationship (with the U.S.)."
Local paper quoted U.S. officials as saying that the possible resumption aimed at engaging the Cambodian government on counter- terrorism, as the kingdom once provided shelter from September 2002 to March 2003 for Riduan Isamuddin, an Indonesian better known as Hambali, who was believed to be al-Qaida's top operative in Southeast Asia and operational chief of Jemaah Islamiyah.
However, local analyst told Xinhua here on Tuesday in condition of anonymity that if the aid came true, its major impact might be the change of the Cambodian government's stance over its donor or aid countries, mainly including Japan, China, France and the recently highlighted South Korea.
If the U.S. could help, it must be the most generous helping hand, which would share a lot of the Cambodian government's attention towards its traditional donors, who in effect had to adjust their strategy to balance the U.S. influence, he added.
Meanwhile, major opposition party leader Sam Rainsy focused on the kingdom's allegedly notorious record of human rights, insisting that the U.S. lacked reasons to finance such a government and army directly.
"You should not give a dime to the Cambodian military. They are the worst perpetrators of human rights abuses. They take land, burn houses and evict poor farmers from their land," he added.
In response, U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeili said that human rights concerns were a reason to engage the military.
"It would be akin to having an adolescent who is committing crimes and refusing to put him in a training center to learn how to be a better person. The whole point is to make them a more responsible and trust-worthy organization," he added.
Additionally, some critics charged that the cost of making a direct bid for influence was too high in a country like Cambodia.
"It is almost a probability that you would have to accept that in the course of re-engaging (with the government), only a portion of your investment will have the impact you have. The rest will be siphoned off and help the few rather than the many," Tony Knowles, the Canadian Director of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Cambodia, was quoted by local media as saying.
"You are going into partnership with a group that has demonstrated neither sincerity nor competence," he added.
The Cambodian Daily reported that the U.S. Congress was not entirely at ease with delivering unrestricted funds to Cambodia.
"The flood gates won't open. A check is still in here," it quoted a U.S. congressional aide as saying.
Source: Xinhua Read more!

Terror threat reason for postponing Asian summits

Associated Press
Posted date: December 12, 2006

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The threat of a terrorist attack was one reason for the postponement of two high-profile Asian summits due to take place in the Philippines this week, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday.
There had been considerable speculation -- but no official confirmation -- that fear of terrorism was one of the reasons for postponing the December 11-13 annual summit of leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their meetings with the leaders of China, Japan and South Korea.
Last Friday, the Philippine government abruptly postponed the meetings, blaming Typhoon Utor (Philippine codename: Seniang), which was bearing down on the country near the venue of the summits in Cebu province.
But several reports in the media that cited unnamed Asian officials said the postponement might have been prompted by warnings from several foreign embassies in the Philippines that a terror attack was possible.
Hun Sen, in a speech given in the countryside, noted that he would have been in the Philippines on Tuesday had the meetings there not been postponed.
"But in the Philippines, there was a typhoon on one hand and threat of attack on the other," he said in a speech in Svay Rieng province, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) southeast of the capital Phnom Penh.
"The terrorists threatened to launch an attack" in the Philippines, Hun Sen added without elaborating. His speech was broadcast on the national radio.
In separate advisories last Wednesday, the United States, Britain and Australia warned terrorists might be plotting attacks in the central Philippines, the site of the meetings.
Philippine security officials said they had not discovered any specific terror threats against the summit, but could not discount them.
ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Philippine officials have said the meetings may resume on January 11-13. Read more!

Classy and tacky clash in Cambodia's Phnom Penh by John Bordsen

McClatchy Newspapers(MCT)

What's it like to live in a far-off place most of us see only on a vacation? Foreign Correspondence is an interview with someone who lives in a spot you may want to visit.
Ashley Macpherson, 44, has lived in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, for nine months. She is a native of Zambia with a background in clinical psychology. Macpherson works for a Cambodian-based nongovernmental organization, building a native staff that can better deliver services to rural Khmers with psychosocial problems.
Q. Can you describe your neighborhood?
A. I live in what could be described as the "embassy block"; my neighbors are ambassadors and actual embassies. Interspersed with these are homes of wealthy Khmer who live in enormous, three-story homes and invariably rent out two of the floors to foreigners.
I am centrally located and can walk to the Mekong riverside, the palace, the shops and markets. The market is one block away and is a typical Khmer market that sells fruit, vegetables and meat. I get all my supplies there as well as bits and pieces to fix motorbikes and things around the home. There are also two supermarkets one block away, and one street up is a "Barang street"_"foreigner street"_that has cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques.
Despite living a few houses away from one on the largest roads in the city, my house is extremely quiet, and I have a wonderful, leafy view, thanks to the green thumb of my Khmer landlady.
Q. What does Phnom Penh look like?
A. Phnom Penh is, along with Hanoi, (Vietnam) a very beautiful city if you can look through the dust and chaos. The architecture is fascinating, and there are examples of wonderful early Khmer architecture, French colonial villas, and large 1960s French and French-inspired Khmer designs that make for interesting viewing.
Unfortunately there is also a proliferation of tacky blue glass, shiny marble and what are known as "wedding cake" buildings.
The streets are swept regularly because there are no garbage cans and people are in the habit of throwing everything on the ground. Your view of how clean the city is is often determined by how soon before a sweeper is along that route.
There is surprisingly little pollution, but dust and exhaust fumes are bad.
Q. I've heard Phnom Penh is hot year round. Does it feel tropical?
A. It is unbelievably hot. That's the one thing that makes me want to leave. There is usually no breeze.
In the rainy season, which is now, the temperatures are usually between 82 and 91 Fahrenheit.
Most Khmer shower at least three times a day to cool down.
Q. Phnom Penh is where several rivers join the Mekong. Is it a river-oriented place? Are there parks and such along the river? Are there floods?
A. There is a park opposite the royal palace and every Saturday and Sunday evening it is packed with families, eating from street stalls and relaxing. The river has a mixture of tourist locales, businesses and private land. There is often flooding, but that is largely caused by heavy downpours, poor drainage_as well as garbage blocking drainage - and drainage points being filled by developers.
Q. We also hear about an influx of tourism and business - and corruption. Do you feel safe?
A. As a foreigner, I think Phnom Penh is an extremely safe city. It is so much more organized than I could ever have imagined, and I do feel very safe.
Phnom Penh itself has people living on the streets, but the poverty is more on the outskirts and in rural areas. Towns and villages not too far from Phnom Penh are a world apart - no running water or electricity, schools without teachers, clinics without doctors and with little work.
Corruption is the main issue here and it is endemic. Nowhere is "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer" truer than here. Corruption and nepotism are resulting in vast sums - donated and generated money - being siphoned into back pockets.
I was surprised by the number of huge black cars driven by "neak thom" - "big people"; fat cats - who do not give a damn about anyone.
Q. Cambodia was a monarchy, a republic, a rogue communist state, a republic, then a monarchy again. What do Khmer people seem to make of all this coming full circle?
A. People do seem to respect the king and the monarchy, but they are figureheads and represent the glorious past. The royal family has some interesting stories attached to them.
The Khmer Rouge tribunal is in its initial stages, and there are many mixed feelings about it. It will only bring to trial a handful of the Khmer Rouge leaders, and is costing huge sums. So there is lots of debate about whether it is a good or necessary thing that will allow people to move forward from their traumatic past.
Q. I've read that the Festival of Boat Racing is a big fall event. What's that about?
A. Om Tuk - which translates as "Water Festival" - recently finished. It is to mark when the Mekong reverses its flow at the end of the rainy season; about 1.5 million people from all over Cambodia come to participate in dragon-boat racing. The festival is exciting, fun, peaceful and far less chaotic than I anticipated, despite the huge crowds.
Q. It's said that 60 percent of visitors come to Cambodia because of the famous ruins of the religious monument Angkor Wat, but the beaches on the coast, around Sihanoukville, are also a draw. What's the seaside like?
A. It's true that most people come to Angkor, do not go anywhere else, and leave.
Sihanoukville is not my favorite place. It seems to attract backpackers because it has drinks and drugs and nice beaches. Sadly, it also attracts less savory tourists for sex tourism.
I prefer Kep, which was the beach resort for rich Khmers in the `60s. It has some wonderful falling-down or destroyed houses. Despite the beach being unexceptional, the bush-walking and tranquility are great. There is a more family feel. Kep is not about satisfying tourists, so there is a more laid back feel to it.
Q. What's the one biggest surprise about Phnom Penh?
A. How easy life is for expats. You can get anything you want or need. There is an efficient power supply: I have broadband and cable TV at home. There are restaurants from so many nations it would make the average European city blush.
Q. What's offered in restaurants as Cambodian food?
A. Many Khmer in the United States seem to be in Long Beach, Calif., and there are many restaurants here called Long Beach.
Rice is the staple diet. The food here is a mixture of Thai and Vietnamese but not as spicy or hot, and probably not as interesting. There are still some good tasty dishes. Fish sauce is used in most dishes, and pork is probably the most popular meat - it's the best pork I have eaten in my life. The pork is fresh and raised on "normal" garbage and some unmentionables as well, probably, but it is so delicious.
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Cambodia Marks 450 years of Church's presence

Date: 2006-12-1o

3,000 People Gather for Closing Mass.

KOMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, DEC. 10, 2006 (Zenit.org).- At least 3,000 Cambodian Catholics gathered to celebrate the closing of the jubilee celebrations to mark the 450 years of the Church's presence in their country, reported Fides. The Vatican agency said that a solemn Eucharistic concelebration marking the milestone was presided over Dec. 3 by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio. For the occasion, Benedict XVI relayed his apostolic blessing. And Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, recalled in a message that the history of the Church in Cambodia "after the period of harsh trials, can be compared to that of the early Church in Jerusalem and Rome." The place chosen for the anniversary celebration is symbolic: Here the first Cambodian bishop died of hardship under the Khmer Rouge regime in 1976. Amid the rice fields, off the tourist track, thousands of Christians praised the Lord on the First Sunday of Advent. "Although the Good News reached Cambodia late," said Cardinal Dias, "this delay must not be considered discrimination with regard to the people of Cambodia, but rather a motive for gratitude for the infinite goodness of God, who takes on workers for his vineyard at all hours of the day and treats the first and the last with the same benevolence." Cambodia's 25,000 Catholics are a small flock amid the country's 14 million inhabitants. Not long ago a Catholic community of 200 Cambodians was found in the north of the country, in an area only accessible by boat. During more than 30 years of isolation due to war, these Catholics persevered in prayer, without even the possibility of seeing a priest. Predating the French Christianity is regarded by many Cambodians, and also by the public administration, as a foreign religion imported by the French during their Protectorate (1863-1953) or by the United Nations during APRONUC's mandate for the re-establishment of peace (1992-1995). However, the Catholic Church had been present in Cambodia long before the French colonization. Last Sept. 19 a group of 28 Christians, some pastors, a priest, a nun and the faithful of the city of Kompong Cham began to visit key places connected with the birth of the Catholic Church in Cambodia. They visited Longvek, the kingdom's capital from 1515 to 1594, where Father Gaspard De Cruz, a Portuguese Dominican, presented himself to King Preah Ang Chan's court in 1555. In 1590, King Preah Borom Ricrea granted full religious liberty to the Christian religion. Converted Mandarins did not lose their privileges and owners did not have the right to hinder their slaves from practicing their faith. The pilgrims then went to Oudong, the capital from 1610 to 1866, to commemorate the arrival of a group of Japanese Christians who were fleeing from persecution and were granted political asylum around 1610. This asylum was again repeated in 1660 for a group of Indonesian Christians. In the mid-17th century, Vietnamese Catholics sought refuge in great numbers in Cambodia, fleeing from the kings' persecutions. Tests of fidelity One of the pilgrims continued to relate historical background: "In Prambei Chaom, around the tomb of Monsignor Piguel, the first apostolic vicar of Cambodia, we were able to discuss the different ways of evangelizing, the need to give life to religious congregations or catechists' schools, and to a local clergy. "Monsignor Piguel was dedicated to this mission when the war destroyed everything. Further away, in Ponhea Lu, the foundations of the old church reminded us of the negotiations of King Ang Duong, 1846-1860, assisted by Monsignor Migas, to induce the French to re-establish the kingdom. "We ended our pilgrimage in Phnom Penh's Carmel. Here we recalled the horrors of the 20th century, given that in this parish 515 Vietnamese were massacred by Lon Nol's troops in April 1970. Through sorrows and tests of fidelity, we have been able to admire the work of our predecessors and the bold spread of the Good News on Khmer soil." Read more!

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Thailand's cynical ploy on Burmese migrant workers

Published on December 11, 2006

Thailand should stop exploiting cheap labour from Burma, Laos and Cambodia. The ethical government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanond must find ways to provide these workers with reasonable wages and adequate social protection.
This is the single most important thing this government can do to make a difference within a year. But to do so, Surayud must be brave in exposing Thai exploiters - whoever they are - and the system that treats migrant workers as slaves.
Last week, the long-awaited plan to legalise these foreign workers hit a snag when the Rangoon junta insisted that all unregistered Burmese workers must first be sent back to Burma for nationality verification before returning to work legally in Thailand.
On the surface, the plan sounds simple enough, as it provides work permits for migrants to take up unskilled jobs. But upon close scrutiny, this turns out to be a cynical scheme concocted by the Thaksin government and the Burmese junta to help each other.
During Thaksin's last visit to Burma in August, he concluded a memorandum of understanding with General Than Shwe on migrant workers. In it, Thailand agreed to send back illegal Burmese workers for verification of their nationality. These workers would be subject to the control of the Burmese junta, which would issue travel documents to certified workers to return to Thailand.
If this myopic approach is implemented by the Surayud government, it would be tantamount to sending Burmese workers to the gallows. The procedure will enable the junta's supporters, especially those related to the pro-government paramilitary group, the USDA, to dispatch their own members and affiliates to work and spy in Thailand. Fortunately, senior Thai government officials are now having second thoughts on the issue.
Over the years, the Thai industrial sector has exploited and benefited from cheap Burmese labour, paying one-third to one-fifth of the standard wage. Currently, a total of 668,576 illegal workers from Laos, Cambodia and Burma are in Thailand. More than 80 per cent are Burmese. They crossed the border in search of a better life. At a recent policy meeting on foreign labour at Government House, the contentious issue remained unresolved on how to deal with them.
Thaksin's agreement to the scheme demonstrated how gullible he was - and how he was willing to risk the lives of Burmese workers residing in Thailand.
When the ex-junta leader, General Saw Maung came to power, it was former army chief, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh who went to Rangoon to end the international isolation imposed on Burma following the slaughter of pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988. Chavalit returned to Bangkok with fat concessions on fisheries and timber. In exchange, he pushed Burmese migrants in exile in Thailand back across the border. The result was that hundreds of them were either murdered or jailed by the Burmese regime.
Under the disguise of workers' registration, the Burmese generals hope they can further check the number of workers fleeing to Thailand. Almost 70 per cent of the Burmese workers are in fact non-Burmans belonging to various minority groups such as the Karen, Kachin and Shan. If the Thai government pushes these people back, the majority of them will be either detained or executed because of their activities inside Thailand.
Over the past few months, Laos and Cambodia have dispatched officials to Bangkok to register and verify the nationality of their workers. This method proved practical, effective and inexpensive. Now, the registration of Lao and Cambodian workers has been completed. So far, over 10,000 Burmese workers have been registered and granted work permits.
It seems the Surayud government is losing its way in the labyrinth of Thai-Burmese relations. He has followed the Foreign Ministry's guidelines, which aim to win back trust and support from the junta. Knowingly or not, he earlier gave support to the junta by saying the UN Security Council should not be discussing Burma's internal issues.
The Thai government continues to pursue the wrong policy. It's a reminder of the three million Indochinese refugees who took refuge here in the 1970s and 80s. Almost all have been resettled in third countries or have gone home. None expressed gratitude for Thailand's role during that difficult period. Indeed, they do not have reason to do so, because they were treated inhumanely during their transit here.
If Surayud does not change this Burmese policy, it will tarnish both his image and Thailand's reputation. More than the officials like to admit, these Burmese workers will eventually reside and work in Thailand because they work on jobs that Thais refuse to do. The proper way to document these workers is through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and specialised agencies.
It is about time we supported the hard-working Burmese and those who have aspirations for democratic development. Read more!

Andre Kim showcases 2007 collection at Ankor Wat

The Korea Herald

Korea's top designer Andre Kim is to launch his 2007 fashion collection this evening at Ankor Wat, a temple inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the first time a designer to hold a fashion show at Cambodia's national treasure - one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Kim's "Fahion Fantasia: Ankor Wat" is part of Ankor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 that kicked off last month and run through Jan. 9 next year. The 50 -day event titled "Ancient Future: The Myths of the Orient" features exhibitions on khmer civilization (1181-1215) and the Silla culture (B.C.57-935) which privides insight into the culture of Korea and Cambodia.

The two Korean Wave stars, actors Kim Rae-Won and Kim Hee- Sun are to take stage with other models showcasing a total of 187 piece during the three hours show.

Set against the majestic backdrop of early 12-century Ankor Wat, a temple that represents the achievements of the Khmer Empire at its zenith, Kim is to present the splendor of 5000 years of history of Korea and also revives the achievements the Khmer Empire of ancient Cambodia.

Starting with a stage that honors the opening of the Ankor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006. Kim will also deliver the message of everlasting love and romanticism through this symbolic fashion.

"I have prepared the fashion show for quite a long time. I do my best to represent the greatness of the Khmer and silla Kingdoms," said Andre Kim before leaving the country yesterday. Kim has already given several show in foriegn countries including China with his unique design featuringthe everlasting theme, love and fantasy. Read more!

Cambodia asks Finland to reconsider visa for convicted police chief

Cambodian deputy priminister Hor Namhong Thursday urged the Finish government to reconsider its decision to issue visa for former phnom penh police chief Heng Pov, who was sentenced to 18 years in jail in absentia in September for masterminding to kill a judge.

" We are very regrettable indeed that criminals who fabricated claims against the Royal Government of Cambodia to masquerade their actual crimes have gain the protection from Finland," said Hor, who is also Minister foreign affiairs and international cooperation.

"therfore, in the future, it is futile to talk under variou framworks about cooperation to combat and prevent organized crimes, but instead we should talk about nurturing them," he said. This was the second times that the Finnish government allowed Cambodian criminals to stay and it should reconsider what it had done so far for Cambodia, he added.

"Once they arrived in Finland, these criminals will spread defamation against the Royal Government of Cambodia, just like the cases of Sok Yeoun and Heng Pov," he said. "We already sent a letter to foreign affairs of Finland, Malaysia's court and the Singaporean authorities about Heng Pov's crime, he added.

After his legal team negotiated with the Finnish government for two months and under went independent review, the 49 years old, one-legged former capital police chief recieved his visa entry to Finland, which significantly increased his chance avoiding deportation.

Hing Pov, also serving as persoal advisor to prime minister Hun Sen and under-secretary of state at interior ministry, managed to fled oversea in July 23, but fail to seek asylum in Singapore and Malaysia. he has been detained in Malaysia since Oct. 3 for overstaying his entry pass.

The Cambodian court believed that he was responsible for the murder of Phnom penh judge Sk Sathamony, while a press released from ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation insisted that he was involved in six other cases including illegal confinment, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and illegal weapon possession and usage.

In addition, So Yeoun, an active member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, was accused of staging rocket attack on the motorcade of Hun Sen when he attended the ceremony of the establishment of the first governemt of Cambodia in 1998, He then fled to Thailand and finally secure his stay in Finland. Read more!

Corruption crippling Cambodian tax system, minister says

dpa Germany Press Agency

Phnom penh - Rampant corruption in both the private and state sectors has made tax collectoin in some area virtually impossible, finance minister Keat Chhon said Tuesday. The minister dismissed opposition politicians's criticism that the government waas squandering tax revenues, saying the real problem was ften unable to collect them.

"At the moment some companies have two set of books. Some state institutions also have two set of books," Keat Chhon said, hinting that these may also be included some ministries.

"Two set of books mean corruption. The ( Cambodian) Auditor General researches, but then come back with no results. I think we should use penal law to investigate and punish those who do this," he said.

He also conceded that powerful interests were involved in area such as land-tax collection and that legal uses were used to disquise ownership.

International donors have called on the govrenment to make serious reforms of the county's tax system.

They have also demanded that rigorous anti-corruption legislation be enacted, but although priminister Hun Sen had promised that bill would be put before the national assembly by the end of 2006, he recently cited ongoing reform to penal law and other complications as a reason for delaying the measure. Read more!

Finland grants Visa to Cambodian Ex-police chief

Cambodia's reactions came promply after Finland announced its decision to grant a visa to Heng Peo. According to Deutsche Press Agentur(DPA). Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong had sent a letter to his Finnish colleguea Erkki Tuomioja in which he accuse Finland of habouring criminals. "it is with great consternation that we learned that your government has decided to issue a visa to Heng Peo, a convicted criminal," DPA quoted the letter as saying.

In the angry letter, the cambodian foreirgn minister claimed that this was the second times Finland had offerd shelter to a convicted Cambodian criminal, referring to Sok Yoeun, who is a cambodian opposition party member charged with taking paart in an attempt on Priminister's life in 1998

There are currently many criminals serving jail terms in Cambodia prisons. We should be happy to send them all to Finland," Hor Namhong sarcasticly wrote.

Heng Peo, 49, has been detained for immigration offences in Malaysia since october. He claimed that he will be torctured and executed if deported to Cambodia. Finland's decision to grant the Visa after repeated appeals by non-governmental organistions, members of the European Parliament, and Cambodian refugees. Read more!

Cambodia busted auto smuggling ring

Phnom penh(dpa) - Cambodia announced on Wednesday that 29 officials had been removed from their posts and anothe 10 had been suspended during a probe into the smuggling fo hundreds fo vihicles of neighboring Thailand since March.

The 39 officials included a provincial police chief, two provincial governor officials and the chief and the deputy chief of a customs' office, according to the government's anti-corruption chief, Om yentieng.

The smugging of the mainly luxury vehicles into Cambodia across the nationwestern border has been conservatively estimated to cost the government hundred of thousand dollars in the cost of customs' revenue.

The 10 suspended officials will remain without pay for six months, Yintieng said.

What we have done is not fovour for donors but a favour for cambodians people, said Yentieng who is also an advisor to priminister Hun Sen.

International donors have been pressuring the aid-dependant country to crack down on corruption or face on possible sanctions. They also demanded tough anti-corruption legislation which, despite the government promises, has yet to send to the national assembly.

Yentieng answered criticism that the penalties might be too linient by promising even tougher action if subsequent investigations showed the smuggling had not ceased.

"The education of one person may influence100", he said.

He also promise to protect the identities of those who had informed on the officials during his comment's three weeks long investigation

Hun Sen announced this year that all right hand drive vehicles such as those from Thailand which were imported into Cambodia before March would be legalized, but those were imported after deadline would be deemed illegal.

On Tuesday Finance Minister Keat Chhon warned that corruption was crippling the country 's economy and called for tougher measures. He has previously estimated that smuggling robbed the impoverished nation of aound 20 per cent of customs' revenue. Read more!

Thai-Soeur Brarn soldiers terorized Cambodian village.

On thursday Nov.29, 2006; Thai soldiers had crossed the cambodian border to destroy Khmer villagers' house. The Thai soldiers were estimated about 300 of them had crossed the border destroying the villagers' house at bboiy bbet, bontaiy meanchey province. The thai soldiers had claimed that the villagers had built the house on the white zone.

After cambodian police officers and border guards had intervened the action, the black dressed thai soldiers had pulled back to 400 metre from the border. They are still demanding cambodian villagers to remove the houses a long the canal on the cambodia side.

Thai soldiers had done a grissly actions on cambodian people in several times before. This is to show that they are really disrespect the Cambodian Soveriegnty and looked down on the Kingdom of Cambodia. The acts were evil to ward Cambodians people and the country. This is a terrorist action should cambodia taking action to solve the border issue.

SRP official Son chhey had VOA that he will write a letter to Thai priminister, surayut chhulanont hopfully he will be responded. The Cambodia soldiers are now guarding the region to make the villagers feel safe.

The confrontation had several times in the past between both sides of the borders. And all incidents were initiated by thai soldiers crossing the border to Cambodia. Read more!

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ANGKORCIVILIZATION

ANGKORCIVILIZATION Ankor Wat is the greatest the monument in Cambodia. Cambodian ancesters were the the most intelligent people back in the ninth century to the fifth teenth century. The cambodian empire was the solid society in the ninth century and later decade. Ankor Wat temple is the spirite of Ankor civilisation and also the solide interests of the Cambodian Empire that stretched from Vietnam to china at tong quang province.

The new generation Cambodians should be proud to have the beautiful temple. To support the beauty of the temple, it is time for million cambodians to vote for this candidate to show the world that this temple is a beautiful artistic work that could not be compare to any others. It is time to make a history, please join the vote for the new7wonders world ancient stucture.

The voting time is from now until July 7, 2007. If you want to vote, please go to this website www.new7wonders.com Read more!

KI Media

mysterious blackout for women garment factory worker


October 15,2006.
By jeyjomnou

Russie keo garment factory workers were fainted sending some of them to hospital. This is the first time in the history of garment workers were striked into unconsciousness by lacking of health and sefty measure invironment. There were 64 women losing consciousness. The fainting may have bee caused by the chemical treated textile. A doctor at Preah Kossomak Hospital which treated 29 women claimed that the women were weak because poor diet. But this is not the main factor that causee a mass unconsciousness. The official could not be reached by phone or contacted. The doctor claimed that women were poor diet, he is partially right. Because all women and men who are working in garment factory are getting minimum wage $45 a month which is not enough money to pay rent and food supply for themselves and the majority of them also supporting families at the remote villages. There are not enough food and medication for them who is working in a bad environment. An other factor are chemical reaction in the air becoming poisonous. The majority of women like to wear perfumes and aerosol spray, deodorized and other make up. All of these are chemical compound that are casting smell of fumes mixed in the air causing chemical reaction for poisoning them. The lacking of food, diet and medication is weakning their body every day easily for them to collapse. Read more!

This web site is a proud of a man who has so much for the world. he is the man who inspired a lot of people. he also is a hero, brave and never tired of doing something for the people , especially for all civilizations decended from the era of Ankor. The very proud of mighty stones ever lasting smile to thousnd miles of the whole world. Read more!