North Korea To Attend Regional Talks in July

North Korea’s foreign minister will make an official visit to Cambodia in July, when Phnom Penh hosts an Asean regional forum, officials said Thursday.

The visit of Pak Ui-chun follows a five-day trip by Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, which ended Thursday.

Hor Namhong told reporters that his trip had been to improve cooperation between the two countries, which enjoy cordial relations. 

North Korea will participate in ministerial meetings at the Asean Regional Forum, which begins July 13 and is expected to include 27 countries.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said he did not know whether the North Korean nuclear issues would be a part of those meetings, although Asean officials have said in the past they are dedicated to keeping the region nuclear-weapons free. Read more!

Should Cambodian 'blood antiquities' be returned?



By Mark V. Vlasic and Tess Davis, Special to CNN

This kneeling figure at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was estimated to have been carved around 921 to 945


Editor's note: Mark V. Vlasic, a senior fellow and adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University, served as the first head of operations of the joint United Nations-World Bank Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative and leads the international practice at Madison Law & Strategy Group PLLC. Tess Davis is the executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation and is working with Cambodia to combat the illicit trade in the kingdom's antiquities.

 (CNN) -- The last time most New Yorkers focused on pillaged antiquities from Cambodia was likely after the release of the Angelina Jolie film "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," which featured the heroine's adventures through the country's famous archaeological wonder, Angkor Wat.

 Now, real "tomb raiding" is making the news as the Cambodian government seeks to recover antiquities allegedly plundered from the kingdom's ancient sites during its civil war, ethnic cleansing and foreign occupation.

 At Cambodia's request, the United States recently filed suit in U.S. District Court against Sotheby's in New York, demanding that the auction house forfeit a sandstone warrior that was "illicitly removed," according to the complaint, from a remote jungle temple. But according to a recent New York Times story, Cambodia has now set its sights on another Manhattan institution: the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has specifically targeted the highlight of its Southeast Asian collection: two kneeling figures that archaeologists declare are companions to the contested Sotheby's piece.

 If these stones could speak, what a story they would tell.

 Carved in the 10th century by some of the most skilled artisans known to history, they originally adorned the sanctuary of Prasat Chen, at the temple complex of Koh Ker. Experts believe that with other characters, they formed a three dimensional tableau from the Hindu epic the Mahabharata for a millennium. They say that came to an end when paramilitary groups trafficked them, sculpture by sculpture, overseas.

 What a strange twist of fate: Having traveled halfway around the world, quite possibly through the illicit and licit markets, the three disputed objects are now just miles apart in New York City.

 Phnom Penh's forceful request for their return has alarmed the less scrupulous in the art world, and with good reason: They have a lot to lose if the art is repatriated. American and European galleries, auction houses and museums are allegedly full of Cambodian plunder. Many of these artifacts were allegedely stolen during the country's long conflict, making them "blood antiquities," little different than "blood diamonds" from Sierra Leone and other war-torn African states.

 The years before, during, and after the Killing Fields decimated the Cambodian population and led to the looting of most of the nation's archaeological sites. Yet sadly, now that Cambodia is at peace and in a position to recover its rightful property, some collectors are portraying themselves as the victims. 

In the wake of the Sotheby's case, one Asian specialist lamented the "crisis" now facing collectors. She warned that such legal actions "threaten the very future of collecting and collecting museums" and the "next generation of collectors, donors and patrons." Such histrionics aside, it will always be difficult and expensive for countries such as Cambodia to recover their pillaged heritage through the courts, even when in the right.

 Especially when its acquisition may have been made possible by tragedies such as the Holocaust, Cambodia's killing fields or even the more recent looting of the Baghdad Museum during the Iraq war, the real issue is why any collector or museum would want to possess stolen art?

Thankfully, individuals and institutions who would argue to keep looted art are a minority and do as much disservice to their fellows as they do to victims of the illicit art trade. Indeed, many have voluntarily repatriated antiquities to Cambodia, once learning they were wartime plunder. The Met is no exception, having itself returned a valuable piece to the country in 1997 at its own initiative.

There is much common ground between archaeologists, collectors and curators, as all share a love of the past, if not an outright obsession with it. Archaeologists recognize that there will always be, and should be, a legal market for antiquities, just as most collectors and curators agree that the looting of archaeological sites and trafficking of antiquities must be stopped.

Indeed, if there is to be any real progress, both sides of the issue will likley have to make concessions. But as campaigns like Cambodia's demonstrate, the art world must reconsider what is ethically acceptable. And today, the sale, purchase and exhibition of "blood antiquities" is not only deplorable, it may actually be criminal. (The sale, possession, and transport of stolen property is illegal under the National Stolen Property Act.)

Sotheby's and the Met have a choice: They can treat Cambodia's requests as obstacles, or recognize them as the opportunities they are to right past wrongs and set the moral standard for the entire field. For Cambodia's sake, as well as their own -- and for all of humanity that finds these treasures important -- let us hope that they choose wisely. Read more!

Russian pedophile arrested in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, June 6 (UPI) -- A known Russian pedophile was arrested in Cambodia and is now awaiting deportation, officials say.

Alexander Tro­fimov, a Russian national also known as Stanislav Molodyakov, was arrested Monday in Kandal province's Ponhea Leu commune, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

 "We have been trying to arrest him for months. As of now, he's in detention at the Department of Immigration. We must deport him soon following the order from the [Interior] minister.  But we are now discussing about the deportation," National Police spokesman Kirth Chantharith said.

Activists said they welcome the arrest and deportation, but say it didn't come soon enough.

Tro­fimov was convicted of sexually abusing 17 Cambodian girls from 2005 to 2007. In December, he was given a royal pardon and released from prison after serving just half of his eight-year sentence. He is also wanted by Interpol for allegedly raping six girls in Russia.

 "This sends a message that there should be an amendment to the law … to make it mandatory for any child sex convict to be deported from the country," said Samleang Seila, director of Action Pour Les Enfants.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said Trofimov should be extradited to Russia for prosecution there, but said further questions remained about how Trofimov eluded the authorities for so long.

 "The Cambodian government cannot just wash its hands by deporting Trofimov and calling the case closed. There also needs to be a serious and impartial investigation about how these events came to pass," he said. . Read more!

Cambodia, UN hold forum to promote women's entrepreneurship

Phnom Penh, June 6 (Xinhua-ANI): Cambodia's ministry of women' s affairs and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Wednesday jointly organized a forum on women's entrepreneurship promotion to discuss challenges women are facing in business management.

The one-day forum was attended by some 80 high-level government representatives, international experts, leaders of women's business associations, women's producers groups, entrepreneurs and economic experts, Ing Kantha Phavi, minister of women's affairs, said in her opening address.

 "The event is aimed at creating a platform of exchange and a network among the key players in the government of Cambodia, development partners, and private sector to identify the specific challenges that women entrepreneurs usually experience and explore some of the good practices on how to overcome these constraints," she said.

 In Cambodia, more than 60 percent of micro, small- and medium- sized enterprises are owned by women, but those enterprises are very small and informal ones with only a few employees, she said, adding that those women business owners still face a different kind of challenges compared to their male fellow-entrepreneurs.

Those challenges include limited access to adequate skills training, land ownership, access to advanced education, more importantly access to markets, business information or financial resources, she added. "I believe that the forum will identify some of the key priorities for improving the economic status of Cambodian women," said the minister.

The UNDP deputy country director Sophie Baranes said at the forum that the economic empowerment of women is a key strategy to promote gender equality and poverty reduction in Cambodia and it is clearly articulated in specific targets under the Cambodian Millennium Development Goal 3 to be achieved by 2015. (Xinhua-ANI) . Read more!

Malaysian Couple Breaks Maid’s Jaw

A Cambodian maid is hospitalized after allegedly suffering extensive abuse at the hands of her employers.


Police officers speak to a group of girls after they were rescued from a human trafficking ring, Oct. 11, 2011.

  A Cambodian maid is recuperating at a hospital in Malaysia after being severely beaten by her employers, highlighting the plight of women from some of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia who seek work abroad, only to find themselves held captive and abused with little recourse.

Chea Phalla, 28, is being treated in a hospital in the capital Kuala Lumpur after having her jaw broken and being tortured by the couple that hired her to clean their home, according to an official with the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia who met with the victim.

Third secretary at the Cambodian Embassy Chhay Kosal told RFA that Chea Phalla’s employer, hairdresser Tan Mong Huwai, had tried to send her back to Cambodia so that he and his wife, Eng Lay San, could get away with their crime.

 “When she arrived at the embassy, her condition was already critical. At first she could barely speak. Her boss slapped her in the face until her jaw was broken,” Chhay Kosal said.

 “They wanted to finish by sending her back to Cambodia, but the company that recruited her [Cambodia Labor Supply] knew about the torture and stopped them,” he said, adding that the company was assisting the embassy in bringing the case to court.

 “We will not accept this. We will file a lawsuit against her boss.”

Chhay Kosal said that Chea Phalla is recuperating after having rested in the hospital.

The couple that employed Chea Phalla, both 36 years old, has been charged with “causing grievous hurt” to the housemaid between August last year and May.

They allegedly beat Chea Phalla with an empty bottle, a pair of shoes, a weighing scale, an iron, an aluminum rod, a kitchen knife, a plastic chair, and a pail at various times during her employment, Malaysia’s The Star newspaper reported.

In addition to refusing her food and making her work long shifts without rest, the maid claimed that her employers forced her to eat and drink her own feces and urine.

The charge of “causing grievous hurt,” under Section 326 of Malaysia’s Penal Code, provides a maximum jail sentence of up to 20 years and a fine or whipping upon conviction.

History of abuse

Malaysia employs about two million foreign workers, mostly from less developed regional countries in jobs that local workers prefer not to take, including on construction sites and in plantations. Another two million are thought to work illegally in the country.

Thida Khus, executive director of Cambodian women’s rights group Silaka, said there are no accurate statistics of how many Cambodian women are currently working Malaysia.

“The companies often dispatch maids to work without monitoring their conditions,” he said.

“We don’t know how many women are working in Malaysia because they don’t maintain contact with embassy officials.” Some estimates put the number of Cambodian women employed in Malaysian households at around 50,000.

A string of similar cases of abuse has led to strained ties between Malaysia and some of its Southeast Asian neighbors in recent years.

Cambodia imposed a freeze on sending domestic workers in October last year after activists exposed dozens of cases of sexual abuse, overwork, and exploitation among Cambodian maids in Malaysian homes.

Indonesia, which is the largest provider of domestic workers to Malaysia, had a similar ban in place since 2009, but lifted it recently after Malaysia pledged better protections for maids, including granting them one day off a week.

In May, the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia assisted 10 Cambodians who had been ill-treated by their employers.

And in March, a Malaysian couple was charged with killing domestic worker Mey Sichan, 24, who was allegedly subjected to repeated physical abuse and starved.

Reported by Mao Sotheany for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Read more!

With Votes In, High Expectations for New Commune Councils

What most voters want out of local leadership will be up to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which won a sweeping majority of commune chief seats—an unofficial estimated 1,592 of 1,633.


With their fingers freshly inked from Sunday’s polls, voters said Tuesday they were looking for security and good governance from their local commune councils, while Cambodia’s main opposition parties began to look ahead to national elections next year.

“I want a good commune council,” said Has Tak, 22, who is married and lives in Sambor commune, Kampong Speu province, some 40 kilometers west of the capital. Out here, many fields have yet to be plowed, and they remain dry, despite the onset of the rainy season last month.

For Has Tak and other voters like him, day-to-day needs are the most pressing, like the red-earth road, which the rain has washed away in some sections. “The road is mostly broken down, and it’s hard to ride a motorcycle on it,” Has Tak said Tuesday. “The commune council must consider this, and help the poor people.”

“I want security,” said a 49-year-old woman, who takes care of 2 hectares of rice fields and raises chickens to support six family members. “We need electricity in every commune and in every province,” she added.

What most voters want out of local leadership will be up to the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which won a sweeping majority of commune chief seats—an unofficial estimated 1,592 of 1,633.

 Despite the ruling party’s landslide, however, opposition leaders say they made gains with members on lower council seats, which will help them in their bid for parliamentary seats next year.

Both the Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties have said they would consider joining together for the national election, hoping to leverage their grass roots popularity in next year’s national election. Each party won about 20 commune chief positions each.

 Speaking to VOA Khmer by phone from Paris, Sam Rainsy said the change in local leadership will allow a change of village chiefs, and that will bring “big changes” in the national election next year. “We will bring absolute change,” he said, though he remains in exile and faces a number of criminal charges he maintains are politically motivated.

 Kem Sokha, who leads the smaller Human Rights Party, said the local victories will be a key to political change, but that will require collaboration by the opposition.

“The main foundation of communists and dictators is at the grass roots,” he said. “So in this step we can change a lot of village chiefs, if the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party work together.

In Kampong Cham, for example, the two opposition parties won some 300,000 votes in this election, he said. That could mean a big difference in national parliamentary elections if the parties join, he said.

Cheam Yiep, a lawmaker for the ruling party, said he was not concerned with the political strategy of the opposition. “This depends on the voters and their will,” he said. Read more!

Observers: Cambodian Vote Improved but Problems Remain

PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's ruling party won the majority of seats in local elections nationwide Sunday, but observers say the vote was not without its problems.

Even going into Sunday's election, there was little doubt which party would come out on top. But critics say the dominance of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has been aided by past irregularities at the polling booth. This year was no different.

 Mu Sochua is a lawmaker with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP). Early results suggest the SRP lost ground this election, even in its traditional strongholds like the capital, Phnom Penh. .

Speaking by phone, Sochua said she witnessed subtle attempts at voter intimidation on Sunday. She said she saw influential local officials, aligned with the CPP, standing near polling stations as Cambodians arrived to vote.

 "It has an effect, it does. It is one of the factors, in terms of voters not voting their conscience," said Sochua. Observers say the CPP benefits from a long-entrenched system of patronage, which rewards its supporters while shutting out its opponents.

"If they don't vote for the party, it could have some problems," said Thun Saray, president of Adhoc, a local rights group. "Normally they provide donations to every family, except if they know some families in the village, they do not support their party, perhaps they don't give the donations. That is the habit."

Saray also chairs the standing committee for Comfrel, an elections watchdog. This election was an improvement on previous polls, with fewer instances of violence, intimidation and overt irregularities, he says. But, the use of civil servants, police and the military to campaign on behalf of the ruling party, has become a major issue, according to Saray.

He says this election may be acceptable, compared to previous polls, but the country has a long way to go before it can declare its voting process free and fair.

"Free and fair, with the international standard - no, not at all. Because you see the CPP controls the important media, especially the television, all the radio, and also the newspapers," said Saray. "They control the media. And they also have a lot of the money. They donate to, not every voter, the voters that they know support them."

On election day, some radio stations reported being instructed by the Information Ministry not to carry broadcasts by specific news media. This included programming by VOA's Khmer service on two major FM radio stations.

 Ministry officials could not be reached for comment. . Read more!

Cambodian officials named over Khmer Rouge genocide

FOUR senior officials in the Cambodian government have been named as persons of interest by an investigating judge involved in the Khmer Rouge genocide tribunal, confidential documents obtained by The Age reveal.

A United Nations investigating judge who quit the court in early May, citing dysfunctional investigations into the case, has named current Cambodian senate president Chea Sim, National Assembly president Heng Samrin, the chief of the army and another senator as persons of interest.

 All were officials in the brutal Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country from 1975 until 1979 and were named by investigators into Case 003, which includes the imprisonment and murder of thousands of people at the Tuol Sleng prison. 

The Cambodian government has blocked prosecutions in the case against former Khmer Rouge air force commander Sou Met and navy chief Meas Muth. Mr Meas Muth allegedly sent two Australian yachtsmen to their death at Tuol Sleng.

In the documents, the UN investigator said the four senior members of the ruling Cambodia People's Party held positions of authority in the Khmer Rouge regime and are key witnesses to atrocities committed against ethnic Vietnamese civilians living on the border with Cambodia.

The judge conducted field investigations into the conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam in the 1970s and states ''new facts'' were discovered about the war.

These ''new facts'' include ''a premeditated attack on an undefended civilian Vietnamese village'' and a supposition that other similar attacks occurred, along with evidence of repeated incursions into Vietnamese territory.

The confidential court document alleges the four are likely to have crucial information due to their positions of authority and that Mr Heng Samrin was a deputy commander of troops who committed attacks that the investigator called ''brutal and illegal''.

Many senior Cambodian government officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, served in the Khmer Rouge regime during its deadly reign.

The government is particularly sensitive about links between its officials and the regime and Mr Hun Sen has told the UN that any further investigations beyond the current trial of three ageing leaders are ''not allowed''.

Three of the four senior leaders named in the confidential court document, including Mr Heng Samrin and Mr Chea Sim, have previously been summonsed by investigators in the case against Khmer Rouge ''Brother Number 2'' Nuon Chea and others. The senior politicians refused to obey the summonses.

 The UN investigating judge who led the recent investigations said he stepped down from the court because he had been ''completely blocked'' by Cambodian staff at the tribunal. His predecessor similarly quit the court in October last year citing government interference in the case.

The information comes on the eve of nationwide elections in Cambodia and during its year as chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations.

The trials, officially called the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, are in chaos following bitter internal disagreements, staff resignations and a budgeting crisis. . Read more!

Malaysia/Cambodia-Islam: Aid pours in for Cham Muslims

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Rajab/4 June (IINA) – THOUSANDS of Muslims in Cham district in Cambodia got an early Hari Raya Aidilfitri surprise when they received goodies from a humanitarian team from Malaysia recently.

The team, led by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, presented clothes, books and generators, worth RM500,000, to residents of Kampung Rakapram and surrounding villages.

Zahid was joined by representatives from Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim), Polytechnic Education Department employees and reporters, who had been in Phnom Penh for the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting. 

The arrival of the convoy was greeted by more than 1,000 Muslim Cambodians.

 Zahid said the villagers were united with a majority of Malaysians by Islam.

“I feel privileged to be here with my brethren. This trip, although my first, will not be my last.

“I see a great opportunity for people here to come work in Malaysia and will discuss this issue with Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam,” he said to applause from the crowd.

Read more!

Cambodian Opposition Tempers Expectations Ahead of Elections

PHNOM PENH - Cambodians vote Sunday in elections for their local commune councils. In a country where the prime minister, Hun Sen, maintains a tight grip on power, opposition parties are trying to be realistic about the outcome.

For opposition lawmaker Son Chhay, the local commune elections are all about lowered expectations. He is an official for the Sam Rainsy Party, but he has no grand illusions of victory on Sunday.

"When we talk about winning, it's something that is not going to be easy," Chhay said. "Currently we're only head of 28 communes, out of 1,633. So it's very small. So we're hoping we're going to get at least 10 percent of this. This could be a very good start." 

It's a good start, but these are still modest goals for what is Cambodia's largest opposition party. In a country where the ruling Cambodian People's Party, known as the CPP, has maintained a grip on power since the 1990s, opposing the government at the polls has always been a struggle.

This year is no different.

 For the past two weeks, the political parties have been running street campaigns throughout the country. In Phnom Penh, long, boisterous convoys promoting the CPP rumble through busy intersections, blaring campaign messages.

​​​​In contrast, the Sam Rainsy Party, or SRP, has a more modest fleet.

The party has rigged large projection screens on a handful of trucks, which are driven around the city during the evenings. The screens show videos of Cambodian villagers being evicted from their lands. With most of the country's radio and television airwaves sympathetic to the government, Chhay says this is the best opposition parties can do to get out the message.

 "Normally this kind of situation would probably be shown on the television news. But not in Cambodia. We do not have access to information so the government only presents the kind of propaganda news to the public," Chhay said.

 Election observers say the CPP's control also extends to civil servants, police and the military. By law, these groups are prohibited from using their influence to campaign for or against any political party. But in reality, the rules are ignored.

The misuse of state resources has become a systematic problem, said Koul Panha, the executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, or COMFREL.

 "The ruling party tries to organize, to use, encourage and mobilize the state officials. They mobilize them, they go to the field, to conduct activities to support the ruling party," Panha said. "Sometimes this includes opposition to other people also. This happens since before, but now in this election it has increased. It's systematic. And it violates the law."

However, Panha says this campaign period has seen some improvements over previous elections. There have been fewer complaints of intimidation, threats or other irregularities. And there have been fewer cases of political violence.

 "Cambodian elections have not reached the international standard for free and fair, yet," noted Panha, adding that the process remains flawed.

 Despite lots of campaigning, some observers say this commune election has been short on actual policy debate. Instead, parties have been using the opportunity to promote their brand names, said political analyst Lao Mong Hay.

 "It seems that they, candidates, have not concentrated on local issues. It seems that they just talk about national issues and the political platform of the party. It's more like the general election, not like local elections," Hay said. "But I doubt whether candidates can grasp the local issues very well, because they can do very little when they are controlled by the top."

Back at the SRP offices in Phnom Penh, parliamentarian Son Chhay says getting a foothold at the commune level is important. But his party is already looking beyond Sunday's vote, and ahead to next year's general election.

 "Local election is a stepping stone to the national election," Chhay said. "When we have more control over the local governments, then you're able to have more resources, more people working for you to promote the party when it comes to next year's election." Those elections are now scheduled for July 2013. Read more!

Cambodia Programme Manager, with technical support to Myanmar

Description of the unit / department: Trocaire’s Cambodia office, based in Phnom Penh, has launched an important Governance and Human Rights programme, funded by the European Commission, until July 2015. It requires a Programme Manager to support a small but dynamic team, which includes a Governance Programme Officer, Finance Officer and Driver. It’s important to note however that Trócaire’s other programmes in Cambodia, and the regional office, will be phasing out by August 2013.

Trócaire also works in Myanmar where we expect to develop a new Governance programme in 2012 to support the emergence of civil society. The Programme Manager will be expected to provide technical capacity to that programme. The country team currently comprises a Country Representative, Gender Programme Officer, Humanitarian programme officer, and two support staff.

 Background to the Role: Trócaire is looking to recruit a Programme Manager to lead a small team to manage risk and deliver a quality EC funded programme working on Governance and Human Rights programme in Ratanakiri Province, North East Cambodia. 

From August 2013 onward, this role will be the most senior in-country, and some external representation will be required. Whilst the EC funded programme ends in February 2015 the team will be in place until July 2015 in order to complete the reporting for the programme and closing of the office.

This post holder will also be expected to dedicate at least 25 % of his/her time to provide technical support to the Governance and Human Rights programme in Myanmar which is currently being developed.

Reporting to: Assistant Regional Manager

 Managing: (Individuals/Team) Governance Programme Officer, Finance Officer and Driver in Cambodia Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract Duration: July 2015 Grade and Scale: International Programme Officer scale Location of Position Based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with frequent travel to Ratankiri province, and Myanmar Scope of the Role: The Programme Manager will take full responsibility for the delivery of a high quality Governance programme in Cambodia that complies fully with Trócaire’s policies and practices, as well as the EC contract.

 He/she will performance manage the Cambodian Governance team in-country, represent Trócaire as appropriate in external meetings and be responsible for the completion of the EC grant.

He/she will spend approximately 25% of the time providing technical support to the Governance programme in Myanmar, in particular in relation to programme cycle management. Frequent travel to Myanmar is anticipated. However, given the rapidly changing environment in the country, this aspect of the role is expected to evolve over time.

Key Duties & Responsibilities Programme Cycle Management: • Manage an EC-funded Governance and Human Rights programme in Ratanakiri Province, ensuring high quality in all areas of programme cycle management. Report-writing, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity-building to partners will be key tasks; • Support the Myanmar Governance programme in an advisory capacity to strengthen programming;

• Ensure adequate links and synergy with the Governance and Human Rights team in headquarters;
• Actively contribute to organisational learning, specifically making sure that good practice and innovation from the Cambodia and Myanmar programmes across the wider organisation. Management and leadership: • Lead the Governance team in Cambodia through effective performance management and the modelling of appropriate behaviour Representation and networking:
• Represent Trócaire to the Government, Cambodian civil society, the EC delegation and other international NGOs. The Programme Manager will also work very closely with CAFOD in country to ensure that opportunities for synergy and or complementarity are not missed
• Ensure our programmes meet their advocacy potential and link with Trócaire’s Ireland Division in relation to campaigns, education and communications Financial management:
• Responsible for ensuring the EC funded programme meets all internal and external procedural compliance, with the support from a Finance Officer in Phnom Penh, as well as Head Office.
• Assist in seeking institutional funds for the Governance programme in Myanmar, where appropriate Other: • Deliver on other tasks as agreed by the Assistant Regional Manager. Person Specification – Essential Requirements (E) (E) Qualification
• Degree level education in a development studies or a relevant field (E) Experience
• At least 5 years of programme management experience
• A minimum of three years overseas experience, preferably in Asia
• Experience of working in partnership/ capacity development of local institutions and civil society
• Experience of working to fulfil donor requirements
• Experience of working on a governance and/or human rights programme (E) Skills
• Proven knowledge of programme cycle management and monitoring frameworks
• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent leadership, management and interpersonal skills
• Strong financial management skills
• Excellent computer literacy with e-mail, internet connection & file and data back ups systems/severs
• Fluent spoken and written English (E) Qualities
• Strongly committed to Trócaire’s approach
• Commitment to supporting civil society
• Self motivating and confident to make decisions
• Effective communicator and leader
• Manages time, emotions and personal growth in a positive manner
• Shows initiative and adapts to change
• Willingly takes ownership and is openly accountable (E) Other
• Availability to work outside normal hours and undertake travel within the country and outside when necessary Person Specification – Desirable Requirements (D) (D) Qualification (D) Experience
• Experience of working on EC contracted programmes
• Experience of team leadership and staff management How to apply: To apply please return completed application form to: Jason Rice HR Officer Trócaire Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland Email: jobs@trocaire.ie . Read more!

Cambodian Prime Minister Meets with Chinese Defense Minister

Hun Sen, prime minister of Cambodia, met with Liang Guanglie, state councilor and minister of national defense of the People’s Republic of China, on May 28, 2012 in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern such as relations between the two countries and the two militaries in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

 Liang Guanglie said that China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of international vicissitudes since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 54 years ago. China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is currently well developing as evidenced by high political mutual trust, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and cultural exchanges and mutual learning, showing bright prospects for development.

Liang Guanglie noted that the relations between the Chinese and Cambodian militaries have been well developed in recent years as evidenced by fruitful cooperation in such fields as high-level contacts, academy education, personnel training, logistics support and multilateral security. The Chinese side is willing to make joint efforts with the Cambodian side to promote the friendly and cooperative relations between the two militaries to a new high.

Hun Sen said that China and Cambodia share long-term friendship and trust each other, and leaders of the two countries have frequent contacts with each other. Chinese President Hu Jingtao’s state visit to Cambodia in March 2012 has pointed the way for the future development of bilateral relations.

Hun Sen said that the Cambodian side speaks highly of the bilateral cooperation in national defense field and expresses heartfelt gratitude to Chinese Ministry of National Defense for its strong support and assistance to Cambodia’s national defense and army building.

Hun Sen hoped that the two militaries would further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such fields as personnel training, academy building and national defense industries. Read more!

The Cambodian commune elections has allegedly been marred by reports of bribery. Mr K alleges that 5 members of his family, in the Kaoh Chen commune, were paid by candidates from the ruling Cambodia Peoples Party to vote for them.



A placard of the Cambodian Peoples Party. The Cambodian People's Party is the current ruling party of Cambodia. Previous elections have also been marred by corruption.



 

 Description:

The Cambodian commune elections in 2012 select officials at the grassroots level to represent their community. The elections to be held on the 3rd June 2012 have been marred by reports of bribery by officials from the ruling Cambodia Peoples Party (CPP).

 Mr K who wishes to remain anonymous alleges that 5 members of his family in the Kaoh Chen commune - Preak Chik village, Kandal Province - were paid $2.5 each by a Mr R Lon who is a member of the CPP. "I have already spent the money,"Mr. K tells me when I ask him for evidence of the vote buying. "I cannot take you to speak with Mr. Lon as this will be dangerous for my family," he continues. "Now we have taken the money we have to vote for the CPP because they can check who we have voted for," and he does appear to genuinely believe that the CPP can do that. "Why did you take the money to vote if you believe that it's wrong?" I ask: "If we dont take they know we vote for another Party," was his cynical response. .

The Phnom Penh post reports today that the Prime Mininster Mr. Hun Sen and CPP vice-president has written a directive to ensure that all aspects of the democratic election process are fair: “Military police, national police and all levels of local authorities have to inform and educate the lower levels, villagers and foreigners in their community to suspend their selling and drinking of alcohol in order to make for good electoral process with freedom, justice and without violence.”

The CPP face a difficult electorate in Phnom Penh at the moment. Issues such as the alleged illegal land grab of prime development land at the Boeung Kak lake site by CPP government senator Lao Meng Khin, and the rapid imprisonment of 13 women protestors last week for the (ongoing) protests against the loss of their homes, may surface in the ballot box on 3rd June.

Tags 2012, ASEAN, Boeung Kak lake site, bribery, cambodia, Cambodia Peoples Party, Cambodian, commune elections, corrupt, corruption, CPP, CPP government senator, Democracy, Democratic, drinking alcohol ban, election, electoral process, free and fair, government, Government, Hun Sen, jailed protestors, june 3rd, Kandal Province, Kaoh Chen commune, land grab, Lao Meng Khin, phnom penh, south east asia, vote buying, Voting, Parliament, Election, Party Politics, Human Rights, Politics . Read more!

Cambodia, Thailand Agree on Troop Pullout from Disputed Border

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart Sukumpol Suwanatat agreed on Monday to urge the two countries' Joint Working Group (JWG) to speed up their talks towards troop withdrawal from the disputed border area surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"We agreed to have the JWG convene the 2nd meeting in Phnom Penh next month to continue discussion about the troop withdrawal," Tea Banh told reporters after the meeting. "We stressed our commitment to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as soon as possible."

 Speaking to reporters through an interpreter, Sukumpol Suwanatat said that he hoped that the JWG would be able to conclude their talks towards the pullout in the next month's meeting.

"Thailand also wants to speed up the process towards the troop pullout because Thailand thinks that the slow process towards the pullout is not good for Thailand," he said, adding the major obstacle for the issue was landmines in the area.

Cambodia and Thailand established the JWG in last December to work for the complete and simultaneous redeployment of the two countries' military personnel from the Provisional Demilitarized Zone (PDZ) surrounding Preah Vihear temple in order to comply with the ICJ's order.

The 1st JWG meeting was held in early April in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008 and witnessed fierce clashes in February and April 2011 during Thailand's Democrat Party rule.

On April 28, 2011, Cambodia submitted a request to the ICJ for interpretation of its judgment on June 15, 1962 in the case concerning the ancient temple.

It was accompanied by an urgent request for provisional measures in which Cambodia demands Thailand immediately and unconditionally withdraw troops from area surrounding the ruined temple.

During the interval of waiting for the verdict interpretation, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thailand on July 18, 2011 to immediately withdraw their military personnel from the PDZ and allow ASEAN observers (Indonesians) to access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.

 However, to date, neither Cambodia nor Thailand has withdrawn its troops from the 17.3 square kilometer PDZ.

Sukumpol Suwanatat arrived here on Monday morning to join the 6th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, which is scheduled on May 28- 30. Read more!

Cambodian, Chinese defense ministers ink military cooperation pact

PHNOM PENH, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh and Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Monday signed a military cooperation agreement in Phnom Penh.

Under the deal, signed after a one-hour meeting between the two ministers, China will continue receiving Cambodian military personnel for training in China, Tea Banh told reporters after the signing ceremony at Cambodia's defense ministry.

Tea Banh said Liang's visit would strengthen and expand friendship and traditional relations and cooperation between Cambodia and China in all fields, especially the military sector.

 "Cambodia and China have close and invaluable cooperation," he said. "Chinese assistance is greatly contributing to building Cambodian army's capacity in national defense."

 During the meeting, Tea Banh reiterated Cambodia's stance to support the "one-China" policy forever and the two ministers also pledged to support each other on the international arena.

 Liang said that China saw Cambodia as a close and honest friend and China would continue supporting Cambodia in military capacity building, military training schools and hospitals.

 Liang arrived here on Sunday for a four-day official visit. Besides meeting with Tea Banh, he is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and to visit the Angkor Archeological Park, one of the world heritage sites, in Siem Reap province.

 According to Tea Banh, Liang will also hold a 30-minute consultative meeting with ASEAN defense ministers on Tuesday evening in a bid to build closer cooperation between China and southeast Asian countries and to explain China's stance on the South China Sea issue. Read more!

Cambodia jails 13 women land activists: Rights groups

PHNOM PENH - Thirteen Cambodian women were jailed Thursday for fighting against a forced eviction, while an activist monk who supported them was detained and risks being defrocked, campaigners said.

The women, including a 72-year-old, were sentenced to between 12 and 30 months for illegally occupying land, rights groups said, slamming their hastily arranged trial in the capital Phnom Penh that lasted mere hours.

 Land conflicts are Cambodia’s most pressing human rights issue and protests have intensified this year amid what rights groups say is a worsening crackdown on human rights activists.

 The women were arrested on Tuesday when they tried to symbolically rebuild the homes of several families who were evicted to make way for a private development at a lakeside area in the capital.

 “This was nothing short of a show trial – a complete charade,” said Sia Phearum, Secretariat Director of Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF), in a statement.

 “The women were peacefully demonstrating... They were seeking an end to the ongoing dispute surrounding Boeung Kak lake.”

 Cambodia’s most outspoken monk Loun Sovath was among dozens of supporters waiting outside the court during the women’s trial, when he was suddenly forced into a car and taken to meet the city’s chief monk, without any explanation.

The award-winning human rights activist – known as the multimedia monk for his work documenting land disputes – was still being detained at a pagoda in the capital late Thursday, with observers fearing he faces being disrobed for his activities.

 Chief monk Non Ngeth could not immediately be reached for comment. In the past, he has told AFP he opposed Sovath’s advocacy work because monks should not get involved in politics.

Rights groups posted a video online (http: youtu.be/0sG6iLwj95o) showing Sovath being forcibly taken away from the court by a handful of monks and plainclothes police.

 Land titles are a murky issue in Cambodia where land ownership was abolished during the 1975-1979 rule of the communist Khmer Rouge and many legal documents were lost.

Last week, a 14-year-old girl was shot dead when armed government forces clashed with protesters involved in a long-running territorial battle with a private company. Read more!

Fraud suspects transferred

Suspects of a transnational telephone fraud are transferred to the Chinese mainland at Beijing Capital International Airport on Thursday.



Wang Jing / China Daily Malaysian and Thailand authorities transferred 126 Chinese mainlanders who were allegedly involved in a transnational telephone fraud to mainland police on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

They arrived in Beijing from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok on two chartered flights, said Wen Guohui, press officer from the ministry.

 On Wednesday, mainland police, assisted by Taiwan police, worked with their counterparts in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Fiji to bust a large cross-border telephone scam gang, he said.

  "On early Wednesday, police from these countries and regions carried out a cross-regional arrest action," Yang Dong, deputy director of the criminal investigation department under the ministry, told China Daily.

Police arrested 482 suspects, including 177 people from the Chinese mainland, 286 from Taiwan and 19 from Thailand and Myanmar, who allegedly were connected with 510 telecom swindling cases, and cheated Chinese victims out of 73 million yuan ($11 million) from 2010 to 2011, Yang said.

 "The operation is a major success in international judicial cooperation," Yang said.

The fraud case unraveled in November, when a financial manager surnamed Sha from an investment company in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, reported to local police that she had been swindled for 12.6 million yuan through telephone fraud.

After the investigation, police discovered that the swindler who called Sha pretended to be a local police officer.

 Over the next three days, the suspects again pretended to be staff from an anti-money laundering special work team, and asked Sha to transfer the company's financial fund to a "safe" designated account, which Sha did.

In early May, the ministry sent six investigation teams consisting of 70 police officers to the six countries to assist them with gathering evidence and making arrests.

Yang said the suspects were based in Taiwan and funded the whole fraud operation. Others were divided into several major groups, including phone calls, network maintenance, and specialists in withdrawing, transferring and laundering money.

 "The ring leaders bought or rented network servers and equipment to set up the host computer and circuits in Taiwan, and calling bases were scattered in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia and even Fiji," he said.

 "Meanwhile, they mainly hired unemployed young men from the Chinese mainland, who were cheated to work abroad with high salaries with tourist visas, and received formal training to form a complete fraud operation," Yang said.

 Telephone fraud has become a major social security problem on the Chinese mainland, but suspects often use overseas servers and make phone calls from overseas, making it more difficult for mainland police to trace them, Yang said.

 "Therefore, cooperation with overseas police is important to crack down on telephone fraud groups," he said. Dai Peng, director of the criminal investigation department under the Chinese People's Public Security University, agreed.

 "Swindlers frequently change their crime methods and shift their fraud dens to avoid the police, and the fraud shelters have been spreading to countries in South Asia and Oceania rather than traditional destinations such as Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia."

 "The mainland should intensify bilateral police cooperation with these countries and regions, and fight against the illegal disclosure of personal information to prevent fraudsters from easily getting people's phone numbers," he said.

 Li Guifang, deputy director of the criminal defense committee of the All China Lawyers Association, said a suspect convicted of common fraud will face a jail term of up to three years.

But if the amount of money involved is 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan, the sentence can range from three to 10 years, he said.

 "A sentence of 10 years to life in prison is possible if the case is deemed serious ... for example, if the amount of money involved is more than 500,000 yuan, or the fraud results in someone's death or the victim's loss of sanity," he said. . Read more!

Cambodia ‘imprisons’ 13 land activists

PHNOM PENH: Thirteen Cambodian women were jailed on Thursday for fighting against a forced eviction, while an activist monk who supported them was detained and risks being defrocked, campaigners said.

The women, including a 72-year-old, were sentenced to between 12 and 30 months for illegally occupying land, rights groups said, slamming their hastily arranged trial in the capital Phnom Penh that lasted mere hours.

Land conflicts are Cambodia’s most pressing human rights issue and protests have intensified this year amid what rights groups say is a worsening crackdown on human rights activists.

The women were arrested on Tuesday when they tried to symbolically rebuild the homes of several families who were evicted to make way for a private development at a lakeside area in the capital.

  “This was nothing short of a show trial — a complete charade,” said Sia Phearum, Secretariat Director of Housing Rights Task Force (HRTF), in a statement. “The women were peacefully demonstrating. They were seeking an end to the ongoing dispute surrounding Boeung Kak lake.” Cambodia’s most outspoken monk Loun Sovath was among dozens of supporters waiting outside the court during the women’s trial, when he was suddenly forced into a car and taken to meet the city’s chief monk, without any explanation. The award-winning human rights activist — known as the multimedia monk for his work documenting land disputes — was still being detained at a pagoda in the capital late on Thursday, with observers fearing he faces being disrobed for his activities.

 Chief monk Non Ngeth could not immediately be reached for comment. In the past, he has told the reporter he opposed Sovath’s advocacy work because monks should not get involved in politics.

Rights groups posted a video online (http://youtu.be/0sG6iLwj95o) showing Sovath being forcibly taken away from the court by a handful of monks and plainclothes police.

 Land titles are a murky issue in Cambodia where land ownership was abolished during the 1975-1979 rule of the communist Khmer Rouge and many legal documents were lost.

 Agence France-Presse Read more!

Stung Treng Villagers Say They Are Being Pressured to Vote CPP

Supporters of the ruling Cambodian People's Party wave from a vehicle during a commune elections campaign rally in Phnom Penh, Friday, May 18, 2012.

Villagers in Stung Treng province have accused local officials of trying to force them to vote for the ruling party in commune elections next month.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a resident of Keng Nge village, in Siem Pang district, said officials of the Cambodian People’s Party told villagers they would know who they voted for, following a meeting called at the local pagoda. This was intended to push the villagers to vote for the CPP, the attendee said.

 Competing parties are in the midst of a 15-day campaign period ahead of the June 3 elections.

  Those who attended the meeting in Siem Peng were given CPP hats and T-shirts and told to vote for the ruling party, the attendees said. District Governor Shi Soun acknowledged he had told villagers to vote for the CPP, but he denied breaking the election laws meant to prevent improper influence over voters.

 “Most of the villagers are members of the CPP,” he said. Puy Chantha Lak, head of the provincial election committee in Stung Treng, said he was not aware of the incident but would investigate. If party members are pressuring villagers into voting for them, they are in the wrong, he said.

The National Election Committee has so far received 18 complaints of irregularities during the campaign period, said the governing body’s secretary-general, Tep Nitha: three from the CPP, 14 from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party and one from local authorities.

 Nine complaints have been resolved by commune election committees, he said. However, Yim Sovann, spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party, said the NEC had not settled his party’s complaints.

The party had filed many complaints of irregularities that have been ignored, he said. Read more!

UK investment in Cambodian apparel sector to surge

Investments in the Cambodian garment sector from the UK are to get a boost as the UK Trade and Investment Office is set to open a permanent branch in Phnom Penh.

Traditionally, Cambodia’s clothing sector has attracted the largest chunk of UK investment. Last year, the UK was the only European country to invest in Cambodia.

During the past five years, bilateral trade between Cambodia and the UK have risen by more than 300 percent and it was worth US$ 400 million in 2011, as per the data available with the British embassy in Phnom Penh. In the first quarter of the current year, there has been a growth in bilateral trade by over 40 percent year-on-year.

 The Phnom Penh branch of the UK Trade and Investment Office is being established in the expectation that the economic ties between the two nations would continue to grow at very fast pace.

The office would facilitate business registration and will also produce market reports. According to the data with the Cambodian Investment Board, the UK was the largest investor in Cambodia in 2011.

The bulk of the US$ 2.2 billion money, however, came in the form of a single investment by a Cayman Islands-based company. In 2010, UK investment in Cambodia was around US$ 10 million.

Meanwhile, Quantum Clothing, the UK’s biggest company in Cambodia, has inaugurated its third apparel factory with an investment of about US$ 10 million. . Read more!