China pledges $712 million in concessional loans to Cambodia

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

China has pledged $712 million in concessional loans to Cambodia for the developments of 11 projects, reports Deum Ampil.

The Chinese pledges were announced by Cambodia's Minister of Finance after the return trip from China on 29th May.

Cambodia had originally applied for $1,300 million ($1.3 billion) in concessional loans to develop and upgrade 11 projects, but China had only agreed to lend only $712 million.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Finance said that the Chinese loans were pledged during a visit of Mr. Aun Pornmonirath, Cambodia's Secretary of State of the Ministry of Finance, to China recently.

S-21 called worst prison

Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, during his trial at Cambodia's war crimes tribunal in this file photo. (Photo by: AFP/ECCC pool)

Friday, 29 May 2009
Written by Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

Expert tells court 'techniques' more brutal than other centres.

AMERICAN specialist Craig Etcheson sought to dispute defence arguments that Duch was a scapegoat for the wrongs of the Khmer Rouge regime, telling the UN-backed war crimes court Thursday that the torture techniques used at S-21 were more horrendous than those at other security offices throughout the country.

Speaking at the trial of former S-21 chief Kaing Guek Eav, Etcheson, who is currently an investigator with the co-prosecutors, said that at zone-level security offices and the security offices situated in the regime's lower echelons, the main torture techniques were "whipping, suffocation with a plastic bag and electrocution".

However at S-21, methods such as "burning, removing fingernails and toenails, putting salt or saltwater on wounds, tormenting people with poisonous insects", were used.

SRP MPs walk out of National Assembly session … following CPP refusal to consider changes in protection for handicap people rights

Friday, May 29, 2009

DAP news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

At 8:15AM on 29 May 2009, all SRP MPs boycotted the National Assembly (NA) session and they all walked out of the chamber after Mrs. Mu Sochua, SRP deputy Secretary-general, asked the NA to modify the draft law for the protection and promotion of the rights of handicap people, and her request was met by a refusal from CPP MPs. The SRP MPs then decided to walk out of the session.

The SRP will hold a press conference on this issue at 11:00AM at its party headquarters

UAE won't extradite Thaksin

Former Thaksin legal adviser: UAE won't extradite ex-PM
BANGKOK, May 23 (TNA) - Noppadol Pattama, a former legal adviser to Thailand's fugitive, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on Saturday said it was untrue that the ex-premier had asked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to broker sending him to fight court cases in Thailand.Mr. Noppadol said the Abhisit government is tryin to extradite Mr. Thaksin, and sent Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot to convince the UAE to not shelter the fugitive.But the UAE is a sovereign government, and Thailand must respect its decision.

Three Potential H1N1 Flu Carries Sought

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh22 May 2009
Cambodian health officials are looking for three US-Cambodians who were aboard a South Korean flight Sunday after one passenger who deplaned in Incheon was found carrying H1N1 flu.Officials in Cambodia emphasized that the threat of infection was low, but were searching for the three, who they thought might be in Kampot province.South Korea put out a warning Wednesday, saying the three had been among 93 on an Asiana Airlines flight from Seattle to Incheon, South Korea, before transiting for a Phnom Penh flight.One woman from the first flight was quarantined in South Korea and confirmed to have the H1N1 virus, sometimes called swine flu.

Cambodia's first Cannes buyer leaves town

Kmy Films founder picks up two Korean films at marketMay 16, 2009By Patrick FraterHollywoodReporter.com
CANNES -- Sales companies seeking to make their first deals in Cambodia might have missed their chance this week as the country's first-ever buyer at the Cannes market left town Saturday, having snapped up a handful of titles."The market is very narrow and focused almost entirely on four genres -- action, horror, comedy and Korean romances," said Kmy Films founder Mariam Arthur, a U.S. film exec now residing in Cambodia.Arthur picked up two Korean titles this week, including Prime Entertainment's 2006 romance "The Elephant on the Bike." The deals add to the seven movies she bought at Filmart, headed by "Parasomnia" from American World Pictures, "Last of the Living" from Quantum Releasing and others from Lonely Seal and Fries Films.

Ceremony Predicts Good Corn, Bean Harvest

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh12 May 2009
Royal oxen have predicted the crops for corn and bean will be good in Cambodia this year, following an ancient ceremony to mark the beginning of the rainy season.In the Royal Plowing Ceremony, the oxen pull a blade through the soil of an ancient rice field, outside the Royal Palace, before offerings of beans, corn, grass, rice, water and wine are placed before them.This year, the oxen nibbled at beans and corn, forsaking rice. That will mean good crops of the first two, but a poor rice crop, perhaps only 30 percent of the typical yield, according to Kang Ken, chief royal astrologer.“The royal oxen did not eat rice at all,” he said.

Armed robbery in broad daylight at the Deli Café in the middle of Phnom Penh

Monday, May 04, 2009DAP-newsTranslated from Khmer by Heng Soy
At 11:10 AM on 04 May 2009, a group of 3 armed men robbed customers drinking coffee at the Deli Café located at No. 202-204 Preah Sihanouk Blvd, east of Kirirom cinema, Boeung Keng Kang II commune, Chamcar Mon district, Phnom Penh. It is not yet know how much money or jewelry was taken by the robbers. 4-5 customers were robbed of their wallets/purses, necklaces, diamond rings. One of the female customers lost her purse and another woman lost more than $3,000.

Cambodian gov't alerts public over upcoming peak of dengue fever

PHNOM PENH, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government has reminded the public to caution against the upcoming peak of dengue fever, which has killed two people nationwide so far this year, national media said on Sunday.The rainy season started earlier this year, which fueled the spread of the epidemic and brought the number of infected cases to 871 during the first four months, almost two times the number in the same period of last year, according to the Chinese-language newspaper the Jian Hua Daily on Sunday.Usually, children aged from one to nine years were the most fragile group to the illness, Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng was quoted as saying in the report. He added that some 71 percent of the contaminated cases went to children.

Workers March in May Day Demonstration

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh01 May 2009
Thousands of garment factory workers took to the streets in Phnom Penh Friday, marking May Day with a set of demands for better pay and conditions for the government.Hundreds of police were deployed to maintain security, as workers marched with placards demanding higher wages, the establishment of a labor court and a halt to discrimination against free trade.Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, said the goal of the march was to encourage the National Assembly to accept a petition with suggestions from improving conditions for laborers.

Japan helps Cambodia pay for Khmer Rouge trial

Friday, May 01, 2009Australia Network News
The Japanese government says it will contribute more than 4-million US dollars in assistance to help Cambodia cover a shortfall of funds for the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders.The Japanese Embassy said the money was requested by Cambodia to help finance its share of the budget for the tribunal.In a statement the embassy says it believes the legal process will promote peace, democracy, the rule of law and good governance in Cambodia.Japan has so far contributed more than 20-million for the trials.The court is currently hearing the case against former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, the first of five Khmer Rouge figures detained by the tribunal to be tried.