CPP set to take most NA posts

The Phnom Penh Post – August 25, 2008

Written by Vong Sokheng and Cheang Sokha   

Ruling party dominance under fire for lacking checks, balances

FOLLOWING its landslide victory in last month’s national election, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party will dominate the new National Assembly, with CPP members poised to occupy the posts of Assembly president and deputy president, as well as the chairmanships of each of the Assembly’s nine commissions. 

Party spokesman and Ministry of Information Khieu Kanharith told reporters Sunday that the Assembly reshuffle would reflect the CPP’s dominance at the polls.

“If [the opposition parties] get support then they can hold the positions of chairman and deputy chairman of the Assembly’s commissions,” Khieu Kanharith said, adding that the new Assembly would avoid the political deadlock that paralysed government following the 2003 election.

“This year, we were elected in one package, which has avoided political deadlocks. Therefore, we should follow with this political formula in order to maintain political stability,” he said.

However, he said that strong opposition parties, civil society and a free press would play an important role in strengthening Cambodia’s democracy.

In the outgoing Assembly, the CPP heads five commissions, while Funcinpec chairs two posts and the Sam Rainsy Party another two. But preliminary poll results showed a strong swing to the CPP, which won 58 percent of the vote over the SRP (21.9 percent) and the Human Rights Party (6.6 percent).

Khieu Kanharith’s comments came amid criticism that few  checks and balances will exist in the new Assembly once the CPP occupies most of  its key positions.

Kek Galabru, president of rights group Licadho, said the CPP majority needed to be offset by a robust opposition presence in parliament.

“In order to strengthen democracy and good governance, the leadership structure should be formed to achieve the appropriate checks and balances between the ruling parties and the opposition,” she said at a press conference last week.

Asean ministers to sign India trade deal

The Phnom Penh Post – August 25, 2008

Written by AFP

SINGAPORE – Asean is set this week to finalise a free-trade agreement with India and hold talks with Australia and New Zealand, signalling the importance of regional pacts amid fading hopes for a global trading regime. 

Economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, meeting in Singapore today through Friday, are expected to put the final touches on an Asean-India trade in goods pact agreed on by senior officials earlier this month.

The deal covering billions of dollars is expected to be signed during the Asean-India Summit in December, officials have said.

Asean economic ministers will also hold talks with their counterparts from Australia and New Zealand in an effort to have a trade agreement ready for signing by December, a Southeast Asian diplomatic source said.

Forging the trade links with India and the two Pacific nations will complete the bloc’s ties with all its key Asia-Pacific trading partners, and could be a catalyst for a regionwide free-trade zone, officials said.

The overriding focus of this week’s meeting will be on efforts to achieve a single market and manufacturing base by 2015 to raise Asean’s profile in the face of competition from China and India.

Regional FTAs are gaining fresh momentum after the latest attempt to end a seven-year deadlock in the so-called Doha Round of global trade talks broke down in July because of a dispute between India and the United States over agricultural tariffs.

But while Asia is forging ahead with trade linkages, the region has a major task in integrating its financial markets, which are now larger, deeper and more sophisticated than they were a decade ago, it said.

Cambodian Prince Ranariddh to continue pursuing politics: Party

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — The eponymous opposition party (NRP) headed by Prince Norodom Ranariddh has denied the rumor that he is expected to resign and quit politics, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily said Tuesday.

The prince has never told anyone in the party that he plans to resign from his post as party chairman, said NRP secretary generalSuth Dina.

“This is false information. I believe that the prince will not retire from politics,” he said.

English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post Monday quoted prince Sisowath Thomico as saying that Ranariddh mulls quitting politics in order to return from his current overseas exile.

“I heard of his intention two weeks ago,” said Sisowath Thomico, who belongs to the other branch of the Cambodian royal family.

Former king Norodom Sihanouk has often requested that Ranariddh give up politics and focus on improving the nation, he said.

Ranariddh could become chief advisor to King Norodom Sihamoni, something that high-ranking members of the major ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) have frequently suggested, he said.

Ranariddh, who left Cambodia last year under a cloud of legal problems, is living in Malaysia and faces arrest if he comes back.

He once led the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and governed the kingdom jointly with CPP, but later became enemies of major CPP leaders due to power fight.

Editor: Du Guodong

Cambodian ruling party promotes women to deputy provincial governors

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) — The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has announced an increase in the number of female appointees to government, according to officials who said women have now been elevated to the position of deputy governor in all but one province, local media reported Tuesday.

“The Ministry of Interior has appointed women as deputy provincial governors in all the provinces and municipalities except Pailin, where it is still looking for a candidate,” Sak Setha, director general of the ministry’s General Administration Department, was quoted as saying in the Phnom Penh Post.

“We are carrying out our long-term policy regarding the integration of women into (Cambodia’s) political affairs,” he said, adding that the appointments were made just prior to the July 27 general election, which saw large gains for the CPP.

Each provinces and municipality has five or more deputy governors, posts that have historically been dominated almost entirely by men.

Chou Bun Eng, the director general for social development at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, said the appointments were an important first step on the road to equality.

“Even if there are still no female provincial governors, the women will learn a lot in their new positions,” she said.

Editor: Du Guodong

Bank of India applies to open in Cambodia

DPA – August 26, 2008

Phnom Penh – Cambodia has welcomed an initial application by the Bank of India to open in Phnom Penh, local media reported Tuesday. The Cambodia Daily newspaper quoted Finance Ministry director of investment Chan Sothy as saying the nationalized Indian bank, which has a presence in all the major trade centres of the world, applied to open in April.

The paper quoted Sothy as saying he and Finance Minister Keat Chhon met with outgoing Indian ambassador Aloke Sen Friday and “welcomed the Bank of India to open a branch in Cambodia.”

The officials discussed various ways of increasing Indian investments in Cambodia, the report said. It quoted banking officials as saying the Bank of India application was still being processed and therefore no concrete date could be set.

The two nations have close historic ties and Cambodia has been keen to foster closer economic ties with India as investment from other powerhouse Asian economies such as China and South Korea continues to grow.

Trade Triangle Planned For Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos

PHNOM PENH, Aug 26 (Bernama) — Trade ministers from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are to meet next month to discuss funding plans for a huge development zone straddling the three countries, China’s Xinhua news agency said quoting a report in a local newspaper, the Phnom Penh Post, Tuesday.

“It’s a huge national development plan,” said Bou Lam, deputy governor of Cambodia’s Ratanakkiri province.

“We don’t have much substantial investment here to capitalize on our rich natural environment,” he was quoted as saying.

He said that the project would also generate much-needed jobs in the province.

“If all these projects are completed, I believe the northern provinces will become much less isolated from the rest of the country,” he said.

The Japan Asean Integration Fund granted US$20 million during a meeting last year in Phnom Penh to finance development projects in 10 provinces contained by the Cambodia- Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle (CLV) zone, the newspaper said, adding that the ministers are to be tasked with disbursing the money.

Cambodia and Laos are to each receive US$7.5 million, and Vietnam is to get US$3.5 million, it said.

An additional US$1.5 million will be used to study new road links within the CLV zone, it added.

— BERNAMA

Foreign leaders hail successful Beijing Olympics

Beijing, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — Foreign leaders recently conveyed their appreciation of the just-concluded Beijing Olympic Games to Chinese leaders President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping, hailing China’s efforts in hosting a successful and wonderful event.

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia said the 2008 Beijing Games was of profound significance and revealed China’s great achievements to the whole world.

 

Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows fireworks in the shape of Olympic Rings at the National Stadium, or the Bird’s Nest, Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xu Jiajun)

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, lavishly praised the marvelous opening ceremony and said the Beijing Games was a milestone in Chinese history.

Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo described the Beijing Olympics as a big event and said the people of her country were celebrating the grand occasion along with the Chinese.

Malawi’s President Bingu Wa Mutharika said China has been committed to promoting world peace and mutual understanding among people across the globe for a long time, and the people of Malawi were proud of the successful Games.

Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires, the president of the Republic of Cape Verde, said China had set an example for the world in promoting world peace and unification by proposing the slogan “One World, One Dream”.

James Alix Michel, president of the Republic of Seychelles, said China had successfully hosted the Olympic Games despite the Sichuan earthquake, which reflected the country’s perseverance and its ability to deal with difficulties and challenges.

The three concepts of “Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People’s Olympics” were in accordance with the development view of Seychelles, he added.

Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma lauded the Beijing Olympics and wished the Paralympic Games all success.

Omer Hassan Ahmed Elbashir, the president of Sudan, described the well-organized Beijing Olympics as a high point in the Games’ history. The opening ceremony was fantastic, he added.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of the Democratic People’s Republic of Algeria, also expressed admiration for the well organized Olympics and expressed the belief that Algeria-China ties would continue its healthy development.

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic said China had made great efforts to provide opportunities for the athletes all over the world to compete and communicate.

Bharrat Jagdeo, president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, heaped praises on the Chinese people’s national pride and their efforts in hosting a successful Games, which he believed would boost their country’s development.

Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, the prime minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, said China had overcome natural disasters and stood before the world like the Great Wall.

The Beijing Games showcased China’s long and splendid history to the world, which has strengthened cooperation and friendship among the international community, he added.

Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the performance of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird’s Nest, Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Myanmarese Prime Minister Thein Sein said the opening ceremony showcased not only Chinese traditional culture but also the image of modern China as well.

Nikola Spiric, the president of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, said China had successfully hosted the Olympics and steadily stepped forward to a prosperous and peaceful future.

Lee Kuan Yew, minister mentor of the Singaporean cabinet, said the opening ceremony fully revealed the 5,000-year history of China, and touched the hearts of audiences worldwide. Beijing is a green city now which reflects China’s achievements in economy, society and technology innovation, he added.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and Javier Solana, the European Union Council’s secretary general and high representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, also send letters to Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to congratulate China for its successful hosting of the Games.

Rice For Cambodia Campaign Launched

The Spoof (satire), UK – August 24, 2008

'The price of Cambodlean rice is nice, Miss, er, what's your name again, Condi?'

Today, a new charity was launched to provide rice for Cambodia, and its organisers cleverly called it Rice For Cambodia.

The charity aims to encourage Cambodians to grow and harvest rice, and then send it to America and Australia, where Americans and Australians can then buy it and send it back to Cambodia for the people there to eat. Spokesman Paddy Field said: ‘For too long Cambodians have suffered by simply eating their rice, now thanks to Rice For Cambodia they can watch the rice fly all around the world at huge expense, before it returns home for dinner, with a few bottles of duty free whisky and a sun tan. And my $125,000 salary and luxury Manhattan office will also help hungry Cambodians.’

But former US Secretary for State Henry Kissinger denied that America had deliberately bombed thousands of Cambodian rice fields in the 1970s, to starve the people there. ‘I deny eet’, he said, trying not to raise his arm in a fascist salute, ‘now please goes away. Rice For Cambodia is a just cause, as long as zere’s no pinko commies working for eet, otherwise eet’s B-52 party time again!’ And President George ‘Dumberthanagrainofrice’ Bush added: ‘The Cambozolans need American and Austrian help. Heck, if I can fly thousands of miles so I can get a decent chicken karma and ricicles then we must let no stoner be upturned in our quest for a just rice, a fair and peaceful price, at a fair and decent rice, which would be rather nice. No ice thanks, Laurelai. Where is Condi, anways?’

Current US Secretary for State Condoleezza Rice was at home, reading the newspapers and flipping through the charity adverts in them, including Guiness For Ireland, Whisky For Scotland, Lederhosen Und Swastikeinen Fur Deutschland, Fromages Pour La France, and of course Bob Geldof’s charity African Dictator Aid. The coal delivery train is leaving for Newcastle in 20 minutes.

Thailand, Cambodia agrees to develop tourism at disputed Preah Vihear temple

BANGKOK, Aug 25 (TNA) – Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia have agreed to promote tourism at the disputed ancient temple ruins of Preah Vihear, after troops of both countries have been withdrawn, said Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Monday.

The agreement was made following a private luncheon and talks at Government House here between Mr. Samak and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen. Tea Banh.

Speaking to journalists after the talks ended, Mr. Samak who is also Defence Minister, said both countries had agreed to solve common border problems and promote areas which could attract tourists.

“Territorial problems which cannot be resolved by now will be left for negotiations later,” he said, adding that Cambodia has agreed to redeploy its troops from the temple and a “middleman will be appointed to oversee promoting tourism with an aim to bring back tourists”.

“Both countries will benefit as Cambodia would collect the gate fee while Thailand will enjoy other benefits,” he said.

“But the temple cannot be opened for tourism now,” said Mr. Samak, “as no one (soldiers) must be there.”

Monday’s agreement to promote tourism at Preah Vihear temple came after Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on August 19 agreed to adopt a provisional arrangement pending a survey and demarcation of the area to be carried out by the Joint Boundary Commission, expected to be convened in October.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.

The Thai-Cambodian border has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left from decades of war in Cambodia. (TNA)