A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Monday 30 September 2013

RFA interviews Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha on ways to resolve political impasse សម្ភាសន៍លោក សម រង្ស៊ី​និងលោក កឹម សុខា អំពីវិធីដោះស្រាយការជាប់គាំងនយោបាយ

វិធីដោះស្រាយការជាប់គាំងនយោបាយ (Part 1)RFA: 29/09/2013 វិធីដោះស្រាយការជាប់គាំងនយោបាយ (Part 2) វិធីដោះស្រាយការជាប់គាំងនយោបាយ (Part 3) វិធីដោះស្រាយការជាប់គាំងនយោបាយ (Part 4 The End)

Commemoration service for the victims of the 30th March 1997 grenade attack គោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករ ថ្ងៃទី៣០កញ្ញា២០១៣

“គណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិនៅតែទាមទារស្វែងរកយុត្តិធម៌ជូនវីរបាតុកម្មខ្មែរ ដែលបានបាត់បង់ជីវិតដោយគ្រាប់បែកកាលពីថ្ងៃទី៣០មីនា១៩៩៧។” កឹម សុខា។ ខ្ញុំ កឹម សុខា និងថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិធ្វើពិធីបង្សុកូលជូនជនរងគ្រោះដែលបានពលី កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៣០មិនាឆ្នាំ១៩៩៧ នៅមុខអតីតមន្ទីររដ្ឋសភា គោលបំណងគោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករដែលបានបាត់បង់ជីវិតដោយអំពើវាយប្រហារដោយគ្រាប់បែក។ គោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករ ខ្ញុំ កឹម សុខា និងថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិធ្វើពិធីបង្សុកូលជូនជនរងគ្រោះដែលបានពលី កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៣០មិនាឆ្នាំ១៩៩៧ នៅមុខអតីតមន្ទីររដ្ឋសភា គោលបំណងគោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករដែលបានបាត់បង់ជីវិតដោយអំពើវាយប្រហារដោយគ្រាប់បែក។ និងស្រឡាញ់លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ចូលរួមគោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករជាមួយយើងខ្ញុំ។ គោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករ ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិធ្វើពិធីបង្សុកូលជូនជនរងគ្រោះដែលបានពលី កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៣០មិនាឆ្នាំ១៩៩៧ នៅមុខអតីតមន្ទីររដ្ឋសភា គោលបំណងគោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករដែលបានបាត់បង់ជីវិតដោយអំពើវាយប្រហារដោយគ្រាប់បែក។ ដូច្នេះ សូមអញ្ជើញបងប្អូនអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិ និងស្រឡាញ់លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ចូលរួមគោរពវិញ្ញាណក្ខន្ធវីរបាតុករជាមួយយើងខ្ញុំ។

Sam Rainsy intervened to help Borei Keila residents facing eviction (2008?) លោកសម រង្សីជួយអន្តរាគមន៍ករណីយ៍ការបណ្តេញអ្នកបូរីកីឡាចេញពីលំនៅឋាន

ដល់ពេលមានរឿងបាត់ហ៊ុន សែន ឃើញតែលោកសម រង្សីជួយអន្តរាគមន៍

Cambodia Returns to a One-Party State

September 30, 2013 
The Diplomat
By Colin Meyn

Defying an opposition boycott, Hun Sen appears to be pushing ahead. But options for both sides are limited.
RTX13X8R
After being sworn into office last week, Hun Sen became the leader of a one-party Cambodian state for the second time in his life. The first time it happened was in 1985, when Hanoi promoted him to prime minister of what was then the socialist People’s Republic of Kampuchea, beginning the rule of one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. It happened again in a carefully orchestrated ceremony in Phnom Penh on September 23, presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni, the nominal head of democratic Cambodia.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Less than two months ago, the Western world was applauding Cambodia’s July 28 parliamentary elections as a turning point for democracy in the country. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) won ashocking 55 out of 123 seats in the National Assembly, despite a litany of failures in the electoral process that skewed the vote heavily in favor of Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
E.U. High Commissioner Katherine Ashton could hardly contain her enthusiasm in a letter to opposition leader Sam Rainsy in the days following the ballot. “The preliminary results of the parliamentary elections in Cam­bodia show remarkable gains by your party and I would like to congratulate you on this achievement,” she wrote.
The opposition had doubled its representation in parliament, the biggest blow to the CPP in 20 years. However, that wasn’t good enough for the CNRP or its nearly 3 million supporters. Emboldened by their success at the polls, Rainsy and his deputy, Kem Sokha, claimed that if not for manipulation of voter lists and outright electoral fraud, they would have won the election outright.  Calls for an investigation into the ballot became the opposition rallying cry.
On September 15, the day before Rainsy and Sokha sat down for top-level talks with Hun Sen to breach the political impasse, the CNRP began three days of mass demonstrations in the capital. More than 20,000 people turned out each day to cheer on CNRP leaders as they took their fight to the negotiating table. Nothing came of the talks.
The CNRP was willing to accept outright control of the National Assembly in exchange for validating a CPP-led government, a condition that Hun Sen told reporters days later was unacceptable as it would have thwarted the government and made it impossible for the CPP to pass a budget without the CNRP’sapproval. So the prime minister, who was defeated in 1993 elections by the royalist Funcinpec party but never ceded control of the government, pushed ahead with forming a new government without an opposition party.

A CNRP activist in Ratanakiri received death threat and threat of burning down the house សកម្មជន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ម្នាក់​នៅ​ខេត្ត​មណ្ឌលគិរី ថាខ្លួន​រង​ការប៉ុនប៉ង​ដុត​ផ្ទះ​សម្លាប់​​

ដោយ៖​ ថុល ស្រី​លក្ខណ៍ និង ដួង​ សុខា​ | ថ្ងៃចន្ទ ទី30 ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ2013 | VOD

ស្តាប់សំឡេង៖​

ចម្លងទុក
សកម្មជន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ម្នាក់ នៅ​ស្រុក​ពេជ្រា​ដា ខេត្ត​មណ្ឌលគិរី អះអាងថា គាត់ និង​ក្រុម​គ្រួសារ​រង​ការប៉ុនប៉ង​ដុត​សម្លាប់ ដោយ​មាន​អ្នក​យក​សាំង​ចាក់​នៅ​ជុំវិញ​ផ្ទះ​របស់​គាត់​បម្រុង​ដុត កាលពី​យប់​ថ្ងៃ​អាទិត្យ​ម្សិលមិញ​។​
​អ្នកស្រី នួន ស្រី​ណា រស់នៅ​ភូមិ​ពូ​តាង ឃុំ​ពូ​ជ្រៃ ស្រុក​ពេជ្រា​ដា មានប្រសាសន៍ថា កាលពី​ម៉ោង​ជាង​១១​យប់ ប្តី​របស់​គាត់​បាន​ភ្ញាក់​ពី​ដំណេក​ដោយ​ចៃដន្យ ហើយ​ធំក្លិន​សាំង​ ៖ "អ្នកជិតខាងជាប់ គេរាប់អានយើងហ្នឹង គេចេញមកហើយតេហៅម្ចាស់ផ្ទះដែលខ្ញុំជួលហ្នឹង​ គាត់ចេញមកពីខាងនោះវិញខ្ញុំអត់ហ៊ានបើកទ្វារទេ ខ្លាច​គេ​ពួន​ខាង​ក្រៅអី ពួនធ្វើឃាត់​អីចឹង​ណា ពេលខ្ញុំតេទៅ ម្ចាស់ផ្ទះអីគេចេញមកគាត់ឃើញសាំងមែន ម្ចាស់​គេឃើញថា អូសាំងចាក់ពេញ ខាងអារ៉ងដាមុខៗ ហ្នឹងអាកន្លែងយើងធ្វើយ៉ាបហ្នឹង​ និង​អាជិត​កន្លែង​​ហ្នឹង គេ​ដាក់​គរ​ឈើ​រៀប​ធ្វើ​ផ្ទះ​ធ្វើ​អី​ហ្នឹង គេគរហ្នឹងវាជិតកន្លែង​ខ្ញុំដេក ចាក់ឡើង​ពេញ ប្រុងចាក់កន្លែងហ្នឹង​ ចាក់​ខាង​មុខហ្នឹងទៀត ដើម្បីឲ្យយើងចេញអត់រួច " ។
​អ្នកស្រីរំលឹកថា កាលពី​ម៉ោង​៣​រសៀល ថ្ងៃទី​២៩ ខែ​កញ្ញា លោក​គ្រូបង្រៀន​ម្នាក់ នៅ​ជិត​ផ្ទះ​​គាត់ឈ្មោះ ឃី បាន​មកលេង​ផ្ទះ​របស់​គាត់​។ គ្រូ​បង្រៀន​នោះ ស្ថិតក្នុង​ស្ថានភាព​ស្រវឹង​ស្រា ហើយ​​បាន​​ព្យាយាម​​ចាប់​​ដៃ​​គាត់​ម្តង​​ជា​​ពីរ​​ដង​។ ខណៈ​នោះ ប្តី​​របស់​​គាត់​​ក៏​ផ្ទុះ​​កំហឹង ហើយ​ចាប់​ទះកំផ្លៀង​​គ្រូ​នោះ​មួយ​​ដៃ ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នក​ទាំង​ពីរ​មិន​មាន​ឈ្លោះប្រកែក​គ្នា​ទេ​។​
​ទោះយ៉ាងណា អ្នកស្រី នួន ស្រី​ណា ក៏​សង្ស័យ​ដែរ​ថា ការ​លួច​ចាក់​សាំង​ប៉ុនប៉ង​ដុត​សម្លាប់​អ្នកស្រី និង​គ្រួសារ ក៏​អាចពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹង​សកម្មភាព​នយោបាយ​​ផងដែរ​៖ "ចាប្រហែលគេ​ខឹងខ្ញុំ ជួនកាលគេគុំគួនយើងដែរ ហើយប្ដីខ្ញុំគាត់ដាក់ស្លាកគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​ " ។
​អ្នកស្រីឲ្យដឹងថា អ្នកស្រី​បាន​ដាក់​ពាក្យបណ្តឹង​ទៅ​មេ​ប៉ុស្តិ៍​នគរបាល​ឃុំ​ពូ​ជ្រៃ​រួចហើយ​។​

Two opposition officials await reinstatement after being sacked for their political affiliations មន្ត្រី​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​២​រូប​រង់ចាំ​​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ​ផ្ដល់​សិទ្ធិ​ឲ្យ​ចូល​ធ្វើ​ការ​វិញ

មន្ត្រី​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ខេត្ត​និង​សកម្មជន​គាំទ្រ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ខេត្ត​កំពង់​ឆ្នាំង បាន​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ ពន្លឿន​កិច្ច​អន្តរាគមន៍​ជុំវិញ​ការ​ដក​តំណែង​មន្ត្រី​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ស្រុក​សាមគ្គីមានជ័យ មក​ពី​គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី ចំនួន ២​រូប ឲ្យ​បាន​ចូល​កាន់​មុខ​តំណែង​វិញ ក្នុង​គោលបំណង​រួម​ចំណែក​បម្រើ​ការងារ​សង្គម​ជាតិ​និង​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ។ ដោយ ជិន ជេដ្ឋា 2013-09-29 RFA
មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៩ ខែ​កញ្ញា ថា មន្ត្រី​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ស្រុក​សាមគ្គីមានជ័យ លោក សៅ ហន និង​លោក ឈន ឈឿន កំពុង​តែ​ទន្ទឹង​ចាំ​មើល​ចម្លើយ​ពី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ ចំពោះ​កិច្ច​អន្តរាគមន៍​ថា តើ​ខ្លួន​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​ចូល​បម្រើ​ការងារ​វិញ ឬ​យ៉ាង​ណា?
មន្ត្រី​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ខេត្ត និង​ជា​សកម្មជន​គាំទ្រ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ខេត្ត​កំពង់ឆ្នាំង លោក ដួង ចន្ដ្រា មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ថ្នាក់​ដឹក​នាំ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ បាន​លើក​យក​ករណី​នេះ​ទៅ​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​នឹង​លោក ស ខេង រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ នៅ​ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ពេល​នៃ​កិច្ច​ចរចា​រវាង​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ និង​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៦ ខែ​កញ្ញា កន្លង​ទៅ ក៏​ប៉ុន្តែ​រហូត​មក​ទល់នឹង​ពេល​នេះ​ពុំ​ទាន់​មាន​ពន្លឺ​អ្វី​នោះ​ទេ។
លោក ដួង ចន្ដ្រា៖ «ឯកឧត្ដម ស ខេង ក៏​មាន​ពាក្យ​តប​វិញ​ថា គាត់​នឹង​ត្រួត​ពិនិត្យ​ឡើង​វិញ ហើយ​នឹង​ធ្វើ​លិខិត​មួយ​បញ្ជូន​មក​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ស្រុក​ឲ្យ​គាត់​បញ្ចូល​សមាសភាព​នេះ​ចូល​ធ្វើ​ការ​វិញ ប៉ុន្តែ​ការ​រង់ចាំ​យើង​ពី​ពេល​នោះ​មក​ដល់​ពេល​នេះ ពុំ​មាន​ការ​ឆ្លើយ​តប​អ្វី​ទាំង​អស់ ហើយ​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​គឺ​អះអាង​ថា បើ​គ្មាន​លិខិត​ណា​មួយ​បញ្ជាក់​ពី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ គឺ​គាត់​មិន​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​ចូល​ធ្វើ​ការ​វិញ​ទេ»
លោក សៅ ហ៊ន និង​លោក ឈន ឈឿន ត្រូវ​បាន​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​ស្រុក​សាមគ្គីមានជ័យ មក​ពី​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា លោក កៅ ហុន ប្រកាស​ដក​តំណែង​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៣០ ខែ​កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៣ ក្រោម​ហេតុ​ផល​ថា លោក​ទាំង​ពីរ​បាន​ចូល​រួម​ធ្វើ​សកម្មភាព និង​ផ្ដាច់​ខ្លួន​ចូល​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ ក៏​ប៉ុន្តែ​ការ​ដក​តំណែង​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​បដិសេធ ហើយ​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា​ជា​ការ​គំរាម​កំហែង​ផ្នែក​នយោបាយ និង​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​ផ្ទុយ​ពី​ច្បាប់។

Lawmaker straddles two eras [three, including this one]

Long Botta sits in the garden as his wife, Long Sorey, arranges orchid flowers at their riverside home in Phnom Penh last week. KARA FOX
As the opposition boycott drags into its second week, you could forgive one politician for having itchier feet than most.
After all, Long Botta has been waiting for 38 years for his second political life to begin.
The 70-year-old lawmaker – the Cambodia National Rescue Party’s number two candidate in Battambang province – won his first parliamentary seat this election, almost four decades after he last played a political role in the Kingdom.
An appointed cabinet minister during both the Sihanouk and Lon Nol eras, Botta was dramatically evacuated from Phnom Penh by helicopter during the US Navy’s Operation Eagle Pull on April 12, 1975, five days before the Khmer Rouge took the capital.
“This is a new life for me. I have dreamed about [this] for so many years, and it happened [so] suddenly,” he says.
Returning to the Kingdom from France in 2005, he became an active member of the Sam Rainsy Party in 2008 and was asked to be a candidate for the newly formed CNRP just a few months before the July 28 election.
Botta, who was notified that his family would be evacuated just hours before US helicopters left Phnom Penh in 1975, sees the recent election as his final chance to change things in Cambodia.
“One thing I regret is that I have not so many years left.… It’s the last battle now. [They] have destroyed a country and I cannot accept it. That’s why I’m back.”

For boycott, time is needed

Thousands of workers from SL Garment Processing factories block traffic in Phnom Penh’s city centre on Friday. HENG CHIVOAN
Sporadic demonstrations and political haggling have failed to prompt an independent review of July’s election results, so the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party is turning to the economy.
Along with the threat of a one-day, nationwide strike, CNRP president Sam Rainsy on Wednesday urged the international community, businesses included, to “not engage” with the “illegitimate” government of the Cambodian People’s Party, which claims it bested the CNRP in a vote marred by myriad allegations of fraud.
But analysts say Rainsy’s ability to apply pressure through economic means is limited at best. They point out that the CNRP doesn’t have enough sway to influence the international business community and that a daylong strike would not fracture the economy enough to gain the necessary bargaining chips.
“All of those institutions have their own rules on how to work with the government, how to apply pressure to the government, how to invest in this country or that country,” political analyst Kem Ley said, referring to international businesses.
Historically, a few common factors are needed for boycotts to have real impact: emotion and commitment.
“Boycott success usually depends on how strongly people feel about an issue and whether it is easy to participate,” Daniel Diermeier, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, said.
He added that boycotts are rarely effective in accomplishing their goals but can damage the economy and eventually lead to change when sustained over a long period of time.
Local boycotts and divestment from South Africa’s racist, apartheid government played an important role in the downfall of the system, but that was after a number of years.
Motivated by the December 1955 arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, residents and protesters in the American city of Montgomery, Alabama, began a 13-month boycott of the public transportation system.

CNRP holds vigil for 1997 grenade attack

Give our kids a better deal 
CNRP leader Sam Rainsy pays tribute to the victims killed in 1997 grenade attack.


PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- The Cambodia National Rescue Party on Monday, held a chanting vigil to commemorate the victims killed in the grenade attack on March 30, 1997. 

The opposition party leaders, Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, along other CNRP lawmakers attended the ceremony held near the former home of the National Assembly

Speaking in the ceremony, CNRP leader Sam Rainsy appealed to the Cambodian government and related authorities to continue their investigation to capture the attackers and bring them to justice.

The grenade attack in 1997 killed at least 16 people and injured more than 100 others.

Four grenades were thrown into a crowd who had gathered in a park across the street from the former National Assembly protesting the judiciary’s lack of independence and judicial corruption.


Opposition’s protest scheduled after Pchum Ben: official


PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- An opposition party senior official said that the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) plans hold another mass protest after the conclusion of the Pchum Ben ceremony.

Yem Punharith, CNRP’s spokesman, said Friday the CNRP may hold the protest after the Pchum Ben ceremony to demand justice for voters, establishment of an independent committee, and a check and balance system.

"The party [CNRP] is currently assessing if the protest is only able to march in some of the bigger provinces, and demand a mass protest for the whole country," he said.

"The goals of the protest are to seek the truth and the demand the creation of a committee to investigate and study the irregularities for future reforms, and also seek an effective reform management."

Concerning the opposition’s protest warning, Prime Minister Hun Sen recently threatened to release a voice recording from a meeting between the two party leaders, and post it on Facebook.

In the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Hun Sen said the opposition party leader gave up their demands for an election irregularities probe, and recognized that the CPP won 68 seats, while CNRP won 55 seats.

Hun Sen, who had just won another five-year term as Prime Minister of Cambodia for the fifth legislature, also raised the issue that the opposition party wanted the National Assembly’s chairman's post, but the CPP rejected.

Media called for equal broadcast among political parties


PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- The Club of Cambodian Journalist (CCJ) held a media forum on Monday, concerning "Cambodia’s vision over the next five years under the rule of the new government."

The forum held at the Sunway Hotel was attended by Pen Samithy, CCJ president, Denis Schrey, Konrad-Adenauer Foundation representative, Puy Kea, Kyodo news reporter, Pen Bona, Editor-in-Chief at Radio France International, Kay Kimsong, Editor-in-Chief for The Phnom Penh Post Khmer, along with other reporters. 

The forum, funded by Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, aimed to let reporters learn about information regarding their vision under the rule of the new government over the next five years, especially issues on deep reform and social justice

Speaking at the forum, Denis Schrey urged Cambodian media to make reforms and further equability in both views of the law and broadcast, among the political parties.

He said he noticed the level of freedom of expression in social network news, however there are still a lot of reforms needed. 

A whiff of reform in Cambodia

By Peter Tan Keo 
Asia Times Online
30th September 2013

Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing. Articles submitted for this section allow our readers to express their opinions and do not necessarily meet the same editorial standards of Asia Times Online's regular contributors. 

When it comes to Cambodia, too often commentators focus on what is wrong, not right. While Cambodia still has a long way to go before consolidating a respectable form of democracy, promised changes that have sprung from the contested July 28 general election are potentially significant. 


On September 25, long-serving premier Hun Sen held the first cabinet meeting of his newly installed government. The meeting was held despite a boycott of the new parliament’s inauguration two days earlier by the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP). 

Led by opposition stalwart Sam Rainsy, the CNRP has protested the integrity of the election results and refused to participate in government until an independent investigation is launched into widespread allegations of electoral fraud and irregularities. The CNRP has staged a number of street protests to press its claim and is now threatening to launch a nationwide one-day strike. 

Rainsy has claimed that electoral fraud, ranging from phantom voters to security force intimidation of voters, cost his CNRP a parliamentary majority. The quasi-independent National Election Committee-endorsed result indicated the CNRP won 55 out of parliament's 123 seats. An outright CNRP win would have put a democratic end to Hun Sen's 28-year tenure, the fifth-longest of any serving head of government in the world. 

To seasoned observers of Cambodian politics, the stand-off appears to cohere to a predictable pattern of post-election horse-trading where the opposition lobbies for powerful posts. Hun Sen told reporters that the CNRP has lobbied for, among others, the position of National Assembly president. Hun Sen has met with Rainsy on at least three occasions, including one five-hour meeting, to break the deadlock, so far to no avail. 

Activists Doubt Cambodia Pledge to Stop Land Concessions

September 30, 2013,
The Wall Street Journal
  •   
    Activists are skeptical that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will follow through on a pledge to stop a contentious practice of appropriating rural land for commercial use, an issue that hurt the leader and his party in elections in July.
    European Pressphoto Agency
    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, pictured, cited environmental concerns in his pledge to suspend the issuing of new land concessions. Activists are skeptical.
    In its new five-year political platform issued last week, the Cambodian government pledged to suspend new issuances of “economic land concessions”—a controversial program that was aimed at boosting agricultural exports but blamed by rights groups for a “land-grabbing crisis”—and conduct a review into existing concessions.
    The platform formalized a May 2012 moratorium on land-concession issuances ordered by Mr. Hun Sen. The move, according to the 61-year-old prime minister, would help meet the “needs of the people” by protecting Cambodia’s natural resources, and boosting “sustainability of the environment and socio-economic development with the halting of destruction of forest land.”
    Activists, however, aren’t convinced, saying that while the moratorium was laudable in theory, concrete action has been elusive so far.
    “Skepticism is appropriate. Hun Sen has made ritual and unfulfilled promises over the years about land,” Brad Adams, Asia director at U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. “This announcement is no different and will have no impact on the crisis.”
    Activists say the Cambodian government’s freewheeling issuance of land concessions has denuded large swaths of forests, robbed rural communities of their livelihoods and vitality, and could undercut the country’s fragile development. Already, officials have transferred control of 2.6 million hectares of land to private business from mostly subsistence farmers, according to rights groups, affecting 700,000 people and 73% of the country’s arable land in the past decade.
    The problem mirrors land conflicts seen elsewhere in Indochina, such as in neighboring Myanmar and Vietnam, where rural residents have also tried to resist what they call unfair government efforts to appropriate land for commercial use.

    RFA round table with LP Sam Rainsy and LAP Kem Sokha 9/29/13 សម រង្ស៊ី និង កឹម សុខា នឹងចូលរួមវេទិកាអ្នកស្ដាប់វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរីនៅយប់ថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ទី២៩ ខែកញ្ញា


    Dear all,

    FYI, RFA round table with LP Sam Rainsy and LAP Kem Sokha. 

    RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! [Australian TV documentary about Hun Sen's coup of 5-6 July 1997]

    រំលឹឹកពីរដ្ធប្រហាររបស់ហ៊ុនសែន ៥-៦ កក្កដា១៩៩៧
    តើនណានៅពីក្រោយខ្នង? 
    July 1997
    A historic report filmed during CPP party leader Hun Sen's takeover of Cambodia.


    Our camera follows officials of Prince Ranariddh's Funcinpec party as they are secretly smuggled out of the country. After a dash to the airport by car, Funcinpec Head of Security Hong Dar waits nervously as his false papers are checked by airport officials. Like many others denied assistance by foreign embassies in Cambodia's latest crisis, this is his only way out, convinced he'll be tortured and assassinated if he stays. Another fleeing Funcinpec official, his face disguised, tells how Hun Sen's soldiers came to his house and shot his wife. He too is smuggled out the same way. Surrounded by security guards, Hun Sen states he has "no regrets" in using force to oust rival Prince Ranariddh. Press reporters asking unpalatable questions are quickly shoved out of the crowd. Senior Funcinpec member Ung Huot admits Hun Sen approved his appointment as new First Premier. He promises free elections despite suspicions he's merely a puppet of the CPP. Can Kim lost two children when a shell hit her home. Her youngest child, still wounded, strokes her mother's face as she weeps. Human Rights Lawyer Brad Adams says Funcinpec fears are well founded.

    Cambodia's flood kills 28, affect 73,600 families

    PHNOM PENH, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Floods has killed at least 28 people, including 16 children, and affected 73,600 families in Cambodia in the last two weeks, a disaster control official said Sunday.
    Some 7,900 families have been forced to flee their houses for higher grounds as more than 62,000 houses, 385 schools and 245 Buddhist pagodas are inundated, Keo Vy, chief of the Cabinet of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said.
    Ten out of the kingdom's 24 cities and provinces are being hit by the Mekong River and flash floods, he said.
    "As water still continue to rise, there will be more people affected and evacuated in coming days," he told Xinhua.
    He said tourism city Siem Reap-Angkor is also being hit by flash floods due to heavy rainfall in the last two days, but floodwaters may not last for long time.
    Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday ordered authorities to closely monitor flood situation and prepare to evacuate affected people to safe grounds.
    He said the impact of low pressure system and tropical storm Wutip has been causing heavy rainfall in the Mekong River basin and in Cambodia.

    Latest ELC plan draws scepticism

    A local rights group member photographs the aftermath of a fire that was started to clear the forest for a rubber plantation in an economic land concession in Kratie province’s Snuol district in March. HENG CHIVOAN



    PPP - Fri, 27 September 2013
    May Titthara

    The government’s latest five-year strategy calls for a complete halt to economic land concessions (ELCs) and an inquiry into those still in the pipeline.

    But the plan has drawn scepticism from conservationists and rights groups, who pointed out that loopholes have been liberally applied after the issuance of similar moratoriums in the past.

    In the directive, issued on Wednesday as part of the five-year plan governing the next mandate, the government vows to strengthen how ELCs are awarded and regulated in order to “eliminate of all kinds of illegal rampant land grabs, prevent the collection of land without use … [and] resolve land disputes with justice and transparency”.

    Similarly, it promises to improve crackdowns on forest crimes and put a renewed focus on the protection of forestry resources.
    Kingdom of Water - wholesale deforestation undermines nature's natural defense mechanism against annual floodings and heatwaves among other environmental side-effects, or its in-built natural checks and balances - School of Vice

    But many said yesterday that they doubted that the announcement – though promising on paper – would entail any true reform.

    “I absolutely don’t believe it, because previously, [Prime MInister Hun Sen] promised to cut his head off if he couldn’t prevent forestry destruction. But, today, he still has his head and continues to offer economic land concessions that affect people throughout the country,” said Kuch Veng, a community activist from Pursat who was sentenced in 2012 to more than three months in prison after staging a series of strikes against powerful developer Pheapimex.

    In May 2012, Hun Sen issued a complete moratorium on ELCs, saying the human cost had become far too high. But the directive allowed those already approved but not yet begun to move forward – even while refusing to say how many were in the pipeline.

    The failures of that ban, said Licadho director Naly Pilorge, gave little hope for the newest directive.

    “It will take more than words to be optimistic on the actual chances of seeing promise becoming reality for thousands of affected families,” she said.

    Last year, more than 380,000 hectares of land was granted as ELCs or reclassified from state public to private land (a frequent first step toward an ELC grant). The vast majority of it – 71.5 per cent – was pulled from forests and wildlife sanctuaries that are meant to be protected under the law.

    Conservationist Marcus Hardtke pointed to the willingness of government officials to flout the laws when it came to the granting of concessions as a reason for suspicion over the latest ban.

    “Most of these concessions are already illegal under Cambodian law.… There is basically a giant timber and land grab going on. If the government wants to be serious at all, there needs to be a complete moratorium on these existing concessions. Short of that, we will not see any improvements,” he said.

    While cutting down on ELCs, the government strategy, meanwhile, talks about upping the number of social land concessions.

    Sex and the Single Monk [In Lowell, Massachusetts, USA លោកសង្ឃខ្មែររួមភេទជាមួយស្រ្តីនៅក្នុងវត្តនៅក្រុង Lowell

    In 2011, a community of Buddhist monks in Lowell announced plans to build one of the largest and grandest temples in the country. The $10 million structure would signal that the city’s Cambodian Americans had at last entered the mainstream. Then came accusations of financial impropriety and political backstabbing. And then came a secretly recorded video of a monk having sex.http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/article/2013/09/24/lowell-monk-sex-video-scandal/

    Sunday 29 September 2013

    Sam Rainsy explains the reasons the CNRP wants the position of the president of National Assembly ឯកឧត្តម សម រង្ស៊ី បកស្រាយការទាមទារតំណែងប្រធានរដ្ឋសភា

    Hun Sen admitted to receiving drug money ហ៊ុន សែន បានទទួលសារភាពថាបានយកលុយលក់កញ្ឆទៅធ្វើរដ្ឋប្រហារក្នុងឆ្នាំ១៩៩៧

    Hun Sen admitted to receiving drug money from Mong Reththy, who was caught trafficking 7 tons of marijuana to Sri Lanka in 1997. The second speaker in the video was Gen. Ho Sok, secretary of state of Ministry of Interior, explaining to a reporter about how his men had caught Mong Reththy trafficking the 7 tons of marijuana in 1997, a few months before Hun Sen launched a coup against Funcinpec Party, on 5-6 July 1997. At that time Ho Sok wanted to arrest Mong Reththy but Hun Sen warned that "anyone who wanted to arrest Mong Reththy must wear a steel helmet". During the 1997 coup, Gen. Ho Sok was captured after the Singaporean and Malaysian embassy denied him a refugee. He was executed and personally shot by Hok Lundy, Cambodian police commissioner. វីដេអូនេះ ជាភស្តុតាង បញ្ជាក់ថា ហ៊ុន សែន រកស៊ី ( គ្រឿងញៀន កញ្ឆា ) ។ វីដេនេះ ផ្ញើជូនអ្នកគាំទ្រ CPP ផ្កាប់មុខ ដើម្បីពិចារណា។ សូមជួយ Share អោយបានច្រើនជាទី បំផុត ។

    Golden memories ... សុវណ្ណអនុស្សារ

    With School of Vice's and Khmerisation team's best wishes to all readers around the world on the auspicious occasion of the Khmer Pjum Ben.



    Sarikakeo - Uoch Savy & Ieng Sithul



    Ms Ouch Savy may not be the most beautiful or glamorous among her female contemporaries in the world of Khmer art and entertainment, but she is [at least in my estimation] head and shoulder above most of them in her artistic talent, and in particular, her golden classical singing vocal. I first had the privilege to witness her unique talent on a live performance at a venue [I won't say where except to state that it wasn't Brunei or Dubai!] where she performed a rarely heard piece in the chapei dong veng format in between chapei songs presented by her famed tutor and mentor - master Kong Nay. Immediately after the show I had the chance to chat with them both, putting them to a rather stern and impromptu test on their grasp of the Khmer tongue! It was no surprise that the master scored slightly better than the pupil on this subject! [Well, either that or he simply ignored what I was saying?] Ms Savy clearly struggled to make head or tail of my Khmer speech when all I wanted to find out was how she came to possess such angelic voice! [Hearing her voice live was far better than listening to her on line like this] Eventually, one of her tour aids or organisers intervened in the conversation and she was able to answer my question - somewhat! I got the distinct impression that she was puzzled by the nature of the question. Perhaps, it was down to the fact that the voice has always been there ever since she first learned to speak and communicate, and School of Vice being School of Vice simply could not understand this? Any way, the main piece [and the most captivating in the entire programme for me] was a real treat, and clearly a treasure not to be missed for connoisseurs of Khmer poetry and literature at their refined peak and glory, and was/is more than likely a survivor from the early or even pre-modern era of Khmer literature, judging by the sheer quality of the literary expression or poems rehearsed by the performer. Notwithstanding the destruction and decline of the arts in general this side of the KR regime, it made me realise just how deeply rich and beautiful Khmer civilisation has been and still is as I sat among other audience totally mesmerised by its charm and completely in awe of its majesty. Buddha bless her and the Khmer arts! - School of Vice


    Doung preah chan trea - samouth & sothea


    Khmer Smot - presented by Ms Phoeun Sre Pov