Jan. 1, 2002

Foreign Ministry issues press release announcing the working visit to Vietnam by PM Hun Sen at the invitation of Vietnam PM Phan Van Khai.  Hun Sen will lead a delegation to attend the 2nd Meeting of the Three PMs of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on the Building of the Development Triangle to be held on 26 January 2002, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Jan. 7, 2002

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy tells Thai court, in testifying as a witness for Sok Yoeun, that PM Hun Sen was behind a 1998 rocket attack on an official motorcade in Siem Reap for his own political benefit.  Sok Yoeun, who was a SRP activist, is the defendant in an extradition trial. The RGC accused him of being the mastermind of the attack.  The rockets targeted a motorcade of newly elected MPs going to a palace in Siem Reap for a swearing-in ceremony presided by King N. Sihanouk.  The rockets missed the targets and landed on houses, killing two people. Hun Sen was not traveling in the motorcade.  [THE NATION - Regional - 01/08/02]

Jan. 8, 2002

The Italian Consulting Firm I.Ge.S.s.n.c (Structural Geotechnical Engineering) and Apsara Authority begin the restoration project of sixty meters of embankment fell down into the western moat of Angkor Wat in September 1997.  UNESCO funds the project.  [Yashodhara N° 6]

Jan. 15, 2002

Cambodian officials are negotiating a new border crossing in Preah Vihear after Thai authorities closed the checkpoint at the foot of the temple complex last month, officials said yesterday.  Local officials from Preah Vihear were meeting with their Thai counterparts across the border in Si Sa Ket to negotiate the new crossing.  The proposed crossing, seven kilometres east of the temple at Tathav Pass in Choam Ksan district, would replace the temple checkpoint, which was closed by Thailand after a dispute over the poor sanitation of some nearby Cambodian settlers, officials said.  [THE NATION - Latest news]

PM Hun Sen inaugurats ten school buildings as donation from the French Govt. through SIPAR in Ba Phnom, Prey Veng.  [CNV]

Jan. 16, 2002

PM Hun Sen addresses to the Government-Donor monitoring meeting in Phnom Penh.

Jan. 26, 2002

The 2^nd Indochina Summit hold in Ho Chi Minh City aim at realizing the “Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia development triangle.” [VN FM news conference 01/10/02]

Feb. 6, 2002

FM Hor Namhong and Japanese Ambassador Gotaro OGAWA sign in Phnom Penh an Exchange of Notes on a Grant Aid of sixty six million yen provide by Japan for the execution of the project for Flood Protection and Drainage Improvement in the Municipality of Phnom Penh. The Grant will be made available during the period between the date of coming into force of the present arrangements and 05 February 2003.

Feb. 12, 2002

Election monitors, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections and the Neutral and Independent Committee for Free Elections in Cambodia, says a widespread campaign of vote-buying on the eve of local elections boosted the performance of the CCP, which denied the allegation. [AP]

Feb. 14, 2002

Ta Mok lawyer, Benson Samay, urges the govt. to open the trial of his client or release him on bail, telling reporters that since Ta Mok's maximum three-year detention period ends March 6, he should be temporarily released by that date unless the govt. begins trial proceedings. [Kyodo]

Brig. Gen. Ke Pauk, a former Khmer Rouge military officer who led bloody purges and who was a prime candidate to appear before a future genocide tribunal, died Friday in northern Cambodia, officials said. He was 72. Ke Pauk, who joined the army after leaving Khmer Rouge in 1998, died of natural causes related to liver disease in Anlong Veng, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold near the Thai border, Cambodian co-Defense Minister Tea Banh said.  Ke Pauk was remembered for leading bloody purges in northern and eastern Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-79 rule, which was blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million people from starvation, diseases, execution and overwork. [AP]

Feb. 18, 2002

Twenty-suspected CFF (Cambodian Freedom Fighter) appear in a Phnom Penh court to face charges of conspiracy, terrorism and involvement in an illegal armed group.  The suspects, who were arrested in September and October last year, have been accused of being members of the antigovt. group, led by Cambodian-American Chhun Yasith, based in Long Beach, California.  In June and October last year, the same court sentenced 56 group members to three years to life in prison for the attacks against the govt.  [Kyodo]

Feb. 20, 2002

Uch Kiman, Secretary of State of Foreign Ministry, and Chinese Ambassador Ning Fukui sign in Phnom Penh an Exchange of Notes on the repairing project of the road surface of Mao Tsetung Boulevard to be undertaken by China. The expenses for the implementation of this project shall be defrayed from the interest-free loan stipulated in the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed on 24 Dec. 2001 between the two govts.

Opposition party has filed a petition calling on the govt. to explain why the UN withdrew from a proposed joint genocide tribunal.  The request, signed by the 14 members of the SRP, asked the PM Hun Sen to address the National Assembly about what it called the shameful failed talks.  In its surprise announcement earlier this month, the UN said it was abandoning five years of negotiations on setting up a court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders because it could not guarantee the tribunal's impartiality.  Meanwhile, a possible key defendant in any such trial, the former Khmer Rouge military chief Ta Mok, is said to be seriously ill in a military prison in Phnom Penh.  His lawyer said he was suffering from a headache, dizziness and high blood pressure. [BBC]

Feb. 20, 2002

China and Cambodia sign an Exchange of Notes on the repairing project of the road surface of Mao Zedong Boulevard to be undertaken by China.  Uch Kiman, secretary of state of ministry of foreign affairs, and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Ning Fukui inked the exchange of notes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Feb. 21, 2002

Vietnam FM issues a statement: “On 21 February 2002, H. E. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Bin, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the PM of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presented to Samdech PM Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia the letter of PM H. E. Mr. Phan Van Khai. During their meeting, the tripartite agreement Cambodia-Vietnam-UNHCR signed on 21 January 2002 on the return of Vietnamese Montagnards to Vietnam was discussed. Cambodia and Vietnam have agreed to attempt to implement the above agreement on the return of those Vietnamese Montangards before the rainy season of this year.”

The first 15 ethnic Vietnamese from Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands) who illegally crossed the border into Cambodia last year have returned home.  The repatriation took place under the January 21 tripartite agreement between Viet Nam, Cambodia and the UNHCR, said Vietnam FM spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh.  [VNS]

Australia has been assisting Cambodia in improving agriculture quality since Aug. 2000, officials from the Australian Agency for International Development said here on Thursday.  They told a National Workshop on Improvement of Agriculture Quality that under a memorandum between the two countries singed in 2000, Australia has provided Cambodian farmers with high quality services in rice seed production, post harvest technology and fruit and vegetable marketing.  Australian experts have worked together with Cambodians in four provinces in the country to improve food security and cash income for big number of farm households, they noted. [Xinhuanet]

Feb. 26, 2002

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) issues the final results of the Commune Councils Elections throughout Cambodia, held on February 3,2002, indicating that the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) has won amajor victory.  There are eight political parties including CPP, FUNCINPEC Party and SRP that took part in the local elections in 1,621 districts and communes of 24 provinces and municipalitiesnationwide.  The final results of the local elections showed that CPP, FUNCINPEC Party and SRP won in 1,597, 10 and 13, respectively, while the other five small parties failed.  The NEC said that until February 26, there had only one commune, which needed to be revoted. [Xinhuanet]

Feb. 27, 2002

An International Experts' Meeting on Early Warning for the Mekong River opened here on Wednesday to discuss ways to make an early warning system on floods available to the four lower Mekong countries.  The forum, convened by the Mekong River Commission and supported by the German Office for Disaster Mitigation, brought together prominent experts, scholars and disaster relief workers from govt. agencies in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and the World Meteorological Organization and other international organizations.  In his opening speech at the forum scheduled to be held between Feb. 27 and March 1, Cambodian Minister of Public Works and Transport Khy Tainglim said, "Concrete action must be taken now. Each year many more people become exposed to higher risks from floods." [Xinhuanet]

Several months after Royal Air Cambodge, a joint-venture air carrier with Malaysia, went bankrupt, a new deal with China's Hainan Airlines began this week, a senior govt. official said Wednesday.  ''Cambodia and Hainan Airlines agreed in signing the deal Monday,'' said Tea Sotha, undersecretary of state at Cambodia's Civil Aviation Authority.  He said the capital for new Air Cambodia, was registered at $10 million, 49% from Hainan Airlines, 41% from the Cambodian govt. and 10% from a third group.  As a first step, Hainan Airlines will provide two Boeing 737-400 planes for flights to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok.  [Kyodo]

Feb. 28, 2002

Foreign Ministry issues a press release, “During the Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime held in Bali, Indonesia, 27-28 February 2002, the delegations of Cambodia, Vietnam and UNHCR have agreed to convene a tripartite meeting as soon as possible in Hanoi. The meeting is to discuss improved measures necessary to fully implement the tripartite framework agreement signed by the three on 21 January 2002 in Phnom Penh on the repatriation of the Vietnamese Central Highland minority people who had illegally crossed the borders into Cambodia.”

A researcher, Ly Kim Heng, says Pol Pot planned to flee the country the night before he died in 1998 to avoid arrest for atrocities committed under his rule.  Pol Pot's escape was thwarted when he was badly shaken by artillery shells fired by govt. troops near the shanty on the Thai border where he spent his final days after losing control of the Khmer Rouge.  [AP]

March 2, 2002

UNHCR has expressed ''serious concern'' over Cambodia's refusal to temporarily admit 63 Vietnamese ethnic minority Montagnards who fled to its northeastern province of Rattanakiri. ''This is clearly in contravention with the international obligations under the 1951 Convention on Refugees and its 1967 protocol to which the RGC of Cambodia is a signatory,'' the UNHCR said in a statement.  A UNHCR official said Cambodian authorities in Rattanakiri turned back the 63 on Saturday without consulting the UNHCR.  ''This action seriously contravenes the spirit of and has a negative impact on the Tripartite Agreement recently signed in Phnom Penh by the govt.s of Cambodia and Vietnam and the UNHCR,'' the statement said, referring to an accord signed on Jan. 21. [Kyodo 03/03/02]

March 5, 2002

PM Junichiro Koizumi tells visiting Prince N.  Ranariddh that Japan will keep helping Cambodia in such fields as human resources, the economy and political stability.  Prince Ranariddh paid a courtesy call on Koizumi at his official residence in his capacity as chairman of Cambodia's National Assembly, and voiced his gratitude for Japan's assistance to Cambodia, the Foreign Ministry official said.  Koizumi was quoted as telling the prince that it means much for Japan to help Cambodia in creating a peaceful state. He also told the prince that he believes it is important for Japan to provide the assistance that is indeed needed by Cambodia. Prince Ranariddh made a request for Japan to help Cambodia train people in various sectors of its society, such as judicial staff, the official said.  The head of the Cambodian lower house arrived Saturday at Kansai airport, which is in Japan's second largest business area following the Tokyo metropolitan region. After attending a Buddhism meeting in the Kansai region at the weekend, Prince Ranariddh has been in Tokyo since Monday evening as a guest of Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki. The prince is scheduled to leave Japan for home on Friday. [Kyodo]

The project for rehabilitation and upgrading of electricity supply facilities for the 4 surrounding areas of Phnom Penh city was inaugurated here on Tuesday morning.  The project was constructed with a total of 30.75 million US dollars under grant assistance of the Japanese govt.  Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, PM Hun Sen said that this electricity supply system could partly meet the needs of electricity supply for the areas of Chroy Changwar, Russeykeo, Pochentong and Takhmau.  [Xinhuanet]

March 6, 2002

China’s delegations led by Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng to pay courtesy visit to PM Hun Sen at his residence in Phnom Penh. [Kok Santepheap Daily 04/08/02]

March 7, 2002

Vietnam FM spokeswoman answers reporter question that Vietnam and Cambodia will resort to all means to return ethnic Vietnamese to Vietnam, “First of all, I would like to make it clear that those Vietnamese people living in makeshift camps in Cambodia are not refugees whatsoever. They illegally crossed the border to Cambodia because they had been instigated and deceived. Vietnam always respects the 21 January 2002 tripartite agreement between Vietnam, Cambodia and the UNHCR and considers it an important legal foundation to settle the repatriation of the ethnic illegal border crossers to Cambodia, under which repatriation is conducted in a safe and dignified manner.  It is necessary to recall that in the 1990s, more than 100,000 Vietnamese illegal immigrants living in makeshift camps in Hong Kong and some other Southeast Asian countries were repatriated according to these principles with cooperation from the UNHCR and other parties concerned. The returnees quickly stabilized their life and reintegrated into their communities. There was no case of discrimination.  This was a success of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) for the 1989-1996 period. The UNHCR itself credited it as a model of cooperation between a UN agency and a developing country.”

March 9, 2002

Human skull memorial, to the Khmer Rouge’s victims at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, is dismantled.  Buddhist monks prayed for the souls of some 300 victims whose remains were part of a map of Cambodia made of skulls and displayed publicly since 1979 as a testament to the regime's brutality. Museum officials said the skulls were decaying.   King N.  Sihanouk has said the remains should be cremated in Buddhist tradition. Hun Sen has countered that memories of Khmer Rouge evils must be preserved to educate future generations. [AP 03/10/02]

March 12, 2002

Fire destroyed squatter shanties built atop Phnom Penh buildings, leaving more than 1,000 people homeless.  Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Trak Tai Sieng said there were no deaths and only two injuries from the morning fire on the roofs of several three- and four-story buildings near the landmark New Market.  The fire started in a rooftop dwelling from an electrical short circuit, Police Chief Phan Pheang said. Ill-equipped firefighters failed to extinguish the blaze, which burned out around noon. It was the fourth such blaze in Cambodia in as many months.   [AP]

Error! Bookmark not defined.March 13, 2002

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said there would be no further negotiations with the Cambodian govt. over establishing a tribunal to try former leaders of the Pol Pot regime for genocidal crimes.  At a press conference in New York, Annan said he had advised foreign envoys who had come to see him on the issue that they should make efforts to persuade PM Hun Sen that a more credible court was necessary for the process to continue.  The UN said last month it has suspended talks which began in 1997 with the Cambodian govt. to set up the tribunal to try surviving senior Khmer Rouge leaders, saying the court as planned by Cambodia would not be fair.  Hun Sen has said he is keeping the door open for UN participation in the tribunal. [Kyodo]

March 14, 2002

Phnom Penh will ban the sale and import of all water guns in the markets and will confiscate any such products in order to maintain social security during the Khmer New Year, the Cambodia Daily on Thursday quoted municipal officials as saying.  Chea Sophara, governor of Phnom Penh, said recently that he announced the decision one month before the Khmer New Year (on April 13 to 15) in order to warn market-stall owners now not to import the guns.  Mann Chhoeun, municipale cabinet chief, said the city banned the water guns because they caused accidents when people sprayed water at motorbike drivers, which may cause traffic accidents.  The city also banned other toy guns because people feared that troublemakers might put acid instead of water into the guns to cause human injuries, the governor said.  [Xinhuanet]

March 15, 2002

The RGC issues a statement, in response to UN Sec. Gen. Kofi Anna’s statement of March 13, to clarify its position on trial of the survival Khmer Rouge leaders, rejecting the secretary-general's claim that Cambodia was obstructing efforts to create a framework that would guarantee a fair trial that meets international standards.   The statement noted that in order to assure a credible trial on the basis of internationally accepted standards, Cambodia in 1997 sought UN assistance and participation in the trial, and this continues to form the basis of Cambodia's negotiations in good faith.

March 20, 2002

PM Hun Sen tells reporters that his govt. can wait three more months for the UN to return to negotiations on the trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders.  He stresses that the tribunal must proceed in accordance with the Law on the Trial of the former Khmer Rouge that was approved by King N.  Sihanouk on Aug. 10, 2001.

March 21, 2002

The FUNCINPEC Party has committed itself to maintaining peace and the constitutional monarchy in the Cambodia.  At the opening ceremony of the party's 21st National Congress on Thursday, N.  Ranariddh, the party's president, said that in accordance with the country's constitution and multi-party system, the FUNCINPEC will further implement and safeguard the constitutional monarchy, and firmly unite around King N. Sihanouk, founder of the party.  Ranariddh noted that the party would also maintain and strengthen the policy of peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national reconciliation, and resolve various problems, such as national security, border disputes, illegal immigrants and corruption, through peaceful and non-violence means.  Regarding the general elections in 2003, the party leader proposed to set up a national institution in charge of the elections and to amend the electoral law in order to enable 95 percent of voters throughout the country to participate in the elections.  Ranariddh pointed out that it is absolutely necessary for the FUNCINPEC to have a coalition and set up a coalition govt. with the Cambodian People's Party because it is to the benefit of national peace, political stability and economic development. [Xinhuanet]

King N.  Sihanouk issued a message to the nation, saying that he is not the person who launched a Cambodian war in 1970.  The King said in his message that "I'm not the person who launched the Cambodian war." In fact, Non Nol, then President of Cambodia, and his US boss launched this Cambodian war. He noted that a number of statements and articles issued then by many western prominent figures could testify on behalf of himself.  The king pointed out in his message that on March 18, 1970, Non Nol unleashed a coup d'etat to abolish him and the Cambodian people then in some provinces arose and waged struggles against Non Nol, while Non Nol suppressed the people with artillery and tanks.  At that time, he was in Beijing, the king said, adding that he called on the people to go into the jungle and take up arms to fight against Non Nol, instead of calling on them to join the " Khmer Rouge" Sihanouk said "I did not join the "Khmer Rouge." The fact is that Khieu Samphan, Hu Nim, leaders of "Khmer Rouge", sent a letter to him and asked him to join the front and govt. headed by himself (then he was in Beijing), he said.  He returned back to Cambodia after the downfall of Non Nol, " Khmer Rouge" insisted that Sihanouk should be head of state and chairman of Democratic Kampuchea, but he refused, he added.  He affirmed that Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea and Ieng Sary who arealive can give evidence for what he said in the message. [Xinhuanet]

March 22, 2002

The RGC has approved a draft law on writers’ rights, which was drafted by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. This law is drafted to meet the requirements of the World Intellectual Property Organization and that of Cambodia's entry into the World Trade Organization, which will be beneficial to the promotion of cultural and economic development in the country. The cabinet has also approved draft regulations on management of cosmetics involving the protection of customers' rights, and the security and quality of cosmetics products. [Xinhuanet]

Cambodia and US sign memorandum concerning the establishment of a Joint Commission on Repatriation. 

March 23, 2002

The UN refugee agency has pulled out of an agreement on the voluntary repatriation of hill-tribe people from Cambodia to Vietnam. UNHCR Ruud Lubbers has sent letters to the foreign ministers of both countries Friday, announcing the withdrawal. The move follows an incident Thursday, in which more than 400 Vietnamese arrived at a refugee camp in Cambodia's northeast Mondulkiri province and threatened and manhandled refugees and UN staff. Both countries deny there was any intimidation or violence. Vietnam says the intruders were relatives of people staying at the camp. Mr. Lubbers says the UN can no longer be part of a process that does not conform with its mandated principles governing voluntary repatriation. He says the refugee agency had no choice but to disassociate itself from the repatriation agreement. The agreement that Cambodia and Vietnam signed in January calls for the return about 1,000 refugees who fled Vietnam's Central Highlands last year, during an army crackdown on hill-tribe protests. Since then, the asylum seekers have been living in two border camps in Cambodia. [VOA]

March 25, 2002

The Pak Shun knitting Factory Limited, a Hong Kong owned business in Kandal province, is destroyed by fire and violence. A Chinese staff is heavily injured. The fire destroy warehouses and buildings in the factory, and about 80 percent of raw materials and ready-made clothes to be exported are burnt up, causing a loss of about 10 million US dollars. [Xinhuanet]

Viet Nam has reaffirmed its commitment to the tripartite agreement reached by Viet Nam, Cambodia and UNHCR in Phnom Penh in January, describing it as the legal basis for the safe and dignified repatriation of the illegal Vietnamese migrants now in Cambodia.  "Under the agreement, the UNHCR was tasked to organise repatriation for illegal migrants who wish to return to Viet Nam," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh.  Replying to queries from foreign correspondents based in Ha Noi, Thanh said that the UNHCR had failed to live up to its commitments, prompting over 160 ethnic migrants to recently leave Cambodia’s camps for Viet Nam of their own accord.  The returnees told their fellow villagers that illegal migrants were living a miserable life in the makeshift camps in Cambodia.  [VNS]

March 26, 2002

US offers asylum to the 1,000 refugees, contingent upon an approval from Phnom Penh, after the UN pulled-out of a repatriation scheme, claiming Cambodia and Vietnam had violated the terms of the accord.  Cambodia has insisted the terms of the accord, struck in January, be observed and has urged the US and Vietnam to entice the UN back into the repatriation agreement.

March 27, 2002

PM Hun Sen said he is still considering a US offer of asylum for 1,000 refugees who fled across the border from communist Vietnam. His comment follows a request from Washington that Phnom Penh respond "to this offer as quickly as possibly" which would allow the Montagnard hill-tribes people safe passage out of Cambodia and to the US.  [The Time of India]

March 29, 2002

PM Hun Sen, at his cabinet meeting, orders the govt. departments to investigate the violent incident that ruined Hong Kong owned factory, the Pak Shun knitting Factory Limited, and to severely punish troublemakers.

March 31, 2002

Vietnam FM issues a statement on Vietnamese refugees in Cambodia, “(1) Recently, Vietnam, Cambodia and the UNHCR have signed and enforced a tripartite agreement on repatriating the Central Highland ethnic illegal border crossers to Cambodia and recorded some results in its implementation. In the process of settling this humanitarian issue Vietnam has always demonstrated goodwill, cooperated with the parties concerned and fulfilled its responsibilities. However, this process has been obstructed by those who lack goodwill. Therefore, only a small number of people have been repatriated under the tripartite agreement. The remaining people in makeshift camps in Cambodia have to subsist under extremely difficult circumstances. Therefore, many people who could not stand this left the camps on their own to return to Vietnam. They were received and helped by local authorities and people and were soon able to stabilize their life and reintegrate into their home communities.  (2) Prompted by a policy of humanitarianism and state responsibility over its own citizens, the Govt. of Vietnam has done everything possible to facilitate an early repatriation for these people. However, the UNHCR's unilateral suspension of the tripartite agreement made it impossible to repatriate those wishing to return. This compelled those living in makeshift camps to continue their hardship and privations, which are likely to be protracted, especially when the rainy season is approaching. On the other hand, this situation has also caused many difficulties to the Cambodia side.  (3) Given this situation, Vietnam has conducted exchanges of ideas and agreed with Cambodia that there should be an early solution to categorically settle the issue of those people who are currently subsisting in Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri as a particular case, whereby repatriation arrangements should be made immediately for those wishing to return to Vietnam under the cooperation between Vietnam, Cambodia and the UNHCR. For those who wish to resettle in a third country the resettlement process should be conducted according to procedures and processes that were followed by the UNHCR, the countries concerned and Vietnam in the past.  Vietnam is of the view that this issue should be soon settled in the spirit of humanitarianism, not be politicized and its settlement should not be used to undermine security and interests of Vietnam and Cambodia.”

PM Hun Sen decides that the Vietnamese refugees may leave for the US and those who prefer to return to Vietnam can live there “with safety and dignity”.  Most of the refugees have already said they want to live in America.

April 1, 2002

The US State Department repeats its promise to accept the resettlement of nearly 1,000 Vietnamese refugees who fled to Cambodia to escape persecution by their communist govt., following the decision announced Sunday by PM Hun Sen. [AP]

Vietnam says it will not oppose political asylum in the US for hundreds of refugees in Cambodia. But border guards have increased patrols to keep more Vietnamese ethnic minorities from crossing the border.  In an easing of its strong rhetoric of the past, Vietnam's communist govt. said nearly 1,000 ethnic minorities who fled the country last year are free to choose whether to come home or relocate to the US. But Hanoi said the resettlement was a unique situation, and would not be repeated in the future. [VOA]

The Vietnam-Cambodia Trade Fair 2002 opens at the Mondial Centre, with 33 Cambodian business firms and 22 Vietnamese companies displaying and selling their products. At the opening ceremony of the fair, Cambodia Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said that during the exhibition business people of both countries could discuss and talk about the tasks of promoting the economy and commerce between the two countries.  On behalf of the Ministry of Trade of Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Duy Hung told the opening ceremony that this is the second Vietnamese goods trade fair to be opened in Phnom Penh in less than a year, which reflects their interest and desire to further bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two nations. [Xinhuanet]

Three people were killed and one injured when a military helicopter crashed during take-off in Cambodia. The Russian-made MI-17 chopper crashed and exploded into flames soon after it took off, at around 0910 local time (0210 GMT). Officials said the helicopter was leaving to pick up visiting Vietnamese military officials when it crashed at an air base in the capital, Phnom Penh.  The cause of the crash has not been confirmed, although Cambodian Co-Minister of Defence Tea Banh said it was caused by a technical fault.  The three dead, a pilot and two crewmembers, were killed immediately. The injured crewmember was taken to hospital for treatment.  "The helicopter was about five metres (15 feet) off the ground when it started to shake.  "The rear rotor blade hit the ground and it crashed," district military police commander Chhim Rithy told Reuters news agency from the scene of the crash. [BBC]

April 2, 2002

The US has approved the adoption of 45 Cambodian babies by American families after suspending the process last year amid a baby trafficking probe, the US Embassy. The families, expected to arrive here soon, are among more than 200 US families whose applications to adopt Cambodian infants were postponed when a suspected baby trafficking ring was uncovered last year. The applications were kept in abeyance pending a US investigation into orphanages reputed to be selling babies for profit.  More than 400 Cambodians were adopted by Americans in 2000, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Several hundred others went to French parents. [AP]

About 55,000 children under the age of five in Cambodia died from lack of nutrition and diseases each year on the average, and the child mortality in the country becomes the highest in the developing countries, according to the US AID organization Tuesday.  The main cause for the children's death in the country is lack of nutrition and some diseases relating to lack of nutrition such as dysentery, malaria, meningitis and respiratory diseases, the report said. In addition, the Cambodian people lack health knowledge and many women borne children under child bearing age so the child mortality is high. [Xinhuanet]

A new bridge linking Thailand's eastern province of Trat and Cambodia's Koh Kong province has been inaugurated, expected to support the development of countries in the Mekong Sub-region, the Thai News Agency reported Friday. PM Hun Sen of Cambodia Thursday officially opened the 1,900-meter long bridge. Thailand extended financial assistance to support the construction of the Koh Kong Bridge, which is across the Gulf of Thailand, said the report. The 7.2-million US dollars bridge is expected to help the development of countries in the Mekong Sub-region, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Yunnan province in the South of China, it said. Koh Kong province is 271 kilometers southwest of the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Without the bridge, people have to rely only on ferries in their communications. [Xinhuanet]

April 5, 2002

Several Thai flags are placing and remain standing over two of Cambodian temples in Udar Meanchey province bordering Thailand in the northwest. Koh Santepheap Daily correspondent arrived and took several pictures there to witness and support the reports of Thai aggression Cambodian temples. Official said that Thai soldiers have put several Thai flags on Tamoan and Ta’kwai temples 6 days ago so far. It is indicated that the news of recent invasion doesn’t meet the solution while Thai side claims that the temples are in their soil…The invasion to occupy the temples was reported to the Govt. a few months ago after the information was informed to the province. But real reaction is so poor. Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Cambodia Border Committee said they were seeking the clear document providing the temples are in Khmer soil. The issue was silent since….The placing of Thai flags on Khmer temples came into a controversial issue in the recent months. Border rangers said Thai side agreed to remove their flags earlier, but we didn’t know somehow, those flags were returned again so far for six days. The military officials said Thai soldiers were stationed and occupied Ta’kwai temple, painting their flags on the temple walls and on the trees surrounding. Lieutenant Colonel Ngin Chan, Commander of Border Unit 402 said everything is resolved between him and Thai side involving the encroaching on borderline and occupying the temples. Though conclusion confirmed the controversy is ended, it is not an official recognition from Thai Govt. Thailand respects no Khmer territory and Cambodian Govt. unlikely to defend their land. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

April 6, 2002

PM Hun Sen meets visiting Chinese Minister of Culture Sun in Phnom Penh. Hun Sen said he was happy that the cultural exchange between Cambodia and China has made progress in recent years, and he welcomed the Chinese minister of culture to visit Cambodia and expressed his hope to strengthen the bilateral ties in cultural area. Sun Jiazheng said at the meeting that the cultural cooperation between the two nations has been proceeding well since the two nations signed the agreement on cultural interchange in 1999, which should be attributed to the support by the RGC headed by PM Hun Sen. The Chinese minister said that his mission is aimed to enhance the cultural cooperative ties between the two nations. He also conveyed to Hun Sen the greetings from Chinese Premier Zhu Rongi. On Saturday morning, Sun Jiazheng met with Princess N.  Bophadevi and minister of culture and fine arts, during which they exchanged views on the promotion of cultural interchange between the two countries. Sun will visit some historical places in Phnom Penh, and on Sunday he will travel to Angkor Wat, one of seven ancient buildings in the East. Sun Jiazheng arrived here on Friday evening for a 4-day official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of the Cambodian minister of culture Bophadive. He is expected to leave Cambodia on Monday. [The People’s Daily]

April 8, 2002

The Cambodian markets are flooded with counterfeit and inferior pharmaceuticals, local media quoted an investigation report from the Ministry of Health. The investigation report from the ministry show that 13 percent of pharmaceuticals on sale at the markets in Phnom Penh city and other five provinces are false or expired, which were imported without registered licenses of the ministry. The ministry made the report in accordance with the inspection results involving 24 imported medicines in the National Inspection Bureau or Thailand. But the medical circles of Cambodia estimated that there are at least 21 percent of medicines selling on markets are counterfeit. There are about 2800 Cambodian chemist's shops that have not gotten registered in the Ministry of Health. [Oana-Xinhua]

Ministry of Agriculture and the UN Development Program (UNDP) hold a seminar to take measure to protect Tonle Sap Lake, which was said to have been seriously affected by the loss of lairs, birds, and natural resources. The development project of Tonle Sap Lake regarded as the heart of Cambodian people was necessary for economy and culture since Angkor Wat’s times. The present decline in natural resources in Tonle Sap Lake caused the loss of fishes, as for the increase in alluvium, it also affected aquatic life. The alluvial increase was caused by logging and deforestation. The bottom of Tonle Sap Lake now becomes shallow so all sorts of fishes may decrease too. And the alluviums increased 4 cm every year. [Kok Santepheap Daily 04/10/02]

April 9, 2002

Indian PM Vajpayee makes his offer at a press conference with PM Hun Sen, saying he would send a judge from India to participate. It was the first overt indication of support from another country for a KR trial not involving the UN. "We would send the judge from India to participate in the trial," Vajpayee said. "If the UN finally says no, then the decision will be taken." Vajpayee arrived in Cambodia April 9 for a two-day visit, accompanied by a delegation of businessmen and govt. officials. He was greeted on his arrival at Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport by PM Hun Sen and senior ministers and foreign diplomats. The visit was the first by an Indian premier since Jawaharlal Nehru came here in 1954. During his visit the two countries signed agreements on allowing direct flights between the two countries, the restoration of Ta Prom at Angkor Wat, and a visa exemption for the holders of diplomatic and official passports. The measures should go some way towards boosting tourism. The 75-year-old Vajpayee met King N.  Sihanouk, Prince Ranariddh, and Senate president Chea Sim. [Phnom Penh Post]

April 10, 2002

The Pres. of the NA, Prince N.  Ranariddh, said he far preferred the participation of the UN in any future trial of Khmer Rouge leaders.  His comments came the day after the visiting Indian PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, offered to send an Indian judge to assist trial proceedings if the UN stays out of the process. "I understand that we have to continue negotiating with the UN in order to find a formula that will reach a compromise with the UN and our law," Ranariddh told reporters.  "This is a matter for the govt. - I am not the person who should write to the UN requesting that it return," Ranariddh said. "The reality is that we should ask ourselves whether Cambodia has the political will to establish a KR tribunal that meets international standards." [Phnom Penh Post]

April 11, 2002

PM Hun Sen urges the Ministry of Agriculture to focus their efforts on improvement of crop seeds and farming system in order to raise agricultural productivity. Speaking at the closing session of an Agriculture Ministry annual conference Thursday afternoon, the PM said that it is very important to sustainable develop agriculture for food security and alleviate poverty since Cambodia's economy is mostly relied on the agriculture sector. Farmers in rural areas account for 85 percent of the country's total population. To improve the agricultural productivity, the premier said, the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute must continue to develop high-yielding seeds and extend widely to rural areas through good cooperation between agricultural technical experts and extension workers. In the meantime, technical training should be provided to farmers to make them know more about pests control, especially ways to utilize high quality and high-yielding seeds, he said. He also urged the ministry to introduce small scale agricultural mechanization to the farmer communities to reduce labor force and production costs. [Xinhuanet]

April 13, 2002

A Cambodian-flagged 4,791-ton ship sink following a collision with a Turkish tanker at Turkey's Dardanelles Strait linking the Mediterranean with the Black Sea, reported the Anatolia News Agency.  The 17 crewmembers of the Cambodian ship Noor Al Amar were rescued after the accident.  After the collision with the 18,000-ton Turkish tanker Salih Kalkavan on Friday night, the Cambodian ship was about to sink. Crewmembers started firing fireworks to ask for help. Meanwhile, a fuel leakage was observed from the sinking Cambodian ship. Officials said that necessary measures were being taken to prevent environment pollution. An investigation into the incident is underway. [Xinhuanet]

April 14, 2002

More than 900 ethnic minority asylum seekers begin their journey to the US Saturday as officials started moving them from UN camps in northeastern Cambodia to a makeshift processing center just outside the capital, US Embassy officials said. More than two weeks have passed since Cambodia agreed to allow the Christian highlanders, who fled Vietnam, to leave for resettlement in the US. The decision annoyed Vietnamese leaders, who said the US offer to resettle the asylum seekers, known as Montagnards, was politically motivated. Cambodian PM Hun Sen attempted to soothe Vietnam by demanding that the UN close two camps before the end of April, and ordering that all people who enter Cambodia without proper documents will be treated as illegal entrants, not asylum seekers. US Ambassador Kent Wiedemann said all 905 asylum seekers in the two camps had opted to be settled in the US instead of going back to their home villages in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The tribespeople, who are Christians, accuse Vietnam's communist govt. of seizing their traditional lands and denying them freedom to practice their religion. The govt. is distrustful of the highlanders because they fought alongside US forces against the communists during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. The asylum seekers were expected to spend as long as a month at an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, which has been converted to a temporary shelter, while U.S. immigration officials interview the prospective immigrants. [AP]

April 18, 2002

Two medical centers, which can provide basic medical services for local people in remote rural areas of Kratie and Mondolkiri provinces, have been set up, according to the Cambodia Daily. The two medical posts were inaugurated recently by the European Commission (EC) Malaria Control Programme and the National Malaria Center. For Kratie and Mondolkiri provinces, the EC malaria program planned five health posts in forest areas filled with malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the paper Thursday quoted representative of the EC malaria program as saying. The health posts, equipped with malaria kits and drug, will be able to identify and treat people with malaria without delay, said Duong Socheat, director of the National Malaria Center. Such health posts are being built in the 16 provinces of the country where malaria is prevalent in order to provide basic medical serves to the rural people, the EC representative said. According to the Ministry of Health, the national criterion is to provide one medical center for every 8,000 to 10,000 people in the country. [Xinhuanet]

Provinces throughout Cambodia are suffering severe water shortages and it could be a month or more before the rainy season comes.  While rural water supplies always run low at the end of the dry season, this year is worse than previous ones, the media quoted  villagers and officials as saying. In Oddar Meanchey province's border town of O'smach, residents reportedly consume muddy water from a dirty canal at a price of about 70 U.S cents per barrel because they cannot afford wells. Only 20 to 30 percent of Cambodians now have access to enough clean water, officials said. More than 100,000 wells have been dug by govt. and NGOs all over the country, but about one million are needed. [BERNAMA]

April 19, 2002

Vietnam FM spokeswoman denies an allegation by UNHCR in Geneva, which says that Vietnamese officials were present when the camps in Cambodia's Modulkiri province were burned and looted, “We totally refute this ill-intent fabrication. It is Cambodia's internal affair to resolve the camps in Cambodia.”

April 22, 2002

The Municipality of Phnom Penh has issued a directive banning big trucks from the center of Phnom Penh in a bid to protect newly paved streets and alleviate traffic congestion, local media quoted municipal officials as saying. The ban will go into effect this week, said Nhem Sara, director of Municipal Department of Public Workds and Transport. At least 60 percent of the more than 200 kilometers of asphalt roads in Phnom Penh have been repaired in recent months. In accordance with the ban, truck drivers who violate the ban will be fined 125 to 250 U.S. dollars. Trucks with trailers and overloaded lorries must unload at warehouses on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, or have their load transferred to smaller vehicles before coming through central Phnom Penh, officials said. [Xinhuanet]

April 23, 2002

The Mekong River Commission (MRC), Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, launch an Annual Mekong Flood Forum today in Phnom Penh. The Annual Mekong Flood Forum is the first such event in the region, which is financed by the govt.s of Japan and Netherlands. Related agencies of the four countries and UN agencies and non-govt. organizations participated the 2-day meeting.  Through the meeting, participants can learn experiences from each other and help reduce and prevent the suffering of the people in the Lower Mekong Basin. The participants will discuss emerging needs and coordinated their flood mitigation activities in order to deal with the coming flood season this year, said Joern Kristensen, chief executive officer of MRC. [Xinhuanet]

The National Conference on Cambodian Elections is opened in Phnom Penh, with the aim of learning lessons from previous elections and making preparations for the general elections in 2003. Participants expressed positive views on the general elections held in 1993 and 1998, and local elections in February 2002, saying the success of these elections shows that Cambodia has won great achievements in implementation of democracy and freedom. They pointed out that Cambodia has entered into a society of democracy since the signing of Paris agreement for peaceful resolution of Cambodian problem on October 23, 1991, which has fostered national reconciliation, national solidarity, political stability and economic development. At the two-day conference, organized by CICP (the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace), participants will summarize experience of the previous elections and put forward recommendations for revision of the electoral law and for the general elections in 2003, thus making good preparations for the elections. [Xinhuanet]

April 24, 2002

A UN human rights official is urging a resumption of negotiations with Cambodia on establishment of a genocide tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders. The UN Secretary-General's special human rights envoy for Cambodia is in Geneva to submit a report to the UN Human Rights Commission.  Special envoy Peter Leuprecht said he regrets the break-off of negotiations in February, on the make-up of a genocide tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders. Mr. Leuprecht has said Cambodia is making progress toward democracy, but he adds despite some positive changes, widespread human rights violations persist throughout the country. He said Cambodia remains a wounded and traumatized society and it would be healthy for the nation to come to terms with its past. [VOA]

April 29, 2002

King N. Sihanouk’s message to the nation.

Police are questioning disgraced former rock star Gary Glitter over his past convictions, after it emerged that he had set up home in the country.  Glitter could reportedly face deportation if authorities decide he is an undesirable resident.  Pol Phiphey, the police chief for immigration in Phnom Penh, told the AFP news agency that Glitter's passport had been seized and would be returned on Tuesday.  The disgraced star, who was jailed for four months in 1999 for downloading thousands of pornographic images from the internet, was said to have set up home in the Cambodian capital six months ago.  He was pictured by a British newspaper on Saturday with a young girl who arrived at his flat with her mother.  Cambodian authorities were alerted to Glitter's whereabouts after receiving calls from the British press.  The former glam-rock star was detained for questioning on Sunday, and released, but police confiscated his passport.  Pol Phiphey said Glitter's passport had been seized after the former rock star failed to inform authorities about his previous convictions or his intentions to stay in Cambodia. [BBC]

April 30, 2002

King N. Sihanouk’s message to the nation.

Cambodian soothsayers have determined that the country will reap an abundant harvest and suffer no flooding this year, after studying sacred oxen at the annual ploughing ceremony.  Offered rice, corn, sesame, grass, beans, water and alcohol, the oxen ate almost all the rice, beans and maize - an auspicious choice.  The oxen did not drink from the bowl of alcohol, which would have signified war or turmoil in the royal kingdom. "The royal oxen ate 95% of the rice, 90% of the maize and 75% of the beans. Next year our rice, maize and bean yield will be bountiful," palace priest Kong Ken declared during the ceremony, outside Phnom Penh's National Museum.  King N.  Sihanouk's son, Prince N.  Yuvaneath, dressed in the traditional robes of the royal court, then drove a team of oxen around a ceremonial plot of land next to the Royal Palace.  PM Hun Sen refused to attend this year's ceremony. He has renounced it, complaining that royal astrologers were inaccurate after they failed to predict last year's floods, which killed 56 people. [BBC]

May 4, 2002

The National Assembly Pres. Prince N.  Ranariddh officially released his first feature film.  The 90-minute movie “Raja Bori or Royal City” made its Cambodian debut Saturday night at an invitation-only gala at the Chaktomuk Theater. It is in Khmer with English subtitles.  The Prince said the feature “aims to protect and defend our arts and culture, our heritage, independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Cambodia.” “I portray these things in my film because I worry about them that have been destroyed…and I want new Khmer generations to love and protect them,” the prince said during the gala ceremony presided over by Senate President Samdech Chea Sim.  The Prince continued that the feature’s theme is the magnificence of the Khmer cultural heritage and the need to protect it. “The main aim of the film is to teach Khmer people to love Khmer artifacts and prevent them from looting,” the prince added. He also said he wishes “ to honor the great Cambodian kings, and especially the great builders Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII.” “I want the world to know Cambodia is about more than war and suffering…people only know about Khmer Rouge, land mines and destruction,” he said, adding that people have not seen the most beautiful images that Cambodia possesses beautiful temples, rich in his story and tradition, arts and culture. Raja Bori was filmed at Angkorian temples in Siem Reap province, and tells the story of a sculptor and a girl who meet at Angkor Wat. The actors of the Raja Bori are: Mrs. Doeu Dara Si, Mrs. Ouk Phalla, Mr. Chea Samnag, Mr. Sophea David, Ma Somaly, a girl and Chap Danel, a boy. [Kok Santapheap 05/06/02]

May 6, 2002

PM Hun Sen says the RGC has implemented an opening-up policy towards Cambodian nationals abroad, welcoming them to come back home to join the economic development. Addressing the local people in Kampot, the PM said that the Cambodian countrymen residing abroad are allowed to send money freely to their relatives in the country, and they are allowed to return to the country to take part in political activities and economic reconstruction. He noted that the govt. allows them to set up political parties and participate in general elections scheduled for 2003 after they return. Many Cambodians fled to other countries since 1970s due to protracted civil war, Hun Sen said. The govt. will further improve the policy of opening-up to facilitate their return back for visit. Cambodian nationals in the US can enter into Cambodia with US passports, he added. [Xinhuanet]

Kang Kek Ieu or Duch, the former chief of the Khmer Rouge's notorious S21 torture center, has been charged with crimes against humanity and will remain behind bars until a tribunal can be established.  Duch, was scheduled for release on Thursday under special Cambodian laws but his lawyer, Ka Savuth, said an additional charge of crimes against humanity would ensure his client remains in prison.  [Tehran Times 05/07/03]

The RGC hand over to Viet Nam a further 205 sets of Vietnamese soldiers’ remains found in Cambodia for re-burial in an official function on today.  The handover, the result of a two-month search that wrapped up on May 5, 2002, was held at the bordergate of Binh Hiep in the southern province of Long An.  Attending the function were Le Van Chinh, deputy secretary of Long An Province Party’s Committee, Truong Van Tiep, chairman of the Long An People’s Committee.  Also attending the event were leaders and people of Cambodia’s Svay Rieng Province.  This year, Long An has invested VND500 million in the upgrading of Vinh Hung cemetery where the repatriated soldiers’ remains are buried.  [VNS 05/10/03]

May 10, 2002

King N.  Sihanouk made an appeal to all governors of provinces and cities throughout the kingdom to help reduce hardship of his countrymen. The appeal, which was made in a first royal hearing in the Royal Palace, requested all 24 provincial and city governors to take a vital measure to solve land disputes and blood problems for the people. “I am very worried about the hardship, poverty and the food shortage of our people who always traveled to Phnom Penh to strike for food and demand their land back,” the King was quoted as telling the governors in the hearing. The King also proposed the governors to continue their solidarity to share the hardship of the people in respective province. The King later praised the RGC for its good leadership and the implementation of national reconciliation policy. [Koh Santepheap]

May 12, 2002

NGOs expressed concern over personal security and safety, after a NGO official was beaten near her Phnom Penh home. Country Director of Global Witness Eva Gallabru was seriously beaten by a group of unidentified men at night when she came back home from a dinner. [Koh Santepheap Daily]

May 13, 2002

PM Hun Sen calls on graduates of the Royal University of Agriculture to work in countryside so as to serve the strategy of poverty reduction. Addressing the graduation ceremony Monday, Hun Sen said that the university should recruit more students from the countryside in the future, especially from remote rural areas. Then these students will go back to their hometown to assist in rural development. [Xinhuanet]

Prince N.  Ranariddh is calling on the UN to return to talks on setting up a genocide tribunal for the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders.  The UN pulled out of almost five years of negotiations to set up a joint tribunal in February claiming the court envisaged by Phnom Penh would not be impartial. The move stunned many Cambodians and was greeted with dismay by foreign diplomats, who have urged the UN to return to talks. Ranariddh said he believed the UN was unwilling to return to talks, but that only the world body could ensure a Khmer Rouge tribunal that met international legal standards.  [Swissinfo]

May 14, 2002

NA Pres. Prince Ranariddh demands convicted editor of Moneakseka Khmer News (Khmer Conscience News) to pay 100 Riel (US$0.004) for his defamation. The Phnom Penh Municipal court sentenced the editor in absentia, ordering him to pay the prince 100 Riel on his demand to proof he won the lawsuit in a fair trial. The court also demanded the newspaper editor to pay a fine of 1 million Riels to the state budget and publish the verdict in his newspaper for two weeks—once a week with his own expense. Dam Sith, who is the editor of the newspaper, did not appear during the trial process, saying he was due to go to Siem Reap province. Dam Sith’s lawyer Sok Heng walked out the courthouse before the trial started, accusing that the court did not clearly specify whether the prince’s case represented his own or his Assembly institution.  Dam Sith published nine articles in his newspaper from May to June and July accusing the prince of being parliament president of chicken’s anus, corruption and a foolish prince. [Kok Santepheap Daily 05/15/02]

May 17, 2002

Despite a fierce force to resign from his powerful position, embattled Senior Minister and Co-minister of Interior You Hockry confirmed last Wednesday that “I am still in my position and I want to find justice for myself…what did I do wrong,” he told Koh Santepheap. In an unsigned press release issued by the Funcinpec Secretariat dated on May 16, read that 55 of 62 Funcinpec members of Steering Committee signed a petition to request Funcinpec President Prince N.  Ranariddh to solve the case of You Hockry soon. They also directly asked the embattle minister to resign if wanted to save face. Meanwhile, several political observers questioned why such a press release issued. Do they want the party secret internal dispute to be spread? “They know only the prince can make such a decision,” one observer said. “Why do they have to spread such news.”  It is noted that party members who demanded You Hockry to resign are disqualified. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

A draft law on weapon control has been approved by the Council of Ministers at a cabinet meeting. The draft law involves the terms of weapon's hold, usage, production and transportation as well as weapon's import and export, a press release from the cabinet said. Weapons, explosives and ammunition are not allowed to cross border to other countries without approval of the govt. The production, repair, and export and import of weapons are all under the control of the govt. The law also includes the punishment terms for illegal production, holding and transportation of weapons and ammunition, with a person serving a sentence of 5 to 10 years for illegal assembly or production or import or export of weapons. The law stipulates that the related departments are forbidden to illegally make and issue weapon certificates for holders, those who violate the regulation will be sentenced to 3 to 10 years' imprisonment.  [The People’s Daily]

May 20, 2002

Prince Norodom Chakrapong, a son of Cambodia's King N. Sihanouk, has launched a new political party, the Khmer Soul party. The prince said he has already applied to the interior ministry for permission to contest next year's election. He is offering to forge an alliance with the opposition SRP. He said it was unfair of critics to accuse him of splitting the royalist vote, as the royalist Funcinpec party run by his half-brother Prince N.  Ranariddh was already weak. The new party's launch follows Funcinpec's trouncing at local elections in February, when it only received 20% of the vote. Prince N.  Chakrapong was convicted in 1994 of planning a coup against the coalition govt. of PM Hun Sen and Prince N.  Ranarridh. [BBC]

May 21, 2002

Deputy PM Sar Kheng said last week he believed co-operation between the Vietnamese and Cambodian news agencies would be further strengthened for mutual benefits.  His remarks were made in his reception in Phnom Penh of a delegation from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), headed by Deputy General Director Truong Duc Anh.  The deputy PM expressed his belief that the exchange of information between the two news agencies would boost understanding between the two peoples.  VNA Deputy General Director Anh said the fine friendly ties between the two countries would create favourable conditions for further co-operation between VNA and its Cambodian counterpart AKP.  During the six-day visit to Cambodia, ending yesterday, the VNA and AKP delegations held talks reviewing the implementation of already signed agreements, particularly in the area of information exchange.  However, more efforts were needed to increase exchange of information and the number of articles about each country to be printed on their daily news bulletins.  Both news agencies agreed to continue implementing these agreements, and will give priority to the exchange of visits of editors, correspondents and technicians.  [VNS]

May 22, 2002

The Cambodia's TV5 has bought from a Thai corporation the rights to broadcast upcoming Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup finals, which, the authorities hope, will be a boon to Cambodian football and television, local media reported on Wednesday.  Under the agreement, TV5 has the rights to broadcast 56 matcheslive and to rebroadcast from tape eight other matches. "Football is popular and developing in Cambodia. I hope that most adults will watch the football matches live on TV5," Chen Marido, TV5 deputy director general, said.  [Xinhuanet]

Former Khmer Rouge commander General Sam Bith was arrested today in connection with the 1994 murders of Australian David Wilson and two other backpackers, co-defence minister Tea Banh said. Authorities had been searching for Sam Bith, who had reportedly been living in a luxury apartment in the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin in northwestern Cambodia. Colonel Chhouk Rin was jailed for ordering the train ambush that began the backpackers' ordeal, but he was released after an amnesty deal with the govt. that helped end the country's long-running civil war. General Nuon Paet was charged and jailed for life for his part in the killings in May 1999. However, Sam Bith had remained at large despite intense lobbying from the Australian, British and French govt.s. [The Sydney Morning Herald]

May 23, 2002

Cambodia will send demining experts to Afghanistan next month to offer that country advice and share experiences, a senior govt. official said Wednesday.  Sam Sotha, adviser to PM Hun Sen and secretary general of Cambodian Mine Action and Victims Assistance Authority, told Kyodo News he would lead a three-member team to Afghanistan in June. (Kyodo News)

May 24, 2002

The RGC should safeguard the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation, PM Hun Sen said here Friday. He told this to reporters after ending a cabinet meeting at the Council of Ministers Friday in response to a letter of King N.  Sihanouk to National Assembly President N.  Ranariddh dated May 24.  In the letter to Ranariddh, Sihanouk requested Ranariddh and PM Hun Sen to solve the border issue with neighboring countries. He had received a letter, dated May 17, from Ranariddh, asking the king to save Cambodia and protect its territory.  Hun Sen stressed that the govt. can't be called as the people's govt. if it does not safeguard the nation's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.  He said that it is normal that the king called for resolution of the border issue after some students and other people presented this question to him. [Xinhuanet]

King N. Sihanouk sends a letter in responding to National Assembly Pres. Prince Ranariddh’s letter of 05/17/02 concerning Cambodia border.

Vietnam FM spokewoman respond to reporter inquiry about Vietnam's reaction to King N.  Sihanouk expressing his disapproval of the "Cambodian land grabs" by Vietnam and Thailand along its borderlines with the latter, “with a desire to build Vietnam-Cambodia border into one of lasting peace, friendship and stability, Vietnam invariably exercises strict observation of border and territory agreements signed by the two countries on truly equal basis and in conformity with international law and practices, including the 1993 Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia.  A signing ceremony of the Agreed Minutes of the 2nd Meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Technical Committee between Dr.Surakiart Sathirathai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Senior Minister Sok An held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 May 2002”

May 27, 2002

Viet Nam and Cambodia have vowed to bolster their co-operation in pursuing political security and public safety, as part of their joint effort to help ensure greater peace and development in the region and the world.  Their renewed commitment came during a courtesy visit paid by visiting Cambodian Deputy PM Sar Kheng to Pres. Tran Duc Luong in Ha Noi on Friday (05/24/03).  [VNS]

May 30, 2002

Phnom Penh Municipal court convicted five men Thursday after they were found guilty of involving in bomb attacks at two Phnom Penh hotels last year. The six convicts were identified as—Rin Savuth, Koeut Sinuon, Rin Sothy, Chreung Mao, Ban Thavary—were found guilty of involving in bomb attacks at Hong Kong and Flavored Hotel on Monivong Blvd in Phnom Penh on July 4, 2001. The court sentenced Rin Savuth and Koeut Sinuon to life imprisonment while Rin Sothy and Chreung Mao were sentenced to 20 years in jail. Ban Thavary, an TNT explosive dealer who gave it to the four bomb attackers to invent the bombs, was sentenced to a two-year imprisonment. The men planted a bomb in each hotel to demand US$200,000 from the owners of the two hotels. They exploded the bombs after the hotel owners failed to give them the ransom. Under the verdict, the court demanded the five to pay US$320,000 to repair the two hotels, which were completely damaged. [Kok Santepheap Daily 06/02/02]

May 31, 2002

600 monks pledged last Sunday to quit smoking cigarettes; claiming cigarettes could cause their health hazard.  In a food offering ceremony to mark the World No Tobacco Day held at Phnom Kal Pagoda on May 31, the 600 monks showed up their hands to vow to quit smoking cigarettes from that day, calling on laymen and laywomen to stop offering cigarettes to them.  “You will not receive good deed from us,” the monks chanted during the offering ceremony organized by Cambodian Adra Organization to prevent smoking through Buddhism and monks.

According to a health research of World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that bad smoking caused a serious health hazard for human internal organs, i.e. it caused a shortage of oxygen in brain and lungs, heart thumps with high blood pressure, heart-attack, mouth and throat cancer, lung swell and stomach wounds. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

June 2, 2002

Koh Kong province held a seminar to take measures to prevent free taxes from smugglers through the sea border province. The seminar—which presided over by the provincial governor—attended by several officials including customs officials from Phnom Penh to enforce an order of the RGC of Cambodia on tough measures to prevent free taxes in the province, which is bordering with Thailand.  Goods were recently imported from Thailand through border exists of the province and most of the imports were free taxes, according to a customs report.  Sar Theng, Bureau Chief of Suppression of Free Taxes of Customs Department, said the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), Military Police (MP) and policemen and other related institutions “must cooperate to prevent all forms of free taxes.”  The Provincial governor Yut Phothong said that Koh Kong customs officials had seized free tax goods and then let them go free after receiving bribes from the importers.  “This act is illegal and both the customs officials and the importers will be punished,” he said. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

June 3, 2002

The first batch of more than 700 Vietnamese refugees arrive at Pochentong airport in Phnom Penh, on their way to the US, ending a year of turmoil that began with a Hanoi military crackdown.

A syndicate smuggling Cambodian girls here with promises of better paying jobs in Malaysia has been found to have forced the girls into prostitution instead.  The syndicate’s activities were uncovered when several of the girls escaped and returned home and relayed their ordeal to the authorities.  Cambodia’s Interpol director Brig-Gen Kim Chan Nee said he had sought the help of his Malaysian counterparts to help track down several members of the syndicate.  [The Star Online]

Visiting UN special envoy Peter Leuprecht voiced hope that Cambodia and the UN will restart talks on setting up a tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for the deaths of at least 1.7 million Cambodians in the late 1970s.  "My hope is that this is not the end of the story," Leuprecht told reporters upon arriving at Pochentong Airport for a one-week visit. [Japan Today]

Koh Santepheap reports that the National Assembly and Senate sent a joint delegate to visit a controversial border with Vietnam in Duong commune last week. The dispute of the commune—which is located in Romeas Hek district of Svay Rieng province—was intensified when Vietnamese local authority claimed that nine Cambodian families living in six houses close to the border are their citizens and they built a dam and road, light stakes and planted sugar cane on Cambodian soil of more than 1.5 kilometer inside the commune. The nine families and others in the commune rejected the Vietnamese claim and staged a demonstration in front of the National Assembly to request the constitutional body to help solve their problems of the Vietnamese encroachment. “I am a Khmer…why Yuon (Vietnamese) wants me to be their citizen,” one of nine families living in the six houses, has said, adding that Vietnamese authority wanted to their citizens because they wanted to occupy the land. “When we became their citizens, the land will become theirs too.” Princess Vorchara, who led the National Assembly delegate, was very disappointed and sad when she arrived in the commune and paid a visit to the nine families of the six houses. “I’m very disappointed when I see my soil is being built a dam by a neighbor country,” she said during her two-day visit to the southeastern commune.  She said the aim of her visit was to search for the truth whether people in the Duong commune were their farmlands grabbed by Vietnamese authority. After the two-day visit, she expressed displeasure over Vietnamese authority, saying the Vietnamese has exactly grabbed the land from Cambodian farmers to plant sugar canes and other crops. She indicated that Vietnamese authority banned Cambodian farmers to do farming on the land which they claimed it is a “ white area” which is an area under negotiation and controversy and no side be allowed to use until a full agreement made by both nations. “But, Vietnamese soldiers have not allowed Cambodian farmers to cultivate on the land…and they let their farmers and tractors do farming on the land,” she said. Meanwhile, the delegate met a group of Vietnamese doctors entered to have a medical check to the nine families in the commune. “I’m very surprised when I saw these doctors have a medical check and give medicine to Cambodian people on Cambodian soil and I asked them ‘do you think these people are Cambodians or Vietnamese,” she said. The doctors, who were sent by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, replied “ we provide them with the medical check and pills in the name of Vietnamese people.”  [Kok Santepheap Daily 06/03/02]

June 4, 2002

About 1,500 people - half Buddhist monks - took part in a ceremony in Phnom Penh marking the 53rd anniversary of France's formal ceding of territory once controlled by Cambodia to Vietnam. The area, now part of southwestern Vietnam, is known as Kampuchea Krom to Cambodians.  Speakers urged Vietnam to respect the rights of Khmer residents of the area, and encouraged those Khmers being repressed to "make their voices heard." [AP 06/11/02]

June 5, 2002

PM Hun Sen warns the military and police to stay out of politics as bitter infighting plagued the royalist Funcinpec party.  "I strongly order all armed forces of the govt. and public authorities not to get involved in political parties," he said.  He said some political factions were in control of soldiers and sections of the police who could back them with armed force.  "Don't use the govt. uniforms and guns of the armed forces like in the military and police to solve the problems of any political party," he said. [The Time of India]

PM Hun Sen announces that Cambodia will hold its next general election on July 27 next year.  Hun Sen made the official announcement in Kampot Province, where he presides over the inauguration ceremony of a school. Under Cambodian law, the date for an election must be officially announced at least nine months in advance. [Japan Today 06/06/02]

June 6, 2002

Vietnam's response to recent statements by some Cambodians slandering that Vietnam encroached its border with Cambodia:  “With a desire to build Vietnam-Cambodia border into one of lasting peace, friendship and stability, Vietnam always exercises strict observation of border and territory agreements signed by the two countries on truly equal basis and in conformity with international law and practices. The Vietnamese Govt. invariably requests all localities bordering Cambodia to observe these agreements and in practice, Vietnamese localities have been implementing them very seriously. Both Govt.s of Vietnam and the Kingdom of Cambodia wish and are making efforts to cooperate in definitely resolving outstanding border issues between the two countries. Therefore, we are very surprised and discontented to know about recent statements by some Cambodian individuals carried in some Cambodian newspapers slandering that Vietnam encroached its border with Cambodia. These statements are totally untruthful and do not contribute to promoting the relationship of good neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.”  [Vietnam FM]

Human rights groups have expressed concern over the potential for abuse in the govern-ment's drive to register immigrants that began June 6. Bith Kim Hong, who is on the MoI's census committee and is deputy commissioner of Phnom Penh's municipal police, said the census began by registering foreign immigrants, and would move on to count all foreigners living in Cambodia. He said the committee would decide who was legally here and who was not. His job was simply to collect the data and pass it to the MoI.  "We're doing the census to strengthen the immigration law," he said. "The main purpose is to curb the illegal infiltration of foreigners, safeguarding foreigners, and curbing Mafia from infiltrating to carry out [illegal] activities." However Thun Saray from human rights NGO ADHOC said he was concerned at the timing of the exercise. "The govt. may try to use the order to get popularity from the people because we're approaching the [July] 2003 election," he said, adding that it might "not be a real census - just a show census". [PPP Vol 11 Iss 15 07/19-08/01/02]

June 9, 2002

The RGC is negotiating with a U.S.-based business group which proposes "large-scale'' tourist development of two islands in the Gulf of Thailand, officials said Sunday.  Deputy Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Island Development Group Inc., a consortium from Las Vegas, Nevada, has proposed investing dlrs 100 million to build a casino and hotel resort on Rung and Rung Sanleum islands.  The two islands are located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Sihanoukville, which is a port city 185 kilometers (114 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh.  [AP]

June 10, 2002

The National Conference on Demobilization and Reintegration, organized by the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, was opened Monday to assess Cambodia's military reform, demobilization and reintegration.  During the meeting from June 10 to 11, participants will put forward their recommendations on military reform while assessing the achievements made by the govt. in the military demobilization and reintegration.  The RGC has been carrying out a policy of military reduction since 2000 in order to reduce defense spending and transfer limited resources to other priority sectors.  Cambodia demobilized 1,500 soldiers in 2000, and 15,000 in 2001 and has planned to reduce another 15,000 soldiers in 2002.  It is estimated that Cambodia has an armed forces of 155,000 soldiers. The govt. wants to proportionately reduce the number to an "acceptable" level. [Xinhuanet]

June 11, 2002

Vietnam foreign ministry issues a statement concerning demonstration in Phnom Penh on June 4, “For hundreds of years, Nam Bé has been a sacred territorial part of Vietnam. The Khmer compatriots residing in the Nam Bé are an indivisible part of the community of 54 ethnic groups co-residing on Vietnamese land. The Govt. of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam pursues a policy of equality, unity, mutual assistance among ethnic groups and does not tolerate any act of ethnic discrimination and division. All ethnic groups are entitled to use their own languages, scripts, maintain their cultural identity and uphold their fine cultural traditions and customs.  The Govt. of Vietnam pursues a policy of comprehensive development, gradual improvement of material and spiritual life of ethnic minority compatriots. This is expressly enshrined in the Constitution, respected and exercised in practice. Ethnic minority groups including the Khmer people are respected, equally treated, cared for and given all favorable conditions to improve their material and spiritual life by the State. There is totally no discrimination against the Khmer compatriots in Nam Bé. Recent radical acts, distortion of history and slanders by some Khmer extremists in Cambodia that Vietnam discriminates against the Khmer compatriots are, in essence, aimed at undermining Vietnam's great bloc of national unity, causing instability in the western Nam Bé, inciting racial hatred and sabotaging the fine developing relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia. These acts go counter to the aspiration of the Khmer compatriots in Nam Bé and are harmful to the friendship, good neighborliness and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.  Vietnam and the Kingdom of Cambodia entertain friendly neighborliness and multi-faceted cooperation on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference into each other's internal affairs. We request that the Kingdom of Cambodia take proper measures to prevent the aforementioned radical acts and their recurrence or harms to the good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between the two nations.”

June 17, 2002

US Senator McConnell on General Accounting Office’s report concerning situation in Cambodia.

June 19, 2002

Two Border commissions from Cambodia and Vietnam issues a joint press release here, advocating a peaceful settlement of border issues between the two nations, according to Chinese News Agency Xinhua.  Var Kim Hong, chairman of Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Border Commission, said that both sides considered that the settlement of border issues should be in accordance with the principles of the joint communiqué of January 17, 1995, reached by the two govt.s.  The joint communiqué noted that disputes on border issues will be gradually solved through interior ministries of the two nations or by diplomatic means if appear.  Le Cong Phung, chairman of Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Border Commission, said that both sides have unanimously agreed to resolve the existing border issues as soon as possible so that the borders between the two nations will become borders of amity and cooperation.  He stressed that the existing border issue between the two countries is not a big problem, believing that it can be settled by negotiations under the agreed principles.  The joint press release was issued after the border commissions ended a six day extra-meeting in Phnom Penh, at which they thoroughly discussed the border issues between the two nations.  [AKP 06/20/03]

Samane Viynaketh, Chairman of the Lao National Assembly, leads a delegation that arrived Phnom Penh today.  The Laotians will stay in Cambodia for six days at the invitation of National assembly Pres. Prince N. Ranariddh - a reciprocation for Prince Ranariddh's recent trip to Laos. Samane Viynaketh will meet with Prince Ranariddh, PM Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and King N. Sihanouk.  The chairman will also visit Sihanoukville and Siem Reap.  [AKP 06/20/03]

June 20, 2002

Voice of Vietnam radio says that there is “no tension” along the border between Cambodia and Vietnam and called the recent allegations by some Cambodian MPs of Vietnamese border encroachments a “sham.”  The radio report says the alleged border tension is to serve a political scheme and simulate hatred among the Vietnamese and Cambodian people.  Border issues between the two countries have been a top political issue over the last month, with one parliamentarian delegation visiting Svay Rieng province May 30 to investigate alleged land encroachments by Vietnamese farmers.  [Kok Santepheap Daily 07/01/02]

June 21, 2002

The much anticipated anti-corruption law will be ready by June 2003 for consideration by the national Assembly.  The Cambodia daily quoted PM Hun Sen as saying Thursday in his opening address to donors. Hun Sen has said the national elections will take place July 27, 2003.  Hun Sen told donors Thursday morning that reforming the judiciary would require "colossal administrative capacity and resources".  Donors are scheduled to announce their pledges today. The govt. has asked for $1.45 billion for three years, or around $485 million per year.  [AKP]

Outspoken visiting Vietnamese delegation promised to provide moral education to its people and authorities to stop encroaching on Cambodian soil along borders with Vietnam.  “We will go down to give moral education to our people and local authorities and ask them to stop all activities of any encroachments,” one Vietnamese negotiator, who asked not to be named, said.  Cambodian MPs found that Vietnamese farmers and authority had encroached on Cambodian land in Duong commune, Romeas Hek district of Svay Rieng province in a fact-finding visit in the commune early this month.  However, visiting Vietnamese negotiators said that the visit of Cambodian parliamentarians to Duong commune was an “ internal conflict” of Cambodian political parties. “The border issue is not very serious and significant,” he added. “Vietnam will do whatever to better the current situation.”  After a 6-day tense negotiation, which held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, both sides agreed to open seven border exists along Cambodian-Vietnamese borders which is located in Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Takeo and Kampong Cham provinces.  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

The US-based Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation condemned Vietnam’s reaction over its recent 53^rd memorial to mark the day that France signed low Khmer soil for Vietnam in on June 4, 1949.  Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released statement on June 12 calling the memorial “ an incitement of a group of Cambodian extremists in Phnom Penh to split minority group in Vietnam.”  The statement asked the Govt. of Cambodia to take actions against such gathering in which it could harm relationship of both neighboring countries.  The reaction prompted the federation to write a letter to PM Hun Sen to reveal four main points of the Khmer Krom Federation.  First, it said Khmer Kampuchea Krom has severely suffered for many times from Vietnamese violation and punishment in the past and now. Despite these, Khmer Kampuchea Krom always stand up to fight for its freedom without causing insecurity or political instability of the Kingdom of Cambodia.  Second, the Federation of Khmer Kampuchea Krom led peaceful struggle through international law.  Third, the federation always complied with a principle of non-violent and peaceful struggle and would like to denounce activities of any groups or parties that caused turmoil or violence.  Fourth, Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation always respect all political principles of Cambodia which it will not interfere the internal affairs of neighboring countries.  “We have never had an intention to create a dispute between Cambodia and Vietnam,” the statement stated.  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

June 22, 2002

Viet Nam and Cambodia have agreed that their joint border commissions will meet by the end of this year to maintain the current positive momentum on border issues.  The agreement was announced by Va Kim Hong, advisor to the Cambodian Royal Govt. in charge of State Border Affairs and head of the Cambodian delegation to the meeting of the two countries’ joint border commissions, which took place in Phnom Penh from June 14-18.  Hong told the press on Wednesday that the border issues not yet resolved would be left to the next meeting of the joint border commissions.  He flatly rejected the recent slanderous remarks by some Cambodian MPs about "land encroachment" by Viet Nam, saying he had never accused Viet Nam of grabbing Cambodian land in Dong Commune.  "I have been there every year since 1996, and nothing has changed – neither side has set up any new households," he said.  He said it was untrue that Viet Nam has prevented Cambodians from farming on land there.  "In fact we have not yet done any farming there, because there are no water or irrigation works," he said.  [VNS]

June 23, 2002

Six Cambodian ex-convicts expelled by the US have returned home, the first batch of more than 1,000 to be repatriated under an agreement between the two countries.  The six men arrived Saturday in Phnom Penh on a U.S. govt. aircraft, said Brig. Gen. Meach Sophana, the director of immigration for the National Police.  [AP]

Amnesty International strongly criticized the weak judicial system of Cambodia, calling for a reform of this institution.  “The lack of materials, low payment of court officials, the interference of executive body and the lack of education and training and the loose implementation of law created a court that people don’t trust,” the Amnesty said in its statement.  The statement continued that the weak judicial system is “an obstacle” for providing justice in court trial. It indicated that besides the human rights violation, the lack of a strong judicial system would affect the foreign investment in Cambodia.  The Amnesty also pushed the international donors, which is meeting in Phnom Penh, to take a tougher measure to examine various issues of reform the govt. face, especially in judicial system.  It gave a recommendation to the donors to form a “judicial model” to reform the judicial system, which could ensure a responsibility of law enforcement in this country.  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Despite a protest staged by over 1,000 impoverished Cambodians, international donors Friday announced they will give Cambodia $635 million over the first year in loan and grant aid, about $150 million more than the govt. had asked for. Of the amount, $241.6 million will come from loans made by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Korean govt. The remaining aid will come as bilateral grants. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

 
June 24, 2002

National Assembly President Prince N.  Ranariddh met with his Laotian counterpart, Samane Vignaket, here on June 19 after his arrival in Cambodia.  During the meeting the both sides referred to a long-standing good relationship and co-operations between the two countries, especially focusing on border resolution as an example of other neighbor countries. They also concentrated on culture exchange, technology providing and scholarship grants and vice-versa exemption to enhance the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.  [AKP]

PM Hun Sen met with Thai Senate Suradech Yasawadi at his residence in Phnom Penh on June 19. The visit made by Thai senate delegation is to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.  During the meeting Suradech Yasawadi said that Thai wished to open more border check-points in order to strengthen trade and tourism sectors of both countries.  In response, PM Hun Sen agreed on the request made by Thai senate in the purpose of enforcing their relationship as well as the trade and tourism fields for common advantages of the two countries.  He also said that both countries have discussed the buying of electricity from Thailand.  [AKP]

Ranariddh praise Cambodia’s success in convining donor countries to commit $634 million for fisical year 2003 at its 6^th consultative meeting in Phnom Penh from 06/19-06/21/02.  The prince also thanks donor countries and organizations for their committment.  [Everyday.com.kh 06/27/02]

June 25, 2002

Due to the increase of eligible voters, Funcinpec MPs proposed for an amendment of some articles of the constitution to pave a way for adding more Members of Parliament in the next national elections slated in July 2003.  The figure of eligible voters has been raised to 6.2 million, a number that required a number of 140 parliamentarians to represent them in their constituencies of the 24 provinces throughout the Kingdom.  Under the current constitution, a MP has to represent 50,000 eligible voters and now the National Assembly has 122 members.  The proposal was welcomed by several MPs from opposition SRP.

The Vietnamese and Cambodian people have always stood side by side in their struggle for national independence and construction, said the president of the Viet Nam-Cambodian Friendship Association (VCFA) Vu Mao.  These were his stirring words to a get-together in Ha Noi over the weekend, organised by the VCFA under the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations, to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia.  "The day June 24, 1967 marked an important milestone in the history of Viet Nam-Cambodia relations," Mao said.  "Since then, the two countries have made many achievements in developing their fine traditional friendship and comprehensive bilateral co-operation."  Cambodian Ambassador to Viet Nam Var Sim Samreth expressed his delight at the constant development of friendship and co-operation between the two countries.  He considered the exchange of visits by the two nations’ leaders as representatives of both countries’ commitment to boosting their wide-ranging bilateral co-operation.  [VNS]

June 26, 2002

Despite a visiting Vietnamese delegation signed an agreement to stop encroaching activities along the borders, Vietnamese authority has moved a demarcation line about 70 meters onto a “white zone” in Bavet commercial town of Svay Rieng province. The “white zone” is a zone, which is, located between a demarcation lines of both countries where all of the readers can see it in the over picture. Under an agreement signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995, no one from both countries has authority to touch or conduct any activities on the land.  “But, now, Vietnam has moved its demarcation line into the zone…what is she doing on it?” She is building a new border gate onto the land in order to occupy some parts of the white zone.  When Koh Santepheap Daily went to press, Cambodian authority including border police, customs officials and military police stationing at the border checkpoint dare not even speak out about the encroachment, letting Vietnamese side digging the soil on the zone to freely establish a new border gate. “I know Vietnam is violating the agreement by using a drilling machine to drill the land for building up a gate here on the white zone,” one border policeman said. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Opposition MP Son Chhay wrote King N. Sihanouk a letter to request the monarch to form an independent border commission of the National Assembly.  The commission—which is under the direct supervision of the parliament—would comprise many deputies from the three political parties in the National Assembly.  Son Chhay, who is a SRP parliamentarian from Siem Reap provincial constituency, said the creation of the commission is for the sake of studying and searching some documents related to Cambodian border issues and filing lawsuits against neighboring countries that are encroaching on Cambodian borders. “We will look deeply into the issue,” he said.  He said the current govt. border commission, which is chaired by Var Kim Hong, was unable to solve the border issues.  “He always find a difficulty to carry out his job because some members of the commission are govt. officials who signed a border agreement with Vietnam before,” he said.  Funcinpec MP Nun Sy, who supported Son Chhay’s proposal, said “it is time to re-unite to solve the border issue because it is very dangerous for our nation and country.”  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

PM Phan Van Khai and his Cambodian counterpart PM Hun Sen on Monday exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties between the two countries.  Similar messages were exchanged between Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and the Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hor Namhong.   [VNS]

World Food Program has provided 4,000 tones of rice, vegetable oil, canned fish and salt as food for work program to the Ministry of Rural Development. An agreement on the food for work program was signed here on June 25 by the Ministry of rural Development and the World Food program. "Food for work program provides food to poor laborers in exchange for a day's worth of work, Minister of Rural Development Ly Thuch said in signatory ceremony.  The ministry will distribute the food to laborers working on road project in many provinces. Ly Thuch said about 40 percent of the workers are women.  [AKP]

June 27, 2002

Bernhard Vogel, PM of Germany's Federal State of Thuringia declare to privide German aid to Cambodia, when meeting with PM Hun Sen here on June 25.  During the meeting, PM Hun Sen requested Germany to help Cambodia in the fieds of local power centralization after commune election, law and tribunal reform, the enlargement of german aid on journalism university and the extension of Cambodian women's role of the commune councils, said Eang So Pha Let, senior aide to the PM.  During his stay, he was received by King N. Sihanouk, met National Assembly President Prince N. Ranariddh and Senate President Chea Sim.  [AKP]

Opposition SRP released a statement calling for the US to stop deporting Cambodian ex-convicts to Cambodia.  Last weekend, the US authority repatriated six Cambodian ex-felons to Cambodia — which is the first group of 1,431 Cambodians in the US — to be deported under an agreement signed between the two countries in March.  “These ex-convicts are all young…even though they were born in Cambodia, but they were grown up in the US,” read the statement dated on June 23.  The statement accused the US of involving in the past tragedy, which caused families of the ex-convicts to flee Cambodia and seek refuge in the US.   “It is an unjust and strict punishment for these ex-convicts when they were deported to Cambodia where it has no rule of law and has a low standard of living condition,” the statement added. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Vietnam Foreign Ministry organises a grand function to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Cambodia.  Attending the ceremony are FM Nguyen Dy Nien, other senior Vietnamese officials, Cambodian Ambassador Var Sim Samreth and envoys from other ASEAN members.  [VNS 06/29/02]

June 28, 2002

CPP and Funcinpec rejected a proposal made by opposition MPs to establish an independent border commission.  Funcinpec leader and National Assembly Pres. Prince N. Ranariddh turned down the proposal, saying that the Funcinpec would not join to set up the independent border commission, which is being proposed by SRP.  CPP MP Chiem Yiem, who also rejected the proposal saying, “the border protection and talks are the duty and responsibility of the govt. and that the National Assembly should not deeply get involved in the issue which will interfere the affairs of the executive body [govt.].”  Several MPs have complained that the govt.’s Joint Border Committee does not share information on border issues and has no capability to find a solution over the border issues.  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Minister of Education Tol Loh responded to opposition MP’s inquiry over the Olympic Stadium renovation, claiming 80 per cent of the work has been completed.  In his letter to the Minister of Education, opposition MP Son Chhay said Yuon Ta Construction and Engineering Co. LTD has no budget for the renovation of the stadium, but it has money to bribe the govt. officials to hold the contract.  In reply, the Minister said the renovation project of the stadium is an investment contract between the RGC and Yuon Ta group.  “The Ministry notices that the company has not done anything wrong or against the contract,” he added.  He, however, said that there have been a slow pace of rehabilitation of the stadium because “we need to re-organize a paperwork” with Phnom Penh Municipality and Ministry of Urbanization and Construction   The RGC of Cambodia signed a contract to authorize Yuon Ta Construction and Engineering Co.LTD to renovate Olympic Stadium. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports was managed to supervise the implementation of construction and renovation works. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

The Council of Ministers approved a draft subdecree Thursday designating the Cardamom mountain range a protected forest, a designation that will give it protections under the draft forest law under debate at the National Assembly, according to Cambodia Daily.  The range, generally avoided by poachers and loggers, remains one of the richest forests in Southeast Asia. A teeming diversity of plants and animals has drawn the attention of scientists and environmentalists. The area is also an important watershed.  [AKP]

June 30, 2002

Funcinpec would hold a memorial to dedicate to the death of the 5-6 July factional fighting, which saw many of the party soldiers and officials killed by troops loyal to the CPP.  The annual memorial — which will be held at Funcinpec Phnom Penh Headquarters on July 5 — would be attended by many Funcinpec members and officials from Phnom Penh and provinces.  On July 6, the party will hold a food offering ceremony at a pagoda in the capital which will invite 120 monks to attend the function.  Funcinpec leader and National Assembly Pres. Prince N. Ranariddh said the memorial was not only to dedicate to Funcinpec soldiers and officials who lost their lives in the bloody street battle between troops loyal to the CPP and Funcinpec, but to the civilians who suffered or died from the fighting. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

“The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the people are ‘the only one’ and no individual can split our party,” said CPP President Chea Sim during the party 51^st anniversary of founding the communist party on June 28, 1951. The anniversary — which held Saturday at the party newly-renovated building head office in Phnom Penh — attended by more than 10,000 CPP supporters and officials from Phnom Penh City and provinces and foreign ambassadors to Cambodia. Samdech Chea Sim, who presided over the meeting, said the CPP has so far faced criticism and attack by many politicians.  “But, the most valuable lesson for us is the fairness of our leadership and patriotism with the trust from the people to strengthen and unite our internal affairs for all occasions,” he added.  Chea Sim said that in the past 23 years after the victory over the Khmer Rouge in January 7, 1979, he has continued to successfully lead the CPP with a strong political goodwill and high responsibility for the fate of our nation and country.  He condemned the Khmer Rouge terrible regime, saying it committed genocidal crimes against humanity and caused war and poverty in Cambodian society.  “The CPP liberated people and has provided people with a full freedom, honor and dignity which were lost in the Khmer Rouge barbarous regime,” he said.  “The political stability and development in Cambodia urged international community and donors to decide an unbelievable amount of aid to Cambodia,” he said, referring to the international meeting held recently in Phnom Penh in which the donors announced to give Cambodia $635 million in loan and grant aid. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 1, 2002

The figure of Vietnamese immigrants is the highest, according to a recent census conducted by the Ministry of Interior.  The census for general foreign immigrants residing in Cambodia, which started in all 24 provinces and cities early June, showed that more Vietnamese immigrants have illegally resided in provinces of Svay Rieng, Kandal, Kampong Cham, Sihanoukville and Koh Kong than the other provinces.  “They are clever. They live only in commercial town that they can easily conduct business,” according to the census.  The census indicated that 92 families or 163 persons illegally lived in Svay Rieng province only and many others hold Cambodian identification cards.  The census also found that 100, 500 and over 2,000 families in Koh Kong, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh respectively. The census still continues to conduct in these provinces and others throughout the country.  Funcinpec senator Kem Sokha expressed his concern over the census, saying the census might legalize these illegal Vietnamese residents.

He said at least 1 million Vietnamese are residing in Cambodia. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 2, 2002

PM Hun Sen urges FUNCINPEC and SRP to cancel ceremonies honoring those killed in a coup he orchestrated five years ago to seize full control of the govt.   Hun Sen told reporters the reopening of old wounds would be harmful to the country, and needlessly provoke people.  "It is the right of any political party to do what they want, but I think if the wound does not hurt don't poke it with a stick," Hun Sen said.  [AP]

July 5, 2002

Despite a rejection from National Assembly President Prince N. Ranariddh and the CPP MPs over the creation of an “independent border commission”, SRP MP Son Chhay still hope that he could convince them to understand the “importance and goodwill of the commission formation.”  “I have already forwarded a request to His Majesty the King and I hope that I will be invited to see him next week,” the qualified MP said. He said he also planned to have a direct meeting with National Assembly President Prince N.  Ranariddh to inform him about this important task. “After having a meeting with Samdech Krom Preah [Prince Ranariddh], I will take an opportunity to try to meet CPP leadership to understand them about my only one purpose of ending border issues with neighboring countries,” he said. “We have to solve this problem through a negotiation based on a principle of law,” he added. Earlier, Prince N.  Ranariddh and CPP prominent MP Chhiem Yeab and co-Minister of National Defense Tea Banh had totally rejected Son Chhay’s letter sent to the King N.  Sihanouk on the intention of creating a border commission, saying that the intended creation of the independent border commission would interfere the affair of the executive body [govt.]. “It is not the role of the Parliament,” Tea Banh said. “I’m very disappointed with co-Minister of Defense Tea Banh [CPP member] who has served as the Defense Minister for a long time, but doesn’t know where our land is,” Son Chhay added. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

The Ministry of Interior forwarded a request to National Assembly President Prince N.  Ranariddh to strip parliamentarian immunity of Funcinpec MP Thach Sang who is allegedly being a leader of Phnom Penh-based Front of Kampuchea Krom Liberation.   Thach Sang organized the 53^rd anniversary on June 4 in Phnom Penh to mark the day that France signed the land for Vietnam in 1949. He invited 1949 monks and several Funcinpec MPs and officials to attend the gathering at Veal Preah Main Square, which is located just north of the Royal Palace.  The memorial sparked a letter from Vietnamese FM to ask the RGC of Cambodia to take an action to stop all activities of this movement which it will spoil relationship of both countries.  Several Interior Ministry officials said other former resistance fighters who used to fight against the Vietnamese-installed govt. in the 80s if “we didn’t take a measure to prevent it on time” could join this movement “They [resistance fighters] still want to retake the ‘Kosaincine’ soil which lost to Vietnam in 1949,” one of the ministry officials said.  He added the ministry understood that, “it [the Front] is a threat to the constitution of Cambodia and Cambodian Asean membership.” Co-minister of Interior Sar Kheng said the front has a policy to create an armed group. “It is not acceptable and it violates article 53 of the constitution which bans a creation of military base on Cambodian soil to stage war against a third country,” he explained.  Sar Kheng, who is a CPP influential member of central committee, said the govt. wouldn’t take any actions against all Khmer Kampuchea Krom Associations who are working to protect the rights of Khmer minority residing in southern Vietnam. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

PM Hun Sen has spoken with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on a trial for leaders of the Khmer Rouge "killing fields" regime, raising hopes the two sides will soon resolve their deadlock on the issue, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters Thursday.  "After having talks on the phone, the two sides reached understanding and I hope that the UN will respond positively on the new position of Cambodia," Hor Namhong said. (Kyodo News)

July 7, 2002

The Council of Ministers approved a draft law Friday designating the number of new seats of the next National Assembly, which the Kingdom scheduled to hold its national elections on July 26, 2003.  After a hot debate, the meeting, which presided over by PM Hun Sen, decided to add one more seat of parliamentarian to the current 122 seats. The new seat will be allocated for an elected MP in the next national elections in Oddor Meanchey constituency.  The meeting also approved a draft law designating the policy of national and protected forests in Cambodia. The bill was prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Fishery.  The Council of Ministers would send these both draft laws to the National Assembly for a debate before they will be finally adopted. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 8, 2002

After corresponding with Senate President Chea Sim, an international organization of MPs from more than 100 countries has reaffirmed its condemnation of the CPP’s expulsion of three men from the senate and the CPP late last year.  A statement from Geneva-based Inter-Parliament Union quoted Chea Sim as writing, ”Our practices and law provide for the loss of seat in the senate in case a member is fired by his/ her party.”  Chea Sim’s letter maintained that because Cambodians vote for parties rather than individuals, politicians’ parliamentary membership is linked to their party allegiance. But no matter what election system is used, political parties cannot revoke the parliamentary mandate unless this is expressly stipulated by law and governed by a specific procedure,” the IPU replied. In December 2001, the CPP ousted Change Song, Phay Siphan and Pov Sarath. Party officials said the three men had stayed too far from the party line in their comments on the senate floor. Earlier this year, the IPU judged the senators’ expulsion illegal, noting that their freedom of speech was guaranteed by the constitution.  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

A U.S. defense contractor provided the Cambodian govt. with computerized information Monday detailing the hundreds of bombing runs that American planes made on Cambodian territory during the Vietnam War. The information is intended to help Cambodian demining groups clear land for settlers and agricultural development, officials said. The information came from the U.S. national archive, originally supplied by pilots after completing their missions. [AP]

Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to forge closer bilateral cooperation within ASEAN and other regional frameworks, local daily Vietnam News reported Monday.  The agreement came in talks between a visiting delegation of advisors to Cambodian PM Hun Sen and senior officials of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.  Om Yin Tieng, a Hun Sen aide, said he shared the view with Vietnamese permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Bin that the two countries should work closer on regional initiatives including the Mekong Sub-regions and cooperation projects to develop poor regions along the East-West Corridor.   They also exchanged notes on issues of mutual concern relating to economy, security and politics in the regional and international arenas.  The Cambodian delegation concluded a weeklong visit to Hanoi on Sunday. [Xinhuanet]

Cambodia voices its support for the Palestinian people and their leader Yasser Arafat in their goal of forming a Palestinian state, foreign ministry officials said.  "Cambodia supports the people of Palestine and Mr. Yasser Arafat in forming a Palestinian state," Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said during a meeting with Yemen's new ambassador to Cambodia Abdulwhab Mohamed Al-Shaw Kani.  Hor Namhong said that only the Palestinian people could choose their own leader. "It should not be an outsiders' role to push for an election," he added. The minister conceded Arafat had many internal problems to solve, but said the world should help him resolve those issues instead of trying to remove him from the leadership of the Palestinian Authority. The Cambodian minister's comments come as the US is backs Israel's call for a new Palestinian leader to replace Arafat. [THE TIMES OF INDIA]

Prince N. Ranariddh said he will support his half-brother Prince Sihamoni as the successor to King N. Sihanouk, "I would say that I support Prince Sihamoni because he used to support me as well," Prince Ranariddh told reporters in response to questions on who will be heir to the throne, but he did not elaborate what kind of support Prince Sihamoni offered him. (Kyodo News 07/09/02)

The Ministry of Interior convened a meeting of all provincial governors to discuss registration of foreigners in Cambodia.  The Ministry and provincial governors met to evaluate the process of immigration in Cambodia, according to an official of the Ministry of Interior who asked not be named. He declined to provide details.  Kandal Provincial governor Tep Nannory said the governors and the ministry officials discussed implementing a strict immigration law and gathering foreign immigration statistics and that illegal foreign immigrants dare not sneak inside Cambodian soil.  “Our authority needs to control illegal immigrants more strictly, especially in my province located near the Cambodian-Vietnamese border,” the governor said.  “I hope we can effectively implement the immigration law,” he added.  The immigration law, that was adopted by the National Assembly in 1994, sparked Vietnamese President to write a letter to King N.  Sihanouk to express his concerns that the Phnom Penh govt. could use the law to deport Vietnamese residing in Cambodia to Vietnam. [Kok Santepheap Daily 07/10/02]

July 9, 2002

Queen N.  Monineat Sihanouk calls on all Cambodian people to participate in tree planting, stressing the importance of protection and development of forest, wildlife and fish resources.   At a gathering marking the annual Arbor Day in the country, the Queen said tree planting activities throughout the country are of utmost important to the conservation of environment, protection of wildlife and fish, which are the resources for the development of national economy and for poverty reduction. [Xinhuanet]

Critics attacked the govt.’s newly formed Council of Legal and Judicial Reform on Sunday, saying it will lack independence and was created only to appease international aid donors.  The council, comprised of various ministers and co-chaired by Minister of Cabinet Sok An and Supreme Court President Dith Munty, will “initiate, promote, operate and implement to politics of judicial and legal reform” in the country, according the royal degree signed King N.  Sihanouk on June 19.  “The judiciary needs to have a separation of powers, and the members of the council—head ministers like Sok An—should not be in the picture,” said one high-ranking Cambodian Bar Association official on Sunday.  “This is a council without any real interest to do reforms…it was formed just to show the international community that the govt. can do reforms,” the official added.  Cambodia’s judiciary has been heavily criticized because it is alleged to be influenced heavily by the govt. and PM Hun Sen, but these allegations are groundless and jealous. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 10, 2002

Govt. representatives from the four countries that comprise the Mekong River Commission (MRC) meet in Phnom Penh for the 16th meeting of MRC's Joint Committee, an event that take place at least twice a year with representatives from Cambodia, Lao, Thailand and Vietnam.  In addition to reviewing presentations about MRC program implementation, Joint Committee members will be requested to endorse the draft preliminary procedures for notification, prior consultation and agreement on water utilization, which will be presented to MRC's council for final approval in October this year.  The meeting will also consider draft guidelines on custodianship and management of the MRC's information system, the draft inception report for the basin development plan and proposed new programs in the areas of fisheries and flood management and mitigation.  [Xinhuanet]

Viet Nam and Cambodia will step up co-ordination in finding and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese soldiers who died in Cambodia.  Ways to achieve this were discussed last week by the committees set up by the govt.s of both countries to oversee the work.  Heading the respective committees at the five-day meeting in HCM City were Viet Nam’s Deputy Defence Minister Lt. General Nguyen Van Rinh and Cambodia senator Chey Saphon.  [VNS]

July 11, 2002

Queen N. Monineath Sihanouk said she and her husband have no influence in the matter of the succession of the throne.  “I cannot support anyone but the current King for the position,” she told reporters at a tree-planting ceremony in Chroy Changva commune, Russei Keo District.  On Monday, National Assembly Prince N. Ranariddh said neither he nor Prince N. Sirivuddh, his uncle, want to be the next king. Prince Ranariddh showed support for his half-brother, Prince N. Sihamoni.  When asked if she, too, supported her son Prince N. Sihamoni, the queen said, “according to the law, it is not up to the king and it is not up to me…it is up to the throne council,” she said.  “As for me, I support only his Highness…let him have a long life,” she added. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 12, 2002

The RGC has set up an inter-ministerial committee to take a tough measure to eliminate all activities of newly created Liberation Front of Kampuchea Krom.  The front—which has its main office in the US — had held its 53^rd anniversary in Phnom Penh to mark the day that France signed Kampuchea Krom or Kosainsin for Vietnam in 1949.  National Police Chief Hok Lundy, who chairs the committee, says, “We will take a strict action against this movement as we did with the CFF.”  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 14, 2002

The Ministry of Interior denies the allegations made by SRP MP Son Chhay who accused immigration police officials of being corrupt and fraud of visa revenues.  In a respond letter, Co-MoI Sar Kheng and You Hockry say that “there have not been such a corruption or fraud in the visa affairs…. The ministry would like to certify that there has no fraud of visa revenues because now we use ‘sticker visas’ which were provided by the Ministry of Finance and Economy through the National Bank of Cambodia.”  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 17, 2002

Deputy PM Sar Kheng said any Khmer Kampuchea Krom citizens came to live in Cambodia without enough legal documents are considered as “illegal immigrants” residing in Cambodia and they wouldn’t be granted a Cambodian citizenship or identity card. “Under the colonial era, Khmer Kampuchea Krom is the land of Vietnam so all Khmer Kampuchea Kroms are Vietnamese and if they came to live legally in Cambodia, we accept them as legal residents, but if not, they are not accepted,” he said.  Last week, many families of Khmer Kampuchea Krom citizens living in Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong province were not allowed to register as Khmer citizens in the district by Cambodian govt. authorities.  The Cambodian authorities accused them of being illegal Vietnamese immigrants. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 18, 2002

Minister of Cabinet Sok An said the prior obstacle of development which the world faces is “ HIV/AIDS virus infection.”  “Because of this problem caused difficulties for other fields in society…it doesn’t affect only the health, but the social development,” Sok An said during opening ceremony of a workshop on “people and development” in Cambodia. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Planning and UNFPA on July 17 at Inter-Continental Hotel. He said Cambodia is one of the countries, which is with the highest figure of HIV/AIDS infections in Asia.  “It is needed to solve this problem urgently,” he added. “HIV/AIDS virus poses a big problem for the poverty allegation in Cambodia and development.”  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

King N.  Sihanouk will go to Beijing for a medical checkup next week, according to Voice of America broadcast in Khmer Tuesday.  The Voice, which quoted an unnamed Royal Palace official as saying that the 79-year-old monarch, would leave Monday to consult with Chinese doctors. King Sihanouk, who frequently seeks medical care in Beijing and keeps a residence there, last returned from the Chinese capital in January. While he is not seriously ill, he has had recruiting ailments such as cancer. The official did not say when the King would return to Cambodia.

King N.  Sihanouk praised opposition MPs for their efforts to produce a draft law to regulate the Throne Council, the body that will eventually choose his successor.  Four SRP legislators met the King on July 18 to discuss both the succession law and border issues, said MP Son Chhay. The King leaves for a medical check-up in Beijing in a few days. "We got a green light from the King to push for approval of our draft law regulating the Throne Council," said Chhay. "During that discussion, the King said we had done a perfect job [on the draft], and said he was happy and praised our efforts." [PPP Vol 11 Iss 15 07/19-08/01/02]

July 19, 2002

After a regional border meeting convened last week, Thai govt. has reopened a provincial border checkpoint, more than one week after closing it, according to Cambodian officials.  The reopening came as military officials from Thailand and Cambodia met on last Friday in Banteay Meanchey province to hammer out a compromise after the Thais’ unilateral shutdown.  The Thais closed the border crossing in Banteay Meanchey on July 11 without providing a reason, stunning Cambodian officials, who said the action was unacceptable.  Chairman of Council of Ministers’ joint committee Var Kim Hong said the Thai and Cambodian officials came to terms to reopen the border checkpoint because the Thai could not offer any reason why it should be closed.  The closure of Boeung Trakuon was the third time the checkpoint had been closed since it opening in 1998.  Cambodian officials speculated the Thais closed the border to punish Cambodia for not removing three thatched-roof houses, built in 1993, which were located close to the borderline.

July 20, 2002

Cambodia has reiterated that it will not allow extremist groups to use its territory to launch military activities against Viet Nam.  The affirmation was made by Cambodian Deputy PM and Joint Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Tuesday.  Sar Kheng said Cambodian law bars anyone from setting up military bases on its territory to act against neighbouring countries.  Cambodia is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and will adhere strictly to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member countries.  [VNS]

July 21, 2002

King N.  Sihanouk write monks and his countrymen a letter to inform them he and the Queen will leave Cambodia for a medical check in Beijing tomorrow.  In his letter, the 79-year-old monarch wrote that he, who accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen, has to leave Cambodia to consult with Chinese doctors about his health problems.  The King, who frequently seeks medical care in Beijing and keeps a residence there, last returned from the Chinese capital in January. While is not seriously ill, he has had recurring ailments such as cancer. The King didn’t mention when would return.

July 25, 2002

The Ministry of Interior has accused Funcinpec MP Thach Sang of setting up an ethnic Khmer movement intent on using arms to achieve a secessionist state in southern Vietnam.  Thach Sang, who has been in the US for medical treatment since last year, is charged with forming the movement to liberate the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam known to many Cambodians as Kampuchea Krom.  Home to a large population of ethnic-Khmers, Kampuchea Krom has long been claimed as Cambodian territory but has received heightened attention following the formation in June of the US-based Kampuchea Krom Liberation Front [KKLF].  Branded as radicals, National Police Director-General Hok Lundy claimed last week the KKLF was an armed movement intent on using Cambodia as a staging area attack neighboring Vietnam.  Co-minister of Interior Sar Kheng said Tuesday the ministry had compiled a report on Thach Sang’s activities that proved he was the founder of the armed secessionist movement.  The ministry sent a report to National Assembly President Prince N.  Ranariddh that proved what was illegally, such as setting up the illegal armed movement, he said.  Sar Kheng denied reports his ministry asked the prince to strip Thach Sang’s parliamentarian immunity, which would allow his prosecution.  “The Ministry of Interior does not have the right to ask for the revoking of immunity of any parliamentarian,” Sar Kheng said.  A Funcinpec MP confirmed the report was sent to Prince Ranariddh, but the party has not yet replied. The allegations against Thach Sang were damaging to the royalist party.  “If we do not defend Thach Sang, we do not support our authorities. If we defend, we are against the constitution,” the MP, who asked not to be named, said.  Another MP said many Kampuchea Krom support groups in the US and Cambodia are working to defend the human and cultural rights of ethnic Khmers, but none are intent on using violence to achieve those ends.  [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 27, 2002

Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia have pledged to co-operate to combat drug trafficking, under the spirit of international laws.  The three countries, represented at the second tripartite conference on drug control co-operation, which opened in Vientiane this week, also affirmed their determination to take drastic measures to crack down on drug criminals.  They agreed to concentrate their efforts on patrolling common borders and exchanging information on trafficking.  The conference issued a joint statement warning that a number of dangerous drugs were now being sold in the region, posing a legitimate threat to the development of the three countries and Southeast Asia as a whole.  The participants called upon the international community to assist their effort by providing financial and technical assistance.  [VNS]

July 28, 2002

A high-ranking military official said the Kampuchea Krom Liberation Front (KKLF)—which has worried the govt. for nearly a month—has no capability to create an armed force squad in Cambodia and it could not cause a danger for Vietnam.  “It will not pose any problems in Cambodia or Vietnam,” the official who works with the Ministry of National Defense said.  He said the KKLF—which has its main headquarters in the US—could not be a real security threat to Vietnam. “They cannot do anything,” he added.  The Vietnamese govt.’s worry arisen when some 2,000 people gathered in Phnom Penh to commemorate the 53^rd anniversary of the officials ceding of the Mekong Delta region to Vietnamese authorities by the then-French colonial govt.  The gathering sparked an angry response from Hanoi, which warned Phnom Penh to prevent future demonstrations.  In nine-point declaration issued by e-mail to media organizations last month, the KKLF said it was committed “to liberate our 12 million compatriots and our country…which has 67,000 square-km, with 21 provinces, and two big islands that are currently occupied by Vietnam.”   Phnom Penh-based Kampuchea Krom advocacy groups have distanced themselves from the national liberation front and what some believe will be an ensuring crackdown.  The military official, who said in a condition of anonymity, indicated that a commission—which is jointly formed by military and police—is conducting an investigation into the Phnom Penh-based Kampuchea Krom Liberation Front and the activities of Funcinpec MP Thach Sang who was accused of being the leader of the US-based Liberation Front.  Co-Minister of National Defense Prince Sisowath Sirirath said Funcinpec and its leader Prince N.  Ranariddh didn’t bring Thach Sang’s case to discuss in the party.  He rejected claims that the front could create an armed force to liberate Kampuchea Krom.  “I’m not worried about this group…They can be an outspoken group and they are not an armed force resistance…they are just a political group,” he said. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

PM Hun Sen on Friday said he was not going to concern himself with calls for more clearly defined Throne Council legislation meant to dictate how Cambodia’s next king will be chosen.  “Preparations for next year’s national elections are more important,” the premier said, adding that the electoral law “is more urgent than the successor for the king.”  He said MPs had a right to draft succession legislation, but “for my supporters and me, we have a different right.”  Though Hun Sen has repeatedly tried to quash speculation on who will take the throne from King N.  Sihanouk, saying it showed disrespect for the king, the question of succession has been increasingly frequent topic of debate.  Even the aging monarch has expressed concern over his apparent lack of an heir, and met last week with several opposition MPs who are proposing changes to the provisions for the throne council.  “The King said this is something we need to have clarified,” SRP MP Son Chhay said following two hours of talks with the King on July 18. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

July 29, 2002

Ten Phnom Penh-based Khmer Kampuchea Krom Associations will meet with Deputy PM Sar Kheng next week to discuss the national status of ethnic Khmers and how the govt. thinks of them.  In his recent statement, Sar Kheng—who is also Co-Minister of Interior—said that all ethnic Khmer Krom population needs passports and visas to enter Cambodia.  “If they have not enough documents to enter or reside in Cambodia, they will be considered as illegal immigrants,” the deputy premier has said.  His statement surprised and angered many Cambodians including monks, students and Khmer NGO staffs and prompted several questions to ask the deputy premier.  “Did you thoroughly think before you made such a statement? Are you a Khmer child? Khmer Krom is a Khmer national…why can they live on Khmer soil?”  This sparked a letter from the cabinet of the deputy PM to chief of coordinating committee for Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association San Sang in which the cabinet rejected reports published in newspapers and broadcast on radios, saying that the publication and broadcast are contrary to the deputy premier’s original idea.  “The publication and broadcast are fabricated and contrary to the fact and original idea of the deputy premier,” said Sar Kheng’s Cabinet Chief Nut Sa An.  “In fact, H.E Sar Kheng just wanted to clarify that ‘bothers and sisters of Khmer Kampuchea Krom entered to reside in the Kingdom of Cambodia legally” means ‘that the competent authorities have recognized them and they have enough documents’ to identify them as real Khmer Kampuchea population,” he explained.  “They would be considered as ‘illegal immigrants’ only when they didn’t provide information or other official documents to competent authorities where they are residing,” he said.  “Illegal immigrant means a person who entered to reside in a country without a permission from a competent authority [of that country,” he added.  Last week an umbrella group of seven Kampuchea Krom advocacy groups called on PM Hun Sen to issue a decree clearly stating the national status of ethnic Khmers.  “Respectfully, premier, please be aware that all Khmer Kampuchea Krom living in Kampuchea Krom have never been stripped of their nationality or naturalized as Vietnamese,” the group said in a letter to the premier. In reply, the premier said on Friday after a meeting of Council of Ministers that, “I will not talk with anybody about the issue of Khmer Krom (low Khmer) or Khmer Leu (upper Khmer)…I will only talk about the existing nationality law which is putting into effect.”  “It is no need to talk about the condition or to state the national status of the ethnic Khmers with anyone,” he added. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy lead some 200 impoverished Cambodians to demonstrate in front of the Phnom Penh-based Office of World Bank, calling for an emergency aid for those poor.  The protesters, who claimed they have been from three provinces of Prey Veng, Svay Rieng and Kampong Speu, begun massing in front of the building of World Bank which is located on N.  Boulevard in Sangkat Chaktomuk, Duon Penh district and Phnom Penh.  They shouted at the govt. and accused its high-ranking officials of being corrupt and have seized farmers’ land.  [Kok Santepheap Daily 07/30/02]

July 30, 2002

PM Hun Sen calls on the govt. and the people to throw themselves into fight against a drought now hitting the country.   Inaugurating a new road in the Kompong Speu province, he urged the govt. departments to take every possible measure to fightthe drought.  The current drought hitting Cambodia nationwide is the most severe since 1995 and could cause extreme food shortages to the nation, according to National Disaster officials.  It has been plaguing Phnom Penh, and the Kandal, Kompong Speu and Pursat provinces for 40 days. Large pieces of cultivated landsalong the routes have dried up and crops are dying, the officials said.  [Xinhuanet]

Aug. 1, 2002

After a forty-day heated debate, the National Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly adopted the draft forestry law with 83 of 95 parliamentarians voted for the bill. Only two of the MPs voted against law, which has 18 chapters and 119 articles.  Chan Sarun, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, expressed an enthusiasm for the adoption of the law, saying it was a “respond to the wish” of the country and international community.

Aug. 2, 2002

On the royal order of King N. Sihanouk, who is undergoing medical treatment in Beijing, a group of the Royal Palace officials on Tuesday brought the monarch’s rice donation of 7,800 kilograms for Phy Thach, chief of cabinet of SRP to distribute to poor farmers protested for help from the govt. last Monday.  The distribution begun yesterday at SRP Headquarters with each of 390 families received 20 kilograms of rice from the opposition party’s representatives.  The farmers were from Svay Rieng, Prey Veng and Kampong Speu provinces.  It was the time since the opposition founded in 1995 that the King contributed to the poor through the leading opposition party.  Monday afternoon, opposition leader Sam Rainsy led the demonstrators to World Bank Headquarters to urge the organization to pressure the govt. into helping the poor. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

The Ministry of Information order suspension of a leading opposition newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer [Khmer Conscience] for one month for running an article critical of the Funcinpec party, The ministry charged writing articles threatening to public security.  The pro-SRP Moneaksekar Khmer criticized FUNCINPEC on Aug. 1, claiming the party was poised to sack its member Thach Sang, the self-claimed leader of recently formed Kampuchea Krom National Liberation Front (KKNLF).  Editor-in-Chief Dam Set Hek said the article headlined “Funcinpec Plans to Cut its Flesh and Offer to the Crocodile because it Fears Vietnamese Power its Puppet.”   [Kok Santepheap Daily 08/04/02]

Aug. 5, 2002

Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy said that MPs should be allowed to retain their posts if they decide to abandon a political party.  Sam Rainsy compared his proposed policy change to the US legislative system, saying his idea would boost democracy because it would allow legislators to follow their consciences without fear of retribution from party leaders.  He said he would set the precedent by allowing any of his own party members to remain in the National Assembly or Senate if they chose to quit his party.  Sam Rainsy then called on the presidents of the CPP and Funcinpec to be brave and support his proposal. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Aug. 8, 2002

About 90 monks and 20 other nuns got poisoned while they were having lunch at Nykruotwan pagoda in Koh Krobei village, Prek Thmey commune, Kien Svay district and Kandal province.  Among the 90 monks, 14 of them got diarrhea and fell unconsciously immediately after having a lunch in the pagoda on Aug. 5.  A day later on Aug. 6, the remainders fell ill causing many laymen were very panic—with some of them called for help from nearby villagers while the other telephoned Calmette Hospital—to ask for a few ambulances to transport them to the hospital for an emergency treatment. No one was reported dead until today.  Layman Pech Sambath said three kinds of food were delivered to the monks for their lunch—mixed vegetables, fish soup and pork. He suspected that Teuk Khmes (Khmer kind of sour sauce tastes could be a main reason for the sickness. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Aug. 11, 2002

The Council of Ministers approved a draft subdecree Thursday designating a condition for expatriate medical doctors or doctors’ assistants to operate business in Cambodia.  Under the subdecree, foreign physicians are required to abide by the govt.’s eight points as follow: (1)- The foreign physicians must come from a country that is a member of World Health Organization (WHO).  (2)- Have at least a 5-year experience in health profession.  (3)- Have listed as a member of his or her country’s health professional committee or she or he is recognized by her or his Ministry of Public Health or embassy in Cambodia. (4)- Have held any of high-specialized health certificates, which recognized by his or her country’s competent institution.  (5)- Have good health that could perform their duties well.  (6)- Have to respect Cambodian culture and tradition.  (7)- Have been listed with Cambodian Health Professional Committee.  Have never been convicted of any minor or capital crimes.

Aug. 16, 2002

PM Hun Sen rejects a proposal of a new king election, saying, “it is not a good idea proposed that the next king be elected from a ballot by Cambodians and it is an unusual idea…we have to take it into account thoroughly.”  “It is not a good matter because it is two different procedures—under the royal procedure, the king must be elected by the throne council, but a presidential procedure of a republic regime—the president must be elected by the people.”  Prince N.  Chakrapong proposed on Aug. 10 that Cambodians be allowed to elect their next king from a ballot of royal family members.  The outspoken prince — son of King N. Sihanouk, renegade politician and head of Royal Phnom Penh Airways — also said this would prevent the next king from being beholden to political interests.  [Kok Santepheap Daily Sunday 08/18/02]

Funcinpec criticized the SRP in a statement issued Friday, calling opposition leader Sam Rainsy “kind of ungrateful” and urged Funcinpec members “not to get cheated” by the incitement of Sam Rainsy.  “Sam Rainsy, what has he done for the nation?” asked the Funcinpec press release. “Sam Rainsy has done nothing but incite garment factory workers to protest and to create turmoil and social instability that scared away foreign investors.”  The release was issued a day after Funcinpec MPs ended a four-day boycott, which started after the National Assembly rejected RACF Dep. Commander-in-Chief Khan Savoeun as Funcinpec’s nominee for co-minister of interior.  Because CPP MPs abstained, Khan Savoeun did not receive the necessary two-thirds vote.  SRP MPs also boycotted over the Khan Savoeun rejection.  In what could be the most critical part of the statement, Funcinpec compared Sam Rainsy to his father, Sam Sary, who the statement charged with betraying the monarchy.  Sam Sary was considered a traitor in the 19960s for his involvement with the Khmer Serei—an anti-Sihanouk movement led by Son Ngoc Thanh.  The release also praised Funcinpec president Prince N. Ranariddh, who has recently come under attack by critics—including the SRP—who charged he is not leading his party well.  The Prince, who criticized last week’s boycott, has also been blasted for allegedly not fully supporting Khan Savoeun sparking fears of conflict within Funcinpec.  On Saturday, Funcinpec MP Nan Sy denied any conflict within the party, saying that the boycott is “just an expression of unhappiness with how Funcinpec is being treated by the CPP.” [Kok Santepheap Daily Monday 19, 2002]

Aug. 21, 2002

Thach Reng, guerrilla war strategist, MP and an advisor to National Assembly President Prince N. Ranariddh, died at the age of 70 Thursday due to illness.  Thach Reng will sorely missed by his countrymen, said Pol Ham, deputy executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Human Rights.  “He was my senior who I respected greatly,” said Pol Ham. “He was a contributor to peace in Cambodia.”  Former Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP) member and current Funcinpec senator Kem Sokha said he was saddened to lose a great “compatriot.”  “He was the one who opposed foreign aggression…he was a lover of democracy a nationalist,” he said.  Thach Reng was selected to join parliament in 1997 after the retirement of his party leader Samdech Borvor Theitha Son San. He was made an advisor to Prince Ranariddh two years later.  A former commander in the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF) during its fight against the Vietnamese-backed govt. of the 1980s, Thach Reng was the only one of the five Assembly members in Son San’s BLDP faction to stay in Phnom Penh after the 1997 factional fighting.  The outspoken parliamentarian was the only MP to vote against stripping Prince N.  Ranariddh of his parliamentary immunity in the Assembly’s Aug 6, 1997, session.  His funeral procession and cremation, which was attended by family members, friends, some govt. officials and MPs, was taken place on Monday at Wat Botum.

Cambodian officials have welcomed a new proposal by the UN to restart negotiations on setting up a genocide tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders.  Senior diplomats in Phnom Penh said the offer would assist in efforts to find justice for nearly two million people who died under the communist Khmer Rouge regime during the late 1970s.  Earlier this week, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would revive the talks if he received a mandate from either the General Assembly or the Security Council. But some Cambodian officials say a mandate may not be necessary because the trial already has broad international support.  The rebel group's leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998. But many of his top lieutenants still live in Cambodia. No member of the Khmer Rouge has ever faced a court for crimes committed under its rule. [VOA News]

National Assembly passes the amended national election law after four days of heated debate.  The newly approved election law will restructure the National Election Committee (NEC) ahead of next year's legislative elections scheduled for July 27, 2003.   Under the law, a five-member NEC will be created, comprising "dignitaries" selected by the Interior Ministry and approved by theNational Assembly. The law will go to the Senate for final approval.   The amendments were made on the basis of the 1998 election law, which provides an 11-member NEC responsible for regulating election campaigns and evaluating election complaints.  National Assembly President Prince N.  Ranariddh said that a smaller NEC would be more efficient.   Of the 101 MPs present at the National Assembly meeting, 89 voted for the law, and the rest abstained.  Nine lawyers from the opposition party SRP walk out of the meeting in protest before the vote. [Xinhuanet 08/22/02]

Aug. 23, 2002

After four days of heated debate on proposed amendments to the national election law, the National Assembly on Wednesday passed without major alternation the legislation that will restructure the National Election Committee ahead of next year’s legislative elections.  Of the 101 MPs present, 89 voted for the law, and the rest abstained.  SRP MPs walked out of the Assembly in protest before the vote, saying they had been unjustly silenced and not allowed to express dissent over what they said was a bad law. Along with other critics, including election-monitoring NGOs and members of Funcinpec, the opposition has argued that the law will not improve the NEC, widely regarded as biased toward the ruling party.  The 1998 election law created an 11-member NEC of supposedly neutral people who regulated election campaigns and evaluated election complaints. Before, during and after this year’s Feb 3 commune elections, it was criticized—even by some of its members—for being biased and restricting voters’ access to information.  The amendments, drafted by the ministry of interior following an idea from PM Hun Sen, create a five-member NEC composed of “dignitaries” selected by the Interior Ministry and approved by the National Assembly.  Assembly President Prince N.  Ranariddh, also President of Funcinpec, said this smaller NEC would be more efficient.

Sept. 4, 2002

The Supreme Court reject the final appeal for freedom by Noun Paet, the former commander at Phnom Voar rebel stronghold where the three western hostages, Australian David Wilson, 29, Briton Mark Slater, 28, and Frenchman Jean-Michel Braquet, 27, were imprisoned.

Sept. 6, 2002

King N.  Sihanouk decried the destruction of the nation’s forests in his recent monthly statement from Beijing, blaming this year’s floods and deaths on the loss of the country’s once dense forest.  “I must only mention the fact that such deforestation is one of the major causes of the catastrophic drought and flooding that are literally ruining our Nation, our agriculture and our villagers,” the king wrote.  “Today, we know the ultra-disastrous consequences for our nation, our agriculture, our villagers, our little people, our lakes, our ponds, our waterways, our fisheries, of continuing, extensive deforestation, without showing and without a true cure,” the statement read.  The king said Cambodia’s forests covered 73 percent of the nation during his reign, the time of Sangkum Reastr Niyum, from 1953 to 1970.  The few available statistics on forest cover in Cambodia today say 56 percent of the nation remains forested, according to a report from the Cambodian Development Review. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

The Appeals Court sentence former Khmer Rouge military commander Chhouk Rin to life in prison for the 1994 murder of three western hostages, but his lawyers vowed to demand a re-trial and said their client would not go to prison anytime soon.  Chhouk Rin was not present in court for the verdict that overruled his acquittal in 2000 by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for the Kampot train ambush, which led to the kidnap and execution of three young tourists.  Chhouk Rin is the second Khmer Rouge military commander convicted for the attack in which 13 Cambodians were killed and Australian David Wilson, 29, Briton Mark Slater, 28, and Frenchman Jean-Michel Braquet, 27 were later executed.  [Kok Santepheap Daily 09/08/02]

Sept. 8, 2002

The RGC has lodged a lawsuit in the US state of New York against the world’s biggest telecommunications company, AT&T, seeking $8 million in compensation, according to govt. officials.  The legal action was launched by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications firms, Globus and Chilesat.  Lam Phu An, secretary of state for the ministry, said the suit followed a dispute over an agreed settlement rate with AT&T that dates back to more than five years ago.   He said the US conglomerate had failed to pay the agreed rate, determined under the international telecommunications Services Agreement, for calls between Cambodia and the US.  AT&T entered a deal over payments for international telephone traffic with the govt. in 1992 through a joint venture with Australian telecommunications company Telstra Corp. Telstra signed a contract with the govt. in 1990 to develop a telephone infrastructure, including an international gateway exchange.  Telstra is owned nearly half of the $8 million being sought.  “We are a partner with MPTC, and we do have a claim against AT &T in the court in the America,” said Telstra’s company manager for Cambodia, Paul Blanche-Hongan.  The legal documents say AT&T has paid the ministry for 4.2 million minutes bills between January 1997 and December 2000, but Cambodia claims the real figure was 13 million minutes.  “Those additional minutes would be worth over $8 million in amounts due,” the suit states, claiming that each unpaid minute is worth about $1. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

 “It was an assassination attempt or a case of political intimidation,” said SRP officials after a bullet or another projectile pierced a window of the opposition Party Headquarters Friday morning.  Sam Rainsy himself was not in the building. The opposition leader was in the US on Friday, having received an award Thursday from a Washington think-tank.  The projectile narrowly missed Oeur Sam Ol, a secretary to Sam Rainsy, who had just bent down to pick up a file.  “At first I wasn’t scared,” a shaken Oeur Sam Ol said Friday morning. “But after I found out that the gunman aimed at my head, I got frightened.”  The object left a small hole in a window but did not shatter it. No bullet was found Friday, and no mark were evident in the room.  Bassac commune police chief Ouch Sokhon was reluctant to state whether the projectile was a bullet or a stone Friday morning, saying that the case occurred in a ‘sensitive’ place and that he would leave it to the skill committee—a committee of skilled investigators that typically investigates crime scenes.  Later in the day, however, Ouch Sokhon, said the object was perhaps a “ bullet” but he doesn’t know what kind. It would be the first time, and a very high-tech bullet that we have seen only on video. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Sept. 9, 2002

Three unidentified assailants shot and killed as SRP activist and human rights informant in Kampong Cham province on Friday, setting off concerns that this could be the first politically motivated killing since the run-up to the Feb 3 commune elections.  The victim, Heng Sean, 48, who had worked for the human rights group Adhoc for five years as well as the opposition party, was shot to death at his home in Suong commune, Tbong Khmum district, by three men reportedly dressed in military uniforms. “This was not a robbery because the killers did not take anything…they shot and then they escaped,” said one human rights worker with an international NGO who refused to be named. “But, we have no evidence yet that this was politically motivated.”  According to the human rights worker, Heng Sean, who was shot at 2 am on Friday, had no personal disputes with anyone.  Although no investigation has been completed and some of the details of Friday’s killing are still hazy, a general picture has emerged from SRP members, human rights activists and the police in the area.  Var Sarith, the provincial military police commander, said on Sunday that Heng Sean confronted the three suspects after he heard them near his house. The three were wearing military uniforms, he said, and one of them was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle.  Var Sarith, said, after Heng Sean shouted at them to get away from his house, the suspects shot him dead.  The suspects—who have not been arrested or identified by police, then fled the scene.  “I think the killing was not political and it was a robbery,” Var Sarith said.

Sept. 10, 2002

The Ministry of Information would bring Cambodia’s largest opposition newspaper to court if it cannot find evidence to support its claims that King N.  Sihanouk is “behind the death of opposition Sam Rainsy’s father, Sam Sary,” who died while in exile in 1962.  Sam Sary was a long-standing ally of then-Prince Sihanouk and served as Cambodia’s ambassador to England in the late 1950s. He later fell out of favor with the prince.  King Sihanouk was fingered for his death by Moneaksekar Khmer (Khmer Conscience) in a Sept 3 article alleging “The father of Prince N.  Ranariddh assassinated Sam Sary, who is Sam Sary’s father.”  In a Sept 5 letter, the Ministry of Interior ordered the paper to “find the real evidence that Prince Ranariddh’s assassinated Sam Sary” within 15 days, according to the paper’s deputy editor Vesna Taravi Chey.   “If we do not find any evidence, the ministry will complain to the courts,” Vesna Taravi Chey said.  Moneaksekar Khmer only recently reopened after a one-month suspension imposed Aug 2 for anti-royalist articles the govt. claimed threatened public security. The paper’s editor was also found guilty inn July of defaming Prince Ranariddh.  Vesna Taravi Chey said his paper published an article Sept 3 questioning why Funcinpec wanted to bring up killings allegedly carried out in the 1960s.  But he said this was meant as a response to Prince Ranariddh’s accusations—made during commune election campaigning—that Sam Sary was a traitor to the country. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Vietnam PM Phan Van Khai sends a message of sympathy to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen for the severe material and human losses caused by ongoing floods and droughts.  The Foreign Ministry announced that Viet Nam would send rice to flood victims under an emergency relief plan.   [VNS 09/12/02]

Sept.13, 2002

Agence France-Presse reports that PM Hun Sen asked his Thai counterpart to organise the "disappearance" of senior Khmer Rouge leaders in 1998, according to documents published on Friday in the Phnom Penh Post.  The request, in documents obtained by human rights lawyer Brad Adams, apparently shocked then Thai PM Chuan Leekpai and was made just before the July 1998 elections.  An official report of the meeting held between the two leaders detailed their conversation, which focussed on former Khmer Rouge military chief Ta Mok, Brother Number Two, Nuon Chea, and former head of state Khieu Samphan.

Sept. 16, 2002

Thai opposition leader Chuan Leekpai says he has no recollection of a reported request by Cambodian PM Hun Sen that he organize the ``disappearance'' of three senior Khmer Rouge leaders in 1998.  The Democrat leader, who was PM at the time, remembered only requests by Cambodian authorities to extradite criminals to stand trial.  Mr Chuan said he aways abided by the law and could not order the extradition or killing of any suspect.  The Phnom Penh Post reported that human rights lawyer Brad Adams had obtained documents claiming Hun Sen made the request to Mr Chuan before the July 1998 elections in Cambodia.  The paper said a report of the meeting between the leaders said they talked about former Khmer Rouge military chief Ta Mok, Brother Number Two Nuon Chea and former head of state Khieu Samphan.  Hun Sen was quoted as saying that a trial of the three former Khmer Rouge leaders, who were wanted by the USA, was a delicate issue and a political one, as China opposed the idea.  According to the report, the Cambodian strongman wanted the three leaders to ``disappear'' as he believed they would not give themselves up. The report said Mr Chuan was angry at the suggestion and held a poor opinion of Hun Sen. Mr Chuan cited the case of the late Gen Sin Song who was wanted for trial in Cambodia. Sin Song was deported to a third country after a Thai court ruled he was a political suspect, not a criminal.  Mr Chuan, who is stepping down as Democrat leader next year, yesterday declined to comment on the suitability of Banyat Bantadtan, a deputy leader, to head the party in his place.  Mr Chuan said the last time he commented on a possible successor he caused problems for the party.  There were many suitable candidates, he said.  They included Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda, a former finance minister, and Supachai Panitchpakdi, director-general of the WTO. [Bangkok Post]

King N.  Sihanouk proclaimed his political neutrality in strong terms on Saturday, saying he would take sides even if deprived of his throne. “I solemnly promise that until my death I will remain a man without a party and, even if one day I retired or abdicate, I will never descend again into the political arena,” the King said in a royal declaration from Beijing. Funcinpec was founded by King Sihanouk and is led largely by members of the royal family, including the King’s son Prince N. Ranariddh, the party president.  “Certain people said that Funcinpec still belongs to me, for it is I, their Papa, who created it,” the declaration stated. Nothing that he was restored to the throne by political parties and the National Assembly, the King pointed out that according to the constitution, “I have the strict duty to remain always neutral and above political parties. [Kok Santepheap Daily]

Sept. 20, 2002

Senate Pres. Chea Sim, acting Head of State greats Thursday Marocco's Ambassador to Cambodia Jamir Arrour. Maroccian Ambassador Jamir Arrour met acting Head of State Samdech Chea Sim, while presenting credentials to him Thursday at the General Secretariat of Senate in Phnom Penh. [AKP]

Sept. 23, 2002

PM Hun Sen shares an idea with Malaysian Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir on a way of strengthening tourism cooperation between the two countries.  Malaysian Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir paid a courtesy call on PM Hun Sen in Phnom Penh during his five-day visit to Cambodia. [AKP 09/25/02]

Sept. 25, 2002

PM Hun Sen holds talks with visiting chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China Fu Quanyou on the cooperation and friendship between the two countries.  Fu, who is also a member of the Chinese Central Military Commission, is on a five-day official goodwill visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of RCAF. [AKP 09/26/02]

Senate President Samdech Chea Sim, acting head of state greats Yesterday evening at the General Secretariat of Senate Mr. Fu Quanyou, chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, who is also a member of the Chinese Central Military Commission, is on a five-day official visit to Cambodia. [AKP 09/26/02]

Sept. 26, 2002

Three political party leaders, Sam Rainsy of SRP, N. Chakrapong of Khmer Soul Party and Pen Sovann of The Cambodian National Sustaining Party, hold a joint press conference in which they are: (1) Expressing their full support to and gratitude for King Siahnouk’s message dated 11 Aug. 2002 in which the King points to the incompetence and corruption of the present Cambodian leaders who have institutionalised lawlessness, destroyed our country’s forests, provoked droughts and floods, and ruined our economy….(2) Demanding a change in the composition of the National Election Committee (NEC) as proposed by the Ministry of Interior without any consultation with the civil society and political parties that do not support the current CPP-dominated govt.….. (3) Appealing to the international donor community, which finances elections in order to promote democracy in Cambodia, to help ensure a level playing field for the July 27, 2003 legislative elections…. (4) Thanking and congratulate US Senator Mitch McConnel for his statement dated September 13, 2002 in which he rightly points to the fact that many Cambodian democrats are “victims of Hun Sen’s terror” and insightfully asks for a “regime change” in Cambodia, along with Burma. [SRP Webpage]

Oct. 1, 2002

PM Hun Sen cuts red ribbon, when presiding over an inauguration ceremony of Science and Mathematics center at the Faculty of Pedagogy here Monday. The center equipped with schooling materials was constructed at cost of US$ 834,000 funded by the Japanese Govt. [AKP]

Oct. 2, 2002

PM Hun Sen presents certificate to high-school teacher student Monday, at the graduation ceremony at Faculty of Pedagogy in Phnom Penh.  250 would be senior high-school teachers and 38 would be junior high-school teachers received certificates from Cambodian PM, after their study. In the graduation ceremony, PM said the RGC, increases 17 million Riels from 73 million this year to 90 million next year in the education field.  [AKP]

Oct. 8, 2002

The Burmese Embassy in Phnom Penh has reacted sharply to US Senator Mitch McConnell’s recent demand that the Bush administration push for “regime change” in Cambodia and Burma.  “McConnell is thinking of the unthinkable,” an embassy statement said.  Cambodian Deputy PM Sar Kheng also reacted with anger to McConnell’s statement last week.

Oct. 10, 2002

Cambodia is drawing up new laws to combat acid attacks. Such attacks have commonly been used by women to take revenge in cases of marital infidelity. The victim usually survives, but is severely disfigured.  Under the new proposals, which should become law next month, offenders will receive between five and 10 years in jail. Human rights groups have welcomed the law but have questioned whether it will be enforced. There have been 43 attacks within the past three years and, so far, no one has been convicted. The most notorious case occurred in 1999 when the wife and bodyguards of a senior govt. official poured litres of acid on the face of the man's lover, an 18-year-old actress. [BBC]

Delegates from Asian countries meet in Phnom Penh to discuss development cooperation.  The meeting, which is called the first gathering of 36^th Asian Standing Committee, started on Wednesday and will end today, officials said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong addressing the delegates on Thursday, but the content of what he said was not available. Foreign Ministry Press Director Chum Suonry said “senior officials” were in attendance at the meeting, and a member of the Malaysian delegation said on Thursday that each Asian country sent the directors-general of the Asian standing committees. The meeting of standing committee is scheduled to adopt a report today on development cooperation. Also, delegates from the Asian countries will meet on Saturday for a joint preparatory meeting to discuss arrangement for the upcoming Asian Summit, which will start Nov 4 in Phnom Penh. [Kok Santepheap Daily 10/13/02]

Oct. 11, 2002

PM Hun Sen tells reporters, after meeting with King N.  Sihanouk, that “Those who believe the two have an acrimonious relationship are “insane.” On Thursday, the King apparently denied reports that he drafted letters threatening abdication if succession legislation were not amendment. Writing in margins of an Agence France Press report printed in the Bangkok Post on Thursday, the King wrote, “I said nothing, wrote nothing to the RGC or anyone else.” The remark appears to be a definitive denial of the abdication rumors. However, returning to Phnom Penh on Wednesday after more than two months in Beijing, King Sihanouk was more equivocal, saying only that he had not made any decisions. [Kok Santepheap Daily 10/14/02]

Oct. 13, 2002

PM Hun Sen speaks outside the Council of Ministers that “Any talk of succession is an insult to the King while the monarch is still alive.”  “This kind of insult is evil talk.” When asked by reporters how he felt about recent reports that the King is considering abdication, the premier—who met with the monarch on Friday—declined to discuss the matter, saying the King addressed the issue at Pochentong Airport on Wednesday.  The PM greeted the Monarch on Wednesday on the King’s return from a three-month stay in Beijing. The King told reporters at the airport that he “has not decided anything” on whether he will step down from the throne, but he also said “there is no problem…it is not a matter of passion.”

Oct. 24, 2002

The Vietnamese Govt. has donated 500 tonnes of rice to Cambodia to help locals suffering from the floods and droughts afflicting the country.  The relief was officially handed over to general Kun Kim, the head of PM Samdech Hun Sen’s adviser group, by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia, Nguyen Duy Hung.  General Kun Kim expressed his country’s gratitude for the assistance of Vietnamese Govt. and people.  He acknowledged that Viet Nam has frequently given aid to Cambodia, especially during the war against genocide.  Today Viet Nam continues to play an active role in helping secure peace and national development in Cambodia.  In addition to the 500 tonnes of rice from the Govt., many organisations and border provinces of Viet Nam have to donate the flood-hit Cambodian people, food, rice seed and notebooks for school children, the ambassador said.   [VNS]

Nov. 6, 2002

An agreement on $US 10 million loan is signed at the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh by Cambodian Economics and Finance Minister Keat Chhun, and Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, under the presidency of PM Hun Sen, and Indian PM A .B Vajpayee. [AKP]

Nov. 11, 2002

Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong and PM Phan Van Khai sent letters of congratulations to King Norodom Sihanouk and PM Hun Sen for the country’s 49th National Day on Saturday.  The messages conveyed the Vietnamese people’s delight at Cambodia’s achievements and its enhanced role in regional and international arenas.  Its successful organisation of the 8th ASEAN, ASEAN+3 and ASEAN+1 summits have provided the premise for Cambodia’s prosperity and regional development, said the Vietnamese leaders.  They added that the Vietnamese leadership was confident that the bilateral relationship would thrive to bring about fruitful neighbourliness, long-lasting friendship and solidarity and durable stability for both nations, as well as peace, co-operation and development in Southeast Asia and around the world.  Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien also sent congratulations to the Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hor Namhong.  [VNS]

Nov. 28, 2002

Thai Criminal Court ruled in favor of a request by the Cambodian govt. to extradite Sok Yoeun, who is wanted for an alleged assassination attempt on PM Hun Sen in 1998.  The ruling sparked an outcry from human-rights activists, who expressed concern that Sok Yoeun would not receive a fair trial in Cambodia.  As he has consistently maintained, Sok Yoeun said in his closing statement that he had nothing to do with the attack, and that he was in Phnom Penh when the rocket-launched grenade shot through Hun Sen's motorcade.  He said the only reason the Cambodian govt. wanted to try him was to link the alleged assassination attempt with opposition leader Sam Rainsy.  [THE NATION - Regional - 11/29/02]

Dec. 2, 2002

PM Hun Sen inaugurats the Kunkru (In Gratitude of Mentors) Bridge in the Provinces of Kandal and Kompong Speu. [CNV]

Dec. 6, 2002

PM Hun Sen officially inaugurats the new Siem Reap airport terminal.  [CNV]

Dec. 13, 2002

Nuon Chea testifies in defence of a former Khmer Rouge commander, Sam Rith, 69, on trial for his alleged role in the killing of three Western backpackers.  Nuon Chea - once known as "Brother Number Two" and the most senior surviving Khmer Rouge leader - told a court that the defendant had been transferred out of the region where the killings took place shortly before they occurred.  [BBC]

Dec. 17, 2002

Thai Cabinet approved a proposal to open a border checkpoint at Si Sa Ket province's Chong Sa-gnam pass, which connects Thailand to a former stronghold of the now defunct Khmer Rouge where the notorious guerrilla leader Pol Pot died. The checkpoint leads to Anlong Veng in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, which was the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge before the guerrilla group surrendered in 1998.  [THE NATION - Regional - 12/18/02]

Dec. 23, 2002

Viet Nam and Cambodia pledge to step up friendship and co-operation ties within the principles of respecting each other’s independence and sovereignty.  They also vow not to let foreign political or military forces use either nation to sabotage the other and driving a wedge between the two countries.  The commitments are made during talks between the President of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA), Norodom Ranariddh and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Van An during An’s official visit to Phnom Penh.  [VNS 12/25/02]

Dec. 24, 2002

The RGC says it will send a delegation to New York early next month to restart negotiations over a tribunal to investigate crimes against humanity during the Khmer Rouge regime of the late 1970s.  Talks between the UN and Cambodia broke down earlier this year over which side should control the tribunal, which would include both Cambodian and international judges. [BBC]

Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An meets with Senate Chairman Chea Sim.  During a meeting, An, amount others, reaffirm Viet Nam’s steadfast desire to enhance relations with Cambodia in the spirit of "fine neighbouring co-operation, traditional unity and friendship, and durable stability."  The Senate chairman Chea Sim calls An’s visit a contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries.  [VNS 12/26/02]

Dec. 31, 2002

US Slams Cambodian Ban on American Radio Programming [VOA]