Sam Rainsy Talks on "Hello VOA"

Friday, June 18, 2010

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US Brings Back Seven Major Artifacts

The sculpted sandstones artifacts are on display after they were returned back at the Cambodian National Museum in Phnom Penh. (Photo: AP)

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 17 June 2010

“They were confiscated based on [an agreement] we signed with the Ministry of Culture, which bans the import of antiquities of that era into the United States.”
The US returned seven Angkorian artifacts to Cambodia Thursday in a ceremony in the seaport of Preah Sihanouk province.

The seven artifacts consist of two heads of Buddha sculptures and other religious items weighing about 500 kilograms.

They were confiscated by US customs in Los Angeles, where they remained for up to three years, US Embassy spokesman John Johnson said.

“They were confiscated based on [an agreement] we signed with the Ministry of Culture, which bans the import of antiquities of that era into the United States,” he said.

Ork Sophon, director general for the Ministry of Culture, said smuggling activities had been greatly curbed since the agreement.

The organization Heritage Watch estimates that around $20 million in Khmer antiquities have been traded since 1988, with 90 percent of them acquired illegally, through the main gateways of Thailand and Singapore.
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UN Envoy Fingers Courts as Political Tools

U.N. special rapporteur Surya Subedi walks through a Cambodian national flag upon his arrival at the U.N. headquarter in Phnom Penh. (Photo: AP)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 17 June 2010

I am troubled by the impact of land disputes, land concessions and resettlements on the lives of ordinary people, both in rural and urban areas, miscarriages of justice, and the narrowing of political space for critical debate in society,” Subedi said.
The UN envoy for human rights, Surya Subedi, concluded a 10-day trip to Cambodia with a pointed criticism of the courts, which he said are “facing tremendous challenges in delivering justice for the people of the country, especially the poor and marginalized.”

“A combination of a lack of adequate resources, organizational and institutional shortcomings, a lack of full awareness of the relevant human rights standards, and external interference, financial or otherwise, in the work of the judiciary, has resulted in an institution that does not command the confidence of people from many walks of life,” he said in a statement.

Subedi noted “an alarmingly high number of people in detention due to various shortcomings in the criminal justice system.”

“The instances of miscarriage of justice are far too numerous,” he said. “The constraints on the judiciary’s ability to act according to its mandated role in the constitutional order of Cambodia are manifold. While some are related to gaps in their capacity to deliver justice (including funding, infrastructure and training), other constraints are linked to gaps in their knowledge of human rights law.”

Many judges are committed to justice according to the law, he noted, “but for many this commitment is compromised by external interference. And for others the commitment is just not there.”

Subedi said he “raised specific concerns relating to the judiciary’s role in protecting freedom of expression. And in cases involving land-related rights.”

“I am troubled by the impact of land disputes, land concessions and resettlements on the lives of ordinary people, both in rural and urban areas, miscarriages of justice, and the narrowing of political space for critical debate in society,” Subedi said.

“I call on the Royal Government of Cambodia to introduce appropriate measures to enhance the independence and capacity of the judiciary to enable it to function as an institution capable of providing justice to all in Cambodia,” he said. “If you are poor, weak and dispossessed of your land, you seem to have limited chance to obtain redress either through existing administrative land management systems or through the courts.”

Subedi called on the government to devise a strict timetable to follow his recommendations and encouraged the government to work with civil society organizations.

Subedi, who met with Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and senior government adviser Om Yentieng on his visit, will submit detailed recommendations to the UN’s Human Rights Council in September.

Ek Tha, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said the government “would like completely to deny his speech.”

The government has worked to reform the judiciary, including establishing a school for magistracy, registrars and notaries, he said, and the country produces 55 new judges per year.

“We have laid down a good foundation for our judiciary to work properly in the future,” he said. “We cannot achieve that overnight, given that our country has emerged from more than three decades of civil war and our judges were killed by the Khmer Rouge.”
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New Eviction Policy Worries Rights Groups

Forced evictions in Cambodia (Photo: Licadho)

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 17 June 2010


Officials announced a new regulation Thursday aimed at settling evictions, but development groups and the opposition have said it will not justly settle the problems of squatters.

The regulation, signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen May 31, calls on authorities to make lists of squatter communities, to determine relocation sites and to settle relocation reasonably.

The regulation comes as authorities struggle with some squatter communities scheduled to be removed amid development plans, especially in urban areas, and as rights groups say land disputes have increased over the past five months.

Chan Saveth, a senior investigator for the rights group Adhoc, said authorities remain indifferent to the needs of squatters when considering development plans, while onstruction of relocation sites remains slow.

The new regulation is unlikely to resolve these issues, he said.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said that other regulations and policies have not been properly applied, so he held little hope for the new one.
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Philadelphia premiere of "WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?"


Loud Mouth Films is proud to present the first Philadelphia screenings of WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?, as an official selection in the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival.

Saturday, June 26 - 2:45pm
Preview screening - Media Bureau, 725 N 4th St

Sunday, June 27 - 12:30pm
Main screening - RUBA Hall, 414 Green St

Sunday, June 27 - 4:00pm
Final screening - Random Tea Room, 713 N 4th St

To reserve tickets in advance (recommended), call 215-592-1242 or go to
http://www.philadelphiaindependentfilmfestival.com

WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA? is a one-hour documentary thriller about the assassination of Cambodia's top labor leader and the plot to cover the tracks of the killers by framing two men. Named one of Amnesty International's top ten Movies That Matter, it is a co-production with Independent Television Services, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Though filmed mostly in Cambodia, WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA? has a strong Philadelphia connection through its producer, longtime Philadelphia resident Rich Garella. Garella moved to the city in 1983 and has lived here since then, aside from four years living in Cambodia and five in New York. He now lives in South Philadelphia, where Loud Mouth Films is based.

During Cambodia's bloody 1998 election, Garella was working as the press secretary for the opposition party. It was then that he met and worked with Chea Vichea. On a return trip to Cambodia in 2003 he met Bradley Cox, who later filmed the murder scene and went on to direct WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?

Garella will attend all the PIFF screenings and the Q&A sessions following them.

"Vichea and Brad are both strong-willed individuals who believe in justice above all else," Garella said. "I think that's why Brad spent six years working on this film at huge personal risk and expense.

WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA? has already been banned in Cambodia. On May 1, International Labor Day, riot police pulled down the screens during an attempted public screening in Phnom Penh. Officials announced that the film was an "illegal import" and that any screenings could be prevented "wherever they are held." (sample coverage)

"Vichea's life was taken because he fought for justice," Garella said. "He wouldn't back down and we won't either."

Rather than focusing on the Khmer Rouge "killing fields" of the 1970s, WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA? takes a hard look at Cambodia today, asking how much has changed after an influx of billions in international aid and expertise. Along the way Cox's camera captures a side of Cambodian life that is largely unseen by tourists from the western world.

READ MORE - Philadelphia premiere of "WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?"

King Father “Majestic Insult” upon Khmer Injury

"Now that Samdech Sihanouk decided to go and pay homage to the Viet invaders, an unbecoming conduct of a Khmer Kshatrya, he should consider returning all previous titles given him by the office of the Monarchy back to the Kingdom, to include the “Varman” lineage title. He should travel to Vietnam as “Comrade Sihanouk” not as a former Khmer king, nor as a Khmer dignitary. The office of the Khmer Monarchy shall have no business pleasing, nor honoring the arch enemy of the Khmer. If he so desires he can go by his own means and methods not at our expense, with royal standard, parasol, nor with any minute symbol of the Monarchy that would give the enemy the impression that a Khmer King pays them tribute in the name of the Khmers. Better yet Comrade Sihanouk and his immediate entourage should consider getting themselves a one-way ticket on this trip."
Friday, June 18, 2010
Op-Ed by Neay Krud'th

Before voicing his protest over His Majesty Former King Sihanouk Varman’s planned pilgrimage to the territory of Khmer’s arch enemy east of the border, this author would like to clarify two concepts which all Khmers must be able to distinguish ― the Persona of a King, and the Institution or the Office of the Monarchy.

To avoid head-on collision with our Khmer tradition namely the duty to uphold, honor, and faithfully protect and defend the office of the Khmer Monarchy, the author will stay away from this realm out of respect for the spirit of our ancestors who have made ultimate sacrifice throughout our history to ensure the perpetual existence of the Khmer Kingdom and the Monarchy which we all inherited. As much as he personally would rather see it go away, the author understands that it is not his call and would rather leave it to the Khmer people to decide.


The author would like to ask the readers to examine the old photograph above. On the right, two rows of Baku Purohita (Brahmins) are performing series of rituals during a royal ceremony (Water Festival/Bon Om Touk in this instance) at the royal pier on the Tonlé Chatumuk (in front of the Palace) as prescribed by the Vedas scripts of Brahmanism custom and tradition of the Khmer Royal Court handed down since ancient time. The water, the royal pier, and the Brahman priests represent the office of the Khmer Monarchy.

The person on the left is to occupy the office of the Monarchy and fulfill the role of a “Divine Kshatrya” (God King and Warrior) which in most cases for life, where he should live his life in accordance to the Brahmanism precepts of kingship. He is supposed to rule over the land with the guidance of the council of Brahmans and Buddhist scholars, to include organizing collective infrastructure and water work, mobilize the population for war of expansion and/or in defense of the kingdom against all enemies, maintain peace and prosperity, justice, law and order. Requirements of the job includes ruling with wisdom and to have dashing courage in time of war and be willing to make ultimate sacrifice for the sake of his kingdom and his subjects ahead of his army. This person is a Persona of the Monarchy who assumes the public role with lofty character, honesty, integrity and quality of a leader worthy of praise, inspiration and respect of all people, at home and abroad.

Unfortunately, after more than half a century of Samdech Sihanouk’s authoritarian rule and involments as king and as political figurehead, Khmers have seen disunity, internal strife, genocide, Communist Vietnam invasion, and utter misery. Many Khmer people woke up too late from his sweet lullaby of demagoguery to realize that the “King Father” has been nothing but a scam and a fraud. Patriots and courageous servants who dared oppose his warped ideology, especially his collusion with Communist Viets, have been viciously branded as “traitors” and brutally eliminated from the political scene. This man believes he owns the country and every single soul in it, that he was entitled to pawn the destiny of the Khmer as he pleases, without their consent. He has used and continues to use the office of the Monarchy to satisfy his egotistical excess despite of the terrible consequence on the lives of millions of ordinary Khmers. He has sold and resold the Khmer people down river to the Communist Viets many times over without the slightest regret, just to get even with his nemeses. His criminal record is as long as the Khmer Rouge clique and the Communist Viets themselves. He has been steadfastly sided with Communists and Khmer enemy for so many years. Now on top of the misery we Khmer have to endure, he is going to kick us in the chin by stamping his own seal of approval on the Viets’ long-term plan of keeping their choke-collar around our neck.

The author would like to ask the readers to look back in time to the old way in which our predecessors defined the office of the Monarchy and the Persona of a Kingship.


The Bayon bas-relief above illustrates the office of the Monarchy and the Persona of the King in action. The ancestors meant to tell us that when the Persona of the king properly discharge his duty within the spirit, precept and code of conduct of the office of the Monarchy, a dynamic power is created for the benefit of the state and its citizenry. Here the office of the Monarchy is represented by foot soldiers with shields and spears, cavalry of elephants, troops carrying multiple golden parasols, royal standard, military guidons, and battlefield signaling flags, accompanying the decorated war elephant driven by the courageous Mahout (elephant driver). The Persona of the Warrior King is battle-stationed on the elephant riding platform, bow and arrow drawn. Traditionally, Khmer king and his warriors crossed the enemy threshold not for paying homage, nor offer apology to the opponents, nor kiss -and-make-up, but strictly to inflict casualties and claim victory for the kingdom. Khmer warriors have not been known to be “diplomatic” when they follow their king into enemy territory. All eyes are on the two characters riding the office of the Monarchy elephant. The outcome of the battle depends on the experience, knowledge, judgment, decision and gallantry of the Mahout and the King as they both scan the battle landscape looking for the path-of-least-resistance to ram the elephant through, and breach the enemy frontline. Note that the Mahout is given a Java Rhinos horn (which was believed to possess magical power to deflect arrows and spear from a warrior’s body) headgear for his protection. As for the King himself no additional protection was needed ― he is “Divine” and is always protected by the various deities until his “time is up”. These two brave individuals must have had tremendous gut and nerves of steel to be aloft without much in a way of body protection just to be the center of gravity of the friendly combat formation. They lead the charge through raining salvos of arrow and spear faithfully fulfilling the duty and responsibility of King and warrior. Similar theme from the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, bear many such powerful reminders for all Khmer descendents not to bow down in front of any aggressors.

Now that Samdech Sihanouk decided to go and pay homage to the Viet invaders, an unbecoming conduct of a Khmer Kshatrya, he should consider returning all previous titles given him by the office of the Monarchy back to the Kingdom, to include the “Varman” lineage title. He should travel to Vietnam as “Comrade Sihanouk” not as a former Khmer king, nor as a Khmer dignitary. The office of the Khmer Monarchy shall have no business pleasing, nor honoring the arch enemy of the Khmer. If he so desires he can go by his own means and methods not at our expense, with royal standard, parasol, nor with any minute symbol of the Monarchy that would give the enemy the impression that a Khmer King pays them tribute in the name of the Khmers. Better yet Comrade Sihanouk and his immediate entourage should consider getting themselves a one-way ticket on this trip.
READ MORE - King Father “Majestic Insult” upon Khmer Injury

With no trust left in Cambodia’s judicial system, the opposition called on the angels to punish those who betray their oath of office

Hok Lundy's crashed copper following a lightning strike

18 June 2010
By Meas Mony
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer


With no trust left in Cambodia’s judicial system, one SRP MP called on the Tevodas (angels), the traditional respected Khmer belief, to punish all those who betrayed their oath of love to the nation and to the country’s territories.

Son Chhay, National Assembly whip for the SRP, told reporters on Thursday that: “The oath of office by high-ranking officials in top national institutions is merely a ceremonial showoff, these people swore that they are determined to protect our territorial integrity by putting their lives on the line to serve the nation, to fight against corruption etc…, but, in reality, how much did they abide by their oath?” Son Chhay also called on the Tevodas to punish all those who betrayed their oath of office, in particular in regards to the defense of the nation’s interest.

Son Chhay’s prayer takes place at the same time that 11 members of the Anti-corruption Council are sworn in before taking their duties.

Within the Cambodian community, even though, currently, swearing to deities does not bear much meaning, especially when we are all living in a scientific world, it still bears a great influence on the poor and the hopeless victims. Furthermore, when a natural event strikes a person that one hates, this event is usually considered as a curse of the gods sent in as response to one’s prayers.

Another noticeable event took place when the helicopter carrying General Hok Lundy, Hun Sen’s in-law, was struck by lightning in 2008. Hok Lundy was seen as a villain in Cambodia.

Nevertheless, according to scientists, taking an oath or praying to God are nothing more than psychological factors.
READ MORE - With no trust left in Cambodia’s judicial system, the opposition called on the angels to punish those who betray their oath of office

 
 
 

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