US Congress not interested in hearing the Phnom Penh dictatorial regime?

Let me talk also! It's unfair that the US Congress is not under my thumb like the Phnom Penh Municipal court! (Photo: AFP)

US hearing 'absolutely unfair': govt

Wednesday, 02 September 2009
James O'toole
The Phnom Penh Post

Foreign ministry says speakers ought to include CPP officials.

A US congressional hearing to discuss human rights in Cambodia is "absolutely unfair", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the hearing by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a congressional body that monitors human rights norms around the world, is "biased", as no one from the Cambodian government has been invited to testify.

A statement released by US Congressman Frank Wolf, the co-chair of the commission, said the purpose of the hearing, scheduled for September 10, is to discuss land evictions, labour laws and the prosecution of opposition figures. "These issues are part of a concerning trend in the Cambodian government's overall human rights record," the statement read.

The commission has invited three Cambodians to participate on a panel as official witnesses: Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Mu Sochua, Licadho rights group president Kek Galabru (Pung Chiv Kek), and Community Legal Education Centre labour programme head Moeun Tola. The US State Department will also invite witnesses who have not yet been announced.

Koy Kuong expressed concern that the commission had invited "only opposition groups", likening the congressional proceedings to "the referee at a boxing match calling only one corner".

"[The invited witnesses] can criticise the government, they can say whatever they want, with no one to testify or to clarify against them," he said.

Naly Pilorge, director of Licadho, said it was wrong to characterise the gathering as an exclusion of government representatives, however, emphasising that it will be open to all interested parties.

"This hearing is not a secretive process. It's a very open and public process," she said, adding that she expects to see the Cambodian ambassador to the United States, students and representatives of other NGOs in attendance.

SRP spokesman Yim Sovann said that as a donor of foreign aid to Cambodia, the US "wants to see progress in the development of democracy and human rights". In order to ensure that aid is distributed effectively, he said, American policymakers must "ensure that this country respects the rule of law".

Naly Pilorge said Kek Galabru plans to raise "human rights issues relating to social, economic, political and civil rights" at the hearing. Koy Kuong, however, was sceptical that the event would generate meaningful discussion or action.

"The hearing will not improve the human rights situation overall," he said.

READ MORE - US Congress not interested in hearing the Phnom Penh dictatorial regime?

The Free Press Magazine Online

FPM is a Biweekly 0nline Magazine
The Free Press is dedicated to Freedom of Expression and the Press
http://www.fpmonline.net/
Vol. 1, Issue #10, Tuesday 1 - Tuesday 15, September 2009
E-mail: info@fpmonline.net

The Free Press Magazine Online is established to bring the fact about the level of human right respect, freedom of expression and the press in Cambodia for Cambodians and all in the international community to read.

READ MORE - The Free Press Magazine Online

Over US$10,000 Lost in Jewelry Stickup

Written by DAP NEWS
Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Two Cambodian jewelry vendors on Monday lost over US$ 10,000 in robbery, a local authority said. The main victim was identified as Ly Sam Oeun, 42.

“Around 7 o’clock, there was a case of robbery in front of Cambodian two jewelry vendors when as they left for Pochentong market near the airport,” the local authority added.

The victims live in Kakap commune, Dangkar district of Phnom Penh.

“We are usually leave home to market, but today, there were two suspicious people who drove a Honda Dream 125 moped stopped in front of us then they brought out two guns and threatened us … and they took over US$10,000 and suddenly drove away,” one of the victims complained.

There were no injuries in the case, the local authority said. Though the victims claimed to have lost over US$10,000, there has so far been little evidence presented to prove the scale of the robbery.

Jewelry robberies seem to be on the increase, though few of the perpetrators have yet been brought to justice.

“We will arrest them to convict soon,” the local police stressed. “Now we are finding the place where they are hidden.”

READ MORE - Over US$10,000 Lost in Jewelry Stickup

Ethanol Manufacturing Banned after over 23 Tons of Fish Found Dead

Written by DAP NEWS
Tuesday, 01 September 2009

The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) announced on Monday it would temporarily ban the production of ethanol after byproducts drained from a factory into river, a MIME officer said.

MIME officers made the announ- cement with a letter signed by MIME Secretary of State of Minister Ith Praing.

Over the past few days, many fish have died, said locals, mystifying everyone in the area. One fish farmer claimed that 20 tons of fish were found dead in the river on Sunday. Around 23.4 tons of fish have been found dead in 37 fish farms, an official said. A team inspectors from the Administrative Fishery Committee headed by Khlaing Van Thol has already headed to the affected area, though an official report obtained by DAP News Cambodia claimed that “There was no source or evidence clearly yet.”

“We will investigate on this case, but near a pump into the river, we saw a black line spread out and our member took samples of that dirty water,” said Khlaing Van Thol.

The fish farmer complained that the remaining fish would be at risk unless something was doe about pollution levels.

READ MORE - Ethanol Manufacturing Banned after over 23 Tons of Fish Found Dead

World Bank Holds Reform Discussions

Written by DAP NEWS
Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Visiting World Bank Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region James W. Adams has discussed and reviewed the status of the World Bank’s support program in Cambodia, particularly in the areas of land reform, decentralization and deconcentration, public financial management, and private sector development, according to WB press statement on Monday.

“A major focus of the visit was Cambodia’s urban land sector and the increasing numbers of disputes and evictions of poor people in urban settlements,” the statement read. “This included discussion of the report from the enhanced review of the Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP), which was undertaken in response to questions raised about a possible link between the project and these disputes.” The discussions on land reform were constructive and it was agreed to continue these discussions over the coming week to agree next steps.

He was in Phnom Penh on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28 for meetings with senior government officials, development partners, and representatives from NGOs, research institutes and the private sector.

This was part of a regional visit that takes in Cambodia, Timor-Leste and China.

READ MORE - World Bank Holds Reform Discussions

Cambodia Third Role Trading Market: Vietnam

Written by DAP NEWS
Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Cambodia has an extremely important role to play in Vietnamese trade, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia said on Sunday.

Ngo Anh Dung said on the Cambodia Television Network (CTN) talk show that “Cambodia is the third role of trading market of Vietnam and are cooperating with other biggest companies in the world.”

“We have over 100 companies are investing and more than US$700 million in Cambodia, but uncounted the big companies as well,” he stressed.

Ngo Anh Dung said that some are involved in big projects such as a fertilizer factory, rice cultivation and export, agricultural improvement and the Se San II hydropower project in Stung Treng province.

Vietnam has also cooperated with Cambodia closely on rubber growing, he added. Cambodia-Vietnam are closely linked so it is easy to transport by ships or trucks through Mekong River and by National Highway, “so we have some plans to cooperate with Cambodia to invest in mine research, communication, and develop all sectors.”

“Recently, Cambodia-Vietnam closely to on the tourist sector with Angkor Airlines, so it can say that all business, Vietnam and Cambodia, are in good communication and terms for sustainable trading,” said Ngo Anh Dung. “Cambodia’s tourist sector will be better than before, because both countries cooperate together.”

A railway from Preah Sihanouk province to Ho Chi Minh City, linking ASEAN with China will also boost links, he added, as will a reciprocal visa waiver for citizens of both countries.

“In 2009, Cambodian tourists increased about 88 percent to visit in Vietnam,” he stressed.

If we compared in 2008 to 2009 all increasing investment amount US$1.6 billion between Cambodia and Vietnam.

“Cambodian, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries gave the agro landing of 50,000 ha to 8 companies to plant the rubbers, now we have 20,000 rubber trees since 2007-2009,” Mony added.
He continued that “We have a plan to plant them [rubbers] more about 20 thousand ha in 2010 and in 2015; we have 10,000 ha.”

Sam Rainsy Party Kampong Cham Parliamentarian Mao Mony Van of said that “Cambodian government had rent in contract till 90 years, so it maybe loses Cambodian lands of ha; we are worry about this consideration.”

“Cambodia has many agricultural investors, why not give a chance them to hold this task, however, give the chance to Vietnam, it Cambodian investors responded on this, it is good,” Van added.

Vietnamese Ambassador said that “Vietnam had four various projects included first, Cambodia-Vietnam are neighbors, second, both countries are friendly, third, we all cooperated sectors together, and the fourth, we are long live in business.”

We have over 1,200 kms linked with and Vietnam has 10 provinces for Cambodia also has 9 provinces are closely borders between communication of us, ANH stressed.

Cambodian Ambassador in Vietnam and Commercial officer Yiv Kimhan said that “Cambodia is a potential country of marketing trade, and all Cambodian people will consider on Vietnam instead of Thailand goods importing.”

READ MORE - Cambodia Third Role Trading Market: Vietnam

NGOs Appreciate Withdrawal of Chea Mony Suit

Written by DAP NEWS
Tuesday, 01 September 2009

A legal complainst against Chea Mony, brother of slain Chea Vichea, has been withdrawn with welcomes from NOG representatives

A legal complaint against Chea Mony, head of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), has been withdrawn much to the relief of NGOs and factory workers. Those who praised Hun Sen’s move called it a good lead to pave the way to a lawful and democratic kingdom. The move could also help improve Cambodia’s international image, which has recently been tarnished by controversial lawsuits against critics of the Government.

A complaint about Chea Mony was filed after a speech on August 17 at the Appeal Court where he criticized Government officials over his brother, Chea Vichea’s assassination in January 2004. Chea Vichea’s had been a vocal FTUWKC member and vociferous critic of the Cambodian Government.

“The Premier supposed that [Chea Mony] always says bad thing because he lost a close relative, therefore, the premier asked the Government’s lawyer to withdraw the complaint,” said Khieu Kahanarith, Government spokesman and Information Minister.

Asked if the Government should withdraw the complaints in other cases like Hang Chakra, Khmer Machas Srok editor, Khieu Kahnarith told DAP News Cambodia on Monday that “It is a personal story of Hang Chakra himself.” He declined to comment further on Hang Chakra’s case, referring questions to Deputy Cambodian Prime Minister Sok An, the man who filed the original compliant against Hang Chakra.

Chea Mony showed his appreciation Hun Sen’s dropping of the lawsuit against him. He said he still has concerns over the Government’s investigation of the his brother’s death. He also raised queries over the independence of the Cambodia legal system.

“The premier’s policy is very good, but some of his officials are very bad who always give wrong and bad reports and misinformation to him,” he claimed. “If all officials followed the premier’s policy, our country would gain support from the international community.”

Koul Pahna, COMFREL director, on Monday said that when Chea Mony’s angry remarks should be seen as a serious offense.

“Withdrawal the filed complaint … is a very good … but the government should check and investigate other stories like Hang Chakra’s case,” said Koul Pahna. “The Government thinks that it is not good as many stories took place related to this case.”

Koul Pahna claimed that the premier’s actions could be a lesson for fellow Government officials to follow.

Chear Vannath, a Cambodian analyst, also appreciated the premier’s ruling to withdraw the filing complaint from Chea Mony. “We applaud it—it is a good decision as the Cambodian defamation law has to be implemented.”

“While we do not have good mechanism, we cannot reduce the filed complaints related to defamation,” she added.

However, NGOs called on the Government release Hang Chakra and reverse the decisions in other high profile cases.

“Filing complaint is not benefits, it affects both government and NGOs,” Ou Virak told DAP News Cambodia. “We should be together to build and develop the nation,” he claimed.

“It is a personal story and case that I cannot say as it is related to personal decision, if it the speeches affects them, they will react,” Khieu Kahnarith said of the other high profile cases of defamation.

The Human Rights Center in Cambodian issued a statement over the premier’s decision.

“The Cambodian Center for Human Right (CCHR) welcomes the decision by the Royal Government of Cambodia to refrain from taking legal action against Chea Mony, the president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC),” said the statement.

“This reversal is a positive sign for freedom of expression in Cambodia and represents tolerance and maturity on behalf of the RGC. The CCHR commends the RGC and Prime Minister Hun Sen and is hopeful that this decision reflects a new approach to freedom of expression and democratization in Cambodia,” the statement added.

The Cambodia Daily article headlined “Gov’t Seek Lawsuit Against Union Leader (August 31, 2009) quoted the Royal Government of Cambodia spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanhrith as stating that the RGC has dropped its plans to file a complaint against Chea Mony. This reversal follows a request by Prime Minister Hun Sen to call off the lawsuit. The union leader had said that RGC officials could have been involved in the assassination of his older brother and former FTUWC president Chea Vichea.

READ MORE - NGOs Appreciate Withdrawal of Chea Mony Suit

Singapore Donates Third Scanner

Written by DAP NEWS

http://www.dap-news.com/

Tuesday, 01 September 2009

The Singaporean Government on Tuesday donated a third scanner to Cambodia’s Health Ministry in order to curb the spread of A/H1N1, commonly called swine flu.

“The Singaporean Government on Tuesday will donate an A/H1N1 scanner at Phnom Penh International Airport to curb and prevent the spreading of A/H1N1,” said Sok Touch, director of the Department of Disease and Communicable Control of the Health Ministry.

This is the third scanner that the Singaporean Government has provided to the Cambodian Health Ministry, Sok Touch told DAP News Cambodia on Monday.

According to the official, the number of A/H1N1 infections currently stands at 26 cases.

Cambodia began scanning passengers for fever at its two international airports on April 28, 2009 to stem the spread of swine flu. Staff at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports began screening passengers with thermal-imaging equipment then.

The onset of Cambodia’s cool season, rather optimistically termed a ‘winter’ by many locals, has prom- pted the Health Ministry to ramp up measures to prevent the spread of A/H1N1, a Health Ministry official told DAP News Cambodia on Friday. “It is to more strengthen and take measures in the upcoming season in all hospitals as many new kinds of flu could spread,” said Sok Touch.

Cambodia’s Health Ministry and the World Health Organization issued a statement on June 24, 2009 to document the kingdom’s first case.

The first infected person was a 16-year-old US citizen visiting Cambodia as part of a student group, arrived in Phnom Penh on June 19. She developed symptoms the following days.

The Cambodian Ministry of Health, in cooperation with World Health Organization (WHO), is striving to control the A/H1N1 situation, working to curb the spread of the virus and keeping the public well informed with updates.

Cambodia is the latest nation to be hit by A/H1N1 virus epidemic, after neighboring Thailand, Vietnam and Laos all confirmed cases.

The ministry again called on the public to practice good personal hygiene at all times to prevent the spread of Influenza A/H1N1.

Although the Influenza A/H1N1 epidemic wanes, many countries still remain alert as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a new wave of the deadly virus, according to Xinhua news agency.

WHO Director General Margaret Chan warned of second and third waves in previous epidemics, adding that “we need to be prepared for whatever surprises this capricious new virus delivers next,” Xihua reported.

While the seasonal flu disappears with warm weather, A/H1N1 is continuing to spread during the summer, which proves the new flu is more durable and infectious.

READ MORE - Singapore Donates Third Scanner

The Challenge of Extracting Oil from Cambodia

http://www.pbs.org/

Monday, August 31, 2009

SUSIE GHARIB: China is the world's second largest oil consumer and until the recession hit, its appetite for fuel was driving economies around the globe, including Cambodia. As Rian Maelzer reports, the global slowdown has raised doubts about Cambodia's plans to tap recent finds of oil and gas.

RIAN MAELZER, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT CORRESPONDENT: strong demand from the U.S. and EU had been keeping Cambodia's sewing machines working at full tilt. But in the past year, garment exports to those markets have slumped, costing thousands of workers their jobs. Arjun Goswami of the Asian Development Bank says it's a huge blow for a country that still relies on foreign aid for close to half the government's budget.

ARJUN GOSWAMI, COUNTRY DIRECTOR, ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: This is an open economy, it's a small economy and it's not very diversified, so there have been serious impacts.

MAELZER: With tourism also hit hard, Cambodia had hoped it would start to see revenues this year from the country's first ever oil and gas finds. The waters off Cambodia's coast are estimated to contain about two billion barrels of oil -- small by global standards, but significant for one of the world's least developed countries. Subbu Bettadapura of consultancy Frost and Sullivan warns that extracting Cambodia's reserves will be challenging.

SUBBU BETTADAPURA, ENERGY ANALYST, FROST AND SULLIVAN: They are not in a big reservoir where you can go in and tap them. They are in various pools, so there is a technical challenge for the oil companies to go in and try to monetize these reserves.

MAELZER: Chevron has been the most active company in exploring Cambodia's oil potential. Chevron isn't saying how much oil it thinks might be in its offshore block or when it might start commercial operations. A company spokesman said Chevron still has to hammer out legal and financial frameworks with the Cambodian government and those are serious shortcomings cited by multilateral agencies and aide donors working in what is one of the most corrupt countries in Asia. Eleanor Nichol of the watchdog group Global Witness has studied Cambodia's nascent energy and mineral sectors.

ELEANOR NICHOL, RESEARCHER, GLOBAL WITNESS: What you have is two sectors operating in what is effectively a regulatory vacuum with no public or parliamentary oversight. Also, what we've seen happen previously in the forestry sector is that money generated from logging and extraction of that resource never reached the state coffers and we want to try and avoid is a duplication of the same patterns occurring in the oil and mineral sectors.

MAELZER: Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh rejects those concerns.

CHAM PRASIDH, CAMBODIAN MINISTER OF COMMERCE: We are not going to use this money to pump corruption or to encourage corruption, but the money properly managed, properly monitored and properly spent in the right places.

MAELZER: Cambodia is still hoping the oil will start flowing by 2012. Analyst Bettadapura says the timing could end up being a blessing.

BETTADAPURA: If they wait for a little while longer until oil prices pick up, then they are going to get much higher returns and you need to consider the fact that the lifespan of this field is only 10 years.

MAELZER: The government estimates it should reap at least half a billion dollars a year from oil and gas, a huge boost to its revenues, which barely topped $1 billion last year. Rian Maelzer, Cambodia.

READ MORE - The Challenge of Extracting Oil from Cambodia

FEDERAL WAY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY, VISA FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING AND CONCEALING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN

http://media-newswire.com

VUTHY SIM, 35, of Federal Way, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 33 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud, three counts of Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering, three counts of Money Laundering, and Concealing an Illegal Alien. SIM was convicted January 23, 2009, following a twelve-day jury trial.

(Media-Newswire.com) - VUTHY SIM, 35, of Federal Way, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 33 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud, three counts of Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering, three counts of Money Laundering, and Concealing an Illegal Alien. SIM was convicted January 23, 2009, following a twelve-day jury trial. The jury deliberated for one day before finding SIM guilty. At sentencing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart called the scheme “troublesome and serious,” saying “The victims in this kind of visa fraud ... are our community... our society, and the people who could not come here, whose spots were being taken by those engaging in the fraud.”

According to testimony at trial and court documents, beginning in approximately June 2002, SIM recruited U.S. citizens to participate in sham marriages with Cambodian nationals. The purpose of the fake marriages was for the Cambodian national to receive a visa to come to the United States and a “green card” to stay here. In furtherance of the scheme, and as directed by SIM, the U.S. citizen would travel to Cambodia and pose in staged engagement or wedding photos with a Cambodian national. SIM typically would prepare the immigration paperwork and have the U.S. citizen sign it, and then would submit the immigration paperwork to Citizenship and Immigration Services. After the Cambodian national arrived in the United States, the Cambodian national and the U.S. citizen would have a civil wedding ceremony, with SIM and members of her family typically acting as the witnesses at the wedding. SIM would pay the U.S. citizen $20,000 in exchange for the citizen’s participation in the scheme, with the money being paid over time, and the final payment not made until the Cambodian citizen was in the U.S. and had a green card. SIM would pay the U.S. citizen with money that SIM received from the Cambodian national. The evidence at trial showed that SIM profited in excess of $160,000.

The evidence at trial proved that SIM and coconspirators wired money from Cambodia to SIM’s U.S. bank accounts. SIM then used that money to pay U.S. coconspirators for their participation in the fake marriages.

SIM also illegally concealed an illegal alien. The evidence showed that SIM sponsored her “mother” to come to the U.S., but the person who used the visa issued to SIM’s mother was, in fact, SIM’s sister. According to a witness at trial, SIM’s sister has fled to Cambodia, rather than risk being arrested by immigration authorities.

In asking for a significant sentence, federal prosecutors wrote to the court that this type of fraud harms other immigrants. “Vuthy Sim showed a complete disregard for the immigration laws of the United States. By facilitating sham marriages, Vuthy Sim caused participants in her scheme to gain unfair advantages over those aliens who were lawfully and truthfully seeking U.S. visas,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division ( IRS-CID ).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Karyn Johnson and Ye-Ting Woo.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at ( 206 ) 553-4110.

READ MORE - FEDERAL WAY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY, VISA FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING AND CONCEALING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN

"Thoeu To'al Oss Srok" a Poem in Khmer by Hin Sithan

READ MORE - "Thoeu To'al Oss Srok" a Poem in Khmer by Hin Sithan

Slocum survives star-studded challenge to win Barclays

Heath Slocum drained a 21-foot par putt on the final hole to claim a one-shot win at The Barclays, the first of the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff series

Heath Slocum hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during round two of The Barclays on August 28, 2009 at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey. Slocum drained a 21-foot par putt on the final hole Sunday to claim a one-shot win at The Barclays, the first of the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff series.

Slocum's effort denied a possible playoff that would have included world number one Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker - who is second on the FedEx Cup points list - as well as three-time major champions Ernie Els of South Africa and Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

Slocum shot a four-under 67 Sunday for a nine-under total of 275.

Woods and Harrington also carded 67s, while Els posted a five-under 66 and Stricker shot 69. Those four shared second on eight-under 276.

With the win, Slocum leapt from 124th on the FedEx Cup points list to third behind Woods and Stricker.

"That's what is unbelievable about this system," said Slocum, who earned 1.35 million dollars for his third US PGA Tour win.

"I was sweating it out last week not knowing if I'd even be here. I found out late Sunday and I came in with the attitude that I've got nothing to lose and I'll let it hang out and play the best I can."

Overnight co-leaders Paul Goydos and Steve Marino both struggled in the final round at Liberty National.

Goydos carded a 75 for a share of ninth place on 279, while Marino faltered with a 77 to finished tied for 15th.

Slocum birdied the second, then holed out for eagle on the fifth to seize a share of the lead. He got up and down for birdie on the par-five sixth, but gave a shot back to fall back into a tie for the lead with Marino with a bogey at seven.

Marino faded on the back nine, as Slocum parred five straight from the eighth - retaining a share of the lead all the while.

Meanwhile Els and Stricker joined the lead. Els's bogey-free round included a birdie on the third and two posted a bogey-free round that included a birdie on the third and two braces of back-to-back birdies - at seven and eight and 13 and 14.

After Els, Harrington was next in on eight-under. He birdied three in a row from the 12th to reach seven-under, the sank a 13-footer at 18.

Slocum got to nine-under with a four-footer at 13. Stricker was nine-under after a five-footer for birdie at 13, but bogeyed 15.

Stricker regained a share of the lead with a birdie at 16.

At 18, both Slocum and Stricker were in bunkers off the tee. Both got out onto the fairway, and Stricker put his next shot within 10 feet as Slocum put his 21 feet away.

Slocum made his putt to put the pressure on Stricker, who missed on the left edge.

"Obviously, when I hit the drive I was a little concerned," Slocum said. "I putted beautifully all week so if I just gave myself a chance, I felt like I can make one.

"It was beautiful," he said.

After a bogey at the fourth, Woods made his move with three birdies in four holes from the fifth.

At 14 he sank an 11-foot birdie attempt an 11-foot birdie attempt, then got within one of the lead with a three-footer at 16.

At 17, Woods saw a 20-foot birdie attempt slide right, and his seven-footer at the last missed left.

"I just misread that one," said Woods of his putt at 18. "That's the way it goes. I hit the ball well all week and to putt as poorly as I did all week and still have a chance on the last hole, says something about my ball-striking. Unfortunately I didn't make enough putts on these greens all week."

The top 100 on the points list move on now to the second playoff event, next week's Deutsche Bank Championship. Those knocked out this week included South Korea's K.J. Choi and former British Open champion Ben Curtis.

READ MORE - Slocum survives star-studded challenge to win Barclays

Dazzling Diego downs rusty Roma

Juventus Brazilian midfielder Diego (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against AS Roma forward during their Italian Serie A football match at Rome's Olympic stadium. Juve won 3-1.

Brazilian magician Diego teased and toyed with AS Roma as he inspired Juventus to a crucial 3-1 victory over their Serie A rivals in the Italian capital on Sunday.

The Turin giants went top of the table after the former Werder Bremen star's brace at the Stadio Olimpico secured a second consecutive win and condemned Roma to a second defeat in two games.

Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara paid tribute to his star player.

"He already showed last week the quality he has. Technically he is very good but he's also very useful in the defensive phase," said Ferrara.

"Of course we had some difficulties during the game but overall we played as we should and deserved to win.

"This win gives us confidence and confirms that we have great players here but I'm not reading anything into the six points at this time, even if we are doing well."

After a quiet opening the game quickly became a personal battle between the central figures on each side: Juve's attacking midfielder Diego and midfielder enforcer Daniele De Rossi of Roma.

And Roma coach Luciano Spalletti admitted not all his players have the same will to win as De Rossi.

"It's also my fault if the rest of the team does not have the same desire to fight," said Spalletti.

"De Rossi did but (Jeremy) Menez and (Francesco) Totti have different abilities. They lack a bit of fighting spirit."

Diego was at the centre of everything the visitors created and it was from his free-kick delivery that former Chelsea man Tiago forced the first save of the match from Julio Sergio on 23 minutes.

Moments later Diego scored a brilliant solo goal after Marco Cassetti inexplicably dithered on the halfway line, being robbed by the Brazilian playmaker who then held off John Arne Riise's desperate challenge before flicking the ball beyond Sergio with the outside of his right boot.

It was a deserved lead as Juve were the only side that looked capable of scoring but De Rossi changed all that in an opportunist moment on 35 minutes.

David Pizarro played a quick free-kick sideways and from 35 yards De Rossi smashed a shot into the top corner, taking Gianluigi Buffon and Juventus completely by surprise.

Sergio tipped another header from Tiago over the bar before Diego teed up countryman Amauri to bend a shot around the Roma goalkeeper only to see it cannon back off the post.

In first half stoppage time Roma should have gone in front as Menez benefitted from a lucky break in midfield to play Totti in one-on-one with Buffon.

Roma's talisman would have been expected to gobble up the opportunity a few years ago but he is a shadow of his former self and Buffon charged out to block his attempted chip.

Ten minutes into the second period Amauri had another great chance but Sergio stuck out a foot to deflect his close range shot over the bar.

Moments later Vincenzo Iaquinta beat a rash lunge from De Rossi and scampered away towards goal but Nicolas Burdisso chased back and did just enough to deflect the Juve striker's shot off target.

It was one-way traffic and moments after Sergio had beaten out an Amauri header, Diego latched onto a Iaquinta flick before teasing Philippe Mexes and shooting low and hard past the forlorn goalkeeper on 68 minutes.

Totti hammered a shot onto the post 11 minutes from time, but it was too little too late for sorry Roma and Felipe Melo sealed the win in stoppage time after bursting forward unopposed from 40 yards out until he shot home from just outside the area.

Elsewhere, Sampdoria went top of the table with a 3-1 home win over Udinese while Lazio and Genoa also maintained 100 percent records with respectively a 2-1 win at Chievo and a 1-0 succes at Atalanta.

Champions Inter Milan thrashed 10-man AC Milan 4-0 at the San Siro on Saturday.

READ MORE - Dazzling Diego downs rusty Roma

Japan's Long-Ruling Party Suffers Crushing Defeat in Elections

Aug. 30: Yukio Hatoyama, who leads Japan's main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, smiles inside the party's election center in Tokyo.

Sunday, August 30, 2009
AP

TOKYO — Japan's ruling party conceded a crushing defeat Sunday after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule as voters were poised to hand the opposition a landslide victory in nationwide elections, driven by economic anxiety and a powerful desire for change.

The left-of-center Democratic Party of Japan was set to win 300 or more of the 480 seats in the lower house of parliament, ousting the Liberal Democrats, who have governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955, according to exit polls by all major Japanese TV networks.

"These results are very severe," Prime Minister Taro Aso said in a news conference at party headquarters, conceding his party was headed for a big loss. "There has been a deep dissatisfaction with our party."

Aso said he would have to accept responsibility for the results, suggesting that he would resign as party president. Other LDP leaders also said they would step down, though official results were not to be released until early Monday morning.

The loss by the Liberal Democrats — traditionally a pro-business, conservative party — would open the way for the Democratic Party, headed by Yukio Hatoyama, to replace Aso and establish a new Cabinet, possibly within the next few weeks.

The vote was seen as a barometer of frustrations over Japan's worst economic slump since World War II and a loss of confidence in the ruling Liberal Democrats' ability to tackle tough problems such as the rising national debt and rapidly aging population.

The Democrats have embraced a more populist platform, promising handouts for families with children and farmers, a higher minimum wage, and to rebuild the economy.

"The nation is very angry with the ruling party, and we are grateful for their deep support," Hatoyama said after the polls closed. "We will not be arrogant and we will listen to the people."

The Democrats have also said they will seek a more independent relationship with Washington, while forging closer ties with Japan's Asian neighbors, including China. But Hatoyama, who holds a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University, insists he will not seek dramatic change in Japan's foreign policy, saying the U.S.-Japan alliance would "continue to be the cornerstone of Japanese diplomatic policy."

National broadcaster NHK, using projections based on exit polls of roughly 400,000 voters, said the Democratic Party was set to win 300 seats and the Liberal Democrats only about 100 — a third of its strength before the vote.

TV Asahi, another major network, said the Democratic Party would win 315 seats, up from the 112 seats it held before parliament was dissolved in July.

As voting closed Sunday night, officials said turnout was high, despite an approaching typhoon, indicating the intense level of public interest in the hotly contested campaigns.

Even before the vote was over, the Democrats pounded the ruling party for driving the country into a ditch.

Japan's unemployment has spiked to record 5.7 percent while deflation has intensified and families have cut spending because they are insecure about the future.

Making the situation more dire is Japan's aging demographic — which means more people are on pensions and there is a shrinking pool of taxpayers to support them and other government programs.

Many voters said that although the Democrats are largely untested in power and doubts remain about whether they will be able to deliver on their promises, the country needs a change.

"We don't know if the Democrats can really make a difference, but we want to give them a chance," Junko Shinoda, 59, a government employee, said after voting at a crowded polling center in downtown Tokyo.

The Democratic Party would only need to win a simple majority of 241 seats in the lower house to assure that it can name the next prime minister. The 300-plus level would allow it and its two smaller allies the two-thirds majority they need in the lower house to pass bills.

Having the Democrats in power would smooth policy debates in parliament, which has been deadlocked since the Democrats and their allies took over the less powerful upper house in 2007.

To ease parenting costs and encourage more women to have babies, the Democrats propose giving families 26,000 yen ($275) a month per child through junior high. Japan's population of 127.6 millionpeaked in 2006, and is expected to decline to 115 million in 2030 and fall below 100 million by the middle of the century.

The party is also proposing toll-free highways, free high schools, income support for farmers, monthly allowances for job seekers in training, a higher minimum wage and tax cuts. The estimated bill comes to 16.8 trillion yen ($179 billion) if fully implemented starting in fiscal year 2013 — and critics say the plans would further bloat Japan's massive public debt.

The Democrats will likely face resistance from Japan's powerful bureaucrats, who favor the status quo and hold a great deal of influence in shaping policy.

Aso — whose own support ratings have sagged to a dismal 20 percent — repeatedly stressed his party led Japan's rise from the ashes of World War II into one of the world's biggest economic powers and are best equipped to get it out of its current morass.

In the end, voter worries about the economy and disenchantment with the LDP's long grip on power proved too much to overcome.

"It's revolutionary," said Tomoaki Iwai, a political science professor at Tokyo's Nihon University. "It's the first real change of government" Japan has had in six decades.

READ MORE - Japan's Long-Ruling Party Suffers Crushing Defeat in Elections

Can we stop using the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-chhaing” (the fighting party)?

By Heng Thal Savuth
Khmer Sthabna news
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

[KI-Media note: In Khmer, the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-chhaing” – which literally translates to the “fighting party” – is used to designate the “opposition party”.]

Since 1979, following the demise of the cruel and inhumane Democratic Kampuchea regime of Pol Pot, Ieng Sary, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Kaing Keg Iev, etc… our small and pitiful Cambodia should have found peace, but quite to the contrary, we only met a meaningless war between Khmer people: one side accused the other side of being the puppet of the Yuon Hanoi regime, while the other side accused the other of being the gang of the Pol Pot genocidal group.

The intense war between Khmer people continued on for another decade, and it finally ended with the help of the International community, in particular, that of the UN under the aegis of the [1991] Paris Peace Agreements. Following this event, constitutional monarchy was formed in Cambodia following its prior topping by the Lon Nol regime on 18 March 1970. After 1993, Khmer people from all political tendencies agreed with each other to rebuild the country under the aegis of the king and they were all determined to steer Cambodia towards a plural democracy.

Since then, several Cambodian political parties were formed, but, nevertheless, at the end, political bumps also started and they continued on until the present. In truth, since 1993 and until now, Cambodia never became a democracy, i.e. our country is inching toward democracy, but whether this process is long or short, reachable or unreachable, depends entirely on whether Khmer people from all political tendencies clearly understand the meaning of the word “democracy” and their willingness to unite and understand each other to achieve this common goal.

As a Cambodian, even though I live overseas for more than 20 years, I still think about the destiny of my birthplace, in particular, I was interested in the word “Pro-chhaing” which has an opposite meaning to its English counterpart, known as “opposition party.”

After 1979, all Khmer citizens faced many problems, both physically and mentally, due to the cruel Pol Pot regime, and Khmer people from all political tendencies fought (“Pro-chhaing”) each other for decades to see who won or lost. Therefore the word “Pro-chhaing” carries a bad connotation for those Khmer people who are holding onto power, they consider the “opposition party” (“Pak pro-chhaing”) as their personal enemies.

While Cambodia is inching toward true democracy, the use of the word “Ka-nak-pak pro-chhaing” (the fighting party) or simply “pro-chhaing” is considered as the tip of a sharp weapon or a sharp spear used to pound and break through the ruling party instead.

Therefore, at a tA
Therefore, at a time when Cambodia is moving along the democratic path, “nationalist” Cambodian parties should not use the word “pro-chhaing” at all, we can use this word only when our country reaches full democracy, such as the USA.

The use of the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-cheng” (rival party) and “Ka-nak-pak Chum-toas” (opposition party) carries a better connotation than the word “pro-chhaing.”

Those who consider themselves as wonderful “democrats” just because they live overseas, and they look down, undervalue other parties, are not true democrats because they have extremely wrong and bad views in a circumstance when our country needs to unite together to build the country.

The official use of the words “Ka-nak-pak Pro-cheng” or “Ka-nak-pak Chum-toas” on radio, TV and newspapers is a good gesture and it is tantamount to a magical pill that can cure the illnesses of all Cambodian politicians, and this will lead them to unite, to truthfully love each other to build our small and pitiful Cambodia, and bring her to prosperity and turning her into a true democracy, just like any other country in Southeast Asia. This will also pull Cambodia out of the influence and the unwholesome greed of all our neighboring countries that plan to swallow our Cambodia.

READ MORE - Can we stop using the word “Ka-nak-pak Pro-chhaing” (the fighting party)?

HIV/AIDS positive at the new house after their family was evicted from the city to Toul Sambo, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009

Chan Toma (R), a 40-year-old HIV positive man, is treated by a doctor at his new house after his family was evicted from the city to Toul Sambo, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009. A senior World Bank official held talks with the Cambodian government over the forced eviction of people from their homes and said the development bank would continue to work with it on land reform to tackle the problem. Land ownership is a controversial issue in Cambodia, where legal documents were destroyed and state institutions collapsed under the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s and the civil war that followed.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Chan Toma, a 40-year-old HIV positive man, is treated by a doctor at his new house after his family was evicted from the city to Toul Sambo, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009. A senior World Bank official held talks with the Cambodian government over the forced eviction of people from their homes and said the development bank would continue to work with it on land reform to tackle the problem. Land ownership is a controversial issue in Cambodia, where legal documents were destroyed and state institutions collapsed under the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s and the civil war that followed. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Chan Toma, a 40-year-old HIV positive man, takes a break from setting up his new house after his family was evicted from the city to Toul Sambo, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009. A senior World Bank official held talks with the Cambodian government over the forced eviction of people from their homes and said the development bank would continue to work with it on land reform to tackle the problem. Land ownership is a controversial issue in Cambodia, where legal documents were destroyed and state institutions collapsed under the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s and the civil war that followed. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Chan Toma, a 40-year-old HIV positive man, works on his new house after his family was evicted from the city to Toul Sambo, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009. A senior World Bank official held talks with the Cambodian government over the forced eviction of people from their homes and said the development bank would continue to work with it on land reform to tackle the problem. Land ownership is a controversial issue in Cambodia, where legal documents were destroyed and state institutions collapsed under the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s and the civil war that followed. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

READ MORE - HIV/AIDS positive at the new house after their family was evicted from the city to Toul Sambo, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009

Cambodia : 'Killing Fields' Trial

The Murderer against humanity Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, the former Khmer Rouge prison chief of the notorious S-21 torture centre during his trial in Phnom Penh

Chum Manh, 78, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture centre, sits in his former cell during a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009, as he boycotts the Khmer Rouge trial of Duch, the chief of the S-21. A group of 28 civil parties, many of them relatives of prisoners who died after harsh interrogations at S-21, boycotted the trial as they are disappointed with the court order not to question the personal character of Duch. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Chum Manh (R), 78, and Bou Meng, 68, both survivors of the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture centre, lead a group of civil parties on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009, as they boycott the Khmer Rouge trial of Duch, the chief of the S-21. The group of 28 civil parties, many of them relatives of prisoners who died after harsh interrogations at S-21, boycotted the trial as they are disappointed with the court order not to question the personal character of Duch. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Sek O, 42, cries as she prays at her father's portrait during a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009, as she boycott the Khmer Rouge trial of Duch, chief of the S-21 torture centre. A group of 28 civil parties, many of them relatives of the prisoners who died after harsh interrogations at the S-21, boycotted the trial as they are disappointed with the court order not to question the personal character of Duch. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Chum Manh, 78, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture centre, poses in his former cell during a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009, as he boycotts the Khmer Rouge trial of Duch, the chief of the S-21. A group of 28 civil parties, many of them who survived the S-21 where more than 14,000 prisoners died after harsh interrogations, boycotted the trial as they are disappointed with the court order not to question the personal character of Duch. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Chum Manh (L), 78, and Bou Meng (C), 68, both survivors of the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture centre, point at pictures of victims during a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phneng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009, as they boycott the trial of Duch, chief of the S-21. A group of 28 civil parties, many of them who survived the S-21 where more than 14,000 prisoners died after harsh interrogations, boycotted the trial as they are disappointed with the court order not to question the personal character of Duch. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea


Chum Manh (R), 78, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture centre, wipes away tears while people pray at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, August 31, 2009, as they boycott the Khmer Rouge trial of Duch, the chief of the S-21. A group of 28 civil parties, many of them who survived the S-21 where more than 14,000 prisoners died after harsh interrogations, boycotted the trial as they are disappointed with the court order not to question the personal character of Duch. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

READ MORE - Cambodia : 'Killing Fields' Trial

Reviews and Revisions – Some Almost too Late – Sunday, 30.8.2009

Posted on 31 August 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 627
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

Whenever there are large scale development actions planned, there are almost always also some people affected negatively, everywhere in the world.

The following report about how a Ratanakiri deputy governor publicly speaks of the need to carefully weigh positive goals and unavoidable negative results, is an example that is worth of being taken care of widely in the country: “Development cannot avoid certain impacts that we try to steer clear of.” – “First we need to assess the impacts on the society, the economy, and the environment, especially to organize plans with the participations from all relevant institutions and from the communities, before any projects are finally decided.”

It d.”

It is to be seen how this basic attitude will be applied in dealing with the may open questions which have been raised in relation to the Sesan Krom II Hydro-Electric Dam. As we also mirrored during the week, the Sesan V Hydro-Electric Development Project has already been canceled. The reasons are not completely clear in detail – it is reported that the plan was given up “as it would not provide economic benefits.” Economic benefits for whom? For the regional society? For the economy of the whole country? Or for the economy of the implementing company? And what about the overall economic results for the affected communities?

Surely it is extremely difficult to present an overall financial evaluation for the economic results of such plans, when the situation of the local people, and of the macro-economic benefits for the whole country are at stake.

This may lead to overly simple decisions, using the data which can more easily be estimated and calculated: the cost of the construction, and the estimated income from the sale of the electricity. The price of giving up the living environments of villagers, and the monetary value of loosing their ancestral sites is different. It cannot be calculated.

Was a similarly careful consideration made before starting to destroy the Boeng Kak lake by filling most of it up with sand from the Mekong river-bed, and displacing thousands of inhabitants? Was the plan for destroying the lake made, as the Ratanakiri deputy governor suggests, “with the participation from all relevant institutions and from the communities, before any projects were finally decided?” It seems that things went quite differently in Phnom Penh, before a company got the contract without public bidding, without a broad consultation among the wider Phnom Penh population affected – not only the families who used to live around the lake are affected – and without public evaluation of the price paid by a private company for a lot of public property.

Now flooding starts again in parts of Phnom Penh. Many months ago, it had been reported that the city started to build – with public funds – extensions for the management of excess water which cannot find temporary storage in the lake, as it was usual formerly, before the Boeng Kak lake was filled in.

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When families were made to move to make room for big constructions plans, it was always claimed that the relocation sites offered, had all the basic necessary amenities. That was also the case when the remaining people from the Dey Krahom region were forced out on behalf of the 7NG company. – Now we had the following headline: “The Shukaku Company Donates US$10,000 through the 7NG Company to Create a Clean Water System for 185 relocated families in Damnak Trayueng village, Chaom Chau commune, Dangkao district, Phnom Penh.” Now, the Shukaku company – involved in filling up the Boeng Kak lake, donated a clean water system – which was obviously still missing – through the 7NG company, and last week the Phnom Penh municipality negotiated on behalf of the Shukaku company with the last remaining families to leave the Villages 2 and 4 at the lake. How are the interests of these three entities, private and public, related to each other?

On Thursday, The Cambodia Daily had a detailed report about the situation in Damnak Trayueng, where also 335 families relocated who had been “renters” at Dey Krahom and therefore did not get compensation offered. The report describes rampant sicknesses among children and adult in the partly flooded area, where children can no longer go to school since relocation, and the adults find it difficult, 15 km away from town, to find jobs.

A revision of this situation is not yet in sight.

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Should the following cases me mirrored as “revisions” of past decisions? This is not really appropriate, because the relevant institutions and persons in the bureaucratic administration of the court and prison system failed to take the necessary decisions. Quite simply: the case files of arrested suspects were not only misplaced – nobody seemed to care that the papers were misplaced and two people were kept in jail against the law:

- “A Man Had Been Detained for Four Years without Being Presented to a Judge, because His Case File Had Been Lost [he was arrested for stealing a mobile phone worth US$15 in 2005 – Kandal]”

- “A Woman Had Been Temporarily Detained for Around Three Years without Any Hearing Yet, and It Is Suspected that Her Case File Had Been Lost”

We have not found any reports – neither that the persons who were held illegally, will get a monetary compensation for the injustice suffered, nor that the culprits in the bureaucracy will be punished. But this scandal is at least receiving attention higher up: “The Minister of Justice, Mr. Ang VongVathana, Reminded Judges and Prosecutors Not to Lose Case Files Again.”

And there are more cases – about which the Mirror had reported in the past – where court decisions are called up for reconsideration, without going into Appeals Court procedures:

- “The King Asks the Minister of Justice to Check the Decision of the Municipal Court on Mr. Hang Chakra” [the editor-in-chief of Khmer Machas Srok, who was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison for defamation and disinformation against government officials]

- “The Dispute about the Renakse Hotel in front the Royal Palace Reached the King” [after there had been a request for his intervention, but the King referred this case to Prime Minister Hun Sen to make a decision]

And finally, there is the case of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, jailed for the murder of the labor leader Chea Vichea in January 2004. The Court of Appeals confirmed their sentences of 20 years in prisonment in 2007. In December 2008, the Supreme Court released them on bail, In August 2009, the Court of Appeal ordered a review of the case against Born Samnang and Sok Sam Ouen, and bail for them was extended.

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At the time of this writing, the exit poll reports from the elections in Japan are coming in. On Saturday, we had mirrored voices from Cambodia, considering: “Will Cambodian-Japanese Ties Change if Japan Has a New Prime Minister?” The Japanese voters cast their votes, first of all, for internal concerns, responding to the intentions of the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan to fundamentally review and revise the 50 years of government by the Liberal Democratic Party, which until now held 303 of the 480 seats in the outgoing parliament, while the Democratic Party of Japan had only 112. Now the Japanese media estimate that, based on exit poll analysis, the situation will be reversed: the Democratic Party of Japan will probably get 300 or more seats. And that will mean a reorientation from a policy of supporting the bigger corporations to a focus on consumers and workers, strengthening the public welfare system, and reforming the power structure of the bureaucracy.

Whether this will lead also to a revision of the Cambodia related policy of Japan or not, as discussed on Saturday, only the future will show. But it is sure that Cambodian politics will carefully observe why such a fundamental change in the public opinion happened in Japan. The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party said, in his own words, that the election brought a “revolution,” as the people were “fed up” with the governing party.

READ MORE - Reviews and Revisions – Some Almost too Late – Sunday, 30.8.2009