Pnteang2009's Blog

Cambodian economy, relatively, worst this year

pnteang2009 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:03:43 +0000

According to Phnom Penh Post this week, Cambodia’s investment for this first six months is a bit more than 1 billion US dollars, compared to more than 4 billion of the same period last year. That means the fall is almost 1/4.

At the same time, Cambodia’s garment sector also decreases 20%. So if this situation is going like this, that means this sector will decrease in 40% by the end of the year and based on this decrease it leads to loss of jobs of almost 50% of more than 300,000 workers.

According to Post, an official of Cambodian Development Council (CDC) who asked not to be named said it is resulted from the impact of the world economic crisis.

Cambodian leaders used to said that the crisis would not impact on its economy.

PA, Nguon Teang

CCIM/Radio VOD

Cambodia should be active in human rights at ASEAN level

pnteang2009 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:17:54 +0000

There are two mechanisms of ASEAN now working on the establishment of two ASEAN rights body- An ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACRWC), and the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ARMW).

At the 8th workshop (from 14-15th Jul 2009, in Thailand) on an ASEAN regional mechanism on human rights, Ms Kanda Vajarabhaya- Chair of the Working Group for the establishment of an ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of the Kingdom of Thailand- said yesterday ASEAN is now working on the draft of Terms of References for the establishment of ACRWC. Thailand is now making a draft ( they called minor draft) of TOR for the formation of ACRWC and the draft was already sent to Vietnam, the Philipines, and Malaysia for consultation and the comments from the four counties, including Thailand, will be combined for the revision of the draft- becoming a dreft, not minor one anymore- and subjected to the discussion at ASEAN mechanism to proceed the plan. As far as I have known the four mentioned countries above have had a number of meetings about the draft. Thailand, led by its Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, will facilitate for public consultation soon.

Also at the workshop yesterday, Mrs Jiraporn Kesornsujarit, Chief Inspector- Genereral of the Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Thailand, and also Representative of the Chairperson of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Mingran Workewrs (ACMW), said Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Phillipines are drafting different TOR for ACMW, and these are also several discussions on certain key points related migrant worker (MW) issues such as how to define MW (legal/illegal)? the rights of their families? how to differentiate refugees and MW? Thailand will postthe draft on internet soon for public comments.

For me, it is my big concern as these are, esp the issues of migrant workers, are important for the interests of our nation and it is silent in Cambodia about this. So I hope NGOs working on these issues let bring it up for public dicussion and awreness.

PA, Nguon Teang

CCIM/Radio VOD

Cambodia: Who is the God who forgives your sin?

pnteang2009 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:38:11 +0000

While defamation is not criminal case with prison term anymore, disinformation and incitement are popularly used by the government to put strong pressure on its critics through the current justice system. It is clearly evident with a number of cases charged by the government recently against opposition lawmakers and pro-opposition journalists. According the the laws concerning criminal issues, you must face criminal accusation and can be sentenced for some time in prison if you are charged with disinformation or incitement. And also according to the laws, criminal guilty can not be solved through compromising means. For example, if someone is charged with raping, he can’t be free from criminal penalty decided by the court even he wants to make compromise by giving money to the victim as compensation. That’s why one of Cambodian journalist, Mr Hang Chakra- the editor of a loca Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, is in Phnom Penh’s Prey Sor prison follwoing his charge by the goernment lawyer with disinformation and incitement.

Anyway, another pro-opposition newpaper editor Mr. Dam Sit is free even he is charged by the same government lawyer with the same charges. Do you know why he is free from prison sentence? Because he wrote a letter to Prime Minister to appologize him and other ruling party (CPP) leaders.

I concern that if CPP is still doing like this, no one cares about their criminal guilty since they can be free from punishment when they say appology to Prime Minister and other leaders of CPP.

PA, Nguon Teang

CCIM/Radio VOD

Cambodia has endorsed China’s deadly crackdown on protesters

pnteang2009 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:40:03 +0000

Last week, Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a state to endorse Chinese government who took action against its protesters in a province of China recently. The action was resulted in almost 200 Chinese protesters dead.

Regarding this statement, from my viewpoint, Cambodia is seen to be one of champions against freedom of expression through peaceful assembly and also, probably by critics, a baby of China.

It is a sign that I concern about the development of freedom of expression in Cambodia.

PA, Nguon Teang

CCIM/Radio VOD

ASEAN HR Body shall be launched in October this year

pnteang2009 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:49:05 +0000

The meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers will be held in Phuket of Thailand this week to adopt the TOR of this AHRB, which is planned for launching it at the ASEAN summit in Thailand, again in Phuket, in October this year. The body will be composed of 10 commissioners- one from each ASEAN member country.

Whether the body will be created for the intersts of ASEAN people?

ASEAN Charter says ASEAN is now a rule-based organization oriented by its people for the centered interests of the people.

At the 8th workshop on an ASEAN Regional Mechanism on Human Rights in Bangkok, Thailand, today, Pro Vit Muntarbhorn, alternate member of Thailand to HLP on an AHRB, said the body is now named by the current draft TOR that ASEAN Inter-Governmental HR Commission and the draft TOR also provided that the commissioner is the representative of the country and accountable to his/government. So it is the time now that we should be awre that each ASEAN country is under preparation for commissioner selection. Therefore, the selection procedure is very important to maximize the benefits of the AHRB’s works for ASEAN people.