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Hun Xen afraid of meeting the same fate as Pol Pot and Saddam Hussein?

Union to use 80,000 workers to campaign for minimum wage raise

The demise of Cambodia's cyclo drivers

Ten years ago nine thousand cyclo drivers made a living pedalling people and their possessions around the streets of Phnom Penh. It was the Cambodian capital's long standing foot powered taxi. But today there are just thirteen hundred cyclo drivers left.

Presenter: Robert Carmichael
Speakers: Im Sambath, Head, Cyclo Conservation and Career Association; Oum Sok, cyclo driver; Margie Edmonds, Australian tourist

And that's just the kind of endorsement Im Sambath hopes will guarantee the cyclo's survival in Phnom Penh for another 70 years.
THIS IS ROBERT CARMICHAEL IN PHNOM PENH

Click here to listen to the audio program (Windows Media)

ROBERT CARMICHAEL: Over the past 70 years the three-wheeled bicycle taxi known as the cyclo has been a classic Phnom Penh sight, with its bucket seat between the two front wheels for the passengers, and the driver perched high up behind them above the rear wheel, pedalling away.

The cyclo was brought here by the French from neighbouring Vietnam back when the nations were, along with Laos, known as French Indochine.

Travelling by cyclo has long echoed the Mekong river that slips past Phnom Penh. This is an unhurried way to get around what was once a sleepy capital city.

But Phnom Penh is no longer sleepy. And as the roads get busier with motorbikes and four-wheel drive vehicles, there is less room for cyclos. There is also less demand for them from the city's residents.

So says Im Sambath, the head of the Cyclo Conservation and Career Association, a non-governmental membership body for the capital's dwindling stock of cyclo drivers.

Im Sambath says cyclo numbers have dropped precipitously - from 9,000 a decade ago to 1,300 now. Within five years he predicts just 500 will be left.

Why is that? Firstly, getting spare parts is a problem. But he says the biggest problem is that local people prefer faster ways of getting around - such as motorbike taxis or auto-rickshaws known as tuktuks.

The solution is to turn away from the shrinking local market and tap into the growing tourism market.

IM SAMBATH: The tourists like what is the new thing, the strange thing. Like cyclo - the foreign countries they don't have the cyclo. So when they visit Cambodia they want to see what's strange, what's new. So that they can see the cyclo - oh, very strange for them. Sometimes they say relaxing on the cyclo along the riverside. So it is a good thing for them, yes.

ROBERT CARMICHAEL: For ten dollars a head, the association's members pedal tourists on a day-trip around the capital.

Phnom Penh is a flat city, which helps. And since the tourist sites are located within a three-mile radius, the fact that this is a slow way of getting around is hardly a problem.

Seventy-five year old Oum Sok has pedalled these flat streets since he was just 18. As the oldest member of the cyclo association, he now ferries tourists. Waiting for his fare outside the city's National Museum, Oum Sok says that in the old days there were few tourists but plenty of local demand.

So what else has changed?

OUM SOK: When I was young I could earn a lot, but now everything is expensive. Another thing is that the customers don't want to take a cyclo with an old man like me driving.

ROBERT CARMICHAEL: The two dozen other men who are pedalling tourists around the capital today are all younger than Oum Sok.

Like him, most are from the rural provinces of Cambodia where work opportunities are few.

In Phnom Penh their living costs are low - at night they congregate on the pavements with their cyclos and sleep in the bucket seats. That way they can send more money home to their families in the provinces.

Im Sambath says that for a day's work they will earn around ten dollars for taking visitors to the key tourist sites.

IM SAMBATH: The place that you are going to see? You would like to see the landmarks of the city, like Wat Phnom, Royal Palace, National Museum, Independence Museum. If they have the time, the Central Market or the railway station.

ROBERT CARMICHAEL: The cyclo crocodile is becoming a more common sight here. And the tourists seem to like the unhurried way of seeing the city.

Margie Edmonds is an Australian tourist from Melbourne. Her group of 52 stopped off in Phnom Penh on their way by luxury slow boat from Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam to the temples of Angkor Wat in northwest Cambodia.

She says the cyclo journey ranks among the best experiences she has had in Asia.

MARGIE EDMONDS:
CARMICHAEL: You'd recommend it?
EDMONDS: Absolutely. It's the only way to go. Been right around the city - I'd get on another one in a minute, but I've got to get back to the boat.

Caritas marks 20 years of service in Cambodia

A Caritas worker in Cambodia distributing food aid. Caritas is currently celebrating its 20th year in Cambodia.

June 17, 2010
Source: Ucanews.com

Caritas Cambodia will spend US$16 million over the next five years to help develop communities in the country, its executive director said yesterday while celebrating the agency’s 20th anniversary.

The Catholic Church’s social service arm will continue its work in the community and in disaster relief programs as well as rights-based approaches to gender equality and justice that it has launched over the past two decades, said Kim Ratana.

Ratana addressed 500 people including government officials, Caritas staff and villagers at the June 15 ceremony. Participants, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, guest of honor at the event, praised Caritas for its work.

The government is grateful to Caritas for its efforts to reduce poverty in the country, with its projects to develop agriculture, education and health care, said An.

Nheuk Savon, a 49-year-old farmer from Siem Reap province, said Caritas has been present in his village since 2002. “We received support to plant rice, rear chickens and grow vegetables. Our living standard has improved,” he said.

“Caritas created … community empowerment programs to encourage poor people to earn a living,” said Monsignor Enrique Figaredo, chairperson of Caritas Cambodia.

“As a result, they have the ability to develop themselves by making products,” said the Jesuit priest who is also apostolic prefect of Battambang.

In 1972, the Catholic Church in Cambodia launched an aid commission to help war victims. This commission took on the name of Caritas Cambodia.

It stopped functioning in April 1975 when the Khmer Rouge took control of the country.

On March 22, 1990, Bishop Emile Destombes, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh , re-established Caritas Cambodia with the help of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas France and in cooperation with the Cambodian government.

It's better for any monarchy to perish fulfilling its role to help the people in need and suffering than to live for ... meaningless existence

Mu Sochua to be guest speaker at the Red Carpet Screening of REDLIGHT in New York City

REDLIGHT Trailer from jillian selsky on Vimeo.

The World Premier Red-Carpet Screening & Fundraising Event of "Redlight" the movie - NYC

You are cordially invited to: The World Premier Red Carpet Screening of highly acclaimed “REDLIGHT” Monday, June 21st 2010 at Sva Theater, New York City, 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM screenings SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street, New York City.

Hosted by:

Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney
Ambassador Mark Lagon
Ambassador Swanee Hunt
Cécilia Attias
Ashley Judd
Cindi Leive
Ron Livingston
Lauren Bush
Julia Ormond
Petra Nemcova
Elizabeth Berkley
Greg Lauren

Please join us for the Red-Carpet World Premier Screening and Fundraising Event of Redlight on Monday, June 21st 2010, at the Sva Theater, located at 333 West 23rd Street in New York City. This special evening will be a multi-pronged event with two screenings offered.

Join us at 6:00 PM for the Official World Premier Red-Carpet Screening with limited tickets open to the public and 9:00 PM for the general public screening. Both screenings will be followed by a Q&A session featuring, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Mu Sochua, and Filmmakers Guy Jacobson and Adi Ezroni who both won the prestigious State Department’s Tip Report Global Hero Award for their work in combating human trafficking.

As a VIP guest, please join us for the VIP reception at the Cue Gallery, located nearby at 511 West 25th Street after the first screening. After the second screening, please join us for beverages in the Sva reception lobby. The proceeds from this event will go towards two nonprofit 501(c)(3), anti-trafficking organizations, RedLight Children and Restore NYC, both working tirelessly in the fight against human slavery.

6:00 PM for the Official World Premier Red Carpet Screening (with limited tickets open to the public)

Red Carpet VIP Tickets - $1000 (As a VIP guest please join us for the VIP reception at CUE Gallery, 511 West 25th Street.)

Red Carpet General Public Tickets - $100 (with open bar at the After-Party from 11:00-12:00 midnight at Juliette Supper Club at 538 W. 21st St. (between 10th Ave & West St.)

9:00 PM for the Red Carpet Premier Screening open to the General Public

Red Carpet General Public Tickets - $50 (with open bar at the After-Party from 11:00-12:00 midnight at Juliette Supper Club at 538 W. 21st St. (between 10th Ave & West St.) Please see below for a full outline of the evening:

First Screening at 6:00 PM:
5:00 PM – Press arrives 5:30-6:30 PM – Red-Carpet and Step & Repeat Photo Opportunities
6:30 PM - Introduction by Keynote Speaker (TBD)
6:45 PM- Screening of the film “Redlight” (1 hour, 10 minutes)
8:00 PM- Q&A with Filmmakers Guy, Jacobson and Adi Ezroni, & Mu Sochua
8:30 -11:00 PM – VIP reception @ The Cue Gallery, 511 West 25th Street (8 min. walk)

Second Screening at 9:00 PM:
9:00 PM- Red-Carpet and Step & Repeat Photo Opportunities
9:30 PM – Short introduction – Faith Huckel, Executive Director of Restore NYC
9:35 PM – Screening of the film “REDLIGHT” (1 hour, 10 minutes)
10:45 PM – Q&A with Filmmakers Guy, Jacobson and Adi Ezroni, Mu Sochua
11:00-12:00 Midnight- Reception in main lobby

About the Film:
Redlight Trailer from Jillian Selsky on Vimeo . UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lucy Liu produced and narrated Redlight, an inspiring and powerful feature documentary about child sexploitation. Filmed over a four year period, REDLIGHT focuses on the personal stories of the victims and two remarkable advocates for change: grass-roots activist Somaly Mam and politician Mu Sochua. Both have since been nominated for the Noble Peace Prize and won other numerous human rights awards around the world.

For more information about the film, visit http://www.redlightthemovie.com

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW CAMPAIGN ARCHIVE

Border, Mekong on Agenda for Regional Meeting

Khmer Rouge Trial Scheduled for March 2011: Official

“As far as I understand it, the co-prosecutors have stated that they will not file anymore cases,” he said. “And the whole court will wrap up in 2015.”

The UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal is in the midst of investigating its second case of former regime leaders.

That case, No. 002, could be followed by two more, potentially leading to more indictments. Meanwhile, the tribunal continues to seek funding from donors for its operations.

In an exclusive interview with VOA Khmer, Knut Rosenhaug, the UN’s top administrator for the tribunal, said Case No. 002 could go to public trial by March 2011.

That case will try Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith.

The closing order, which signals the end of the investigation, is expected in September, leading the way for the 2011 trial. Rosenhaug said the trial could last through the third quarter of 2012.

Meanwhile, two more cases are now at the office of investigating judges, following split decisions between Cambodian and international judges. Cambodian officials say further indictments could rupture the peace brokered with the Khmer Rouge in the 1990s.

Rosenhaug said the cases will be resolved within the office of the investigating judges. A judge who disagrees with the indictments will have to file with the Pre-Trial Chamber of the court, but even then an investigation can continue under one judge.

Disagreements between judges were not a concern of the administration, he said.

“The judges have the ability to make this decision, and they can exercise their rights according to free will,” he said. “So we will support the judges accordingly. That means the judicial process is on track.”

Whether cases Nos. 003 and 004 come to indictment and trial remain open questions.

However, Rosenhaug said a fifth case is not expected.

“As far as I understand it, the co-prosecutors have stated that they will not file anymore cases,” he said. “And the whole court will wrap up in 2015.”

It's OK for court corruption to affect somebody else, but not OK when it affects a CPP lawmaker?

Lawmaker Files Conduct Complaint Against Court Clerk

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington DC Wednesday, 16 June 2010

"The case for Mr. Huor that I submitted to the Justice Ministry is to scrutinize his discipline as a clerk, [because he] works as a lawyer but in some work acts as a negotiator also."

A ruling party parliamentarian has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Justice over alleged impropriety by a clerk of Phnom Penh Municipal Court in a $1 million business complaint.

According to documents obtained by VOA Khmer, Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Chea Chamroeun alleges that court clerk Hong Bun Huor sought to act as a middleman for a defendant in a complaint filed through the court.

Hong Bun Huor has denied the allegations and has already appeared before the Ministry of Justice’s inspectorate, which is now awaiting further evidence from the lawmaker.

According to the complaint, Hong Bun Huor sought to act as an intermediary for Ung Rithea, a Phnom Penh businesswoman that Chea Chamroeun sued last month for $1 million.

Ung Rithea is currently in jail and awaiting trial of fraud charges related to the case.

However, Chea Chamroeun claims that prior to her arrest and before the complaint moved to the prosecutor’s office, Hong Bun Huor proposed that he accept a lesser, undisclosed amount or face problems moving his case through the court, according to the complaint.

Reached by VOA Khmer Tuesday, Chea Chamroeun declined to discuss the case in detail, but he did confirm filing the complaint.

“The case for Mr. Huor that I submitted to the Justice Ministry is to scrutinize his discipline as a clerk, [because he] works as a lawyer but in some work acts as a negotiator also,” Chea Chamroeun said. “So it’s unlawful.”

Hong Bun Huor was not immediately available for comment, but a justice official told VOA Khmer he has already appeared before the ministry’s inspector general and denied the claims.

“There is no evidence that would lead to disciplining the clerk, and the inspector general’s office will ask [Chea Chamroeun] to show evidence before the clerk can be reprimanded,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Cambodia’s courts have faced ongoing criticism for widespread corruption and political bias, even as the government has promised reform.