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«Έχω εμπλακεί εντελώς άδικα!»

2011-07-21T03:40:00.000-07:00

Στιγμές δόξας με τον Ολυμπιακό θέλει να ζήσει ο Αβραάμ Παπαδόπουλος, ο οποίος μίλησε για τα «ερυθρόλευκα» όνειρά του, όσους τον ήθελαν εμπλεκόμενο στο σκάνδαλο με τα στημένα παιχνίδια και τον Βαγγέλη Μαρινάκη.

Αναλυτικά όσα δήλωσε ο αμυντικός του Ολυμπιακού στον ΓΑΥΡΟ:

Για την προετοιμασία: «Κάθε προετοιμασία έχει τις δικές τις ιδιαιτερότητες. Έχουν έρθει κάποια νέα πρόσωπα. Δουλεύουμε πάρα πολύ καλά και στόχος μας είναι να παρουσιαστούμε έτοιμοι στον πρώτο επίσημο αγώνα. Είναι θετικό πως η ομάδα είναι πλήρης και δουλεύουμε όλοι μαζί από την αρχή».

Για το γεγονός πως η ομάδα δείχνει να βασίζεται στον περσινό κορμό: «Μετά την περσινή χρονιά, που θεωρείται πετυχημένη και κατά την οποία έπαιξε καλό ποδόσφαιρο, αυτό που μπορώ να πω, είναι σημαντικό ότι ο βασικός κορμός παραμένει ίδιος διότι η ομάδα θα βρει γρήγορα τα πατήματα της και θα έχει πολύ πιο σύντομα την ομοιογένεια που της χρειάζεται. Ήρθαν και άλλα παιδιά και είναι σημαντικοί παίκτες για να βρίσκονται στον Ολυμπιακό. Όλοι θα προσπαθήσουμε να παρουσιάσουμε την εικόνα που θέλει ο κόσμος και η οικογένεια του Ολυμπιακού».

Για τα περιθώρια βελτίωσης που υπάρχουν: «Δουλεύουμε για να βελτιώσουμε πολλά πράγματα στην ομάδα. Ήταν καλή η περσινή χρονιά, αλλά μην ξεχνάμε πως φέτος υπάρχει και το Champions League, οπότε είναι μια χρονιά σημαντική και δύσκολη. Στο Champions League δεν επιτρέπονται λάθη, διότι ακόμη και ένα μπορεί να το πληρώσεις. Πρέπει να δουλέψουμε συγκεντρωμένα για να αποφύγουμε τα λάθη».

Για το αν η κατάκτηση του περσινού πρωταθλήματος ήταν εύκολη, με τη διαφορά από τον δεύτερο Παναθηναϊκό στους 13 βαθμούς: «Όχι, δεν ήταν εύκολο το περσινό πρωτάθλημα. Οι εμφανίσεις που κάναμε και το καλό ποδόσφαιρο που παίξαμε κατά διαστήματα έπαιξαν σημαντικό ρόλο για να ξεφύγουμε στη βαθμολογία. Κάποια ματς ήταν δύσκολα, αλλά στο τέλος πήραμε αυτό που αξίζαμε».

Για τις προτάσεις από το εξωτερικό που ακουγόταν πως υπάρχουν: «Όχι, δεν υπήρξε κάτι. Το έχω πει ξανά ότι δική μου προτεραιότητα ήταν να παραμείνω στον Ολυμπιακό, όπως και έγινε. Δεν με ενδιέφερε τη συγκεκριμένη στιγμή να φύγω από τον Ολυμπιακό. Είναι μια μεγάλη ομάδα και πληροί όλες τις προϋποθέσεις για έναν ποδοσφαιριστή».

Για το ενδεχόμενο να φορέσει το περιβραχιόνιο του αρχηγού: «Είναι τιμή για κάθε ποδοσφαιριστή να είναι αρχηγός σε μια τόσο μεγάλη ομάδα. Όποιος πει πως δεν θέλει, θα λέει ψέματα. Για να είμαι ειλικρινής δεν το σκέφτομαι και αυτό που με απασχολεί είναι η ομάδα. Είναι σημαντικό να είσαι αρχηγός σε έναν τεράστιο σύλλογο, αλλά δεν θα το επιδιώξω. Αν έρθει κάτι τέτοιο ευπρόσδεκτο και είναι και κάτι που με ικανοποιεί. Έχουμε και τον Τοροσίδη στην ομάδα, που είναι αρχηγός. Από εκεί και πέρα να πληρώ τις προϋποθέσεις δεν έχω πρόβλημα».

Για τους νέους παίκτες που έχει αποκτήσει ο Ολυμπιακός: «Είναι πολύ νωρίς ακόμη, άλλωστε έχουμε κάνει λίγες προπονήσεις μαζί. Από τις πρώτες ημέρες τα πόδια είναι βαριά και τα παιδιά δεν μπορούν να δείξουν τον πραγματικό τους εαυτό. Έχουν πολύ καλά στοιχεία και μέρα με την μέρα ο χρόνος δουλεύει και για εκείνους αλλά και για εμάς και θα βελτιωνόμαστε όλοι».

Για τη μεταγραφή του Φραν Γέστε: «Είναι πολύ μεγάλος παίκτης που αγωνίζεται σε υψηλό επίπεδο όλα αυτά τα χρόνια. Ελπίζω να προσαρμοστεί και είμαι σίγουρος πως θα μας βοηθήσει πολύ σε αυτό που θέλουμε να κάνουμε».

Για την πρώτη εικόνα που έχει για τον Ιβάν Μαρκάνο: «Φαίνεται πως είναι πολύ καλός ποδοσφαιριστής, με πολύ καλές τοποθετήσεις, έχει παίξει σε πρωτάθλημα υψηλού επιπέδου, όπως το ισπανικό, και πιστεύω πως ταιριάζει απόλυτα στην ομάδα. Σας είπα πως είναι πολύ νωρίς ακόμη, διότι είναι πολύ νωρίς και τα πόδια είναι βαριά στην προετοιμασία».

Για την ανταπόκριση του κόσμου και την κίνηση των εισιτηρίων διαρκείας: «Ο κόσμος πάντα ήταν δίπλα στην ομάδα. Όλοι ξέρουμε ότι περνάμε δύσκολες καταστάσεις σαν χώρα. Παρ’ όλα αυτά η αγάπη του κόσμου είναι κάτι ανεπανάληπτο και μας γεμίζει ευθύνες. Μας κάνει να υπερβάλλουμε εαυτόν και μας αναγκάζει να τα δώσουμε όλα για τον κόσμο αυτό που σε κάθε παιχνίδι γεμίζει το Καραϊσκάκη και μας δίνει ώθηση».

Για την απώλεια του Αντώνη Νικοπολίδη από τα αποδυτήρια: «Είναι τεράστια απώλεια ο Αντώνης για την ομάδα. Είναι μεγάλη προσωπικότητα, αλλά όλα τα παιδιά κάνουμε τα πάντα για να είμαστε όλοι μαζί, ενωμένοι. Θα μας λείψει γιατί είναι ένας ποδοσφαιριστής που έχει βοηθήσει την ομάδα σε όλους τους τομείς. Από εκεί και μετά πρέπει να κάνουμε όλοι ό,τι είναι δυνατόν για φανεί το κενό του όσο λιγότερο γίνεται. Έχει έρθει ένας τερματοφύλακας εγνωσμένης αξίας που τον έχουμε δει να αγωνίζεται σε υψηλό επίπεδο και πιστεύω πως θα ανταποκριθεί στις προσδοκίες».

Για τα σενάρια πώλησης του Βασίλη Τοροσίδη: «Επειδή ξέρω καλά τον Βασίλη, το κίνητρό του δεν είναι τα λεφτά. Ίσως να είναι το πρωτάθλημα ή κάποια μεγαλύτερη ομάδα ή να αγωνιστεί στο εξωτερικό. Ο καθένας μας σκέφτεται διαφορετικά και έχει διαφορετικούς στόχους».

Για την ιστορία με το στοίχημα και την εμπλοκή του: «Δεν έχω καμία σχέση με όλα αυτά. Περιμένω να με καλέσει σύντομα ο ανακριτής για να το αποδείξω. Η εμπλοκή του ονόματός μου είναι άδικη. Όταν το θέμα θα τεθεί στις πραγματικές του διαστάσεις τότε θα φανεί ότι έχω εμπλακεί εντελώς άδικα. Εμπιστεύομαι απόλυτα την ελληνική Δικαιοσύνη, έχω το δίκιο με το μέρος μου και θα αποδειχθεί πως είμαι παντελώς ξένος προς όλα αυτά. Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω τον πρόεδρο, κύριο Βαγγέλη Μαρινάκη, τη διοίκηση γενικότερα, τον κόσμο του Ολυμπιακού αλλά και τους δικούς μου ανθρώπους που με στήριξαν και για την εμπιστοσύνη που μου έδειξαν».

Για τον Βαγγέλη Μαρινάκη: «Ο πρόεδρος έχει κάνει πάρα πολλά για την ομάδα. Έχει δώσει τα πάντα για την ομάδα. Είναι ένα επιπλέον κίνητρο για εμάς να παίξουμε και για αυτόν. Αυτά που ακούγονται δεν μας αγγίζουν, διότι όλοι ξέρουμε ποιος είναι και τι θέλει να κάνει για την ομάδα και το ελληνικό ποδόσφαιρο. Θέλει να κάνει τον Ολυμπιακό τεράστιο και να βοηθήσει το ελληνικό ποδόσφαιρο. Θέλει να κάνει τα πάντα για να έχουμε καλύτερες χρονιές».

Για την ανανέωση του συμβολαίου του: «Από τις προθέσεις που έδειξε η διοίκηση, φάνηκε ότι ήθελε να παραμείνω στην ομάδα. Αυτό ήθελα και εγώ. Από τη στιγμή που το ήθελαν και οι δυο πλευρές, έγινε αυτό που έπρεπε να γίνει. Έδειξα αυτά τα χρόνια ότι μπορώ να βελτιωθώ και είμαι ευχαριστημένος που ήρθα σε μια ομάδα που με στήριξαν ο κόσμος και ο πρόεδρος της».

Για τη σεζόν που ξεκινάει: «Θα κάνουμε τα πάντα και θα τα δώσουμε όλα μέσα στο γήπεδο, για να δικαιώσουμε τον κόσμο του Ολυμπιακού και όλη την οικογένειά του που πιστεύει σε εμάς. Δουλεύουμε πάρα πολύ και νομίζω ότι τα αποτελέσματα θα φανούν μέσα στο γήπεδο».

Λεφτά υπάρχουν: Μόνο για το ΝΑΤΟ!

2011-07-21T03:39:00.002-07:00

Σούπερ Βάση γίνεται η Σούδα.Θα περίμενε κανείς ότι στο κλίμα «εθνικής ενότητας» που διαμορφώνουν τα προπαγανδιστικά και χειραγωγικά ΜΜΕ και τα γκλομπ των ΜΑΤ, για την αντιμετώπιση των ελλειμμάτων και του χρέους που ο αστικός κόσμος δημιούργησε και ο κόσμος της εργασίας υφίσταται, η κυβέρνηση θα επέλεγε να μετριάσει την εμπλοκή της στις ιμπεριαλιστικές επεμβάσεις και σχεδιασμούς, τουλάχιστον με διάθεση εξοικονόμησης χρημάτων.

Αντίθετα βλέπουμε τις Ελληνικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις, που αντιμετωπίζουν τεράστια λειτουργικά προβλήματα, να βγαίνουν ολοένα εκτός συνόρων. Ιδιαίτερα η επέμβαση της Συμμαχίας Προθύμων και του ΝΑΤΟ ΣΤΗ Λιβύη, ανέδειξε για μια ακόμη φορά τον κομβικό ρόλο της Κρήτης και της Σούδας στους πολέμους της Νέας Τάξης. Φορτώνοντας ταυτόχρονα στον λαό μας ένα ημερήσιο κόστος της τάξης του ενός (1) εκατομμυρίου ευρώ!

Όμως τα βάρη του ΝΑΤΟ που ρίχνονται στις πλάτες του λαού μας δείχνουν να μην έχουν σταματημό, αφού και τα δύο κόμματα εξουσίας ΠΑΣΟΚ-ΝΔ, με την στήριξη του ΛΑΟΣ, φαίνονται αποφασισμένα νε μετατρέψουν την χώρα μας σε ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα και σημαντικότερα ορμητήρια των Νατοϊκών επεμβάσεων.

Στο πλαίσιο αυτών των επιλογών η κυβέρνηση του ΠΑΣΟΚ ψηφίζει Μνημόνιο για νέα βάση του ΝΑΤΟ στη Σούδα. Πρόκειται για τη Συμφωνία Τεχνικής Διευθέτησης μεταξύ της Διοίκησης των Συμμαχικών Δυνάμεων της Νάπολης και του ελληνικού υπουργείου Άμυνας, σχετικά με την εγκαθίδρυση της Προωθημένης Βάσης Διοικητικής Μέριμνας στο λιμάνι της Σούδας στην Κρήτη. (Memorandum of Understanding - Μνημόνιο Κατανόησης).

Αρχικά η Συμφωνία αυτή είχε υπογραφεί από το ΓΕΕΘΑ επί πρωθυπουργίας Καραμανλή το 2008 και κατατέθηκε τον Απρίλιο για κύρωση στη Βουλή από τον τέως υπουργό Άμυνας Βενιζέλο, και ήδη ψηφίστηκε στην Επιτροπή Εξωτερικών και Άμυνας, από το ΠΑΣΟΚ και τη ΝΔ και τις επόμενες μέρες θα σταλεί στην Ολομέλεια.

Βάζοντας στην άκρη τους εικονικούς διαξιφισμούς ΠΑΣΟΚ-ΝΔ, διαπιστώνουμε την πλήρη συμφωνία τους στο να εξυπηρετήσουν όλες τις νατοϊκές απαιτήσεις. Τώρα συμφωνούν στην ίδρυση στις εγκαταστάσεις του Ελληνικού Πολεμικού Ναυτικού -πέραν της ήδη υπάρχουσας αεροναυτικής βάσης των ΗΠΑ- ειδικής βάσης πετρελαίου και υπηρεσιών για να υποστηρίζει της Νατοϊκές επιχειρήσεις υπό την κωδική ονομασία «Ενεργή δράση» (ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR) στη Μεσόγειο.

Όπως και στη Δανειακή Σύμβαση με την «τρόικα», έτσι και σε αυτό το Μνημόνιο αμυντικής συνεργασίας, η Ελλάδα, δημεύεται ως «Έθνος Υποδοχής» (Host Nation), σύμφωνα με τη στρατιωτική ορολογία, να παρέχει στο προσωπικό του «Αποστέλλοντος Έθνους» (Sending Nation), δηλαδή στον στρατό των κρατών-μελών του ΝΑΤΟ, ελευθερία εισόδου και εξόδου πλοίων, αεροσκαφών, υλικών, εξοπλισμών όπλων, εφοδίων, χωρίς κανέναν φόρο!

Και όχι μόνο αυτό. Το Μνημόνιο ορίζει ρητώς ότι η Ελλάδα «θα παρέχει γεύματα στις στρατιωτικές εγκαταστάσεις ανέξοδα και θα παρέχει ανέξοδα στις δυνάμεις που στρατωνίζονται υπηρεσίες δημόσιας ωφέλειας, λευκά είδη, υπηρεσίες καθαριότητας, υφιστάμενες εγκαταστάσεις γραφείων, εξοπλισμό γραφείου, επαρκή χώρο στάθμευσης, εγκαταστάσεις πλυντηρίων». (Παράρτημα Ε - Υποστήριξη Ακινήτων και Εγκαταστάσεων).

Επιπλέον, η Ελλάδα υποχρεούται να προσφέρει «ιατρικές και οδοντιατρικές υπηρεσίες και μεταφορές με ασθενοφόρο για τους ασθενείς». Ακόμα και για την αποστολή των νεκρών στο «Αποστέλλον Έθνος» προνοεί το κείμενο, ορίζοντας ότι «η μεταφορά της σορού θα συντονίζεται και θα υποστηρίζεται από το "Έθνος Υποδοχής"» (Ελλάδα).

Στην ειδική έκθεση που επισυνάπτεται αναφέρεται το κόστος όλων αυτών των υπηρεσιών -από τις δωρεάν προμήθειες, μέχρι την παροχή θέρμανσης και υγειονομικής περίθαλψης-, κόστος που προσδιορίζεται στο ποσόν του 1.500.000 ευρώ ετησίως για τους έλληνες υπερφορολογούμενους!

Όσον αφορά την απώλεια εσόδων από τις φοροαπαλλαγές, τα δωρεάν διόδια και την απαλλαγή από δασμούς και τέλη, δεν υπάρχει συγκεκριμένη αριθμητική προσέγγιση στην έκθεση, αλλά μόνο μια απλή δέσμευση, ότι: «η ανωτέρω απώλεια εσόδων θα αντιμετωπισθεί από άλλες πηγές εσόδων του κρατικού προϋπολογισμού»!

Δηλαδή, η χρεωκοπημένη Ελλάδα, που καταργεί κάθε εργασιακό δικαίωμα, κλείνει νοσοκομεία-πανεπιστήμια-παιδικούς σταθμούς, προσφέρει συντάξεις πείνας, ανοίγει μια επιπλέον Νατοϊκή Βάση. Όχι μόνο αναλαμβάνει τα έξοδα επιμελητείας, όχι μόνο χάνει έσοδα, αλλά η κυβέρνηση στρέφεται και πάλι στον εργαζόμενο λαό για να εξασφαλίσει την αναπλήρωση τους.

Μήπως είναι ανάγκη να τεθεί με ιδιαίτερη αποφασιστικότητα το αίτημα εξόδου της χώρας μας από ΝΑΤΟ-ΕΥΡΩΣΤΡΑΤΟ, να κλείσουν οι βάσεις και να διαλυθεί η συμμαχία του ολέθρου;

Όλο και περισσότεροι αδυνατούν να πληρώσουν τους λογαριασμούς της ΔΕΗ!

2011-07-21T03:39:00.001-07:00

Οι Έλληνες, που αδυνατούν να πληρώσουν τους λογαριασμούς της ΔΕΗ αυξάνονται μέρα με την ημέρα. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι στο τέλος Ιουνίου οι απλήρωτοι προς τη ΔΕΗ λογαριασμοί έφταναν στα 420 εκατ. ευρώ (από 330 εκατ. ευρώ τον αντίστοιχο μήνα πέρυσι), αυξήθηκαν δηλαδή κατά 30% . Ανάμεσα στους κακοπληρωτές υπάρχει μια κατηγορία καταναλωτών, που δεν πληρώνουν συστηματικά το ρεύμα και που ακολουθούν την εξής πρακτική:
δεν εξοφλούν τους λογαριασμούς τους σε μια εταιρία (π.χ. ΔΕΗ) και όταν απειληθούν με διακοπή του ρεύματος, «μετακομίζουν» σε άλλη εταιρεία, φεσώνουν και αυτή κ.ο.κ. Και αυτό, καθώς βάσει του υφιστάμενου νομικού πλαισίου η αλλαγή προμηθευτή δεν μπορεί να παρεμποδιστεί λόγω ύπαρξης ληξιπρόθεσμων οφειλών του πελάτη.

Νέος αρχηγός της Εθνικής Φρουράς ο Στυλιανός Νάσης

2011-07-21T03:38:00.000-07:00

Το Υπουργικό Συμβούλιο προχώρησε χθες στο διορισμό νέου Αρχηγού της Εθνικής Φρουράς. Πρόκειται για τον Αντιστράτηγο εν αποστρατεία Νάση Στυλιανό του Βασιλείου.

Ο κ. Νάσης ανάμεσα σε άλλα είχε υπηρετήσει και στην Κύπρο σε μονάδες του ΓΕΕΦ το 1987-1989.
Οπως δήλωσε ο κυβερνητικός εκπρόσωπος Στέφανος Στεφάνου, ο κ. Νάσης θα δώσει τη νενομισμένη διαβεβαίωση ενώπιον του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας Δημήτρη Χριστόφια στις 23 Ιουλίου στις 9 το πρωί και μετά θα παραλάβει από τον απερχόμενο Αρχηγό της Ε.Φ. και θα προχωρήσει στην ανάληψη των καθηκόντων του.

Η Αλέκα Παπαρήγα στο διήμερο της ΚΝΕ

2011-07-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

Άνοιξε το πρωί η αυλαία του 20ου αντιιμπεριαλιστικού διημέρου της ΚΝΕ στα Καμένα Βούρλα.
Περίπου 5 χιλιάδες μέλη της ΚΝΕ φιλοξενούνται στο κάμπιγκ του ΕΟΤ.
Το πρωί βρέθηκε εκεί και η Αλέκα Παπαρήγα προκειμένου να μιλήσει με τους νέους και να χαιρετήσει το διήμερο. Αναφερόμενη στην κρίση επεσήμανε πως είναι κρίση του πολιτικού συστήματος και κάλεσε για μια ακόμη φορά την κοινωνία να αντιδράσει. Στο μεταξύ το απόγευμα τα στελέχη της ΚΝΕ θα κάνουν πορεία διαμαρτυρίας στο κέντρο της Λαμίας. Η πορεία θα ξεκινήσει στις 6 το απόγευμα από τον κόμβο της Ξηριώτησας στην είσοδο της πόλης και θα ολοκληρωθεί στην πλατεία Διάκου όπου θα ακολουθήσει ομιλία του μέλους της Κ.Ε. του ΚΚΕ Δημήτρη Κουτσούμπα.

Εορτή του Αγίου Ιερομάρτυρος Παγκρατίου

2011-07-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

Γιορτάζουμε σήμερα 9 Ιουλίου, ημέρα μνήμης του Αγίου Ιερομάρτυρος Παγκρατίου, του Επισκόπου Ταυρομενίου, ας πούμε λίγα λόγια:
Ο Άγιος Παγκράτιος καταγόταν από την Αντιόχεια. Διδάχτηκε την πίστη του Χριστού από τον...
Άγιο και Απόστολο Πέτρο και χειροτονήθηκε από τον ίδιο Επίσκοπος Ταυρομενίου. Ο Άγιος Παγκράτιος, μετά την χειροτονία του, έπρεπε να μεταβεί στην επισκοπική του επαρχία, στο Ταυρομένιο της Σικελίας. Κατά Θεία Οικονομία συνάντησε δύο ναυτικούς, τον Ρωμύλο και το Λυκαονίδη . Αυτοί ήταν καλοπροαίρετοι άνθρωποι και μόλις άκουσαν από τον Άγιο για τον Χριστό, πίστεψαν σε Αυτόν. Οι ναυτικοί αυτοί ήταν από την Σικελία και επρόκειτο να επιστρέψουν εκεί με τα πλοία τους. Έτσι ο Άγιος επιβιβάστηκε σε ένα από αυτά και πήγε στη Σικελία. Όταν ο Άγιος έφτασε εκεί, εξαφάνισε τα αγάλματα και τους ναούς του Φάλκωνα, του Λύσσωνα και των άλλων δαιμόνων. Επίσης κατόρθωσε να προσελκύσει στην πίστη του Χριστού τον ηγεμόνα του τόπου Βονιφάτιο. Και όχι μόνον αυτό, αλλά τον έκανε επιπλέον να χτίσει και Εκκλησία για τις ανάγκες των χριστιανών της περιοχής. Τον Άγιο Παγκράτιο, ο Θεός, τον τίμησε με το Χάρισμα της Θαυματουργίας. Έτσι, θεράπευε κάθε ασθένεια, με αποτέλεσμα να προσέρχονται καθημερινώς στην πίστη του Χριστού πολλά πλήθη ανθρώπων. Οι άνθρωποι αυτοί, βαφτίζονταν από τον ίδιο τον Θαυματουργό Άγιο και με τον τρόπο αυτό, εισέρχονταν επίσημα στην Εκκλησία του Χριστού. Ο Αγιος και Ιερομάρτυρας Παγκράτιος θανατώθηκε με πέτρες και μαχαίρια από οπαδούς της αιρέσεως του Μοντανισμού, οι οποίοι εκμεταλλεύτηκαν την απουσία του ηγεμόνα Βονιφάτιου, ο οποίος τιμούσε ξεχωριστά και προστάτευε τον Άγιο. Έτσι μαρτυρικά ο Άγιος Παγκράτιος, παρέδωσε την ψυχή του στον Κύριο.

Εύχομαι χρόνια πολλά και ευάρεστα στο Θεό !!!

Απολυτίκιο:
Ἦχος γ'. Θείας πίστεως.
Κράτος ἔνθεον ἠμφιεσμένος ἐκ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ κορυφαίου ἀποστόλων ζηλωτὴς ἐχρημάτισας, καὶ ταῖς ῥοαῖς τῶν αἱμάτων, Παγκράτιε, τὴν ἱερὰν διπλοῒδα ἐφοίνιξας. Πάτερ ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρίσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Το συναξάρι επιμελείται ο συνεργάτης του agioritikovima.gr Κυριάκος Διαμαντόπουλος

Και η αγελάδα θέλει τον κολλητό της

2011-07-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

Όσο περίεργο και αν ακούγεται, οι αγελάδες αποκτούν κολλητές φίλες και είναι πιο ευτυχισμένες όταν βρίσκονται μαζί τους, ενώ...
αγχώνονται και νιώθουν κατάθλιψη όταν είναι μακριά τους, υποστηρίζει νέα βρετανική μελέτη.

Σύμφωνα με την υποψήφια διδάκτορ Κρίστα ΜακΛέναν από το Πανεπιστήμιο του Νορθχάμπτον, τα νέα ευρήματα θα μπορούσαν να είναι χρήσιμα για τον τομέα της κτηνοτροφίας καθώς θα ήταν δυνατόν να ενισχύουν την παραγωγή γάλακτος.

Και η αγελάδα θέλει τον κολλητό της
Η νεαρή ερευνήτρια προχώρησε σε ένα πρωτότυπο πείραμα: μέτρησε τον καρδιακό παλμό και τα επίπεδα κορτιζόλης (ορμόνη του στρες) των αγελάδων για να δει πως αντιδρούσαν τα ζώα όταν περιβάλλονταν από άλλα (γνωστά και άγνωστα) ή όταν ζούσαν απομονωμένα.

Από τις μετρήσεις φάνηκε ότι οι αγελάδες είναι ιδιαίτερα κοινωνικά ζώα και αναπτύσσουν στενούς δεσμούς με άλλες αγελάδες που θεωρούν «φίλες» τους.«Όταν μια αγελάδα είχε δίπλα της κάποια άλλη που θεωρούσε φίλη της, τα επίπεδα του καρδιακού παλμού έκαναν βουτιά» αναφέρει η δρ ΜακΛέναν.

Οι φιλίες «κατεβάζουν» γάλα
«Δεν συνέβαινε όμως το ίδιο όταν η αγελάδα τοποθετείτο σε έναν χώρο μαζί με μία άλλη άγνωστη αγελάδα» συνεχίζει η ερευνήτρια.

«Εάν λοιπόν ενθαρρύνουμε τους κτηνοτρόφους να εντοπίσουν τις “φιλίες” που αναπτύσσονται μεταξύ των ζώων, θα μπορούσαμε να επιτύχουμε παραγωγικά οφέλη, καθώς μειώνοντας τα επίπεδα του στρες και διασφαλίζοντας την ευημερία των αγελάδων ενισχύουμε παράλληλα την παραγωγή γάλακτος» υπογραμμίζει.

Η κρίση φέρνει διαφθορά…

2011-07-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

Πολλά και σοβαρά στοιχεία για δωροδοκίες, υπεξαιρέσεις, απάτες, απιστίες και παραβάσεις καθήκοντος κατέθεσε στην Επιτροπή Θεσμών και Διαφάνειας της Βουλής ο...
διευθυντής της Υπηρεσίας Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας Αντώνης Δουκιαντζάκης, αναλύοντας την ετήσια απολογιστική έκθεση για το 2010, με βάση τη σχετική νομοθετική πρόβλεψη.
Φαίνεται ότι η κρίση έχει προκαλέσει μεγαλύτερη παραβατικότητα στους κόλπους της αστυνομίας, με αποτέλεσμα να… αυγατίσουν φαινόμενα δωροδοκίας και δωροληψίας, αλλά και ηχηρά κρούσματα διαφθοράς, που υπέπεσαν στην αντίληψη της υπηρεσίας τους.... Ο αξιωματικός της ΕΛΑΣ στάθηκε ιδιαίτερα σε κύκλωμα διακίνησης ναρκωτικών στις φυλακές Δομοκού, Κέρκυρας, Μαλανδρίνου, Λάρισας και Κορυδαλλού, όπου τουλάχιστον 60 άτομα φέρονται εμπλεκόμενα, όπως και στο θέμα 15 αστυνομικών, οι οποίοι «κάρφωναν» στους επιχειρηματίες με «φρουτάκια» τις αστυνομικές εφόδους λίγο πριν πραγματοποιηθούν. Ανάμεσα στις καραμπινάτες υποθέσεις του προηγούμενου έτους ξεχωριστή θέση κατέχει και το κύκλωμα αστυνομικών στις Κυκλάδες, που εμπλεκόταν σε παρανομίες με αυθαίρετα, με αποτέλεσμα η ζημία - όπως είπε - για το Δημόσιο να φτάνει τα 19 εκατ. ευρώ. Και ο κατάλογος είναι ακόμα μακρύς, αν και ο ίδιος στάθηκε στη ζημιά ύψους 2,5 εκατ. ευρώ, που προήλθε από κομπίνα με λαθραία τσιγάρα, με τη γνωστή τακτική να πλαστογραφούνται πρωτόκολλα καταστροφής των κατασχεμένων και στη συνέχεια να καίγονται μικρές ποσότητες και τα υπόλοιπα να επιστρέφουν στην αγορά. Ένα ακόμα ενδιαφέρον στοιχείο που προέκυψε από ερώτηση βουλευτή είναι ότι η επιλογή των αστυνομικών που εντάσσονται στην υπηρεσία γίνεται απ’ όσους έχουν άριστη αξιολόγηση τα τελευταία πέντε χρόνια και τα προηγούμενα 8 δεν θα πρέπει να έχουν υπηρετήσει σε γραφείο πολιτικού ή συνδικαλιστή. Το τελευταίο είναι πολύ καλό, ιδιαίτερα αν συσχετίσει κανείς την πολιτική με τη διαφθορά...

Πάντως, παρά τις καλές επιδόσεις της υπηρεσίας, ακόμα έχουμε πολύ δρόμο ωσότου συνολικά η κοινωνία αποφασίσει να δώσει ηχηρή απάντηση στη διαφθορά.

Προτίμησε την μπύρα

2011-07-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Το πάρτι των Μπόστον Μπρούινς για την κατάκτηση του Στάνλεϊ Καπ στο χόκεϊ επί πάγου, πνίγηκε στην πανάκριβη σαμπάνια Armand de Brignac.
Το 30λιτρο μπουκάλι, με το οποίο πλημμύρισε το θεόρατο Κύπελλο, κόστισε 100.000 δολάρια. Στη λυπητερή, όμως, εμφανίστηκε και ένα απροσδόκητο λήμμα: μία μπύρα λάιτ, αξίας 5 δολαρίων. Οι εφημερίδες της Βοστόνης ξεκίνησαν έρευνα, με χορηγό την ίδια την εταιρεία μπύρας: «Βρείτε ποιος παρήγγειλε την μπύρα κι εμείς θα τον ανταμείψουμε για την οξυδέρκεια των επιλογών του». Με τα πολλά, ο ένοχος εμφανίστηκε. Ηταν ένας κοσμικός, ονόματι Σάλον Λέστερ, που είδε φως και μπήκε. «Μου έδωσαν κι εμένα να πιω σαμπάνια από το Κύπελλο, αλλά είχε ζεσταθεί και ήταν και αηδιαστική, έτσι που τη μοιράζονταν δεκάδες νοματαίοι...».

Δήλωση του Δημάρχου Κερατσινίου - Δραπετσώνας κ. Λουκά Τζανή

2011-07-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

ΚΑΛΗ ΜΕΡΑ στο Κερατσίνι και στη Δραπετσώνα
ΚΑΛΗ ΝΥΧΤΑ στο κατεστημένο.

Με αφορμή τη συμπλήρωση έξι μηνών από την ανάληψη των καθηκόντων του ο Δήμαρχος Κερατσινίου κ. Λουκάς Τζανής δηλώνει:

«Ο λαός του Κερατσινίου και της Δραπετσώνας εμπιστεύτηκε την τύχη της πόλης μας σε μένα και τους συνεργάτες μου για να δουν το Κερατσίνι και η Δραπετσώνα μια ΚΑΛΗ ΜΕΡΑ.

Γνωρίζαμε εξ αρχής ότι οι συνθήκες δεν θα ήταν οι καλύτερες, αφού το διεθνές οικονομικό περιβάλλον, πολύ δε περισσότερο η άθλια οικονομική κατάσταση της πατρίδας μας και η ακόμα χειρότερη οικονομική κατάσταση στην οποία βρίσκεται η Αυτοδιοίκηση συνολικά και ειδικότερα ο Δήμος μας, θα όρθωναν πολύ υψηλά εμπόδια στην υλοποίηση του οράματος μας. Θεωρούμε όμως ότι η ψυχική μας δύναμη, η εμπειρία και η ικανότητα θα μας βοηθήσουν να τα καταφέρουμε.

Μέσα σε αυτό το διάστημα των έξι μηνών, έχουν γίνει πάρα πολλά, σε όλους τους τομείς, αφού καταφέρνουμε να αντιμετωπίζουμε καθημερινά τις προκλήσεις μιας πολύ απαιτητικής συγκυρίας. Ποτέ δεν φυγοπονήσαμε. Δίνουμε καθημερινά αγώνες, απέναντι στο «θηρίο» της πρωτοφανούς - της μεγαλύτερης που έχει βιώσει το Ελληνικό κράτος από ιδρύσεως του - οικονομικής κρίσης.

Προσωπικά εγώ ο Λουκάς Τζανής και οι συνεργάτες μου δίνουμε ΟΛΟΙ ΜΑΖΙ, ενωμένοι τη μάχη για την πρόοδο της πόλης μας. Αυτή η προσπάθεια λόγω των δύσκολων συγκυριών, ενίοτε συναντά πολύ μεγάλα εμπόδια. Και τα εμπόδια όταν εργάζεσαι σκληρά, σου δημιουργούν αίσθημα αδικίας. Η αδικία όταν ζεις σ’ ένα ψυχολογικό περιβάλλον οικονομικής ανασφάλειας συνήθως προκαλεί διαφωνίες ακόμα και εντάσεις.

Το ΚΑΛΗ ΜΕΡΑ είναι μια μεγάλη αυτοδιοικητική οικογένεια, η οποία στάθηκε ενάντια σε κάθε λογής κατεστημένα και κέρδισε πανηγυρικά. Οι Κερατσινιώτες και οι Δραπετσωνίτες επέλεξαν με εμφαντικό τρόπο, ότι δεν θέλουν άλλο πια την κομματική και οποιαδήποτε άλλη κηδεμονία και αποφάσισαν να στηρίξουν την ανεξάρτητη φωνή μας.

Οι διαφωνίες σε μια μεγάλη οικογένεια είναι αναπόφευκτες. Όμως αυτές οι διαφωνίες όχι μόνο δεν μας έχουν πληγώσει, αντίθετα μας έχουν ΕΝΩΣΕΙ πεισματικά. Το να υπάρχουν διαφωνίες δεν είναι λάθος. Τις περισσότερες φορές είναι και παραγωγικές. Το λάθος είναι όταν αυτές γίνονται βούτυρο στο ψωμί του πολιτικού κατεστημένου, το οποίο μας πολεμάει λυσσαλέα από την πρώτη μέρα που αναλάβαμε τη διοίκηση του Δήμου.

Δηλώνουμε ότι είμαστε αποφασισμένοι να δώσουμε με κάθε τίμημα τη σκληρή μάχη ενάντια στα προβλήματα, αλλά και ενάντια στο κατεστημένο. Ο ανεξάρτητος αυτοδιοικητικός δρόμος που επιλέξαμε να βαδίσουμε είναι ο δύσκολος της αρετής και όχι ο εύκολος της κομματικής επετηρίδας. Η πόλη μας εδώ και έξι μήνες έχει πει ΚΑΛΗ ΜΕΡΑ. Στα κατεστημένα συμφέροντα που μας πολεμάνε λυσσαλέα, εδώ και έξι μήνες ο λαός του Κερατσινίου και της Δραπετσώνας – μια για πάντα – ΚΑΛΗ ΝΥΧΤΑ.

Σας ευχαριστούμε για την στήριξη που μας δίνετε καθημερινά στον αγώνα μας.
ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΟΥΜΕ ΟΛΟΙ ΜΑΖΙ.»

[Wounded] Yemen president arrives in Saudi Arabia [-Another dictator fleeing his country, Hint! Hint!]

2011-06-04T17:34:00.001-07:00

Anti-government protestors attend a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 3, 2011. (Hani Mohammed / AP)

Yemeni citizens fled the capital Sanaa on Saturday after an attack on the presidential palace that left President Ali Abdullah Saleh, above, slightly injured. (Hani Mohammed / AP)

Saudi monarch intervenes in attempt to contain raging military conflict that has swept the capital

2011-06-04
msnbc.com news services

SANAA, Yemen — Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in the Saudi capital of Riyadh for treatment for wounds, the Saudi royal court said on Sunday.

"The Yemeni president has arrived along with officials and citizens who had received different injuries for treatment in Saudi Arabia," the royal court said.

The announcement followed a flurry of conflicting reports about the Yemeni president's whereabouts after Saudi King Abdullah announced that he had mediated a cease-fire to end deadly street battles.

Saleh was was wounded during an attack on the presidential palace Friday.

In latest developments, Saleh's Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi had taken over as acting president and supreme commander of the armed forces, Al Jazeera reported Saturday, citing unspecified sources.

For months, Saleh has defied intense pressure from his powerful Gulf neighbors and longtime ally Washington to step down. He agreed to transfer power several times, only to step back at the last moment. Should he leave the country now, he might never return, given that large segments of the population and a powerful tribal alliance could engineer his ouster while he's gone.

The extent of Saleh's injuries has been a matter of intense speculation. When the rocket struck the mosque in his presidential compound and splintered the pulpit, he was surrounded by top government officials and bodyguards. Eleven guards died, and five officials standing nearby were seriously wounded and taken to Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni ruling party officials and rebel tribesmen say Abdullah mediated a one-week cease-fire between the warring forces of Saleh and the anti-government opposition. The Saudi monarch intervened in an attempt to contain a raging military conflict that has swept the capital over the past week.

Abdullah stepped in shortly after Saleh's presidential palace compound was hit by a rebel rocket attack on Friday. Saleh was slightly injured, and 11 security guards were killed. Five other top officials were sent to Saudi Arabia for treatment.

Brink of civil war

Meanwhile, thousands fled Sanaa on Saturday in fighting which has brought Yemen closer to civil war.

Saleh's forces retaliated by shelling the homes of the leaders of a powerful tribal federation fighting an urban battle to oust Saleh.

The clashes have killed nearly 200 people over the last two weeks and turned areas of Sanaa into ghost towns after residents fled for safety.

Global powers are worried that Yemen, home to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and bordering the world's biggest oil exporter Saudi Arabia, could become a failed state, raising risks for regional security and Gulf oil shipments.

Saleh, a tenacious political survivor who has clung to power for nearly 33 years, said in an audio address late on Friday that an "outlaw gang" was behind the attack, which he blamed on the Hashed tribe led by Sadeq al-Ahmar. A tribal spokesman denied responsibility.

"I salute our armed forces and the security forces for standing up firmly to confront this challenge by an outlaw gang that has nothing to do with the so-called youth revolution," Saleh said. "Seven officers were martyred."

'Bullets everywhere'

Tribal and medical officials said Saturday that 10 tribesmen were killed and 35 injured in overnight fighting in Sanaa's Hassaba neighborhood, headquarters of opposition Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar. A tribal leader said street fighting lasted until dawn. Many of the compound's buildings and surrounding houses have already been heavily damaged by days of bombardment.

Government and rebel forces exchanged rocket fire, damaging a contested police station. The rockets rained down on streets housing government buildings that had been taken over by tribesmen.

Intermittent blasts and sporadic fire fights with automatic weapons punctuated the predawn hours and roads were clogged when the sun rose by civilians trying to flee the fighting that has engulfed more parts of the city.

"Bullets are everywhere, explosions terrified us. There's no chance to stay anymore," said Sanaa resident Ali Ahmed.

Nearly 400 people have been killed since a popular uprising against Saleh began in January, inspired by the movements in Tunisia and Egypt that toppled their long-standing leaders.

The battles are being fought on several fronts, with popular protests in several cities and military units breaking away from Saleh to protect the protesters.

There has also been a nearly week-long campaign in Zinjibar by locals and Saleh's soldiers to oust Islamist and al-Qaida militants who seized the southern coastal city near a shipping lane where about 3 million barrels of oil pass daily.

Defying world pressure, Saleh has thrice reneged on a deal brokered by Gulf states for him to quit in return for immunity from prosecution, even as he loses support at home.

Who does the Preah Vihear temple belong to?

2011-06-04T17:33:00.001-07:00

When the Preah Vihear Temple was granted World Heritage status in 2008, Thailand's citizens were angered by Cambodia's claim to the ancient site [GALLO/GETTY]

Thailand-Cambodia conflict over ancient temple site sparks debate over borders and historic rights.

04 Jun 2011
Tom Fawthrop
Al Jazeera

The magnificent ruins of this ancient Hindu temple, a World Heritage site since 2008, have become a bitter cause of serious border skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers. The skirmishes come amid conflicting claims over sovereignty and age-old historic rivalry.

This Hindu-inspired 11th century temple, spectacularly perched atop a mountain escarpment, hugs the border between Cambodia and Thailand.

According to Sanskrit inscriptions, the temple was once called Sri Sikharisvara, meaning "Glorious Lord of the Mountain", a dedication to the Hindu god Shiva.

Tanks and artillery have been mobilised only a few kilometres from these archaeological treasures. During an outbreak of hostilities twice this year, heavy shelling resulted in 17 dead and more than 50,000 people forced to flee on both sides of the militarised border.

When Preah Vihear temple was granted World Heritage status in 2008, Cambodia celebrated. People danced with joy in the streets of Phnom Penh. But in neighbouring Thailand, it triggered a series of angry xenophobic protests.

The Thai Patriots Network and the PAD People Alliance for Democracy (the Royalist Movement) have recently cranked up the pressure on Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, pushing him towards a more hard-line stance over this festering border conflict with Cambodia in the months prior to the general election set for July 3.

A complex issue

Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Kraisak Choonhavan is alarmed by the impact of ultra-nationalism on his own government. "The PAD has been critical of the Thai government for the past two years. Now they have become jingoistic, which is very dangerous," he said.

Recent fighting between Thai troops and the Cambodian army in the disputed border area adjoining the temple inflicted minor damage and defaced part of the stone walls in early February 2011. Even the UNESCO flag of protection for ancient monuments suffered bullet holes.

Responding to rolling street protests by his former PAD allies in the capital Bangkok earlier this year, the Thai prime minister assured the public that the border clash "shows that we never fail to protect our sovereignty" and even called upon UNESCO to revoke the World Heritage listing of the Preah Vihear temple.

Dr Paul Chambers, a Thai politics specialist at Payap University in Chiangmai, told Al Jazeera, "the Yellow Shirts and the Thai Patriots' Network have succeeded in building up an ever-growing Thai nationalist frenzy in Bangkok".

With the ruling Democrat Party led by prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva still playing the "Cambodia card", there appears to be zero chance of resolving the border dispute before the election.

Thai academic Dr Pavin Chachavalpongpun, based at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, told Al Jazeera that "the current conflict is not really about Thai-Cambodian conflict, it is more about Thailand's own conflict".

The background to the conflict dates back to the period of the great Angkorian Empire, when the territory of Cambodia stretched across most of South East Asia, preceding the emergence of Siam as a nation-state now known as Thailand. The 11th century temple of Preah Vihear preceded the completion of legendary Angkor Wat and Bayon temples, also renowned World Heritage sites.

When the Khmer Empire declined, a Siamese army invaded Angkor in 1431. And, in the 16th century, Cambodia again lost further chunks of territory to the invading Siamese army.

The process of losing territory to their more powerful neighbours was only arrested by the arrival of the French army that incorporated Cambodia as part of their Indochinese colonial empire in 1863.

After Cambodia regained its independence from the French in 1953, the Thai military regime occupied the temple, prompting the Cambodian head of state, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, to refer the dispute to the International Court in The Hague.

Does the court decide?

The 1962 International Court of Justice ruling between the two countries declared the temple to be a part of Cambodia. The verdict was grudgingly accepted by the Thai side and their soldiers were ordered to withdraw.

No serious challenge to Cambodian sovereignty over the temple was made for the past 46 years - until the bid by Phnom Penh to secure this temple as a new World Heritage site.

But Thailand has still staked claim to 4.6 sq km of adjoining territory surrounding much of the temple's site, which was not part of the ruling in The Hague Court.

Cambodia has appealed to the UN Security Council and the regional body of South East Asian countries ASEAN for mediation on the issue, but Thailand stubbornly insists on bi-lateral negotiations.

The issue has now been referred back to the World Court at The Hague by the Cambodian side, to rule on the disputed area.

Ultra-nationalists in Thailand hark back to the days of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat's military dictatorship which had occupied the Khmer temple of Preah Vihear in the late 1950s. Many in right-wing nationalist circles in Thailand never fully accepted either the World Court verdict or Cambodian sovereignty over the temple.

Thongchai Winichakul, Thai Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin in the US, commented that the temple furore demonstrated that "the dark side of nationalism is dangerous as ever". The author of Siam Mapped: A History of the Geo Body of a Nation, he wrote in his book: "The Preah Vihear World Heritage case has gone beyond technicalities. It is abused to arouse the delusion that the temple belongs to Thailand, and a desire to revive the claim".

In December 2010, the Thai Patriots' Network, an extremist faction of the Yellow-Shirt Movement headed by Veera Somkhwamkid, deliberately provoked a border incident by leading a team into Cambodian territory resulting in their arrest.

The Cambodian court convicted five out of the team, and they were detained in Cambodia for immigration violations; they had entered the country illegally. They were promptly set free after the court verdict, however, Mr Veera was charged with espionage and jailed for eight years.

The jailing of Veera triggered angry anti-Cambodian protests in Bangkok. However, most Thai people living in the border areas were far more interested in trade with neighbouring people, and increased efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict.

Dr Charnvit Ketseri, historian and former rector of Thammasat University in Bangkok, told Al Jazeera that Thai extremism and anti-Khmer sentiment was based on ignorance - even among the educated. "Most educated Thai are badly informed by history textbooks of the Ministry of Education, by politicians, and by main-stream mass-media," he said.

The temple - a hostage to Thai domestic politics

Regional bloc ASEAN has noted the growing hostilities between two of its members, and Indonesia, the current chair of the 12-nation group, has made repeated offers to send observers to prevent further clashes.

Thailand had agreed with Cambodia several months ago to accept a limited role for Indonesia observers to monitor the two armies camped near Preach Vihear temple. This accord permitted Indonesian observers to be "embedded" with Thai soldiers and the Cambodian army on either side of the much-coveted temple.

More than three months after the agreement, there are still no observers deployed at the border.

However, the powerful Thai military had other ideas. Thai army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha declared on March 23 that "regardless of where the observers are from, we don't want them [...] in the disputed area because it's dangerous and will complicate the problem".

He reported that the Thai defence ministry, armed forces, and military commanders were opposed to international observers on Thai territory, thus rendering the ASEAN peace plan dead. Futhermore, Abhisit's civilian government was unable to prevent the army from calling the shots over how to handle the Cambodian conflict.

"Fighting has allowed the military to increase its influence in the name of protecting national interests. This is a crucial point at a time when Thai politics is so unstable," asserts Dr Pavin Chachavalpongpun.

"I think Thailand's memory of an international organisation giving legal control of Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, will make it unwilling to allow any other intervention by outsiders, such as UNESCO or ASEAN," he added.

The Preah Vihear temple is likely to continue to be held hostage to Thailand's polarised politics long beyond Thailand's election.

At the 35th annual conference of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris in June, Cambodia's management plan for the temple was supposed to be on the agenda. Thailand had asked for it to be delayed until this year. Now Bangkok again insists on a further delay - until there is a settlement on the issue.

Aggressive nationalism, a politicised Thai army asserting a stronger role in politics, the current election campaign, and the country's chronic instability, have effectively derailed plans by Cambodia and UNESCO to move forward with heritage conservation to restore the temple.

Soy Sopheap detailing the Kem Sokha affair

2011-06-04T17:32:00.001-07:00

Dear Readers,

To watch Soy Sopheap detailing the Kem Sokha affair, click on the link below:

UN Envoy Sees Little Improvement in Some Rights

2011-06-04T17:31:00.001-07:00

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

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 03 June 2011

“I am dismayed to hear about disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials during peaceful protests by individuals involved in land disputes.”

The UN’s rights envoy to Cambodia, Surya Subedi, wrapped up his fifth fact-finding mission to Cambodia on Friday, saying he remained concerned over land rights, forced evictions and the freedom of expression.

“While the general situation of human rights has progressed in certain areas, it has not improved much in others,” he said in a statement. “Because of the fear of possible charges of defamation, disinformation and incitement against them, many people such as journalists, human rights defenders and political activists seem to be resorting to self-censorship.”

Subedi also said he remains concerned about legal charges against land activists and people embroiled in land disputes.

“I am dismayed to hear about disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials during peaceful protests by individuals involved in land disputes,” Subedi said, citing violence in demonstrations by Boeung Kak lake residents in April.

The rights group Adhoc has so far recorded at least 124 arrests in land disputes so far this year, with at least 18 people now in detention.

Subedi said the judiciary and parliament are not functioning as they should in a proper democracy, claiming that some people are denied fair trials, while rules of parliament have curbed free speech there and lessened healthy debate.

However, he said that he expected ongoing cooperation with the government on these and other issues.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Friday the administration was working on legal and judiciary reform, and he called the government and the UN “partners.”

With Leaked Tape, New Woes for Opposition

2011-06-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

Human Rights Party president Kem Sokha addresses journalists at the party's headquarter. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey)

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Friday, 03 June 2011

In a phone interview, Kem Sokha said the leaked tape was in fact an attempt to weaken his own party, although he did not elaborate.

Both of the country’s opposition parties are now ensnared in a number of challenges as they prepare to face elections in the next two years, analysts said this week.

The Sam Rainsy Party’s leader is already in exile over a number of criminal charges he says are politically motivated.

And now the president of the minority opposition Human Rights Party, Kem Sokha, is facing a challenge to his credibility, after a recording was leaked to the media in which he appears to be colluding with Prime Minister Hun Sen to divide the opposition.

Kem Sokha has denied any collaboration with the ruling Cambodian People Party, but the allegations come amid a continued failure by both parties to unite.

Hang Puthea, executive director for the Neutral and Impartial Committee for free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, said that all the parties are looking head to the election campaign, “so any picture can happen.”

The leaked tape can even be considered a type of politics, he said. “I think that this is a form of democracy.”

Hang Chhaya, executive director of the Khmer Institute of Democracy, said the leaked tape will likely mark the end of any chance for collaboration between the parties. Both parties have struggled to find common ground and unify their electorate, following national elections in 2008, when the CPP posted a resounding victory.

Cambodians will vote for local commune leaders in 2012 and a national parliament in 2013. However, Sam Rainsy remains abroad to avoid 12 years in prison sentences on charges stemming from an anti-Vietnamese demonstration in 2009.

Now Kem Sokha must face the accusations about his conversation with Hun Sen, reportedly recorded in July 2007. In that recording, the two men sound congenial. Kem Sokha reports on internal party matters, including finances, and discusses defections to his party from the Sam Rainsy Party. He also thanks Hun Sen for helping him form the Human Rights Party.

Sam Rainsy, who is currently in the US, told VOA Khmer on Wednesday that the leaked tape is evidence of a conspiracy to weaken his party. However, he said, the party has actually strengthened in recent years, having grown from 24 parliamentary seats in 2003 to 24 26 in 2008.

In a phone interview, Kem Sokha said the leaked tape was in fact an attempt to weaken his own party, although he did not elaborate.

“Even though the ruling party causes any number of thunder and storms,” he said, “people who love democracy, love the nation, they have a clear choice, and they are very much participating with the Human Rights Party.”

Thailand's case to ICJ years in the making [... or it could be much sooner]

2011-06-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

Phikulkaew: Worked away quietly

4/06/2011
Bangkok Post

Senator for Phitsanulok Phikulkaew Krairiksh, who chairs the Senate committee on foreign affairs, has played a key role in finding a solution to the Thai-Cambodia border dispute.

She was involved in preparations to defend the country's position at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after Cambodia asked it to interpret its 1962 ruling on sovereignty over the disputed land near Preah Vihear temple.

The panel has studied the border conflict for some time although its work has gone unreported by the media.

Ms Phikulkaew discussed the panel's work with NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN.

What has the panel done to help the Thai legal team which gave testimony to the International Court of Justice?

Ambassador [to the Hague] Virachai Plasai assessed the situation and believed the issue would eventually end up with the ICJ.

The ambassador came under political pressure and asked to be transferred to The Hague. That happened to be the right move as he helped to prepare the country's legal team.

It took more than two years to put together the legal team and gather all the necessary information, but we worked together quietly.

Why hasn't the panel tried harder to bring information to the public? People have been fed confusing information about Preah Vihear that raised fears that Thailand would lose territory.

We might have run into problems had details of our preparations and information to be presented to the court been released. The lawyers could have been lobbied [by the other side].

The government in 2003 supported Cambodia's unilateral bid to register the Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

However, the cultural side of the issue must also be taken into account. People on both sides of the border have been crossing back and forth for a long time. They are so culturally related they are almost like family.

Nobody ever thought that we would one day have to be separated by fences. This is about civilisation and all sides learning to live together in harmony.

The Preah Vihear issue also concerns the internal affairs of both countries. It is a game to woo voters and to maintain the hold on power by politicians in Cambodia.

The committee has presented the information it collected to the French senate. What was the result?

When we provided them with the information, they seemed to have more understanding. Apart from France, we have also explained to lawmakers of other countries which are members of Unesco and the ICJ. Most of them agree with the committee's position that Thailand and Cambodia should jointly develop the temple and the disputed areas surrounding it.

However, they said Thailand had done too little to explain the issue to foreign organisations.

So what should we do?

This is our weakness. Cambodia is better prepared to put its case to the world. The government must set up a central agency comprising representatives from all the agencies concerned to explain the issue to foreign countries.

How do you think the International Court of Justice will rule?

This is a fresh move by Cambodia to complete the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a world heritage site.

A little leak, a little lie and a little too late for the UNITY

2011-06-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 3, 2011
Op-Ed by Tymonthy Chhim
Originally posted at: http://timothychhim.blogspot.com/2011/06/little-leak-little-lie.html

KI-Media Note: We understand that Mr. Timothy Chhim was a candidate for the HRP during the 2008 legislative election.

Pictures and comments on the left are from KI-Media blogspot.com.

A secret phone talk between Samdech Hun Sen and Kem Sokha on July 25, 2007 has brought storms of criticisms from all sides.

The leak had caused Kem Sokha to become the instant spin doctor for his HRP trying to explain why he had to speak to Premier Hun Sen regarding their strategy to weaken SRP, etc...(click here to read the transcript).

In Cambodian politics, lies can be called maneuvers. When a politician lies and get caught he may get away with it, if he/she can charm his/her way out of such a deception. After all, many voters may have a short memory.

Kem Sokha’s reasons why he needed to talk to Samdech Decho Hun Sen are ridiculous and unreasonable for many of us, but those who are on his side including his yes-men/women will find ways and means to justify Kem Sokha’s actions.

One may question why many other party’s leaders were not given the same opportunity (or didn't need) to talk with the premier to get his green light. However, Kem Sokha believes it is OK to have some candid conversations with different party leaders; after all Samdech is a Khmer, too (!).

It pays to know someone on the top, doesn’t it?

Some HRP’s members might suggest HRP’s Disciplinary Committee to take some actions against Kem Sokha, except they knew too little how HRP operates. The “democratic processes” inside this party exist only on paper. What Kem Sokha wants, Kem Sokha gets it. Nepotism does exist.

Many HRP's founders and key members have left because they had lost confidence in Kem Sokha and his organization. Others, who got smarter, have completely stopped supporting HRP. Nevertheless, other fanatic members will continue to believe in his "maneuvers" hoping some days they will reap personal and political benefits together. Those who knew about the talk (between Samdech and Kha) or other secrets and believed they were misled have already made their decision to jump ship.

It is believed that after this first little leak and little lie; many HRP members will have to reconsider their support. Members who believe that Kem Sokha directly or indirectly deals with Samdech Decho, will probably have to join CPP openly rather than working with its proxy.

SRP on the other hand will reap some immediate benefits from the leak. Many SRP’s leaders have questioned Kem Sokha’s motive and sincerity well ahead of the inception date of HRP.

The relationship between SRP and Kem Sokha turned bitter when SRP boycotted all Kem Sokha’s CCHR public forums in the early part of 2006 claiming that Kem Sokha had repeatedly attacked SRP in the open.

Recently, Kem Sokha stated that the difference between him and Sam Rainsy was like oil to water. If that is the case, what can we say about his relationship with Samdech?

Kem Sokha’s attitude toward SRP seems to be consistent. His conversation with Premier Hun Sen further reveals his true intention: to split SRP.

His primary target was not the CPP but the oppositions. Cambodian professional politicians who live on politics know very well that most members of the CPP are completely loyal to their leaders at all levels. There is little chance any CPP member will jump ship to be with a HRP; therefore, it is obvious that the creation of HRP has only helped weaken SRP as well as other oppositions.

Meanwhile, some Khmer overseas are still vulnerable to the belief that many members of the ruling party as well as the other oppositions will switch to support HRP because Kem Sokha’s HRP is “the best and the last choice Cambodians have.”

However, such a theory was just a propaganda aiming to find monetary support from naïve Cambodians abroad. It is unquestionable that the overseas Khmers love Cambodia and its people that is why some shrewd politicians manage to use the pain and suffering of poor Cambodians to squeeze our heart, soul and bank account.

More and more Cambodians in Cambodia now are much better off than they were and yet HRP have not been able to raise enough funds to support its operation. What are they trying to tell us?

Regardless of what Kem Sokha says or swears, the private discussion between him and Hun Sen helps enlighten Cambodian people that both HRP and CPP do have at least one common goal and the same opponent: the Sam Rainsy Party.

With this in mind Cambodians can put an end to their long waiting dream—a unity among the Non-CPP. At the end the CPP and its affiliates will be the winner(s).

A little leak, a little lie and it is little too late for the UNITY.

"The Traitors" - Opinion by Anonymous

2011-06-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

Miley Cyrus criticises Urban Outfitters over anti-gay campaign support

2011-06-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

American pop singer Miley Cyrus has taken aim at the president of Urban Outfitters on Twitter, criticising his alleged financial contributions to a right-wing anti-gay political campaign.

According to the Vancouver Sun “Cyrus took aim at Urban Outfitters following reports that the company stole a necklace design from a jewelry artist in Chicago (which the Philadelphia-based fashion-and-accessories chain “unequivocally” denies), as well as Urban Outfitters president Richard Hayne’s contributions to right-wing Republican Senator Rick Santorum and his Political Action Committee.”

Cyrus Tweeted, “Love that everybody is hating on Urban Outfitters. Not only do they steal from artists but every time you give them money you help finance a campaign against gay equality.”

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, has consistently championed “family values” and social conservatism. He also wrote a book titled It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good.

This is not the first time Cyrus has Tweeted her support for LGBT rights. Back in 2008 When former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, expressed her belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, Cyrus tweeted to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton: “God’s greatest commandment is to love, and judging is not loving. I am a Christian and I love you – gay or not. Because you are no different that [sic] anyone else! We are all God’s children!

Harvey Milk’s nephew to kick off this weekend’s Pittsburgh gay pride rally

2011-06-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk, will speak on Friday at the Pride Advocacy Rally which kicks off this year’s Pittsburgh Pride festival in Pennsylvania.

Mr Milk was 17 when his uncle – the San Francisco County supervisor and first openly gay man to be elected to public office – was assassinated by former supervisor Dan White in 1978.

The theme of this year’s festival is “Don’t Stop Believing”. Speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mr Milk said: “When the president gave me Harvey’s Medal of Freedom, he said, ‘Harvey gave us hope, all of us, hope unashamed, hope unafraid.’ That goes along with ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’ We have to have hope that’s unashamed, and hope that’s unafraid.”

In the light of recent events such as the suicide of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi in 2010 and a spate of similar tragedies in Houston and Fresno, California, Mr Milk said: “Unfortunately, my uncle’s message, which is at its very core for the LGBTQ community to be visible, is needed now more than ever.”

Mr Milk’s speech will reportedly concentrate on discussing societal equality – which he claims to see little of even in places where LGBT people have full legal equality. He will also speak on the globalisation of civil rights movements.

He said: “We have gay organisations that won’t work together, we have folks that won’t understand the transgender community, and we need to make sure that we are all-embracing [of] each other . . . we need to all agree that we are fighting the same thing, and that’s equality.”

Ariel Lin

2011-06-01T03:43:00.000-07:00

Ariel Lin is a Taiwanese actress and singer. Lin was first discovered in the Taiwanese variety show Guess and was the champion of the pretty subway girl contest in the show. She was immediately paired with Mike He, also a rising star, in a drama series “Love Contract.” After appearing in several television roles in Taiwanese dramas and three movies during the early 2000s, she rose to fame in 2005 for playing the role of Yuan Xiang Qin in the hit drama series It Started With a Kiss opposite Joe Cheng. She attended Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, majoring in Korean, throughout much of her early career in the entertainment business.

Lin has also been highly praised for her work in Tokyo Juliet (2004) as Lin Lai Sui with Wu Chun and Simon Yam. Her work on The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2008) (playing Huang Rong opposite of Hu Ge) brought her increased popularity in mainland China. In October 2008 she won the Golden Bell Award for Best Actress for her performance in the series They Kiss Again. Most recently she has starred with Joe Cheng in the series Love or Bread.

US Navy backtracks over gay weddings on bases

2011-05-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

The US Navy has reversed its plans to conduct gay weddings on bases, saying that officers need more time to look at the legal issues.

This week, an April 13th memo from Navy head chaplain Rear Adm Mark Tidd was reported as saying that Navy chaplains would be able to perform the ceremonies on bases in states where gay marriage was legal.

The memo said: “Regarding the use of base facilities for same-sex marriages, legal counsel has concluded that, generally speaking, base facility use is sexual orientation-neutral. This is a change to previous training that stated same-sex marriages are not authorised on federal property.”

Despite this, another memo released yesterday said that the plans were “suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination”.

Some politicians had complained that the change would violate the Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts federal recognition of marriage to that of a man and a woman.

Missouri Republican representative Todd Akin collected 62 signatures from other Congressmen to protest against the move.

He wrote: “The law of the land is that the federal government defines marriage as between one man and one woman. This new guidance from the Navy clearly violates the law. While our President may not like this law, it is unbelievable that our Navy would issue guidance that clearly violates this law.”

The move was due to happen after the military lifts the ban on out gay troops later this summer.

The ban will not be lifted until military chiefs have certified that repealing the law will not harm military readiness. Following this, 60 days must pass.

Foreign secretary William Hague says Britain is lobbying Uganda over anti-gay bill

2011-05-11T04:02:00.001-07:00

Foreign secretary William Hague says that the UK is continuing to urge Uganda not to pass a bill that could see gay people executed.

Responding to questions on Twitter, Mr Hague wrote: “We oppose this bill and will continue to raise our concerns with Ugandan government. We urge Ugandan MPs to reject it.”

He continued: “Our embassy is lobbying Ugandan gov & the UK initiated a formal EU demarche [diplomatic move] to the Ugandan foreign minister on the bill.”

The bill has spent two days before a parliamentary committee and is due for a second reading tomorrow, if parliament has time to discuss it. Tomorrow is the last scheduled day of parliament and it is listed on an order paper of following business.

In its current form, the bill prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, such as repeat offences. Among other things, it also calls for up to three years in prison for teachers, doctors, friends, landlords and family members of gay people who do not report them to authorities.

Reports this afternoon suggested that some aspects of the bill may have been modified. Anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa claimed today that he did not want gay people to be executed.

US blogger Jim Burroway, the author of the Box Turtle Bulletin blog, who has been following events closely, claimed MPs could pass the bill to divert attention from Uganda’s current problems, which include unrest over rising food and fuel prices.

He wrote: “Clearly, passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which is very popular among ordinary Ugandans, would be a cynical diversionary ploy on the part of the government.

“If the bill does come up for a second reading, that is when amendments to the bill may be offered. A third reading can quickly follow a second reading, at which time the bill would be passed and sent to the president.

“The president can assent to the bill or return it to parliament for changes. According to one parliament member, the president has not returned a bill to parliament during his term.”

Campaigners are calling on as many people as possible to sign petitions to ask President Yoweri Museveni not to accept the bill.

Civil partnership for gay Tory MP Nick Boles

2011-05-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

Conservative MP Nick Boles has tied the knot with his partner.

The 45-year-old had a “quiet” civil partnership ceremony with his partner Shay Meshulam in Camberwell in March, the Guido Fawkes blog reports.

A source said the couple invited close friends and family but intend to have larger celebration in the summer once parliament breaks up.

A spokeswoman for the MP said: “Mr Boles is very happy about it and that’s all we can say.”

Other MPs to have had civil partnerships include Tory MP Alan Duncan and Labour MP Chris Bryant.

Mr Boles, who represents Grantham and Stratford, was elected in 2010 after missing out on the marginal seat of Hove in 2005.

He was a strongly-tipped candidate for the Tory nomination for Mayor of London in 2007, but withdrew to recover from Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of cancer.

The former businessman has spoken about declaring his sexual orientation to candidate selection committees, saying he was not embarrassed and it was right to tell them.

California Senate approves equal benefits bill

2011-05-11T04:01:00.000-07:00

The California Senate has narrowly approved a bill to encourage companies to give equal benefits to the spouses of gay employees.

Democrat Senator Christine Kehoe’s bill says that state agency contracts will only be awarded to companies who offer the equal benefits.

Ms Kehoe said the legislation would encourage equality. The bill applies to contracts over $100,000.

The bill just got the majority it needed to pass, with 21-15 votes. It will now go to the Assembly.

The legislation is supported by Equality California, which says Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, Berkeley, San Mateo County, San Diego and Santa Monica already have the ordinances.

Interim executive director Jim Carroll said: “Studies have shown that employees who are treated fairly have higher retention rates and are more productive. The Equal Benefits bill both advances equality, benefits business and ensures that our precious tax dollars do not subsidise discrimination.”

Slim majority of Republicans support legal recognition of gay relationships

2011-05-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

A poll says that just over half of Republicans support some form of legal recognition for gay couples.

The Public Policy Polling survey asked 1,000 people who identified as Republicans about their views on marriage equality.

Only 12 per cent said gay couples should be allowed to marry. Support for civil unions was higher, with 39 per cent agreeing with them.

This meant that 51 per cent back either marriage equality or civil unions.

But 48 per cent said there should be no recognition at all of gay relationships.

Support for marriage equality was highest among high-income respondents as 24 per cent in this category said gays should be able to wed.

Last month, another American poll suggested that just over half of voters support marriage equality.

The CNN poll found that 51 per cent of the 824 adults surveyed said gay couples should be allowed to wed.

Among those under 50, support levels rose to 60 per cent.

CNN polls in 2008 and 2009 found that just 44 per cent of those surveyed supported gay marriage.

New York governor begins tour to highlight gay marriage

2011-05-11T03:58:00.000-07:00

Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, has kicked off a state tour to highlight his legislative agenda for 2011.

Marriage equality is one of the priorities, along with a property tax and ethics reform.

The Democrat governor hopes to press people to support his aims and pressure lawmakers about them.

He said in a statement: “Our entire team is going to travel the state to speak directly to New Yorkers about the issues that can move this state forward, and it begins in Syracuse.

“We need to pass a property tax cap, ethics reform, and marriage equality during this legislative session. The clock is ticking, but when the people speak, the politicians will listen. We will assemble a broad coalition of New Yorkers to support this agenda and work tirelessly to get it passed in Albany.”

The Advocate reports that Mr Cuomo’s office has not released further details but judging by past tours, he may reference marriage equality in high-profile speeches and send deputies to speak with LGBT audiences around the state.

Last month, Mr Cuomo told gay rights campaigners he will devote his “full attention” to marriage equality.

Speaking to campaigners in a closed meeting, he reportedly said: “For me, this is personal.”

Lady Gaga teams up with FarmVille creators to launch GagaVille

2011-05-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

Lady Gaga has announced a partnership with social games giant Zynga to launch GagaVille, a take on the popular FarmVille and CityVille.

Zynga, home to the most popular games on social network Facebook has
previously launched projects with Snoop Dogg, Dreamworks and Niceklodeon.
However, the company today said that the deal with Lady Gaga is its most significant to date.

GagaVille will showcase the bisexual star’s style and themes together with themes from her new album Born This Way. From 17th to 19th May, GagaVille players can unlock a new unreleased track per day. From 20th May, users can unlock tracks from the new album.

Lady Gaga branded $25 Game Cards will include bonus tracks and exclusive Lady Gaga branded virtual goods.

Lady Gaga said “I want to celebrate and share ‘Born This Way’ with my little monsters in a special way that’s never been done before…Zynga has created a magical place in FarmVille where my fans can come play, and be the first to listen to the album.”

Earlier this year, Lady Gaga signed an exclusive deal with US retailer Target but backed out after the company made donations to

David Laws guilty of a series of expenses rule breaches

2011-05-11T03:56:00.000-07:00

Former Cabinet minister David Laws has been found guilty of a series of breaches of parliamentary expenses rules.

The Liberal Democrat MP was chief secretary to the Treasury for just days last May. He resigned when it was revealed he had paid £40,000 in expenses to his boyfriend who was also his landlord.

According to the Evening Standard, Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon found him in breach of six areas of Commons rules.

The Commons’ Standards and Privileges Committee will now look at the investigation and report back later this week.

When the story broke last year, Mr Laws said he had failed to declare the relationship because he wanted to keep his sexuality secret.

He said: “My motivation throughout has not been to maximise profit but to simply protect our privacy and my wish not to reveal my sexuality.”

Prime minister David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were understood to be keen to see him return to the Cabinet but this will depend on the wording in the report.

Mr Laws will not face criminal charges over his claims.

Civil partnership for gay Tory MP Nick Boles

2011-05-11T03:54:00.000-07:00

Cambodians must join to oust Hun Sen

2011-05-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

May 11, 2011
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
PACIFIC DAILY NEWS

Thirty-two years ago, more than 100,000 Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia, smashed Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge guerrillas, took over Phnom Penh, installed a puppet regime in January 1979, and staffed the Hanoi-instituted Cambodian administrations with Vietnamese to oversee the puppet government's activities.

Several thousand Cambodian youths taken in 1954 by the Viet Minh for education, indoctrination and training in Vietnam -- by 1979 in their forties and fifties and fully acculturated in Vietnam -- were brought back to Cambodia.

The puppet government leaders and their Vietnamese masters allowed Vietnamese citizens unrestricted access to live in Cambodia in support of Hanoi's long-term economic and expansionist goals. The immigrants, like the Hanoi-backed Cambodian regime, were illegally installed in Cambodia.

These illegals were integrated into different aspects of Khmer society. There are Vietnamese who speak Khmer and act Cambodian, and many Cambodians who speak and enjoy Vietnamese ways, as this helps get them closer to privileges. An officer of Premier Hun Sen's army told me it's no longer easy to tell who is Vietnamese and who is Cambodian.

Nationally conscious Cambodians hate what has happened in the country, acknowledging their fear that Cambodia and the Khmer race may be subsumed by the country's eastern neighbor. As Cambodian anger mounts, Vietnamese who migrated and have lived in Cambodia since France ruled Indochina, who have families who have lived all their lives in Cambodia, also are threatened by the new arrivals. The "old " Vietnamese know no other place but Cambodia; the "new " Vietnamese are exploiters of Cambodia's resources.

Cambodians called on the Vietnamese to leave Cambodia and for Premier Hun Sen to step down. But the Cambodian-ized Vietnamese are not going anywhere, nor is Hun Sen, elected again and again.

Some Cambodians call for the "reactivation " of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord to restore individual rights, freedom and democracy in Cambodia, and protect her independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The international community's $3 billion U.N.-managed peace initiative never required the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese-propped Heng Samrin/Hun Sen factions to disarm, nor created a politically neutral environment essential for the accords to work. The naïve nationalist KPNLF/KPNLAF and royalist FUNCINPEC/ANS were happy to empty their pockets, in the name of "national reconciliation," with hungry alligators to get closer to the seat of power.

Recall the wide-eyed international community, which thought it could make Cambodia a "success" story, leaving town after the first U.N.-organized elections in 1993.

Today, in the midst of economic crises and world political upheavals, which government would step in to implement the accords?

Hun Sen is now a recipient of so-called Chinese "aid without strings attached" -- no strings so long as Hun Sen agrees to a "one China" policy, deports the Uighurs seeking political asylum and allows unfettered Chinese investment in Cambodia. He and his ruling party can do what they please with the land and national wealth, and thumb their noses at Western financial donors and the U.N.

Frustrated, some bloggers have chided me for not providing a "solution." Actually, they wanted an ABC manual to bring Hun Sen down; ideas and thoughts seem too complicated. Yet, in my column last week, "Stop giving Hun Sen power to rule," I suggested what to do, and not do -- to converge the different efforts by individuals and groups, to disintegrate a dictatorship. A reader emailed to tell me not to "bark" too much and return to Cambodia "to fight" and he will join me. Oh dear.

Last month, an email from a friend from a different continent referenced the necessity to create a "critical mass" in Cambodia to bring a long-lasting change and led me to write on the subject.

Last week, an old Cambodian friend emailed from Phnom Penh to urge continued "fighting" on two main fronts: education and economy. "At least 80 percent of the population (of 14 million) must have at least 10 years of schooling; at least 40 percent of the population must be college graduates, and at least 10 percent must have Ph.D. degrees, ... and the GDP per capita must be at least $10,000," he wrote. Ah, the man of my dreams, I said to myself as I scratched my head. When will we reach that level of education and economic development?

Unless we do, Cambodians have every reason to worry about the disappearance of Cambodia and the Khmer race.

Only last week I quoted statistics by the U.N. Children's Fund that recorded Cambodia's net secondary school enrollment for 2005-2006 at 36 percent for males and 32 percent for females. My questions were: Out of these enrollees, how many actually attend school (which is open only a few hours per day), how many actually graduate from secondary school, how many go on to high school, etc.

So my friend's email made me want to cry to heaven for help. And when I think of the finding that nearly 40 percent of the Cambodian people live under the poverty line of $2 a day -- many live on 50 cents a day -- the suggested $10,000 GDP per capita makes me look for my spiritual balance.

Yet I cannot accept despair. And so I keep on writing and hoping more readers will not remain complacent and will join with others to do something, do many things, which will converge to create a tipping point to cause Hun Sen's government to disintegrate.

Police appeal over anti-gay attack in Woking

2011-05-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ta Dambang Dek (Grandpa with an iron staff): A statue at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in front of which everybody had to take their oath

Reach Sambath

10 May 2011
Dith Sokthy
The Phnom Penh Post (Khmer)
Translated from Khmer by Soy

Phnom Penh – Reach Sambath, director of the public relation office of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, is currently under medical care at Calmette Hospital. However, there is no official indication as to what his illness is. Doctors are currently providing him with medical care.

Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy met with French MP Michel Issindou in Paris

2011-05-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Today, opposition leader Sam Rainsy meet with Michel Issindou, French MP from Isere Province, at the French National Assembly in Paris, France.

France's National Assembly in Paris

US Olympic official quits over gay marriage comments

2011-05-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Former Olympic gymnast Peter Vidmar has resigned as the chef du mission of the US 2012 team after anger over comments he made about gay marriage.

In 2008, Mr Vidmar, a Mormon, joined the fight against California’s gay marriage law.

As well as joining two rallies and donating $2,000, the gold medal winner was quoted at the time as saying: “It’s good for our society to have a traditional definition of marriage.”

His comments resurfaced last week in an article on Outsports.com and then in the Chicago Tribune, leading fellow athletes to condemn him.

The figure skater Johnny Weir, who is gay, told Outsports.com: “I certainly wouldn’t want to be represented by someone who is anti gay marriage. It isn’t just about marriage; it is being allowed equal rights as Americans. The fact this man who is very publicly against something that may be represented on the American team is disgraceful.”

In a statement on Friday, Mr Vidmar, 49, said: “I have dedicated my life to the Olympic movement and the ideals of excellence, friendship and respect. I wish that my personal religious beliefs would not have become a distraction from the amazing things that are happening in the Olympic movement in the United States. I simply cannot have my presence become a detriment to the US Olympic family. I hope that by stepping aside, the athletes and their stories will rightly take centre stage.”

Before resigning, he told reporters he had not tried to hide his remarks and added: “I fully respect the rights of everyone to have the relationships they want to have.”

Gay friend of Boy George speaks out after attack

2011-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

A gay friend of Boy George has spoken out after he was attacked in central London.

Philip Sallon, the socialite and event organiser, was badly injured in the April 2nd attack in Piccadilly.

He suffered a brain haemorrhage and fractured skull after he was kicked and stamped on. He spent time in hospital but is now recovering at home.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said: “It was a severe blow to the head. From leaving home I remember nothing. It could have been some stranger who lashes out and just hates queers. But I also can’t rule out other possibilities.”

Mr Sallon said he now suffers severe headaches and a loss of smell, hearing and taste.

His friends feared he was the victim of a homophobic attack, although police are looking at other motives. No one has been arrested.

Friends said that Mr Sallon, a popular figure on London’s club scene, enjoys walking around the West End and night and striking up conversations.

He said he would not stop walking about alone and considered the capital safer than many high streets.

Boy George said the public response to the attack was “overwhelming”.

Girl, 13, is latest victim of South African ‘corrective rape’

2011-05-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

A 13-year-old girl in South Africa has reportedly become the latest victim of the ‘corrective rape’ epidemic.

The girl, who was attacked on Thursday in Pretoria, was said to be open about being a lesbian and it is believed she was targeted for this reason.

The phenomenon of corrective rape involves the targeting of lesbians in order to ‘cure’ them. There have been high-profile cases in the country, including the recent rape and murder of gay rights campaigner Noxolo Nogwaza.

Government spokesman Tlali Tlali promised a police investigation and assistance for the girl and her family.

“The government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,” he said.

”Gay and lesbian rights are human and constitutional rights which must be protected and respected at all times.”

Dipika Nath, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: ”If the police and other state officials do not act swiftly, it will only be a matter of time before they have to account for their failure to the family and friends of the next lesbian who is beaten and killed.”

Last week, the government announced the formation of a task team to tackle anti-gay hate crimes.

A government spokesman said that the task force would comprise the police, the social development department, six judges and six LGBT campaigners.

The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters, he said.

Chaz Bono ‘thrilled’ with results of transition

2011-05-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Chaz Bono, the son of singer Cher, has spoken candidly about his transition from female to male.

Speaking ahead of a book and documentary about his journey, the star said he never had a moment’s doubt that he was supposed to be a man.

Bono, 42, grew up as Chastity and was a lesbian activist for many years. He announced two years ago that he was transitioning and completed the process last year, albeit in the public eye.

Speaking to TIME, he said he had “confused gender identity with sexual orientation” when younger.

He said: “So when I was about 13 or 14, I realised I was attracted to women and then made the assumption that I was a lesbian, and didn’t realise that that wasn’t the case. It was the fact that I was a man and a heterosexual man. The issue wasn’t my sexual orientation, but rather my gender identity.”

The star, who says he wants to speak up for trans rights, has refused to talk about whether he has had genital surgery.

But he said that he was “thrilled” about the results of his ‘upper’ surgery, or breast removal.

“It was the greatest day, probably of my life,” he said. “It was getting rid of something on my body that felt like it didn’t belong there since they started to develop at, like, 11 or 12.”

Bono revealed that he spent time talking to psychologists about how he would deal with transition but said he “never had a moment’s doubt” about whether it was the right thing to do.

He said: “I had felt uncomfortable as a women my whole life. So that wasn’t the issue. It was about finding the strength to transition and how that would affect my life.”

The star added that he was continuing to publicise his journey to “bring awareness” of the issue.

Becoming Chaz will be broadcast in the US on the Oprah Winfrey Network tomorrow.

Bono’s memoirs, Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man, will also be released this week.

Gay activists’ petition against Ugandan ‘kill gays’ bill

2011-05-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

Gay rights campaigners hope to collect enough signatures to ask Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni to refuse to sign an anti-homosexuality bill.

The legislation, in its current form, calls for harsher punishments for homosexuality. For “aggravated” case, such as those involving disabled people, those with HIV or minors, it calls for the death penalty.

Landlords, teachers and family members could also be prosecuted for failing to report gay people to police.

The status of the bill has been unclear for months, with conflicting reports about its progress through the legislature.

Late last year, it appeared to have been scrapped. However, campaigners say that parliament may vote on it this week and are urging people to sign a petition against it.

The petition, started by Allout.org, says: “Our best chance at stopping the bill is each other – if thousands of us spread the word we can make clear that the world is watching and we will not allow this to stand.”

The appeal adds: “Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has shown himself to be sensitive to international pressure. Last year, a massive response from people around the world pushed him to stop the bill in its tracks.”

President Museveni has not given his opinions on the bill but ethics minister James Nsaba Buturo said last January that the leader did not agree with killing gays and lesbians.

The anonymous blogger GayUganda wrote last week that parliament’s return to the bill was a “diversion” tactic to take attention away from riots and the fear of more civil unrest.

Study finds gay men are more likely to have had cancer

2011-05-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

A large US study has suggested that gay men are more likely to have had cancer than straight men.

The research, from California, found that gay men were almost twice as likely as straight men to have been diagnosed with this disease. On average, diagnoses happened a decade earlier for gay men.

It also found that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely than straight women to report poorer health after cancer.

Researchers are unsure whether gay men may be more likely to have cancer, or whether they are more likely to survive the disease. It is known that anal cancer is more likely to affect gay men and can be caused by HIV.

The study, of 120,000 people, was carried out by using data from the 2001, 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview surveys.

Out of 51,000 men, about 3,700 said they had been diagnosed with cancer as an adult. Just over eight per cent of gay men said they had a history of the disease, compared to five per cent of straight men. Researchers said the difference was not down to differences in race, age or income.

About 7,300 out of 71,000 women in the study had been diagnosed with cancer, but there was no difference between straight, lesbian or bisexual women. However, they were more likely to rate their health after treatment as ‘poor’ or fair’.

Liz Margolies, executive director of The National LGBT Cancer Network, told Reuters that more information is needed to plan care and prevention strategies.

She pointed to research which suggests gay men, lesbians and bisexuals are more likely to smoke and abuse alcohol than straight people and said that LGB people are less likely to visit doctors for health check-ups, partly because of stigma.

“Health care facilities and social service agencies – any organisation that addresses the needs of cancer survivors — must understand the extra challenges that lesbian and bisexual cancer survivors and gay men have,” she said.

Jason Warriner, clinical director for HIV and sexual health at the Terrence Higgins Trust, told BBC News: “We know that HIV can cause certain types of cancer, and that gay men are at a greater risk of HIV than straight men.

“Another factor potentially having an impact is Human Papilloma Virus, which can lead to anal cancer in gay men.

“The government currently runs a national vaccination programme for young girls, but we think recent figures on oral and anal cancers justify taking another look at whether the programme should be extended to include boys.”

Gay MP Nigel Evans ‘in denial’ when he voted for Section 28

2011-05-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Gay Conservative MP Nigel Evans says he was in denial and going through a “neanderthal phase” when he voted for Section 28.

The MP for Ribble Valley, who came out last year, backed the legislation to ban mention of homosexuality in schools and once voted against lowering the age of consent for gay men.

Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “I was going through denial and what I would describe as my neanderthal phase.

“I was just stupid, and clearly I wasn’t thinking. Of course, I was completely wrong.”

Mr Evans’ sexuality was an open secret in Westminster but he did not feel able to come out to the public until last year, at the age of 54. He claimed a Labour MP had threatened to out him.

In the interview, with lesbian comedian Rhona Cameron, he praised prime minister David Cameron for his “leadership” on gay rights issues.

He added: “I said it when I came out, I showed absolutely no leadership, whereas David Cameron has. When you say you can’t work out how there are so many gays in the Tory party – David is hugely instrumental in that, because of his approach to gay issues and equality.”

He said that “being something like the 22nd or 23rd openly gay MP is not brave at all” but sports men and women should be commended for their openness.

“If only we could get some gay footballers to come forward, that would help,” he said. “It’s daft to say there are no gay footballers in the premier league – of course there are. Every one of them who could possibly find the courage to come out would help so many people.”

Mr Evans, who is the deputy Speaker, said his position meant he could not give an opinion on the blood donation ban for gay men.

But he did say: “Equality is basically the rule of thumb, and that’s what it should be irrespective of what the issue happens to be. If you have distinguishing elements between gay and not gay, you have a problem.”

Anti-gay pastor rejects Ugandan death penalty for gays

2011-05-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

Anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa has told a Ugandan parliamentary committee that he does not agree with the death penalty for gays and lesbians.

The preacher told the committee that he supports controversial legislation for punishing homosexuality because it is “killing” society.

But he reportedly stopped short of praising the bill’s harshest clause – the death sentence for “aggravated” homosexuality.

The bill’s author, MP David Bahati, originally included the clause to state that the death penalty could be used in cases involving repeat offenders, minors, HIV-positive people or disabled people.

But he told AP news agency that this “was something we have moved away from”.

However, the bill still contains language to lengthen prison sentences for gay people and also calls for punishment for anyone who does not report homosexuality to police. This would include doctors, landlords, teachers and even friends and family members.

Mr Ssempa reportedly told the committee: “The parliament should be given the opportunity to discuss and pass the bill, because homosexuality is killing our society.”

It is not clear whether MPs will get a chance to debate the bill before this session of parliament ends on Friday.

During the hearing, Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo said the bill would not stop homosexuality and would lead to more cases of HIV.

“How can we expect doctors to treat everyone when this bill will require them to report on their patients who are LGBT?” he said.

Thai-Cambodian Border Dispute Fueled by Nationalism, Politics

2011-05-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

From left, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva , center, sit during a trilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 8, 2011 (Photo: AP)

Daniel Schearf, VOA
Bangkok May 10, 2011

An ancient temple on the border between Thailand and Cambodia is at the heart of a deadly dispute between the two countries. Clashes along the border this year have killed some 30 people and sent tens of thousands of villagers fleeing. Both governments say the dispute is about who owns the land around the temple. Nationalism and domestic politics in both countries also play a key role in driving the conflict.

The border dispute dominated the agenda of this year’s summit of Southeast Asia nations, where efforts by host Indonesia failed to bridge major differences between the two sides.

When Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met Sunday at the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, they exchanged accusations over who is responsible for prolonging the conflict.

Thailand’s Prime Minister argues that Cambodia provoked the fighting by stationing troops in the disputed area. Since then, he says Cambodia has repeatedly tried to internationalize the dispute by involving outside groups such as ASEAN and the United Nations.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

"ASEAN has tried to mediate. There was an agreement in February to send Indonesian peace observers to both Cambodia and Thailand and Thailand agreed to it. But, the domestic crisis in Thailand is such that the army has superseded the civilian Abhisit government by reneging. And, basically, the agreement has been abrogated by the Thai side," Pongsudhirak explained.

In Thailand, the border clashes have come as the government prepares for nationwide elections in early July, raising suspicions that the country’s divisive domestic politics are playing a role in the conflict.

The election is seen as a showdown between Thai elites backed by the military and an opposition party supported by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had friendlier relations with Cambodia during his time in power.

The military ousted Thaksin in a 2006 coup that was backed by nationalist demonstrators known as the Yellow Shirts. His supporters were purged from the military and government and he went into self-imposed exile to avoid corruption charges.

Since then, the country’s politics have been bitterly divided and opinion polls indicate the July elections vote will be close.

William Case is a professor of Asian and International Studies at City University of Hong Kong. He says Thaksin’s opponents may be hoping the border crisis can rally the nation behind them or can be used as an excuse to postpone elections.

"There are certain forces which would include the military and the Yellow Shirt movement that maybe don't want those elections because of the results that they may well bring," he said.

In December a group of Yellow Shirts stirred up nationalists on both sides by going to the disputed area where they were arrested by Cambodian troops for spying.

Yellow Shirts have since protested outside government offices against Abhisit for being too soft on Cambodia.

Tensions were first raised along the border in 2008, when the United Nations declared an ancient Khmer Hindu temple located just inside Cambodia as a World Heritage site. At that time in Thailand, a government aligned with Thaksin supported Cambodia’s application.

Michael Montesano is a visiting research fellow on Thai history and regional affairs at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. He says the former prime minister’s political opponents seized on the temple’s listing to politicize the border dispute.

"Since then obviously things have spun out of control and we have armed violence among the Thai and Cambodian forces along the Thai and Cambodian border, a prolonged series of incidents over several years, ASEAN's chronic inability to address this violence between member states, all emanating from what began as a domestic political stunt on the Thai side,” Montesano stated.

The border dispute also has a political dimension in Cambodia, where relations with Thailand and Vietnam play a major role in domestic politics.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is a close friend of Thaksin and in 2009, appointed him an economic advisor, and refused to extradite him to Thailand.

Montesano says many Cambodians see Thailand as arrogant towards its small neighbor and Prime Minister Hun Sen scores easy political points for standing up to Bangkok.

But Montesano says the issue also gives the Cambodia government political cover in its own border dispute with Vietnam. Hun Sen’s opponents have accused him of being weak in negotiations with Hanoi.

"I'm in no position to know whether they're right. But, they're people who say that Hun Sun's playing up the situation on the Thai border is a way to distract the Cambodian people from his much softer stance vis a vis Vietnam relating to poorly demarcated borders." he said.

The Cambodia-Thailand border was demarcated over a century ago by the French colonial powers and Thailand, then known as the Kingdom of Siam.

The Thai side tacitly accepted a French-produced map but resentment later resurfaced over allegations that the map was unfair.

The main area of contention is land surrounding a 900-year-old temple called Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled the temple was Cambodia’s, which Thailand accepted, and the issue lay dormant for decades.

Thailand claims the land surrounding the temple, which the court did not rule on.

Earlier this month Cambodia asked the ICJ to clarify the 1962 ruling to try to settle the dispute. Thailand says it wants to resolves the dispute through direct talks with Cambodia.

Myanmar Model Girl Photos: Christina's hot fashion pose

2011-05-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Myanmar Model Girl, Christina
Real Name : Aye Myat Thu , Date of Birth : 6.9.1985 , Place of Birth : Yangon
Body Structure : 34, 24, 36, Height : 5' 4" , Religion : Christrian
Race : Mon + Myanma , Marital Status : Single
Favourite Color : Baby Pink & Many light colour
Contact : No;296, Room 11, Shwe Da Gon Street, Dagon Township Yangon.

After Ban Ki-moon Said Stood Behind UN Rights Rep in Cambodia, His Leaving Draws No Reaction, like ECCC

2011-05-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 09, 2011
By Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Cambodia last October, Prime Minister Hun Sen “ordered” him to remove the head of the UN human rights office in Phnom Penh, Christophe Peschoux.

Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about it. Nesirky called it an “internal personnel matter,” then added that Ban stands behind the office and, by implication, its staff.

Now six months later, Peschoux has been chased from the country. Human rights groups call it “worrying.” Mr. Peschoux himself has said that in Cambodia

“human rights are tolerated to the extent that they do not challenge the political, economic and financial interests of the ruling elite. That’s where the red line runs. If you cross that line, trouble starts... Of course I’m leaving because it has become impossible for me to continue to operate in this environment.”

Given this, one might have expected Ban Ki-moon to have some follow up comment, if not to have actually defended Mr. Peschoux. But when Inner City Press on May 9 asked Ban's acting deputy spokeman Farhan Haq about Peschoux's leaving Cambodia, Haq said “we do not have any comment at this stage,” nor “any reaction.”

Ban in Cambodia, Peschoux and

Ban follow through on human rights not shown

Back on April 12, Inner City Press had asked Haq about Cambodia:

Inner City Press: there is a lot of controversy about the UN-backed Court [Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia] there. Some are saying that the President told Ban Ki-moon that there should be no more prosecutions and that the Court should be wound down. And advocates are saying that the UN hasn’t spoken up in defence of the Court’s mandate. Does the Secretary-General have a view on whether this Court should go on in a non-politicized fashion, or, as many say, should be moving to dismiss future cases beyond those it has?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: The Secretary-General fully supports the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in Cambodia, and he believes that it is up, ultimately, to the senior officials of the Extraordinary Chambers to proceed with their work as they see fit.

Since then, concerns have only grown. Ban Ki-moon and human rights: que pasa? Watch this site.

ECCC urged to quiz new suspects

2011-05-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

9 May 2011
AFP

The international co-prosecutor at Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on Monday called for the unnamed suspects in a politically sensitive new Khmer Rouge case to face questioning.

In a written statement, Andrew Cayley urged the co-investigating judges to examine more crime sites and "summon and question the suspects", adding that he felt their alleged crimes "have not been fully investigated".

In its landmark first trial, the court sentenced former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav to 30 years in jail in July for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people during the brutal 1975-1979 regime.

That case is now under appeal, while a second trial involving four of the regime's most senior surviving leaders is due to start in the middle of the year.

But the court has been tight-lipped about progress into potential third and fourth cases against another five members of the regime, whose identities remain confidential and details sketchy.

I object!

Observers say both cases are likely to be dismissed as they face strong opposition from the Cambodian government, with Prime Minister Hun Sen even saying last year these cases were "not allowed".

Late last month the court announced in a terse press release that it had concluded its initial investigations into the third case, without providing details of the crimes nor summoning the suspects, to the dismay of victims and observers.

Cayley's national counterpart Chea Leang has opposed going after more suspects from the beginning and her name was notably absent from Monday's statement.

Cayley refused to comment on the apparent rift between them but said that he had "a legal obligation" to demand further investigations.

"I am using every single legal instrument at my disposal... to ensure justice is done in this case," the Briton said.

"My view is that the victims, the witnesses and the potential suspects are entitled to know what is taking place in the courtroom."

Information first

In his list of new crime sites, Cayley disclosed numerous Khmer Rouge security centres across the country, including one in the capital Phnom Penh, as well as a forced labour site in southern Kampong Som province.

By giving victims some basic information, Cayley had "done the right thing, and this may be crucial for the credibility of the court", said Clair Duffy, from the rights group Open Society Justice Initiative.

The co-investigating judges are expected to announce next month whether they will take up Cayley's requests.

The third case is widely believed to centre around a former Khmer Rouge navy commander and an air force commander, while the fourth case is thought to involve three lower-level regime members.

Led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Marxist Khmer Rouge regime emptied cities in the late 1970s in a bid to create an agrarian utopia, killing up to two million through starvation, overwork and genocide.

Indigenous Peoples Standup for Their Rights in Vietnam

2011-05-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

Source:KKN

Vietnam has been recognized as one of the countries in Southeast Asia with the impressive progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations by 2015. However, more than half of the Indigenous Peoples in Vietnam currently still live below the poverty line. Instead of trying to improve the standard living for the Indigenous Peoples, the Vietnamese government confiscates their ancestral farm lands. When they speak up for their land rights, the Vietnamese government labels them as “separatists” or “try to disturb the society”. With those alleged crimes, the Vietnamese government can send them to the prison without a fair trial.

Neang Phuong was shot at her leg by the Vietnamese police.

On February 2008, the Indigenous Khmer-Krom farmers in Tri Ton district, An Giang province organized a peaceful protest to demand returning their confiscated farmland. The Vietnamese government used armed forces to disperse the protest. Many Khmer-Krom farmers were injured. Neang Phuong, Mr. Chau Hen’s wife, was shot in her leg and was refused for treatment at the Vietnamese hospital in Triton district. Mr. Chau Hen and his family escaped their beloved hometown to seek refugee status in Thailand.

The UNHCR staff in Bangkok refused to grant Mr. Chau Hen’s family refugee status and asked them to go back to Vietnam because they believed that the Vietnamese government would not do any harm to them. On December 17, 2010, leaving behind their children in Bangkok, only Mr. Chau Hen and his wife went back to find out if the Vietnamese government would not do any harm to them as the UNHCR staff in Bangkok said or not. Unfortunately, when they got back to their village for about two hours, the Vietnamese government in Tri Ton district sent the Vietnamese polices to arrest Mr. Chau Hen.

Mr. Chau Hen's Sons urged the UNHCR in Bangkok to grant them refugee status in April, 2011 after their father is imprisoned in Vietnam.

On March 31, 2011, the Vietnamese court of Tri Ton district brought Mr. Chau Hen for a trial even he was very sick and could not speak to defend for himself. He was sentenced for two years in prison with the alleged crime of inciting the Khmer-Krom farmers to demand returning their confiscated farmlands and caused the public disturbance.

Since April 20, 2011, Mr. Chau Hen’s wife has urged the Vietnamese government to allow her to visit him, but the Vietnamese government keeps denying and made her suspected that if Mr. Chau Hen is actually alive or not. The Vietnamese polices promised her that she will be allowed to visit him on May 10, 2011. Hopefully, Mr. Chau Hen is still alive.

The human rights violations committed by the Vietnamese government against the Indigenous Peoples do not happen only in the Mekong Delta, but it is all over the country. The Degar (Montagnard) people in the central highland of Vietnam have been harshly persecuted when they stood up to demand for their fundamental rights, such as: land rights and religious freedom.

According the 46-page report, “Montagnard Christians in Vietnam: A Case Study in Religious Repression” by Human Rights Watch in March 2011, stated that “more than 250 Montagnards in prison or awaiting trial are charged with national security crimes such as "undermining national solidarity." Many former Montagnard political prisoners and detainees report that they were severely beaten or tortured in police custody and pre-trial detention. Since 2001, at least 25 Montagnards have died in prisons, jails, or police lock-ups after beatings or illnesses sustained while in custody, or shortly after being prematurely released by prison authorities to a hospital or home.”

In Muong Nhe, Dien Bien province of North Vietnam, near the border with Laos, since April 30, 2011, thousands of the Indigenous Hmong Peoples have protested to demand for their fundamental rights. According to the U.S. –based Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), 28 protesters were killed and hundreds are missing after the military moved to suppress the protests. At this time, the Vietnamese government has surrounded this area and forbid any foreigners to visit this area.

The Tenth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will be held at the United Nation Headquarter in New York City from May 16-27. The Vietnamese government and the organizations that represent for the Indigenous Peoples in Vietnam will attend this forum. In previous years, the Vietnamese government representatives always claimed that Vietnam does not violate Human Rights and always respect the rights of all people in Vietnam including the ethnic minorities. Vietnam does not recognize the existence of the Indigenous Peoples in its country. With the human rights violation records that the world is condemning Vietnam to respect the Human Rights of the people in Vietnam, especially the rights of the Indigenous Peoples, it would be hard to believe if Vietnam still sings the same old song at the forum this year.

It is time for Vietnam to open its heart and mind to have a constructive dialog with the Indigenous Peoples to solve the issues in a peaceful and respective way. If Vietnam keeps using the oppressive strategies to imprison and kill the Indigenous Peoples, then Vietnam will never gain the respect from the other countries. Moreover, it might lead to the human rights revolutions as in North Africa and Middle East.

Opposition Plans Demonstration for Textile Workers

2011-05-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Sophea (left), 25, a former employee of the June Textiles company, speaks to reporters after being injured during a scuffle with police yesterday in Sen Sok district (Photo: Pha Lina, The Phnom Penh Post)

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 09 May 2011

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy says he plans to gather garment workers together in a demonstration, after about 2,000 gathered for a strike in front of the June Textiles factory outside Phnom Penh.

The factory, which sits on the main road leading to the airport, burned down in March, costing the company millions of dollars and leaving many workers without pay.

Workers said they hoped to block the airport road Sunday night, as the prime minister and other leaders returned from an Asean summit in Indonesia, but were dispersed by riot police.

At least eight workers were injured as police clashed with protesters and two were detained through Monday. Sam Rainsy told reporters Sunday he planned a larger demonstration soon.

After Ban Ki-moon Said Stood Behind UN Rights Rep in Cambodia, His Leaving Draws No Reaction, like ECCC

2011-05-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 09, 2011
By Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press

Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about it. Nesirky called it an “internal personnel matter,” then added that Ban stands behind the office and, by implication, its staff.

Now six months later, Peschoux has been chased from the country. Human rights groups call it “worrying.” Mr. Peschoux himself has said that in Cambodia

“human rights are tolerated to the extent that they do not challenge the political, economic and financial interests of the ruling elite. That’s where the red line runs. If you cross that line, trouble starts... Of course I’m leaving because it has become impossible for me to continue to operate in this environment.”

Ban in Cambodia, Peschoux and

Ban follow through on human rights not shown

Back on April 12, Inner City Press had asked Haq about Cambodia:

Inner City Press: there is a lot of controversy about the UN-backed Court [Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia] there. Some are saying that the President told Ban Ki-moon that there should be no more prosecutions and that the Court should be wound down. And advocates are saying that the UN hasn’t spoken up in defence of the Court’s mandate. Does the Secretary-General have a view on whether this Court should go on in a non-politicized fashion, or, as many say, should be moving to dismiss future cases beyond those it has?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: The Secretary-General fully supports the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in Cambodia, and he believes that it is up, ultimately, to the senior officials of the Extraordinary Chambers to proceed with their work as they see fit.

Since then, concerns have only grown. Ban Ki-moon and human rights: que pasa? Watch this site.

A laughable Kangaroo court with illiterate judges obeying to a Stalinist government

2011-05-10T04:08:00.000-07:00

May 10, 2011

A LAUGHABLE KANGAROO COURT WITH ILLITERATE JUDGES

OBEYING TO A STALINIST GOVERNMENT

Today the Phnom Penh Appeal Court postponed its awaited decision related to a ten-year imprisonment sentence handed down to me on September 23, 2010 for “forgery of a public document.”

The accusation against me is related to a French-era 1:100,000 map posted on the Sam Rainsy Party website which allegedly has an “unusual” grid on it (see Map # 4 at http://tinyurl.com/yeaoxyf). The Hun Sen government accuses me of adding the grid to the original map, therefore “falsifying” the document. They point to the grid by using the French word "carreaux" while the technical term in both English and French is UTM graticule.

Some CPP-affiliated judges seem to be as illiterate as some Hun Sen government “experts.”

Actually, I used and published both French-made maps and US-made maps to show that they corroborate one another regarding border delimitation between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Cambodian judges and government “experts” should read this explanation by Colonel Edward G. Anderson, Jr. of Corp of Engineers, United States Army (excerpt from "Mapping in Southeast Asia", in The Military Engineers, March-April 1969, page 232): "You would notice the Minutes mention the use of UTM (grid) on 1:100,000 French-made maps. The UTM (standard military grid) with marginal data in English was overprinted on the French maps by the US Army since outbreak of WW II. NATO, France included, adopted UTM grid after 1945."

Mr. Var Kim Hong, the head of government border “experts” did not get the point when he claimed in his accusation against me at a February 22, 2010 press conference, “The French are ignorant of UTM grid (map making).” Actually, it is Mr. Var Kim Hong and his CPP colleagues who are ignorant of elementary graph and map techniques.

Proeur Heungsa Chea Nich - "Always resorting to violence": Poem in Khmer by Kaun Khmer

2011-05-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

Gay Couple, Fleetingly Famous for a Kiss, Separated by Tragedy

2011-05-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

Two young men electrified a conservative South African town when a picture of them kissing prompted anger--mostly from area males--but also spoke to gays of passion, commitment... and normalcy. The photo, capturing a moment in time, is immortal--but a month after it was taken, one of the young men is dead, and the other in critical condition, following a car

Whitney Houston in Rehab for Drug and Alcohol Treatment

2011-05-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

Whitney Houston is seeking help. The singer, 47, who has struggled with substance abuse in the past, has recently entered an out-patient treatment program.

"Whitney Houston is currently in an out-patient rehab program for drug and alcohol treatment," her rep tells PEOPLE in a statement. "Whitney voluntarily entered the program to support her long-standing recovery process." Full story here!

Rugby Guys Gone Wild (NSFW)

2011-05-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

This post sponsored by:

Khmer Girl Model Kim Lisa

2011-05-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

Yet another question has come...Khmer model Kim Lisa, where does she get the beauty from?

Tribunal Prosecutor Supports Disclosure of Suspects’ Names

2011-05-09T22:02:00.001-07:00

Manilene Ek, VOA Khmer
Monday, 09 May 2011

The international prosecutor for the Khmer Rouge tribunal on Monday urged judges at the UN-backed court to publicize the identities of suspects in a controversial case.

So far the identities of suspects in cases 003 and 004 at the court have remained confidential, although likely suspects have been named by outside parties.

Prosecutor Andrew Cayley said Monday that announcing the names of suspects for potential indictment in Case 003 would be in “the interest of public information.”

Investigating judges concluded their work in that case in April.

Both cases remain controversial because Prime Minister Hun Sen objects to their going further, a position publicly supported by many Cambodian tribunal officials.

Critics say the cases should move forward in the name of national reconciliation.

Man accused of murdering wife suffered metal toxicity, court told

2011-05-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

Narin Sok is pictured on July 30, 2008, the day he was arrested by police and charged with the second-degree murder of his wife Deang Huon.Photograph by: Supplied, Edmonton Journal

May 9, 2011
By Ryan Cormier, Postmedia News
Edmonton Jounal (Alberta, Canada)

EDMONTON — In a rare move, Crown and defence lawyers have agreed that an Edmonton man charged with the second-degree murder of his wife is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder caused by "heavy metal toxicity."

After his arrest, Narin Sok told doctors he thought his wife might have been possessed by the "snake spirit" of his dead brother. He has admitted he killed her in the couple's downtown apartment on July 30, 2008.

Deang Huon, 40, died of strangulation.

In a joint submission, defence lawyer Peter Royal and Crown prosecutor Robert Fata agreed that Sok was suffering from lead, cadmium and manganese toxicity the day his wife was found dead.

The condition is attributed to years of working with scrap metal, and the fact that in hours before the murder, Sok tried to melt "magic belts" he and his wife had used in hopes of increasing their chances of pregnancy. That last concentrated exposure occurred in the couple's enclosed apartment.

"In my 36 years of practice I have never seen another case like this, and doubt we will ever see another one," Royal told court.

Sok, 51, was in a deranged state when police found him and his wife's body in their apartment after concerned relatives asked that someone check on the couple's welfare.

Police found a bizarre scene, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Sok was sitting in the bedroom, ripping up a black garbage bag to add to numerous others that covered the floors and windows. Next to him, his wife's dead body was partially covered with garbage bags, rice sacks and other debris. Rigor mortis had already set in.

Sok was taken to police headquarters in the back seat of a cruiser, where he spit and complained of thirst.

In his cell, he urinated on the floor and simultaneously complained the room was dirty.

He was soon moved to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, where he was treated for kidney failure, liver damage and facial scratches and bruises. There was also damage to his heart. He was then transferred to Alberta Hospital for a psychological assessment.

Starting in 1986, Sok had spent a total of nine years off and on working in various scrap-metal yards. Largely, his job was to cut and peel wires to separate various metals to be recycled. He told doctors he usually wore gloves but only used a mask sporadically because it was uncomfortably hot.

He told doctors his job was dusty and could turn his mask black when he did wear it.

When he returned from a 2007 visit to Cambodia, Sok brought back two "magic belts" made of zinc, silver and lead that were supposed to increase the chances he and his wife could conceive a child. The couple constantly wore two belts each, he told doctors.

Huon never became pregnant.

The night before his wife's death, Sok tried to melt those belts in a pan on the stove. As the apartment filled with smoke, he disabled the smoke detector, but had already covered the windows with garbage bags in what doctors later thought was a sign of increasing paranoia.

He said he doesn't remember going to sleep that night. Sometime after, the couple fought and Huon was strangled.

Sok told doctors he couldn't understand what happened in the moments before his wife's death, or why he punctured her right arm with a thin metal rod. He remembered placing a chair astride her neck then using a rice sack to weigh it down. He remembered both of them falling asleep.

At one point, he told doctors he thought his wife might have been possessed by the "snake spirit" of his deceased brother.

Heavy metal toxicity occurs when the amount ingested exceeds the body's ability to eliminate them. The effects vary greatly, depending on the level of toxicity and the specific metal involved.

Doctors concluded that Sok's toxicity started because of his occupation, leading to paranoia and abnormal behaviour.

It also led to the impaired judgment that led him to burn the metal belts, which caused acute poisoning by inhalation.

The Cambodian couple married in Edmonton in 1994. Between then and the murder there was no evidence of violence in the relationship and Sok did not have a criminal record.

Court was told Sok is now fully recovered from his mental illness.

The trial continues.

Survey Finds Little Optimism Among Teachers

2011-05-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

The annual survey by the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, which questioned 726 teachers across 17 provinces, also found a majority who believed the education system has “no quality.” (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 09 May 2011

“The quality of education in Cambodia has reached a low-level alert.”

A survey by a teacher’s association has found a high degree of pessimism among the country’s educators, with nearly half saying they believe the education system in Cambodia has not developed at all.

The annual survey by the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, which questioned 726 teachers across 17 provinces, also found a majority who believed the education system has “no quality.”

That number, 39.5 percent, was lower than the 45.5 percent who said they thought the country had not developed at all. About 14 percent of those surveyed said the sector had shown some development.

“We are very worried about the quality of education in Cambodia,” said Rong Chhun, president of the association. “The quality of education in Cambodia has reached a low-level alert.”

About half the respondents—52 percent—said low salaries were causing a decline in education quality. Fifteen percent said education suffered from a lack of transparency in its administration and that inactive school directors need to be removed.

Other reasons cited were corruption and a lack of teaching materials and training. About 85 percent of respondents said they felt they were not involved enough in decision making.

Only 56 percent said they knew what the country’s education strategy was.

Rong Chhun said he hoped the survey would be used by the Ministry of Education to reform the sector.

But Ou Eng, general director of the education department for the Ministry of Education, said the survey was “unfair and untrue.”

Khmer Hot Import Model: Kim Sunisa

2011-05-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

Introduce you to Khmer supper hot model, Kim Sunisa. She was born in Thailand, her parents are Khmer. When Kim Sunisa were 6 old, her family moved to US. Now she became one of the asian hot model in America. Khmer Sexy Model Kim Sunisa, Full Sexy Body, Shape, Khmer Thai Model. Khmer Model Hot, Shot In Different Styles. Khmer American Model, Sim Sunisa Moved To America.

Sunisa Kim - Interview by Kineda.com

K: What place do you call home and what ethnicity are you?

SK: I call Los Angeles home, but I was born in Thailand. I’m half Thai and half Cambodian. I came to the United States when I was about 6 months old.
K: Wow, such a small baby at the time. You’re a really popular model in the “scene” right now. What got you started?

SK: I’ve been working with the automotive industry for 3 years now. What got me known was being a spokes model for Yokohama Tires. From there on, it just snowballed and it makes me want to persue modeling even more. I also want to be able to branch out into acting.
K: That’s right. I remember seeing a giant poster ad of you at SEMA last year. Nice picture I might add! Acting seems to be the craze for models. I guess it’s the next natural progression. What kind of acting are you looking towards?.

SK: Thanks! Well, anything from drama or comedy. I’m also looking towards daytime or primetime TV. They need more diverse Asians on television! It’s the same old typical looking Asians we see on TV all the time.

K: Yokohama is keeping you on fulltime as their 1st spokesmodel. Where can the fans find you this season?

SK: Yokohama has me on contract. You’ll see me at all the drifting events, D1 and Formula D. I’m also touring with HIN, this year as one of their Official Glow Go Go girls. My partners are Sasha Singleton and Christine Mendoza.

K: Wow, talk about an awesome threesome! I’m sure you get hit on alot by guys in the industry. What’s the best line you’ve heard so far?

SK: I can’t think of any rite now, but i must admit, pick up lines are very cheesy!
K: Hahah.. we agree. What do you like better, the Drifting Competitions or the Import Shows?SK: I actually like both, because the fans that goes to these shows are all the same enthusiast, they are all great.
K: Have you tried drifting yourself? There’s nothing like a hot model doing an eternal drift with her head out the window cheesing for the cams.

SK: LOL. I’ve been in one of the japanese racer’s car, while he was drifting…it felt incredible, better that a roller coaster! Haven’t done it myself yet though.
K: Who was the lucky driver and what’s your favorite ride now?

SK: Orido Manabu, but he is now a D1 judge. I’m in love with the Porsche Cayenne.
K: Ahh I love that car. If you ever get it, slap on a Gembella kit and just roll down Sunset with it. I’m sure you need to stay in top shape for modelling. Do you do alot of fitness work? What do you like to eat?

SK: Believe it or not, I try staying in good shape my running a miles each day, but with traveling I haven’t been doing any exercises…and eating, ha! thats my favorite hobby. I like fruits, fritos with chili, fried chicken, hot and sour soup, noodles, etc….haha
K: that’s a nice selection! You don’t sound to picky with your food… is it the same with guys?

SK: Hmmm…no! haha, with guys, a girl has to be picky, if she wants to be in that ideal relationship!
K: So what’s it take for a guy to get into that “ideal” relationship.

SK: Be a gentlemen and be cool!
K: Easier said than done.

SK: You guys would be surprised with the nice feedback from girls when you are a gentlemen. Try it.
K: Hmm.. maybe we should open the door a bit more often. So if you had to choose… brawns or brains?

SK: Brains for sure. I can’t really stand guys that are way too into their themselves.
K: Who does?! We agree there. Any parting words for the Kineda fans?

SK: To all my loyal fans, I’m coming out with a website called Bombshellpinups, it’ll be a hit, please check it out and let me know what you think, and i’ll see everyone at the race track, go drifting!

Khmer Girl Model Kim Lisa

2011-05-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

Yet another question has come...Khmer model Kim Lisa, where does she get the beauty from?

Survey Finds Little Optimism Among Teachers

2011-05-09T18:19:00.001-07:00

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 09 May 2011

“The quality of education in Cambodia has reached a low-level alert.”

The annual survey by the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, which questioned 726 teachers across 17 provinces, also found a majority who believed the education system has “no quality.”

That number, 39.5 percent, was lower than the 45.5 percent who said they thought the country had not developed at all. About 14 percent of those surveyed said the sector had shown some development.

Other reasons cited were corruption and a lack of teaching materials and training. About 85 percent of respondents said they felt they were not involved enough in decision making.

Only 56 percent said they knew what the country’s education strategy was.

Rong Chhun said he hoped the survey would be used by the Ministry of Education to reform the sector.

But Ou Eng, general director of the education department for the Ministry of Education, said the survey was “unfair and untrue.”

Tribunal Prosecutor Supports Disclosure of Suspects’ Names

2011-05-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Manilene Ek, VOA Khmer
Monday, 09 May 2011

The international prosecutor for the Khmer Rouge tribunal on Monday urged judges at the UN-backed court to publicize the identities of suspects in a controversial case.

So far the identities of suspects in cases 003 and 004 at the court have remained confidential, although likely suspects have been named by outside parties.

Prosecutor Andrew Cayley said Monday that announcing the names of suspects for potential indictment in Case 003 would be in “the interest of public information.”

Investigating judges concluded their work in that case in April.

Both cases remain controversial because Prime Minister Hun Sen objects to their going further, a position publicly supported by many Cambodian tribunal officials.

Critics say the cases should move forward in the name of national reconciliation.

Out of Hardship, a Health Advocate Is Born

2011-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Theary Chan (in large hat) participates in a USAID project to improve access to safe drinking water among poor floating communities in Cambodia. (credit: Sok Kata, RACHA)

April/May 2011
Theary Chan | HEALTH
USAID

I belong to a generation that has witnessed political upheavals, genocide, civil war, drought, and poverty. After the Khmer Rouge regime, when an estimated 1.5 million Cambodians were killed or died of starvation, my family and I fled the country, joining thousands of others to become refugees in the Thai-Cambodian border camps.

I spent 12 years in the border camps, surrounded by barbed wire and soldiers. During that time, we always kept our belongings packed in a small bag, ready to run if the camp was attacked. Sometimes we moved five times within a year to escape fighting and insecurity.

Our homes and hospitals in the refugee camp were built from bamboo and thatch, and we lacked water, electricity, and land. At night, this largest city of Cambodian people was plunged into darkness and fear. Our common goal was survival.

It was in the camps where I developed a passion to work for the empowerment of women. I received my initial health training in the border camps, spending more than a decade of my life working in the maternity ward of a makeshift hospital. I eventually became the chief midwife, working with a team of 25 Cambodian midwives.

We found great satisfaction in providing quality care and kindness to desperately poor and stressed women. At that time, our salary was a bag of rice and a few canned fish, but we felt rich in capacity development, friendship, and achievements.

I recall assisting a woman with a prolonged and complicated labor. When indiscriminate shelling wrecked the roof of the hospital, only the woman, her family, and I remained. The expatriate health staff had been evacuated by the United Nations security group and other health staff ran for their lives. Unmindful of the danger, I successfully assisted the woman to safely deliver a healthy baby, and stayed with her until her condition improved.

After the experience I gained in the maternity ward at the Thai-Cambodian refugee camp, I worked for two years as a resident midwife at Hospital Jean-Verdier and Hospital General de Romans, in France, and completed a Masters of Public Health in Holland. Afterwards, I spent 20 years working with international organizations. Then I felt ready for a new challenge in my life.

This led me to apply to the Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (RACHA) in 2003, where I was offered the post of executive director. When I started, RACHA was in the process of becoming a local NGO. In 2004, RACHA began to receive funding from USAID.

New Approaches to Save Lives

My country currently has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region.

Through generous funding from the American people via USAID, RACHA works in collaboration with government counterparts, especially the Ministry of Health, and other development partners, to reduce maternal, newborn, and children-under-5 mortality in Cambodia. RACHA’s strategy is to improve the lives of individuals in Cambodia by making services for reproductive, newborn and child health, infectious diseases, and HIV/AIDS safe, available, accessible, and sustainable.

RACHA also assists the government to implement the “Health Sector Support Project, Fast Tract Initiative Road Map” in five provinces. That includes: training health ministry workers; strengthening the links between health facilities and communities; mobilizing communities to improve referral systems; and increasing the number of community-based transportation systems to improve access to comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care.

RACHA constantly seeks new approaches and technology that will improve the lives of the communities it serves. One example: the conversion of lake water into safe drinking water through a biotech filtration system that supports thousands of poor communities living on and around the Tonle Sap Lake.

Cambodian people today wish to join the rest of the world in marching towards peace, progress, and prosperity. RACHA will do its best to use USAID’s resources effectively to reach more beneficiaries in remote areas, and to pursue innovative interventions to contribute to the achievement of the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Theary Chan is the executive director of Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (RACHA), a USAID/Cambodia local implementer.

Mexican Soap Star Shills For Yes On 8

2011-05-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

Anti-gay Mexican soap star and singer Eduardo Verastegui made this new Spanish-language ad for Yes On 8. His support for Prop 8 has already caused a protest in Mexico City.

Mexican-American movie star Eduardo Verastegui has begun campaigning against California's homosexual "marriage" law, and is incurring the wrath of Mexican homosexuals as a result. Following Verastegui's reported decision to lead the campaign for the Hispanic organization "Viva la Familia" (Long Live the Family) enraged members of "Tri Gay", Mexico's self-proclaimed "gay soccer selection" expressed their displeasure against the pro-life, pro-family actor and entertainer.

At a press conference on October 22 in the offices of Mexico's Secretary of Health, the team denounced Verastegui. The vice-president of Tri Gay, Eduardo Velasquez, tore up a picture of the star. Calling the action a "message of condemnation of his actions," Velasquez said that the destruction of the picture was meant "as an act of rejection of all those who promote homophobia" according to Mexico's El Universal newspaper.

Verastegui, recently an American citizen, is a devout Catholic and anti-abortion activist who refuses to kiss female co-stars on screen because he is not married to them. But apparently he has no problem with appearing in soft-core porn.

100 Days to Heaven” 1st Full HD TRAILER Release [VIDEO]

2011-05-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

Watch 100 DAYS TO HEAVEN - FULL TRAILER with Vice Ganda HQ Full Video

"100 Days To Heaven" Poster and Trailer Starring Coney Reyes, Vice Ganda and Xyriel Manabat

“100 Days to Heaven” is the final title of ABS,CBN’s upcoming inspirational series starring Connie Reyes and Xyriel Manabat.

100 Days to Heaven tells a story of a cruel boss portrayed by Coney Reyes. Due to her rough past, she became a cold and unkind person. Employees of the company are afraid of her because of her harsh attitude. One evening, she died and went to see God. There, God gave her a chance to live again in 100 days in a form of a child (portrayed by Xyriel Manabat). Her mission is to find the people that she had hurt and correct her wrong doings. Will she accomplish the mission in the form of a child?

Also starring in “100 Days to Heaven” are Neil Coleta, Dominic Ochoa, Rafael Rosell, Valerie Concepcion, Smokey Manaloto, Louis Abuel and Jodi Sta. Maria.

Directed by Malu Sevilla, the inspirational tv series is set to premiere soon on ABS-CBN.

Congressman Abs

2011-05-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

Towleroad tips us to the latest issue of Men's Health, which features GOP Rep. Aaron Schock (IL) showing off his famed bod. At age 29, Schock is the youngest member of Congress. We last took note of Rep. Schock for the famously gay-looking outfit he wore to a White House picnic last summer.

Gay Money Key To Obama 2012

2011-05-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

Over at Politico, Ben Smith reports that Obama's 2012 reelection effort is depending on the renewed generosity of the gays.

Pleased by an all-out White House push to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” gay donors have surprised campaign officials with the extent of their support. And the campaign’s new fundraising apparatus appears designed to capitalize on their enthusiasm: Obama’s finance committee included one gay man in 2008; there are 15 this year, a source said. The Obama campaign finance director, Rufus Gifford, was a top California gay fundraiser; the DNC finance chairman, Andrew Tobias, is gay; and the White House social secretary – traditionally a key, if unofficial, fundraising job – is also a gay man, Jeremy Bernard.

The spur for the gay community becoming an anchor for Obama’s re-election fundraising is a series of policy shifts in 2010. After a year of rocky relations and suspicion from Obama’s gay supporters that he wasn’t really committed to their issues, the last year saw a surge in activity. Along with the high-profile repeal of the military ban, Obama’s Justice Department recently refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. And the administration has taken smaller steps, like gay partner hospital visits and hate crimes legislation, concrete and important gestures that simply weren’t made during the Bush administration.

Activist David Mixner says that the last few months have seen a "sea change" in the way gays view the president.Labels:

Uganda's "Kill Gays" Bill Back On Table

2011-05-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

Uganda's "kill the gays" bill is apparently being fast-tracked for a parliamentary vote within the next few days.

If enacted, the Bill would greatly broaden the criminalisation of homosexuality by introducing the death penalty for people who have previous convictions, are HIV-positive, or engage in same sex acts with people under 18 years of age. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that support LGBT rights.

There is hope that international pressure, particularly from the United States, may derail the bill yet again.

The US government has moved increasingly to tie aid to human rights, including LGBT human rights. The US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner, last month indicated that the US will use its influence in world bodies which provide Uganda with a big chunk of its budget. Already Germany has stopped aid to Malawi following anti-gay moves, including criminalising lesbians, in that country and funding for a huge infrastructure project only went ahead after reassurances on human rights from Malawi's government.

All Out has launched a petition campaign the Uganda's president

Wingnut Word Salad

2011-05-09T06:55:00.001-07:00

"For society, and a majority of our society, to be asked by a very small minority to change its ways — and everybody can interpret that for themselves; that can be constitutional, that can be by law, that can be by faith — the homosexual community wants to go and start its own churches and get married, they’re free to do that. And I don’t see that being unreasonable to say, why should people who believe this in a big way that’s been around for a long time turn around and alter what they feel is their sensibility just because those folks feel like, ‘We’re not being treated equal.'" - Actor Stephen Baldwin, saying something something something.

Photoshop Of The Day

2011-05-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Jezebel reports:

Ultra Orthodox Hasidic newspaper Der Tzitung is telling its readers like it isn't- by editing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from the now-iconic Bin Laden raid Situation Room photo. Oy vey. The religious paper never publishes pictures of women, as they could be considered "sexually suggestive." Apparently the presence of a woman, any woman, being all womanly and sexy all over the United States' counterterrorism efforts was too much for the editors of Der Tzitung to handle.

Also removed from the photo was a female counter-terrorism expert.

Indian girl: with the style... the light of India...

2011-05-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

The Extraordinary gas Chambers CIJs are a FARTING FARCE ! FARCE! FARCE!

2011-05-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh
A Farting Farce is the Justice of the Poor, says Co-Investigating Judges You Bunleng and Siegfried Blunk Series

FARTING FARCE
2. A ludicrous, empty show; a mockery (the Free Dictionary)

Excerpt from Ms. Theary C. Seng's Press Release, May 5, 2011

Press Release: Theary Seng appealing ECCC decision re Meas Muth and Sou Met; lodging new application against Im Chaem, Ta An, Ta Tith

"In this one application, I publicly named and expressly hold Khmer Rouge military commanders Meas Muth and Sou Met directly, personally, individually responsible to me for the Crimes against Humanity (including the legal elements of murder, extermination, enslavement, imprisonment, torture, political persecution) in their roles as commanders of the Navy and Air Force of Democratic Kampuchea [national positions], respectively, and for their material contribution in developing and implementing the common design and purpose of a joint criminal enterprise [resulting in 1,700,000 deaths] which impacted the whole of Cambodia. That is to say, as a matter of international law, they are directly responsible for my legal injuries during the fall and exodus out of Phnom Penh (Phase I Movement) when my father, a Lon Nol military commander, “disappeared” [if rejecting Ms. Theary C. Seng's application, the CIJs are saying that these national military commanders of the Navy and Air Force had nothing to do with the capture and exodus of Phnom Penh????!!!!!] ; and the movement of the population of the East Zone (Phase 3) [expressly mentioned in the Introductory Submission as noted by UN Co-Prosecutor in his Press Release, May 9, 2011] when the Khmer Rouge imprisoned my family and me first at Wat Tlork and then Boeung Rai Security Centers, where I experienced and witnessed, inter alia, the death of my mother, among the 30,000 (thirty-thousand) lives estimated to have been extinguished at Boeung Rai. Here, the legal nexus are the CRIMES, not the geographically districts and zones they physically commandeered, vis-à-vis me as an applicant, except for their criminal actions as they were related to the capture and exodus out of Phnom Penh in 1975 when we shared proximity."

The U.N. Co-Prosecutor is smart in the nick of time in switching to the right side of history. with this detailed press release of May 9, 2011. But where are the "official voices of the victims" - Mr. Ang Pich and Ms. Elisabeth Simmoneau-Fort? Where are the other U.N. judges and senior officials in condemning the travesty of justice underway?

Hello, anyone there??????!!!!!!!

Myanmar Sexy Model, Mable Soe with Floral Bikini

2011-05-09T01:43:00.000-07:00

These are new bikini fashion photos of Mable Soe on the beach of Singapore. Mable is really hot and attractive in most of her bikini fashion photos. She is tall and has a slim and sexy body. Mable can also do very nice hotty poses.

Injustice, Deceit at Two-hundred-million-dollar Court for KR Victims

2011-05-09T01:42:00.000-07:00

Injustice, Deceit at Two-hundred-million-dollar Court for KR Victims

Theary Seng with her four brothers and their mother in Phnom Penh, most likely in 1974. In early 1978 for a period of 5-6 months, all six of them and their paternal grandfather were imprisoned in Wat Tlork Security Center and later transferred to Boeung Rai Security Center where the Khmer Rouge killed their mother Seng Chan Eat.

Boeung Rai Security Center where the Khmer Rouge imprisoned Theary Seng and her family and killed her mother, Seng Chan Eat. Among the 30,000 skulls, these are the only ones remaining: over the years, the villagers have been taking the skulls at liberty to grind them into traditional medicine. The bones are still in the mass graves in and around the pagoda and the nearby prison. This government has done absolutely nothing to preserve the other 200 security centers around the country, besides Tuol Sleng which came into being as result of January 1979 politics. Theary Seng, as the only civil party accepted in Case 002 for the Boeung Rai Security Center, is still awaiting the response of the Co-Prosecutors to be on their witness list. (Photo: Theary Seng, 4 Sept. 2010).

Monday, May 09, 2011
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

On Sunday, May 8, the Americans celebrated Mother’s Day. We, Cambodians, can join them in honoring our mothers and grandmothers by demanding greater, more dignified justice from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

The Khmer Rouge created over 1,200,000 orphans of whom I am one of them when they extinguished 1,700,000 lives including those of my father and mother. The last words of my mother—My daughter, go back to sleep—continue to haunt me, as she lulled me in her arms the night of her violent death in Boeung Rai Security Center whose mass graves contained 30,000 skulls.

My parents and those of the 1,200,000 other orphans’ were flesh and blood—with a name, a history, a family—and not some statistics or legal theories to be conveniently disposed of—again!—by the Tribunal.

We honor them by demanding justice. Whatever justice may be—legal, social, restorative, etc.—it must include TRUTH. TRUTH IS A PRE-CONDITION OF JUSTICE. Truth involves who speaks and who gets heard. In extinguishing Cases 003 and 004, the Tribunal extinguishes truth; it extinguishes justice; it extinguishes the voices of victims—those who died and those who survived—and our right to REPARATIONS.

We have been crudely conditioned to think of reparations mainly in monetary terms, which factor but insignificantly to what we desire of truth via reparations. It is useful to think of reparations with these 6 Rs:

1. RECOGNITION. There must be public recognition of the crimes, of the perpetrators and of the suffering of the victims. This recognition must include obligations of the State. Not only has the Tribunal been negligent in recognizing the suffering of the victims, it is being deceitful about its dealings of Cases 003/004.

2. RIGHT TO REMEDY. This includes rights of participation, of design, of citizenship.

3. REPAIR. Even if symbolic.

4. REFORM. Let’s start with the judiciary!

5. REAL AND REALISTIC. The reparations offered must be tangible and practical, e.g. provincial learning centers and memorials; the physical assets of the Tribunal to furnish these learning centers and memorials.

6. RECONCILIATION. It is not a moment but a process; it is not a principle but a strategy. What is happening now with regards to Cases 003/004 works against reconciliation as it works against truth-seeking.

The Tribunal (including the UN) is engaging in great deceit. It thinks that truth is inconvenient, justice is inconvenient. Well, so are 1,200,000 orphans living without our parents for the last 35 years.

But let me conclude not with these sordid facts but with the inspiration from the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to raise all of us to higher grounds from the dirt of the Tribunal: “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”

- Theary C. Seng, president of CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education; president of Association of Khmer Rouge Victims of which the Civil Parties of Orphans Class is a subgroup.

Over a thousand geckos freed from criminal taxi

2011-05-09T01:41:00.001-07:00

Over a thousand geckos discovered in the trunk of a taxi in Cambodia. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Alliance.

May 08, 2011
Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com

Over a thousand tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) were found in a single trunk of a taxi by the Wildlife Rapid Response Team (WRRT), forestry officials, and military police in Cambodia. WRRT is wildlife-crimes program run by Wildlife Alliance.

Boxes filled the taxi’s trunk. In the boxes were bags stuffed with 1,027 tokay geckos, of which nineteen had perished.

"[The tokay geckos] were likely going to be turned into food or possibly dried out for use in traditional medicines. There are also reports that Malaysian syndicates are buying them to fight them in rings, with onlookers gambling on the results," reads a blog from Wildlife Alliance on the incident.

Both the alleged wildlife trafficker and the taxi driver, a relative of the trafficker, were apprehended. The pair do not face jail time as the species is not considered endangered, however they face a maximum fine of three times the market value of the species, in this case nearly $4,000.

The surviving thousand-plus lizards were returned to the wild.

Native to much of tropical Asia, tokay geckos are considered generally common, although they have not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List. In some parts of the world they have been introduced and thus are considered pesky invasive species. However in their native habitat, they help keep insect numbers in check.

NZ’s Hamill calls for civil party applications

2011-05-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

Rob Hamill

Monday, May 09, 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

FORMER Olympic rower and Khmer Rouge tribunal civil party Rob Hamill has called for KR victims around the world to apply to participate in the court’s controversial third and fourth cases, warning that the investigations may be shut down in the face of interference from the Cambodian government.

In a statement released yesterday, the New Zealander said he was “deeply concerned about overt political influence” at the court, and warned prospective civil party applicants that time is running out to join Case 003.

The court’s investigating judges announced last month that they had concluded investigation in Case 003.

The investigation remains confidential, though the case is believed to involve former KR navy commander Meas Muth and air force commander Sou Met.

The fact that the judges made no effort to solicit victim complaints and civil party applications in relation to the case, and that the suspects themselves apparently were not even questioned during the investigation, has led court observers to charge that the case has been deliberately scuttled due to opposition by Prime Minister Hun Sen and other officials.

Under court rules, civil party applications must be received within 15 days of the closure of investigation, a deadline that expires on Saturday.

“It should be the court’s obligation to inform victims about the deadline from the date of closing investigations,” Hamill said. “However, since it is not, this announcement hopes to raise the message for victims who want to put applications in for cases 003 and 004.”

Im Sophea, outreach coordinator at the tribunal’s Victims Support Section, said yesterday that Hamill and local activist Theary Seng had so far been the only people to apply for civil party status in Case 003.

The VSS, he added, has not solicited further applications because they have no received such instructions from the investigating judges, and because the identities of the suspects remain confidential.

“This is a decision by the coinvestigating judges and we cannot do anything beyond that because it is their decision,” Im Sophea said.

“Our role is only to accept applications.”

Hamill’s brother Kerry was captured by the Khmer Rouge in 1978 while sailing with friends in the Gulf of Thailand before being taken to S-21 prison in Phnom Penh and executed.

Rob Hamill provided emotional testimony about the ordeal in 2009 during the court’s first trial, that of former S-21 prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch.

Open stream in Windows Media Player 2011-05-08 : BayonTV Cha Cha Cha Game Show

2011-05-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

China and the Cascading Geopolitics of Lower Mekong Dams

2011-05-08T21:41:00.001-07:00

Philip Hirsch
The Asia Pacific Journal, Japan Focus

Much has been written on the downstream impact of China’s dams on the Lancang-Mekong River, which flows through or along the borders of five other countries after exiting China. Most of the discussion relates to the hydrological impact of impounding water in the eight dams along the mainstream Lancang Jiang in Yunnan Province. Particular concern surrounds the recently completed Xiaowan Dam and the recently approved construction of the Nuozhadu Dam, each of which is of a scale to impound quantities of water that can affect river hydrology throughout the basin. The Lancang Cascade, as it is termed, has caused considerable controversy in downstream countries, most notably during the 2008 floods and the 2010 drought. Both the floods and the droughts were blamed by many in Thailand, and some in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, on China’s actions. Recent articles on the downstream implications of altered river hydrology and the need for China to be less disingenuous in its public relations over the issue show the confluence of river hydrology and geopolitics in an international river basin such as the Lancang-Mekong.

The Lancang Dams have major implications for downstream hydrology, with the potential to exacerbate or ameliorate both floods and droughts and to impact on fisheries and other bases for the livelihoods of downstream users of the river. Cumulatively, they have the potential to increase dry season flows by 30 to 50 per cent in the reach of the Mekong River above the Lao capital Vientiane. However, there are also more indirect implications of the Lancang dams that receive less attention despite having a bearing on highly controversial current projects such as the proposed Xayabouri Dam in Laos.

Currently there are proposals for up to 11 dams on the lower Mekong mainstream, meaning the section of the river below China. These dams include sections of the river bordering or inside three of the four countries that are member states of the Mekong River Commission (MRC). Dams have been planned for the Lower Mekong since the 1950s, but the Cold War put development on hold in the 1960s through to the 1980s. By the time mainstream dams came back onto the agenda in the early 1990s, environmental concerns over large dams had grown to the extent that the dusting off of these megaprojects designed a generation earlier was simply unpalatable, and it was mostly assumed until recently that mainstream dams were off the agenda.

Several factors help explain the revival of Mekong mainstream dams, and China is implicated in a number of ways. One way in which China’s own development of the river drives the logic of building more dams further downstream is simply the demonstration and equity effect: the Lao government in particular sees no reason why it should hold back on developing a shared river when an upstream country is already doing so. There is a tension in the position of Laos in this regard, since unlike China the country is a member of MRC and needs to temper expressions of sovereignty over the river within its own borders with an adherence to procedures for prior consultation agreed to for projects with potential transboundary impacts.

A more material way in which China’s Lancang dams have helped bring the lower mainstream dams back into the decision making arena is through the changed hydrology of the Mekong River. Particularly in its upper reaches immediately below the Lancang dams, the altered flood hydrology makes the economics of dams on the lower mainstream more favourable than before. Early versions of the lower mainstream dams included large storages, for example at the giant Pa Mong dam proposed during the 1960s. However, the scaled-down versions are commonly referred to as “run-of-river” dams, dependent on the seasonal flow of the river to generate power without being able to store more than a few days’ flow at most. Without upstream storages, such dams would only operate at their full power capacity for a few months each year. With an evened-out flow from the Lancang dams however, with more water available during the dry season and less during the wet season, the prospects for year-round power generation are greater than under an unregulated monsoonal flood regime.

A further role that China has in development of dams downstream is the investment by Chinese state-owned power corporations in several of the key projects. Until the 1990s, most dams in the lower Mekong countries were public investments, based on loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The game has changed, and most dams are now commercial projects. China has weighed in heavily amongst these investments, with estimates that up to 40 per cent of the proposed tributary and mainstream hydropower development in coming years in MRC member countries – i.e. outside China – will be done by Chinese companies. These projects include four of the eleven proposed mainstream dams, at Pak Beng, Pak Lay and Xanakham in Laos and at Sambor in Cambodia. Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian companies have been granted concessions to build the remaining mainstream projects, indicating that the geopolitics of dam construction is now further complicated by commercial interests within the region. One of the implications is that the politics of dams with transboundary impacts are internal to national spaces as well as transboundary in scope. For example as Vietnamese companies wishing to build the Luang Prabang and Stung Treng Dams in Laos and Cambodia respectively cut across the concerns of those in the Mekong Delta, there are concerns that the mainstream dams in upstream countries will capture silt and ruin fisheries, with enormous consequences for the 20 million Vietnamese living in the Delta.

Recent concern over Chinese image abroad has led to some interesting changes in the way it conducts its hydro-business. At the MRC Summit in Hua Hin in April 2010, China agreed to release more data on inflows and outflows from its cascade of dams on the Lancang Jiang. This came in the wake of disquiet in downstream countries over the possible impacts of reservoir filling and releases on low flows and flash floods respectively. While China’s sharing of data still falls far short of full disclosure, the move did reveal awareness of the need to cooperate with downstream countries. Also, Sino-Hydro and other companies have been taking environmental impact assessment more seriously than in the past. Sino-Hydro’s Nam Ngum 5 tributary dam is one that is being used as a test case in the new Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol that has been developed by the international hydropower industry in dialogue with some NGOs and other partners (link).

A further development related to China’s role as the upstream player in the Mekong is a shift in regional geopolitics with the re-entry of the United States into the region through its Lower Mekong Initiative. While the US has yet to decide what material developments will take place under this program, the Initiative has been announced with thinly veiled attempts to trump Chinese influence in the region, sometimes portraying the US as a downstream friend to counterbalance the upstream environmental foe. The US has taken the part of ASEAN against China in higher profile instances, notably in its statements on the South China Sea at the July 2010 ASEAN Regional Forum (link).

What do these seemingly disparate indirect aspects of China’s role in Mekong mainstream hydropower beyond the Lancang Cascade tell us about the region’s environmental politics and development trajectories? There are at least two ways in which they paint a more coherent picture than is immediately apparent.

First, it is useful to understand the political logic of the mainstream dams in China and the lower Mekong in terms of path dependency, or the idea that events and their consequences are triggered and explicable in part by previous events and can go on to influence yet further developments in a cascading manner. That is, while the immediate considerations of the Lancang Cascade have been considered largely in their own right, there is a bigger and interconnected set of hydrological, economic and political implications of China’s development within its own territory that seems to be pushing inevitably toward construction of dams on the lower Mekong mainstream. In turn, this is driving a new geopolitics, both between China and the lower Mekong countries and also amongst and within the MRC members, as various players realign based on their position on the mainstream dams.

Second, it is clear that the environmental politics around dams on the Lancang and lower Mekong mainstream are intricately bound up in a wider world of geopolitical relations. These include China’s emerging relations with regional neighbours. They also include the regional playing out of competition between older and newer world superpowers. What is notable is the way in which these geopolitics are now enmeshed in resource and environmental concerns over a shared river system.

It would be dangerous to equate path dependency with fatalism over Mekong mainstream dams. Important decisions are yet to be made. It would equally be wrong to consider that environmental considerations are subject and subsidiary to dominant geopolitical concerns and that international relations rather than concern for a shared river system entirely rule the game. The recent publication by MRC of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report on the lower Mekong mainstream dams, which recommends a ten year moratorium on the eleven projects, presents an opportunity for the countries of the region to move beyond the path dependency that sees one dam leading to another… and another, until the river becomes a cascade of still-water lakes – as would be the case for 60 per cent of the length of the lower mainstream if all eleven dams were to go ahead.

A telling case is underway whose outcome will demonstrate whether or not the cooperative arrangement represented by MRC will take note of the SEA as the most comprehensive scientific assessment to date. The first of the mainstream dams, Xayabouri, was notified by Lao PDR for prior consultation by MRC member states over a six month period to April 2011. This is the first time that other MRC countries have been asked to give their opinions on a dam proposed in the territory of one of their neighbours. Xayabouri is a Thai project inside Laos, whose lead contractor is the Thai company Ch. Kanchang, whose financing would be mainly by Thai banks, and whose market for power is primarily in Thailand. On 19 April, the Joint Committee of MRC held a special meeting to decide what position to take on the dam. The outcome of the meeting was that the countries agreed to disagree, based on concerns expressed both in technical reviews of the dam proposals and a series of public consultations, at which strong opposition to Xayabouri and other mainstream dams was expressed. The matter was referred upward to the Ministerial Council level, effectively putting the dam in abeyance.

At the time of writing (early May) the company proposing Xayaburi Dam is adamant that the project will go ahead, reassuring its shareholders that the deal is still on. The Lao government has sent mixed messages, initially insisting on its sovereign right to develop water resources on its own section of the river, but then indicating that it would commission an expert review of the Environmental Impact Assessment before proceeding. Meanwhile the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Cambodia have made an unequivocal joint statement that the dam should go on hold, at least for the time being. The geopolitics involved for the first time put the country arguing for the right to develop, based on the principle of territorial sovereignty, on the back foot relative to downstream countries arguing from the basis of territorial integrity, or the need to respect the implications of upstream development for the well-being of people downstream – in the Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap lake area in particular.

If a deal is done to go ahead with Xayabouri despite the SEA recommendations and despite the technical, community and riparian government concerns over the project, this will more than likely open the floodgates for further dams on the mainstream, at enormous cost to the well-being of the millions who depend on the river for their everyday livelihoods. Ultimately, this outcome is linked to China’s actions further upstream, without which it is highly unlikely that the mainstream dams would be under discussion as they are today.

----------

Philip Hirsch is Director, Australian Mekong Resource Centre, University of Sydney, He is the co-editor with C. Warren of The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia: resources and resistance, Routledge 1998, and co-author with Derek Hall and Tania Murray Li of Powers of Exclusion: land dilemmas in Southeast Asia, Singapore University Press and Hawaii University Press 2011.

Recommended citation: Philip Hirsch, China and the Cascading Geopolitics of Lower Mekong Dams, The Asia-Pacific Journal Vol 9, Issue 19 No 4, May 9, 2011.

Articles on related subjects:

• Michael Richardson, Dams in China Turn the Mekong Into a River of Discord: Rivers Know No Borders, But Dams Do

• Kenneth Pomeranz, The Great Himalayan Watershed: Water Shortages, Mega-Projects and Environmental Politics in China, India, and Southeast Asia

• Brahma Chellaney, Averting Asian Water Wars

• Geoffrey Gunn and Brian McCartan, Chinese Dams and the Great Mekong Floods of 2008

• Milton Osborne, The Water Politics of China and Southeast Asia: Rivers, Dams, Cargo Boats and the Environment

Thailand-Cambodia conflict unresolved by ASEAN

2011-05-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 9, 2011
By Olivia Rondonuwu, Reuters

JAKARTA -- Southeast Asian leaders failed to achieve any breakthrough on Sunday to end deadly border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia that overshadowed a regional summit in Jakarta supposed to showcase progress towards economic integration.

The clashes around crumbling Hindu temples in disputed areas have starkly illustrated the tensions between countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that could derail plans to create a single economic community by 2015, and the apparent inability of the bloc to deal with disagreements.

Indonesia, host of the 18th ASEAN summit, has been pressing for a deal that would prevent the meeting being marred by the border dispute. But in the end all that was achieved was a face-saving announcement that the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers would stay an extra day in Jakarta for more talks.

"I'm coming here not to create a war of words," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told a news conference in which he announced the extra round of talks. The two sides have spoken plenty of times in recent weeks, but without finding a resolution to clashes that have killed 18 people since April.

ASEAN, a collection of authoritarian states and nascent democracies, has a policy of noninterference in each other's domestic affairs, and so has struggled to resolve the border dispute which -- although on the surface about ownership of some ancient temples -- is being driven by domestic political dynamics in both Thailand and Cambodia.

Thai Elections Complicate Dispute

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told Reuters on the sidelines of the summit he will go to the polls on July 3. With elections approaching, the border issue is one that he can try to use to unite Thais behind him. He will certainly not be looking to make any concessions that would lose him votes.

The party seen as the biggest rival of Abhisit's Democrats is Peua Thai, a political vehicle for exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who has close ties with Hun Sen and was briefly even an official adviser to him.

Abhisit insisted that Thailand wanted peace and was not looking to score political points.

"The ultimate objective must be to achieve lasting peace, so that both our peoples can live peacefully side-by-side along the Thai-Cambodian border," he said in a press briefing.

But he laid the blame for the border tensions squarely on Cambodia, fueling skepticism over whether the extra day of talks on Monday will achieve anything.

Other ASEAN nations were not happy with the tension. "It is very important that we hold together," Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the region's leaders at the summit, adding the group faced enormous challenges.

"They need to ponder how badly the ill will generated would impede ASEAN collaboration on projects ... An ASEAN disunited will be taken less seriously by investors," said Singapore's state-controlled Straits Times newspaper in an editorial.

Security Challenges

Singapore leader Lee Hsien Loong did not attend the summit, staying at home for general elections that saw the ruling People's Action Party easily returned to power as expected. But the foreign minister lost his seat in a landmark vote for an opposition bolstered by a more skeptical younger generation.

The rest of the region's leaders, meeting in a cavernous conference center with an intricately carved wooden ceiling, have also struggled to engage the region's 500 million people in a project to build an economic community with free movement of people and goods by 2015.

"If the Cambodia and Thailand situation gets worse, then I'm afraid they might have to postpone it to 2020 or even put it on hold," said Enrico Tanuwidjaja, an analyst at OSK-DMG Group in Singapore.

In a venue patrolled by hundreds of police and military personnel after worries over reprisal attacks by Islamists in Indonesia following the killing of Osama bin Laden, leaders were discussing security challenges such as food and energy supply.

The group ranges from oil and gas-rich Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia, and the world's top rice exporter Thailand, to port trading center Singapore, resource-scarce Cambodia and the Philippines, and impoverished Myanmar and Laos.

The fast-growing region has again become a magnet for emerging market investors and is trying to develop its US$1.8 trillion economy by negotiating bilateral trade deals with the European Union and improving transport links with key trading partner China.

Previous meetings have often been overshadowed by controversy over member Myanmar. ASEAN leaders agreed to give Myanmar presidency of the group in 2014, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters, a move likely to attract howls of protest from the West, further denting the bloc's credibility.

Editorial: Connectivity Can Reduce Disparity

2011-05-08T21:40:00.001-07:00

May 09, 2011
Jakarta Globe

Connectivity and community were the buzz words at the 18th Asean Summit that ended on Sunday. Despite the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, the spirit of cooperation that has become the hallmark of the regional grouping was very much evident.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his closing remarks that the 10 Asean leaders who attended the two-day summit understood the importance of improving connectivity in the region by building more telecommunications and transportation infrastructure.

The president asked for the master plan for Asean connectivity be followed up with efforts from all member countries to create connectivity in their respective countries, on the regional level and in people-to-people contact.

Yudhoyono hit the nail on the head when he added that connectivity was not just about building mobility but also an effort to reduce disparities between member countries, allowing them to narrow the development gap between them.

The two-day summit also created consensus among the leaders that they need to cooperate more in facing the challenge of energy shortages that have become a global threat by reducing dependence on fossil fuel and turning more toward renewable energy.

Asean has come along way since its founding, and today it represents a region of nearly 700 million people and a gross domestic product of $2.9 trillion. It is rich in human capital as well as natural resources. It offers tremendous potential but also faces huge challenges.

It was appropriate that the theme for this year’s summit was connectivity. In a globalized world, no nation or region can survive or progress on its own. Asean may be still far from reaching the level of connectivity achieved by the European Union, but the desire and intention to create a community of nations is certainly there.

The leaders of the 10 member countries have also started looking beyond 2015, when the Asean Community will be in place. By then, there will be free movement of goods, capital and skilled labor in the region. This will almost certainly benefit all the member countries, but in the end, Asean must be relevant to the business community and the man on the street.

Thai, Cambodian PMs fail to resolve border dispute

2011-05-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 09, 2011

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders failed to find a solution to a deadly border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia that could undermine peace and stability in the region as it pushes for economic integration.

The prime ministers of the two feuding nations held talks Sunday — mediated by Indonesia's president — as part of efforts to hammer out a lasting cease-fire.

But neither seemed in any mood to back down.

"There's no conclusion," Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after the rare, three-way talks. "We'll need further talks after this."

Other topics discussed during the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit included Myanmar's bid to take over the rotating chair of the regional grouping in 2014 — though a final decision has yet to be made — and concerns about food shortages, spiraling energy prices, human trafficking and maritime security.

They focused heavily on the potentially oil-rich Spratly islands, claimed in whole or in part by China and four ASEAN members — Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam.

The smaller nations, together with the U.S., worry that China may use its military might to seize the area outright or assume de facto control with naval patrols.

That could threaten one of the world's busiest commercial sea lanes.

"We deemed the South China Sea issue, in all its various dimensions, as having the potential to undermine the stability of our region," according to the final communique released after the meeting.

The annual summit was supposed to focus on developing an integrated regional economic zone by 2015, but repeated outbreaks of fighting along the Thai-Cambodia border stole the show.

Host Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his opening statement that little can be accomplished without peace and stability among member countries.

To that end, he agreed to mediate the talks between the Cambodian and Thai prime ministers about fighting that has killed 20 people in the last two weeks and sent tens of thousands fleeing.

The deadly spat — focused around ancient temples claimed by the two nations — has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides.

But analysts say domestic politics is fanning the fire, especially in Thailand, where the military that staged a coup in 2006 could be posturing ahead of elections expected as early as next month.

Neither side appeared ready to budge, however.

During the plenary session on Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called a demand by Thailand to withdraw troops from the area before it allows for the deployment of outside military observers both "irrational and unacceptable."

"It's Thailand that has to withdraw its troops from the vicinity," he said, reiterating his position to reporters following Sunday's three-way talks.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed, again, that the disagreement should be settled bilaterally, not on the international stage, as apparently favored by Cambodia.

"The ultimate objective must be to achieve lasting peace," not to score "political points," he said.

Talks will continue between foreign ministers from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian leaders said while they agreed in principal to the idea of Myanmar taking over the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2014, the final decision, expected later this year, should be contingent on continued democratic reforms.

That represented a marked shift from a draft statement that had been circulating hours earlier saying member nations had "consented" to the proposal by Myanmar's president, Thein Sein, who heads the military-backed party that overwhelmingly won general elections late last year.

The regional grouping chairmanship is supposed to rotate annually among its 10 member countries.

Myanmar, which has more than 2,000 political prisoners, was forced to skip its turn in 2005 after heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on human rights and other issues.

ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Associated Press writers Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

ASEAN fails to resolve Thai-Cambodia dispute

2011-05-08T21:39:00.001-07:00

May 9, 2011
ABC Radio Australia

The role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is being challenged by the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

The leaders of the two countries met on the sidelines of the weekend's ASEAN meeting in Jakarta but were not able to come to any agreement. The two Foreign Ministers are staying back for more talks today.

The Philippines' President Benigno Aquino told reporters the unity and credibility of ASEAN as a regional body were at stake. But that's not the only issue faced by ASEAN. There's also controversy over Burma's bid to host the summit in 2014 and moves by Singapore to block East Timor from becoming the 11th member of ASEAN.

Presenter: Liam Cochrane

Speaker: Michael Vatikiotis, former editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, and now the Asian regional representative for the The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

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

VATIKIOTIS: Well, it appears that the Indonesian president and his Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, as in the chair of ASEAN this year made strenuous efforts before and during and after the summit to bring the two sides together, Cambodia and Thailand, in fact there was even a tripartite meeting called by the president where the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia sat uncomfortably, awkwardly in the presence of the Indonesian president to see if they could come up with some sort of way of sorting out a deal.

Now this didn't work. I mean frankly Prime Minister, Hun Sen admitted that the diplomacy had failed, that is the presence of this conflict in the midst of a summit rather spoiled ASEAN's spirit of community and togetherness. Having said that the foreign ministers did agree to stay on and there is a deal on the table which was brokered last February by the Indonesian foreign minister which would bring observers from Indonesia to the disputed area along the border to ensure that security is maintained.

COCHRANE: Now, a lot is riding now upon sorting this out within ASEAN and Benigno Aquino said the unity of ASEAN is at stake. How big a challenge do you think this is to the credibility of the regional bloc?

VATIKIOTIS: Well, it matters a great deal, because the outside world is watching this dispute and saying well, if ASEAN can't resolve a conflict within itself, then it really is a very weak regional organisation. As you know, the Cambodians asked for this dispute to be taken to the United Nations Security Council earlier in the year, but the United Nations Security Council I think in a landmark agreement or decision basically said look, this is up to ASEAN to resolve and tossed it back into the regional organisation.

Now I think what this has done, one, it hasn't bore any fruit as yet and while we haven't seen an agreement stick, and while we've seen continued fighting along the border, what has happened at the same time is that the ASEAN chair, Indonesia, and ASEAN as a regional organisation has I think become a bit more empowered to handle regional, internal, regional security issues. And I think what we're going to see play out in the longer term, is a greater willingness for the ASEAN chair for the ASEAN grouping to try and sort out its own internal conflicts. What this dispute clearly shows though is that there are internal conflict that affect ASEAN and they need addressing.

COCHRANE: Now as you were just mentioning, ASEAN has for many years operated under a policy of non-interference where each of the ten members basically stay out of the other countries affairs. Do you think this dispute has really shifted the rules for that policy?

VATIKIOTIS: Well, it's shifted the ground if not the rules. I think what's happened is that there's a realisation that it's no longer possible to say that there are no territorial or other forms of dispute within ASEAN and that therefore ASEAN doesn't need some sort of mechanism for dealing with internal conflict. And I think what we've seen, it wasn't much publicised, on the sidelines of this summit was a declaration tabled by the Indonesian chair for the establishment of an ASEAN Peace and Reconciliation Centre, which is taking really the first step towards a recognition that ASEAN must deal with its own internal security issues.

COCHRANE: Well, let's move now to a separate issue, but also within the umbrella of the ASEAN grouping. There was a draft statement about Burma's desire to host the summit in 2014. They are at the moment scheduled to host the rotating chairmanship in 2016. They're looking to bring that forward. What can we tell from the diplomatic language used within this ASEAN statement on the weekend?

VATIKIOTIS: Well, I think perhaps they've just been erring on the side of caution. The new government led by President Thein Sein in Myanmar needs a bit more time I think to demonstrate to member states and to the international community that some of the reforms and the gradual opening of the country that have gotten underway since the election in November are for real and I think actually it was perhaps a bit too early for ASEAN to comfortably agree both for internal and external reasons to Myanmar chairing ASEAN. But I think this is ultimately what will happen later in the year and I think that essentially the pause that the ASEAN leaders have given this proposal is essentially perhaps to further encourage the government of Myanmar not to take for granted that the impact of the elections since November on the gradual opening and reform of the country is there. So I think actually they've probably done the wise thing, but I would expect later in the year for Myanmar to be granted this wish.

COCHRANE: Well, the other big issue on the agenda is East Timor's bid for inclusion in ASEAN. It wants to be the 11th member of the grouping and it's bid was supported by Indonesia, of course, the former occupier. Apparently, the analysis is that there is resistance to the idea and that specifically that resistance is coming from Singapore. Can you tell us why Singapore is against East Timor joining ASEAN?

VATIKIOTIS: Well, that's correct and I think that Indonesia has been hoping for consensus on East Timor, because for Indonesia it helps sort of heal some of the wounds between the two countries, East Timor and Indonesia and makes Indonesia look like a very good neighbour, despite the history. So I think Indonesia will have been disappointed.

Singapore's concern seems to be based on I think the legacy of allowing Myanmar into ASEAN which is look, we should think very carefully about letting others states join the group thing if there is going to be further instability down the road. I think that's probably a weak argument though, because looking at East Timor today the comparisons of level of stability, for instance, if you look at a country like Thailand and you look at the problems that have afflicted Thailand today and in political terms, you can't use the argument of instability. Having said that, I think it's probably very, very important for East Timor now to mount a bit more of a lobbying effort and I think they took it rather for granted that they're membership of ASEAN would be shepherded through Indonesia and I think there's a need for East Timor to demonstrate more outreach in this regard.

COCHRANE: With the gas reserves that Timor has control of, you could perhaps think that they'd be quite an asset to a region that's growing and that, of course, is hungry for natural resources?

VATIKIOTIS: I agree, but I also think that it's important to point out that East Timor has gone about settling its own internal issues, law and order and other issues I think reasonably well in the circumstances and admittedly there is a UN presence still and there are Australian and New Zealand forces on the ground. There are still concerns, there are still worries. As you say there's a lot of money in the bank. It's not about not being able to afford a budget. It's really about ensuring the strength of institutions and levels of education that will allow a country to grow in a stable manner and I think that my estimate is that they've actually done a pretty good job so far, at least compared to many other countries in the region.

Editorial: ASEAN, a community away

2011-05-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Mon, 05/09/2011
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Editorial

There are great expectations for Indonesia’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As a founding member, the largest member and the most vibrant democratic nation in the 10-state organization, the privilege to hosting several high level ASEAN-related meetings this year is a measure of how Indonesia can truly lead Asia’s pre-eminent grouping.

Despite regularly hosting many high-profile meetings over the past two decades, organizational and technical preparations received a passing grade — but not with flying colors.

As reported by this newspaper, preparations were often chaotic and unprofessional. In the lead-up to the summit, for example, dissatisfaction was rampant among the press corps — locally and internationally — about the inefficient registration process. As a proud Indonesian institution, we were embarrassed by the less-than-positive comments heard.

Organizers should never forget that hosting such high- profile events offers a window as to the professionalism by which this country is measured. We hope the criticism that has emerged can be a source of introspection, as several more high-level events immediately lie in wait.

Substantively, there is room for concern amid the proud smiles of the leaders over the weekend. While ASEAN has been superior in creating structures and processes, it has found that instilling the values needed to implement these high visions are low in execution.

Indonesia’s chairmanship has been particularly challenging. With the deadline of an ASEAN Security Community just four years away, it must begin to cultivate a novel decorum among members beholden to the idea of a shared community.

The deadly border shootout between Thailand and Cambodia does not bode well for the future of the so-called ASEAN Security Community. Progress is not a matter of the leaders coming together in Jakarta at the summit to say they would resolve the dispute amicably. International diplomacy will always weigh in after the fact.

The fact that both parties so readily resorted to armed force to begin with was very disconcerting. With a multitude of overlapping disputes dotting the region, who is not to say that more than one place will soon become the next flash point?

We should further be anxious that parties involved in these conflicts would rather bring their dispute to international bodies, rather than seek a solution within ASEAN itself.

These events all indicate that in the face of acute challenges, ASEAN members are not fully ready to embrace the sacrifices — tolerance, cooperation, mediation and patience — needed to be part of a community.

Indonesia, as ASEAN chair, and in particular the Foreign Ministry, should be lauded for taking the initiative in helping to lower tensions and promote mediation within the ASEAN process.

But what happens when other members take the rotating chairmanship?

With Myanmar next, how much of a role can we expect it to pursue in aggressive foreign policy when the regime is still marred by international doubt?

Rather than conjuring new slogans such as “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations”, perhaps it is wise to keep ambitions small. ASEAN will be judged not on how it responds to crises outside the region, but how it resolves its own conundrums.

If the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand cannot be truly resolved — not just suspended as is the custom in ASEAN — by the end of Indonesia’s chairmanship, we are skeptical that the vision of community will be realized by 2015.

It is irrelevant to talk about the ASEAN Community withering away, since achieving it is increasingly likely to be a wonderful but stalled idea, rather than a reality.

Hun Sen, Abhisit meet, but problems remain

2011-05-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

Mon, 05/09/2011
Dina Indrasafitri
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Just hours after trading words at the ASEAN summit, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen shook hands on Sunday morning in front of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The leaders then sat face-to-face in a triangular formation in a room at the Jakarta Convention Center, with ASEAN summit chair Yudhoyono flanked by Abhisit to his left and Hun Sen to his right.

Foreign ministers from the three nations attended the heads of government.

Yudhoyono was accompanied by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and by Teuku Faizasyah, his special adviser for foreign relations.

The President initiated the meeting, fearing that Cambodia and Thailand’s border dispute might reduce the summit to a single-issue meeting and undermine Indonesia’s credibility as summit host and ASEAN chair.

Critics doubted that the meeting could influence the dispute.

However, Abhisit, a young but talented politico, and Hun Sen, an old political cat who has been active since the 1970s, both acknowledged Indonesia’s positive leadership, stating that the atmosphere had improved on Sunday.

However, the pair said that problems still remained, and agreed to allow their foreign ministers to stay an additional day in Jakarta to continue to discussions. “At the end, the President of Indonesia gave a recommendation to the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand. The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand will stay another day to work with the foreign minister of Indonesia. This is the role of the chair of ASEAN, who provided recommendations to find a solution,” Hun Sen said at a press conference after the summit.

Abhisit, in an exclusive interview with The Jakarta Post, said: “The atmosphere was better than [Saturday] when [Hun Sen] suddenly launched a long speech in the plenary session. Differences remain — that has to be recognized — and the complexity remains. But at least we are talking — which is important.

“We’ll see how the foreign ministers, who have been tasked to follow up, how they will do,” Abhisit said.

At another press conference, Yudhoyono said that he had offered Cambodia and Thailand several solutions, such as establishing a joint border committee to settle problems peacefully since the two nations had fundamental differences.

Cambodia and Thailand fought along their border just a week after Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was proclaimed a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. The conflict erupted after Thailand laid claim to a 4.6-square-kilometer area near the temple.

The ensuing exchange of artillery fire killed and wounded soldiers and civilians on both sides, causing tens of thousands of villagers on both sides of the border nearby the disputed area to flee to safe shelters.

Thai army SHENANIGANS

2011-05-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha (AP Photo)

BREAKING: Thai Army begin legal harassment of Thai historian

May 08, 2011
By Andrew Spooner
AsianCorrespondent.com

The latest wave of Thai repression is now continuing apace as it has been announced (see below) that well-known Thai academic, Dr. Somsak Jeamteerasakul, is being formally investigated under Thailand’s draconian “lese majeste” law. What is extraordinary about this investigation is that it was begun by the incredibly politicised Thai Army. Of course, it was only last year (and in 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2004) that the US-trained and equipped Thai Army were shooting unarmed Thai civilians on Bangkok’s streets (it was also only a month ago that the same army were firing cluster munitions into Cambodian villages). That they now feel that academics and historians should be imprisoned for expressing their views is hardly a portent of better things to come.

This “charging”of Somsak also comes during the week that Freedom House marked down Thailand’s press from “partly free” to “not free”, joining the likes of Burma, Syria and China in the global gallery of oppressive regimes. With dissolution of the Thai parliament very likely occurring this week and an election mooted for July 3rd, the beginning of a formal investigation into Somsak couldn’t have happened at better moment if you wanted to send a message that debate can by stymied and crushed. The generals have sent their clearest and starkest message yet – step out of line on the streets and you be shot & step out of line in the universities and you will be imprisoned.

It seems like darker days lay ahead for Thailand.

Dear colleagues and journalist friends, ,

According to the Thanapol Eawsakul, an editor from Fah Diew Gun magazine, Dr. Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a prominent historian from Thammasat University, is another victim of lese majeste law. The Thai army has officially filed a complaint against Dr. Somsak and he is due to hear the detail of the charge at Nang Lerg Police Station in Bangkok this coming Wednesday at 10am. [This is not a "charge" from Thailand's state prosecution but directly from the Thai Army that Somsak committed lese majeste. The appearance at the police station is to inform Somsak that the police believe there is enough evidence in the Army's claims for a formal investigation to commence. Official charges may materialise from this.]

This is the most recent case of attack on freedom of expression on Thai scholar and activist. Dr. Somsak was a student leader during the 1976 massacre and was incarcerated as a political prisoner for two years.

Civil party applicant Rob Hamill calls for diasporas and expat Cambodian community to file for Civil Party status in Case 003 and 004 in the ECCC

2011-05-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

Civil party applicant Rob Hamill calls for diasporas and expat Cambodian community to file for Civil Party status in Case 003 and 004 in the ECCC

_____________________

PRESS RELEASE

_____________________

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND, 8 May 2011: Recent events surrounding the United Nations-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (“ECCC”) has motivated Olympic and trans-Atlantic rower Rob Hamill’s call for diasporas and expat Cambodians to apply for Civil Party status at the court.

“I am deeply concerned about overt political influence and the recent announcement by the two Co-Investigating Judges (CIJs) to close investigations into case 003. This means that any victims who wish to file complaints to the court for this case must to do so by 18 May 2011.”

(http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/articles/statement-co-investigating-judges)

Even though the ECCC has not yet disclosed the names of the persons under investigation, on 8 April 2011, exactly one month ago, Hamill became the second person (after Khmer Rouge survivor Theary SENG) to apply to become a Civil Party in Cases 003 and 004 against the five individuals believed to be under investigation by the ECCC Office of the CIJ’s, in particular against military commanders Mr MEAS Muth and Mr SOU Met who commanded the Khmer Rouge Navy and Air Force respectively.

Hamill claims these two individuals committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including forced transfer, imprisonment (including severe deprivation of physical liberty), enslavement, torture, murder, and other inhumane acts.

Rob Hamill’s brother Kerry was abducted by the Khmer Rouge navy in 1978 when his yacht strayed into Cambodian waters. He was taken prisoner at Toul Sleng prison in Phnom Penh where he was tortured and murdered.

“Rather than ramp up the investigations on behalf of the millions of victims and despite a mountain of evidence it seems the CIJs’ response to our applications is to cease any further enquiries into the heinous crimes these people committed,’ says Hamill. “It makes me wonder how much political influence is being wielded in Cambodia and what do the court’s funders’ think of the situation.”

With the deadline looming in less than 10 days time Hamill is concerned people are not aware of their rights and the opportunity that exists. “It should be the court’s obligation to inform victims about the deadline from the date of closing investigations,” said Hamill, “However, since it is not, this announcement hopes to raise the message for victims who want to put applications in for cases 003 and 004.”

“If ever there was a time for the expat Cambodian community to speak up then this is it,” said Hamill. “Whether you live in Hamilton, New Zealand or London, England or New York, USA or Paris, France, now is the time to make contact with the court in Cambodia and be heard.”

Japanese Beauty Yuko Ogura #1

2011-05-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

Beautiful & Cute Japanese Teen Idol

2011-05-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

gaywhite

«Έχω εμπλακεί εντελώς άδικα!»

Λεφτά υπάρχουν: Μόνο για το ΝΑΤΟ!

Όλο και περισσότεροι αδυνατούν να πληρώσουν τους λογαριασμούς της ΔΕΗ!

Νέος αρχηγός της Εθνικής Φρουράς ο Στυλιανός Νάσης

Η Αλέκα Παπαρήγα στο διήμερο της ΚΝΕ

Εορτή του Αγίου Ιερομάρτυρος Παγκρατίου

Και η αγελάδα θέλει τον κολλητό της

Η κρίση φέρνει διαφθορά…

Προτίμησε την μπύρα

Δήλωση του Δημάρχου Κερατσινίου - Δραπετσώνας κ. Λουκά Τζανή

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The Extraordinary gas Chambers CIJs are a FARTING FARCE ! FARCE! FARCE!

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Open stream in Windows Media Player 2011-05-08 : BayonTV Cha Cha Cha Game Show

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