9th Meeting of the High-Level Panel on an ASEAN Human Rights Body

Representatives of the Cambodian civil society participated in the meeting: Ou Virak (L) and Pa Nguon Tieng (2nd from R).
Missing: Om Yen Tieng, Cambodian government representative. A lower level government official was sent in to "listen" to the meeting.
Members of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism.
Members of the High Level Panel of ASEAN meets with Civil Society Groups on March 20, 2009 in Kuala Lumpur discussing the term of reference (TOR) that set out the establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Body. The first draft of the TOR was submitted to the ASEAN Summit earlier this year in Thailand but was not made public due to objection by Cambodian Foreign Minister. The Civil Society Groups raised this issue among number other concerns during the meeting as non disclosure prevent input from the people which undermining the principle of the "people-centered ASEAN".

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I like the dog does

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Cambodian PHD dress

Hun Sen and the dubious diplomas [-How about his own numerous and worthless PhDs?]

Dubious degree?

Another dubious degree?

19 March 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

On Wednesday 18 march, during the closing of the meeting for the work tally for the ministry of Education, Hun Sen recognized that the quality of the Cambodian education system is limited.“I noted that some Master and PhD degrees are too easy to obtain, and there are too many already. Cambodia must be the only country with so many diplomas. Furthermore, there are people who offer to ghost-write thesis!” Hun Sen indicated.

According to Hun Sen, competency must prime over the diplomas: “I don’t look at diplomas. To me, they must show competency. Some Master and PhD degree holders do not even know how to use a computer!” Hun Sen also cited the example set by Kuwait where the number of candidates to higher education is limited to 25. In Cambodia, hundreds of students obtain their Master or PhD degrees.

According the PM, the hiring of new civil servants or employees will be done though testing and not based on the diploma presented: “As an ASEAN member, our country needs human resources capable of working with our partners. However, when a PhD in international relations does not even know what ASEAN is, and what country it is made up of, it is a serious issue.”

Rong Chhun, President the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), welcomes Hun Sen’s acknowledgment of the reality of the Cambodian education system. “We are optimist because we have a lot of human resources, but we cannot compare the quality of Cambodia’s human resources to those of the neighboring countries. It is a shame for us, and I hope that the government will respect the declaration made by the PM,” Rong Chhun indicated while adding that education without quality is like a poisonous pill because it makes the situation worst.

According to the yearly report by the ministry of Education, Cambodia has 1,634 maternal schools, 6,476 primary schools, 1,006 junior high schools, 315 high schools and 77 higher education institutions both public and private. These higher education institutions receive more that 130,000 students, 864 of whom are pursuing a PhD degree, 11,681 a master degree, 110,000 a bachelor degree and 14,857 in preparation classes for a bachelor program.

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Boeung Kak lake: A widow threatens to take her own life

Boeung Kak Lake: A house fell into the lake from the pumping operation performed by the Shukaku Inc. company owned by CPP tycoon-senator-cum-land-grabber Lao Meng Khin (Photo: ALG, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)

19 March 2009
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

Kao Malai indicated that the Shukaku Inc. company only paid her $200 in compensation for her house which fell into the lake, and the company did not offer any relocation at all.Kao Malai, a widow and mother of two children, indicated that she would like to end her life because of the Boeung Kak lake land dispute.

Addressing a meeting of villagers involved in land disputes on Thursday 19 March in Phnom Penh, she indicated that the Shukaku company only paid her $200 when her house fell into the water (from the filling of the lake by the Shukaku company).

“My house fell down because of the pumping operation in the lake!” she said angrily. “They did not allow me to repair it, they just gave me $200 as compensation to get rid of me.”

Furthermore, several residents were angry at the pro-CPP TV station Bayon (owned by Hun Mana, Hun Sen’s daughter) which claimed on 24-25 February that “more than 70%” of the residents accepted the offer made by the Shukaku company, however, in reality, only 820 families out of a total of 4,250 families accepted to leave their homes based on the conditions imposed by the Shukaku company.

According to the residents, the “70%” claim was attributed to Lav Van, the brother of the CPP tycoon-senator Lao Meng Khin, the owner of the Shukaku company.

In fact, the compensation amount is not very clear: even though $8,500 was promised to residents with small homes on the lake, for the other residents, they claim that they do not know what if the exact term of the compensation to be provided by Lao Meng Khin’s Shukaku.

The residents announced that they will gather on 25 or 26 March at a “public forum.”

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Shooting between bodyguards of CPP VIPs: One dead and 2 injured

The scene of the shooting (Photo: Dap-news)

Younger brother of 3-star general in a shooting with another bodyguard

Friday, March 20, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The younger brother of 3-star general Chhoeun Chan Thorn, and who is also the general’s personal bodyguard, was shot on the head and died on the spot near the Seoul Restaurant, north of the Phnom Penh city hall, at the intersection of Street No. 90 and Monivong Boulevard. The shooter is known as one the bodyguards of Kep Chuktema, the Phnom Penh city governor.
The shooting took place after the general left the Seoul restaurant and it led to one dead and one injured among the general’s bodyguards. On the side of the bodyguard of Kep Chuktema, the man was alone and he was injured also. Several bullets were exchanged during the shooting which took place at 5:40PM on 18 March 2009. The 30-year-old man who died in the shooting was Dy Chanthea, he is the bodyguard of general Chhoeun Chan Thorn, the commander of Chea Sim’s bodyguards unit. Even though the dead bodyguard and the general do not share the same last name, the cops indicated that Dy Chanthea was the younger brother of the general. The other bodyguard of the general who was injured was 32-year-old Un Sarin. A bullet pierced his arm and broke a bone. The sole bodyguard of Kep Chuktema is a man of about 30-year-old.

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Fight for guys clip

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Blaze near Russian market destroying 12 houses

Fire fighters put out a fire on the roof of a building near the Russian market in Phnom Penh March 18, 2009. Twelve houses were destroyed in the blaze but no one was injured, police said. It is not known how the fire was started. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A resident puts out a fire on the roof of his house near the Russian market in Phnom Penh March 18, 2009. Twelve houses were destroyed in the blaze but no one was injured, police said. It is not known how the fire was started.
Fire fighters put out a fire on the roof of a building near the Russian market in Phnom Penh March 18, 2009. Twelve houses were destroyed in the blaze but no one was injured, police said. It is not known how the fire was started. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Residents throw water on a fire near the Russian market in Phnom Penh March 18, 2009. Twelve houses were destroyed in the blaze but no one was injured, police said. It is not known how the fire was started. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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