2010-10-24 ~ Generalkh.blogspot.com

Saturday, 30 October 2010

Things to See at Night in Phnom Penh

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Back home the great outdoors is cast in a peaceful sheen after a good snow. Here in Phnom Penh the night-time glow of a few streetlights or the occasional passing vehicle blurs the rough edges. From K Kelly’s portfolio:

Views of Sisowath Quay and the Tonle Sap River from the top of FCC, a bar-restaurant on the river. River-side seats at the top floor of this colonial-style establishment is a good place for happy hour. To the left of the 2nd photo, downriver, is the confluence of the Tonle with the Mekong.

This beautiful old building on Sothearos is currently undergoing restoration efforts to become a hotel-restaurant with direct access to the FCC.

Cyclos, perhaps around 300 left in Phnom Penh, round up for the night across the street from the National Museum. This is the best way to secure their only belonging and means of livelihood.

The National Museum off street 178 is a trove of artifacts unfortunately haphazard in collection, display and description. The courtyard is a peaceful haven for reading.

The Royal Palace on Sothearos Blvd. It was built in 1866 after the capital was moved to Phnom Penh from Oudong, and occupied by the Kings of Cambodia except during the Khmer Rouge period.

And this is Psar Thmei, currently getting a facelift. It was built in 1935 on a swamp lake area that was drained that still today gets wet season flooding.

The "phone booth" is where young people are often seen congregating, to connect with their group dates. With competing mobile companies limiting traffic to and from their exchanges, it's sometimes just easier to find a phone with the same exchange as the mobile you need to reach.

Updated in April 2008 to include new developments:

The Independence Monument (Vimean Aikreach) on Sihanouk and Norodom Blvds was built in the centre of the city in 1958 after independence from France. There's a pedestal inside with a ceremonial flame lit by royal or high-level officials for national celebrations. It got its facelift in 2007 with a fountain and light show.

The new fountains are now finished at the Vietnamese Memorial Park, on Sothearos Blvd. The lights and streams are synchronised to pop music. During the Khmer New Year (2008) these fountain areas turned into impromptu 'club scenes' complete with Khmer-style DJ-ing (popping CDs into the player).

A new monument to Buddhism was erected late in 2007 in front of Naga Casino and Hun Sen Park, on Sisowath Blvd.

And a tribute to Khmer's musical heritage now stands in the median on Sisowath in front of Cambodiana and Himawari Hotels. What he has in his hands looks like a very old tror sraor (stringed vertical fiddle).

UN chief starts visit to Cambodia

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via CAAI

October 27, 2010

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (3rd L), accompanied by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (2nd L), inspects the guard of honour during a welcome ceremony in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Oct. 27, 2010. Ban arrived here on Tuesday evening to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen. (Xinhua/Lei Bosong)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held talks with visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the Peace Hall in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Oct. 27, 2010. Ban arrived here on Tuesday evening to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen. (Xinhua/Lei Bosong)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (not in the picture) held talks with visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2nd R) at the Peace Hall in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Oct. 27, 2010. Ban arrived here on Tuesday evening to pay a three-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen. (Xinhua/Lei Bosong)
Source: Xinhua

No third Khmer Rouge trial, says Hun Sen

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L) shakes hands with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phenom Penh

Reuters/Chor Sokunthea

via CAAI

Wednesday 27 October 2010

By RFI

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told UN secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday that a third Khmer Rouge trial would not be held, according to a Cambodian official. Hun Sen "clealy affirmed that case three is not allowed", said Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong after the meeting.

"We have to think about peace in Cambodia," said Namhong.

Hun Sen was a former mid-level Khmer Rouge member himself before leaving the movement.

A second trial is scheduled to start next year, with "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, former foreign minister Ieng Sary, his wife and former social affairs minister Ieng Thirith, and former head of state Khieu Samphan in the dock.

The UN-backed court is debating whether to open a third case against other high-ranking Khmer Rouge members, but have encountered resistance from the Cambodian government.

Hun Sen believes that a third trial could destabilise Cambodia, saying he would prefer to see the court fail rather than indict more suspects.

Hor Namhong said Hun Sen told Ban that the second trial would be a "successful prosecution", while a third trial would be a "failure" if more Khmer Rouge members were prosecuted.

The Khmer Rouge regime reigned between 1975 and 1979. During this period up to 2.2 million people died from starvation, overwork or execution.

Cambodia rebuffs UN chief on Khmer Rouge trials

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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, center, and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, smile while reviewing an honor guard at the Cambodian Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

via CAAI

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia will not allow the U.N.-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal to prosecute former low-ranking officers of the genocidal regime because it would endanger national peace, the country's leader told the U.N. chief Wednesday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's comments, made during a two-hour meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, were the government's latest obstruction of U.N. efforts to bring more Khmer Rouge leaders to justice.

Ban was visiting Cambodia as part of a four-country Asian tour.

The U.N.-assisted tribunal, which has a history of contentious relations with the Cambodian government, was a focus of Ban's trip to Cambodia. After meeting the prime minister, Ban headed to the tribunal to hold a town hall-style meeting with its staff.

The 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime was blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution.

After 30 years and lengthy delays, the tribunal's first conviction came in July when the Khmer Rouge's chief jailer was sentenced to 19 years in prison, closing what was known as Case 001. Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Case 002 is expected to start next year against the four top surviving Khmer Rouge leaders, who are accused of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

International co-prosecutors at the tribunal have tried to launch a new case — 003 — against lower-ranking officers accused of murder, torture and other crimes. But they say progress has been blocked by political interference from Cambodian officials who oppose more prosecutions.

"Hun Sen has said clearly that there will be no case 003 allowed. We have to think about peace in Cambodia," Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters after the meeting with Ban.

Hun Sen has repeatedly said that bringing more Cambodians to trial could harm national peace and healing and that the nation needs to move on.

Critics accuse Hun Sen of trying to limit the tribunal's scope to prevent his political allies from being indicted. Hun Sen once served as a Khmer Rouge officer and many of his main allies are also former members of the group.

Ban started his Asia tour in Thailand and will also visit Vietnam and China.

Ban arrives in Cambodia

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Photo by: Sovan Philong
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrives at Phnom Penh International Airport yesterday evening for a two-day visit.

via CAAI

Wednesday, 27 October 2010 15:02 Meas Sokchea and Cheang Sokha

UNITED Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon touched down in Cambodia yesterday evening for a two-day visit amid calls to raise local rights issues in talks with government officials.

During his time in Cambodia – part of a regional tour that also included Thailand, Vietnam and China – Ban is set to hold official talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen and pay a courtesy call to King Norodom Sihamoni.

Ban is to be welcomed at a ceremony at the prime minister’s new offices near the Council of Ministers this morning, followed by a visit to the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, where he will meet and talk with court staff members.

He will depart for Vietnam tomorrow after visits to the Cambodian-Russian Friendship Hospital and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, described Ban’s visit as a “high-profile” honour for Cambodia, one that cemented the country’s sovereign status and its “equal partnership” with the UN.

But Ban’s arrival comes amid requests from local and international groups that he publicly address controversial human rights issues during his visit.

On Monday, Human Rights Watch said Cambodia had “continue[d] its precipitous decline” and called on Ban to address the country’s “deeply entrenched impunity”.

In an open letter to the UN head, it noted the lack of judicial independence – illustrated by the 10-year jail term handed down against opposition leader Sam Rainsy last month – and land-grabbing as key issues that should be raised with the government.

HRW’s letter also pressed him to convey concerns about political interference at the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, as well as the “arbitrary arrest and detention” of alleged drug users, sex workers and homeless people.

When contacted yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong dismissed the letter from HRW.

“I have not seen the report, but previously we have never given any value to this organisation,” he said.

The visit has also prompted a series of petitions from local groups, including the opposition Sam Rainsy Party and representatives of Phnom Penh residents facing eviction.

Yesterday, police prevented the Cambodian Confederation of Unions from holding a rally ahead of Ban’s arrival, according to group President Rong Chhun.

He said the protest, set to take place outside the old National Assembly building, had to be cancelled after Sothearos Boulevard was blocked to traffic and police were deployed.

Rong Chhun said the group will now try to meet with Ban at some point during his visit in order to hand him a petition containing allegations of breaches of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement and criticisms of a border treaty signed with Vietnam in 2005.

“We think that it is a rare occurrence and our poor country is lucky that Excellency Ban Ki-moon will be present, so we must raise all our problems with him so that he can help intervene over the abuse of the Constitution,” he said.

Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naruth said the rally was blocked because the CCU had not been granted the necessary permission.

“If he has permission to gather, I will defend him, but if he does not have [permission] I will not allow it,” he said. He also said he would not allow the CCU to “disturb” Ban Ki-moon’s visit, recommending that the petition instead be delivered to the local UN office.

Phay Siphan said it was unnecessary for people to hand petitions to the secretary general, since Cambodia already had the necessary mechanisms to resolve local concerns. The Cambodian Constitution also prevented any outside power from “put[ting] their noses” into the country’s affairs, he said.

He added that the government respected free speech rights. “Everyone has the right to challenge with a high-ranking international official,” he said, so long as they “respect the rule of law”.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SEBASTIAN STRANGIO

Sam Rainsy's letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

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Click on the letter to zoom in

SRP Meeting with visiting UN officials at Le Royal Hotel today

Meeting with UN officials at Le Royal Hotel on 27 October, 2010

SRP Delegates: SRP Senator Kong Korm, SRP MP Son Chhay and SRP MP Mu Sochua

Press conference to follow the meeting.

UN Delegates:

Under-Secretary-General Mr. B . Lynn Pascoe, Political Affairs
Chief, Division of Political Affairs - Asia and Pacific, Mr. Tamrat Samuel

SRP MP Son Chhay (L), Mu Sochua (2nd from L) and SRP Senator Kong Korm (2nd from R) met with visiting UN officials to hand over their letter (All Photos: SRP)