UN's Ban Ki-moon calls for Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire

Both sides blame each other for starting the latest military exchanges UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Cambodia and Thailand to declare a ceasefire, as border clashes continue for a third day. Mr Ban said the countries' border dispute could not be resolved by military means and both sides needed to engage in "serious dialogue". The fighting took place west of the disputed Preah Vihear temple, where deadly clashes erupted in February. Ten soldiers have so far been killed in the clashes, which began on Friday. ...

Read More

Thailand and Cambodia clash again along border

Houses in the area were destroyed in the fighting At least four soldiers have been killed in fighting along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, raising the death toll to 10 in two days. Troops exchanged artillery and gunfire in jungle around Ta Krabey temple, which both sides claim. The area is about 200km (125 miles) west of the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, the scene of deadly clashes in February. Thousands of civilians have been evacuated from the area. The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says it...

Read More

Thailand and Cambodia in fresh border clash

More than 5,000 people are to be evacuated along the Thailand and Cambodia border At least six soldiers are reported to have been killed and several wounded in fighting between Cambodia and Thailand over their long-disputed border. The clashes erupted near Ta Krabey temple, which both sides claim. More than 5,000 local people are to be evacuated, officials say. It is the worst incident since at least 10 people were killed in clashes at...

Read More

Tranquil temple at centre of a storm

By Philippa Fogarty BBC News, Preah Vihear temple The temple stands atop mountains on the Thai-Cambodian border The view from the top of Preah Vihear temple is well worth the steamy,...

Read More

King of Cambodia snubs Wills and Kate's wedding [-The Brit royals ain't no Hun family???]

(Photo: AFP) Friday, 22 April 2011By DUNCAN LARCOMBE, Royal Editor The Sun (UK)PRINCE William and his fiancée Kate have been sensationally snubbed by the King of Cambodia. King Norodom Sihamoni has not replied to the couple's wedding invitation. He is the only Royal out of dozens worldwide who has failed to respond. Sihamoni, 57, a shaven-headed former ballet dancer and instructor, is not the first Cambodian king to snub a British royal wedding. In 1963 his dad Sihanouk refused to attend Princess Alexandra's wedding after being told he would not get a guard of honour and could not stay at Windsor Castle. Sihamoni, who took the throne in ...

Read More

Mu Sochua Shares Cambodia’s Food Culture with Anthony Bourdain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWACYZG4CQkApril 21, 2011By Mu SochuaOriginally posted at: http://sochua.wordpress.com/American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain traveled to Cambodia last May to sample its seafood and learn about the deep historic and cultural underpinnings of Cambodian cuisine. He met with Mu Sochua in Kampot to discuss her story and what Cambodia means to her.Reflecting on her lunch with Bourdain, Sochua said, “My daughters thought I was joking when I told them about the filming of this show. I had no idea who Anthony was. Tears strolled down my cheeks when watching these images of yester years. Madam Kech talked about her youth in the most elegant and eloquent way. We are many years apart but my youth is also revealed through her description of the past.”“Anthony Bourdain...

Read More

Raw pictures of police violence against protesting women from Boeung Kak Lake

...

Read More

Suwit said he is quitting, Suthep says he is not quitting, is there anybody in charge in Bangkok?

Suwit not quitting as negotiator : SuthepTuesday, April 19, 2011The NationNatural and Environment Minister Suwit Kunkitti has not yet officially informed the premier he wants to resign as the chief negotiator for Unesco's listing of the Preah Vihear temple dispute, Deputy Suthep Thaugsuban said Tuesday.Suwit led a Thai negotiation team to Brazil last year to protest against Unesco's listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site. The protest resulted in Unesco postponing the decision.The Unesco World Heritage Committee is scheduled to hold its annual meeting from June 19 to 29 in France. Suwit is scheduled to lead the Thai...

Read More

Cambodia to reduce HIV/AIDS infection rate from mother to child to 5 pct by 2015

PHNOM PENH, Apr. 19, 2011 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Health set the target to reduce HIV/AIDs infection rate from mothers to children from the current 8 percent to 5 percent by 2015 and as low as 2 percent by 2020, said a senior health official on Tuesday.Mean Chhivun, the director-general of Cambodia's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), said that the target was set following the increasing rate of pregnant women who have their blood tested for the virus in the last three years from 30 percent to more than 80 percent by 2010.He added that last year, 170,000 pregnant women had their blood tested for HIV/AIDS and it found that 0.3 percent, or 510 of them have HIV/AIDS."The prevalence rate of pregnant women contracting...

Read More

Cluster Bombs Cloud Prospects for Peace

A de-miner holds fragments from an exploded cluster submunition. (Credit:Irwin Loy/IPS) By Irwin LoyPHNOM PENH, Apr 19, 2011 (IPS) - Allegations that Thailand used controversial cluster munitions during recent border clashes with Cambodia have become the latest wedge driving tensions between the two neighbours.The disarmament advocacy group Cluster Munition Coalition earlier this month announced that it had confirmed the Thais used the weapons as part of February skirmishes between Thai and Cambodian troops around a disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple. The group said this marked the first time such weapons have been deployed...

Read More

Master Leads Emerging Students in US Dance Tour

The Children of Bassac Classical and Folk Dance group perform in front of the National Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo: Courtesy of Long Chean) Poch Reasey, VOA KhmerWashington Monday, 18 April 2011 “I was so moved. Tears almost came to my eyes. It was such an amazing crowd.”“The Children of Bassac,” a troupe of emerging Cambodian classic and folk dancers, is touring the US through May 10.The performance is led by master artist Ieng Sithul, who told “Hello VOA” on Thursday he wants to see Khmer dance showcased internationally.“We put on several performances a day,” he said. “We are all tired, but we have a mission and that...

Read More