Archive for January 2012
UN rights office and government sign pact
Vincent MacIsaac, the PP Post
30 January 2012
As expected, the government has extended by two years its agreement with the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for it to have a presence here, the rights body announced late on Friday.
The government and OHCHR signed “a memorandum of understanding extending the technical cooperation program for human rights in the country by both parties for another two years”, OHCHR said in a press release.
Early last year, there had been some speculation that the government would not renew its MoU with the rights body. This followed calls the previous year from Prime Minister Hun Sen that it be shut and its then country representative, Christophe Peschoux, be expelled for “acting as a spokesman for the opposition”.
Peschoux left Cambodia last May, saying his departure was voluntary.
The MoU expired on December 31. The new one took effect on January 1, the press release said.
It did not say whether there had been any changes in its terms, and UN staff have been tight lipped when asked about possible changes to them.
Ek Tha, spokesman for the Council of Ministers and deputy director of its press department, said the new MoU reaffirmed that the government “respects human rights” and “follows the path of democracy”.
“This extension of two years sends a very positive message to the international community, including the stakeholders and foreign investors that we are a democratic government,” he said.
Although there had been some “misunderstanding” with NGOs critical of the government in the past, Cambodia is “a haven, a paradise for NGOs”, he added. “We regard them as friends, not foes,” he stressed.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, said negotiations over the MoU lasted more than six months. Although he had not seen the new one he was confident it had not been watered down. “I’m pretty sure [staff at the rights office] would not accept the MoU unless it allowed them to do their jobs,” he said.
Cambodia’s ruling party wins majority in Senate race: preliminary results
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) — The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) gained a majority in the Senate elections on Sunday, receiving up to 77.81 percent (or 44.3 seats) out of the total 57 seats, according to the preliminary results of the National Election Committee (NEC).
Sam Rainsy Party, which is the country’s main opposition party, gained the remaining 21.93 percent (or 12.5 seats), it said.
“In general, the elections had been conducted with security and good safety,” Im Suosdey, the NEC’s President, said during the announcement of the preliminary results on Sunday afternoon.
The official results will be announced on Feb. 4 if there is no complaint from any political parties, but it will be postponed to March 5 if there is complaint, according to the NEC.
The Sunday’s Senate elections were observed by 131 representatives of political parties, 1,432 national and international observers and 200 local and foreign journalists, according to the NEC.
Only two main political parties participated in the elections. They are the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party.
It was voted by 119 Members of Parliament and 11,351 commune councilors at 33 polling stations across the country.
Cambodia’s Senate has 61 seats, but the election was held for only 57 seats as two senators will be appointed by the King and the other two by the National Assembly.
The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in January 2006, at that time, three parties — Cambodian People’ s Party, royalist Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party — joined the contest. As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, the Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy party two seats.
Cambodia to send 1st batch of medical personnel to South Sudan for humanitarian missions
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) — Cambodia will send a group of more than 200 medical personnel and military police to South Sudan sometime in March in order to help the country in humanitarian activities, a senior Cambodian military official said Monday.
“This is the first time and a new mission for Cambodia that we will send medics for overseas humanitarian activities under the United Nations global peacekeeping framework,” Lt. Gen. Sem Sovanny, director-general of the National Center for Peacekeeping Force, Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance at Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, told reporters Monday after he presided over a ceremony to send medical equipment and supplies, light and heavy vehicles and water tanks to South Sudan for medical missions.
“As scheduled, the shipment of all these things will arrive in South Sudan’s Juba within 45 days,” he said, adding “soon after they arrive, we will dispatch more than 200 forces including 76 experienced military medics and military police.”
“This will be a new pride for Cambodia,” he said.
Cambodia has firstly sent its troops to Sudan in April 2006 under the UN umbrella and the demining mission in Sudan was ended in September last year.
Beside this, the country has also sent troops to Chad, Central African and Lebanon for humanitarian missions.
Sem Sovanny said so far, Cambodia has sent 1,074 troops to these countries including 594 in Sudan.
Cambodia’s political parties conclude 21-day campaign for Senate vote
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — Cambodia’s political parties had ended electoral campaigns for the third legislature of the Senate on Friday, two days prior to the vote.
Mao Sophearith, member of the National Election Committee (NEC), said Friday that during the 21-day campaign, the parties had promoted their political stances through marching and broadcasting on the National Television of Cambodia.
“In general, the campaign had been done smoothly with good environment and security,” he said in a press briefing to conclude the campaign. “There was no any violence happened during the period.”
Only two main political parties will participate in this Sunday ‘ s election. They are the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party, a main opposition party in the country.
According to the NEC, the Senate has 61 seats, but the election is held for only 57 seats as two senators will be appointed by the King and the other two by the National Assembly.
Each of the two parties has named 57 full candidates and 57 reserve ones to the NEC to compete in the election.
The Senate election on Sunday will be voted by 119 Members of Parliament and 11,351 commune councilors at 33 polling stations across the country.
The results will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in January 2006, at that time, three parties — Cambodian People’ s Party, Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party — joined the contest. As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, the Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy party two seats.
Kingdom’s 2011 GDP hits 6.9%…cooked number as usual
May Kunmakara and Don Weinland, the PP Post, 27 January 2012
Cambodia’s gross domestic product grew 6.9 per cent year-on-year in 2011, and is set to increase to 6.5 per cent this year, according to preliminary projections from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Agriculture, which was hit hard by floods last year, climbed 3.3 per cent, according to the ministry’s website.
At the same time, industry was up 14.3 per cent, while garment manufacturing alone soared 20.2 per cent. Services gained 5 per cent on a strengthened financial sector, according to the website.
The figure for agricultural growth was not a surprise, ministry Secretary of State Hang Chuon Naron said yesterday. A 10 per cent increase in rubber helped buoy the sector in the face of flood devastation, he said.
The government’s rice-export policy yielded positive results in 2011 that are expected to continue, World Bank senior economist Huot Chea said last week via email.
The government’s preliminary projection was near identical to its end-of-the-year estimate of 7 per cent. Projections for 2011 growth were issued a number of times by the government, often in response to World Bank and International Monetary Fund estimates.
In December, the IMF said GDP would grow at less than 6 per cent in 2011. The World Bank predicted 6 per cent growth, while the ADB estimated 6.8 per cent. The government will issue official 2011 numbers in June, Hang Chuon Naron said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday set Cambodia’s minimum growth target for 2012 at 6 per cent, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong. Economists said the goal was conservative.
“The government is taking a rather cautious approach when it comes to economic outlook,” Cheang Vannarith, executive director of the Cambodia Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said this week via email. Emerging economies in Asia will drive the region’s growth this year, he said. A positive economic outlook in the United States, as well as Cambodia’s ASEAN chairmanship, should contribute to healthy growth, he said.
The World Bank’s 2012 GDP forecasts for the United States and the European Union in 2012 were 2.2 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively, “which may have some implications for Cambodia”, the World Bank’s Huot Chea said.
Note: Gross domestic product (GDP) refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country’s standard of living…
Cambodia’s political parties conclude 21-day campaign for Senate vote
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — Cambodia’s political parties had ended electoral campaigns for the third legislature of the Senate on Friday, two days prior to the vote.
Mao Sophearith, member of the National Election Committee (NEC), said Friday that during the 21-day campaign, the parties had promoted their political stances through marching and broadcasting on the National Television of Cambodia.
“In general, the campaign had been done smoothly with good environment and security,” he said in a press briefing to conclude the campaign. “There was no any violence happened during the period.”
Only two main political parties will participate in this Sunday ‘ s election. They are the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Sam Rainsy Party, a main opposition party in the country.
According to the NEC, the Senate has 61 seats, but the election is held for only 57 seats as two senators will be appointed by the King and the other two by the National Assembly.
Each of the two parties has named 57 full candidates and 57 reserve ones to the NEC to compete in the election.
The Senate election on Sunday will be voted by 119 Members of Parliament and 11,351 commune councilors at 33 polling stations across the country.
The results will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
The Senate election is held every six years. The last one was in January 2006, at that time, three parties — Cambodian People’ s Party, Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy Party — joined the contest. As a result, the CPP won 45 seats, the Funcinpec 10 seats and the Sam Rainsy party two seats.
Cambodian-U.S. micro-lenders cooperate to improve agriculture finance
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — The United States government is partnering with a Cambodian microfinance institution, the Thaneakea Phum, to facilitate 2.71 million U.S. dollars in loans over the next four years to underserved Cambodian farmers and micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises, according to a U.S. Embassy’s press released on Friday.
The lending will focus on those farmers in the provinces of Battambang, Kampong Thom, Pursat, and Siem Reap, it said.
“The American people are proud to encourage private-sector lending in Cambodia to support rural agriculture. This is vital to fostering economic development and strengthening rural livelihoods in the country,” said Jeff Daigle, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh.
This new collaboration will help the Thaneakea Phum issue loans that are larger in size and with longer repayment schedules.
“Strengthening the ability of domestic microfinance institutions to lend to underserved populations will enable farmers and owners of smaller agricultural enterprises to improve their lives, reduce poverty, and spur rural regional growth,” said the press release.
Michael Spingler, Chairman of the Board of Thaneakea Phum, said that the Thaneakea Phum focused its loans on agriculture because the institution believes that the future of Cambodia’s economy lies in agriculture and agro-related products and services.
Most dishes in Viet Nam contain MSG…beware of Viet cuisine
Last week, Viet Nam News asked its readers their opinions on the negative effects of MSG (mi chinh) and how they feel about MSG being added to 90 per cent of the dishes throughout Viet Nam. Here are some responses:
The artificial flavour enhancer is tricky to avoid in Vietnam where it's allowed as a food additive
Jerome Valette, French, HCM City
I once had a close friend in Viet Nam who developed terrible headaches after eating pho. This Vietnamese friend did not realise the problem came from the addition of MSG to pho.
One thing for sure is that chefs in France do not use MSG. It can still be found in packaged foods but the amounts are clearly stated on the labels.
People in France are deeply aware of the negative effects of MSG and try to avoid it as much as possible. Unlike Asian dishes, most French dishes do not require the use of MSG. However, we noticed that it was commonly used in Chinese restaurants in France.
In Viet Nam, the picture is totally different. The Viets are much more receptive toward the use of MSG than Westerners. First of all, we can’t trust the accuracy of packaged food labels so the only way to go in Viet Nam is to protect ourselves. Just say “xin khong bot ngot”, but watch carefully while they make your food.
However, I think a growing number of Viets have been starting to notice that consumption of MSG could lead to headaches, backaches and high-blood pressure, among other problems.
The Government should require MSG producers in Viet Nam to print information about the negative effects of MSG on their products – similar to requiring cigarette producers to print the line that smoking could lead to lung cancer.
JD Kellas, Australian, Ha Noi
I am one of those 15 per cent of Australians who suffer an allergic reaction to MSG in food; perhaps our European ancestry has made us susceptible to reactions to MSG. My first experience was in a Chinese restaurant about 30 years ago and the reaction was swift and immediate; violent vomiting and a serious skin reaction like hives.
As Australian restaurants came under pressure to not use MSG, I have only had similar reactions once or twice since. My reactions aren’t of the type suggested in last Friday’s editorial, no heart flutters, no high temperatures, no hospitalisation, just vomiting and serious skin rashes that may cover my whole body.
Yes, my reactions may not be life threatening, but they are real and annoying.
Since coming to Viet Nam five months ago, I have had two instances of reactions to MSG, and usually after several consecutive meals of pho or bun; fortunately the reaction has only been in the form of skin reactions, not the vomiting. These attacks are alleviated by taking prescribed antihistamines and steroid medications for about a week and avoiding these foods for a time.
Clearly avoidance is the best policy, but I love pho and bun, one of the unstated reasons for coming to Viet Nam, so I have learnt to say “khong mi chinh” (especially when ordering pho or bun) as I have observed that perhaps 20 to 40 gramares of MSG can be added to a bowl before it is served.
I have also seen customers add further amounts to their meals.
Avoidance of MSG is not confined to some Westerners. I have encountered many Vietnamese who also ask for “khong mi chinh” and who have told me that they no longer use MSG at home.
While MSG is added to Vietnamese food as a “flavour enhancer”, I am not convinced that it does actually enhance the food.
It is my experience that food without MSG actually allows you to taste the ingredients, and surely it must be more healthy for the individual. After all, MSG is a salt which may have longer term effects on health as evidenced in Western societies where too much salt leads to hypertension and other heart related complaints.
My love of pho and bun is unabated despite the short term inconveniences, so I will continue to ask for “khong mi chinh”, watch the preparation of the meal and hope that it is relatively free of mi chinh and enjoy Viet Nam, its food, society and landscapes.
Le Duy Luong, Vietnamese, Ha Noi
I think most foreigners already know about the side effects they could experience from eating Vietnamese food before they come to Viet Nam, especially those that are sold on the streets.
As Vietnamese, we grow up with the tendency to accept that our grandmothers and mothers use MSG frequently. That’s why many Vietnamese aren’t allergic to MSG.
I think it’s quite hard to convince a typical Vietnamese that excessive use of MSG could cause things such as depression.
However, I understand that the most important ingredient in pho, or any other dishes, is not MSG. It’s only an enhancer and you can certainly use other kinds of spices to enhance the taste.
It has become a habit for many Vietnamese cooks so you can’t expect to see any regulations on the amount that can be used in certain restaurants or in packaged foods any time soon. The best way to avoid it is to be cautious and say “No” when you eat out.
Remember after Vedan, a Taiwanese maker of MSG, was caught up in a full blown scandal for dumping untreated wastewater into Dong Nai River many years ago, many people started boycotting Vedan’s products. So if we can better educate the public in Viet Nam about how unhealthy MSG can be, they could very well stop buying MSG permanently.
Ngo Viet Anh, Viets, Da Nang
As to why there are often no reports of Vietnamese people or foreigners being hospitalised due to the use of MSG, it’s because most Viets do not consider excessive use of MSG to be fatal, which means their hospitalisations aren’t considered newsworthy.
Despite the popularity of Viet cuisine worldwide, it’s clearly very hard to avoid MSG in general and other risks one is exposed to when eating out here: borax and formaldehyde in pho noodles, raw vegetables that were grown using pesticides, and E coli in pork pies and sausages.
So you really have to learn how to avoid those risks before waiting for the authorities to do anything about MSG or food safety in general.
I still see that some Viet newspapers continue to suggest “normal level” use of MSG. The Health Ministry has included MSG on the list of permitted food additives since 1991. There’s not much we can do rather than learning how to stay away from it both in and out of our home.
Cambodia rebuffs U.N. on new judge for Khmer Rouge trial
23 January 2012 Phnom Penh (Reuters)—Cambodia refused on Monday a U.N. call to reconsider its veto of a new judge on the Khmer Rouge war crime tribunal, saying it reserved the right to reject unsuitable candidates under a 2003 agreement with the world body.
A government spokesman said the United Nations did not fully understand the terms of the agreement to prosecute former Khmer Rouge officials after the world body said Cambodia was in breach of the pact.
In a statement on Friday, the United Nations expressed “serious concern” over Cambodia’s decision not to appoint Swiss Laurent Kasper-Ansermet as a joint investigating judge and called on the government to accept him immediately.
Cambodian government spokesman Keo Remy responded on Monday by saying Cambodia’s judicial bodies had full authority to reject judges if they did not consider them suitable.
“It is the authority of the Supreme Council of Magistracy whether or not to appoint him,” Keo Remy said.
“It’s important that there is integrity between ourselves: that the U.N. respects Cambodia’s integrity and Cambodia respects the U.N.’s integrity,” he added.
The recently appointed special expert on U.N. assistance to the Khmer Rouge trials, David Scheffer, was due to hold discussions with the Cambodian government on Tuesday.
Cambodia’s decision to block Kasper-Ansermet’s appointment is the latest in a series of disputes over the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), which have spent more than $150 million and handed down just one sentence since 2005.
That was a 35-year jail term commuted to 19 years for Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, for his role in the deaths of more than 14,000 people at a torture centre in Phnom Penh. He has appealed against the ruling.
CONTROVERSIAL CASES
The ECCC is currently hearing case 002, involving three top members of the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge regime, accused of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity for their role in a brutal revolution that prosecutors say claimed between 1.7 and 2.2 million lives from 1975 to 1979.
Judicial watchdogs and rights groups say there is overwhelming evidence to pursue two more cases but the government is firmly opposed to further indictments.
The statement said Cambodia had raised ethical concerns about Kasper-Ansermet, which the United Nations had determined were unfounded. It did not spell out the concerns.
According to Cambodian officials, the government felt Kasper-Ansermet was unsuitable because he had used his Twitter account to draw attention to a debate over whether the ECCC should try two Khmer Rouge military commanders.
The vacancy on the tribunal arose after German judge Siegfried Blunk resigned, citing political interference. Blunk had blocked moves to pursue the two cases without giving an explanation.
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, an umbrella group of 23 Cambodian non-governmental organizations, said a new judge should be appointed immediately and called for an independent probe into the conduct of national and international judges at the ECCC.
“Without such an inquiry, the legacy of this tribunal will be seriously damaged,” it said.
