PM Hun Sen chastises RCFA for unprofessionalism

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday blasted unnamed senior military officers for breaking RCAF regulations and urged the Ministry of Defence to improve both its training and its level  of professionalism.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Chinese-Cambodian Friendship Infantry Institution — a new facility at Kampong Speu’s Combined Arms Officer School Thlok Tasek — the premier said there were reports that unqualified officers had bribed their way to higher ranks.

“What we are interested in at the moment is irregularities in the promotion of military officers that were not conducted in a good manner,” he told the gathering of about 1,000 newly graduated soldiers.

The soldiers returned recently from a Chinese military academy. At the new facility in Phnom Sruoch district, young soldiers will receive quality training from Chinese advisers to improve their knowledge and skill so  they can replace retiring officers.

Calling for stricter regulation and enforcement of laws already in place, the premier also suggested the Defence Ministry “conduct a study into the establishment of sub-decrees and Prakases about the training of RCAF to keep them in order and effective.”

“Some senior military officials have not respected the law on the statute of RCAF and general procedure,” Hun Sen said.

His suggestion was given concurrent to a National Assembly debate that took place yesterday over a long-dormant draft law to create an oversight body called the Supreme Council of National Defence.

The council would be given the right to monitor the military and take disciplinary action against officers.

It would also be responsible, more generally, for safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and would have the power to evaluate whether to declare a state of emergency.

In the law that passed yesterday – with 85 of 97 lawmakers present voting in its favour – King Norodom Sihamoni would serve as head and Hun Sen as deputy president.

The members of the council – enshrined in the constitution two decades ago – are the minister of Defence, minister of Interior, head of the Council of Ministers, minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance minister, and general-commander of RCAF.

That composition drew the ire of opposition lawmakers, who said during yesterday’s debate they were concerned over the heavy presence of the ruling party on the council.

“We think that the members and deputy president would all be from the CPP, therefore it would not guarantee for the neutrality,” said lawmaker and Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann. “I would request for amendment of the composition and will provide to the power for the King to elect the members.”

Such criticisms, however, did little to sway the vote.

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, who is also a lawmaker and would be among the members once the law goes into affect, defended the structure during the five-hour debate.

“The law did not name the members, just the title, therefore if another political party comes to take the power in the government, they would sit in this composition,” he argued.

Source: Phnompenhpost.com

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Bra factory strikers look to ministry for support

A police officer tells workers from the Top Form garment factory to back away from the road during a protest in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Phnom Penh Post
About 300 workers entered their sixth day of strikes yesterday at a bra factory in the capital, which manufactures lingerie supplied to Victoria’s Secret and Valentino, but their hopes of a quick resolution were dashed when a Ministry of Social Affairs official admitted he was clueless as to the taxation issue they were striking over. Kae Soksitthiny, the ministry adviser tasked with bringing the strike to a peaceful end through mediation between management and workers, said the strikers claimed their employer was withholding up to $9 per month “tax” from their wages, which are $61 per month before bonuses and overtime. Soksitthiny, however, said he could not resolve the issue because did not know whether the alleged actions of the company were legal or not. “We just received such information for the first time and are unaware under what circumstances a workers’ salary can be taxed by the employer. Therefore, only the Arbitration Council can provide a ruling on this,” he said. Chhum Sokhum, 32, one of the workers’ representatives, said the factory was not only cutting as much as $9 from their monthly wage, it was also deducting an additional 200 riel (US$0.05) each time they worked overtime. “Our base salary is around $60,” she said. “In order to lift it to more than $100 per month, the [workers] have to work overtime every day. We just can’t afford to have money taken out like this,” she said. Workers were also demanding the company improve other working conditions. The strikers, who had gathered at a petrol station near the factory in Russey Keo district, were blocked by police as they marched along National Road 5 towards Phnom Penh City Hall and the residence of Prime Minister Hun Sen. Factory bosses invited five workers’ representatives to negotiate with them, but the workers refused and went home.
(Source:PhnomPenhPost)

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Ieng Thirith to be released

Trial Chamber judges at the Khmer Rouge tribunal have ordered the unconditional release from detention of former regime “first lady” Ieng Thirith due to her “likely irreversible” dementia. The crimes against humanity and genocide suspect has had the proceedings in Case 002 against her stayed indefinitely and judges have imposed no judicial conditions on her release, public affairs officer Yuko Maeda told the Post yesterday. “She will have to abide by rule 35 [no interference in the administration of justice] and the judges will continue to undertake enquiry into any medical developments that may help her conditions,” Maeda said. A panel of court-appointed experts two weeks ago found 80-year-old Ieng Thirith suffered from moderate to severe dementia and was unfit to stand trial. Despite contradictory medical findings from the former Minister for Social Action’s Cambodian treating doctor, judges yesterday said in their decision that “there is no prospect that the Accused can be tried in the foreseeable future”. The prosecution had requested six conditions to Ieng Thirith’s release, including that she make herself available for weekly safety checks. However, the judges declined to impose any conditions on the release. “Coercive conditions would in any case be difficult to enforce, given the Accused’s mental capacity,” judges said. Deputy international co-prosecutor William Smith said the prosecution, which has 24 hours to appeal the decision, was reviewing its position. “The Co-Prosecutors are reviewing the decision to determine what, if any, further legal steps need to be taken,” Smith said. The prosecution had agreed that Ieng Thirith was unfit to stand trial and not argued against her release. If no appeal is lodged, Pol Pot’s sister-in-law will be released at 10:30am today. After Trial Chamber judges found Ieng Thirith unfit to stand trial in November last year, prosecutors appealed the decision to the Supreme Court Chamber, which overturned the order and ultimately called for continued medical treatment to improve her condition. Phat Pouv Seang, defence lawyer for Ieng Thirith, called the decision “good news”. “Further steps after she leaves the ECCC is her family’s decision. I think it is still quite confidential whether she will go to stay in Phnom Penh or Pailin,” he said. Civil party lead co-lawyer Elisabeth Simonneau Fort said it was not a desired outcome, but it was a legally right decision. “I think that she is clearly unfit, and the only possibility was to release. “Even if it is difficult for the victims, I think we want to respect international conduct. It’s the right decision,” Simonneau Fort said, adding that it was of paramount importance civil parties clearly understood the reason for the decision. The tribunal should be using their outreach program to explain the decisions to civil parties and the public at large, tribunal monitor Clair Duffy of the Open Society Justice Initiative said. “That is the most important thing. Many people in Cambodia and around the world in the diaspora will want to know why this has happened and that is a very legitimate reaction,” Duffy said. The decision is a positive model of international standards for Cambodian courts, Duffy said. While no security conditions were ordered, Duffy said she had heard no evidene to indicate Ieng Thirith’s safety would be in danger upon her release. Defence lawyers for other Case 002 co-accused similarly applauded the merit of the decision. Brother No. 2 Nuon Chea’s defence lawyer Andrew Ianuzzi called the ruling the “best decision to come out of the court”. Michael Karnavas, lawyer for Ieng Thirith’s husband, Ieng Sary, similarly welcomed the decision. “I think the court got it right,” he said. Former Khmer Rouge Minister for Foreign Affairs Ieng Sary himself has been plagued with ill health, and was admitted to hospital again last week, causing hearings in the landmark Case 002 to be postponed. Both Nuon Chea and Ieng Sary have previously sought rulings on their fitness to stand trial. Rights groups welcomed the decision as a positive example, but noted that problems of fitness would continue to plague the tribunal. “Of course we understand that it will be difficult for victims, but we welcome it from a human rights perspective and the message it is sending the Cambodian courts,” Amnesty International researcher Rupert Abbott said. “It is possible the trial will not be completed because of the fitness issues, but from our perspective, it is better for a trial to be not completed and fair trial rights respected than the other way round.”

(souce:www.phnompenhpost.com)

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Sonando ‘evidence’ from web

Nine witnesses including two defendants who had previously cut immunity deals with the government — took the stand yesterday to testify against Mam Sonando, the jailed Beehive Radio director and president of the rights-education group Association of Democrats. Speaking at the hearing, Lou Rabo, a deputy at the Internal Security Department of the Ministry of Interior, said investigations into Sonando’s activities outside Cambodia had revealed meetings in the US and Thailand with America-based dissenter Sourn Serey Ratha, whose Khmer People Power Movement recently filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court accusing the Cambodian government of crimes against humanity. “I got all the documents on Sourn Serey Ratha through the internet,” Rabo said. “Mam Sonando got the order from Soun Serey Ratha to establish a secessionist area and topple the government.” Rabo cited a five-point statement from Serey Ratha, also found online, calling on Cambodians not to respect the legitimacy of the current government. “These five points can say that they plan to topple the government,” he said. Speaking with a smile on his face, Sonando said he had met with Serey Ratha in his capacity as a journalist because he had wanted to know more about the policies of the Khmer People Power Movement, in particular whether or not it endorsed violence. “If Sourn Serey Ratha’s association is going against the government, why doesn’t the Cambodian government write a letter to the US to close his association?” Sonando asked, maintaining that his relationship with Serey Ratha was purely journalistic. “I went to meet with Sourn Serey Ratha, but we have different ideas.” The independent radio director and three others faces a handful of charges stemming from his alleged masterminding of a so-called “secessionist plot” in Kratie province’s Pro Ma village, which in May was the site of the fatal eviction of hundreds of families involved in a long-running land dispute with the agro-business company Casotim. The government called the villagers’ eviction an “anti-secessionist” raid. Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator for the rights group Licadho who observed the proceedings, emphasised the fact that the police’s investigation of Sonando’s time abroad was simply information garnered from the internet, adding: “If they wanted to know what Mam Sonando said with Sourn Serey Ratha, they should just listen, because he broadcast it publicly.” Cambodian Centre for Human Rights president Ou Virak, who has attended the entire trial, said in a statement that “Not a shred of evidence has been heard that in any way connects Mam Sonando to this alleged secession att-empt in Kratie in May.” The court proceedings will continue tomorrow.

(souce:www.phnompenhpost.com)

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Turning the media tide in Myanmar

Information Minister U Aung Kyi during the interview at the Myanmar Radio and Television offices in Yangon on Sunday. Photograph: The Myanmar Times

Myanmar Information Minister U Aung Kyi has spoken in support of abolishing the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Law and predicted that daily publishing licences will be issued to the private sector early next year. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview, his first since being appointed Information Minister, he also stressed that a proposed media law meet international standards, that a planned press council be self-regulating and of the importance of journalists adhering to a code of practice. U Aung Kyi, the former Labour Minister who had also served as the previous military government’s liaison with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi while she was under house arrest, was appointed Information Minister in the reshuffle announced by President U Thein Sein on August 27. U Aung Kyi replaces U Kyaw Hsan, who had been Information Minister since 2002 and was appointed Minister for Cooperatives in the reshuffle. The Editor of the Myanmar edition of The Myanmar Times, Zaw Myint, spoke to U Aung Kyi in Yangon on Sunday. Print media journalists have called for the abolition of the 1962 Printers and Publishers Registration Law, which provides for publications to be penalised if they breach censorship guidelines. What is your response? I agree that this law should not be retained. I am reviewing the draft of Press Media Law, which includes a provision for the repeal of the 1962 law. It is understood that when the new media law is enacted, the 1962 law will be repealed. Meanwhile, I am considering two courses of action for proceeding with the Press Media Law. One is to submit it to the hluttaw [committee], as originally planned, so it will be enacted as soon as possible. The other is to have it reviewed by journalists and experts to consider possible amendments so that when it is finally enacted it meets international standards. I am yet to make up my mind because I am new to this role and I do not think I should act with haste. That is why I am taking my time.
(Source:PhnomPenhPost)

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Japan arrests 14 Chinese on Diaoyu Islands, sparking public outrage

A HUGE storm of public indignation has been provoked, after Japan arrested 14 Chinese activists on Diaoyu Islands on Wednesday and the CCP showed its inability again to deal with the matter. On August 12, a Hong Kong activist group of 14 people set sail from Hong Kong to the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea to assert Chinese sovereignity over the islands. They planned to join two vessels at sea from Taiwan and Xiamen city in southeast China’s Fujian province, but the later two groups of activists cancelled the plan at the end. Seven activists from Hong Kong landed on the islands at around 5:30 pm local time on Wednesday raising China’s national flag, and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan’s flags as well. Five of them were arrested on the islands, and two managed to return back to the fishing boat. Later, two Japanese coast guard vessels blocked their way, and rammed the boat damaging its front end. All the other nine on board were then detained by Japan too and escorted to Japanese port city of Naha.

Following the illegal arrest of Chinese nationals on the Diaoyu Islands, Chinese central government on Wednesday lodged solemn representations to Japan. Angry Chinese held anti-Japanese protests at the Japanese consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities to demand an immediate release of the activists too. On China’s websphere however, the flame of outrage and anti-Japanese sentiment surged even more violently that China’s twitter like Weibo has been seen censoring some comments. A huge number of netziens criticized the government’s inability to protect Chinese nationals in China’s territory, and called it a shame on the government that is notorious for corruption and tough ruling internally. Some Netizens mocked that Chinese government only knew to lodge representations and condemn, by saying that Japanese can not be condemned to death, while some others slammed the government, questioning why did not Chinese army arrest the Japanese coast guards and vessels on the islands instead. The existing voice to boycott Japan and stop buying Japanese products have been revived again, with some ones urging China to declear war against Japan. And some netizens started expressing praises to South Korean president Lee Myung-bak who made a visit to the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo that Japan claims its own. The Wednesday detention coincided with the 67th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Two Japanese cabinet ministers visited a controversial shrine in Tokyo honoring Japan’s war dead as well as war criminals on the same day.
(Source:ChinaBuzz)

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Man burn himself on fire after marriage proposal refused

A man set himself ablaze after his girlfriend rejected his marriage proposal in Qingdao city, Shangdong province on November 23, 2012. The 38-year-old man, surnamed Wu, from Nanchang city, Jiangxi province suffered serious 60% burns over his body surface, and is now still in critical condition. Wu met his girlfriend in Nanchang last year. But their relationship eventually came to a problem after being together for some while, and the girl left him for her hometown Qingdao and asked for a breakup. On November 22, Wu drove a BMW car to Qingdao from Nanchang, which is around 1,100 kilometers away. He brought with him betrothal gifts worth tens of thousands of yuan in order to propose the girl. The man also prepared for the worst by buying a barrel of gas on the road, in case his girlfriend refused him. At around 8 a.m. on Nov 23, Wu arrived at the girl’s home. He proposed to her, but was refused directly. Wu threatened that he would not live if she did not marry him. The girl and her mother thought he was joking, but Wu poured the gas all over himself and ignited it. The terrified mother and daughter called 110 immediately and attempted to put out the fire. When the rescuers arrived, Wu has been seriously injured. He was sent to the municipal hospital of Qingdao immediately, and is taken care in the ICU now.

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Sok Somavatey decided to quit her jobs

After getting married, Sok Somavatey with her family already had plans to quit jobs in the art industry. According to Angkorthom magazine, Sok Somavattey smilingly admit that she would quit all jobs in the art industry not because her husband forced to do so, yet she herself wanted to be a good wife, spending time to take care of her own family. Shyly, she also wanted to have a baby in this New Year. She added that she still accepts to shoot short video clips of any advertisements. Most people admire Vatey’s life in which she has the good fortune to get married with her lover who is wealthy and powerful; as a result, she could enjoy the rest of her life without worrying about anything.

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Sum Somaly was kissed from a guy

An ex freshie girl who was the third winner of Natural Beauty magazine, Sum Somaly, was so shy after she got a French kiss from the actor in Karaoke shooting. According to LookingToday, in the song ‘Saek chhop yum’ by Hang Oudammany, Somaly was kissed passionately from the main actor and she said that she felt embarrassed because it was the first time in her life that she got such a French kiss from a guy. Moreover, she found it difficult to act in a kissing scene. In this New Year 2013, with her attractive smile and sexy face, Somaly told LookingToday that it would be her best year since she got lots of offers from movie directors and karaoke shooting; she is so much busy in her careers.

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Sok Pisey Love Problem

A famous beautiful singer, Sok Pisey, is rumored to be having a special relationship with a powerful and rich man. According to Angkor Thom magazine, many sellers at Toul kork market accidentally heard Sok Pisey sweetly addressed one guy as ‘honey’ on phone. They assumed that this rich man is not just Pisey’s normal friend. Driving her $80,000 Rang Rover, Pisey already has a plan to run her own beauty salon costing as much as $100,000, but it seems there is not a problem to her since most people believe that it will be funded by her mystery lover. A few months ago, Sok Pisey was also accused of being pregnant while she was in Singapore, but she denied such an accusation.

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Sokun Kanha have broken up with boyfriend

Aok Sokun Kanha is widely recognized to be the top female singer in Cambodia. She has had a lot of success representing commercial brands and earning tens of thousands of dollars from her commercial spots. According to Angkorthom media, at the Khat Sokhim's wedding, someone who is close to Aok Sokun Kanha and her long time boyfriend Dona said that the couple already broke up a long time ago. He went on to say that the reason that they didn't publicly announce it was because they didn't want their reputation to be affected by the bad publicity of the break-up. It was rumored that Kanha's parents were not fond of Dona and that was one of the reasons of their break-up. This break-up will be one of the most well-known breakups after the recent breakup of Sokun Nisa's relationship and Pich Sereyroth's relationship.

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Mak Sensonita (Kuta) will engagement soon?

A well-known actress and TV host, Mak Sensonita, is leaked another rumors that she is going to have the engagement with Tim Nida - Tim Ratha’s brother- in the near future, according to Angkorthom megazine. Besides being actress and TV host, Tota is also a professional fashion model as the advantages of her natural beauty. She has spreaded her charm, which make many men ranging from students to powerful and wealthy men fall in love with her attractive beauty. Tota, her nickname, confessed that she is really having a special relationship with Tim Nida; however, it just a passion for a short period of time, and they have never thought of the engagement yet. Tota seemed to be not sure about her relationship, or it’s like a fool love?

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Khemarak Sereymon

Khemarak Sereymon name in Khmer is “ខេមរៈ សេរីមន្ត”. Right now he is a top super singer star in Cambodia. He was born on November 03, 1985 at Kampong Cham province. As you know Kampong Cham people generally are handsome and beautiful for lady, right? Sereymon he enter to the art field since 2004. So he started her career more than 8 years already. In 2011 – Khemarak Sereymon just got an award from Anachakdara on the status “Best Voice Male Singer of The Year 2011″. Now our famous Khmer singer star – Khemarak Sereymon is in Sunday Production. He has a lot of famous songs with his sister Khmemarak Sreypov in Sunday Production. Khemarak Sereymon, is a top famous singer star in Cambodia. And a few years ago, he got more remarkably popular and he can make a lot of money every year.

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Angella

Angella “អែនជែលឡា” was born in August 10, 1992 in Phnom Penh. Angella has Height: 158cm; Weight: 46kg; Angella is a popular singer and actress star and a cutest singer star as an angel in Town production. Her famous song are សារាំងហេ “Saranghae (Love)” and Call ច្រឡំលេខ “Call Chro Lom Lek”. Angella has a lot of popular songs in Town such as: ខ្ញុំទាយត្រូវមែន – Knhom Teay Trov Man; Call ច្រឡំលេខ – Call Chro Lom Lek; Kom Tuk Oun Tha Slab Hery; Tous Velea Min Sak Som; Nhor Nheom Min Hean Sarapheap; Jong Ouy Bong Pdol Ourkas Tae Min Hean Niyay; Saranghae; Hello Kitty; Preah Chan; Sok Chhet Tver Monus Langong and other many popular songs from Town.

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Anny Zam-Town Production

Anny Zam (អេនីហ្សាម) was born in 09 February 1990. She has height: 1.58m; weight: 444kg; 3 Sizes: 34 – 26 – 36; and she is a famous singer star at Town production. Anny Zam is a top popular Khmer singer star for Cambodian youth. Her new songs are : លែងអូនទៅ (Leng Oun Tov), បេះដូងសម្រាប់អ្នកណា? (Bes Dong Som Rab Neak Na?​), មនុស្សបីនាក់ (Meak Nus 3 Neak), មិនអង្វរ​ (Men Orng Vor), មិត្តអូនទេ! (Met Oun Te!) and other popular songs.

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Yuk Tharotha

Yuk Tharotha “យក់ ឋិតរដ្ឋា” was born in May 03, 1983 in Phnom Penh. Yuk Thetrotha has Height: 1.52m; Weight: 45kg; and married on May 13, 2006. Now Yuk Thetrotha has joined with Hang Meas production. Yuk Thetrotha has many popular songs such as: ឈឺចាប់ 1 លានដង (Chheu Chab 1 Lean Dorng) and other popular songs in Hang Meas.

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Sokun Nisa

Sokun Nisa “សុគន្ធ នីសា” was born in January 1, 1989. Sokun Nisa has Height: 1.58m; Weight: 45kg. Sokun Nisa is a new member of Town production. Before she joined Town, she was a singer in Hang Meas production. Click here to see more picutre gallery of Sokun Nisa. New songs of Sokun Nisa in Town are: បងនឹកគេដល់ថ្នាក់ចង់ឈឺ (Bong Noek Ke Dol Tnak Chong Chue); មួយនាទីក្បែរបង (Mouy Neaty Kbae Bong); ឈឺយ៉ាងនេះហេតុអ្វីខ្ញុំមិនស្លាប់ទៅ (Chue Yang Nis Het Avey Knhom Min Slab Tov); ហេតុអ្វីបងស្រឡាញ់អូនត្រឹមពេលខ្លី (Het Avey Bong Srolanh Oun Troem Pel Kley); លៀសហាល 500 (Leas Ha 500); and other her popular songs.

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Soda Nita

Name: Soda Nita (សូដា នីតា)
Date of birth: 10 May 1984
Height: 1.60 m
Weight: 49Kg
3 Sizes: N/A
Education: N/A
Professional: Movie, MC & Singer Star

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Saray Sakheana

Name: Saray Sakheana
Date of birth: 25 – 03 – 1991
Height: 1.66 m
Weight: 48 Kg
3 Sizes: 42 – 27 – 30
Education: High School (Level 11)
Professional: Movie Star

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Briya (ប៊ីរីយ៉ា) (KhmerStar)

Miss Briya (ប៊ីរីយ៉ា) Profile: A new Khmer actress & model star Briya “ប៊ីរីយ៉ា” or we can call Briya BeeBee. She was born on May 2, 1991. And graduated from national university of management (NUM) in 2009. Briya is a beautiful Khmer girl who has 3 nationalities Khmer, Chinese and Indian with a beautiful face.

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Cambodia's Former King Norodom Sihanouk Dies in Beijing

BEIJING: Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk, whose life mirrored the turbulent history of his nation where he remained a revered figure, died in Beijing on Monday at the age of 89. Sihanouk, who had been a frequent visitor to China where he received most of his medical treatment, died of a heart attack, according to his longtime personal assistant Prince Sisowath Thomico. "He was brought to hospital and died shortly after," he told AFP of the former monarch who abruptly quit the throne in October 2004 in favour of his son, citing old age and health problems. "It's painful. I am full of sorrow," Prince Thomico said. "King Sihanouk did not belong to his family, he belonged to Cambodia and to history." The former king had been staying at his Beijing residence since January. He would have been 90 on October 31. "The royal government of Cambodia will bring his body from the People's Republic of China to Phnom Penh to hold a funeral at the Royal Palace according to our traditions," said a government announcement read out on Cambodian television. Sihanouk had fought a long battle with health problems that dogged his final years, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems. Despite abdicating in favour of his son Sihamoni, the ex-monarch remained hugely popular in his country. His portrait still adorns public buildings and many Cambodian homes, and he used his website to communicate with the outside world. In a message in January, he said he wanted to be cremated upon his death and have his ashes kept in an urn inside the Royal Palace, reversing an earlier wish to be buried. Cambodians woke to the news of their former monarch's demise on the final day of the annual festival for the dead, known as Pchum Ben, when most people leave the capital Phnom Penh to spend time with their families in the countryside. Dead ancestors are believed to emerge to walk the earth during this time, and they are honoured with prayers and food offerings at Buddhist pagodas. Prince Thomico said he believed Cambodians would find it "significant" that Sihanouk had died at the conclusion of the 15-day festival. In eastern Kampong Cham province, local people expressed their sorrow over the former monarch's death. "He was a good king and watched over the country and the Cambodian people. I liked him very much," said 94-year-old Ching Sivheang. Sihanouk was placed on the throne in 1941 at the age of 18 by French colonial authorities. Twelve years later he gained Cambodia's independence and shortly after quit the throne for the first time in favour of his father Prince Norodom Suramarit to pursue a career in politics. Sihanouk served as premier half a dozen times, repeatedly leaving the post with a characteristic flash of angry theatre over perceived slights, until finally becoming "head of state" following the death of his father in 1960. He was toppled in a US-backed coup by one of his own generals, Lon Nol, in 1970. Sihanouk then aligned himself with communist guerrillas Khmer Rouge. The hardline communist movement used him as a figurehead as they seized power before putting him under house arrest in the royal palace with his family during their 1975-79 reign of terror. Sihanouk later condemned the Khmer Rouge, whose bloody rule left up to two million people dead. He regained the throne in 1993, having helped push for peace.

soucre:channelnewsasia.com

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De Boer salutes Babel and Poulsen after Ajax win over RKC Waalwijk

Two of the club's summer signings featured in the 2-0 victory on Saturday and the 42-year-old coach was pleased with the displays of both players.
Poulsen played for an hour of the encounter, while Babel was brought on at half-time, with the latter assisting Jody Lukoki's late goal, to the delight of his new coach. "It was a nice move [which led to the second goal]. He played both on the left and as centre-forward," commented De Boer on Babel's second-half showing. "He can play in both positions. We'll look at each game individually and see where we can best use him." Poulsen was brought in on a free transfer this summer and after starting on Saturday, De Boer is hoping the 32-year old's vast experience will be a major asset to his side. "Christian played capably. He brings experience and calm to the team," he stated. Ajax kick off their Champions League campaign when they travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
(Souce:goal.com)

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QUESTIONS MOUNT OVER SAND AT LAKE

Sand being carted in by the truckload and the presence of other heavy machinery at Boeung Tumpun lake this week has raised questions about how much development is set to take place at the site. Houses close to the lake have sand piling up metres from their doors and part of the lake appears to be in the process of being filled in. The Boeung Tumpun area, in Meanchey district, borders Boeung Choueng Ek lake and covers about 2,600 hectares of land. More than 700 families are believed to live at the site. The area has been earmarked for development, but Phnom Penh Municipal Authority is believed to still own the lake itself. Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema said in July last year that the government had similar plans for Boeung Tumpun as it had for Boeung Kak lake. “In Phnom Penh, there are a number of lakes, particularly the giant lake, Boeung Tumpun. We will have to develop Boeung Tumpun,” Chuktema said at the time. District governor Kouch Chamroeun said yesterday that sand was being dumped only on private land at Boeung Tumpun. “This particular land belongs to a private owner who began to fill it up with sand,” he said. “I do not know what the owner plans to do on the land.” Long Dimanche, a spokesman for Phnom Penh City Hall, said he was not in a position to comment.

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