UNESCO to demarcate Preah Vihear temple

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) — The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage committee expects to determine the boundary of Preah Vihear temple in late November or early December, officially marking the disputed area as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Cambodian national media reported Friday.

Despite the ongoing border dispute that has left two statues inthe Preah Vihear temple complex damaged by gunfire, the area would be demarcated and signposted as a UN monument as planned, Phay Siphan, secretary of state at the Cambodian Council of Ministers, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

Phay Siphan claimed that Thai soldiers violated international law by intentionally damaging the site during fighting that erupted last week over disputed border territory.

“ The Preah Vihear complex and the surrounding areas were invaded by Thais, and the Thai soldiers intended to destroy the temple,” he said.

Phay Siphan said that the Preah Vihear Authority has already complained to UNESCO about the damage done to two naga statues, which were allegedly struck by rounds or shell fragments during the Oct. 15 clash between Cambodian and Thai troops.

The 11th-century temple complex was listed as a UN World Heritage site on July 7 in a decision that angered Thai nationalists and escalated tensions over contested border areas.

Min Sovann, a heritage police officer with the Preah Vihear Authority, confirmed that two naga statues and a stairway at the temple complex were slightly damaged by rounds fired from Thai M79grenade launchers.

The naga statues sustained damage to their heads, necks and bodies, but the pockmarks will not cause the naga statues to collapse, he said.

Editor: Du Guodong

Cambodian, Thai border committees ink agreement to ease border tension

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) — Regional border committees of Cambodia and Thailand here on Friday signed an agreement to ease their months-long tension along the border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple.

The agreement was reached during the 11th annual meeting of the regional border committees (RBC) attended by officers from the fourth military region of Cambodia and the second army area of Thailand.

According to the deal, Thailand and Cambodia will cooperate to realize peace at the border area and restore the region to its prior situation, General Chea Man, chairman of Cambodian RBC and commander of the fourth military region of Cambodia, told reporters at a press conference.

At the area near the Preah Vihear Temple, both sides are determined to keep the utmost restraint in order to avoid confrontation or armed clash as previously occurred, he said.

The Thai side also made the same promise in its press release issued to reporters here on Friday upon the conclusion of the two-day meeting.

On Oct. 15, a gunfire exchange between both troops near the temple killed two Cambodian soldiers and one Thai trooper.

“ Both sides agreed to cooperate with equality and we respect the sovereignty and border of each other,” said Chea Man.

“ We will continue the talks to solve the issue with peaceful deals. We have to exchange information, protect the environment along the border, take action against crimes, make sure of economic development along the border, and guarantee easiness for the people to have a proper living standard,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lt. General Wiboonsak Neeparn, chairman of the Thai RBC and commanding general of the second army area of Thailand, told reporters that the Thai side has affirmed its readiness to coordinate with the Cambodian side to ensure peace, security and tranquility along the Thai-Cambodia border.

In a statement issued here on Friday after that meeting ended, the Thai military said it has achieved its objectives, namely “ to develop a good understanding and relationship between the armed forces with a view to easing tension in the border areas.”

It said the meeting has discussed how to deal with the narcotics trade, among other things.

Under the Thai constitution, any agreement reached by the government with another state needs parliamentary approval. The army statement said Oct. 28 has been earmarked for parliament to debate border matters, a date mentioned by Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat in Beijing.

On Friday in Beijing, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat reached consensus on the sidelines of the ASEM Summit to avoid future clashes.

“ The two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontations any longer,” Sompong told reporters.

Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong, standing alongside Sompong, echoed his counterpart, describing the premiers’ talks as “ very good, very friendly.”

In July, tensions ran high after the ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

The tension later turned into a military stalemate, in which upto 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for several weeks.

In early October, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were wounded during sporadic exchange of gunfire and two other Thai soldiers were seriously injured after stepping on a landmine at the border area, the report said.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice decided that the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding area belong to Cambodia.

Editor: Du Guodong

Oxfam America to Expand Community Finance Program in Mali and Cambodia

Boston, MA – infoZIne - International development and relief organization Oxfam America today announced it received an $11.7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Saving for Change, the organization’s unique community finance program. Oxfam will continue to collaborate with Freedom from Hunger and Stromme Foundation to launch an unprecedented expansion of Saving for Change over the next three years.

Oxfam’s innovative approach to community finance breaks with that of traditional microfinance institutions. Saving for Change trains large numbers of savings and credit groups in the poorest regions of the world to save together and make loans to each other with their own resources instead of taking out a loan from a bank, credit union or microfinance institution.

“ The first Saving for Change group was trained three years ago. Today, over 150,000 villagers in Mali and Cambodia have already joined savings and lending groups,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. “ With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we will reach close to 550,000 villagers in the next three years.”

With this growth, Saving for Change will become the largest microfinance program in these two countries and the only one reaching the rural poor at this scale. Village groups act as their own community banks, providing villagers with a place to save and easy access to loans. As a result, poor people living in remote areas with little or no financial institutions can access self-managed financial services to build assets, increase incomes, and improve the livelihoods of their families.

“ Not only is Saving for Change different because it is based on saving instead of borrowing, it also relies on person-to-person training and relationships instead of technology. This helps build trust and ultimately makes the savings and lending groups more sustainable,” said Offenheiser.

Oxfam will use this grant to replicate its community finance model in communities throughout Mali and Cambodia. In addition, it will allow the organization an opportunity to explore further program growth in Latin America.

Millions of people in Asia and Africa live on one dollar a day or less, and few have access to savings or other financial services that can help them increase their financial security and improve their lives. Without places to save, it is difficult for families to build savings to pay for educational fees, medical bills, or emergencies. Others have little or no access to micro loans that could improve their incomes through investments like setting up a small sales kiosk, buying crop fertilizer, or acquiring an animal for breeding.

Funding to expand Saving for Change comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Financial Services for the Poor initiative, which works with partners to make savings and other financial services available in developing countries so the poor can better manage life’s risks and take advantage of life’s opportunities.

“ The innovative savings and lending approach has been successful at bringing affordable financial services to people with very low incomes living in remote communities,” said Bob Christen, director of the Financial Services for the Poor initiative. “ We believe that Saving for Change’s groups will open the door to opportunity and increased household financial security for many poor people.”

The grant also supports program evaluation and research that will help document and fully measure Oxfam’s impact on communities. Researchers will be asking key questions on the affect participating in Saving for Change has including:

• Does it affect how-and how much-women save and borrow?
• Does it improve risk-coping and food security?
• Does it build crucial social networks and businesses?
• And, does it improve agricultural production?

“ The research component of this grant will help us fine tune our program so that it best meets the needs of the poor,” concluded Offenheiser. “ Documenting Saving for Change’s success will also help build momentum for expanding savings-led community finance programs around the world.”

Saving for Change is implemented by Oxfam America in collaboration with Freedom from Hunger and Norway-based Stromme Foundation. Freedom from Hunger’s support includes developing training manuals, and contributing technical assistance for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the program. Stromme Foundation, along with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, underwrites the costs for the teams training savings and lending groups in Mali.

Water Festival security tightened

Extra personnel will be brought in to monitor busy areas during the three-day celebration

THE government will boost security in the capital in the lead-up to next month’s Water Festival, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema said.

Authorities will also prevent vendors from doing business in the parks lining 
the river, where tens of thousands of people are expected to gather for the biggest party on Phnom Penh’s social calendar.

“ Local authorities must manage any disorder along the riverside from now on,” Kep Chuktema told municipal officials earlier this week, adding that food and drinks sellers must be cleared to keep riverside areas “ beautiful for the eyes of the people” .

In a directive dated September 30, Kong Sam Ol, director of the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals, called on all relevant authorities to join hands. 

“ The Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence and Municipality of Phnom Penh 
must cooperate with each other to keep public order before and after the festival in order to provide people with safety and enjoyment,” he said.  

Security preparations will include military forces, City Hall said.

Police at the ready

Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth said by phone Tuesday that his police forces are ready to be deployed for the festival’s security.

“ Thousands of municipal policemen, military policemen and policemen from the Ministry of Interior are ready to act as security for the people who come to Phnom Penh for the Water Festival,” he said.

As many as two million visitors are expected in Phnom Penh during the festival.

Thai, Cambodian leaders agree to avoid border conflict

Bangkok Post – Thai and Cambodian prime ministers agreed that they would prevent further clashes over border conflict, Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said Friday.

“ The two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontations any longer,” Mr Sompong told reporters after Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat met with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

Second Army deputy commander Maj-Gen Veevalit Jornsamrit, meanwhile, said relations between Thai and Cambodian troops are binding because none want any violent situations to occur.

However, he insisted that Thai soldiers are ready if violence happens.

Thailand, Cambodia resolve to settle border feud

BEIJING (AP): The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia resolved Friday to settle their countries’ border dispute peacefully, foreign ministers from the two nations said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat discussed the issue during bilateral talks early Friday on the sidelines of a 43-nation Asian-European summit in China’s capital, Beijing.

Fighting near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple last week killed two Cambodians and triggered fears of a broader conflict, and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said the leaders were determined to prevent similar conflicts breaking out.

“ What happened between us we have to solve peacefully, amicably, for the sake of our neighborliness,” Hor Namhong said.

Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said it was imperative that the sides order their troops not to provoke or engage in fighting.

Sompong said last week’s battle “ happened instantly and was uncontrollable at that time,” but he added that that now “ the two sides must really advise our troops on each side not to have a confrontation any longer.”

The Beijing meeting came as Thai and Cambodian military officials were holding talks in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap aimed at defusing tensions along the border.

Thai Lt. Gen. Wiboonsak Neeparn said in a statement that both sides plan on exercising restraint to prevent more violence.

Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong says Cambodia wants both sides to redeploy their troops from the area to reduce tension.

The border talks ended with the two sides reiterating pledges to prevent more violence.

Thailand and Cambodia “ are committed to exercising their utmost restraint to avoid confrontation or armed clashes,” Cambodian regional army commander Maj. Gen. Chea Mon said.

Last week’s fighting was the latest flare-up a recently revived dispute over a stretch of jungle near the Preah Vihear temple. The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

Diplomacy ’swings’ into action

SIEM REAP (Bangkok Post) / Cambodia’s defence minister teed off with Thai military officers in a spot of golf diplomacy yesterday ahead of talks aimed at resolving the territorial dispute around the Preah Vihear temple.

A meeting of mid-level officials in Cambodia’s northwest tourist hub of Siem Reap was meant to pave the way for talks today between senior commanders on tensions that erupted into deadly clashes last week.

While their juniors met, Cambodian defence minister Tea Banh arrived a day early for a round of golf with the Thai military officers.

” The discussion today has resolved a lot of problems,” Tea Banh said.

” The [Friday] meeting will clearly ease the situation more because we will discuss ways to make it better.”

Officials would not give specific results of the day’s talks to defuse the border dispute near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which erupted in a firefight a week ago that left one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead.

But General Neang Phat, secretary of state at Cambodia’s defence ministry, described the atmosphere among senior officials on the golf course as ” happy” .

He said he thought commanders would reach an agreement to reduce the number of soldiers deployed in disputed territory.

” We will also talk about how to avoid military confrontation and to continue re-deploying the troops,” he said.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen are scheduled to meet today in Beijing on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe summit meeting.

The Beijing meeting might be a good opportunity to restore confidence after the country was hit by domestic political turmoil, he said, adding he would like to tell the countries that even though Thailand is facing problems, it could move ahead.

Mr Somchai said yesterday the bilateral talks would be the best way to end the border disputes between the two countries.

He said Cambodia is a good neighbour and that both nations wanted to live together peacefully.

Mr Somchai accepted that sometimes problems could not be avoided but they should be resolved in bilateral contacts without the need for international input, as no other country could expect to be as knowledgeable about the details.

Chinese Premier meets Cambodian Prime Minister

BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Friday with the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, hailing for the long-standing friendship of the two nations and hoping for further cooperation.

The year of 2008 not only marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Cambodian diplomatic relations, but also is celebrated as the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship.

China was willing to take the opportunity to work with Cambodia to enhance the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries so as to lift the China-Cambodia relations to a new stage, said Wen.

China would continue to support the economic development of Cambodia and to promote the key cooperation projects, especially in the infrastructure facilities construction on transportation and communication, he said.

On the Friendship Year, Hun Sen said the related celebrations cemented the traditional friendship of the two peoples and the Cambodian people appreciated China’s long-term aid.

Cambodia hoped China will continue to support its economic development and further cooperation in water resources projects and infrastructure facilities construction, he said.

The Cambodian Prime Minister arrived in Beijing on Thursday afternoon to attend the two-day seventh Asia-Europe Meeting starting from Friday.

The Amazing Race 13: On to Angkor Wat

The Amazing Race has already been to some wonderful sites this season – La Paz, the scenic New Zealand – but Sunday’s episode might just feature the coolest landmark that fans will see all season.  Thanks to the Location Spoilers that CBS released, we know that in the next episode teams will be traveling to Siem Reap, Cambodia.  Only five miles away from the town of Siem Reap is one of the great wonders of the modern world, the temple complex known as Angkor Wat.  If the teams are traveling to Siem Reap, I think we can assume that they’ll be making a trip to Angkor Wat as well.

Angkor Wat is the most famous landmark in Cambodia, and is a massive tourist attraction.  When the New Seven Wonders of the World project came to pass, Angkor Wat didn’t make the final cut, but it was one of the finalists.  Since the early 1990’s reclamation efforts in the temple areas have greatly improved the conditions in Angkor Wat, making it the tourist destination it is today.  The Cambodian government isn’t shy about allowing the public in, and will surely be willing to allow The Amazing Race to hold some sort of challenge.  Perhaps it will be a Road Block, with one team member having to search the Angkor Wat grounds for its next clue.  Securing the use of Angkor Wat would likely be a prerequisite for The Amazing Race traveling to Cambodia in the first place. 

I’ll have my Episode 5 Predictions article out tomorrow, but I expect some shuffling in the team ranks to go down on Sunday.  It could be time for a non-elimination leg (or perhaps a two-episode leg), but I think the teams with older members might begin to suffer from fatigue.  Toni and Dallas have been quite impressive thus far, but after another long flight from New Zealand to Cambodia, it’s not going to be easy to schlep an old body around.  Also, expect Ken and Tina to start showing at least a little bit of their age.  I still think Ken and Tina are the front-runners, but they can’t dominate every leg.

CAMBODIA: WORK SAFETY WORSENS AS CONSTRUCTION BOOMS

(www.mmorning.com) – The construction business in Cambodia is booming, attracting investments of 3.2 billion dollars in the first six months of this year and luring some 40,000 seasonal construction workers from impoverished provinces.

But, as construction worker Chan Vuthy can attest, work safety has deteriorated as buildings spring up. The day a blade from a malfunctioning saw cut deep into his knee, the 23-year-old was wearing flip-flops, a cloth hat and no protective equipment.

When he stumbled to the bottom of the site, his boss scolded him for recklessness.

He was then fired, and had to spend his savings on a month of hospital treatment.

Cambodian construction workers risk their lives for an average wage of two and a half dollars a day, commented Sok Sovandeith, president of the Cambodia National Federation of Building and Wood Workers.

There are no laws to force construction enterprises to pay adequate wages, and few workers have any training and companies have little incentive to take measures to avoid accidents or use equipment such as hard helmets, work boots or safety harnesses.

“We’re very worried about poor working conditions, which have not been improved or guaranteed by law”, Sok Sovandeith said, adding that construction work is the most dangerous kind of labor in the country.

“After inspections, we found a lot of building sites and companies do not give out safety materials”.
Many construction companies lay the blame for poor safety on workers who do not protect themselves.

So far the government has sided with businesses, taking no action to ensure better work conditions amid the building boom, which has attracted investment from South Korea and China and helped fuel double-digit economic growth.

“The whole country acknowledges that construction is the third gem besides the agriculture and garment sectors to boost the domestic economy”, says Im Chamrong, head of Cambodia’s General Department of Construction.

“Some construction companies can’t afford the safety equipment. We cannot force them to buy it”, Im Chamrong explained.

With few zoning regulations, new construction projects tower over traditional Khmer homes and the old French villas built in the colonial era.

In June, a South Korean company broke ground on a 52-storey tower slated to be the country’s tallest skyscraper when it is completed in 2012, while all across the capital tall buildings are going up.

Once-sleepy boulevards are already crammed with expensive cars driven by the country’s growing elite.

But the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, with about 35 percent of the country’s 14 million people living on less than 50 US cents a day. These are the men and women who end up migrating to the capital and risking their lives on building sites for a couple of dollars a day.

There are no statistics for accidents in Cambodia’s construction industry, but there are many anecdotes about deaths and injuries to workers.

“There have been a lot of people being killed accidentally, but some companies try to hide the figure of the dead and victims”, Sok Sovandeth says, adding the country needs better labor laws to save lives.