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Να καθίσετε εκεί που είστε

2011-07-21T03:55:00.002-07:00

Η αποφυγή κατασκευής νέων αυτοκινητοδρόμων οι οποίοι επιτείνουν το φαινόμενο της αστικής διάχυσης αποτελεί στόχο της πολιτικής μεταφορών του νέου Ρυθμιστικού".

Για άλλη μία φορά, αναλαμβάνουν να νομοθετήσουν άνθρωποι που δεν έχουν επιστημονική κατάρτιση, χωρίς να ακούσουν τους ειδικούς, χωρίς κοινή λογική, και χωρίς να μένουν οι ίδιοι στους τόπους για τους οποίους αποφαίνονται.

Να σταματήσει λέει το "φαινόμενο της αστικής διάχυσης". Πολύ καλή ιδέα. Ειδικά για την Αθήνα, τι λαμπερή ιδέα. Ποιος ενδιαφέρεται για αποκέντρωση.. Δεν υπάρχει φορά που να έρχομαι από το αεροδρόμιο με κάποιον αλλοδαπό, ο οποίος βλέποντας το "τέρας" από τις στροφές της περιφερειακής το Υμηττού, να μην σαστίζει! Έτσι τους πρέπει! Και όταν στρίβεις στα στενά του κέντρου να αναρωτιούνται αν χωράνε να περάσουν αμάξια στα στενάκια με τα αμάξια παρκαρισμένα σε σφιχτή κρυσταλλική οργάνωση.

Γιατί να αναζητήσει ο κάτοικος αττικής καλύτερη ποιότητα ζωής? Γιατί να μην μένει στα μπετονένια κλουβιά του κέντρου? Αυτά που χτίστηκαν πριν 40+ χρόνια, και σε λίγο θα χρειάζονται κατεδάφιση. Και να εξηγήσω το "σε λίγο": δεν μπορέις να φτιάχνεις νέο πολεοδομικό νομοσχέδιο με χρονικό ορίζοντα λιγότερο από 25ετία.

Να έχουμε ένα τόσο όμορφο λεκανοπέδιο, και να βρισκόμαστε 6.000.000 άνθρωποι πακτωμένοι στο κέντρο. Ήλιο να βλέπουμε μόνο ανάμεσα σε ταράτσες, τα άναρχα μπαλκόνια μας να ακουμπάνε σχεδόν, να έρθει ο κόσμος πιο κοντά. Πολύ καλή ιδέα. Και όταν γίνουμε 7.500.000 (θα γίνει και αυτό), θα έχουμε προετοιμαστεί?

Επιτέλους να σταματήσουν να έρχονται και νέοι κάτοικοι στην όμορφη Εκάλη και στο Καστρί, να μείνουν για τους λίγους. Όσα "τζάκια" χτίστηκαν, χτίστηκαν.

Εξάλλου γιατί να θέλει ο πολίτης να μένει σε μία περιοχή που το παρκάρισμα δεν είναι προϊόν εμπορικής συμφωνίας ή Ιώβιας υπομονής και τύχης? Όμως το παρκάρισμα δεν είναι στο καθημερινό λεξικό κανενός από αυτούς που αποφασίζουν. Ας μείνουν για 1 μήνα στο Παγκράτι και τα λέμε.

Όταν φτιάχτηκε η Λ.Συγγρού (η μητέρα μου έμενε στο Φιξ), τα αυτοκίνητα ήταν ελάχιστα, και οι ανάγκες/ικανότητα αυτοκίνησης ακόμα μικρότερη. Περνούσε ένα αμάξι και παίζανε μαντεύοντας τον τελευταίο αριθμό της πινακίδας του. Ήταν αποτέλεσμα ενός οράματος, έδωσε μία προοπτική, τροπή ανάπτυξης, και ακόμα και σήμερα καταφέρνει να εξυπηρετεί επαρκώς εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες πολίτες. Που είναι το όραμα και η ματιά στο μέλλον στο σχέδιο αυτό που είδαμε σήμερα? "Να κάτσουμε εδώ που είμαστε". Ή μαλλον σωστότερα "να καθίσετε εκεί που είστε"

Τις υπόλοιπες παραγράφους του νομοσχεδίου θα τις σχολιάσω μόνο επιγραμματικά:
"διατήρηση της γεωργικής γης ώστε να αντιμετωπιστούν οι ισχυρές οικιστικές πιέσεις οι οποίες οδηγούν στη συρρίκνωσή της".. Γεωργική χρήση γης, μέσα στο καυσαέριο, σε απόσταση 15 λεπτών από το κέντρο (χωρίς την κίνηση), Να απλώνονται οι "για τις οποίες εισπράττονται επιδοτήσεις" παραγωγές και να στριμώχνονται οι πολίτες. Λογικό ακούγεται.

Ελαιώνας, "το μείζον στοίχημα": "- διατήρηση και ενίσχυση της μεταποιητικής δραστηριότητας
·- εγκατάσταση στην περιοχή του Νέου Κεντρικού Σταθμού των ΚΤΕΛ και του νέου Συγκοινωνιακού Κέντρου, αμαξοστασίων Μετρό, Τρόλεϊ και λεωφορείων, της Κεντρικής Αγοράς Αθηνών και του Σταθμού Μεταφόρτωσης Απορριμμάτων." Αυτό τώρα είναι αναβάθμιση της περιοχής;

Πράσινο τόξο: "Στο «πράσινο τόξο» το οποίο δημιουργείται από τους ορεινούς όγκους που περιβάλλουν το Λεκανοπέδιο _ δηλαδή τα όρη Αιγάλεω, Πεντέλη, Υμηττό, Πάρνηθα, καθώς και τα όρη Κιθαιρώνα, Πάστρα, Πατέρα και Γεράνεια που συγκροτούν το ορεινό σύμπλεγμα της Δυτικής Αττικής _ θεσμοθετείται δέσμη μέτρων περιορισμού της δόμησης και προστασίας στα πεδινά τμήματα, με στόχο την προστασία τους.". Όχι απλά πράσινο τόξο, θα έλεγα να τα ανακηρύξουμε σε δρυμούς. Αλήθεια έχετε περάσει καμία βόλτα από κάποια από τα βουνά αυτά να δείτε το οξυγόνο που παράγουν οι πέτρες, τα σχοίνα, και τα καμμένα δέντρα;

Κάτι που βγήκε από την προϋπηρεσία του συγκεκριμένου υπουργού: "Μάλιστα, προτείνεται ενσωμάτωση στο κόστος της εκτός σχεδίου οικοδόμησης, της επιβάρυνσης που επιφέρει σε αστικές υποδομές και περιβάλλον, μέσω θέσπισης αντισταθμιστικών οφελών (μήπως εννοεί οφειλών;) και ενίσχυσης του Πράσινου Ταμείου.". Πες το μας από την αρχή. Θέλεις καλύτερη ποιότητα ζωής; Σφίγγουμε τον ορισμό του 'εντός σχεδίου' και μετά θα πληρώσεις κύριε. Μήπως πρέπει κάποιος να υπολογίσει και το κόστος χρήσης air condition στην τσιμεντοκρατούμενη και πυκνή δόμηση; Η ΔΕΗ δεν προλαβαίνει να παράγει και να εισάγει ρεύμα αυτή την περίοδο; Φαντάζομαι δεν έχουν ανακαλύψει την πυρηνική σύντηξη για να δημιουργούν ενέργεια ανέξοδα και φιλικά προς το περιβάλλον. Καλοκαίρι είναι, και η διαφορά θερμοκρασίας από το κέντρο στα απαγορευμένα προάστια είναι πάνω από 3 βαθμούς. Ας μην έβαζαν τόσους ανθρώπους να γράφουν ολόκληρο νομοσχέδιο, ας έγραφαν μόνο την παραπάνω παράγραφο.

Κρίμα..

ΥΓ1: Και μην ξεχνάμε ότι τα παραπάνω πιθανώς ισχύουν μόνο για τους Έλληνες πολίτες: το μεσοπρόθεσμο προβλέπει εξαιρέσεις από τους οικιστικούς νόμους για ξένους επενδυτές, οι οποίοι θα έχουν και χαμηλότερες τιμές καθώς η γη αυτή δεν θα έχει ντόπιο ανταγωνισμό στην αγορά της.

ΥΓ2: Κρίμα που ο συγκεκριμένος υπουργός έχει ζήσει στο εξωτερικό, και η σύζυγός του δεν είνα Ελληνίδα. Θα έπρεπε να ξέρει ότι σε όλες τις καλά οργανωμένες πόλεις η επέκταση στα προάστια είναι για την δημιουργία city bedrooms. Κάποιοι συνεχίζουν να μένουν στο 'κέντρο', αλλά το κράτος προετοιμάζει τις υποδομές (αυτοκινητόδρομοι, μέσα σταθερής τροχιάς) για να μπορέι ο κόσμος να ζει κοντά στην φύση, να βλέπει χώμα πέρα από τις γλάστρες και τις νερατζιές, να μπορεί να βγει έναν περίπατο χωρίς να πρέπει να πάει με αυτοκίνητο στα λεγόμενα 'αστικά πάρκα', να αναπνέει καθαρότερο αέρα, να γνωρίζει τους γείτονές του (και όχι τις 15 οικογένειες της πολυκατοικίας του μόνο). Η λίστα είναι μεγάλη, όπως και η απογοήτευση μου από την συγκεκριμένη πρόταση.

ΥΓ3: Περιμένω να έρθει αυτό το σχέδιο στο opengov και να βγουν να μιλήσουν οι πραγματικοί ειδικοί και όσοι ελπίζουν σε ένα καλύτερο μέλλον της Αττικής. Με όραμα. Τώρα το αν θα ακουστούν είναι άλλο θέμα

Διαλέγουν κούρσες

2011-07-21T03:55:00.001-07:00

Αλήθεια για ποιο λόγο οι ταξιτζήδες δεν παίρνουνε κούρσα απο Πετρούπολη για Μενίδι; Την στιγμή που αναφέρεις και στο κέντρο οτι είναι για...
άτομο ΑΜΕΑ. Μήπως φοβούνται το Μενίδι ή μήπως φοβουνται ότι δεν θα βρούνε άλλη κούρσα μερα μεσημέρι. Χίλιες φορες να το ανοίξουνε. Τουλάχιστον όταν θα επικοινωνεί ένα άτομο αμέα στην εταιρία ΤΑΔΕ ΤΑΞΙ, θα έχει καλύτερη εξυπηρέτηση και πρόσβαση μεσα στο ΤΑΞΙ. Δείτε και στο εξωτερικό πως λειτουργούνε οι εταιριες ΤΑΞΙ (Γερμανία).Και καλυτερες ανταγωνιστικες τιμές έχουνε και καλυτερη εξυπηρέτηση.

To Naxos Resort... θα σας μείνει αξέχαστο!

2011-07-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

Σχεδιάστηκε με στυλ. Κτίστηκε με πάθος και πόθο. Νησιώτικη και βενετσιάνικη αρχιτεκτονική κυριαρχία με πινελιές γαλάζιου ουρανού και θάλασσας δίνουν στο NAXOS RESORT BEACH HOTEL την Αίγλη, την πολυτέλεια και την αρχοντιά της κυκλαδίτικης ζωγραφιάς...

Κτισμένο λίγα μέτρα από την απέραντη αμμουδιά του Αγ. Γεωργίου με την χρυσαφένια άμμο και τα ρηχά καταγάλανα νερά, ο Βασιλιάς και άρχοντας της Νάξου φαίνεται να αγναντεύει το πέλαγος παίρνοντας χρώμα μοναδικού τοπίου από το ηλιοβασίλεμα.

Πολλά τα μολυσμένα βοοειδή στην Ιαπωνία

2011-07-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

Σχεδόν 1.500 είναι πλέον τα βοοειδή στην Ιαπωνία που πιθανόν να έχουν καταναλώσει τροφή μολυσμένη με ραδιενέργεια. Τελευταία, περίπου 850 εντοπίστηκαν σε αρκετές περιφέρειες της Ιαπωνίας. Παράλληλα, στις έρευνες που διεξάγουν οι αρχές εντοπίστηκαν τουλάχιστον 835 βοοειδή που θεωρούνται ύποπτα ότι έχουν μολυνθεί σε αγροκτήματα στις περιφέρειες: Ιουάτε, Ακίτα, Γκούνμα, Νιιγκάτα, Γκίφου και Σιζουόκα, σύμφωνα με τα ιαπωνικά μέσα ενημέρωσης.

Την Τρίτη η κυβέρνηση της χώρας απαγόρευσε την πώληση βοδινού κρέατος από την περιφέρεια της Φουκουσίμα μετά τον εντοπισμό μολυσμένου με ραδιενέργεια κρέατος.

Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού: Πότε μπορούμε να προσφύγουμε

2011-07-21T03:52:00.002-07:00

Γράφει ο Χρήστος Ηλ. Τσίχλης, Δικηγόρος Αθηνών
H Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού είναι το όργανο, στο οποίο ο νομοθέτης έχει αναθέσει την...
αποκλειστική αρμοδιότητα εφαρμογής του ν. 703/77 περί ελέγχου των μονοπωλίων και ολιγοπωλίων και προστασίας του ελεύθερου ανταγωνισμού.
Έχει διοικητική και οικονομική αυτοτέλεια και εποπτεύεται από τον Υπουργό Ανάπτυξης(Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης και Ανταγωνιστικότητας).
Τα μέλη της απολαμβάνουν προσωπικής και λειτουργικής ανεξαρτησίας και κατά την άσκηση των αρμοδιοτήτων τους δεσμεύονται μόνο από το νόμο και τη συνείδηση τους.
Φυσικά πρόσωπα και Νομικά πρόσωπα έχουν δικαίωμα καταγγελίας για παραβάσεις του ν. 703/1977 «Περί Ελέγχου Μονοπωλίων και Ολιγοπωλίων και Προστασίας του Ελεύθερου Ανταγωνισμού» και των άρθρων 81 και 82 της Συνθ.ΕΚ.
Η Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού κινείται κατόπιν:
-Kαταγγελίας,
-Αυτεπάγγελτα,
-Αιτήματος του Υπουργού Ανάπτυξης(Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης και Ανταγωνιστικότητας).
Συνεπώς, ακόμη και εάν δεν υποβληθεί καταγγελία, η Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού δύναται να προχωρήσει στη διερεύνηση παραβάσεων της νομοθεσίας.
Η επίσημη καταγγελία υποβάλλεται γραπτώς σε έντυπη και ηλεκτρονική μορφή από τον καταγγέλλοντα με τη συμπλήρωση ειδικού εντύπου, το οποίο είναι δυνατό να εξασφαλιστεί από :
-Την ιστοσελίδα της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού.
-Τα Γραφεία της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού.
Η επίσημη καταγγελία πρέπει να περιέχει:
-Πραγματικά περιστατικά και σχετικά ικανά αποδεικτικά στοιχεία.
-Λόγους που στοιχειοθετούν την παράβαση.
Η υποβολή μίας καταγγελίας δεν σημαίνει αυτόματα ότι η Επιτροπή θα προχωρήσει στην εξέταση της υπόθεσης. Απαιτείται:
-Nα εμπίπτει στα κριτήρια ελέγχου και κρίσεως των υποθέσεων.
-Εξέταση από τη Γενική Διεύθυνση της καταγγελίας για διαπίστωση κατά πόσο στοιχειοθετείται παράβαση.
-Επικοινωνία της Γενικής Διεύθυνσης με την καταγγελλόμενη επιχείρηση και με τυχόν άλλες επιχειρήσεις που δραστηριοποιούνται στην αγορά για συλλογή στοιχείων και πληροφοριών.
-Αντίγραφα καταγγελιών και αιτήσεων ασφαλιστικών μέτρων μπορεί να λαμβάνει η επιχείρηση κατά της οποίας στρέφονται οι καταγγελίες ή οι αιτήσεις και πριν από την ολοκλήρωση σχετικής εισήγησης.
Για τη διεξαγωγή της έρευνας η Γενική Διεύθυνση δύναται να προβεί σε μια σειρά ενεργειών, κατόπιν εντολής του Προέδρου της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού, όπως:
-Επιτόπου επισκέψεις στα γραφεία των επιχειρήσεων ή ενώσεων επιχειρήσεων.
-Επιτόπου αιφνίδιες έρευνες και ελέγχους στους ανωτέρω χώρους, τα μεταφορικά μέσα των επιχειρήσεων ή ενώσεων επιχειρήσεων καθώς και στις κατοικίες των επιχειρηματιών ή του προσωπικού των επιχειρήσεων ή των ενώσεων επιχειρήσεων, υπό τις προϋποθέσεις που τάσσει ο Νόμος.
-Αποστολή ερωτηματολογίων σε άμεσα και έμμεσα εμπλεκόμενες επιχειρήσεις αλλά και σε φορείς της αγοράς.
-Έλεγχος και λήψη αντιγράφων κάθε είδους και κατηγορίας βιβλίων, στοιχείων και λοιπών εγγράφων ανεξαρτήτως της μορφής και τόπου αποθήκευσης τους.
-Λήψη ένορκων ή ανωμοτί καταθέσεων και απαίτηση από αντιπρόσωπο ή μέλος του προσωπικού της επιχείρησης ή της ένωσης των επιχειρήσεων, επεξηγήσεων για τα γεγονότα ή τα έγγραφα που σχετίζονται με το αντικείμενο και το σκοπό του ελέγχου.
-Με την ολοκλήρωση της έρευνας, συντάσσεται σχετική εισήγηση η οποία υποβάλλεται στην Επιτροπή και η οποία είναι το αρμόδιο όργανο που θα αποφασίσει κατά πόσο στοιχειοθετείται παράβαση. Η απόφαση της Επιτροπής εκδίδεται μετά από διάσκεψη, εντός τριάντα (30) ημερών από την τελευταία διάσκεψη.
Ειδικότερα, η Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού:
-Διαπιστώνει την ύπαρξη συμπράξεων επιχειρήσεων που έχουν ως αντικείμενο ή αποτέλεσμα τον περιορισμό του ανταγωνισμού, κατά τα προβλεπόμενα στο άρθρο 1 παρ. 1 ν. 703/77.
-Αποφασίζει την απαλλαγή συμπράξεων που περιορίζουν τον ανταγωνισμό, αλλά έχουν θετικά οικονομικά αποτελέσματα, είναι προς όφελος του καταναλωτή, δεν δημιουργούν προυποθέσεις κατάργησης του ανταγωνισμού και δεν δεσμεύουν υπέρμετρα τις συμμετέχουσες επιχειρήσεις, κατά τα προβλεπόμενα στο άρθρο 1 παρ. 3 ν. 703/77.
-Διαπιστώνει την καταχρηστική συμπεριφορά επιχειρήσεων με δεσπόζουσα θέση στην αγορά κατ εφαρμογή του άρθρου 2 ν. 703/77.
-Διαπιστώνει την καταχρηστική εκμετάλλευση, από μία ή περισσότερες επιχειρήσεις, της σχέσης οικονομικής εξάρτησης στην οποία βρίσκεται προς αυτήν ή αυτές μία επιχείρηση, η οποία κατέχει θέση πελάτη ή προμηθευτή, ακόμη και προς ένα ορισμένο είδος προϊόντων ή υπηρεσιών και δεν διαθέτει ισοδύναμη εναλλακτική λύση, κατ εφαρμογή του άρθρου 2α ν. 703/77.
-Ελέγχει προληπτικά την επίδραση στον ανταγωνισμό συγκεντρώσεων επιχειρήσεων κατά τα προβλεπόμενα στα άρθρα 4 - 4στ ν. 703/77.
-Επιβάλλει κυρώσεις σε περιπτώσεις παράβασης των διατάξεων του ν. 703/77.
Λαμβάνει ασφαλιστικά μέτρα, όταν πιθανολογείται παράβαση των άρθρων 1, 2, 2α και 5 ν. 703/77.
-Εξετάζει μετά από αίτημα του Υπουργού Ανάπτυξης ή αυτεπάγγελτα συγκεκριμένο κλάδο της ελληνικής αγοράς και, εφόσον διαπιστώσει ότι στο συγκεκριμένο κλάδο δεν υπάρχουν συνθήκες αποτελεσματικού ανταγωνισμού, μπορεί με αιτιολογημένη απόφασή της, να λάβει κάθε απολύτως αναγκαίο κανονιστικό μέτρο που αφορά τη διάρθρωση της αγοράς και αποσκοπεί στη δημιουργία συνθηκών αποτελεσματικού ανταγωνισμού.
-Γνωμοδοτεί επί θεμάτων ανταγωνισμού όταν της ζητηθεί από τον Υπουργό Ανάπτυξης ή οποιονδήποτε άλλο αρμόδιο Υπουργό ή από ενώσεις επιμελητηρίων, βιομηχανικών και εμπορικών συλλόγων.
-Εφαρμόζει τις διατάξεις των άρθρων 81 και 82 της Συνθ. ΕΚ.
-Συνεργάζεται στενά με την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή και τις άλλες Aρχές Ανταγωνισμού των άλλων Κρατών Μελών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης για την εφαρμογή της κοινοτικής νομοθεσίας του ανταγωνισμού.
Παρακολουθεί την εκτέλεση των αποφάσεων της Επιτροπής Ανταγωνισμού, των υπουργικών αποφάσεων και των δικαστικών αποφάσεων που εκδίδονται στις περιπτώσεις προσβολής των προηγούμενων αποφάσεων.

Το ύψος του προστίμου που επιβάλει η επιτροπή ανταγωνισμού καθορίζεται ως εξής:
-Εάν διαπιστωθεί παράβαση το επιβαλλόμενο ή απειλούμενο πρόστιμο μπορεί να φτάνει μέχρι ποσοστού δεκαπέντε τοις εκατό των ακαθάριστων εσόδων της επιχείρησης της παρούσας ή της προηγούμενης της παράβασης χρήσης.
-Για τον καθορισμό του ύψους του προστίμου πρέπει να λαμβάνονται υπόψη η σοβαρότητα και η διάρκεια της παράβασης.
Προβλέπεται ρητά στο νόμο, ότι ο πρόεδρος και τα μέλη της Επιτροπής , οι υπάλληλοι της Γενικής Διεύθυνσης Ανταγωνισμού και άλλοι δημόσιοι υπάλληλοι που λαμβάνουν γνώση, ένεκα της θέσης τους ή κατά την άσκηση των υπηρεσιακών τους καθηκόντων, απόρρητων στοιχείων επιχειρήσεων, ενώσεων επιχειρήσεων ή άλλων φυσικών ή νομικών προσώπων, υποχρεούνται να τηρούν εχεμύθεια για τα στοιχεία αυτά, διαφορετικά υφίστανται ποινικές διώξεις.

Αμοργός - Μούρος

2011-07-21T03:52:00.001-07:00

Μια από τις πιο εντυπωσιακές παραλίες του νησιού, όχι ιδιαίτερα μεγάλη σε μήκος, με καταπληκτικά γαλαζοπράσινα νερά, γκρι άμμο και βοτσαλάκια.

Περιβάλλεται από επιβλητικούς βράχους, ενώ προσφέρεται για παρατήρηση του βυθού, καθώς και για «μίνι» εξερευνήσεις στις κοντινές θαλάσσιες σπηλιές.

Μαζεύει αρκετό κόσμο, ενώ για φαΐ και ποτά θα πάτε στη ταβέρνα που υπάρχει πάνω από την παραλία (εκεί που θα αφήσετε και το αυτοκίνητό σας).

Πρόσβαση: Ο Μούρος βρίσκεται στη νοτιοδυτική ακτή της Αμοργού, κοντά στο Καμάρι. Οδηγώντας από τη Χώρα προς Αρκεσίνη θα στρίψετε για Μούρο (υπάρχει ταμπέλα στο Καμάρι). Ο δρόμος τελειώνει μπροστά στη ταβέρνα, όπου και θα αφήσετε το αυτοκίνητο. Από εκεί θα ακολουθήσετε το εύκολο μονοπάτι, που σε 5 περίπου λεπτά θα σας οδηγήσει στη παραλία.

Οργανωμένη: ΌΧΙ

Σαν σήμερα έφυγε ο Κώστας Καρυωτάκης

2011-07-21T03:51:00.001-07:00

Ο Κώστας Καρυωτάκης ήταν ένας από του κορυφαίους Έλληνες ποιητές και πεζογράφους της χώρας. Σαν σήμερα 21ης Ιουλίου 1928 αυτοκτόνησε στηην περιοχή Βαθύ Πρέβεζας.
Θεωρείται ως ο κυριότερος εκφραστής της σύγχρονης λυρικής ποίησης και τα έργα του έχουν μεταφραστεί σε περισσότερες από τριάντα γλώσσες.

Σαν σήμερα έφυγε ο Κώστας Καρυωτάκης

2011-07-21T03:49:00.002-07:00

Νέος αρχηγός της Εθνικής Φρουράς Κύπρου ο αντιστράτηγος ε.α Στυλιανός Νάσης

2011-07-21T03:49:00.001-07:00

Τον αντιστράτηγο εν αποστρατεία Στυλιανό Νάση, διόρισε νέο αρχηγό της Εθνικής Φρουράς, το υπουργικό συμβούλιο.

Ο κ. Νάσης, μεταξύ άλλων, είχε υπηρετήσει και στην Κύπρο σε μονάδες του ΓΕΕΦ το 1987-1989.
Ο κυβερνητικός εκπρόσωπος, Στέφανος Στεφάνου, δήλωσε ότι ο κ. Νάσης θα δώσει τη νενομισμένη διαβεβαίωση, ενώπιον του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας Δημήτρη Χριστόφια στις 23 Ιουλίου στις 9 το πρωί. Στη συνέχεια, θα παραλάβει από τον απερχόμενο αρχηγό της ΕΦ Πέτρο Τσαλικίδη και θα προχωρήσει στην ανάληψη των καθηκόντων του.

"Νεκροταφείο" για την καρέτα-καρέτα αποτελεί ο Αμβρακικός μια και «ξεβράστηκαν» νεκρές πάνω από 20 χελώνες!

2011-07-21T03:48:00.001-07:00

Ανησυχία προκαλούν τα περιστατικά με τις θαλάσσιες χελώνες καρέττα-καρέττα, αρκετές εκ των οποίων (πάνω από πέντε) το τελευταίο διάστημα, έχουν... «ξεβραστεί» νεκρές στα παράλια της Πρέβεζας, ενώ δύο ακόμη εντοπίστηκαν μόλις χθες στο Βράχο και στο Καλαμίτσι Πρέβεζας.Την ίδια στιγμή μάρτυρας μιας μακριάς λίστας νεκρών χελωνών έχει γίνει ο Φορέας Διαχείρισης Υγροτόπων Αμβρακικού τις οποίες καταγράφει ενώ ταυτόχρονα ενημερώνει τις αρμόδιες υπηρεσίες, διερευνά τα αίτια θανάτου και συνδράμει στην... ασφαλή απομάκρυνσή τους.Οι καταγραφές αυτές δείχνουν να αυξάνονται ανησυχητικά. Θα πρέπει να σημειωθεί ότι μόνο για το 2011 έχουν καταγραφεί ήδη πάνω από 20 νεκρές χελώνες, ενώ υπάρχουν ενδείξεις ότι πολλές από αυτές πλέουν νεκρές μέχρι να παρασυρθούν σε κάποια όχθη από τα θαλάσσια ρεύματα και να γίνουν αντιληπτές από τους φύλακες του Φορέα Διαχείρισης.Όπως εξηγεί η βιολόγος του Φορέα Μαρία Κατσικάτσου οι καταγραφές δείχνουν να αυξάνονται ανησυχητικά οι νεκρές χελώνες. Η ίδια εξηγεί ότι οι χελώνες μέχρι πριν από λίγα χρόνια είχαν αρκετές θέσεις ωοτοκίας εντός του Αμβρακικού Κόλπου, ενώ πλέον με τις παρεμβάσεις του ανθρώπου τα κατάλληλα ενδιαιτήματα έχουν πλέον υποβαθμιστεί και οι χελώνες δεν τα προτιμούν. Καλό είναι όμως να γνωρίζουμε ότι η χελώνα Caretta caretta διατηρεί ακόμα κάποια σημαντικά πεδία τροφοληψίας, τα οποία είναι κρίσιμο να διατηρηθούν. Εξάλλου δεν πρέπει να λησμονούμε ότι η θαλάσσια χελώνα αποτελεί το μεγαλύτερο εχθρό των μεδουσών, οι πληθυσμοί των οποίων παρουσιάζουν έξαρση τα τελευταία χρόνια.

Αλιευτικά εργαλεία και σκουπίδια
Σύμφωνα με τους ειδικούς η συνηθέστερη αιτία θανάτου των χελωνών είναι ο πνιγμός από αλιευτικά εργαλεία ή από σκουπίδια νάιλον. Τα πλαστικά σκουπίδια στις θάλασσες αποτελούν δυστυχώς χαρακτηριστικό του σύγχρονου ανθρώπινου «πολιτισμού» και απαιτείται μακροχρόνια συλλογική προσπάθεια για την απομάκρυνσή τους από τις ακτές.Επιπρόσθετα, οι αλιείς με τη συνεχή παρουσία τους μπορούν να παίξουν καθοριστικό ρόλο στην αποτελεσματική προστασία των χελωνών, είτε συμβάλλοντας στην ασφαλή απελευθέρωσή τους από τα αλιευτικά εργαλεία, είτε με τη διάσωση των τραυματισμένων ατόμων και την έγκαιρη ενημέρωση των υπηρεσιών για την παροχή των πρώτων βοηθειών.Η κ. Μαρία Κατσικάτσου αναφέρει πως κάνοντας αυτή την άχαρη καταγραφή των νεκρών χελωνών ο Φορέας Διαχείρισης Υγροτόπων Αμβρακικού, βρίσκεται συχνά στη δυσάρεστη θέση να καταγράφει περιπτώσεις χελωνών που έχουν κατακρεουργηθεί.Σε μια πρόσφατη περίπτωση η νεκρή χελώνα φαίνεται να κακοποιήθηκε βάναυσα, όπως φαίνεται και από τη σχετική φωτογραφία.«Η εξέλιξη αυτή μας λυπεί ιδιαίτερα, καθώς φαίνεται ότι οι χρήστες της περιοχής δεν είναι καλά ενημερωμένοι για τις αξίες της φύσης και τις υπηρεσίες της»«ενώ έχουμε κοντά μας όλα τα προνόμια της Φύσης, προσπαθούμε με κάθε τρόπο, να την μεταχειριστούμε στα μέτρα μας. Με τη συστηματική ενημέρωση-ευαισθητοποίηση των πολιτών και των χρηστών στο Εθνικό Πάρκο Υγροτόπων Αμβρακικού, ελπίζουμε να μπει ένα φρένο σε αυτές τις ειδεχθείς τακτικές». συνεχίζει η βιολόγος και προσθέτει πως

Βλέπεις χελώνα στο φως της ημέρας
Να θυμίσουμε ότι ο Αμβρακικός είναι από τα ελάχιστα μέρη στην Ελλάδα όπου μπορεί κανείς να δει μια χελώνα Καρέτα στο φως της ημέρας και ακόμη ότι στο Εθνικό Πάρκο συναντάμε ποικιλόμορφα και περίπλοκα οικοσυστήματα που στηρίζουν τη ζωή πολλών σπάνιων ειδών και τη δημιουργία ιδιαίτερων οικοτόπων.Είναι γνωστό τέλος ότι ο Αμβρακικός Κόλπος και οι Υγρότοποι γύρω του συνθέτουν ένα ενιαίο οικοσύστημα που αντιστέκεται σε πείσμα των πιέσεων που δέχεται. Ένα οικοσύστημα που βάλλεται από την κλιματική αλλαγή και από ανθρωπογενείς πιέσεις, παρόλα αυτά αντιδρά ακόμα προκειμένου να εξισορροπήσει τις αλλαγές αυτές. Ο μεγάλος πλούτος του Αμβρακικού φαίνεται ιδιαίτερα από τα ρινοδέλφινα και τις θαλάσσιες χελώνες Caretta caretta που συνεχίζουν να διαβιούν σε αυτόν και είναι είδη σπάνια, όπως και τα υδρόβια πτηνά.

Τα πετρέλαια του Αιγαίου το διακύβευμα της κρίσης

2011-07-21T03:47:00.000-07:00

του Αριστοτέλη Βασιλάκη
Έχει γραφτεί και έχει ειπωθεί πολλές φορές ότι η «Ελληνική κρίση» είναι κατασκευασμένη και το διακύβευμα της είναι τα πετρέλαια και το φυσικό αέριο του Αιγαίου.
Σύμφωνα με έρευνες 9 τρις εκατομμύρια δολάρια «περιμένουν» στον βυθό του Ελληνικού Αιγαίου. Μόνο που οι μνηστήρες είναι πολλοί και τα διεκδικούν για τον εαυτό τους. Η Ελλάδα βρίσκεται πεσμένη στο καναβάτσο από τις συνέπειες της κρίσης και ο «Υπερατλαντικός» προστάτης μας, ζητά επιτακτικά ν’ ανοίξουν οι πόρτες της χώρας μας ΚΑΙ στην Τουρκία για να συνεκμεταλλευτούμε τον μαύρο χρυσό που κρύβει στα έγκατα του το Αιγαίο.

Κάπως έτσι υποθέτω ότι θα λυθούν όλα τα επιμέρους θέματα όπως αυτό της υφαλοκρηπίδας, των χωρικών υδάτων και κάπως έτσι θα μας «τελειώσουν» και τα casus belli…

Η φόρμουλα για τη συνεκμετάλλευση του πετρελαίου έχει ήδη βρεθεί. 20% από τα έσοδα στην Ελλάδα. 20% στην Τουρκία και 60% σε ένα αμερικανικό κονσόρτσιουμ, το οποίο μαζί με Έλληνες εφοπλιστές θα αναλάβει την εξόρυξη του μαύρου χρυσού.

Μπορεί η Άγκυρα και η Ουάσιγκτον να διαφωνούν για το Ιράκ, το Ιράν, το Ισραήλ ή τις μπίζνες στην κεντρική Ασία, πάντα, όμως, συμφωνούν για το Αιγαίο και το τίμημα που «πρέπει» να πληρώσει η Ελλάδα. Το σκηνικό επαναλαμβάνεται και αυτή την περίοδο, με πρωθυπουργό τον Γιώργο Παπανδρέου, ο οποίος εμφανώς έχει στρέψει το βλέμμα του προς τις ΗΠΑ και το Ισραήλ. Η Ουάσιγκτον προτείνει την εκμετάλλευση του Αιγαίου στα τρία, ενώ η Άγκυρα μας δείχνει τι περίπου διεκδικεί με τη δική της μέθοδο του «τσαμπουκά». Μένει να μάθουμε τι κάνει η Αθήνα. Τι πιστεύει και πώς ακριβώς σκέφτεται να διαχειριστεί τη νέα αυτή φάση για τη διεκδίκηση του Αιγαίου.

Το θέμα δεν αφορά στενά στην ελληνοτουρκική διαφορά συνδέεται με το ενεργειακό παιχνίδι στο οποίο μετέχουν Αμερικανοί, Ρώσοι και Ευρωπαίοι και στο οποίο η Τουρκία μπήκε με μεγάλες αξιώσεις.

Ο Ψυχρός Πόλεμος, τότε που η πολιτική των Αμερικανών αφορούσε στη συνολική αντιπαράθεση με τη σοβιετική Ρωσία, είναι πια μακρινό παρελθόν. Σήμερα, η αντιπαράθεση εστιάζει στα ενεργειακά. Συγκεκριμένα, στην αποτροπή της ενεργειακής συνεργασίας Ευρωπαίων και Ρώσων. Το δε Αιγαίο είναι και πάλι μέρος της αντιπαράθεσης.

Η ωμή αμερικανική τοποθέτηση για τη μοιρασιά των πετρελαίων του Αιγαίου διατυπώνεται την ώρα της οικονομικής κρίσης και του ΔΝΤ. Αυτό που υπονοείται είναι ότι, αφού η Ελλάδα χρωστάει, αφού είναι δέσμια του ΔΝΤ, τη… συμφέρει να εκχωρήσει τον εθνικό της πλούτο. Οι γερμανικές «χοντράδες» του στυλ –«μπατιρο-Έλληνες, πουλήστε την Ακρόπολη και τα νησιά σας»…– φαντάζουν αστεία καφενείου μπροστά στην επίσημη αμερικανική θέση για εκμετάλλευση των πετρελαίων του Αιγαίου κατά 60% απ’ αυτούς, αφού Ελλάδα και Τουρκία έχουν άλυτες διαφορές και η δε Ελλάδα χρωστάει…

Phone-hacking: Dangers lurk for David Cameron

2011-07-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

When bloodless coups come about in dictatorships, often it's when the head of government is away on a foreign visit.

But democracies bring their own dangers for absent political leaders.

If David Cameron had not trekked to Africa, he may as well have hired the vast illuminated advertising space in Piccadilly Circus and adorned it with the legend "government in crisis -official".

But no sooner had he departed than some of his own leading backbenchers were whispering that it looked like he was running away.

Chancellor George Osborne was meant to address the restless membership of the influential 1922 committee of backbench MPs on Monday, but the meeting was scrapped - with members settling for nothing less than an encounter with the prime minister himself on Wednesday.

Labour has been on the front foot, but for that very reason restlessness might not turn to revolt as the Conservatives see the logic in closing ranks.
Febrile atmosphere

But a previous Conservative prime minister, Harold Macmillan, was right to warn of the hazards of "events, dear boy".

It might not take much for some backbenchers to change their view that, grudgingly, David Cameron is an asset - to seeing him as a potential liability.

The outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has already taken a pop at the prime minister and may do so again at the Home Affairs Select Committee later.

When the Murdochs and Rebekah Brooks go before the culture, media and sport committee, some members will be intent on asking questions about Andy Coulson, David Cameron's former communications director, in an attempt to bring the crisis closer to the door of number 10.

Now the febrile atmosphere may dissipate.

But as David Cameron touches down on Tuesday evening, he will find that the bookies are taking bets that he will be gone -permanently - by the weekend.

Far fetched nonsense of course - but a few weeks ago the loss of the country's senior police officer, the resignation of the chief executive of a major newspaper group, the closure of the bestselling Sunday tabloid, and the death of a whistleblower in the hacking scandal would have seemed unthinkable.

So those disgruntled Tory backbenchers will be hoping the prime minister can swiftly get off the back foot.

Syrian troops 'kill civilians in Homs assault'

2011-07-19T04:04:00.001-07:00

Syrian security forces have shot dead several civilians in the city of Homs, eyewitnesses and activists say.

Intense gunfire was reported overnight in Homs, with one resident telling Reuters there were "troops and armoured vehicles in every neighbourhood".

The latest violence is part of a crackdown on the four-month-old anti-government uprising in the country.

International journalists have been denied access to Syria, making it difficult to verify reports.

Residents said at least three people had been killed in attacks on districts across Homs on Tuesday. Activists said at least 10 had died in the fighting overnight.

"The irregular forces with [the troops] are death squads. They have been firing indiscriminately since dawn with rifles and machine guns. No-one can leave their homes," an unnamed resident told Reuters by phone.

It follows a wave of violence in Homs at the weekend.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 30 people were killed in sectarian fighting on Saturday and Sunday, following the discovery of the mutilated bodies of three regime supporters.

The supporters were reported to be Alawites - the minority ruling sect of President Bashar al-Assad.

However, the Syrian National Human Rights Organisation said that only seven people were killed in the weekend attacks, which it said were carried out by security forces.

Human rights groups say that about 1,400 civilians and 350 security forces personnel have died in the four months of protest.

The government blames the unrest on "armed criminal gangs" backed by a foreign conspiracy

Israel troops board Gaza protest boat Dignite-al Karama

2011-07-19T04:03:00.000-07:00

Israeli commandos have boarded a boat trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, the military says.

The Dignite-al Karama, the sole representative of an initial 10-vessel flotilla, had earlier been surrounded by warships and warned to change course.

A military spokeswoman told AFP news agency the boat was being towed towards the Israeli port of Ashdod.

She said the operation to board it had been conducted peacefully.

The Dignite-al Karama is part of Freedom Flotilla II, which has been trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza since the end of June. Flotilla organisers say despite the opening of Gaza's Egyptian border, the territory remains under "unlawful blockade" by the Israelis.

In an earlier statement, the Israeli military said the aid could be delivered without breaching the blockade.

"The Israel navy notified the Al Karama that it is on a route leading to an area under a maritime security blockade off the coast of Gaza, and reminded them any supplies they may have on board may be transferred, legally, through the existing land crossings and the Ashdod port," the statement said.
'No contact'

Protest organiser Julien Rivoire said at least three warships had surrounded the boat and communications had been jammed.

Speaking to AFP from Paris on Tuesday morning, Mr Rivoire said the French-flagged Dignite-al Karama had been stopped about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

"We can't get in touch with them by phone or by Internet," he said.

The activists' Twitter account said the navy asked for their location and they gave it to them. They said four navy ships were following the boat - three flanking their vessel on the left and one on the right.

One activist tweeted that the military had threatened to board the boat if it did not head away from the blockade.
Greek ban

On Monday, Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, a French activist on board the Dignite-al Karam told AFP the boat was only carrying a "symbolic message of peace and hope and love" and Israel had no reason to intercept it.

"We hope that they will not, we don't have a plan but we have a peaceful humanitarian mission. We are a peaceful boat flying a French flag."

Freedom Flotilla II said a ban on flotilla boats leaving Greek ports had stopped many of its vessels sailing. The Greek government said the ban was intended to protect activists.

Earlier this month, the captain of flotilla vessel The Audacity of Hope was arrested in the Greek port of Perama and charged with trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of passengers.

In 2010, nine Turkish activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the lead ship of the first Freedom Flotilla, causing an international outcry.

As a result, Israel eased its blockade on Gaza, which it says is necessary to stop weapons smuggling and put pressure on Hamas.

It increased sanctions on the impoverished Palestinian territory in 2006 after militants captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel tightened them further still a year later when Hamas ousted rival Palestinian organisation Fatah from the territory.

Although the Islamist group won Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006, it refuses to recognise Israel or to renounce violence and is designated in the West as a terror organisation.

Taliban video shows fighters shooting dead 16 Pakistani police officers

2011-07-19T04:01:00.000-07:00

The officers were captured when Taliban fighters crossed from Afghanistan into Pakistan's north-western Dir district in June

Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Monday 18 July 2011 12.45 BST
An Afghan national army soldier chops wood in Kunar province, from where hundreds of Taliban fighters crossed into Pakistan on 1 June. Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

The Taliban have released a video showing fighters shooting dead 16 Pakistani tribal police officers captured in a cross-border raid from Afghanistan last month.

The video, released on Monday, shows the police officers lined up on a hillside with their hands tied behind their backs, standing in front of armed Taliban fighters wearing scarves to hide their faces. One of the insurgents accuses the men of shooting dead six children from Pakistan's Swat valley by firing squad. "They are the enemies of the religion of Allah," the man says of the police officers.

He and several other fighters then open fire on the police officers, who crumple to the ground. One fighter walks down the line shooting the officers in the head.

The video was posted on the LiveLeak video sharing website and included a note saying the police officers were captured when the Taliban staged a cross-border raid from Afghanistan on 1 June in Pakistan's north-western Dir district.

A Pakistani army spokesman has confirmed the contents of the video, and said the Taliban fighters who killed the police officers came from the Swat valley, which used to be controlled by the militants. The Pakistani military launched an offensive in Swat in 2009, but many of the fighters escaped across the border into Afghanistan.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters crossed into Upper Dir on 1 June from Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province. They killed at least 30 members of the security forces over three days of fighting before being forced back across the border by the military, the spokesman said.

The Pakistani military has complained that Afghan and Nato forces have not done enough to target Taliban sanctuaries in Kunar, where the US withdrew most of its forces over the past year.

Afghanistan and the US have criticised Pakistan for not doing enough to target sanctuaries on its side of the border filled with militants who regularly launch attacks against Nato troops in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has also accused Pakistan of firing hundreds of rockets into Kunar over the past few months and killing at least 40 people – an allegation denied by Pakistan.

បើកវគ្គបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលស្ដីពីការប្រយុទ្ធប្រឆាំងទេសចរណ៍ផ្លូវភេទ

2011-07-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ នៅនាយកដ្ឋានប្រឆាំងការជួញដូរមនុស្ស និងការពារអនីតិជន នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ បានបើកវគ្គបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលស្ដីពីការប្រយុទ្ធប្រឆាំងទេសចរណ៍ផ្លូវ ភេទពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងអនីតិជន ក្រោមកិច្ចសហការរវាងអគ្គស្នងការដ្ឋាននគរបាលជាតិកម្ពុជានិង DCI បារាំង ក្រោមអធិបតីលោកជំទាវឧត្ដមសេនីយ៍ឯក អ៊ុន សុគន្ធា អគ្គស្នងការរងតំណាងនាយឧត្ដមសេនីយ៍ នេត សាវឿន អគ្គស្នងការនគរបាលជាតិនិងលោក Mr .Grégoire CHASSING ជាសេនានុព័ន្ធ អមស្ថានទូតបារាំង ព្រមទាំងមន្ដ្រីជំនាយញមួយចំនួនទៀត។

សិក្ខាកាមដែលចូលរួមមកពីនាយកដ្ឋានប្រឆាំងការជួញដូរមនុស្ស៤នាក់ , ស្នងការដ្ឋាននគរបាលរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ៤នាក់ , ស្នងការដ្ឋាននគរបាលខេត្ដកណ្ដាល៤នាក់ និងនាយកដ្ឋាននគរបាលទេសចរ៣នាក់ផងដែរសរុបទាំងអស់១៥នាក់។

ក្នុងការបើកវគ្គបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលនេះមានរយៈពេលចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី៤ កក្កដា ដល់ថ្ងៃទី៨ កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១១៕

វីវ៉ាបុកឆាលីស្លាប់១របួស៤នាក់នៅព្រែកឯង

2011-07-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ បុរសម្នាក់បានស្លាប់នៅនឹងកន្លែងកើតហេតុ ចំណែក៤នាក់ទៀតរងរបួសធ្ងន់ស្រាល ដោយសារម៉ូតូ និងម៉ូតូបុកគ្នាពេញទំហឹងកាលពីយប់ថ្ងៃទី៣ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ វោលម៉ោង២១ និង១០នាទី នៅតាមបណ្ដោយផ្លូវជាតិលេខ១ ក្នុងភូមិទួលតាចាន់ សង្កាត់ព្រែកឯង ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ ។

ជន រងគ្រោះដែលជិះម៉ូតូវីវ៉ាពណ៌ខ្មៅ ឌុបគ្នា៣នាក់ ពាក់ស្លាកលេខ ធ-៧៤៣៧ ភព១ មាន ១-ឈ្មោះ ដុង កក្កដា ភេទ ប្រុស អាយុ២០ឆ្នាំ មុខរបរជាជាងដែកស្លាប់នៅនឹងកន្លែងកើតហេតុ, ២-ឈ្មោះ ណយ ភេទប្រុស អាយុ២៣ឆ្នាំ មុខរបរ ជាជាងដែក និងម្នាក់ទៀត មិនស្គាល់ ឈ្មោះឡើយ តែសមត្ថកិច្ចឱ្យដឹងថា ជន រងគ្រោះដែលជិះម៉ូតូវីវ៉ាទាំង៣នាក់ខាង លើនេះ មានទីលំនៅ ភូមិទួលតាចាន់ សង្កាត់ព្រែកឯង ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ ។ ចំណែក ជនរងគ្រោះ២នាក់ទៀត ជិះម៉ូម៉ាកឆាលី មានឈ្មោះ ទី ផា ភេទប្រុស អាយុ ១៥ឆ្នាំ ជាសិស្សសាលា មានទីលំនៅ ភូមិ ចុងព្រែក សង្កាត់ព្រែកឯង ខណ្ឌ មានជ័យរងរបួសធ្ងន់ និងម្នាក់ទៀតដែល រួមដំណើរជាមួយរងរបួសស្រាល មិន ត្រូវបានស្គាល់ឈ្មោះឡើយ ។

សមត្ថ កិច្ចឱ្យដឹងថា បើតាមសាក្សី ដែលឃើញហេតុការណ៍បានរៀបរាប់ថា មុនពេលជួបគ្រោះថ្នាក់ ជនរងគ្រោះ២ នាក់ ដែលជិះម៉ូតូម៉ាកឆាលីរងរបួសធ្ងន់ ម្នាក់ ស្រាលម្នាក់នេះ គឺបើកបរឌុបគ្នា ក្នុងទិសដៅពីភ្នំពេញទៅកៀនស្វាយ ដោយ បើកបរប្រកាន់ស្ដាំរបស់ខ្លួន ធ្វើដំណើរ លើចំណែកផ្លូវសម្រាប់ម៉ូតូ។ ពេលទៅ ដល់ចំណុចកើតហេតុ ស្រាប់តែជនរង គ្រោះជិះម៉ូតូម៉ាកវីវ៉ាឌុបគ្នា៣នាក់ ក្នុងទិសដៅផ្ទុយគ្នាពីកៀនស្វាយមកភ្នំពេញ ប៉ុន្ដែជនរងគ្រោះទាំង៣នាក់នេះ ហាក់ ដូចជាស្រវឹង គឺបើកបរមិនប្រកាន់ស្ដាំឡើយ។

សមត្ថ កិច្ចបានឱ្យដឹងបន្ដទៀតថា ពេលនោះដោយឃើញអ្នកជិះម៉ូតូវីវ៉ា បើកបរមិនប្រុងប្រយ័ត្នជនរងគ្រោះជិះម៉ូតូឆាលី ក៏ព្យាយាមបើកគេចមកស្ដាំដៃរបស់ខ្លួនបន្ថែមទៀត តែមិនផុតនោះឡើយ ធ្វើឱ្យអ្នកជិះម៉ូតូវីវ៉ាមកបុកចំពីមុខពេញទំហឹង លាន់ដូចគ្រាប់ផ្ទុះបង្កការភ្ញាក់ផ្អើល ដល់អ្នកដំណើរនិងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋទាំងយប់តែម្ដង។ ក្រោយកើតហេតុអ្នកជិះម៉ូតូ វីវ៉ាម្នាក់ដែលបើកមកបុកគេស្លាប់នៅ និងកន្លែងកើតហេតុ ចំណែក២នាក់ទៀត រងរបួសធ្ងន់ ។ រីឯអ្នកជិះម៉ូតូឆាលីក៏រង របួសធ្ងន់ស្រាលផងដែរ ។ ជនរងគ្រោះ ទាំងសងខាង ត្រូវបានបញ្ជូនមកសង្គ្រោះ នៅពហុព្យាបាលច្បារអំពៅ និងខ្លះទៀត បញ្ជូនមកសង្គ្រោះនៅមន្ទីរពេទ្យបង្អែក មានជ័យ ។

ម៉ូ តូជនរងគ្រោះទាំងសងខាងត្រូវ សមត្ថកិច្ចនគរបាលចរាចរជើងគោក ក្រុង យកមករក្សាទុក ដើម្បីដោះស្រាយ តាមផ្លូវច្បាប់ ។

ករណី គ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរខាងលើនេះ នគរបាលចរាចរបានឱ្យដឹងថា កើតឡើងដោយការបើកបរផឹកគ្រឿងស្រវឹង ហើយបើកបរមិនប្រុងប្រយ័ត្ន មិនប្រកាន់ស្ដាំ គឺជាដើមហេតុនៃការបង្កគ្រោះ ថ្នាក់ចរាចរដល់អ្នកដទៃ៕

សិស្សវិទ្យាល័យស៊ីសុវត្ថិម្នាក់គ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរអាក់ខានចូលប្រឡងឌីប្លូម

2011-07-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ ករណីគ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរមួយរវាងម៉ូតូនឹងម៉ូតូបណ្ដាលឱ្យសិស្ស វិទ្យាល័យព្រះស៊ីសុវត្ថិម្នាក់រងរបួសធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ខណៈដែលសិស្សស្រីរូបនោះជិះម៉ូតូចេញពីផ្ទះ ឆ្ពោះទៅមណ្ឌលប្រឡងនៅអនុវិទ្យាល័យចតុមុខ ។

ហេតុ ការណ៍គ្រោះថ្នាក់ចរាចរនេះបានកើតឡើងនៅវេលាម៉ោង៦ព្រឹក ថ្ងៃទី៤ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ នៅស្ដុបអតីត រោងភាពយន្ដលុច្ស មហាវិថីព្រះនរោត្ដម កែងផ្លូវលេខ១៥៤ សង្កាត់ជ័យជម្នះ ខណ្ឌ ដូនពេញ ។

ដោយ ឡែកជនរងគ្រោះឈ្មោះ ផាច គីមលី ភេទស្រី អាយុ១៥ឆ្នាំ ជាសិស្សវិទ្យាល័យព្រះស៊ីសុវត្ថិស្នាក់នៅផ្ទះលេខ ៤៨ ផ្លូវលេខ១៤៤ សង្កាត់ផ្សារកណ្ដាល ១ ខណ្ឌដូនពេញ។

សាក្សី នៅកន្លែងកើតហេតុបានប្រាប់ឱ្យដឹងថា មុនពេលកើតហេតុ ជនរងគ្រោះជិះម៉ូតូមកពីទិសខាងកើតបត់ឡើងទៅត្បូងវិញ តាមផ្លូវព្រះនរោត្ដម ហើយជនរងគ្រោះនោះបត់យឺតៗ ស្រាប់តែគេឃើញម៉ូតូបង្កហេតុនោះ មិនដឹងជិះចេញពីណាមកទេ ក៏បុកគ្នាឮសូរប្រាវ តែម្ដងទៅ។

នគរបាល បានឱ្យដឹងថា ករណីនេះ ភាគីទាំងសងខាងបានសម្របសម្រួលគ្នា បញ្ចប់នៅកន្លែងកើតហេតុ។ ប៉ុន្ដែជនរងគ្រោះត្រូវរថយន្ដសាមុយដឹកយកទៅសង្គ្រោះនៅមន្ទីរ ពេទ្យ ព្រោះជនរងគ្រោះមានរបួសត្រង់មាត់។

ស្ដ្រី ជាម្ដាយក្មេងស្រីរងគ្រោះបានឱ្យ ដឹងថា កូនស្រីរបស់គាត់ជិះម៉ូតូទៅប្រឡង នៅអនុវិទ្យាល័យចតុមុខ មិនគួរជួបហេតុ ការណ៍បែបនេះឡើយ ហើយការប្រឡង គឺស្វាមីគាត់បានប្រាប់ទៅខាងមណ្ឌលប្រឡងរួចរាល់ហើយ ប៉ុន្ដែមិនដឹងថា ចំណាត់ការរបស់គណៈកម្មការប្រឡង គិតយ៉ាងណានោះទេ។

គួរ បញ្ជាក់ថា បច្ចុប្បន្នក្មេងស្រីរងគ្រោះកំពុងសំរាកព្យាបាលនៅគ្លីនិក គឹម សុង ខណ្ឌទួលគោក រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ៕

លោក គីម រិទ្ធី បិទវគ្គកសិកម្មនិង កុំព្យូទ័រនៅស្រុកល្វាឯម ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល

2011-07-04T09:20:00.001-07:00

ខេ ត្ដកណ្ដាល ៖ លោក គីម រិទ្ធីជំនួយការសម្ដេចអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន និងជាប្រធានសមាគមយុវជនកម្ពុជា ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល រួមដំណើរដោយមន្ដ្រីរាជការអ្នកមុខអ្នកការ សាស្ដ្រាចារ្យ គ្រូជំនាញជាច្រើនរូបទៀតបានអញ្ជើញជាអធិបតីក្នុងពិធីបិទវគ្គ បណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលជំនាញ ផ្នែកកសិកម្ម និងកុំព្យូទ័រ ស្ថិតក្នុងស្រុកល្វាឯម ខេត្ដកណ្ដាល។

លោក ប៊ិន បញ្ញា ប្រធានក្រុមការងារយុវជនស្រុកល្វាឯម ជាប្រធានគ្រប់គ្រងវគ្គបានបញ្ជាក់ថា វគ្គសិក្សាជំនាញបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលលើផ្នែកកសិកម្ម មានបង្កើនវ៉ាក់សាំង ធម្មជាតិនិងវិធីសាស្ដ្រ ចំណីសត្វដោយខ្លួនឯង តាមធម្មជាតិ ក្នុងនោះដែរមានបន្ថែមលើជំនាញចិញ្ចឹម ជ្រូក អន្ទង់ ត្រី និងបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលកុំព្យូទ័រ ដែលមានរយៈពេល២១ថ្ងៃនិងមានសិក្ខាកាមចូលរួមសិក្សា១០០នាក់ ជាយុវជនមកពី១៦ឃុំ ស្ថិតក្នុងស្រុកល្វាឯម ខេត្ដ កណ្ដាល ។

លោក ប្រធានក្រុមការងារយុវជន ស្រុកបានបន្ថែមថា ដោយបានទទួលបទបញ្ជាពីសំណាក់លោក គឹម រិទ្ធី យកមកដឹកនាំបញ្ជាដល់យុវជនក្នុងស្រុកល្វាឯមជាប្រចាំមកនោះ យុវជនទាំងអស់បានយកចិត្ដទុកដាក់អនុវត្ដយ៉ាងយកចិត្ដទុកដាក់ បំផុតធ្វើឱ្យយុវជនទាំងអស់ បានទទួលនូវលទ្ធផលផ្លែផ្កាគួរជាទីមោទន។ ជាក់ស្ដែងក្នុងស្រុកល្វាឯម ដោយមានការយកចិត្ដទុកដាក់ពីលោកប្រធានសមាគមខេត្ដជាប្រចាំនោះ ធ្វើឱ្យយុវជនក្នុងស្រុកល្វាកឯមបានទទួលនូវវគ្គសិក្សាមុខ ជំនាញលើផ្នែកបច្ចេកវិជ្ជានិងផ្នែកកសិកម្មជាច្រើនលើកច្រើនសា ។

លោក ហែន ចិន្ថា ជាគ្រូផ្នែកកសិកម្ម និងគ្រូផ្នែកកុំព្យូទ័របានបញ្ជាក់ឱ្យ ដឹងថា ដោយមានការអំពាវនាវនិងអញ្ជើញពីសំណាក់ លោក គីម រិទ្ធី ឱ្យគ្រូជំនាញទាំងពីរផ្នែកជួយបង្ហាត់បង្រៀនបណ្ដុះបណ្ដាលដល់យុ វជនរបស់លោកដើម្បីឱ្យយុវជនទាំងអស់ចេះដឹងនូវមុខវិជ្ជានេះយក ទៅអនុវត្ដជាក់ស្ដែងដើម្បីរកប្រាក់ចំណូលបន្ថែមមកផ្គត់ផ្គង់ ក្នុងគ្រួសារឱ្យកាន់តែមានកម្រិតធូរធារបន្ថែមទៀត។

មាន មតិសំណេះសំណាលក្នុងពិធីនេះដែរលោក គីម រិទ្ធី បានកោតសរសើរ និងវាយតម្លៃខ្ពស់ដល់យុវជនទាំងអស់ដែលបានខិតខំ យកចិត្ដទុកដាក់ខិតខំសិក្សាលើ មុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីរផ្នែករហូតដល់បានទទួលចំណេះដឹងច្បាស់លាស់យ៉ាង ជោគជ័យ សម្រាប់យកទៅអនុវត្ដជាក់ស្ដែងឱ្យមានប្រសិទ្ធភាពខ្ពស់ និងទទួលយកផលប្រយោជន៍បានពីការខិតខំសិក្សានេះ យកទៅសិក្សាបន្ដលើមុខវិជ្ជាផ្សេងទៀត ដើម្បីយកកំរៃ នេះទៅផ្គត់ផ្គង់ក្នុងគ្រួសារជាចំណែកមួយដ៏សំខាន់ក្នុងការជួយ ជំរុញខ្លួននិងក្រុមគ្រួសារឱ្យកាន់តែមានការរីកចម្រើនតទៅមុខទៀត ។

លោក បានបន្ថែមថា គោលបំណងដែលលោកបានអញ្ជើញអ្នកជំនាញមកជួបហ្វឹកហ្វាត់ផ្សេងៗ ទៀត រាប់បញ្ចូលទាំងដំណាំស្រូវផងដែរដល់យុវជននេះ ដើម្បីប្រែក្លាយយុវជនឱ្យមានការងារធ្វើព្រោះជំនាញផ្នែកកសិកម្ម ជាចម្បងនៃភាពលូតលាស់ដ៏ធំមួយសម្រាប់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ស្របតាមអនុសាសន៍របស់សម្ដេចអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន ដែលជំរុញឱ្យកម្ពុជានាំចេញនូវផលិតផល ស្រូវឆ្នាំ២០១៥នេះកម្ពុជាមានសន្ទុះជាប់ចំណាត់ថ្នាក់លេខ ១ប្រចាំប្រទេសទូទាំងពិភពលោក៕

លោកបណ្ឌិត ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត ចូលរួមរំលឹកខួបលើកទី២ ក្រុមហ៊ុន K.LINK កម្ពុជា

2011-07-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ កាលពីល្ងាចថ្ងៃទី២ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ លោកបណ្ឌិត ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត បានចូលរួមជាអធិបតីក្នុងពិធីរំលឹកខួបលើកទី២ នៃការបង្កើតក្រុមហ៊ុន K.Link កម្ពុជាដែលប្រព្រឹត្ដទៅនៅមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលកោះពេជ្រ។

ក្នុង ឱកាសនោះលោក កូយ ឡេប៉ូ អគ្គនាយកក្រុមហ៊ុន K.Link កម្ពុជាបានឱ្យដឹងថា ក្នុងអំឡុងនៃការបង្កើតក្រុមហ៊ុន K.Link, Angel Boss group នាឆ្នាំ ២០០៩ K.Link មានទស្សនវិស័យនិងបេសកកម្មធំៗ៣យ៉ាងដើម្បីលើកកម្ពស់សុខុមាលភាព កាត់បន្ថយភាពក្រីក្រ និងរួមចំណែកអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ប្រទេសជាតិ ស្របតាមគោលនយោបាយរបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល តាមរយៈអាជីវកម្មបណ្ដាញទីផ្សារ បែបទំនើបទាន់សម័យ (Network Marke- ting Business) ឬអាជីវកម្មលក់ផ្ទាល់ ដែលជាប់លំដាប់ថ្នាក់ពិភពលោក ។

រហូត ដល់ពេលនេះខេ-លីងអន្ដរជាតិ បានពង្រីកទីផ្សារជាង៥០ប្រទេសលើពិភពលោក រួមមានសហភាពអឺរ៉ុបនិងអាស៊ី ដោយខេ-លីងបានផ្ដល់ឱកាសទទួលនូវចំណេះដឹងចំណេះធ្វើពិតប្រាកដ ក្នុងការកសាងធនធានមនុស្សគ្រប់ស្រទាប់ថ្នាក់។ ដោយគ្មានការបង់ប្រាក់ និងគ្មានភាពរើសអើសគ្រាន់តែចូលរួមសហការជាដៃគូរបស់ក្រុម ហ៊ុនខេ-លីងនោះ លោកអ្នកអាចជួយដល់ខ្លួនឯង និងដល់អ្នកដទៃ តាមការកសាងបណ្ដាញពីមនុស្សម្នាក់ទៅមនុស្សម្នាក់ ដោយគ្មានដែនកំណត់ទៅគ្រប់ទិសទី។ ទាំងក្នុងប្រទេសនិងក្រៅប្រទេសដោយមាន ផលិតផល អាហារបំប៉នបែបធម្មជាតិ ដែលមានគុណភាពខ្ពស់ ដែលធ្វើឱ្យបង ប្អូនមានសុខភាពនិងជីវិតល្អប្រសើរឡើង។

បន្ទាប់ មក លោកបណ្ឌិត ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត មានមតិនិងចំណាប់អារម្មណ៍ថា ខ្ញុំសូមចូលរួមអបអរសាទរជាមួយគណៈគ្រប់គ្រងនិងសហការព្រមទាំង សមាជិក សមាជិកានៃក្រុមហ៊ុនខេ-លីងកម្ពុជា ចំពោះខួបលើកទី២ នៃមហាជោគជ័យរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន ក្នុងរយៈកាល ២ឆ្នាំកន្លងទៅនេះ ដែលជាសមិទ្ធផលកើតចេញពីកិច្ចខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងរវាងគណៈ គ្រប់គ្រងនិងបុគ្គលិកក្រុមហ៊ុនជាមួយនឹងសមាជិកសមាជិកាដែលជាបណ្ដាញ អាជីវករទីផ្សារនៅកម្ពុជា។ ខ្ញុំក៏សូមសំដែងនូវមោទនភាពផងដែរ ចំពោះជោគជ័យនៃការពង្រីកបណ្ដាញទីផ្សារនៅក្នុងបណ្ដាប្រទេសចំនួន ៥០ប្រទេសលើសកលលោក ហើយក្នុងនោះកម្ពុជាក៏បានក្លាយជាទីផ្សារជំនួញផងដែររបស់ខេ -លីង ។

ទន្ទឹម នឹងសេដ្ឋកិច្ចពិភពលោកកំពុងវិវត្ដន៍ទៅរកភាពល្អប្រសើរ និងមានលំនឹងបន្ដិចម្ដងៗ ដែលជាសញ្ញានៃការវិលត្រឡប់ទៅរកស្ថានភាពសេដ្ឋកិច្ចរីក ចម្រើនឡើងវិញ បន្ទាប់ពីត្រូវបានធ្លាក់ចុះយ៉ាងគំហុកនាចុងឆ្នាំ២០០៨។ ខណៈនោះក្រុមហ៊ុន K.Link Angel Boss Group Co.LTD ឬ ហៅកាត់ថា K.Link កម្ពុជាបានចាប់ផ្ដើមដំណើរការទីផ្សាររបស់ខ្លួននៅក្នុងព្រះ រាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា នៅឆ្នាំបន្ទាប់ ក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០០៩ ដែលនេះ ក៏ជាការបង្កើតនូវឱកាសមួយផងដែរ សម្រាប់ទីផ្សារការងារដល់កម្ពុជា ។ ជា ការពិតណាស់ សេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៃប្រទេសជាតិមួយអាចមានលំនឹងទៅបាន អាស្រ័យលើកត្ដាច្រើនយ៉ាងដែលក្នុងនោះវិស័យវិនិយោគឯកជន និងការបង្កើតទីផ្សារការងារ ជាផ្នែកមួយដែលត្រូវជំរុញ និងមិនអាចខ្វះបានផងដែរ សម្រាប់ចូលរួមកាត់បន្ថយភាពក្រីក្ររបស់ប្រជាជននិងការលើក កម្ពស់សេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាតិ៕

នគរបាលចរាចររាជធានីទទួលការឧបត្ថម្ភពីក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវីស៊ីខបភើរេសិន

2011-07-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ នគរបាលចរាចរផ្លូវគោក រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ និងអតិថិជនអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់ទឹកបរិសុទ្ធវីតាល់ទទួលបានការ ឧបត្ថម្ភជាអាវភ្លៀងចំនួន១០០០អាវ ពីក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវីស៊ី ខបភើរេសិន ដែលផលិត និងចែកចាយទឹកបរិសុទ្ធវីតាល់ប្រកបដោយគុណភាព និងឈានមុខនៅ កម្ពុជា។ ពិធីប្រគល់អំណោយប្រព្រឹត្ដទៅកាលពីល្ងាចចុងសបា្ដហ៍មុននេះ នៅភោជនីយដ្ឋានវ័នម័រ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។

ក្រោម ការដឹកនាំរបស់លោកជំទាវ ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណា អគ្គនាយិកាក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវី ស៊ី ខបភើរេសិន តំណាងដោយលោក ឧកញ៉ា ឡាវ វ៉ាន់ នាយកគ្រប់គ្រងក្រុម ហ៊ុនអិនវីស៊ី ខបភើរេសិន បានថ្លែងឱ្យ ដឹងថា ក្រុមហ៊ុនមានគោលនយោបាយ ច្បាស់លាស់ ក្នុងការបម្រើសកម្មភាព សង្គមចាប់តាំងពីក្រុមហ៊ុនសម្ពោធនៅថ្ងៃទី៧ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១០រួចមកក្រុមហ៊ុនបានបំពេញកាតព្វកិច្ច និងអនុវត្ដ តាមទិសដៅរបស់ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំក្រុមហ៊ុនដូចជា ៖ ការឧបត្ថម្ភដល់កុមារ និងសិស្ស ខ្វះលទ្ធភាពនៅគំនរសំរាមស្ទឹងមានជ័យ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៤ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១១, ឧបត្ថម្ភទឹកប្រាក់ ១០.០០០ដុល្លារអាមេ រិកដល់កាកបាទក្រហមកម្ពុជាក្នុងទិវាពិភពលោកកាកបាទក្រហមអឌ្ឍ ច័ន្ទ ក្រហមខួបលើកទី១៤៧ និង១៤៨ ទាំង ក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១០ និងឆ្នាំ២០១១។

លោក បានបន្ដទៀតថា ក្រៅពីនេះ ក្រុមហ៊ុនបានផ្ដល់វិភាគទាន៥.០០០ ដុល្លារអាមេរិកដល់ជនរងគ្រោះក្នុង ឧបទ្ទវហេតុកោះពេជ្រក្នុងពិធីបុណ្យ អុំទូកឆ្នាំ២០១០, ឧបត្ថម្ភទឹកប្រាក់ ៨.០០០ដុល្លារអាមេរិក ដល់សមរភូមិមុខតាមរយៈមូលនិធិបាយ័នកាលពីខែ មករា ឆ្នាំ២០១១, និងចុងក្រោយឧបត្ថម្ភ រថយន្ដ១៥កៅអីចំនួន២គ្រឿងប្រគេនអគ្គាធិការដ្ឋានពុទ្ធិកសិក្សា ជាតិតាមរយៈការដកប្រាក់ចេញ២៥រៀលរបស់ខ្លួនរាល់ការលក់១ដបផង ដែរ ។

លោក វរសេនីយ៍ត្រី ចេវ ហាក់ នាយរងការិយាល័យចរាចរផ្លូវគោករាជធានី ភ្នំពេញបានឱ្យដឹងដែរថា ក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវី ស៊ី ខបភើរេសិនដែលលក់ទឹកបរិសុទ្ធ វីតាល់ចំណេញបាន២៥រៀលក្នុង១ដប ហើយឆ្លៀតទិញសម្ភារៈដើម្បីផ្គត់ផ្គង់ដល់កម្លាំងនគរបាល ពីព្រោះនគរបាល ខិតខំធ្វើការទាំងក្ដៅទាំងរងានៅជាប់នឹងថ្នល់រហូត។ ក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវីស៊ី ដែលផលិត និងចែកចាយទឹកបរិសុទ្ធវីតាល់ នាំមុនគេមួយបានផ្ដល់អំណោដល់នគរ ចរាចរចំនឹងកាលៈទេសៈ ពោលគឺរដូវ ភ្លៀងធ្លាក់តែម្ដង។ នេះជាកាយវិការឆ្លុះ បញ្ចាំង និងជាសក្ខីភាពក្នុងការជួយរំលែកទុក្ខលំបាកដល់កម្លាំងនគរបាល ចរាចរ ។

លោក ក៏បានអំពាវនាវដល់ក្រុមហ៊ុនដទៃទៀតគួរតែជួយរំលែកដល់កម្លាំង នគរបាលដូចក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវីស៊ី ខបភើរេ សិននេះ ហើយមិនត្រឹមតែកម្លាំងនគរបាលចរាចរប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ សូម្បីតែជនរង គ្រោះដោយគ្រោះមហន្ដរាយ កុមារកំព្រា ជនក្រីក្រឯទៀត ក៏ជួយចែករំលែកដល់ពួកគេផងដែរ។ ក្រុមហ៊ុនអិនវីស៊ី ខប ភើរេសិនមិនមែនឧបត្ថម្ភដល់កម្លាំង នគរបាលចរាចរនៅរាជធានីភ្នំពេញតែមួយប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ ក្រុមហ៊ុនគ្រោងនឹងឧបត្ថម្ភដល់នគរបាលចរាចរនៅទូទាំងប្រទេសទៀតផង ៕

អ្នកញៀនកន្ទុយលេខ១២នាក់ត្រូវសមត្ថកិច្ចចាប់ខ្លួននៅខណ្ឌដូនពេញ

2011-07-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំ ពេញៈ កាលពីវេលាម៉ោង១៥និង៣០នាទីថ្ងៃទី៤ខែកក្កដាឆ្នាំ២០១១ គណៈបញ្ជាការឯកភាពខណ្ឌដូនពេញ ដឹកនាំដោយលោកសុខសម្បត្តិ អភិបាលនៃគណៈអភិបាលខណ្ឌបានឆ្មក់ចូល ក្រសោបទីតាំងលួចកត់កន្ទុយលេខនៅផ្ទះលេខ១០បេ ផ្លូលេខ៦១ សង្កាត់ស្រះចក ខណ្ឌដូនពេញ បានឃាត់ខ្លួនមនុស្ស១២នាក់រួមនឹងមេកន្ទុយលេខផងដែរ ។

អ្នក ញៀនកន្ទុយលេខទាំង១២នាក់ត្រូវបានបញ្ជូនទៅកាន់អធិការដ្ឋាន នគរបាលខណ្ឌដូនពេញដើម្បីធ្វើការសាកសួរនិងកសាងសំណុំរឿងបញ្ជូនទៅ តុលាការ ។

គួរ បញ្ជាក់ថា កន្ទុយលេខត្រូវបាននឹងកំពុងរីកដាលឡើងវិញហើយ នៅបណ្តាខណ្ឌមួយចំនួន ហើយក្នុងខណ្ឌទាំងនោះ គេពុំទាន់ឃើញអភិបាលខណ្ឌណាម្នាក់ចាត់វិធានការណ៍ដូចខណ្ឌដូនពេញ ឡើយ៕

សមត្ថកិច្ចកំពុងឆែកឆេរផ្ទះលក់ប្រដាប់ភេទសិប្បនិមិ្មតនៅក្បែរផ្សារអូរឫស្សី

2011-07-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ នៅវេលាម៉ោង៤រសៀលថ្ងៃទី៤ កក្កដា ២០១១ នេះ សមត្ថកិច្ចនគរបាលការិយាល័យប្រឆាំងការជួញដូរមនុស្ស និងការពារអនីតិជន បានចុះទៅឆែកឆេរហាងឧសថបូរាណចិនយីហោ ស៊ុន អ៊ីងហួរ មានទីតាំងនៅផ្ទះលេខ២៧៦-២៧៨ ផ្លូវលេខ២១៧ សង្កាត់អូរឫស្សី២ ខណ្ឌ៧មករា។

សមត្ថកិច្ចកំពុងឆែកឆេរ និងរឹបអូសបានប្រដាប់សិប្បនិម្មិតបុរស និងស្ត្រី រួមនឹងថ្នាំសម្រើបជាច្រើន ៕

Issue of the week: Perils and joys of love out of doors

2011-06-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

If your sex life is usually confined to the bedroom, making love in the great outdoors can add a little adventure.

There are plenty of romantic places to choose from... on the beach, in the country, or even in your back garden.

Be prepared

Wear clothing that's easy to remove or push to one side, so you don't have to to strip off completely.

Parts of the skin that aren't often exposed to the sun can burn easily so use a high factor sun cream on areas such as your breasts and genitals.

Be aware suntan lotions are usually oil-based so wash your hands before using a condom or it might break or split.

To stop insects biting you in sensitive spots take along a rug.

On the beach

Making love on the beach sounds very erotic, but sand gets everywhere.

If you're prone to getting cystitis, this may not be the perfect outdoor spot for you.

And it's important to keep hydrated while in the sun as not drinking enough water can also bring on symptoms.

But for all of us, odd grains of sandcan make sex a traumatic, rather than a pleasurable, experience.

In the sea

If making love in the water floats your boat then be aware that chemicals in swimming pools may cause genital irritation.

It's also more difficult to keep a condom on under water.

Getting together

Some couples like to watch others having sex outdoors or like others to watch them.

It's often called dogging and if this kind of exhibitionism interests you then there are many websites listing locations.

Is it legal?

It is not against the law to have sex outdoors but you can get in trouble with the law if an innocent passerby spots you and is offended.

That is why it's important to be discreet, even in your own garden.

Australian man killed gay housemate over sexual advances

2011-06-09T21:21:00.001-07:00

An Australian man killed his gay housemate when the man made drunken sexual advances to him, a court has heard.

Aaron James Johnstone, 29, admits attacking 46-year-old Philip Higgins at their Seaford home in September 2006 but denies he intended to kill him, AAP reports.

Johnstone claims he “lost it” when Higgins drunkenly propositioned him for oral sex and said this was not the first time his housemate had made advances to him.

Prosecutor Mark Rochford SC said Johnstone had carried out a sustained attack on the older man, beating him with an 8kg platypus statue and an office chair.

Higgins suffered numerous injuries, including a fractured bone in his neck and head wounds.

When he was arrested, Johnstone told police that Higgins had come out of a bedroom and suggested that the pair have oral sex.

He said he then began hitting and kicking Higgins before dropping the statue on him.

Mr Rochford said Johnstone’s actions showed he intended to kill or seriously injure Higgins.

Johnstone’s lawyer Paul Desmond said: “The evidence will show that Higgins propositioned Johnstone in his drunken state.”

Interview: Branded a liar by UK authorities, the Ugandan lesbian outed in a national newspaper

2011-06-09T21:18:00.001-07:00

Ugandan lesbian Betty Tibakawa has been branded three times. Twice, physically with a flat iron full of hot charcoal, in a brutal homophobic assault in Uganda which left her with permanent scars on her inner thighs. The third occasion took place here in the UK, where she has now been branded again, as a liar.

There’s something desperate about the UK Border Agency’s case, in which Betty is not the victim of the violent homophobia which is known to be legally endemic in Uganda, but rather, is lying to gain asylum after somehow accidentally branding not one, but both, of her inner thighs. The case against her rides on supposed inconsistencies in her testimony, leading the UKBA to deny that she has any credibility whatsoever, concluding, against a barrage of evidence, that there is no “prospect … that Ms Tibakawa will be exposed to a real risk of persecution on her return to Uganda”. Apart from the torture that she must have accidentally done to herself, that is. That’s not to mention the exposure in Ugandan national tabloid Red Pepper, describing Betty as an activist likely to recruit young girls to lesbianism.

When I finally meet Betty, I begin to wonder what reason this charismatic, strong young woman may have had to leave Uganda if she were heterosexual. To confront the merciless hordes of the ‘keep them out’ brigade is no picnic even as a progressive British citizen. For a 22-year-old Ugandan with no previous knowledge of the British legal system, it’s a nightmare.

Her detention centre, Yarl’s Wood, is a prison for the disenfranchised that, through little more than a slick of fresh paint on the walls, attempts to masquerade as a kind of half-way house. “Every night there is a deportation,” says Betty, “women screaming… some just give up. The system is designed to wear you down so you go back.” But for homosexual Ugandans like Betty, going back isn’t a viable option.

I ask Betty how she would feel if she were deported back to Uganda. She becomes emphatic: “I can’t go back… I just can’t go back… You can’t get a job if you’re a lesbian! No one will employ you… you’re risking losing your education; you’re risking your whole life really. Your friends, none of your friends will talk to you. Imagine you’re a teacher… who’s going to bring their kids in school for you to teach them? All they’ll think about is you’re going to tell them to become lesbian.”

This is the human face of asylum. The aspirational young woman who had held hopes for a bright future in Uganda waiting in a detention centre as others decide her fate. A teenager who enjoyed art, geography and history at school. Who was a pretty damn good volleyball player. She tells me: “I would have moved into playing for a national team if I had stayed. I was the one who made the points.” She mentions her place on a procurement course in the business department of Makerere University, a place that, due to the attack, she wasn’t able to take up.

Betty now has no relationship with her family, but is still desperately proud of her role in “helping to bring up my little sisters and my little brothers. Helping my mum out. ‘Cause my mum is a single mum, and she had to work to provide for all of us.” Subsequent to the attack and two-month bed-bound recovery, a trip with her mother to England left her homeless, stranded, and permanently disowned. Her crime? Coming out as lesbian.

Betty’s fears of return are rooted in a short lifetime’s experience of legal oppression. She was forcibly separated from her first girlfriend, Denise. When Betty speaks of Denise, her voice becomes audibly distressed. It is obvious that the memories still hurt. “Her parents found out about her and me. And when they did, when her parents met me, they had to… they kind of like lashed at me… she said it was me who, you know, made her lesbian or, you know, start having sex with girls. They told me to stop talking to her and stop contacting her.”

The second relationship acted as a catalyst, setting in motion the traumatic series of events that eventually led Betty to the UK. An initially secretive liaison with a girl named Sharon, in Entebbe, where Betty was living, became slightly more open. “We’d go swimming at the beach, we’d hold hands, we’d kiss, we’d chill together. Of course people would look at us, and they would say cuss words at us. They’d say we were disgusting, why don’t we think of doing something else, apart from, you know, wasting time. We were scared, we were really scared.”

Underlying Betty’s history is a testimony to the power of supposition. In Uganda rumours of homosexuality, once started, follow their subject around. “There’s some horrible stuff. It just carries on and carries on and carries on.” Betty doesn’t know how her attackers heard about her girlfriend Sharon. “I don’t know how they knew her, but we used to go to the beach. It was the same beach, Anderita beach.” The attackers knew Betty by reputation, but she did not know them.

In the course of applying for asylum, Betty has been forced to relive the minute details of her assault again and again. We speak of it briefly. “After the rain had stopped, I just decided to take a walk down the beach. I’d been walking on my own, and in the opposite direction three men are coming towards me. One of them called me a ‘lesbian bitch’ and smacked me across my face. There was no one on the beach. Anyway they, hit me, they smacked me, they dragged me to the warehouse like up the hill. Two of them pinned me down. One held my hands and the other held my legs… and burned me, on my thigh, and then I passed out.”

It’s not difficult to read between the lines of the UKBA narrative. Unless an asylum claimant has perfect recall, something few possess, she is utterly discredited. The letters from previous girlfriends, letters from parents worried about their daughter’s ‘initiation’ into lesbianism, the outing in a homophobic national paper, the evidence that she has, indeed, been disowned by her family, are, according to the UKBA, scant support for a claim of legitimate asylum on grounds of sexuality. One case worker even disputed that her family would have disowned her, an assertion that displays a clear lack of cultural understanding. One can only wonder what enough evidence for a successful claim would look like.

In everything Betty and I discuss, I am aware of a brave, naive young woman who nevertheless knows that her human right to live an open, peaceful life is being denied. Her story, a story similar to that of many other homosexual and transgendered people from many other countries including Uganda, continues to be stifled, suppressed, and ignored. The oppression that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people around the world face is redoubled when the borders of ostensibly less prejudiced nations refuse to believe what they are saying.

This is what Betty is saying: “I look at a community like in Central London, I see so many of them. They walk in the street, they hold hands, they kiss at the bus stops. You know, its free, so it’s not hard for me to tell them I’m a lesbian. But in Uganda, I can’t say that. I really can’t. I just have to, I don’t even know how to. I just can’t. I just can’t. I can’t. I can’t. I don’t want to live, not being able to live as me. I don’t wanna be someone else just because of the situation around me. I just want to live truly, and just live like me. That’s really what I want.”

A petition has been set up to reverse Betty Tibakawa’s asylum decision.

Confusion over ‘kidnapped’ lesbian Syrian blogger

2011-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

There is confusion over the identity of a lesbian blogger allegedly kidnapped in Syria.

Supporters claimed earlier this week that Amina Arraf, the author of the Gay Girl in Damascus blog, had been detained by Syrian security forces.

But a London woman has claimed that the blogger stole her identity and Syrian activists have admitted that no one has met Arraf in person.

The blog featured criticism of the Al Assad regime and musings on life as a lesbian in a country where

It has now emerged that photos used by Arraf on the blog are of a London woman who has no connection to her.

Jelena Lecic said her identity had been stolen.

The images were used by the Guardian, which says it is now investigating their origins.

Supporters became concerned when a woman calling herself Rania Esmail and claiming to be Arraf’s cousin, updated the blog to say she had been bundled into a car by a group of men.

An activist with the Local Coordination Committees, a group which helps document protests against the Al Assad regime, told Associated Press on Tuesday that Arraf had been kidnapped.

A day later, the same activist said there had been “no independent confirmation” of the kidnapping and added that all reports of incident had come from the blog post.

Reporters have been unable to track down the woman claiming to be Arraf’s cousin and speculation is now growing that the writer does not exist.

Arraf claimed on the blog to have been born in Virginia, USA, but reporters have been unable to trace her or her family.

Critics say the blog appears to be genuine, although some details have met with scepticism.

However, Arraf’s supporters say the writer would have had to keep her identity secret.

Gay Glee star Chris Colfer signs children’s book deal

2011-06-09T21:15:00.001-07:00

Glee actor Chris Colfer has signed a deal to write two children’s books.

The gay star, who plays Kurt Hummel in the series, will pen children’s novel The Land of Stories for Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, with a follow-up later.

Colfer said: “When I was ten years old, I promised myself that if I ever had the opportunity to write this book, I would jump at the chance.

“This book has been at the core of my imagination for a long time and I’m excited and nervous to share it.”

The novel will be aimed at children between the ages of eight and 12. It will focus on twins Alex and Connor Bailey as they journey through a fairytale land.

Megan Tingley, senior vice-president and publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, said: “Chris is a remarkable talent, whose writing combines all the qualities kids love – memorable characters, heart-pounding adventure, in a setting filled with wonder, intrigue and enchantment.”

HomoQuotable - Erica Diaz

2011-06-08T23:59:00.001-07:00

"I was so nervous that morning that I threw up. I spoke against him across the street, directly within his view. But then I approached a police officer who escorted me to the podium where he spoke. My grandfather introduced me to the crowd and kissed me on the forehead. 'This is my granddaughter," he said. 'She chose her way of life, but I chose God's way, but I love her.' Grandpa even called me after the rally, to say that he was proud of me for 'respectfully speaking up for what you believe in.' You cannot tell someone that you love them and stay silent when people call for their death. 'Love' is empty when you say someone's life isn't natural. He could quietly vote 'no' if that's what he believes is right. But I want him to know that every word he utters hurts his own blood." - Erica Diaz, openly lesbian granddaughter of NY Sen. Ruben Diaz, recounting her awkward appearance at his Bronx hate rally last month.

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HomoQuotable - Erica Diaz

2011-06-08T23:58:00.000-07:00

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NEW YORK: Red-Caped Loons Claim Attack By "Pro-Homosexual Advocate"

2011-06-08T23:57:00.001-07:00

The red-caped loons of the anti-gay Catholic Society for Defense of Tradition are claiming that a "pro-homosexual advocate" tore up their banner at a street protest in Fairport, New York this weekend. The video of the "attack" looks very, very staged to me. (I'll be calling Fairport police today and see if any report was actually filed.) It's also interesting that the clip is only posted to their own site and not their YouTube channel as they normally do. Watch the video and let us know what you think.

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NEW YORK: Red-Caped Loons Claim Attack By "Pro-Homosexual Advocate"

2011-06-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

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Food Stamps For Fast Food

2011-06-08T23:56:00.001-07:00

The parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut is lobbying the Kentucky government to allow the use of food stamps in their stores.

Currently Kentucky's Food Assistance Program provides money to those in need to buy food -- but that does not include fast food. Yum! says the elderly, disabled, and homeless should be able to use food stamps to buy hot meals, especially those unable to cook. But members of the African-American Think Tank disagree, as Rev. Gerome Sutton explains: "What that will ultimately do is, it will affect the health and well-being of our community and drive up the cost of health care for the state."

Food Stamps For Fast Food

2011-06-08T23:56:00.000-07:00

The parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut is lobbying the Kentucky government to allow the use of food stamps in their stores.

Currently Kentucky's Food Assistance Program provides money to those in need to buy food -- but that does not include fast food. Yum! says the elderly, disabled, and homeless should be able to use food stamps to buy hot meals, especially those unable to cook. But members of the African-American Think Tank disagree, as Rev. Gerome Sutton explains: "What that will ultimately do is, it will affect the health and well-being of our community and drive up the cost of health care for the state."

ILLINOIS: More Catholic Adoption Groups Close Doors Rather Than Comply With Law d

2011-06-08T23:54:00.001-07:00

Two more Catholic adoption agencies in Illinois have decided to close their doors rather than comply with the state's new civil unions law. They'd rather see children go without families.   

Glenn Van Cura, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, told The Advocate that his office is not accepting applications for new foster care or adoptive parents pending further clarification from the governor and attorney general's office. "What we want to make clear is that according to our beliefs, with any cohabitating couple, whether homosexual or heterosexual, we don't refer to licensing. It's just part of our social teaching," Van Cura said. Single individuals, whether gay or straight, have been eligible to become foster or adoptive parents, however. "We don't ask, nor is it any of our business," Van Cura said of a single applicant's sexual orientation. In a letter this week to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Catholic Charities of Peoria CEO Tricia C. Fox wrote that the suspension could be lifted if the state amended the civil unions law to allow religious services to refer same-sex couples elsewhere.

ILLINOIS: More Catholic Adoption Groups Close Doors Rather Than Comply With Law

2011-06-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

Two more Catholic adoption agencies in Illinois have decided to close their doors rather than comply with the state's new civil unions law. They'd rather see children go without families.   

Glenn Van Cura, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, told The Advocate that his office is not accepting applications for new foster care or adoptive parents pending further clarification from the governor and attorney general's office. "What we want to make clear is that according to our beliefs, with any cohabitating couple, whether homosexual or heterosexual, we don't refer to licensing. It's just part of our social teaching," Van Cura said. Single individuals, whether gay or straight, have been eligible to become foster or adoptive parents, however. "We don't ask, nor is it any of our business," Van Cura said of a single applicant's sexual orientation. In a letter this week to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Catholic Charities of Peoria CEO Tricia C. Fox wrote that the suspension could be lifted if the state amended the civil unions law to allow religious services to refer same-sex couples elsewhere.

ORLANDO: Christianist Hate Group Flies Anti-Gay "Warning" Over Disney World ORLANDO: Christianist Hate Group Flies Anti-Gay "Warning" Over Disney Worl

2011-06-08T23:53:00.003-07:00

Gay Days is in full swing in Orlando and the Florida Family Association is letting everybody know about it. A Christian group is protesting the annual "Gay Day" by flying a banner plane over Disney World with a warning message for visitors. The six day celebration for gay pride is a 20 year celebration, held in Orlando, FL, with Saturday spent at the Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. "It's just about people being proud of who they are here," said Gay day participant, Floyd Benefield. With the 160,000 people visiting central Florida to celebrate, Florida Family Association is boycotting and spending $7,000 to fly banners for two full days near Disney, warning unsuspected families of the festivities.

ORLANDO: Christianist Hate Group Flies Anti-Gay "Warning" Over Disney World

2011-06-08T23:53:00.001-07:00

Ariel Lin

2011-06-01T03:43:00.000-07:00

Ariel Lin is a Taiwanese actress and singer. Lin was first discovered in the Taiwanese variety show Guess and was the champion of the pretty subway girl contest in the show. She was immediately paired with Mike He, also a rising star, in a drama series “Love Contract.” After appearing in several television roles in Taiwanese dramas and three movies during the early 2000s, she rose to fame in 2005 for playing the role of Yuan Xiang Qin in the hit drama series It Started With a Kiss opposite Joe Cheng. She attended Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, majoring in Korean, throughout much of her early career in the entertainment business.

Lin has also been highly praised for her work in Tokyo Juliet (2004) as Lin Lai Sui with Wu Chun and Simon Yam. Her work on The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2008) (playing Huang Rong opposite of Hu Ge) brought her increased popularity in mainland China. In October 2008 she won the Golden Bell Award for Best Actress for her performance in the series They Kiss Again. Most recently she has starred with Joe Cheng in the series Love or Bread.

US Navy backtracks over gay weddings on bases

2011-05-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

The US Navy has reversed its plans to conduct gay weddings on bases, saying that officers need more time to look at the legal issues.

This week, an April 13th memo from Navy head chaplain Rear Adm Mark Tidd was reported as saying that Navy chaplains would be able to perform the ceremonies on bases in states where gay marriage was legal.

The memo said: “Regarding the use of base facilities for same-sex marriages, legal counsel has concluded that, generally speaking, base facility use is sexual orientation-neutral. This is a change to previous training that stated same-sex marriages are not authorised on federal property.”

Despite this, another memo released yesterday said that the plans were “suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination”.

Some politicians had complained that the change would violate the Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts federal recognition of marriage to that of a man and a woman.

Missouri Republican representative Todd Akin collected 62 signatures from other Congressmen to protest against the move.

He wrote: “The law of the land is that the federal government defines marriage as between one man and one woman. This new guidance from the Navy clearly violates the law. While our President may not like this law, it is unbelievable that our Navy would issue guidance that clearly violates this law.”

The move was due to happen after the military lifts the ban on out gay troops later this summer.

The ban will not be lifted until military chiefs have certified that repealing the law will not harm military readiness. Following this, 60 days must pass.

Foreign secretary William Hague says Britain is lobbying Uganda over anti-gay bill

2011-05-11T04:02:00.001-07:00

Foreign secretary William Hague says that the UK is continuing to urge Uganda not to pass a bill that could see gay people executed.

Responding to questions on Twitter, Mr Hague wrote: “We oppose this bill and will continue to raise our concerns with Ugandan government. We urge Ugandan MPs to reject it.”

He continued: “Our embassy is lobbying Ugandan gov & the UK initiated a formal EU demarche [diplomatic move] to the Ugandan foreign minister on the bill.”

The bill has spent two days before a parliamentary committee and is due for a second reading tomorrow, if parliament has time to discuss it. Tomorrow is the last scheduled day of parliament and it is listed on an order paper of following business.

In its current form, the bill prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, such as repeat offences. Among other things, it also calls for up to three years in prison for teachers, doctors, friends, landlords and family members of gay people who do not report them to authorities.

Reports this afternoon suggested that some aspects of the bill may have been modified. Anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa claimed today that he did not want gay people to be executed.

US blogger Jim Burroway, the author of the Box Turtle Bulletin blog, who has been following events closely, claimed MPs could pass the bill to divert attention from Uganda’s current problems, which include unrest over rising food and fuel prices.

He wrote: “Clearly, passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which is very popular among ordinary Ugandans, would be a cynical diversionary ploy on the part of the government.

“If the bill does come up for a second reading, that is when amendments to the bill may be offered. A third reading can quickly follow a second reading, at which time the bill would be passed and sent to the president.

“The president can assent to the bill or return it to parliament for changes. According to one parliament member, the president has not returned a bill to parliament during his term.”

Campaigners are calling on as many people as possible to sign petitions to ask President Yoweri Museveni not to accept the bill.

Civil partnership for gay Tory MP Nick Boles

2011-05-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

Conservative MP Nick Boles has tied the knot with his partner.

The 45-year-old had a “quiet” civil partnership ceremony with his partner Shay Meshulam in Camberwell in March, the Guido Fawkes blog reports.

A source said the couple invited close friends and family but intend to have larger celebration in the summer once parliament breaks up.

A spokeswoman for the MP said: “Mr Boles is very happy about it and that’s all we can say.”

Other MPs to have had civil partnerships include Tory MP Alan Duncan and Labour MP Chris Bryant.

Mr Boles, who represents Grantham and Stratford, was elected in 2010 after missing out on the marginal seat of Hove in 2005.

He was a strongly-tipped candidate for the Tory nomination for Mayor of London in 2007, but withdrew to recover from Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of cancer.

The former businessman has spoken about declaring his sexual orientation to candidate selection committees, saying he was not embarrassed and it was right to tell them.

California Senate approves equal benefits bill

2011-05-11T04:01:00.000-07:00

The California Senate has narrowly approved a bill to encourage companies to give equal benefits to the spouses of gay employees.

Democrat Senator Christine Kehoe’s bill says that state agency contracts will only be awarded to companies who offer the equal benefits.

Ms Kehoe said the legislation would encourage equality. The bill applies to contracts over $100,000.

The bill just got the majority it needed to pass, with 21-15 votes. It will now go to the Assembly.

The legislation is supported by Equality California, which says Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, Berkeley, San Mateo County, San Diego and Santa Monica already have the ordinances.

Interim executive director Jim Carroll said: “Studies have shown that employees who are treated fairly have higher retention rates and are more productive. The Equal Benefits bill both advances equality, benefits business and ensures that our precious tax dollars do not subsidise discrimination.”

Slim majority of Republicans support legal recognition of gay relationships

2011-05-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

A poll says that just over half of Republicans support some form of legal recognition for gay couples.

The Public Policy Polling survey asked 1,000 people who identified as Republicans about their views on marriage equality.

Only 12 per cent said gay couples should be allowed to marry. Support for civil unions was higher, with 39 per cent agreeing with them.

This meant that 51 per cent back either marriage equality or civil unions.

But 48 per cent said there should be no recognition at all of gay relationships.

Support for marriage equality was highest among high-income respondents as 24 per cent in this category said gays should be able to wed.

Last month, another American poll suggested that just over half of voters support marriage equality.

The CNN poll found that 51 per cent of the 824 adults surveyed said gay couples should be allowed to wed.

Among those under 50, support levels rose to 60 per cent.

CNN polls in 2008 and 2009 found that just 44 per cent of those surveyed supported gay marriage.

New York governor begins tour to highlight gay marriage

2011-05-11T03:58:00.000-07:00

Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, has kicked off a state tour to highlight his legislative agenda for 2011.

Marriage equality is one of the priorities, along with a property tax and ethics reform.

The Democrat governor hopes to press people to support his aims and pressure lawmakers about them.

He said in a statement: “Our entire team is going to travel the state to speak directly to New Yorkers about the issues that can move this state forward, and it begins in Syracuse.

“We need to pass a property tax cap, ethics reform, and marriage equality during this legislative session. The clock is ticking, but when the people speak, the politicians will listen. We will assemble a broad coalition of New Yorkers to support this agenda and work tirelessly to get it passed in Albany.”

The Advocate reports that Mr Cuomo’s office has not released further details but judging by past tours, he may reference marriage equality in high-profile speeches and send deputies to speak with LGBT audiences around the state.

Last month, Mr Cuomo told gay rights campaigners he will devote his “full attention” to marriage equality.

Speaking to campaigners in a closed meeting, he reportedly said: “For me, this is personal.”

Lady Gaga teams up with FarmVille creators to launch GagaVille

2011-05-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

Lady Gaga has announced a partnership with social games giant Zynga to launch GagaVille, a take on the popular FarmVille and CityVille.

Zynga, home to the most popular games on social network Facebook has
previously launched projects with Snoop Dogg, Dreamworks and Niceklodeon.
However, the company today said that the deal with Lady Gaga is its most significant to date.

GagaVille will showcase the bisexual star’s style and themes together with themes from her new album Born This Way. From 17th to 19th May, GagaVille players can unlock a new unreleased track per day. From 20th May, users can unlock tracks from the new album.

Lady Gaga branded $25 Game Cards will include bonus tracks and exclusive Lady Gaga branded virtual goods.

Lady Gaga said “I want to celebrate and share ‘Born This Way’ with my little monsters in a special way that’s never been done before…Zynga has created a magical place in FarmVille where my fans can come play, and be the first to listen to the album.”

Earlier this year, Lady Gaga signed an exclusive deal with US retailer Target but backed out after the company made donations to

David Laws guilty of a series of expenses rule breaches

2011-05-11T03:56:00.000-07:00

Former Cabinet minister David Laws has been found guilty of a series of breaches of parliamentary expenses rules.

The Liberal Democrat MP was chief secretary to the Treasury for just days last May. He resigned when it was revealed he had paid £40,000 in expenses to his boyfriend who was also his landlord.

According to the Evening Standard, Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon found him in breach of six areas of Commons rules.

The Commons’ Standards and Privileges Committee will now look at the investigation and report back later this week.

When the story broke last year, Mr Laws said he had failed to declare the relationship because he wanted to keep his sexuality secret.

He said: “My motivation throughout has not been to maximise profit but to simply protect our privacy and my wish not to reveal my sexuality.”

Prime minister David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were understood to be keen to see him return to the Cabinet but this will depend on the wording in the report.

Mr Laws will not face criminal charges over his claims.

Civil partnership for gay Tory MP Nick Boles

2011-05-11T03:54:00.000-07:00

Cambodians must join to oust Hun Sen

2011-05-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

May 11, 2011
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
PACIFIC DAILY NEWS

Thirty-two years ago, more than 100,000 Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia, smashed Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge guerrillas, took over Phnom Penh, installed a puppet regime in January 1979, and staffed the Hanoi-instituted Cambodian administrations with Vietnamese to oversee the puppet government's activities.

Several thousand Cambodian youths taken in 1954 by the Viet Minh for education, indoctrination and training in Vietnam -- by 1979 in their forties and fifties and fully acculturated in Vietnam -- were brought back to Cambodia.

The puppet government leaders and their Vietnamese masters allowed Vietnamese citizens unrestricted access to live in Cambodia in support of Hanoi's long-term economic and expansionist goals. The immigrants, like the Hanoi-backed Cambodian regime, were illegally installed in Cambodia.

These illegals were integrated into different aspects of Khmer society. There are Vietnamese who speak Khmer and act Cambodian, and many Cambodians who speak and enjoy Vietnamese ways, as this helps get them closer to privileges. An officer of Premier Hun Sen's army told me it's no longer easy to tell who is Vietnamese and who is Cambodian.

Nationally conscious Cambodians hate what has happened in the country, acknowledging their fear that Cambodia and the Khmer race may be subsumed by the country's eastern neighbor. As Cambodian anger mounts, Vietnamese who migrated and have lived in Cambodia since France ruled Indochina, who have families who have lived all their lives in Cambodia, also are threatened by the new arrivals. The "old " Vietnamese know no other place but Cambodia; the "new " Vietnamese are exploiters of Cambodia's resources.

Cambodians called on the Vietnamese to leave Cambodia and for Premier Hun Sen to step down. But the Cambodian-ized Vietnamese are not going anywhere, nor is Hun Sen, elected again and again.

Some Cambodians call for the "reactivation " of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord to restore individual rights, freedom and democracy in Cambodia, and protect her independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The international community's $3 billion U.N.-managed peace initiative never required the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese-propped Heng Samrin/Hun Sen factions to disarm, nor created a politically neutral environment essential for the accords to work. The naïve nationalist KPNLF/KPNLAF and royalist FUNCINPEC/ANS were happy to empty their pockets, in the name of "national reconciliation," with hungry alligators to get closer to the seat of power.

Recall the wide-eyed international community, which thought it could make Cambodia a "success" story, leaving town after the first U.N.-organized elections in 1993.

Today, in the midst of economic crises and world political upheavals, which government would step in to implement the accords?

Hun Sen is now a recipient of so-called Chinese "aid without strings attached" -- no strings so long as Hun Sen agrees to a "one China" policy, deports the Uighurs seeking political asylum and allows unfettered Chinese investment in Cambodia. He and his ruling party can do what they please with the land and national wealth, and thumb their noses at Western financial donors and the U.N.

Frustrated, some bloggers have chided me for not providing a "solution." Actually, they wanted an ABC manual to bring Hun Sen down; ideas and thoughts seem too complicated. Yet, in my column last week, "Stop giving Hun Sen power to rule," I suggested what to do, and not do -- to converge the different efforts by individuals and groups, to disintegrate a dictatorship. A reader emailed to tell me not to "bark" too much and return to Cambodia "to fight" and he will join me. Oh dear.

Last month, an email from a friend from a different continent referenced the necessity to create a "critical mass" in Cambodia to bring a long-lasting change and led me to write on the subject.

Last week, an old Cambodian friend emailed from Phnom Penh to urge continued "fighting" on two main fronts: education and economy. "At least 80 percent of the population (of 14 million) must have at least 10 years of schooling; at least 40 percent of the population must be college graduates, and at least 10 percent must have Ph.D. degrees, ... and the GDP per capita must be at least $10,000," he wrote. Ah, the man of my dreams, I said to myself as I scratched my head. When will we reach that level of education and economic development?

Unless we do, Cambodians have every reason to worry about the disappearance of Cambodia and the Khmer race.

Only last week I quoted statistics by the U.N. Children's Fund that recorded Cambodia's net secondary school enrollment for 2005-2006 at 36 percent for males and 32 percent for females. My questions were: Out of these enrollees, how many actually attend school (which is open only a few hours per day), how many actually graduate from secondary school, how many go on to high school, etc.

So my friend's email made me want to cry to heaven for help. And when I think of the finding that nearly 40 percent of the Cambodian people live under the poverty line of $2 a day -- many live on 50 cents a day -- the suggested $10,000 GDP per capita makes me look for my spiritual balance.

Yet I cannot accept despair. And so I keep on writing and hoping more readers will not remain complacent and will join with others to do something, do many things, which will converge to create a tipping point to cause Hun Sen's government to disintegrate.

Police appeal over anti-gay attack in Woking

2011-05-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ta Dambang Dek (Grandpa with an iron staff): A statue at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in front of which everybody had to take their oath

Reach Sambath

10 May 2011
Dith Sokthy
The Phnom Penh Post (Khmer)
Translated from Khmer by Soy

Phnom Penh – Reach Sambath, director of the public relation office of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, is currently under medical care at Calmette Hospital. However, there is no official indication as to what his illness is. Doctors are currently providing him with medical care.

Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy met with French MP Michel Issindou in Paris

2011-05-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Today, opposition leader Sam Rainsy meet with Michel Issindou, French MP from Isere Province, at the French National Assembly in Paris, France.

France's National Assembly in Paris

US Olympic official quits over gay marriage comments

2011-05-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Former Olympic gymnast Peter Vidmar has resigned as the chef du mission of the US 2012 team after anger over comments he made about gay marriage.

In 2008, Mr Vidmar, a Mormon, joined the fight against California’s gay marriage law.

As well as joining two rallies and donating $2,000, the gold medal winner was quoted at the time as saying: “It’s good for our society to have a traditional definition of marriage.”

His comments resurfaced last week in an article on Outsports.com and then in the Chicago Tribune, leading fellow athletes to condemn him.

The figure skater Johnny Weir, who is gay, told Outsports.com: “I certainly wouldn’t want to be represented by someone who is anti gay marriage. It isn’t just about marriage; it is being allowed equal rights as Americans. The fact this man who is very publicly against something that may be represented on the American team is disgraceful.”

In a statement on Friday, Mr Vidmar, 49, said: “I have dedicated my life to the Olympic movement and the ideals of excellence, friendship and respect. I wish that my personal religious beliefs would not have become a distraction from the amazing things that are happening in the Olympic movement in the United States. I simply cannot have my presence become a detriment to the US Olympic family. I hope that by stepping aside, the athletes and their stories will rightly take centre stage.”

Before resigning, he told reporters he had not tried to hide his remarks and added: “I fully respect the rights of everyone to have the relationships they want to have.”

Gay friend of Boy George speaks out after attack

2011-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

A gay friend of Boy George has spoken out after he was attacked in central London.

Philip Sallon, the socialite and event organiser, was badly injured in the April 2nd attack in Piccadilly.

He suffered a brain haemorrhage and fractured skull after he was kicked and stamped on. He spent time in hospital but is now recovering at home.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said: “It was a severe blow to the head. From leaving home I remember nothing. It could have been some stranger who lashes out and just hates queers. But I also can’t rule out other possibilities.”

Mr Sallon said he now suffers severe headaches and a loss of smell, hearing and taste.

His friends feared he was the victim of a homophobic attack, although police are looking at other motives. No one has been arrested.

Friends said that Mr Sallon, a popular figure on London’s club scene, enjoys walking around the West End and night and striking up conversations.

He said he would not stop walking about alone and considered the capital safer than many high streets.

Boy George said the public response to the attack was “overwhelming”.

Girl, 13, is latest victim of South African ‘corrective rape’

2011-05-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

A 13-year-old girl in South Africa has reportedly become the latest victim of the ‘corrective rape’ epidemic.

The girl, who was attacked on Thursday in Pretoria, was said to be open about being a lesbian and it is believed she was targeted for this reason.

The phenomenon of corrective rape involves the targeting of lesbians in order to ‘cure’ them. There have been high-profile cases in the country, including the recent rape and murder of gay rights campaigner Noxolo Nogwaza.

Government spokesman Tlali Tlali promised a police investigation and assistance for the girl and her family.

“The government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,” he said.

”Gay and lesbian rights are human and constitutional rights which must be protected and respected at all times.”

Dipika Nath, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: ”If the police and other state officials do not act swiftly, it will only be a matter of time before they have to account for their failure to the family and friends of the next lesbian who is beaten and killed.”

Last week, the government announced the formation of a task team to tackle anti-gay hate crimes.

A government spokesman said that the task force would comprise the police, the social development department, six judges and six LGBT campaigners.

The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters, he said.

Chaz Bono ‘thrilled’ with results of transition

2011-05-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Chaz Bono, the son of singer Cher, has spoken candidly about his transition from female to male.

Speaking ahead of a book and documentary about his journey, the star said he never had a moment’s doubt that he was supposed to be a man.

Bono, 42, grew up as Chastity and was a lesbian activist for many years. He announced two years ago that he was transitioning and completed the process last year, albeit in the public eye.

Speaking to TIME, he said he had “confused gender identity with sexual orientation” when younger.

He said: “So when I was about 13 or 14, I realised I was attracted to women and then made the assumption that I was a lesbian, and didn’t realise that that wasn’t the case. It was the fact that I was a man and a heterosexual man. The issue wasn’t my sexual orientation, but rather my gender identity.”

The star, who says he wants to speak up for trans rights, has refused to talk about whether he has had genital surgery.

But he said that he was “thrilled” about the results of his ‘upper’ surgery, or breast removal.

“It was the greatest day, probably of my life,” he said. “It was getting rid of something on my body that felt like it didn’t belong there since they started to develop at, like, 11 or 12.”

Bono revealed that he spent time talking to psychologists about how he would deal with transition but said he “never had a moment’s doubt” about whether it was the right thing to do.

He said: “I had felt uncomfortable as a women my whole life. So that wasn’t the issue. It was about finding the strength to transition and how that would affect my life.”

The star added that he was continuing to publicise his journey to “bring awareness” of the issue.

Becoming Chaz will be broadcast in the US on the Oprah Winfrey Network tomorrow.

Bono’s memoirs, Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man, will also be released this week.

Gay activists’ petition against Ugandan ‘kill gays’ bill

2011-05-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

Gay rights campaigners hope to collect enough signatures to ask Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni to refuse to sign an anti-homosexuality bill.

The legislation, in its current form, calls for harsher punishments for homosexuality. For “aggravated” case, such as those involving disabled people, those with HIV or minors, it calls for the death penalty.

Landlords, teachers and family members could also be prosecuted for failing to report gay people to police.

The status of the bill has been unclear for months, with conflicting reports about its progress through the legislature.

Late last year, it appeared to have been scrapped. However, campaigners say that parliament may vote on it this week and are urging people to sign a petition against it.

The petition, started by Allout.org, says: “Our best chance at stopping the bill is each other – if thousands of us spread the word we can make clear that the world is watching and we will not allow this to stand.”

The appeal adds: “Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has shown himself to be sensitive to international pressure. Last year, a massive response from people around the world pushed him to stop the bill in its tracks.”

President Museveni has not given his opinions on the bill but ethics minister James Nsaba Buturo said last January that the leader did not agree with killing gays and lesbians.

The anonymous blogger GayUganda wrote last week that parliament’s return to the bill was a “diversion” tactic to take attention away from riots and the fear of more civil unrest.

Study finds gay men are more likely to have had cancer

2011-05-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

A large US study has suggested that gay men are more likely to have had cancer than straight men.

The research, from California, found that gay men were almost twice as likely as straight men to have been diagnosed with this disease. On average, diagnoses happened a decade earlier for gay men.

It also found that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely than straight women to report poorer health after cancer.

Researchers are unsure whether gay men may be more likely to have cancer, or whether they are more likely to survive the disease. It is known that anal cancer is more likely to affect gay men and can be caused by HIV.

The study, of 120,000 people, was carried out by using data from the 2001, 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview surveys.

Out of 51,000 men, about 3,700 said they had been diagnosed with cancer as an adult. Just over eight per cent of gay men said they had a history of the disease, compared to five per cent of straight men. Researchers said the difference was not down to differences in race, age or income.

About 7,300 out of 71,000 women in the study had been diagnosed with cancer, but there was no difference between straight, lesbian or bisexual women. However, they were more likely to rate their health after treatment as ‘poor’ or fair’.

Liz Margolies, executive director of The National LGBT Cancer Network, told Reuters that more information is needed to plan care and prevention strategies.

She pointed to research which suggests gay men, lesbians and bisexuals are more likely to smoke and abuse alcohol than straight people and said that LGB people are less likely to visit doctors for health check-ups, partly because of stigma.

“Health care facilities and social service agencies – any organisation that addresses the needs of cancer survivors — must understand the extra challenges that lesbian and bisexual cancer survivors and gay men have,” she said.

Jason Warriner, clinical director for HIV and sexual health at the Terrence Higgins Trust, told BBC News: “We know that HIV can cause certain types of cancer, and that gay men are at a greater risk of HIV than straight men.

“Another factor potentially having an impact is Human Papilloma Virus, which can lead to anal cancer in gay men.

“The government currently runs a national vaccination programme for young girls, but we think recent figures on oral and anal cancers justify taking another look at whether the programme should be extended to include boys.”

Gay MP Nigel Evans ‘in denial’ when he voted for Section 28

2011-05-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Gay Conservative MP Nigel Evans says he was in denial and going through a “neanderthal phase” when he voted for Section 28.

The MP for Ribble Valley, who came out last year, backed the legislation to ban mention of homosexuality in schools and once voted against lowering the age of consent for gay men.

Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “I was going through denial and what I would describe as my neanderthal phase.

“I was just stupid, and clearly I wasn’t thinking. Of course, I was completely wrong.”

Mr Evans’ sexuality was an open secret in Westminster but he did not feel able to come out to the public until last year, at the age of 54. He claimed a Labour MP had threatened to out him.

In the interview, with lesbian comedian Rhona Cameron, he praised prime minister David Cameron for his “leadership” on gay rights issues.

He added: “I said it when I came out, I showed absolutely no leadership, whereas David Cameron has. When you say you can’t work out how there are so many gays in the Tory party – David is hugely instrumental in that, because of his approach to gay issues and equality.”

He said that “being something like the 22nd or 23rd openly gay MP is not brave at all” but sports men and women should be commended for their openness.

“If only we could get some gay footballers to come forward, that would help,” he said. “It’s daft to say there are no gay footballers in the premier league – of course there are. Every one of them who could possibly find the courage to come out would help so many people.”

Mr Evans, who is the deputy Speaker, said his position meant he could not give an opinion on the blood donation ban for gay men.

But he did say: “Equality is basically the rule of thumb, and that’s what it should be irrespective of what the issue happens to be. If you have distinguishing elements between gay and not gay, you have a problem.”

Anti-gay pastor rejects Ugandan death penalty for gays

2011-05-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

Anti-gay pastor Martin Ssempa has told a Ugandan parliamentary committee that he does not agree with the death penalty for gays and lesbians.

The preacher told the committee that he supports controversial legislation for punishing homosexuality because it is “killing” society.

But he reportedly stopped short of praising the bill’s harshest clause – the death sentence for “aggravated” homosexuality.

The bill’s author, MP David Bahati, originally included the clause to state that the death penalty could be used in cases involving repeat offenders, minors, HIV-positive people or disabled people.

But he told AP news agency that this “was something we have moved away from”.

However, the bill still contains language to lengthen prison sentences for gay people and also calls for punishment for anyone who does not report homosexuality to police. This would include doctors, landlords, teachers and even friends and family members.

Mr Ssempa reportedly told the committee: “The parliament should be given the opportunity to discuss and pass the bill, because homosexuality is killing our society.”

It is not clear whether MPs will get a chance to debate the bill before this session of parliament ends on Friday.

During the hearing, Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo said the bill would not stop homosexuality and would lead to more cases of HIV.

“How can we expect doctors to treat everyone when this bill will require them to report on their patients who are LGBT?” he said.

Thai-Cambodian Border Dispute Fueled by Nationalism, Politics

2011-05-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

From left, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva , center, sit during a trilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 8, 2011 (Photo: AP)

Daniel Schearf, VOA
Bangkok May 10, 2011

An ancient temple on the border between Thailand and Cambodia is at the heart of a deadly dispute between the two countries. Clashes along the border this year have killed some 30 people and sent tens of thousands of villagers fleeing. Both governments say the dispute is about who owns the land around the temple. Nationalism and domestic politics in both countries also play a key role in driving the conflict.

The border dispute dominated the agenda of this year’s summit of Southeast Asia nations, where efforts by host Indonesia failed to bridge major differences between the two sides.

When Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met Sunday at the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, they exchanged accusations over who is responsible for prolonging the conflict.

Thailand’s Prime Minister argues that Cambodia provoked the fighting by stationing troops in the disputed area. Since then, he says Cambodia has repeatedly tried to internationalize the dispute by involving outside groups such as ASEAN and the United Nations.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

"ASEAN has tried to mediate. There was an agreement in February to send Indonesian peace observers to both Cambodia and Thailand and Thailand agreed to it. But, the domestic crisis in Thailand is such that the army has superseded the civilian Abhisit government by reneging. And, basically, the agreement has been abrogated by the Thai side," Pongsudhirak explained.

In Thailand, the border clashes have come as the government prepares for nationwide elections in early July, raising suspicions that the country’s divisive domestic politics are playing a role in the conflict.

The election is seen as a showdown between Thai elites backed by the military and an opposition party supported by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had friendlier relations with Cambodia during his time in power.

The military ousted Thaksin in a 2006 coup that was backed by nationalist demonstrators known as the Yellow Shirts. His supporters were purged from the military and government and he went into self-imposed exile to avoid corruption charges.

Since then, the country’s politics have been bitterly divided and opinion polls indicate the July elections vote will be close.

William Case is a professor of Asian and International Studies at City University of Hong Kong. He says Thaksin’s opponents may be hoping the border crisis can rally the nation behind them or can be used as an excuse to postpone elections.

"There are certain forces which would include the military and the Yellow Shirt movement that maybe don't want those elections because of the results that they may well bring," he said.

In December a group of Yellow Shirts stirred up nationalists on both sides by going to the disputed area where they were arrested by Cambodian troops for spying.

Yellow Shirts have since protested outside government offices against Abhisit for being too soft on Cambodia.

Tensions were first raised along the border in 2008, when the United Nations declared an ancient Khmer Hindu temple located just inside Cambodia as a World Heritage site. At that time in Thailand, a government aligned with Thaksin supported Cambodia’s application.

Michael Montesano is a visiting research fellow on Thai history and regional affairs at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. He says the former prime minister’s political opponents seized on the temple’s listing to politicize the border dispute.

"Since then obviously things have spun out of control and we have armed violence among the Thai and Cambodian forces along the Thai and Cambodian border, a prolonged series of incidents over several years, ASEAN's chronic inability to address this violence between member states, all emanating from what began as a domestic political stunt on the Thai side,” Montesano stated.

The border dispute also has a political dimension in Cambodia, where relations with Thailand and Vietnam play a major role in domestic politics.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is a close friend of Thaksin and in 2009, appointed him an economic advisor, and refused to extradite him to Thailand.

Montesano says many Cambodians see Thailand as arrogant towards its small neighbor and Prime Minister Hun Sen scores easy political points for standing up to Bangkok.

But Montesano says the issue also gives the Cambodia government political cover in its own border dispute with Vietnam. Hun Sen’s opponents have accused him of being weak in negotiations with Hanoi.

"I'm in no position to know whether they're right. But, they're people who say that Hun Sun's playing up the situation on the Thai border is a way to distract the Cambodian people from his much softer stance vis a vis Vietnam relating to poorly demarcated borders." he said.

The Cambodia-Thailand border was demarcated over a century ago by the French colonial powers and Thailand, then known as the Kingdom of Siam.

The Thai side tacitly accepted a French-produced map but resentment later resurfaced over allegations that the map was unfair.

The main area of contention is land surrounding a 900-year-old temple called Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Phra Viharn in Thailand.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled the temple was Cambodia’s, which Thailand accepted, and the issue lay dormant for decades.

Thailand claims the land surrounding the temple, which the court did not rule on.

Earlier this month Cambodia asked the ICJ to clarify the 1962 ruling to try to settle the dispute. Thailand says it wants to resolves the dispute through direct talks with Cambodia.

Myanmar Model Girl Photos: Christina's hot fashion pose

2011-05-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Myanmar Model Girl, Christina
Real Name : Aye Myat Thu , Date of Birth : 6.9.1985 , Place of Birth : Yangon
Body Structure : 34, 24, 36, Height : 5' 4" , Religion : Christrian
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Favourite Color : Baby Pink & Many light colour
Contact : No;296, Room 11, Shwe Da Gon Street, Dagon Township Yangon.

After Ban Ki-moon Said Stood Behind UN Rights Rep in Cambodia, His Leaving Draws No Reaction, like ECCC

2011-05-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 09, 2011
By Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Cambodia last October, Prime Minister Hun Sen “ordered” him to remove the head of the UN human rights office in Phnom Penh, Christophe Peschoux.

Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about it. Nesirky called it an “internal personnel matter,” then added that Ban stands behind the office and, by implication, its staff.

Now six months later, Peschoux has been chased from the country. Human rights groups call it “worrying.” Mr. Peschoux himself has said that in Cambodia

“human rights are tolerated to the extent that they do not challenge the political, economic and financial interests of the ruling elite. That’s where the red line runs. If you cross that line, trouble starts... Of course I’m leaving because it has become impossible for me to continue to operate in this environment.”

Given this, one might have expected Ban Ki-moon to have some follow up comment, if not to have actually defended Mr. Peschoux. But when Inner City Press on May 9 asked Ban's acting deputy spokeman Farhan Haq about Peschoux's leaving Cambodia, Haq said “we do not have any comment at this stage,” nor “any reaction.”

Ban in Cambodia, Peschoux and

Ban follow through on human rights not shown

Back on April 12, Inner City Press had asked Haq about Cambodia:

Inner City Press: there is a lot of controversy about the UN-backed Court [Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia] there. Some are saying that the President told Ban Ki-moon that there should be no more prosecutions and that the Court should be wound down. And advocates are saying that the UN hasn’t spoken up in defence of the Court’s mandate. Does the Secretary-General have a view on whether this Court should go on in a non-politicized fashion, or, as many say, should be moving to dismiss future cases beyond those it has?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: The Secretary-General fully supports the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in Cambodia, and he believes that it is up, ultimately, to the senior officials of the Extraordinary Chambers to proceed with their work as they see fit.

Since then, concerns have only grown. Ban Ki-moon and human rights: que pasa? Watch this site.

ECCC urged to quiz new suspects

2011-05-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

9 May 2011
AFP

The international co-prosecutor at Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on Monday called for the unnamed suspects in a politically sensitive new Khmer Rouge case to face questioning.

In a written statement, Andrew Cayley urged the co-investigating judges to examine more crime sites and "summon and question the suspects", adding that he felt their alleged crimes "have not been fully investigated".

In its landmark first trial, the court sentenced former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav to 30 years in jail in July for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people during the brutal 1975-1979 regime.

That case is now under appeal, while a second trial involving four of the regime's most senior surviving leaders is due to start in the middle of the year.

But the court has been tight-lipped about progress into potential third and fourth cases against another five members of the regime, whose identities remain confidential and details sketchy.

I object!

Observers say both cases are likely to be dismissed as they face strong opposition from the Cambodian government, with Prime Minister Hun Sen even saying last year these cases were "not allowed".

Late last month the court announced in a terse press release that it had concluded its initial investigations into the third case, without providing details of the crimes nor summoning the suspects, to the dismay of victims and observers.

Cayley's national counterpart Chea Leang has opposed going after more suspects from the beginning and her name was notably absent from Monday's statement.

Cayley refused to comment on the apparent rift between them but said that he had "a legal obligation" to demand further investigations.

"I am using every single legal instrument at my disposal... to ensure justice is done in this case," the Briton said.

"My view is that the victims, the witnesses and the potential suspects are entitled to know what is taking place in the courtroom."

Information first

In his list of new crime sites, Cayley disclosed numerous Khmer Rouge security centres across the country, including one in the capital Phnom Penh, as well as a forced labour site in southern Kampong Som province.

By giving victims some basic information, Cayley had "done the right thing, and this may be crucial for the credibility of the court", said Clair Duffy, from the rights group Open Society Justice Initiative.

The co-investigating judges are expected to announce next month whether they will take up Cayley's requests.

The third case is widely believed to centre around a former Khmer Rouge navy commander and an air force commander, while the fourth case is thought to involve three lower-level regime members.

Led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Marxist Khmer Rouge regime emptied cities in the late 1970s in a bid to create an agrarian utopia, killing up to two million through starvation, overwork and genocide.

Indigenous Peoples Standup for Their Rights in Vietnam

2011-05-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

Source:KKN

Vietnam has been recognized as one of the countries in Southeast Asia with the impressive progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations by 2015. However, more than half of the Indigenous Peoples in Vietnam currently still live below the poverty line. Instead of trying to improve the standard living for the Indigenous Peoples, the Vietnamese government confiscates their ancestral farm lands. When they speak up for their land rights, the Vietnamese government labels them as “separatists” or “try to disturb the society”. With those alleged crimes, the Vietnamese government can send them to the prison without a fair trial.

Neang Phuong was shot at her leg by the Vietnamese police.

On February 2008, the Indigenous Khmer-Krom farmers in Tri Ton district, An Giang province organized a peaceful protest to demand returning their confiscated farmland. The Vietnamese government used armed forces to disperse the protest. Many Khmer-Krom farmers were injured. Neang Phuong, Mr. Chau Hen’s wife, was shot in her leg and was refused for treatment at the Vietnamese hospital in Triton district. Mr. Chau Hen and his family escaped their beloved hometown to seek refugee status in Thailand.

The UNHCR staff in Bangkok refused to grant Mr. Chau Hen’s family refugee status and asked them to go back to Vietnam because they believed that the Vietnamese government would not do any harm to them. On December 17, 2010, leaving behind their children in Bangkok, only Mr. Chau Hen and his wife went back to find out if the Vietnamese government would not do any harm to them as the UNHCR staff in Bangkok said or not. Unfortunately, when they got back to their village for about two hours, the Vietnamese government in Tri Ton district sent the Vietnamese polices to arrest Mr. Chau Hen.

Mr. Chau Hen's Sons urged the UNHCR in Bangkok to grant them refugee status in April, 2011 after their father is imprisoned in Vietnam.

On March 31, 2011, the Vietnamese court of Tri Ton district brought Mr. Chau Hen for a trial even he was very sick and could not speak to defend for himself. He was sentenced for two years in prison with the alleged crime of inciting the Khmer-Krom farmers to demand returning their confiscated farmlands and caused the public disturbance.

Since April 20, 2011, Mr. Chau Hen’s wife has urged the Vietnamese government to allow her to visit him, but the Vietnamese government keeps denying and made her suspected that if Mr. Chau Hen is actually alive or not. The Vietnamese polices promised her that she will be allowed to visit him on May 10, 2011. Hopefully, Mr. Chau Hen is still alive.

The human rights violations committed by the Vietnamese government against the Indigenous Peoples do not happen only in the Mekong Delta, but it is all over the country. The Degar (Montagnard) people in the central highland of Vietnam have been harshly persecuted when they stood up to demand for their fundamental rights, such as: land rights and religious freedom.

According the 46-page report, “Montagnard Christians in Vietnam: A Case Study in Religious Repression” by Human Rights Watch in March 2011, stated that “more than 250 Montagnards in prison or awaiting trial are charged with national security crimes such as "undermining national solidarity." Many former Montagnard political prisoners and detainees report that they were severely beaten or tortured in police custody and pre-trial detention. Since 2001, at least 25 Montagnards have died in prisons, jails, or police lock-ups after beatings or illnesses sustained while in custody, or shortly after being prematurely released by prison authorities to a hospital or home.”

In Muong Nhe, Dien Bien province of North Vietnam, near the border with Laos, since April 30, 2011, thousands of the Indigenous Hmong Peoples have protested to demand for their fundamental rights. According to the U.S. –based Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), 28 protesters were killed and hundreds are missing after the military moved to suppress the protests. At this time, the Vietnamese government has surrounded this area and forbid any foreigners to visit this area.

The Tenth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will be held at the United Nation Headquarter in New York City from May 16-27. The Vietnamese government and the organizations that represent for the Indigenous Peoples in Vietnam will attend this forum. In previous years, the Vietnamese government representatives always claimed that Vietnam does not violate Human Rights and always respect the rights of all people in Vietnam including the ethnic minorities. Vietnam does not recognize the existence of the Indigenous Peoples in its country. With the human rights violation records that the world is condemning Vietnam to respect the Human Rights of the people in Vietnam, especially the rights of the Indigenous Peoples, it would be hard to believe if Vietnam still sings the same old song at the forum this year.

It is time for Vietnam to open its heart and mind to have a constructive dialog with the Indigenous Peoples to solve the issues in a peaceful and respective way. If Vietnam keeps using the oppressive strategies to imprison and kill the Indigenous Peoples, then Vietnam will never gain the respect from the other countries. Moreover, it might lead to the human rights revolutions as in North Africa and Middle East.

Opposition Plans Demonstration for Textile Workers

2011-05-10T05:18:00.000-07:00

Sophea (left), 25, a former employee of the June Textiles company, speaks to reporters after being injured during a scuffle with police yesterday in Sen Sok district (Photo: Pha Lina, The Phnom Penh Post)

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 09 May 2011

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy says he plans to gather garment workers together in a demonstration, after about 2,000 gathered for a strike in front of the June Textiles factory outside Phnom Penh.

The factory, which sits on the main road leading to the airport, burned down in March, costing the company millions of dollars and leaving many workers without pay.

Workers said they hoped to block the airport road Sunday night, as the prime minister and other leaders returned from an Asean summit in Indonesia, but were dispersed by riot police.

At least eight workers were injured as police clashed with protesters and two were detained through Monday. Sam Rainsy told reporters Sunday he planned a larger demonstration soon.

After Ban Ki-moon Said Stood Behind UN Rights Rep in Cambodia, His Leaving Draws No Reaction, like ECCC

2011-05-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 09, 2011
By Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press

Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky about it. Nesirky called it an “internal personnel matter,” then added that Ban stands behind the office and, by implication, its staff.

Now six months later, Peschoux has been chased from the country. Human rights groups call it “worrying.” Mr. Peschoux himself has said that in Cambodia

“human rights are tolerated to the extent that they do not challenge the political, economic and financial interests of the ruling elite. That’s where the red line runs. If you cross that line, trouble starts... Of course I’m leaving because it has become impossible for me to continue to operate in this environment.”

Ban in Cambodia, Peschoux and

Ban follow through on human rights not shown

Back on April 12, Inner City Press had asked Haq about Cambodia:

Inner City Press: there is a lot of controversy about the UN-backed Court [Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia] there. Some are saying that the President told Ban Ki-moon that there should be no more prosecutions and that the Court should be wound down. And advocates are saying that the UN hasn’t spoken up in defence of the Court’s mandate. Does the Secretary-General have a view on whether this Court should go on in a non-politicized fashion, or, as many say, should be moving to dismiss future cases beyond those it has?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: The Secretary-General fully supports the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in Cambodia, and he believes that it is up, ultimately, to the senior officials of the Extraordinary Chambers to proceed with their work as they see fit.

Since then, concerns have only grown. Ban Ki-moon and human rights: que pasa? Watch this site.

A laughable Kangaroo court with illiterate judges obeying to a Stalinist government

2011-05-10T04:08:00.000-07:00

May 10, 2011

A LAUGHABLE KANGAROO COURT WITH ILLITERATE JUDGES

OBEYING TO A STALINIST GOVERNMENT

Today the Phnom Penh Appeal Court postponed its awaited decision related to a ten-year imprisonment sentence handed down to me on September 23, 2010 for “forgery of a public document.”

The accusation against me is related to a French-era 1:100,000 map posted on the Sam Rainsy Party website which allegedly has an “unusual” grid on it (see Map # 4 at http://tinyurl.com/yeaoxyf). The Hun Sen government accuses me of adding the grid to the original map, therefore “falsifying” the document. They point to the grid by using the French word "carreaux" while the technical term in both English and French is UTM graticule.

Some CPP-affiliated judges seem to be as illiterate as some Hun Sen government “experts.”

Actually, I used and published both French-made maps and US-made maps to show that they corroborate one another regarding border delimitation between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Cambodian judges and government “experts” should read this explanation by Colonel Edward G. Anderson, Jr. of Corp of Engineers, United States Army (excerpt from "Mapping in Southeast Asia", in The Military Engineers, March-April 1969, page 232): "You would notice the Minutes mention the use of UTM (grid) on 1:100,000 French-made maps. The UTM (standard military grid) with marginal data in English was overprinted on the French maps by the US Army since outbreak of WW II. NATO, France included, adopted UTM grid after 1945."

Mr. Var Kim Hong, the head of government border “experts” did not get the point when he claimed in his accusation against me at a February 22, 2010 press conference, “The French are ignorant of UTM grid (map making).” Actually, it is Mr. Var Kim Hong and his CPP colleagues who are ignorant of elementary graph and map techniques.

Proeur Heungsa Chea Nich - "Always resorting to violence": Poem in Khmer by Kaun Khmer

2011-05-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

Gay Couple, Fleetingly Famous for a Kiss, Separated by Tragedy

2011-05-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

Two young men electrified a conservative South African town when a picture of them kissing prompted anger--mostly from area males--but also spoke to gays of passion, commitment... and normalcy. The photo, capturing a moment in time, is immortal--but a month after it was taken, one of the young men is dead, and the other in critical condition, following a car

Whitney Houston in Rehab for Drug and Alcohol Treatment

2011-05-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

Whitney Houston is seeking help. The singer, 47, who has struggled with substance abuse in the past, has recently entered an out-patient treatment program.

"Whitney Houston is currently in an out-patient rehab program for drug and alcohol treatment," her rep tells PEOPLE in a statement. "Whitney voluntarily entered the program to support her long-standing recovery process." Full story here!

Rugby Guys Gone Wild (NSFW)

2011-05-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

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Khmer Girl Model Kim Lisa

2011-05-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

Yet another question has come...Khmer model Kim Lisa, where does she get the beauty from?

Tribunal Prosecutor Supports Disclosure of Suspects’ Names

2011-05-09T22:02:00.001-07:00

Manilene Ek, VOA Khmer
Monday, 09 May 2011

The international prosecutor for the Khmer Rouge tribunal on Monday urged judges at the UN-backed court to publicize the identities of suspects in a controversial case.

So far the identities of suspects in cases 003 and 004 at the court have remained confidential, although likely suspects have been named by outside parties.

Prosecutor Andrew Cayley said Monday that announcing the names of suspects for potential indictment in Case 003 would be in “the interest of public information.”

Investigating judges concluded their work in that case in April.

Both cases remain controversial because Prime Minister Hun Sen objects to their going further, a position publicly supported by many Cambodian tribunal officials.

Critics say the cases should move forward in the name of national reconciliation.

Man accused of murdering wife suffered metal toxicity, court told

2011-05-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

Narin Sok is pictured on July 30, 2008, the day he was arrested by police and charged with the second-degree murder of his wife Deang Huon.Photograph by: Supplied, Edmonton Journal

May 9, 2011
By Ryan Cormier, Postmedia News
Edmonton Jounal (Alberta, Canada)

EDMONTON — In a rare move, Crown and defence lawyers have agreed that an Edmonton man charged with the second-degree murder of his wife is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder caused by "heavy metal toxicity."

After his arrest, Narin Sok told doctors he thought his wife might have been possessed by the "snake spirit" of his dead brother. He has admitted he killed her in the couple's downtown apartment on July 30, 2008.

Deang Huon, 40, died of strangulation.

In a joint submission, defence lawyer Peter Royal and Crown prosecutor Robert Fata agreed that Sok was suffering from lead, cadmium and manganese toxicity the day his wife was found dead.

The condition is attributed to years of working with scrap metal, and the fact that in hours before the murder, Sok tried to melt "magic belts" he and his wife had used in hopes of increasing their chances of pregnancy. That last concentrated exposure occurred in the couple's enclosed apartment.

"In my 36 years of practice I have never seen another case like this, and doubt we will ever see another one," Royal told court.

Sok, 51, was in a deranged state when police found him and his wife's body in their apartment after concerned relatives asked that someone check on the couple's welfare.

Police found a bizarre scene, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Sok was sitting in the bedroom, ripping up a black garbage bag to add to numerous others that covered the floors and windows. Next to him, his wife's dead body was partially covered with garbage bags, rice sacks and other debris. Rigor mortis had already set in.

Sok was taken to police headquarters in the back seat of a cruiser, where he spit and complained of thirst.

In his cell, he urinated on the floor and simultaneously complained the room was dirty.

He was soon moved to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, where he was treated for kidney failure, liver damage and facial scratches and bruises. There was also damage to his heart. He was then transferred to Alberta Hospital for a psychological assessment.

Starting in 1986, Sok had spent a total of nine years off and on working in various scrap-metal yards. Largely, his job was to cut and peel wires to separate various metals to be recycled. He told doctors he usually wore gloves but only used a mask sporadically because it was uncomfortably hot.

He told doctors his job was dusty and could turn his mask black when he did wear it.

When he returned from a 2007 visit to Cambodia, Sok brought back two "magic belts" made of zinc, silver and lead that were supposed to increase the chances he and his wife could conceive a child. The couple constantly wore two belts each, he told doctors.

Huon never became pregnant.

The night before his wife's death, Sok tried to melt those belts in a pan on the stove. As the apartment filled with smoke, he disabled the smoke detector, but had already covered the windows with garbage bags in what doctors later thought was a sign of increasing paranoia.

He said he doesn't remember going to sleep that night. Sometime after, the couple fought and Huon was strangled.

Sok told doctors he couldn't understand what happened in the moments before his wife's death, or why he punctured her right arm with a thin metal rod. He remembered placing a chair astride her neck then using a rice sack to weigh it down. He remembered both of them falling asleep.

At one point, he told doctors he thought his wife might have been possessed by the "snake spirit" of his deceased brother.

Heavy metal toxicity occurs when the amount ingested exceeds the body's ability to eliminate them. The effects vary greatly, depending on the level of toxicity and the specific metal involved.

Doctors concluded that Sok's toxicity started because of his occupation, leading to paranoia and abnormal behaviour.

It also led to the impaired judgment that led him to burn the metal belts, which caused acute poisoning by inhalation.

The Cambodian couple married in Edmonton in 1994. Between then and the murder there was no evidence of violence in the relationship and Sok did not have a criminal record.

Court was told Sok is now fully recovered from his mental illness.

The trial continues.

Survey Finds Little Optimism Among Teachers

2011-05-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

The annual survey by the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, which questioned 726 teachers across 17 provinces, also found a majority who believed the education system has “no quality.” (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 09 May 2011

“The quality of education in Cambodia has reached a low-level alert.”

A survey by a teacher’s association has found a high degree of pessimism among the country’s educators, with nearly half saying they believe the education system in Cambodia has not developed at all.

The annual survey by the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, which questioned 726 teachers across 17 provinces, also found a majority who believed the education system has “no quality.”

That number, 39.5 percent, was lower than the 45.5 percent who said they thought the country had not developed at all. About 14 percent of those surveyed said the sector had shown some development.

“We are very worried about the quality of education in Cambodia,” said Rong Chhun, president of the association. “The quality of education in Cambodia has reached a low-level alert.”

About half the respondents—52 percent—said low salaries were causing a decline in education quality. Fifteen percent said education suffered from a lack of transparency in its administration and that inactive school directors need to be removed.

Other reasons cited were corruption and a lack of teaching materials and training. About 85 percent of respondents said they felt they were not involved enough in decision making.

Only 56 percent said they knew what the country’s education strategy was.

Rong Chhun said he hoped the survey would be used by the Ministry of Education to reform the sector.

But Ou Eng, general director of the education department for the Ministry of Education, said the survey was “unfair and untrue.”

Khmer Hot Import Model: Kim Sunisa

2011-05-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

Introduce you to Khmer supper hot model, Kim Sunisa. She was born in Thailand, her parents are Khmer. When Kim Sunisa were 6 old, her family moved to US. Now she became one of the asian hot model in America. Khmer Sexy Model Kim Sunisa, Full Sexy Body, Shape, Khmer Thai Model. Khmer Model Hot, Shot In Different Styles. Khmer American Model, Sim Sunisa Moved To America.

Sunisa Kim - Interview by Kineda.com

K: What place do you call home and what ethnicity are you?

SK: I call Los Angeles home, but I was born in Thailand. I’m half Thai and half Cambodian. I came to the United States when I was about 6 months old.
K: Wow, such a small baby at the time. You’re a really popular model in the “scene” right now. What got you started?

SK: I’ve been working with the automotive industry for 3 years now. What got me known was being a spokes model for Yokohama Tires. From there on, it just snowballed and it makes me want to persue modeling even more. I also want to be able to branch out into acting.
K: That’s right. I remember seeing a giant poster ad of you at SEMA last year. Nice picture I might add! Acting seems to be the craze for models. I guess it’s the next natural progression. What kind of acting are you looking towards?.

SK: Thanks! Well, anything from drama or comedy. I’m also looking towards daytime or primetime TV. They need more diverse Asians on television! It’s the same old typical looking Asians we see on TV all the time.

K: Yokohama is keeping you on fulltime as their 1st spokesmodel. Where can the fans find you this season?

SK: Yokohama has me on contract. You’ll see me at all the drifting events, D1 and Formula D. I’m also touring with HIN, this year as one of their Official Glow Go Go girls. My partners are Sasha Singleton and Christine Mendoza.

K: Wow, talk about an awesome threesome! I’m sure you get hit on alot by guys in the industry. What’s the best line you’ve heard so far?

SK: I can’t think of any rite now, but i must admit, pick up lines are very cheesy!
K: Hahah.. we agree. What do you like better, the Drifting Competitions or the Import Shows?SK: I actually like both, because the fans that goes to these shows are all the same enthusiast, they are all great.
K: Have you tried drifting yourself? There’s nothing like a hot model doing an eternal drift with her head out the window cheesing for the cams.

SK: LOL. I’ve been in one of the japanese racer’s car, while he was drifting…it felt incredible, better that a roller coaster! Haven’t done it myself yet though.
K: Who was the lucky driver and what’s your favorite ride now?

SK: Orido Manabu, but he is now a D1 judge. I’m in love with the Porsche Cayenne.
K: Ahh I love that car. If you ever get it, slap on a Gembella kit and just roll down Sunset with it. I’m sure you need to stay in top shape for modelling. Do you do alot of fitness work? What do you like to eat?

SK: Believe it or not, I try staying in good shape my running a miles each day, but with traveling I haven’t been doing any exercises…and eating, ha! thats my favorite hobby. I like fruits, fritos with chili, fried chicken, hot and sour soup, noodles, etc….haha
K: that’s a nice selection! You don’t sound to picky with your food… is it the same with guys?

SK: Hmmm…no! haha, with guys, a girl has to be picky, if she wants to be in that ideal relationship!
K: So what’s it take for a guy to get into that “ideal” relationship.

SK: Be a gentlemen and be cool!
K: Easier said than done.

SK: You guys would be surprised with the nice feedback from girls when you are a gentlemen. Try it.
K: Hmm.. maybe we should open the door a bit more often. So if you had to choose… brawns or brains?

SK: Brains for sure. I can’t really stand guys that are way too into their themselves.
K: Who does?! We agree there. Any parting words for the Kineda fans?

SK: To all my loyal fans, I’m coming out with a website called Bombshellpinups, it’ll be a hit, please check it out and let me know what you think, and i’ll see everyone at the race track, go drifting!

Khmer Girl Model Kim Lisa

2011-05-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

Yet another question has come...Khmer model Kim Lisa, where does she get the beauty from?

Survey Finds Little Optimism Among Teachers

2011-05-09T18:19:00.001-07:00

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 09 May 2011

“The quality of education in Cambodia has reached a low-level alert.”

The annual survey by the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, which questioned 726 teachers across 17 provinces, also found a majority who believed the education system has “no quality.”

That number, 39.5 percent, was lower than the 45.5 percent who said they thought the country had not developed at all. About 14 percent of those surveyed said the sector had shown some development.

Other reasons cited were corruption and a lack of teaching materials and training. About 85 percent of respondents said they felt they were not involved enough in decision making.

Only 56 percent said they knew what the country’s education strategy was.

Rong Chhun said he hoped the survey would be used by the Ministry of Education to reform the sector.

But Ou Eng, general director of the education department for the Ministry of Education, said the survey was “unfair and untrue.”

Tribunal Prosecutor Supports Disclosure of Suspects’ Names

2011-05-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Manilene Ek, VOA Khmer
Monday, 09 May 2011

The international prosecutor for the Khmer Rouge tribunal on Monday urged judges at the UN-backed court to publicize the identities of suspects in a controversial case.

So far the identities of suspects in cases 003 and 004 at the court have remained confidential, although likely suspects have been named by outside parties.

Prosecutor Andrew Cayley said Monday that announcing the names of suspects for potential indictment in Case 003 would be in “the interest of public information.”

Investigating judges concluded their work in that case in April.

Both cases remain controversial because Prime Minister Hun Sen objects to their going further, a position publicly supported by many Cambodian tribunal officials.

Critics say the cases should move forward in the name of national reconciliation.

Out of Hardship, a Health Advocate Is Born

2011-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

Theary Chan (in large hat) participates in a USAID project to improve access to safe drinking water among poor floating communities in Cambodia. (credit: Sok Kata, RACHA)

April/May 2011
Theary Chan | HEALTH
USAID

I belong to a generation that has witnessed political upheavals, genocide, civil war, drought, and poverty. After the Khmer Rouge regime, when an estimated 1.5 million Cambodians were killed or died of starvation, my family and I fled the country, joining thousands of others to become refugees in the Thai-Cambodian border camps.

I spent 12 years in the border camps, surrounded by barbed wire and soldiers. During that time, we always kept our belongings packed in a small bag, ready to run if the camp was attacked. Sometimes we moved five times within a year to escape fighting and insecurity.

Our homes and hospitals in the refugee camp were built from bamboo and thatch, and we lacked water, electricity, and land. At night, this largest city of Cambodian people was plunged into darkness and fear. Our common goal was survival.

It was in the camps where I developed a passion to work for the empowerment of women. I received my initial health training in the border camps, spending more than a decade of my life working in the maternity ward of a makeshift hospital. I eventually became the chief midwife, working with a team of 25 Cambodian midwives.

We found great satisfaction in providing quality care and kindness to desperately poor and stressed women. At that time, our salary was a bag of rice and a few canned fish, but we felt rich in capacity development, friendship, and achievements.

I recall assisting a woman with a prolonged and complicated labor. When indiscriminate shelling wrecked the roof of the hospital, only the woman, her family, and I remained. The expatriate health staff had been evacuated by the United Nations security group and other health staff ran for their lives. Unmindful of the danger, I successfully assisted the woman to safely deliver a healthy baby, and stayed with her until her condition improved.

After the experience I gained in the maternity ward at the Thai-Cambodian refugee camp, I worked for two years as a resident midwife at Hospital Jean-Verdier and Hospital General de Romans, in France, and completed a Masters of Public Health in Holland. Afterwards, I spent 20 years working with international organizations. Then I felt ready for a new challenge in my life.

This led me to apply to the Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (RACHA) in 2003, where I was offered the post of executive director. When I started, RACHA was in the process of becoming a local NGO. In 2004, RACHA began to receive funding from USAID.

New Approaches to Save Lives

My country currently has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region.

Through generous funding from the American people via USAID, RACHA works in collaboration with government counterparts, especially the Ministry of Health, and other development partners, to reduce maternal, newborn, and children-under-5 mortality in Cambodia. RACHA’s strategy is to improve the lives of individuals in Cambodia by making services for reproductive, newborn and child health, infectious diseases, and HIV/AIDS safe, available, accessible, and sustainable.

RACHA also assists the government to implement the “Health Sector Support Project, Fast Tract Initiative Road Map” in five provinces. That includes: training health ministry workers; strengthening the links between health facilities and communities; mobilizing communities to improve referral systems; and increasing the number of community-based transportation systems to improve access to comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care.

RACHA constantly seeks new approaches and technology that will improve the lives of the communities it serves. One example: the conversion of lake water into safe drinking water through a biotech filtration system that supports thousands of poor communities living on and around the Tonle Sap Lake.

Cambodian people today wish to join the rest of the world in marching towards peace, progress, and prosperity. RACHA will do its best to use USAID’s resources effectively to reach more beneficiaries in remote areas, and to pursue innovative interventions to contribute to the achievement of the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Theary Chan is the executive director of Reproductive and Child Health Alliance (RACHA), a USAID/Cambodia local implementer.

Mexican Soap Star Shills For Yes On 8

2011-05-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

Anti-gay Mexican soap star and singer Eduardo Verastegui made this new Spanish-language ad for Yes On 8. His support for Prop 8 has already caused a protest in Mexico City.

Mexican-American movie star Eduardo Verastegui has begun campaigning against California's homosexual "marriage" law, and is incurring the wrath of Mexican homosexuals as a result. Following Verastegui's reported decision to lead the campaign for the Hispanic organization "Viva la Familia" (Long Live the Family) enraged members of "Tri Gay", Mexico's self-proclaimed "gay soccer selection" expressed their displeasure against the pro-life, pro-family actor and entertainer.

At a press conference on October 22 in the offices of Mexico's Secretary of Health, the team denounced Verastegui. The vice-president of Tri Gay, Eduardo Velasquez, tore up a picture of the star. Calling the action a "message of condemnation of his actions," Velasquez said that the destruction of the picture was meant "as an act of rejection of all those who promote homophobia" according to Mexico's El Universal newspaper.

Verastegui, recently an American citizen, is a devout Catholic and anti-abortion activist who refuses to kiss female co-stars on screen because he is not married to them. But apparently he has no problem with appearing in soft-core porn.

100 Days to Heaven” 1st Full HD TRAILER Release [VIDEO]

2011-05-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

Watch 100 DAYS TO HEAVEN - FULL TRAILER with Vice Ganda HQ Full Video

"100 Days To Heaven" Poster and Trailer Starring Coney Reyes, Vice Ganda and Xyriel Manabat

“100 Days to Heaven” is the final title of ABS,CBN’s upcoming inspirational series starring Connie Reyes and Xyriel Manabat.

100 Days to Heaven tells a story of a cruel boss portrayed by Coney Reyes. Due to her rough past, she became a cold and unkind person. Employees of the company are afraid of her because of her harsh attitude. One evening, she died and went to see God. There, God gave her a chance to live again in 100 days in a form of a child (portrayed by Xyriel Manabat). Her mission is to find the people that she had hurt and correct her wrong doings. Will she accomplish the mission in the form of a child?

Also starring in “100 Days to Heaven” are Neil Coleta, Dominic Ochoa, Rafael Rosell, Valerie Concepcion, Smokey Manaloto, Louis Abuel and Jodi Sta. Maria.

Directed by Malu Sevilla, the inspirational tv series is set to premiere soon on ABS-CBN.

Congressman Abs

2011-05-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

Towleroad tips us to the latest issue of Men's Health, which features GOP Rep. Aaron Schock (IL) showing off his famed bod. At age 29, Schock is the youngest member of Congress. We last took note of Rep. Schock for the famously gay-looking outfit he wore to a White House picnic last summer.

Gay Money Key To Obama 2012

2011-05-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

Over at Politico, Ben Smith reports that Obama's 2012 reelection effort is depending on the renewed generosity of the gays.

Pleased by an all-out White House push to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” gay donors have surprised campaign officials with the extent of their support. And the campaign’s new fundraising apparatus appears designed to capitalize on their enthusiasm: Obama’s finance committee included one gay man in 2008; there are 15 this year, a source said. The Obama campaign finance director, Rufus Gifford, was a top California gay fundraiser; the DNC finance chairman, Andrew Tobias, is gay; and the White House social secretary – traditionally a key, if unofficial, fundraising job – is also a gay man, Jeremy Bernard.

The spur for the gay community becoming an anchor for Obama’s re-election fundraising is a series of policy shifts in 2010. After a year of rocky relations and suspicion from Obama’s gay supporters that he wasn’t really committed to their issues, the last year saw a surge in activity. Along with the high-profile repeal of the military ban, Obama’s Justice Department recently refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act. And the administration has taken smaller steps, like gay partner hospital visits and hate crimes legislation, concrete and important gestures that simply weren’t made during the Bush administration.

Activist David Mixner says that the last few months have seen a "sea change" in the way gays view the president.Labels:

Uganda's "Kill Gays" Bill Back On Table

2011-05-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

Uganda's "kill the gays" bill is apparently being fast-tracked for a parliamentary vote within the next few days.

If enacted, the Bill would greatly broaden the criminalisation of homosexuality by introducing the death penalty for people who have previous convictions, are HIV-positive, or engage in same sex acts with people under 18 years of age. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that support LGBT rights.

There is hope that international pressure, particularly from the United States, may derail the bill yet again.

The US government has moved increasingly to tie aid to human rights, including LGBT human rights. The US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner, last month indicated that the US will use its influence in world bodies which provide Uganda with a big chunk of its budget. Already Germany has stopped aid to Malawi following anti-gay moves, including criminalising lesbians, in that country and funding for a huge infrastructure project only went ahead after reassurances on human rights from Malawi's government.

All Out has launched a petition campaign the Uganda's president

Wingnut Word Salad

2011-05-09T06:55:00.001-07:00

"For society, and a majority of our society, to be asked by a very small minority to change its ways — and everybody can interpret that for themselves; that can be constitutional, that can be by law, that can be by faith — the homosexual community wants to go and start its own churches and get married, they’re free to do that. And I don’t see that being unreasonable to say, why should people who believe this in a big way that’s been around for a long time turn around and alter what they feel is their sensibility just because those folks feel like, ‘We’re not being treated equal.'" - Actor Stephen Baldwin, saying something something something.

Photoshop Of The Day

2011-05-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Jezebel reports:

Ultra Orthodox Hasidic newspaper Der Tzitung is telling its readers like it isn't- by editing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from the now-iconic Bin Laden raid Situation Room photo. Oy vey. The religious paper never publishes pictures of women, as they could be considered "sexually suggestive." Apparently the presence of a woman, any woman, being all womanly and sexy all over the United States' counterterrorism efforts was too much for the editors of Der Tzitung to handle.

Also removed from the photo was a female counter-terrorism expert.

Indian girl: with the style... the light of India...

2011-05-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

The Extraordinary gas Chambers CIJs are a FARTING FARCE ! FARCE! FARCE!

2011-05-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

By Khmer Democrat, Phnom Penh
A Farting Farce is the Justice of the Poor, says Co-Investigating Judges You Bunleng and Siegfried Blunk Series

FARTING FARCE
2. A ludicrous, empty show; a mockery (the Free Dictionary)

Excerpt from Ms. Theary C. Seng's Press Release, May 5, 2011

Press Release: Theary Seng appealing ECCC decision re Meas Muth and Sou Met; lodging new application against Im Chaem, Ta An, Ta Tith

"In this one application, I publicly named and expressly hold Khmer Rouge military commanders Meas Muth and Sou Met directly, personally, individually responsible to me for the Crimes against Humanity (including the legal elements of murder, extermination, enslavement, imprisonment, torture, political persecution) in their roles as commanders of the Navy and Air Force of Democratic Kampuchea [national positions], respectively, and for their material contribution in developing and implementing the common design and purpose of a joint criminal enterprise [resulting in 1,700,000 deaths] which impacted the whole of Cambodia. That is to say, as a matter of international law, they are directly responsible for my legal injuries during the fall and exodus out of Phnom Penh (Phase I Movement) when my father, a Lon Nol military commander, “disappeared” [if rejecting Ms. Theary C. Seng's application, the CIJs are saying that these national military commanders of the Navy and Air Force had nothing to do with the capture and exodus of Phnom Penh????!!!!!] ; and the movement of the population of the East Zone (Phase 3) [expressly mentioned in the Introductory Submission as noted by UN Co-Prosecutor in his Press Release, May 9, 2011] when the Khmer Rouge imprisoned my family and me first at Wat Tlork and then Boeung Rai Security Centers, where I experienced and witnessed, inter alia, the death of my mother, among the 30,000 (thirty-thousand) lives estimated to have been extinguished at Boeung Rai. Here, the legal nexus are the CRIMES, not the geographically districts and zones they physically commandeered, vis-à-vis me as an applicant, except for their criminal actions as they were related to the capture and exodus out of Phnom Penh in 1975 when we shared proximity."

The U.N. Co-Prosecutor is smart in the nick of time in switching to the right side of history. with this detailed press release of May 9, 2011. But where are the "official voices of the victims" - Mr. Ang Pich and Ms. Elisabeth Simmoneau-Fort? Where are the other U.N. judges and senior officials in condemning the travesty of justice underway?

Hello, anyone there??????!!!!!!!

Myanmar Sexy Model, Mable Soe with Floral Bikini

2011-05-09T01:43:00.000-07:00

These are new bikini fashion photos of Mable Soe on the beach of Singapore. Mable is really hot and attractive in most of her bikini fashion photos. She is tall and has a slim and sexy body. Mable can also do very nice hotty poses.

Injustice, Deceit at Two-hundred-million-dollar Court for KR Victims

2011-05-09T01:42:00.000-07:00

Injustice, Deceit at Two-hundred-million-dollar Court for KR Victims

Theary Seng with her four brothers and their mother in Phnom Penh, most likely in 1974. In early 1978 for a period of 5-6 months, all six of them and their paternal grandfather were imprisoned in Wat Tlork Security Center and later transferred to Boeung Rai Security Center where the Khmer Rouge killed their mother Seng Chan Eat.

Boeung Rai Security Center where the Khmer Rouge imprisoned Theary Seng and her family and killed her mother, Seng Chan Eat. Among the 30,000 skulls, these are the only ones remaining: over the years, the villagers have been taking the skulls at liberty to grind them into traditional medicine. The bones are still in the mass graves in and around the pagoda and the nearby prison. This government has done absolutely nothing to preserve the other 200 security centers around the country, besides Tuol Sleng which came into being as result of January 1979 politics. Theary Seng, as the only civil party accepted in Case 002 for the Boeung Rai Security Center, is still awaiting the response of the Co-Prosecutors to be on their witness list. (Photo: Theary Seng, 4 Sept. 2010).

Monday, May 09, 2011
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

On Sunday, May 8, the Americans celebrated Mother’s Day. We, Cambodians, can join them in honoring our mothers and grandmothers by demanding greater, more dignified justice from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

The Khmer Rouge created over 1,200,000 orphans of whom I am one of them when they extinguished 1,700,000 lives including those of my father and mother. The last words of my mother—My daughter, go back to sleep—continue to haunt me, as she lulled me in her arms the night of her violent death in Boeung Rai Security Center whose mass graves contained 30,000 skulls.

My parents and those of the 1,200,000 other orphans’ were flesh and blood—with a name, a history, a family—and not some statistics or legal theories to be conveniently disposed of—again!—by the Tribunal.

We honor them by demanding justice. Whatever justice may be—legal, social, restorative, etc.—it must include TRUTH. TRUTH IS A PRE-CONDITION OF JUSTICE. Truth involves who speaks and who gets heard. In extinguishing Cases 003 and 004, the Tribunal extinguishes truth; it extinguishes justice; it extinguishes the voices of victims—those who died and those who survived—and our right to REPARATIONS.

We have been crudely conditioned to think of reparations mainly in monetary terms, which factor but insignificantly to what we desire of truth via reparations. It is useful to think of reparations with these 6 Rs:

1. RECOGNITION. There must be public recognition of the crimes, of the perpetrators and of the suffering of the victims. This recognition must include obligations of the State. Not only has the Tribunal been negligent in recognizing the suffering of the victims, it is being deceitful about its dealings of Cases 003/004.

2. RIGHT TO REMEDY. This includes rights of participation, of design, of citizenship.

3. REPAIR. Even if symbolic.

4. REFORM. Let’s start with the judiciary!

5. REAL AND REALISTIC. The reparations offered must be tangible and practical, e.g. provincial learning centers and memorials; the physical assets of the Tribunal to furnish these learning centers and memorials.

6. RECONCILIATION. It is not a moment but a process; it is not a principle but a strategy. What is happening now with regards to Cases 003/004 works against reconciliation as it works against truth-seeking.

The Tribunal (including the UN) is engaging in great deceit. It thinks that truth is inconvenient, justice is inconvenient. Well, so are 1,200,000 orphans living without our parents for the last 35 years.

But let me conclude not with these sordid facts but with the inspiration from the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to raise all of us to higher grounds from the dirt of the Tribunal: “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”

- Theary C. Seng, president of CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education; president of Association of Khmer Rouge Victims of which the Civil Parties of Orphans Class is a subgroup.

Over a thousand geckos freed from criminal taxi

2011-05-09T01:41:00.001-07:00

Over a thousand geckos discovered in the trunk of a taxi in Cambodia. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Alliance.

May 08, 2011
Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com

Over a thousand tokay geckos (Gekko gecko) were found in a single trunk of a taxi by the Wildlife Rapid Response Team (WRRT), forestry officials, and military police in Cambodia. WRRT is wildlife-crimes program run by Wildlife Alliance.

Boxes filled the taxi’s trunk. In the boxes were bags stuffed with 1,027 tokay geckos, of which nineteen had perished.

"[The tokay geckos] were likely going to be turned into food or possibly dried out for use in traditional medicines. There are also reports that Malaysian syndicates are buying them to fight them in rings, with onlookers gambling on the results," reads a blog from Wildlife Alliance on the incident.

Both the alleged wildlife trafficker and the taxi driver, a relative of the trafficker, were apprehended. The pair do not face jail time as the species is not considered endangered, however they face a maximum fine of three times the market value of the species, in this case nearly $4,000.

The surviving thousand-plus lizards were returned to the wild.

Native to much of tropical Asia, tokay geckos are considered generally common, although they have not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List. In some parts of the world they have been introduced and thus are considered pesky invasive species. However in their native habitat, they help keep insect numbers in check.

NZ’s Hamill calls for civil party applications

2011-05-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

Rob Hamill

Monday, May 09, 2011
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

FORMER Olympic rower and Khmer Rouge tribunal civil party Rob Hamill has called for KR victims around the world to apply to participate in the court’s controversial third and fourth cases, warning that the investigations may be shut down in the face of interference from the Cambodian government.

In a statement released yesterday, the New Zealander said he was “deeply concerned about overt political influence” at the court, and warned prospective civil party applicants that time is running out to join Case 003.

The court’s investigating judges announced last month that they had concluded investigation in Case 003.

The investigation remains confidential, though the case is believed to involve former KR navy commander Meas Muth and air force commander Sou Met.

The fact that the judges made no effort to solicit victim complaints and civil party applications in relation to the case, and that the suspects themselves apparently were not even questioned during the investigation, has led court observers to charge that the case has been deliberately scuttled due to opposition by Prime Minister Hun Sen and other officials.

Under court rules, civil party applications must be received within 15 days of the closure of investigation, a deadline that expires on Saturday.

“It should be the court’s obligation to inform victims about the deadline from the date of closing investigations,” Hamill said. “However, since it is not, this announcement hopes to raise the message for victims who want to put applications in for cases 003 and 004.”

Im Sophea, outreach coordinator at the tribunal’s Victims Support Section, said yesterday that Hamill and local activist Theary Seng had so far been the only people to apply for civil party status in Case 003.

The VSS, he added, has not solicited further applications because they have no received such instructions from the investigating judges, and because the identities of the suspects remain confidential.

“This is a decision by the coinvestigating judges and we cannot do anything beyond that because it is their decision,” Im Sophea said.

“Our role is only to accept applications.”

Hamill’s brother Kerry was captured by the Khmer Rouge in 1978 while sailing with friends in the Gulf of Thailand before being taken to S-21 prison in Phnom Penh and executed.

Rob Hamill provided emotional testimony about the ordeal in 2009 during the court’s first trial, that of former S-21 prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch.

Open stream in Windows Media Player 2011-05-08 : BayonTV Cha Cha Cha Game Show

2011-05-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

China and the Cascading Geopolitics of Lower Mekong Dams

2011-05-08T21:41:00.001-07:00

Philip Hirsch
The Asia Pacific Journal, Japan Focus

Much has been written on the downstream impact of China’s dams on the Lancang-Mekong River, which flows through or along the borders of five other countries after exiting China. Most of the discussion relates to the hydrological impact of impounding water in the eight dams along the mainstream Lancang Jiang in Yunnan Province. Particular concern surrounds the recently completed Xiaowan Dam and the recently approved construction of the Nuozhadu Dam, each of which is of a scale to impound quantities of water that can affect river hydrology throughout the basin. The Lancang Cascade, as it is termed, has caused considerable controversy in downstream countries, most notably during the 2008 floods and the 2010 drought. Both the floods and the droughts were blamed by many in Thailand, and some in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, on China’s actions. Recent articles on the downstream implications of altered river hydrology and the need for China to be less disingenuous in its public relations over the issue show the confluence of river hydrology and geopolitics in an international river basin such as the Lancang-Mekong.

The Lancang Dams have major implications for downstream hydrology, with the potential to exacerbate or ameliorate both floods and droughts and to impact on fisheries and other bases for the livelihoods of downstream users of the river. Cumulatively, they have the potential to increase dry season flows by 30 to 50 per cent in the reach of the Mekong River above the Lao capital Vientiane. However, there are also more indirect implications of the Lancang dams that receive less attention despite having a bearing on highly controversial current projects such as the proposed Xayabouri Dam in Laos.

Currently there are proposals for up to 11 dams on the lower Mekong mainstream, meaning the section of the river below China. These dams include sections of the river bordering or inside three of the four countries that are member states of the Mekong River Commission (MRC). Dams have been planned for the Lower Mekong since the 1950s, but the Cold War put development on hold in the 1960s through to the 1980s. By the time mainstream dams came back onto the agenda in the early 1990s, environmental concerns over large dams had grown to the extent that the dusting off of these megaprojects designed a generation earlier was simply unpalatable, and it was mostly assumed until recently that mainstream dams were off the agenda.

Several factors help explain the revival of Mekong mainstream dams, and China is implicated in a number of ways. One way in which China’s own development of the river drives the logic of building more dams further downstream is simply the demonstration and equity effect: the Lao government in particular sees no reason why it should hold back on developing a shared river when an upstream country is already doing so. There is a tension in the position of Laos in this regard, since unlike China the country is a member of MRC and needs to temper expressions of sovereignty over the river within its own borders with an adherence to procedures for prior consultation agreed to for projects with potential transboundary impacts.

A more material way in which China’s Lancang dams have helped bring the lower mainstream dams back into the decision making arena is through the changed hydrology of the Mekong River. Particularly in its upper reaches immediately below the Lancang dams, the altered flood hydrology makes the economics of dams on the lower mainstream more favourable than before. Early versions of the lower mainstream dams included large storages, for example at the giant Pa Mong dam proposed during the 1960s. However, the scaled-down versions are commonly referred to as “run-of-river” dams, dependent on the seasonal flow of the river to generate power without being able to store more than a few days’ flow at most. Without upstream storages, such dams would only operate at their full power capacity for a few months each year. With an evened-out flow from the Lancang dams however, with more water available during the dry season and less during the wet season, the prospects for year-round power generation are greater than under an unregulated monsoonal flood regime.

A further role that China has in development of dams downstream is the investment by Chinese state-owned power corporations in several of the key projects. Until the 1990s, most dams in the lower Mekong countries were public investments, based on loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The game has changed, and most dams are now commercial projects. China has weighed in heavily amongst these investments, with estimates that up to 40 per cent of the proposed tributary and mainstream hydropower development in coming years in MRC member countries – i.e. outside China – will be done by Chinese companies. These projects include four of the eleven proposed mainstream dams, at Pak Beng, Pak Lay and Xanakham in Laos and at Sambor in Cambodia. Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian companies have been granted concessions to build the remaining mainstream projects, indicating that the geopolitics of dam construction is now further complicated by commercial interests within the region. One of the implications is that the politics of dams with transboundary impacts are internal to national spaces as well as transboundary in scope. For example as Vietnamese companies wishing to build the Luang Prabang and Stung Treng Dams in Laos and Cambodia respectively cut across the concerns of those in the Mekong Delta, there are concerns that the mainstream dams in upstream countries will capture silt and ruin fisheries, with enormous consequences for the 20 million Vietnamese living in the Delta.

Recent concern over Chinese image abroad has led to some interesting changes in the way it conducts its hydro-business. At the MRC Summit in Hua Hin in April 2010, China agreed to release more data on inflows and outflows from its cascade of dams on the Lancang Jiang. This came in the wake of disquiet in downstream countries over the possible impacts of reservoir filling and releases on low flows and flash floods respectively. While China’s sharing of data still falls far short of full disclosure, the move did reveal awareness of the need to cooperate with downstream countries. Also, Sino-Hydro and other companies have been taking environmental impact assessment more seriously than in the past. Sino-Hydro’s Nam Ngum 5 tributary dam is one that is being used as a test case in the new Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol that has been developed by the international hydropower industry in dialogue with some NGOs and other partners (link).

A further development related to China’s role as the upstream player in the Mekong is a shift in regional geopolitics with the re-entry of the United States into the region through its Lower Mekong Initiative. While the US has yet to decide what material developments will take place under this program, the Initiative has been announced with thinly veiled attempts to trump Chinese influence in the region, sometimes portraying the US as a downstream friend to counterbalance the upstream environmental foe. The US has taken the part of ASEAN against China in higher profile instances, notably in its statements on the South China Sea at the July 2010 ASEAN Regional Forum (link).

What do these seemingly disparate indirect aspects of China’s role in Mekong mainstream hydropower beyond the Lancang Cascade tell us about the region’s environmental politics and development trajectories? There are at least two ways in which they paint a more coherent picture than is immediately apparent.

First, it is useful to understand the political logic of the mainstream dams in China and the lower Mekong in terms of path dependency, or the idea that events and their consequences are triggered and explicable in part by previous events and can go on to influence yet further developments in a cascading manner. That is, while the immediate considerations of the Lancang Cascade have been considered largely in their own right, there is a bigger and interconnected set of hydrological, economic and political implications of China’s development within its own territory that seems to be pushing inevitably toward construction of dams on the lower Mekong mainstream. In turn, this is driving a new geopolitics, both between China and the lower Mekong countries and also amongst and within the MRC members, as various players realign based on their position on the mainstream dams.

Second, it is clear that the environmental politics around dams on the Lancang and lower Mekong mainstream are intricately bound up in a wider world of geopolitical relations. These include China’s emerging relations with regional neighbours. They also include the regional playing out of competition between older and newer world superpowers. What is notable is the way in which these geopolitics are now enmeshed in resource and environmental concerns over a shared river system.

It would be dangerous to equate path dependency with fatalism over Mekong mainstream dams. Important decisions are yet to be made. It would equally be wrong to consider that environmental considerations are subject and subsidiary to dominant geopolitical concerns and that international relations rather than concern for a shared river system entirely rule the game. The recent publication by MRC of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report on the lower Mekong mainstream dams, which recommends a ten year moratorium on the eleven projects, presents an opportunity for the countries of the region to move beyond the path dependency that sees one dam leading to another… and another, until the river becomes a cascade of still-water lakes – as would be the case for 60 per cent of the length of the lower mainstream if all eleven dams were to go ahead.

A telling case is underway whose outcome will demonstrate whether or not the cooperative arrangement represented by MRC will take note of the SEA as the most comprehensive scientific assessment to date. The first of the mainstream dams, Xayabouri, was notified by Lao PDR for prior consultation by MRC member states over a six month period to April 2011. This is the first time that other MRC countries have been asked to give their opinions on a dam proposed in the territory of one of their neighbours. Xayabouri is a Thai project inside Laos, whose lead contractor is the Thai company Ch. Kanchang, whose financing would be mainly by Thai banks, and whose market for power is primarily in Thailand. On 19 April, the Joint Committee of MRC held a special meeting to decide what position to take on the dam. The outcome of the meeting was that the countries agreed to disagree, based on concerns expressed both in technical reviews of the dam proposals and a series of public consultations, at which strong opposition to Xayabouri and other mainstream dams was expressed. The matter was referred upward to the Ministerial Council level, effectively putting the dam in abeyance.

At the time of writing (early May) the company proposing Xayaburi Dam is adamant that the project will go ahead, reassuring its shareholders that the deal is still on. The Lao government has sent mixed messages, initially insisting on its sovereign right to develop water resources on its own section of the river, but then indicating that it would commission an expert review of the Environmental Impact Assessment before proceeding. Meanwhile the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Cambodia have made an unequivocal joint statement that the dam should go on hold, at least for the time being. The geopolitics involved for the first time put the country arguing for the right to develop, based on the principle of territorial sovereignty, on the back foot relative to downstream countries arguing from the basis of territorial integrity, or the need to respect the implications of upstream development for the well-being of people downstream – in the Mekong Delta and Tonle Sap lake area in particular.

If a deal is done to go ahead with Xayabouri despite the SEA recommendations and despite the technical, community and riparian government concerns over the project, this will more than likely open the floodgates for further dams on the mainstream, at enormous cost to the well-being of the millions who depend on the river for their everyday livelihoods. Ultimately, this outcome is linked to China’s actions further upstream, without which it is highly unlikely that the mainstream dams would be under discussion as they are today.

----------

Philip Hirsch is Director, Australian Mekong Resource Centre, University of Sydney, He is the co-editor with C. Warren of The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia: resources and resistance, Routledge 1998, and co-author with Derek Hall and Tania Murray Li of Powers of Exclusion: land dilemmas in Southeast Asia, Singapore University Press and Hawaii University Press 2011.

Recommended citation: Philip Hirsch, China and the Cascading Geopolitics of Lower Mekong Dams, The Asia-Pacific Journal Vol 9, Issue 19 No 4, May 9, 2011.

Articles on related subjects:

• Michael Richardson, Dams in China Turn the Mekong Into a River of Discord: Rivers Know No Borders, But Dams Do

• Kenneth Pomeranz, The Great Himalayan Watershed: Water Shortages, Mega-Projects and Environmental Politics in China, India, and Southeast Asia

• Brahma Chellaney, Averting Asian Water Wars

• Geoffrey Gunn and Brian McCartan, Chinese Dams and the Great Mekong Floods of 2008

• Milton Osborne, The Water Politics of China and Southeast Asia: Rivers, Dams, Cargo Boats and the Environment

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