Cambodian Living Life ជីវិតរស់នៅជនជាតិខ្មែរ

រ៉េន ត្រូវគេសរសើរជាទាហានឆ្នើម

2011-12-14T02:44:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 14 December 2011 12:02

ភ្នំពេញ ប៉ុស្តិ៍

សេអ៊ូល : បន្ទាប់ពីបញ្ចប់វគ្គហ្វឹកហាត់៣សប្ដាហ៍នៅបន្ទាយទាហាន តារាចម្រៀងប៉ុប រ៉េន បានចាប់ផ្ដើមកាតព្វកិច្ចយោធារបស់ខ្លួន ក្នុងនាមជាជំនួយការគ្រូបង្វឹកនៅមណ្ឌល ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី១២ ខែធ្នូតទៅ។

ដោយសារតែសមត្ថភាពខាងជំនាញបាញ់កាំភ្លើង វាយប្រហារ និងរត់ពេលយប់ចម្ងាយ៤០គីឡូម៉ែត្រ។ក្នុងការហ្វឹកហាត់ខាងលើ តារាចម្រៀង រ៉េន ដែលត្រូវបាន គេស្គាល់ថាជា តួអង្គ

លី យ៉ុងជេ ក្នុងរឿងបំណុលផ្ទះជំពាក់ស្នេហ៍ នោះក៏ទទួលបាននូវពិន្ទុខ្ពស់ពីការប្រឡងដល់ទៅ១០០ភាគរយ ព្រមទាំងជាប់ជាបេក្ខជនហ្វឹកហាត់ដ៏ឆ្នើមមួយរូបទៀតផង។

ដោយសារតែកត្តានេះហើយ ទើបតារាចម្រៀងប៉ុបវ័យ ៣០ឆ្នាំរូបនេះត្រូវបានតែងតាំងជាជំនួយការគ្រូបង្វឹកនៅមណ្ឌល។ ក្រោយពីដកខ្លួនពីវិស័យសិល្បៈ មួយរយៈដើម្បីចូលបន្ទាយទាហាននៅចុងខែតុលា តារាសម្ដែងលំដាប់ពិភពលោក រ៉េន នឹងបន្តកាតព្វកិច្ចយោធារបស់ខ្លួនក្នុងអំឡុងពេល២១ខែ គឺគិតរហូតថ្ងៃទី១០ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១៣ឯណោះ៕

នួន ជា សារភាពថា ខ្លួនពិតជាបានបញ្ជាឲ្យជម្លៀសប្រជាជនពីទីក្រុង

2011-12-14T02:40:00.000-08:00

ភ្នំពេញៈ ការជម្លៀសប្រជាជនរាប់លាននាក់ឲ្យចេញពីរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ បន្ទាប់ពីខ្មែរក្រហមចូលទីក្រុងក្នុងខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៥ ត្រូវបានសម្រេចឡើងដោយគណៈកម្មាធិការកណ្តាលរបស់បក្សនៅក្នុង កិច្ចប្រជុំជាច្រើនដែលចាប់ផ្តើមក្នុងឆ្នាំ១៩៧៣។ នេះបើយោងតាមលោក នួន ជា បងធំទី២នៃរបបខ្មែរក្រហមដែលបានផ្តល់កសិណសាក្សីកាលពី ម្សិលមិញ។

បុរសវ័យ៨៥ឆ្នាំរូបនេះ បានប្រាប់ចៅក្រមនៅសាលាក្តីខ្មែរក្រហមថា ការជម្លៀសប្រជាជនចេញ គឺត្រូវធ្វើដើម្បីរំដោះទីក្រុង និងការពារមិនឲ្យមានការបាត់បង់ជីវិតប្រជាជនបន្ថែមទៀត ក្រោមរបប លន់ នល់ ដែលគាំទ្រដោយអាមេរិក។

លោក បានបន្តថា៖ «យើងចាំបាច់ជម្លៀសប្រជាជនទៅខេត្តផ្សេងៗ និងសហករណ៍ផ្សេងៗដើម្បីឲ្យពួកគេមានអាហារទទួលទាន»។

ការជម្លៀសប្រជាជនទាំងបង្ខំដំបូងចេញពីកណ្តាលក្រុងក្នុងខែ មេសា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៥ គឺជាប្រធានបទចម្បងតែមួយគត់នៅក្នុងសវនាការកាត់ក្តីទីមួយ ក្នុងសំណុំរឿង០០២។ ការជម្លៀសប្រជាជនចេញពីរាជធានីភ្នំពេញត្រូវបានព្រះរាជអាជ្ញា ពិពណ៌នាថា ជាការចាប់ផ្តើមនៃ «សុបិនអាក្រក់» នៃការកាន់កាប់របស់ខ្មែរក្រហម។ ប្រជាជនរាប់លាននាក់ត្រូវបានជម្លៀសឲ្យដើរតាមផ្លូវក្រៅទីក្រុង ហើយមានប្រជាជនជាច្រើនបានស្លាប់ដោយសារជំងឺ និងការអត់ឃ្លាន។

ក្នុងអំឡុងពេលជិត៣ម៉ោងនៃការសួរចម្លើយ លោក នួន ជា បានថ្លែងថា បក្សគឺមិន «ស្អាតស្អំ១០០ភាគរយ» ហើយត្រូវបានបង្កើតក្នុងសង្គមពុករលួយ និងកលិយុគ។

ខណៈកំពុងពិពណ៌នាអំពី «ធាតុអាក្រក់» នៅក្នុងបក្ស ចុងចោទវ័យចំណាស់រូបនេះ បានរំឭកអំពីឧប្បត្តិហេតុមួយក្នុងអំឡុងរបបនោះ ខណៈកំពុងបើក រថយន្តនៅតាមផ្លូវទៅខេត្តសៀមរាប។

លោក នួន ជា បាននិយាយ នៅក្នុងតុលាការថា៖ «ថ្ងៃមួយ នៅវេលាម៉ោងប្រហែល៤ព្រឹក ខ្ញុំកំពុងតែនៅក្នុងរថយន្តទៅខេត្តសៀមរាប ខ្ញុំបានឃើញហ្វូងប្រជាជនមួយក្រុម ហើយខ្ញុំបានសួរៈ តើអ្នករាល់គ្នាកំពុងទៅណានៅព្រឹកព្រលឹមនេះ? ពួកគេប្រាប់ខ្ញុំថា ពួកគេទៅស្ទូងស្រូវ ហើយខ្ញុំបានសួរពួកគេថា ហេតុអ្វីបានជាព្រលឹមយ៉ាងដូច្នេះ»។ «ពួកគេនិយាយថា នោះគឺជាបញ្ជាពីថ្នាក់លើ ហើយខ្ញុំនិយាយថា ទេ វាមិនត្រឹមត្រូវនោះទេ»។

បន្ទាប់មកលោក បានអះអាងថា លោកត្រូវបានគេបោកក្នុងអំឡុងដំណើរចុះទៅសហករណ៍ ដោយគេឲ្យលោកមើលតែមនុស្សមានសុខភាពល្អ និងមិនស្គមស្គាំង។

ជនជាប់ចោទទាំងបីនាក់ចូលបង្ហាញខ្លួនក្នុងក្រចកសេះកាលពី ម្សិលមិញដែលក្នុងនោះ លោក អៀង សារី បានថ្លែងអះអាងថា លោកនឹងមិនផ្តល់កសិណសាក្សីណាមួយនោះទេ។

លោក ខៀវ សំផន អាយុ៧៨ឆ្នាំ បានថ្លែងថា លោកនឹងមិនឆ្លើយសំណួរនោះទេរហូតទាល់តែព្រះរាជអាជ្ញាបង្ហាញ ភស្តុតាងលើរូបលោក ប៉ុន្តែលោកបានអាននូវសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍វែងមួយថា លោកមិនមែនជារបស់បក្សនោះទេ ហើយមិនបានចូលរួមនៅក្នុងដំណើរការធ្វើការសម្រេចចិត្តទេ។

លោក បានថ្លែងបន្តថា៖ «ប៉ុល ពត បានគិតថា ខ្ញុំជាអ្នកចេះដឹងម្នាក់ដែលមករស់នៅជាមួយ CPK (គណបក្សកុម្មុយនីស្តកម្ពុជា)»៕ PS

Marrying product and client through effective marketing

2011-12-14T02:12:00.000-08:00

Anthony Galliano
Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Peter Drucker, the American author and consultant, famously quoted “The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service sells itself.”

Marketing is an essential component of the management of a business, as important as production and finance. While it receives intense focus in developed countries, it is also gaining significant traction in emerging markets.

Marketing is the process used to determine the products and services that may be of interest to potential customers and includes the functions of sales, public relations, pricing, packaging, and distribution.

It is a technique to identify the customer, anticipate and satisfy customer requirements, and maintain the customer relationship in ways that benefit the company and the shareholders.

“The Marketing Mix”, the most commonly known and utilised methodology in marketing, consists of parameters that can be controlled known as the Four P’s, they are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.

The objective is to construct a strategy that focuses the 4P’s on the customer in the target market, in order to create perceived value which results in a positive response. An extension of the concept to include Packaging, Positioning and People, is known as the Seven P’s.

Product includes brand name, logo, servicing, and quality. Price is the strategy of pricing the product, discounts, and flexibility. Place involves distribution channels, market coverage, inventory management, and logistical details. Promotion is advertising, sales force, communication, and publicity.

Marketing is gaining acceptance in Cambodia with the success of brand awareness and recognisable logos more commonplace, particularly among telecommunication, financial services, food and beverage and hospitality companies. It is not unusual to see marketing stands in the streets touting products and promotions. Many companies are using their vehicle fleet to increase brand awareness and in addition to billboards and landmark displays, companies are investing in their own trademark buildings and headquarters.

Some companies are cementing customer loyalty through reward programs. Many coffee chains have cards which offer a free drink once the customers has purchased a certain numbers of paid drinks.

There are restaurants that will give a free meal as well as supermarkets who give coupons with monetary value as soon as certain milestones are attained. Promotion of the company though the sponsorship of concerts or sporting events is another method being utilised. Customers greatly appreciate receiving something perceived to be free, these programmes are excellent for keeping the allegiance of customers.

Most companies have accepted that it is essential to have a high quality and up to date website. However, there are still large companies that do not have websites, and many that do not actively manage them with new and creative content or use the internet to advertise their products.

Use of media is also on the rise. This is primarily achieved with press releases, executive interviews, and advertising placements. Although not widely employed, many companies are using seminars and presentations as part of their marketing programmes.

As consumers become more sophisticated and competition offers more selection and pricing options, the strength of a company’s marketing strategy may very well determine its survival.

Ieng Thirith hospital-bound

2011-12-14T02:10:00.000-08:00

Bridget Di Certo
Wednesday, 14 December 2011

ECCC POOL

Ieng Thirith at the ECCC.

Ieng Thirith will be remanded to detention and undergo medical treatment to improve her mental abilities, in the anticipation she will one day stand trial, the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s court of final appeal decided yesterday.

The Supreme Court Chamber decided to grant the co-prosecutors’ immediate appeal against the Trial Chamber’s decision last month to unconditionally release Ieng Thirith as she was unfit to stand trial.

In a sharp criticism of the Trial Chamber’s “sweeping conclusion”, errors of law and delegation of responsibilities to the co-prosecutors, the judges of the Supreme Court decided in a vote of 6-1 that Ieng Thirith should continue medical treatment and be re-examined in six months’ time.

“A parallel objective [to ensuring the accused’s presence at trial] is to foster the improvement of the mental health of the accused,” the judges wrote.

One of the experts who examined Ieng Thirith, New Zealand geriatrician John Campbell, suggested a trial of the drug Donepezil, which has a 33 per cent effectiveness rate, to improve Ieng Thirith’s cognitive function.

One in three was a probability that, “from the point of view of the various interests in trying the case, should not be dismissed”, the Supreme Court Judges said.

The former-Khmer Rouge Minister for Social Action was found unfit to stand trial by the Trial Chamber on November 17, two working days before opening statements in the landmark Case 002 began at the tribunal.

Ieng Thirith’s defence counsel first raised queries about her mental abilities in February this year.

New Zealand geriatrician Campbell examined Ieng Thirith in June and concluded she had a “moderately severe dementing illness, most probably Alzheimer’s disease” and recommended her doctors reduce her medication in order to better examine her mental abilities. The Trial Chamber found that while there was a possibility that Ieng Thirith could attempt to feign cognitive impairment, it was considered unlikely that Ieng Thirith could falsely present with dementia.

International Co-Prosecutor Andrew Cayley said his office was “very satisified that the Supreme Court Chamber recognised the strong public interest that the matter be pursued”.

Defence counsel for Ieng Thirith declined to comment on the decision.

Laos dam looms over fish quota

2011-12-09T03:33:00.001-08:00

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Photo by: Mai Vireak

Men look over a catch at a fish market near Kilometre 9 in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district on Tuesday.

A new government plan has set a goal for an annual 1.2 million tonnes of fish by 2019, but officials and environmentalist have said the construction of Xayaburi dam in Laos could stymie Mekong fisheries.

The plan would push fish exports to 500,000 tonnes of fish per year, generating an estimated US$1 billion in revenues, Nao Thouk, director general of fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, said.

Strengthened conservation would increase fishery output by 15 per cent a year, he added.

The plan, which will be formally announced on January 11, would also secure increased fish for domestic consumption. Cambodia currently produces about 500,000 tonnes of fish per year.

“We will cooperate with other NGOs to ensure [the success of] the plan, which will serve both local consumption and increase the national budget,” Nao Thouk said.

However, construction of the Xayaburi dam in Laos would jeopardise the plan. Cambodia, along with Vietnam, Thailand and other development partners, have asked that the $3.7 billion dam on the Mekong be postponed for 10 years due to the potential for the destruction of fisheries downstream, Nao Thouk said. Laotian authorities have yet to do a proper assessment of the dam’s impact on Cambodia.

“Laos has not conducted a study on the lower Mekong. They only did that at the site of development,” Nao Thouk said.

Laos said yesterday it would postpone construction on the dam, according to Bloomberg, but the length of the delay was not specified.

Xayaburi would cause lower water levels during the rainy season and higher levels during the dry season, something that could change the quality of the Mekong water, Om Savath, executive director of the Fisheries Action Coalition Team, said yesterday. “It will definitely have a serious impact on the output of fisheries,” he said.

Although crackdowns on illegal fishing had helped increase fish populations, the 1.2 million-tonne goal would most likely not be met, Om Savath said.

The more than 100 per cent increase needed to reach that goal was not feasible in the given time frame, he said.

Lov Heung, a fish exporter in Koh Thom district of Kandal province, said fish output had been noticeably increasing this year.

Exporters’ yields had also increased, Lov Heung claimed, but declined to say by how much.

Cambodia versus Hollywood

2011-12-09T03:27:00.001-08:00

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Actress Daliah Lavi recalls the snakes, soldiers and sickness that plagued the production of Lord Jim in 1964

When Daliah Lavi invited Hollywood star Kirk Douglas to her tenth birthday party, the little girl had no idea that this would eventually lead to an unforgettable adventure in Cambodia. Jewish-American Douglas (Spartacus) was filming The Juggler in a kibbutz near Haifa in Israel in 1952, where Daliah lived with her German-Russian immigrant parents.

The actor saw the pretty kid with the olive skin and the dark eyes, and wanted to adopt her and take her to California. The parents refused. Instead Douglas left a generous donation that enabled Daliah to study ballet in Sweden until the age of 15. A life in Paris, an acting career in Rome and the female lead in the movie Lord Jim, mainly shot in the temples and jungles of Angkor in 1964, followed.

“Cambodia was a real adventure for me as a young girl”, the actress and singer, now 69, said in an interview with 7Days. “Looking back, however, I must confess that the creation was more of an adventure than the film itself.”

Screenwriter and director Richard Brooks bought the rights for Joseph Conrad’s novel Lord Jim for just $6,500 in 1958. He was obsessed by the idea of turning the story of a British merchant sailor, who is discredited as a coward and wants to redeem himself, into an epic film. Brooks wrote the screenplay for three years, got a nine million dollar budget from Columbia Pictures, persuaded Lawrence of Arabia actor Peter O’Toole to star in the movie and travelled through Asia to find exotic locations.

However, an exotic actress for the significant part of ‘The Girl’ was missing until October 1963.

“Richard Brooks found me during his stopover in Rome”, Daliah Lavi said. “Someone told him to see the movie Il Demonio. I played a girl who was possessed by evil spirits. Richard Brooks saw the film in a private screening and said: ‘That’s my girl! Who is she?’ He called my agent and sent me straight to Asia without even testing me. My mother came with me, since I was so young.”

Daliah Lavi and her mother Ruth flew via London, Cairo and Kuwait to Hong Kong, where filming began in the former British colony. In early 1964, a contingent of 110 American and British filmmakers flew to Phnom Penh and continued their trip with smaller airplanes to the final destination, Siem Reap. With Angkor Wat as a magnificent background, the set designers and an army of local craftsmen had erected the houses, pagodas and schools for the fictional village of mythical Patusan.

The western invaders stayed at the Auberge Royale des Temples, a quiet hotel that faced Angkor Wat and is nothing but a parking lot for busses and tuk-tuks today. Built in 1909 for the very first Angkor tourists from Europe and the US, the former hotel had an interesting history.

“Richard Brooks and Prince Sihanouk had a special deal”, Daliah Lavi said. “Cambodia would allow us to come and film, if the production company built an additional modern wing to the small hotel and hand it over to the Cambodian people afterwards.”

Indeed, Brooks spent more than half a million dollars on 45 new double rooms with air conditioning, showers and western toilets.

With unfamiliar outside temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, a zoological mix of snakes, lizards, bats and mosquitoes, and no bars or nice restaurants in Siem Reap, the hotel became the most popular spot for the actors.

“Everybody was sitting together in the dining room”, Daliah Lavi said. “Only James Mason was a lonely wolf and not very communicative, but Peter O’Toole was good to me and protective like a brother.

And there was the cute little Khmer boy who played in the movie. He was in heaven, since he could stay in the hotel with us. The company ran into him in the streets of Siem Reap, when he was riding a funny bicycle. As a reward for his work they gave him a beautiful new bike, and of course money to his family.”

In addition to Angkor Wat, Richard Brooks chose Preah Khan as a main location and fortress for the movie villains, among them British actor James Mason (Lolita) and the German Curd Jürgens (The Spy Who Loved Me). Director of cinematography, Freddie Young (Lawrence of Arabia) also shot scenes in Bayon temple, at the South Gate of Angkor Thom and in the surrounding jungles and rivers.

Daliah Lavi considered Richard Brooks “a very disciplined and tough director, not physically, but he gave clear orders”. Just a few members of the crew knew about their director’s sad secret: “When we started filming, his mother died and he could not go home. He was very sad and felt extremely guilty. He was Jewish, and I am Jewish. I knew how hard it was for him not to go to the synagogue and say farewell to his beloved mum. Later Richard Brooks’ wife came to Cambodia, and that was very helpful for him.”

At first, the actors had a lot of spare time before full shooting began. “My mother was interested in the temples and made me go with her”, Daliah Lavi said. “It was amazing to visit all these places. Angkor Wat was surrounded by water, and many elephants and their babies were having a bath in it. We didn’t see many tourists, but many locals. And the women! I saw them bathing in the rivers or working in the rice fields with bare breasts. I think that was the first time for me to see women in public with no top. And the temples were full of monks in their orange robes. They took care of the temples while we were shooting. They also acted in front of the camera. All monks in the movie are real monks.”

But not everything was as nice and romantic as the sightseeing. In particular Peter O’Toole was upset about the simple living conditions, the bad food and the less beautiful aspects of wild nature.

Daliah Lavi said, “It was very hard to work in the humid weather conditions. And there were mosquitoes, bugs and snakes everywhere. One of the American crew members even died on that movie, because she was bitten by a cobra. She died very quickly and nobody could help her. After this incident we got lessons how to defend ourselves against the snakes. In our hotel we were safe. On location, they brought our own bathrooms and toilets. We lived in tents and had to stay there, until somebody came to pick us up. We were not allowed to wander around in the night, because snakes were hanging from the trees. It was very weird.”

Daliah Lavi was not bitten by a snake, but knocked out by bacteria. “I got seriously sick and had to fly to Phnom Penh. I spent a few nights at a hospital, and that was very different from our western clinics. People were lying in the corridors, including myself, but the doctors saved my life and gave me all kinds of antibiotics. In the meantime, Richard Brooks shot other scenes without me, until I returned to Siem Reap. I had lost a lot of weight, and since the movie was not filmed chronologically, you can certainly see that I am skinnier in some scenes than in the others.”

While the actress was in the hospital in Phnom Penh, Prince Sihanouk’s attitude towards American visitors in his country got worse from day to day. Less than three months before, His Royal Highness had delivered a tirade against the United States, complaining that the CIA has been supporting anti-Sihanouk radio broadcasts from the bordering Vietnam jungles. In retaliation, Prince Sihanouk who until then had been neutral, announced he would strengthen the business relations with China and stop the insulting practice of all kinds of foreign aid from the capitalistic Americans. When the US withdrew their aid voluntarily, the anti-Americanism in Cambodia suddenly threatened to turn into violence.

Rumour had it, that a series of spontaneous anti-American demonstrations was being planned in Phnom Penh. The first was scheduled for the second week of March 1964. Richard Brooks took this danger seriously, and doubled the work schedule to escape from Cambodia one month earlier than originally planned.

“I did not worry about me”, Brooks admitted in an interview one year later, “I was worried about my film”.

Suddenly the director understood why he was not allowed to hire local farmers as movie extras, but had to employ 300 Cambodian soldiers. They were watching Brooks and every step of his crew.

“There was a sense of excitement in the air,” Daliah Lavi said. The worst case scenario was that the film crew could be surrounded by those 300 Khmer soldiers when the anti-American demonstrations started in Phnom Penh. Richard Brooks gave a clear order: “Hurry up and get the hell out of here!” The crew worked in two shifts, 18 hours per day, Brooks directing at daylight and technicians mounting the night scenes.

On the March 3, 1964 all 110 film people left Cambodia and travelled to London, where the interiors and special effects were filmed at Shepperton Studios. Richard Brooks listened to the news carefully and learned that in far-off Phnom Penh 10,000 people were marching in the streets, shouting “Yankee, Go Home!” and attacking the British and US embassies.

In a radio broadcast Prince Sihanouk denounced the film company as “western imperialist invaders.”

Later His Royal Highness gave the worst review that Lord Jim and its producers ever received: “For a film producer (even one of real talent) what is Cambodia? The ruins of Angkor... and that is all. So, a run-of-the-mill script is hurriedly written, one or two flashy stars are hired, one adds a mixture of eroticism and violence, advance promotion dwells on the same old hackneyed themes (...scorpions lurking in boots... the poverty of the people... etc.) and the whole plot is put in motion.”

Lord Jim was released in US cinemas on February 25, 1965 and was a total box office bomb. Peter O’Toole had to accept a failure in his filmography and added Cambodia to his red list immediately: “If I live a thousand years,” O’Toole said in an interview with Time magazine, “I want nothing like Cambodia again. It was a bloody nightmare. I really hated it there.”

In contrast, Daliah Lavi does not look back in anger: “Filming in Cambodia was a great experience. Something of this size does not happen to you every day. I was too young to fully understand the big opportunity we had in those days. This came later. But my mother was phenomenal, she took all her photos back to Israel and told the people of our village about the unique temples. When she did her presentation, the room was packed with visitors.”

Lord Jim was the first big Hollywood feature film in Cambodia – and the last one for almost four decades. Bombed by the US during the Vietnam War, destroyed by Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, taken over by Vietnamese troops in the 1980s and caught by a civil war in the early 1990s, Cambodia and its temples were a no-go-area for film crews. Even Roland Joffe’s The Killing Fields about the life and survival of Dith Pran (who, by the way, was a Khmer-English-interpreter on the set of Lord Jim) had to be filmed in neighbouring Thailand in 1983.

When the UN Peace Corps arrived ten years later, the backpacker tourists followed soon and finally the filmmakers, too.

“We will bring Cambodia back on the map”, director Simon West promised in 2000 and sent Angelina Jolie to Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon and Phnom Bakheng for the filming of Tomb Raider – Lara Croft.

The film incarnation of the computer game heroine started a renaissance of tourism in Angkor and swamped the temples with tourists from all over the world. Daliah Lavi never returned to Cambodia. “My husband and I went on a boat cruise to Vietnam. We were not far from the Cambodian border, but we did not go. It was very stupid not do the short trip and see all the changes after such a long time. I would love to see it again. If there is any opportunity, it would be fun to return to Cambodia after almost 50 years.”

Cambodia versus Hollywood

2011-12-09T03:27:00.000-08:00

Stylelife

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ព្រាប សុវត្ថិ និង សេរីមន្ត ប៉ះគ្នានៅបាត់ដំបង

2011-12-09T03:17:00.000-08:00

តារាចម្រៀងមកពីផលិតកម្មពីរខុសគ្នា គឺលោកព្រាប សុវត្ថិ និង លោកខេមរ សេរីមន្ត រួមជាមួយនឹង Dj ឃ្លាំង នឹងរួមគ្នាច្រៀងជូនប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនៅខេត្តបាត់ដំបងបានទស្សនា កម្សាន្ត ក្នុងកម្មវិធីសប្បុរសធម៌មួយ នៅអង្គការហ្វារពន្លឺសិល្ប: ហើយថវិកាដែលប្រមូលបានពីការសម្តែងរបស់តារាទាំងនោះ នឹងត្រូវបរិច្ចាគចូលអង្គការនេះ។

អ្នកគ្រប់គ្រងកម្មវិធីបានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា៖ «គោលបំណងចម្បងនៃកម្មវិធីនេះគឺដើម្បីបង្កើតនូវកម្មវិធីរីក រាយ និង សាទរដល់សិល្បករឆ្នើមៗ។ កម្មវិធីនេះក៏សំខាន់ផងដែរ សម្រាប់យើង ដើម្បីឲ្យទស្សនិកជនដ៏ច្រើនសន្ធឹកសន្ធាប់បានស្គាល់ពីអង្គការ ហ្វារពន្លឺសិល្បៈ»។

លោក ព្រាប សុវត្ថិ ជាតារាចម្រៀងប្រចាំផលិតកម្មរស្មីហង្សមាសដែលបានគ្រងតំណែង កំពូលជាង១០ឆ្នាំជាប់ៗគ្នានៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ហើយបើនិយាយពីការសម្តែង-ច្រៀងវិញ លោកស្ទើរឆ្អិនអស់ទៅហើយ។ ចំណែកលោកខេមរ: សេរីមន្ត វិញជាតារាចម្រៀងប្រចាំផលិតកម្មសាន់ដេ ថ្វីដ្បិតតែលោកចាប់អាជីពជាតារាចម្រៀងក្រោយលោក ព្រាប សុវត្ថិ មួយដង្ហើមធំក្តី តែប្រជាប្រិយតារារូបនេះក៏មិនចាញ់តារារាមច្បងឡើយ ហើយរយៈពេលជាច្រើនឆ្នាំនេះ សេរីមន្ត ក៏បានហក់ទៅឈរនៅកំពូលតារាងនៃកំពូលតារាល្បីនៅស្រុកខ្មែរជា ច្រើនឆ្នាំមិនដែលស្រកស្រុតដែរ។

ដូច្នេះការប៉ះគ្នារវាងកំពូលតារាចម្រៀងទាំងពីរនារាត្រីនេះ នឹងធ្វើឲ្យអ្នកបាត់ដំបងបានឃើញយ៉ាងច្បាស់ពីប្រជាប្រិយភាពរបស់ តារាទាំង ពីរ ហើយចាំសង្កេតមើលថា តើកំពូលតារារូបណាធ្វើឲ្យឆាកតន្ត្រីកក្រើកជាងគេ។

ក្រៅពីតារាចម្រៀងទាំងពីរ ក៏មានការសម្តែង តារាចម្រៀងជាច្រើនរូបផ្សេងទៀត រួមជាមួយនឹងការសម្តែងសៀក ប្រគំតន្រ្តី របាំប្រពៃណី ហ៊ីបហប និងការបង្ហាញការគូរគំនូរជាដើម។ លោកព្រាប សុវត្ថិ នឹងសម្តែងនៅល្ងាចថ្ងៃសុក្រនេះ ចំណែកលោកខេមរ: សិរីមន្តនឹងសម្តែងនៅថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ស្អែក ហើយ ពូ ឃ្លាំង តារាចម្រៀងរ៉េប ក៏នឹងមានវត្តមាននៅលើឆាកតន្ត្រីទាំងពីរយប់នោះផងដែរ។

មហោស្រពបែបមិត្តភាពនេះ នឹងធ្វើនៅទីធ្លារអង្គការហ្វារពន្លឺសិល្បៈតែម្តងដែលស្ថិតនៅ ក្នុងភូមិអញ្ចាញ ឃុំអូរចា ស្រុកបាត់ដំបង ចម្ងាយប្រមាណជាបីគីឡូម៉ែត្រពីទីរួមខេត្តបាត់ដំបង។

ដោយការសម្តែងនេះបំណងប្រមូលថវិកាជួយដល់កុមារនៅអង្គការហ្វារ ពន្លឺសិល្បៈដែលភាគច្រើនជាអតីតជនរងគ្រោះនៃពលកម្មកុមារ កុមាររើសសំរាម និង កុមារដែលងាយរងគ្រោះ។ ដូច្នេះសំបុត្រចូលទស្សនាសម្រាប់កម្មវិធីវិភាគទាននេះគឺមានតម្លៃ១ ម៉ឺនរៀលសម្រាប់ប្រជាជនខ្មែរ និង ២ម៉ឺនរៀលសម្រាប់ជនបរទេស។

កម្មវិធីសម្តែងនេះនឹងចាប់ផ្តើមពីម៉ោង៥ល្ងាចរហូតដល់ម៉ោង១១យប់៕

Ieng Sary aide testifies at KRT

2011-12-09T03:09:00.000-08:00

Friday, 09 December 2011

Reuters

Former Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary attends his trial at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Monday.

Midway through the second morning of testimony from 73-year-old witness Long Norin, Ieng Sary’s former aide, the international prosecutor at the Khmer Rouge tribunal abruptly stopped questioning.

“Are you reluctant to give testimony?” international prosecutor Dale Lysak asked Long Norin yesterday via video link to the former Khmer Rouge cadre’s home in Banteay Meanchey.

During yesterday’s proceedings, it became apparent the testimony of the former Khmer Rouge foreign minister’s aide was deviating from what he had told court investigators in 2007.

“You are not reluctant about testifying against your former boss Ieng Sary,” Lysak asked. “Someone you have known for 40 years?” Long Norin denied such a close relationship with Ieng Sary. “Since January 7, 1979, I have never had any contact with Ieng Sary,” he said.

Long Norin, who worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Democratic Kampuchea period, testified as a witness to Ieng Sary’s alleged criminal acts and the operations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which prosecutors say was called “the antechamber of death”.

For almost an entire day yesterday, prosecutors questioned Long Norin about the ministry’s power structure (“no one was permitted to make decisions in Ieng Sary’s absence”), the fate of returnees who disappeared (“this I do not know”), and the consequence of written “biographies” (“almost everyone implicated in Long Norin’s biography was sent to S-21”).

Long Norin told the court he did not remember the statement he gave in 2007 and could not remember it being re-read to him on Tuesday.

The prosecution pressed Long Norin on his post-regime relationship with Ieng Sary and tried to ask him about the Democratic National United Movement, formed after 1979. Ieng Sary was president and Long Norin secretary-general.

“Theoretically, the DNUM still exists, but practically it does not,” Long Norin said. “There were never any meetings [of DNUM].”

Ieng Sary’s international defence counsel protested this line of questioning, which strayed well beyond the1975 to 1979 jurisdiction of the court. His objection was sustained.

Documentation Centre of Cambodia director Youk Chhang told the Post that DNUM was formed on September 5, 1996, and both Ieng Sary and Long Norin were listed as taking part in the meeting.

On November 3, 1997, Long Norin travelled to Preah Sihanouk with Ieng Sary, as his aide, and the Second General Assembly of DNUM was held on January 25, 1999, Youk Chhang said.

Kong Duong, a former Khmer Rouge radio commentator, now the Pailin Information Department director, told the Post he had witnessed the DNUM meetings. “I met him after 1980, and I observed that they [Ieng Sary and Long Norin] have a close relationship,” he said.

Ieng Thirith could walk free today

2011-12-05T20:54:00.000-08:00

Bridget Di Certo with additional reporting by Cheang Sokha.
Monday, 05 December 2011

Former Khmer Rouge Social Action Minister Ieng Thirith sits through a hearing at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia in June.

Accused Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Thirith could walk out of the tribunal’s detention centre today and return to her colonial-era villa in Phnom Penh, after the Supreme Court Chamber issues a decision on her continued detention.

The Supreme Court Chamber, the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s highest appeal body, had 15 days to decide whether Ieng Thirith, who has been found unfit to stand trial, should be unconditionally released from detention. That 15-day period expires today.

“The Supreme Court Chamber will announce their decision [today],” Phat Pouv Seng, Ieng Thirith’s legal counsel, told the Post yesterday.

“I am strongly confident that she will be freed as there is not any evidence to keep her in detention,” Phat Pouv Seng said. “If she is released, she can go wherever she wants, maybe to her house in Phnom Penh, or she can go to live with her children in Pailin province.”

On November 17, the Trial Chamber found Ieng Thirith unfit to stand trial due to her affliction by a degenerative dementing illness. However, the international and Cambodian judges could not reach an agreement on how this affected Ieng Thirith’s detention at the tribunal’s Detention Centre.

As a consequence of judicial paralysis, judges ordered Ieng Thirith’s unconditional release from the detention centre where she has been held since her arrest in 2007.

The co-prosecutors appealed the Trial Chamber’s decision to release the former Khmer Rouge Social Affairs Minister, who was charged with genocide, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity including murder, extermination and enslavement.

The Supreme Court Chamber accepted the appeal and had 15 days to issue a decision.

“The 15 days is due to elapse this week,” legal affairs spokesman for the tribunal Lars Olsen said, indicating the decision could come today or tomorrow. “But if there are exceptional circumstances, the Supreme Court Chamber can take longer to issue a decision.”

The rules governing the court’s procedure do not make clear what these “exceptional circumstances” would entail.

Clair Duffy of tribunal monitoring group Open Society Justice Initiative told the Post that even if there are exceptional circumstances, there would be pressure on the Supreme Court Chamber to issue a timely judgment.

“In matters that concern the liberties of an accused, there is a need for more expeditious decision-making,” Duffy said.

The trial in Case 002 continues today.

គង់ វិសាល រៀបការចោល ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន នៅខែមករា

2011-12-05T18:44:00.000-08:00

ភ្នំពេញៈ បន្ទាប់ពីទើបតែភ្ជាប់ពាក្យជាមួយនារីស្រស់ក្មេង និងស្អាតជាង ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន កាលពីអំឡុងពាក់កណ្តាលខែវិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ២០១១កន្លងទៅថ្មីៗនេះ លោក គង់ វិសា

ល អ្នកគ្រប់គ្រងកម្មវិធីរបស់ស្ថានីយទូរទស្សន៍បាយ័ន បានប្រាប់ឲ្យដឹងថា លោកនឹងដឹកដៃកូនក្រមុំស្រស់

សោភាវ័យក្មេងក្រៅរង្វង់សិល្បៈចូល រោងការជាផ្លូវការនៅក្នុងអំឡុងខែមករាខាងមុខនេះ។

ក្រោយពីបែកបាក់ចំណងស្នេហា ជាមួយនឹងកញ្ញា ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន អតីតពិធីការិនី «រាត្រីពណ៌ស្វាយ» កាលពីប៉ុន្មានខែមុន លោក គង់ វិសាល បានសម្រេចចិត្តភ្ជាប់ពាក្យស្អំបេះដូង ជាមួយនឹងកូនស្រីមន្រ្តីរាជការ និងអ្នកជំនួញម្នាក់កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ២០១១ ដែលលោកបានអះអាងប្រាប់គេឯងមិនខ្លាច ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន ឈឺចិត្តថា កូនមន្ត្រីរាជការម្នាក់នោះ ជាកូនក្រមុំដំបូងហើយក៏ជាកូនក្រមុំចុងក្រោយដែរ។ គូដណ្តឹងវ័យក្មេងដែលលោក គង់ វិសាល ថាស្រឡាញ់ពេញចិត្តគ្រប់ចំណុចម្នាក់នេះ មានឈ្មោះថា ហេង ហៀង អាយុ១៨ឆ្នាំ ជានារីភ្នំពេញវ័យក្មេងរាងខ្ពស់ស្រឡះជាង ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន។ គូដណ្តឹងលោក គង់ វិសាល រូបនេះត្រូវបានគេដឹងថា នាងទើបតែបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សានៅមធ្យមសិក្សាទុតិយភូមិ ហើយនាងមានគម្រោងទៅបន្តការសិក្សានៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ប៉ុន្តែដោយសារត្រូវភ្ជាប់ពាក្យជាមួយលោក គង់ វិសាល ដូច្នេះគម្រោងបន្តការសិក្សានោះក៏ត្រូវផ្អាកវិញ។

បន្ទាប់ពីរៀបចំពិធីភ្ជាប់ពាក្យទើបតែមិនទាន់បាត់ចំហាយផង នៅពេលថ្មីនេះ ទាំងមិត្តភក្តិរបស់លោក គង់ វិសាល និងអ្នកសិល្បៈបានប្រាប់ឲ្យដឹងថា នៅពេលនេះ លោក គង់ វិសាល កំពុងមមាញឹកជាមួយនឹងការរៀបចំរត់ការរៀបចំមង្គលការនៅពេលខាង មុខដ៏ខ្លីនេះ។

ទាក់ទិននឹងការរៀបគម្រោងរៀបការចោលអតីតគូស្នេហ៍នាង ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន នាពេលឆាប់ៗនេះ លោក គង់ វិសាល បានសារភាពថា លោកពិតជាកំពុងមានភាពរវល់ច្រើនជាមួយនឹងការងារថ្មីៗនៅស្ថានីយ ទូរទស្សន៍បាយ័ន ពិសេសនោះ លោកកំពុងមមាញឹកជាមួយនឹងការរៀបចំពិធីមង្គលការរបស់លោកនៅពេល ខាងមុខនេះ។ លោក គង់ វិសាល បានបន្តថា លោកនឹងត្រូវចូលរោងការនៅថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ខាងមុខនេះ ហើយពេលនេះកំពុងរៀបចំត្រៀមលក្ខណៈជាបណ្តើរៗ។

ម្ចាស់ស្នេហ៍អតីតពិធីការិនី ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន ៧ឆ្នាំរូបនេះបាននិយាយថា៖«ថ្មីៗនេះ ខ្ញុំពិតជាមានការរវល់ណាស់ ព្រោះខាងបាយ័នក៏មានការងារថ្មីៗច្រើន រីឯខ្ញុំខ្លួនឯងក៏រវល់ ដូចលោកដឹងហើយថា ខ្ញុំទើបតែភ្ជាប់ពាក្យហើយ ហើយក៏ត្រូវដល់ពេលត្រូវត្រៀមខ្លួនចូលរោងការដែរ»។

លោកបាននិយាយដោយផ្ទុះសំណើចថា៖ «ឥឡូវហ្នឹង ខ្ញុំកំពុងរត់ការគម្រោងរៀបការហ្នឹង។ អ៊ីចឹងយើងនឹងរៀបការជាផ្លូវការនៅថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ នេះឯង ព្រោះតាមការគន់គូរទៅវាជាពេលដ៏ល្អ»។

ពេលនេះប្រាកដណាស់ថា លោក គង់ វិសាល នឹងរៀបមង្គលការចោលអតីតគូស្នេហ៍នាង ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន ហើយ ដែលមិត្តខ្លះបាននិយាយថា ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន ពិតជាអង្គុយសំកុកស្រងេះស្រងោចនឹកដល់គ្រាសាងអនុស្សាវរីយ៍ជាមួយ គ្នារាប់ពាន់ជំពូកមិនខាន ព្រោះមាត់ថា ដាច់ពីគ្នា តែចិត្តនៅតែនឹករកគ្នា។ តែទោះបីជាយ៉ាងណា ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន ធ្លាប់ប្រាប់ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍នៅមុននេះថា នាងក៏មានអ្នកស្អំបេះដូងរួចហើយដែរ។ ប៉ុន្តែការអះអាងនេះ ទស្សនិកជនមិនទាន់ប្រាកដថា តើគូស្នេហ៍ថ្មីរបស់ ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន ជាអ្នកណាឲ្យប្រាកដណាស់ ព្រោះមួយរយៈនេះ គេសង្កេតឃើញនាងបែកធ្លាយមានទំនាក់ទំនងច្រើនហួសពីការសន្មត។

ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន បានធ្លាប់និយាយយ៉ាងម៉ឺងម៉ាត់ថា៖«នាងស្រឡាញ់គ្នាជាមួយលោក គង់ វិសាល ក៏មិនស្តាយក្រោយ ហើយបែកជាមួយលោក គង់ វិសាល ក៏មិនស្តាយក្រោយដែរ»៕

រោងចក្រចម្រាញ់ប្រេងដំបូងនៅកម្ពុជាចាប់ផ្តើមសាងសង់ខែមេសា

2011-12-05T18:34:00.000-08:00

ដកស្រង់ចេញពីកាសែតភ្នំពេញប៉ុស៍្តៈ ការសាងសង់រោងចក្រចម្រាញ់ប្រេងជារោងចក្រដំបូងនៅកម្ពុជា ដែលមានតម្លៃ២ពាន់លានដុល្លារនឹងចាប់ផ្តើមនៅខែមេសា។ នេះបើតាមមន្ត្រីដែលបានដឹងពីគម្រោងនេះ។

គម្រោងដែលនឹងសាងសង់នៅលើផ្ទៃដីសរុប ៣៦៥ហិកតា កាត់ខេត្តកំពត និងព្រះសីហនុ ត្រូវបានគេរំពឹងថា នឹងបញ្ចប់នៅឆ្នាំ២០១៤។ គម្រោងនេះ ជាការបណ្តាក់ទុនរួមគ្នារវាងក្រុមហ៊ុនក្នុងស្រុក Cambodian Petrochemical Company (CPC) សាជីវកម្ម China National Automation Control System Corporation និងក្រុមហ៊ុន Sino March Company of China។

រោងចក្រនេះ ត្រូវគេរំពឹងថា នឹងកាត់បន្ថយការពឹងផ្អែករបស់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ទៅលើការនាំចូលប្រេងពីបរទេស។

លោក ហាន់ ឃាង តំណាងរបស់ CPC បានឲ្យដឹងកាលពីថ្ងៃសៅរ៍ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំជឿជាក់ថា បន្ទាប់ពីយើងអាចផលិតប្រេង និងចម្រាញ់វាបានដោយខ្លួនយើង តម្លៃប្រេងរបស់យើង អាចនឹងប្រៀបធៀបជាមួយប្រទេសជិតខាងបានហើយ ដោយសារយើងនឹងមិនចាំបាច់ចំណាយលើការនាំចូលប្រេងពីបរទេសឡើយ»។

យោងតាមតួលេខរបស់ក្រសួងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ការនាំចូលប្រេង បានកើនឡើងដល់ ១,២លានតោន ឬ ១,១៤ពាន់លានតោន គិតត្រឹមខែតុលា ឆ្នាំនេះ។ តួលេខនេះ បានកើនឡើង ៦៧ភាគរយ។

លោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី លោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន បានឲ្យដឹងកាលពីលើកមុនថា តម្រូវការប្រេងរបស់កម្ពុជានាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន មានចំនួនជាង១លានតោនក្នុងមួយឆ្នាំ ហើយប្រេងទាំងនោះ ភាគច្រើននាំចូលមកពីប្រទេសវៀតណាម សិង្ហបុរី និងថៃ។

លោក ហាន់ ឃាង បានឲ្យដឹងថា ការសាងសង់រោងចក្រទាំងនោះ នឹងចាប់ផ្តើមនៅថ្ងៃទី១ ខែមេសា ក្នុងដំណាក់កាលដំបូងលើផ្ទៃដី៨០ហិកតានៃផ្ទៃដីសរុប ៣៦៥ហិកតា។

សមត្ថភាពចម្រាញ់សរុបនឹងកើនឡើងដល់៥លានតោនក្នុងមួយឆ្នាំ ជិត៨៥ភាគរយនៃផលិតផលសម្រេចដែលបានលក់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសនេះ ក្នុងរយៈពេល២ឆ្នាំកន្លងមក។

លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យដឹងកាលពីឆ្នាំមុនថា កម្ពុជានឹងអាចផលិតប្រេងនៅតំណក់លើកដំបូងបាន នៅពេលរសៀលថ្ងៃទី១២ ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១២។ នេះជាការលើកឡើងជាច្រើនលើកច្រើនសារបស់លោក។

លោកក៏បានព្រមានក្រុមហ៊ុន Chevron ដែលកំពុងរុករកប្រេងនៅប្លុកA ក្នុងឈូងសមុទ្រប្រទេសកម្ពុជាថា ការខកខានមិនអាចរុករកប្រេងនឹងធ្វើឲ្យកម្ពុជាបញ្ចប់កិច្ច សន្យាជាមួយក្រុមហ៊ុននេះជាមិនខានឡើយ។

លោក Steve Glick ប្រធាន ក្រុមហ៊ុន Chevron Overseas Petroleum ប្រចាំនៅកម្ពុជា បានប្រាប់ភ្នំពេញ ប៉ុស្តិ៍ កាលពីខែសីហាថា ទាក់ទងនឹងបច្ចេកទេស Chevron ត្រៀមខ្លួនជាស្រេចក្នុងការរុករកប្រេង។ ក្រុមហ៊ុនរបស់លោក បានកំពុងដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាជាមួយអាជ្ញាធរជាតិប្រេងកាតកម្ពុជា ប៉ុន្តែសង្ឃឹមថា បញ្ហាទាំងនោះនឹងឈានដល់ការសម្រេចចិត្តជាចុងក្រោយលើការវិនិយោគ របស់ក្រុមហ៊ុននេះ។

លោកបន្តថា Chevron បានបណ្តាក់ទុន ១៦០លានដុល្លារលើអណ្តូងប្រេងចំនួន១៨ នៅកម្ពុជា តាំងពីឆ្នាំ២០០២មក។

លោក ហាន់ ឃាង បានឲ្យដឹងថា កាលពីខែឧសភា CPC បានចុះហត្ថលេខាលើកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងសិក្សាអំពីលទ្ធភាពជាមួយ CNACSC ទាក់ទងនឹងជម្រើសក្នុងការវិនិយោគទឹកប្រាក់ ៦០០លានដុល្លារលើការសាងសង់រោងចក្រចម្រាញ់ប្រេង បន្ទាប់ពីការសិក្សាអំពីលទ្ធភាព បានបញ្ចប់ទៅ។

លោកបានឲ្យដឹងថា កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងរវាងCPC ជាមួយ Sino March ត្រូវបានចុះហត្ថលេខា ដើម្បីផ្តល់ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុបន្ថែមពីលើគម្រោងនោះ ក៏ដូចជាបច្ចេកវិទ្យាចម្រាញ់ប្រេងថ្មីៗ ដែលអាចជួយបង្កើនទិន្នផលរោងចក្រនេះ។

CPC មានភាគហ៊ុន ៤៩ភាគរយនៅក្នុងគម្រោងវិនិយោគនេះ ហើយភាគហ៊ុនដែលនៅសល់ ស្ថិតក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុនពីរផ្សេងទៀត។

លោក ហាន់ ឃាង បានឲ្យដឹងថា ផ្នែកមួយនៃកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងរបស់ CPC ជាមួយ CNACSC ត្រូវបានផ្តល់ការគ្រប់គ្រងរោងចក្រដល់ក្រុមហ៊ុនចិនរយៈពេល ១០ឆ្នាំ មុនការគ្រប់គ្រងនោះ ត្រូវបានផ្ទេរទៅឲ្យ CPC វិញ។ លោកបានបន្ថែមថា ថ្វីបើយ៉ាងនេះក្តី កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងថ្មីជាមួយ Sino March អាចឲ្យ CPC គ្រប់គ្រងចាប់តាំងពីពេលចាប់ផ្តើមទៅ ដែលធ្វើឲ្យក្រុមហ៊ុន អាចចែកប្រាក់ចំណូលជាមួយ CNACSC និង Sino March សម្រាប់រយៈពេល១០ឆ្នាំ ប៉ុន្តែលោកបានបដិសេធបង្ហាញអំពីចំនួននោះ។

លោក ហាន់ ឃាង បានសង្កត់ធ្ងន់ថា ទុនសម្រាប់គម្រោងនេះ មិនមែនជាបញ្ហាឡើយ ដោយសារ៨៥ភាគរយ នឹងត្រូវគ្រប់គ្រងដោយដៃគូបរទេស ហើយនៅសល់១៥ភាគរយគ្រប់គ្រងដោយCPC។

ការព្យាករលើកដំបូងសម្រាប់ទឹកប្រាក់វិនិយោគ៦០០លានដុល្លារ ជាចំនួនប៉ាន់ស្មានសម្រាប់ការចម្រាញ់តែប្រេងក្នុងស្រុក ប៉ុណ្ណោះ ប៉ុន្តែលោក ហាន់ ឃាង បានឲ្យដឹងថា ការសិក្សាអំពីលទ្ធភាព បានរកឃើញថា រោងចក្រនេះ គួរប្រើសម្រាប់ចម្រាញ់ប្រេងឆៅដែលនាំចូលពីបណ្តាប្រទេសនៅ អឺរ៉ុបផងដែរ។

លោកកត់សម្គាល់ឃើញថា រោងចក្រកម្ពុជា នឹងអាចចម្រាញ់ ប្រេងដែលមានផូស្វ័រតិច ឬច្រើន ហើយមានសមត្ថភាពចម្រាញ់។

សមត្ថភាពនេះ ជាហេតុធ្វើឲ្យការវិនិយោគ អាចកើនឡើងដល់២ពាន់លានដុល្លារ។

យោងតាម សេចក្តីរាយការណ៍ព័ត៌មានក្នុងស្រុកមួយកាលពីថ្ងៃទី១ធ្នូ លោក Xu Jian តំណាងក្រុមហ៊ុន Sino March បានជួបលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន នៅភ្នំពេញ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១ ខែធ្នូ ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាអំពីការងារក្រុមហ៊ុននេះ ជាមួយ CPC ដោយក្នុងកិច្ចពិភាក្សានោះ លោកបានបង្ហាញពីការគាំទ្រដល់គម្រោងនេះ។

លោក ហាន់ ឃាង បានឲ្យដឹងថា CPC មានគម្រោងបញ្ជូននិស្សិត៣០០នាក់ ទៅរៀនផ្នែកវិស្វកម្ម និងឧស្សាហកម្មរុករកប្រេង នៅប្រទេសចិន នៅពេលដែលរោងចក្រនេះសាងសង់រួច ហើយសិស្ស ៣០០នាក់ផ្សេងទៀត នឹងត្រូវបណ្តុះបណ្តាលនៅកម្ពុជាដោយអ្នកជំនាញក្នុងស្រុក នឹងមកពីប្រទេសចិន៕ CS

Geting to Cambodia

2009-09-01T02:45:00.000-07:00

Cambodia Transportation

Getting to Cambodia from outside of Mekong countries

The majority of visitors fly directly to Pochengtong International Airport in Phnom Phenh, while some travellers fly directly from Bangkok to Siem Reap. There are direct flights from Bangkok , Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh city, Hong Kong , Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Vientiane .

Please check timetables in www.cambodia-airports.com/siemreap/ and www.cambodia-airports.com/phnompenh/

Connections between Mekong countries

Travellers can also get into Cambodia by land from Thailand, Vietnam and Lao. Tourists can pass the border at the following border crossing points:

From Thailand

Aranyaprathet (Thailand ) and Poi Pet (Cambodia ) border crossing point opens from 08:00 – 18:00 . There are also two trains to Bangkok in a day, at 06.40 and 01:00 . Trad (Thailand ) and Cham Yem ( Cambodia ). Visitors have to get visa at Royal Cambodian Embassy in advance. From Koh Kong, visitors can continue their trip to Sihanoukville, the seaside paradise of Cambodia, by fast boat around 3 hours and then connect to Phnom Penh City by National road No.4 (good road) with 225 km.

From Vietnam

International border crossings at Bavet (Cambodia site) and Moc Bai (Vietnam site) connect two major cities of two countries: Ho Chi Minh City-Vietnam with Phnom Penh City-Cambodia with the distance of around 230 km. Cruise ship can be possible on the Mekong river from Vietnam to Phnom Penh capital city. Visitors access by these ways are required to have an entry visa for Cambodia in advance.

From Laos

borders are often closed to foreign travellers with little notice. Travellers entering Cambodia from Laos must obtain a Cambodian visa before travelling to the border. It isolated locates 50 km to the north of the Cambodian provincial centre of Stung Treng. No public transport.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa conditions change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cambodia for the most up to date information.

Visa

maybe required at overseas Cambodian embassies or upon arrival at the international airports in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Tourist visas, US $ 20 each, can be extended a maximum of three months. Business visas, US $ 25 each, are for 30 days, can be extended in-country.

E-Visa info : evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/index.php

Cambodia International Airports

Phnom Penh Pochentong International Airport

•Location: About 10 km (six miles) west of Phnom Penh , on the Road National No. 4
•Country Code : +855
•Telephone: +855 (0)23 890 890
•Website: www.cambodia-airports.com

Transport From the Airport: On arrival, taxis and motorcycle taxis (motodups) can be hired just outside the arrival lobby. There are no meter taxis cost US$7.00 for the 30-50 minutes ride into the city center.Cheaper, slower and less comfortable, motorcycle taxis can be hired for $2 into town. A taxi to the airport from town costs US $5 – US $7. Shared taxi for US $2/ a person.

Siem Reap International Airport

Location: About 8 kms of Siem Reap
Website: www.cambodia-airports.com/siemreap/

Transportation from the airport: Outside the terminal is a ticket booth for registered taxis into town. Motorcycles charge US$1 and cars charge US$5 into town. Most hotels offer free transportation from the airport but you must notify them in advance of your arrival.

Air Transport

2009-08-06T03:23:00.000-07:00

AIR TRANSPORT

Royal Air Cambodge

Air Transport Cambodia has ten airports, including Phnom Penh International Airport (Pochentong Airport) and Siem Reap Airport, the gateway to Angkor Wat, which serves international flights.

The Société Concessionnaire de l’Aéroport (SCA) is a special purpose company that holds a 25-year concession (from 1995) from the Government of Cambodia to manage and operate the Pochentong and Siem Reap Airports. Some parts of the operation of the two airports are delegated to Cambodia Airport Management Services Limited under an operating agreement with SCA. A major improvement program in 2003-07 is planned, funded in part by the International Finance Corporation:

US$23.2 million to upgrade the facilities of Pochentong Airport (runway lengthening and widening, construction of a parallel taxiway, expansion of apron and warehouse facilities and modernization of the airport operating equipment)
US$23.9 million for Siem Reap Airport (major repairs of the runway and taxiway, extension of the taxiway and aprons, construction of a new terminal building, modernization of the airport operational equipment and construction of a new cargo warehouse).

* War and continuing fighting severely damaged Cambodia's transportation system — a system that had been inadequately developed in peacetime. The country's weak infrastructure hindered emergency relief efforts and created tremendous problems of procurement of supplies in general and of distribution. Cambodia received Soviet technical assistance and equipment to support the maintenance of the transportation network.

The country possesses twenty-six airfields, of which only thirteen were usable in the mid-1980s. Eight airfields had permanent-surface runways. Pochentong International Airport near Phnom Penh is the largest airport; it also serves as the main base for the renascent Cambodian Air Force (see Kampuchean, or Khmer, People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, ch. 5). Cambodia opened a new Soviet-built airfield at Ream, Sihanoukville International Airport in late 1983, which never saw commercial air traffic until now. There are additional secondary airports in Siem Reap and in Battambang.

Air Kampuchea was established in 1982 and flew only one route-- from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. In 1984 commercial air service was inaugurated between Phnom Penh and Hanoi with the arrival at Hanoi International Airport of the Kampuchean Civil Aviation Company's (AKASCHOR) first flight. Since then, there has been regular air service from Phnom Penh to Hanoi, Vientiane, and Moscow.

Transportation In Cambodia

2009-07-25T00:40:00.001-07:00

Transport in Cambodia

AIDS Awareness Month: Combating HIV/AIDS in Cambodia Transport
Roads and Highways
Urban Transport
Rural Transport
Railways
Inland Waterways
Ports and Shipping
Air Transport

As a post-conflict country, Cambodia is struggling to rebuild many of the economic, social, and physical foundations needed to ensure future growth and development. Since 1992 the World Bank has provided the country with technical expertise, more than US$645.2 million in loans and grants, and about US$90 million in trust funds to support efforts to reduce poverty and promote economic growth.

The Bank contributed to the building or rebuilding of rural roads (a major strategic development priority of the Government), and helped to establish guidelines for future transport sector reform through the Road Rehabilitation Project. A transport strategy adopted in 2002 provided some clarification regarding management roles for national, provincial, and rural roads. This has enhanced coordination between the relevant government ministries.
Despite these improvements, the quality of transport infrastructure remains a serious constraint to growth. A road maintenance fund was established in 2002 based on revenues from tax on fuel but an effective mechanism for management of the funds has yet to be established.

It is important that Cambodia continue to invest in its transport infrastructure, and that it looks at methods for ensuring adequate financing and effective delivery of services.
Data on road network condition

Roads and Highways

Cambodia’s road network measures approximately 38,257 km including 4,757 km of national roads and 5,700 km of provincial roads under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and 27,800 km of tertiary roads under the responsibility of the Ministry of Rural Development.

The network has a major effort at rehabilitation since the mid 1990s. Road condition surveys in 2005 indicate that 40 percent of the network is in good and fair condition, 52 percent in poor condition, and eight percent in bad condition.

Cambodia’s road transport industry is still embryonic and inefficient, reflecting the poor state of the network, years of civil disturbance and comparatively low levels of transport demand. The fleet is fragmented, with only a few groups professionally managed and capable of investing in modern equipment. Most goods are carried on old, overloaded trucks with low levels of utilization. In more isolated regions, goods are transported mainly by motorcycle and animal-drawn vehicles.

There were 84,000 four-wheel vehicles and 248,000 motorcycles registered in 2003, but unregistered vehicles and motorcycles are reported to account for about 20 and 30 percent of the respective fleets, bringing the total to just over 100,000 four-wheel vehicles (about 102,810 light vehicles and 17,880 heavy vehicles) and 326,310 motorcycles. At 0.8 four-wheel vehicles per 100 people, vehicle ownership is very low.

The Cambodia urban transport infrastructure was severely damaged and/or neglected during the years of fighting. In Cambodia, all urban transport is road based and traffic volumes are growing rapidly, especially in Phnom Penh and Siam Reap. Public transport is limited to buses as there are no subways in the country.

There is no formally adopted road and road transport policy in Cambodia, and this particularly affects urban road transport. Phnom Penh has emerging congestion problems and there is a need for a strategic transport policy to set the proper framework. This needs to consider factors such as facilities for non-motorized traffic, the role of rail, and private sector involvement, especially in the area of establishing road tolls. There is also a need to ensure sufficient finance for urban road maintenance as well as paving unpaved roads in urban areas.

Rural Transport

Road traffic levels are also low, suppressed by poor road conditions, low incomes, and a vehicle fleet expanding from a low base. Traffic was grown rapidly since the late 1980’s as these constraints are being removed.

Railways

The Royal Cambodian Railway comprises two single-track main lines of meter gauge which carries passenger and freight traffic. With little traffic using the rail lines, individuals run their own private 'bamboo trains' which are small locally made units for carrying limited passengers and freight.

The rail distance from Phnom Penh to Bangkok was 655 km, however, the line is no longer completed. The Northern line runs from Phnom Penh for 385 km to the Thai border at Poipet. Since 1961, there has been a 15 km gap between the Poipet station and the Thai station of Aranyaprathet. Since the early 1970s the last 48 km from Sisophon to the Thai border has been disused. The Northern line was originally intended to be part of a through route linking Bangkok with Saigon, however, the Cambodia part of the Phnom Penh-Saigon section was never started.

The Southern line connects Phnom Penh to the port of Sihanoukville, about 253 km from Phnom Penh. The line was built between 1960 and 1969 but is not in very good condition at present.

Inland Waterways

Inland waterways include the Mekong and Sab rivers, and Tonle Sap. Phnom Penh is some 100 km from the Vietnam border by river, but the bends of the river prevents the passage of vessels more than 110m long.
Boats up to 150 tonne capacity can be used as far as Kratie. Larger boats can be used at high water. Between Kratie and Stung Treng 50 tonne boats can pass without difficulty in the rainy season but at low water levels the rocky conditions limit passable to smaller vessels of up to 20 tonnes. Above Stung Treng to Veunkham just across the Lao border only small boats can pass some 10-15 tonnes at low water and perhaps 50 tonnes a high water.
In recent years it has been reported that the flows in the Mekong river have been decreasing. This is further constraining river transport on this important artery.

Ports and Shipping

Constructed in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Sihanoukville is the main deep water sea port. The road links between Sihanoukville and the rest of the Cambodia, especially Phnom Penh, have been improved in recent years which have increased the effectiveness of the port activities. Phnom Penh’s port is on the Mekong River so access is through the delta in Vietnam and through Ho Chi Minh City.

Cambodia’s third port is Koh Kong which is situated near the Thailand border. This is only used by smaller vessels.

Farm

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Khmer

Cambodia people 75% mostly plant farm.

Cambodia comprises a variety of peoples who are commonly called "Khmer." Many Khmer fled to America in the mid 1970s as a result of the warfare and persecution inflicted by the Khmer Rouge. New Entry

works with Khmer immigrants on its farm sites in Dracut.

Farmer Profile

Visoth Kim

Mr. Visoth, a 2004 graduate of the New Entry training program, harvests produce at his farm in Dracut, MA.

Mr. Visoth Kim worked on his family's farm while growing up in Cambodia. When he came to the U.S. he began backyard gardening and was able to bring some of the produce grown to local markets. He farms his plot at White Gate Farm in Dracut very intensively and uses carefully timed irrigation to get high levels of production. He produces water spinach, amaranth, chili peppers, jalapeño peppers, Japanese eggplant, bitter melon, pumpkin vines and long beans, which he sells at the Lowell Farmers Market and to local restaurants. Mr. Kim has a viable part-time farming operation, has served as a mentor for other Cambodian farmers, and has been invaluable to New Entry because of his role as a leader in the Cambodian community. He is always eager to share his knowledge with other Cambodian farmers and hopes to have his own roadside stand and Cambodian agricultural center in the future.

Country Facts

Most Cambodians consider themselves Khmer, descendants of the Angkor Empire that spread throughout Southeast Asia. After nearly a century under French protection, Cambodia gained full independence in 1953. But in 1975, the Communist Khmer Rouge forces under Pol Pot gained control of the capital, abolished money and private property, and ordered all city residents to the countryside to cultivate the fields. It is estimated that 1.7 million Cambodians died during the next three years, from exhaustion, starvation, torture, or execution. A Vietnamese invasion in 1978 pushed the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, but the few remaining Khmer forces surrendered in 1999. After peaceful elections in 2003 and one year of negotiations, a coalition government was finally established.

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand
Capital: Phnom Penh
Area: Slightly smaller than Oklahoma with a total area of 181, 040 sq km, Land: 176,520 sq km, Water: 4,520 sq km
Climate: Tropical with a monsoon season
Terrain: Mostly low, flat plains, mountains in the southwest and north
Land Use: Arable land: 20.96%, Permanent crops: 0.61%
Irrigated Land: 2,700 sq km
Environmental Issues: Illegal logging and strip mining for gems have led to habitat loss and declines in biodiversity; soil erosion, overfishing and illegal fishing have led to declining fish stocks
Population: 13,607,069
Life Expectancy: 58.92 years
GDP per capita: $320
Under 5 mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 141
Ethnic Groups: Primarily Khmer with some Vietnamese and Chinese
Languages: Khmer, French, and English
Major Religions: Buddhism

Agriculture

75% of the Cambodian population is engaged in subsistence agriculture. There is very little modern technology involved, including little irrigation. Over 90% of the draught power for land cultivation is provided by oxen and buffalo.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries was put in place in 2000 in order to help increase infrastructure for agriculture. The marketing system is highly underdeveloped and many of the roads were damaged due to the country conflicts.

Agriculture Products: Rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, and tapioca

Traditional Foods

There are two basic dishes in Cambodia: soup and rice. Soup may include fish, egg, vegetables or meats. Rice is prepared in several ways and provides 68% of daily caloric intake. Seafood and fish are common in addition to vegetables and fruits. Soy products, mung bean sprouts, and bitter melon are also common.

Grilled freshwater fish, wrapped in lettuce or spinach and dipped into a nutty fish sauce, is particularly special.

Coriander, mint and lemon grass are three flavors which find their way into many Cambodian dishes.
The French influence in Cambodian is illustrated in the bread, baked turtles, and frog legs that can be found in the market. Cambodia eats the most bread of any of the Southeast Asian countries.

Foods for special occasions: Num Ansom: cylinder cake, Non Kaom: sweet, coconut sticky rice cake,
Samlaw Misuor: noodle soup.

People and Farm

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The People in the farm doing their job

The Princess Golden Voice Singer

2009-07-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

Ros Sereysothea was the greatest Cambodian female singer that ever

lived. She had a powerful and electrifying voice with a haunting, bell-like quality that resonates in the ears and in the soul.

Sothea was a tiny woman, standing only five feet tall, but she had a voice like an amplifier and she rarely needed a microphone. During her extraordinary career she performed thousands of wonderful songs in almost every imaginable genre.

Unfortunately, we know little of her life story except through the
beautiful music that she left behine. The little that we know tells us
that herlife was filled with heartache and that it ended in tragedy. She was a victim, like so many others during those years, but her golden

voice lives on. Ros Sereysothea’s birth name was Ros Sothea. She was born in 1948 to a country family in a small village in Battambong. Like many poor Cambodians, Sothea had a childhood defined by hardship. While accounts vary, it is generally agreed upon that Sothea's family could not afford to send her to school, and that she grew up not knowing how to read or write Khmer.

In her teens, she and her family began to make a living by performing as a traditional peasant band. Sothea and her brother Serey sang while the rest of her family played the music. They performed daily throughout the small villages of Battambong, and while they didn't earn a lot of money, and they occasionally struggled, the music did provide food for the family._____
Slowly their reputation grew. Sothea’s talent was obvious and her brother was also quite popular, and audiences were coming to see the family band. Apparently the band had a name, (since lost to history) but the people came to know them as “Serey-Sothea”, naming the band after its two featured singers.

At the same time that "Serey-Sothea" was winning over people while touring through Battambong province, the Cambodian music industry based in Phnom Penh was experiencing rapid growth and producing Cambodia's first real music "stars". When word got out to the villages that musicians and singers were making real money in Phnom Penh, Serey and Sothea were encouraged to go to the big city to seek their fortunes. They had nothing to lose, so Sothea and her brother made the move south to the capital city.

They arrived in Phnom Penh with no connections, and they started performing for free during the spotlight nights at the local clubs. After just their first night, the two were hired by one of the clubs to be their regular singers. The two of them continued to perform and get work at some of the other clubs around town, and Sothea quickly became a success.

The little girl from the village not only had a marvelous voice, she was also very charming and vibrant. Her beautiful and irresistible laugh would put a smile on your face and give you goose bumps simultaneously.

Her popularity grew across the capital and she began to work as a solo act, attracting growing crowds. The popular female artists at that time were good, but Sothea was something different. She captivated men and women when they heard her sing. Her voice could not only delight audiences, but also bring heavy tears to their eyes and sorrow to their souls. When she opened her mouth and sang her heart out, audiences were breathless.

With Sothea's immense talent, she had eclipsed her brother in both fame and popularity. She decided to break out on her own, but to keep making music under the name "Sereysothea" as a tribute to brother. Around this same time, Sereysothea's popularity sparked the attention of Phnom Penh record producers. She officially changed her name and signed her first record contract - soon her music could be heard on radios across Cambodia. She had her first hit around 1967 with the song "Stung Khieu".

During the following years, from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s, Ros Sereysothea produced some amazing music, classics in many genres. She even starred in a few films. It was during these years, the hay-day of Sereysothea's professional life, that King Norodom Sihanouk gave her the title, “Preah Rheich Teany Somlang Meas", the "Golden Voice of the Royal Capital" It was the first time the king
had given any singer such an honor.
During this time a new sound was emerging in the capital, led by the famed
male singer Sinn Sisamouth, the Elvis of Cambodia. He and Sereysothea developed a great professional relationship and would colaborate often, each the reigning king and queen of Cambodian pop music.

The two worked with other Cambodian musicians of the time to create what today is sometimes called Cambodian psychedelic rock or garage rock._____Influenced by western Rythm & Blues, Rock n' Roll and music from Latin America that Cambodians were hearing on US Armed Forces Radio during the Vietnam War, this new sound was a truly unique creation of the Phnom Penh music scene in the 60's and 70's. This new Cambodian rock music replaced and supplemented the instruments of traditional Khmer music with western style rock and roll bands. This hybrid music was a perfect fit for Sothea's high, clear voice; when coupled with bands featuring prominent, distortion-laden lead guitars, pumping organ and loud, driving drums, the result made for an intense, fun, sometimes haunting sound.

A characteristic of this new Cambodian rock is the often contradictory relationship between a song's lyrics and its music. Misery soaked lyrics of broken hearts and doomed fates are wailed out, all set to exuberant party tunes. The translation to Ros Sereysothea's "Have You Seen My Love" reads "I drink until I get drunk, But I can't seem to get drunk, The sky is all black, Love has wings to fly." Sothea belts out these mysterious and melancholy lyrics with a voice that is both joyous and anguished, grating and uplifting. In the background, the band gets the people moving with a funky, fun and upbeat dance groove.While Sothea’s career and the Cambodian music scene were thriving, Sothea was not at all happy in her personal life. During a Cambodian media interview in the late 1990’s, her living son mentioned that when his mother was alive, she constantly reminded him not to be a singer like her because she been through so much bitterness.

Her songs are proof enough that Sereysothea understood the misery and sourness that life can provide. When she cries in her songs, you can actually feel the sorrow that she is holding inside, a pure and beautiful expression of the pain coming from the depths of her heart.____

Sothea was never content with her love life. Being a female singer, she didn’t get much respect from her lovers. For a woman, singing was considered a sleazy profession by many. “Selling her voice” taints a woman in a way, making a part of her a public good, and thus diminishing her purity and value. But a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice is always appealing to men, and Sothea had several relationships, the most publicized of which with a son of the owner of the Preah Chhann Pign Vorng Theater in Phnom Pehn.

In the late 60's Sothea was married for a time to a Cham singer, Suos Mat. Apparently Suos was insanely jealous of her success and of the men who came to watch her perform, and is said to have beaten her savagely. The two divorced in the early 70's. Later, Sothea had perhaps her most fullfilling romantic relationship with a high-ranking army parachutist working for the Lon Nol government. While invovled with him, Sothea herself joined the army and even did some parachuiting. Unfortunately, this happy time was short lived - sometime before 1975 her boyfriend was killed in combat.

Up until 1975, Sothea continued to perform and record music in the still thriving Cambodian music scene. In April of that year it all ended when the Khmer Rouge marched into Phnom Penh. Along with everyone else, Sothea was forced out of the cities and into the Khmer Rouge worksites. There are several live witnesses who have described living and working together with Ros Sereysothea during the Pol Pot regime. Mrs. Tiv Heng, who is a resident of Kompung Speu province and Mr. Yim Sambath, a government official in Soriya Ordei Khan in Reusei Keo, are two people among others who were at the same worksite as Sothea. These two have told us something about Sothea's life during those horrible years.

According to Heng, Sothea was forced to live at the Phnom Sruorch, Kompung Speu work site, where the people were forced to work on irrigation projects. When the singer arrived as a "new person" the villagers did not recognize her, so she managed to keep her identity a secret.

But later on, as more people from Phnom Penh were moved to the site, she was recognized. In an interview Tiv Heng said, "Earlier people did not believe that she was Sothea - I was really happy. I think that if people don’t believe that, Sothea could avoided being killed. But later, the news about Sothea... was heard all the way to Angkar."_____

After discovering her identity, the Khmer Rouge leaders made Sothea sing songs that celebrated the new regime and reminded the people to work harder. Often, she would perform these songs in front of fairly large groups of people. In his interview, Mr. Sambath described such an occasion - "When Sothea was asked to sing in a meeting in the old town, I saw her sing in front of hundreds of people in front of the microphone together with a person playing Tro."_____"The song had the rhythm of "Anija Khmayng Komprea" (Sympathizing with an Orphan Child)." Sambath tells us that Sothea's singing "made the whole audience including myself fill with sadness, including the pain that Pol Pot had put on us." When she wasn't singing, Sothea was required to work at digging irrigation ditches like everyone else in the camp. Tiv Heng said that during the time she was in the lady group with Sothea, Tiv used to listen to her songs very often.____She noticed that Sothea had a lyric book full of revolutionary songs. Tiv Heng goes on to tell us "I know that Sothea wanted to sing the old... songs, but she would not dare since Angkar had forbidden that." _____ _____Even though she could sing, she wasn’t allowed to sing the songs that she loved, and she was only permitted to sing during celebrations and meetings organized by Angkar.

While the songs that Sothea was forced to perform during those years were simply propoganda, the listeners declared that her voice was superbly attractive. For a short time, Sothea's incredible voice made them forget about the pain that was created by the revolution.

In 1977, Sothea was forced by Pol Pot to marry one of his assistants. Sothea was unhappy with the marriage, and the couple quarreled often. Mrs. Tiv Heng has described this new husband as a very jealous person. She says that "Sothea told me directly that her husband abused her because he was jealous that she went to sing to other people. As she arrived home, he hit her."Sothea and her new husband's violent relationship was causing disturbances at the work site, and eventually the problem came to the attention of the sub district leader, who investigated the situation. It was decided that Angkar didn't need Sothea or her family. Tiv Heng says that she and the others thought "it was because of Sothea’s husband that Sothea and her family were killed."

It is unclear whether the couple's relationship was to blame, or if Sothea's husband had some other dispute with Angkar. Either way, it was known locally that Sothea had gone missing from the irrigation building site in 1978. Like countless others, Sothea had simply disapeared. Mr. Yim Sambath describes, "When the town people had not heard Sothea sing any more, they suspected that she could be dead." _____ Tiv Heng explains that "Some people said that they had seen Sothea riding on a cow cart with her family through Jeum Sangkae road to a new town.

People were happy that she moved to a new town, but I never saw people who moved out to the new town return. In fact, I believed that those who were taken by Angkar to the new town were killed. Later, I heard from town people that Sothea was taken to be killed in the south forest in Trorphaung Phlong."We have a varying account of Ros Sereysothea's death that comes from one of her surviving sisters. She claims to have knowledge that Sothea was seen in a Phnom Penh hospital, where she was severely malnourished. According to her account, Ros Sereysothea died in that Phnom Penh hospital just weeks before the Vietnamese invasion.

____In the wake of Pol Pot's genocidal rule, Sothea's music survived only on rare bootlegged cassette tapes and vintage vinyl kept hidden during the Communist years. The fact that many Cambodians held onto their copies of these classic songs, despite the risk to their own lives, is a powerul tribute to the love that the Khmer people have for Sothea and the other great musicians of the era. Today, these recordings are gaining exposure through reissues and compilations in Cambodia and abroad, and now over the internet in the form of MP3s. _____Classic Cambodian rock music, including songs by Sothea, Sinn Sisamouth and others, has been featured on the soundtrack to Matt Dillon's film "City of Ghosts".

Currently in production, the film "Don't Think I've Forgotten" documents the Cambodian rock scene during the 60's and 70's. "The Golden Voice", a short film about the end of Ros Sereysothea's life, has been accepted to the Beverly Hills Film Festival, and is now available on DVD. The Los Angeles based band Dengue Fever plays in the style of the classic Cambodian rock bands and covers some Ros Sereysothea songs. Check out the links section below for more information.

_____People who understand the Khmer language will want to visit our videos section to see an interview with Ros Sereysothea's two sisters._____(Thanks to g0ldenchild and Jatikhmer for most of this biography)

Angkor Wat

2009-06-27T01:16:00.000-07:00

Angkor Wat

Noted for its architectural and artistic perfection, not to mention its sheer size, Angkor Vat is the most famous and no doubt the most remarkable of all of Cambodia's ancient temples. Combining great technical mastery on an unprecedented scale with extraordinary architectural and artistic innovations, Angkor Vat has a unique place in the long ancient Khmer tradition of the royal "Temple-Mountain.". Built in the 12th century in the reign of King Suryavarman II, this was the residence of Vishnu, the divine palace in which the King himself was to reside after death. The construction is thought to have taken some thirty years of intensive labor.

In the "Middle Period", notably in the 16th century, Angkor Vat, then known as Preah Pisnulok (the posthumous name of its royal founder), became a site of Buddhist pilgrimage not only for the Khmer people but for much of Southeast Asia, and indeed for other more distant Asian peoples. Today, the Khmer people see in "Little Angkor" (the familiar name of Angkor Vat), the symbol of their nation.

Angkor Wat, forming a rectangle of about 1,500 by 1,300 metres, covers an area including its 190 metre wide moats - of nearly 200 hectares. The external enclosure wall defines an expanse of 1,025 metres by 800, or 82 hectares. It is the largest monument of the Angkor group.

Constructed to the south of the capital (Angkor Thom), Angkor Vat is sited in the southeast corner of the ancient city of Yashodhara built by Yashovarman I and centred on Phnom Bakheng.

The westward orientation of Angkor Vat is opposite to the orientation of sanctuaries dedicated to divinities. In Brahmanic funerary rituals, the rites are performed in reverse of the normal order - the ritual procession does not follow "pradakshina" (keeping the monument to one's right), but rather in the opposite direction, the "prasavya?". Hence, the bas-reliefs are to be viewed in an anti-clockwise direction.

Angkor Wat Plan Site

The moats surrounding the external enclosure of the monument are bordered by steps with a moulded sandstone perimeter, and are five and a half kilometres in overall length.

They are crossed only at two places - to the east by a simple bank of earth, and to the west by a 200 metre-long and 12 metre-wide sandstone-paved causeway, lined with columns along its sides. A cruciform terrace decorated with lions, precedes this causeway and is bordered by naga balustrades.

The temple enclosure, formed by a high laterite wall incorporates a colonnade of 235 metres composed of a three-part gopura - the towers of which are cruciform in plan and galleries that link with two pavilions at either extremity which served as passageways for elephants.

Kuk Ta Reach

Kuk Ta Reach, the "Sanctuary of the Royal Ancestor" is the traditional name of the series of porticos in this colonnade leading into the interior of Angkor Vat. Of the many divinities and spirits worshipped here, 'Ta Reach' is by far the most important. Embodied in a colossal four-armed statue worshipped in the portico to the south of the main entrance, Ta Reach's protective powers are known throughout the Angkor region. Over the past decades, local caretakers have restored parts of the Ta
Bas-Relief Galleries Reach statue with cement. In 2003, the cement replica head was replaced by the original that had been stored for safekeeping at the National Museum of Cambodia.

The bas-reliefs cover the inner walls of the galleries of the lower enclosure and comprise of panels two metres in height with a total area of more than 1,000 square metres excluding the corner pavilions. Limited to the zone that would have been accessible to the public, they represent legendary and historic scenes for the enlightenment of the faithful.

These galleries, which are open to the exterior and form the temple's third enclosure wall, are sculpted in bas-reliefs representing historical and epic scenes. The friezes were, for the most part, executed during, or shortly after, the reign of Suryavarman II. Only the northeastern corner - the northern section of the eastern gallery and the eastern section of the northern gallery were left bare at that time, to be sculpted later, in the 16th century. These late reliefs are notably inferior in quality of conception and execution, due most probably to a rupture in the artistic tradition between the fall of the capital at Angkor in the 15th century and the 16th-century restoration. The scenes represented are as follows:

1. The Battle of Kurukshetra, between the Pandava and the Kaurava families, from the Mahabharata epic tale.The reliefs sculpted on the southern section of this western gallery represent a concluding episode of the Mahabharata, a renowned Indian epic tale.This is the Battle of Kurukshetra, when the Pandava and Kaurava clans meet in final, deadly combat. Interestingly, the Mahabharata is virtually unknown in modern Cambodia. Unlike the Ramayana, which continues to permeate all aspects of Khmer culture, the Mahabharata would seem to have faded from cultural practice and memory with the decline of the Angkorian Empire.

2. Historical scenes depicting the reign of Suryavarman II.
The reliefs sculpted on the western section of this southern gallery commemorate a series of historical events from the reign of King Suryavarman II, the founder of Angkor Vat in the 12th century. As the brief inscription
engraved next to the image of Suryavarman II identifies this king by his posthumous name, Paramavisnuloka, the reliefs themselves are thought to have been sculpted shortly after his death.

Hell

3. Heavens and Hells: the consequences of one's acts can be pondered as the blessed delight in celestial bliss above while the wicked suffer in agony below.
The reliefs sculpted on the eastern section of this southern gallery represent the 37 Heavens and 32 Hells derived from Indian tradition. The Hells, on the lower registers, are pictured in greater detail than the Heavens above. Each Hell is in fact identified by an accompanying inscription. Thus we read "Avici", "Raurava", etc., names still known and feared in Cambodia.

4. "The Churning of the Sea of Milk".
The reliefs sculpted on the southern section of this eastern gallery represent the "Churning of the Sea of Milk", a popular episode from Vishnu lore. The Gods (northern part) and the Demons (southern part) use the serpent Vasuki as a cord wound around Mount Mandara, emerging from the Sea; pulling alternately on either end of the serpent, together they churn the Sea of Milk in order to extract the nectar of immortality. Seizing the nectar as it is formed, the Gods are victorious, and thus thereafter immortal.

5. Victory of Vishnu over the Asura demons. The reliefs on this northeastern corner (northern section of the eastern gallery and eastern section of the northern gallery) were sculpted in the 16th century, some four hundred years after the original construction of Angkor Vat and the sculpture of most of the temple's gallery walls. These reliefs clearly demonstrate that, though Cambodia had by then become a Theravadin Buddhist nation, the Khmers had not yet forgotten their past Brahmanic culture. The scenes on the northern section of the eastern gallery, are thought to have been extracted from the Indian Harivamsa, show the God Vishnu, in the center, singularly defeating the Demons.

6. Victory of Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) over the demon Bana.
The scenes on the eastern section of the northern gallery, thought to have been extracted from the Indian Harivamsa, show Krishna, one of Vishnu's many avatars, defeating his rival Bana. A variety of Gods are represented here, including Shiva at the western end.

7. Combat between the Gods and the Demons.
All the major Brahmanic Gods, identifiable by the attributes they brandish and the animal mounts they ride, are represented on the western portion of this northern gallery. Each God is shown in singular combat with a Demon. In a similar way to other sculpted galleries of Angkor Vat, the God Vishnu, pictured here in the center of the long panel, is pre-eminent.

8. The Battle of Lanka, from the Ramayana epic tale.
The reliefs of the northern portion of this western gallery illustrate a renowned episode of the Ramayana, the Indian epic tale which recounts the exploits of Prince Rama (an avatar of Vishnu). We see here the Battle of Lanka, in which Rama's monkey army led by the monkey General Hanuman fights the Demon King Ravana's army. Rama's army seeks to rescue his wife Sita, who has been captured and held hostage in Lanka, Ravana's island kingdom.
Preah Paon

The name of this cruciform gallery - 'the Thousand Buddhas' - dates from the Middle Period, when the prestige of Angkor Vat spread across Buddhist Asia. Over the course of time the faithful erected here a great number of statues of the Buddha in stone, wood or metal, hence the gallery's name. Some of the statues still remain while

others are exhibited or kept in conservation storehouses. Others have, for diverse reasons, been lost forever. Together, these Buddhist statues testify to an artistic school unique to the temple of Angkor Vat.
The majority of Angkor Vat's 41 inscriptions dating from the Middle Period are found here, on the pillars of Preah Poan. Largely in Khmer, sometimes including Pali phrases, they date from the 16th to 18th centuries and record pious works performed at Preah Pisnulok by pilgrims, including members of the royal family. The authors inscribe their "vows of truth" and declare their "pure faith" in the religion of the Buddha. These stone inscriptions make an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the ideology of Theravada Buddhism as it became Cambodia's principal and official religion. Inscriptions in other languages, such as Burmese and Japanese, further demonstrate the cross-cultural attraction the temple has long exerted.

Bakan

Originally the principal sanctuary of Angkor Vat's uppermost terrace was open to the four cardinal points, and probably sheltered a statue of Vishnu, the supreme god of the temple. Later, when Angkor Vat became a center of Buddhist pilgrimage, the four entranceways into the central sanctuary were filled in with sandstone blocks; each of the newly constituted walls was then sculpted with a deep relief of the standing Buddha. In 1908 archaeologists opened the southern entranceway. In the place of any original Vishnu statue, they found multiple statue and pedestal fragments, as well as a sarcophagus. Further research carried out in the well of the central sanctuary in the 1930s revealed, at a depth of 23 meters, the temple's original foundation deposits: two circular gold leaves embedded in a laterite block.

A number of inscriptions at Preah Poan and Bakan, along with the artistic style of these Buddha figures, indicate that the enclosure of the central tower and its transformation into a Buddhist sanctuary was a royal work executed in the latter half of the 16th century. This architectural and iconographic transformation translated into space the conceptual transformation of the central Brahmanic sanctuary into a Buddhist stupa. Here the four Buddhas of the past, facing each of the four cardinal points, surround the garbha - the maternal matrix - which encloses Maitreya, the Buddha of the future. The Bakan illustrates in a most spectacular manner the evolution of Angkor Vat over time: as the ancient Vishnuite temple became a sacred Theravadin Buddhist site, Angkor Vat undoubtedly played a primary role in the conversion of Cambodia into a Theravadin nation.
Angkor Vat Today

Angkor Vat has always figured on Cambodia's national flag. The temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people, and the lasting grandeur of their past.

Since December 1992, Angkor Vat and other Angkorian monuments have been classed as UNESCO "World Heritage". This is a great honor for Cambodia, and a major national obligation. We are responsible for Angkor's preservation not only before history and in respect of our ancestors, but also, today, before the entire international community.

Cambodia's Water Festival

2009-06-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

Water Festival (Bun Oumtouk)

The Tonle Sap or "Great Lake" as it's called is more than just a body of water giving life to Cambodia and Southeast Asia. The Tonle Sap represents a people's identity and way of life for the thousands of Cambodians who call the riverbanks home. These people float in boats that are both homes and businesses along the muddy waters day in and day out. And they give to the water as it gives to them.

The Tonle Sap is one of the most fish abundant lakes in the world and the silt deposits left behind by the annual floods have created fertile ground for agriculture. It's no surprise that one of Asia's greatest ancient civilizations developed near this lake and today much of Cambodia's livelihood still depends on its output. So dependent are Cambodians that the government vigorously enforces fishing bans from March to November. Many people depend on the Tonle Sap and its ebbs and flows to maintain life and everyone in Southeast Asia recognizes this fact of life.

Along the banks of the Tonle Sap, people have celebrated the river's gifts for centuries. People celebrate its change of flow and welcome the swelling banks that bring in good fortune for families of fishermen. During the rainy season the Tonle Sap reverses direction, flooding the lake, increasing its size almost tenfold, making it the largest freshwater body in Southeast Asia. And the people along the banks of the Tonle Sap find good reason to celebrate their Great Lake and take joy in its natural changes. The Tonle Sap is the only waterway in the world that flows in opposite directions at different times of the year. Once an arm of the sea, the Tonle Sap is a true natural phenomenon.

One of the largest festivals of Cambodia revolves around the Tonle Sap. The three-day Water festival of the reversal of the waters of the Great Lake is celebrated in October or November depending on when the waters reverse and flow back into the Mekong River. Boat races, the largest part of the festival, are held at the capital, Phnom Penh. Each village has the opportunity to join in the boat races and usually they do. The boats are usually dugout canoes with a prow and stern that curve upward. The boats are elaborately decorated and carved to represent the village. The prow is painted with a large eye like those that decorated the war vessels of ancient times.

A boat can have as many as 40 rowers. Pairs of boats race each other for the first two days. A race including all the canoes takes place on the last day of the festival. The purpose of this race is to make the god of the river happy so that there will be many fish and the rice crop will be plentiful. The Water festival, while celebrating the reversal of the waters, also marks the beginning of the year's fishing season.

Up to a million people from all walks of life and from all over the country flock to the banks of the Tonle Sap to watch the boat races and to celebrate the Tonle Sap. With the city filled to full-capacity at this time, it's no surprise that it takes on a carnival air and feeling felt by everyone. Live concerts are held, food stands are set up, and children and adults alike take rides on ferris wheels to celebrate the joy; at night, fireworks light up the sky and people dance in the street. People from the countryside throughout Cambodia come to the festival, many traveling down the three rivers that run through the city. Some come to race their long, hand-carved boats. Others come to see the three days of boat races and take part in the festivities or to take advantage of the many things for sale. This is Cambodia's version of Mardi Gras and many throughout the world look forward to attending just the same.

Just like at Mardi Gras, the crowds at the Water festival are huge. To contain thousands of festival-goers, police barricades stop motorized traffic, letting only bikes and people on foot through. Because it is a festival, school is canceled and many workers are off work. This large crowd of people fills the streets of the city within ten blocks of the Tonle Sap and the Royal Palace and the city explodes with excitement.

The Water festival also coincides with the full moon of the Buddhist calendar month of Kadeuk. The Cambodians believe that the full moon is a good omen which promises a bountiful harvest. On this night, people gather to give thanks to the moon and to pray for the upcoming season. Special food is prepared for this occasion that includes fruits, vegetables and Ambok-a Cambodian specialty. Worshippers light candles and burn incest while offerings are given. The chief priest lights the candles and as it drips on the banana leaves spread beneath the candles, predictions are made. Cambodians believe that the shape of the melted wax created on the leaves, predicts the harvest of the coming year. But whatever the prediction, it does not dampen the spirit of the Water festival and people excitedly look forward to the upcoming fishing season and giving thanks to the ever-nourishing waters of the Tonle Sap

Khmer Heritage

2009-06-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

THE KHMER EMPIRE

The Khmer Empire was at its apogee during the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1215 A.D.). Its territory covered the current Cambodia, all of southern Vietnam, all of the current Laos, all of the current Thailand, and part of the current Malaysia. Unlike the Khmers, Thais, known then as Siameses, were not natives of the region. The kingdom of Thailand, known then as Siam, did not appear in Southeast Asia until the mid- 14th century.

A well-known Thai historian, Sulak Sivarak, who was a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and the winner of the Right Livelihood Award said of the Khmer Empire: "It included everything right up to Lopburi and all of what is now Bangkok". Again, describing the Khmer Empire, Peter Janssan of the Hindustan Times quoted Sulak Sivaraka in his article on 18 June 2008: "Thai invasions of Cambodia, then in its decline, led to the adoption of many Khmer cultural traditions by the Thais, including the Hindu concept of god-kings and court rituals, and an ongoing fondness for Brahman-inspired black magic, especially among Thai politicians". Peter Janssan went on to describe that there are many more Khmer temples located in Thailand, especially along the northeast Thailand- Cambodian border like Buriram, Surin, and Sisaket. The map depicting the Khmer Empire at its height is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Khmer Empire during the Height of its Civilization, Before the Appearance of Siam (From Jayavarman II to Jayavarman VII)

THE FRENCH PROTECTORATE

Cambodia was a vassal state under Siam during the reign of King Ang Duong. Cambodia had lost Battambang, Sisophon, and Siem Reap to Siam. Siam had placed spies everywhere at the court of Oudong. To get out of the Siam’s manacles, King Norodom who succeeded his father, King Ang Duong, sought out help from France. On 23 March 1907, under the reign of King Sisowath who succeeded his brother, King Norodom, France (as the protectorate of Cambodia) and Siam signed a border treaty that completed the 1904 treaty. In the 1904 treaty Siam ceded Tonlé Repou, Mlou Prey, Koh Kong, and Stung Trèng to Cambodia. The 1907 treaty subsequently produced the French- Siamese Commission 1907 Frontier Line (Figure 2), placing Preah Vihear under the control of Cambodia. The French-Siamese 1907 treaty had Siam ceded almost all Cambodia ancient territory of the 16th century back to Cambodia. The territory included Battambang, Sisophon, Siem Reap, Mongkol Borei, and Tnot (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 2. Extract from the International Court of Justice Report 1962 – The French-Siamese Commission 1907 (Scale 1:200,000) (Courtesy Bora Touch. Note in blue added by Bora Touch for clarity)

Figure 3. Map of Cambodia Showing the Te rritory That Siam Ceded To France in 1907

Figure 4. Map of Present Day Cambodia Courtesy: Official Map by the Royal Government of Cambodia Submitted to UNESCO for Preah VihearWorld Heritage List

In spite of this agreement, Thailand contested in 1934 that the Temple of Preah Vihear belonged to her and their surveyors redrew the frontier to locate Preah Vihear in Thailand’s territory. In 1954 Thailand occupied Preah Vihear. On 6 October 1959, Cambodia, under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the Hague, Netherlands, to rule on the dispute. By the end of the year, Thailand retaliated with a claim listing Preah Vihear as a national archeological site. On June 15, 1962, the ICJ made a judgment recognizing that the Temple of Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia using the French-Siamese Commission 1907 Frontier Line as one of the supporting arguments (Figure 5). A satellite photo showing Preah Vihear and its surrounding region with demarcations of the frontier established by the French-Siamese Commission 1907 is presented in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows another satellite photo of Preah Vihear and the Dangrek mountain range. Thailand never protested against the verdict. However, over the years Thailand has unilaterally redrawn the map that contradicts the ICJ judgment (Figures 8- 10).

Figure 5. Area of the Temple of Preah Vihear in the Dangrek Range of Mountains (Extrapolation from the map recognized by the International Court of Justice, 15 June 1962) Courtesy: Official Map by the Royal Government of Cambodia submitted to UNESCO for Preah VihearWorld Heritage List

Figure 6. Satellite Photo of Preah Vihear and its Surrounding Region (Courtesy: Bora Touch)

Figure 7. Satellite Photo of Preah Vihear and its Surrounding Region (Courtesy: Bora Touch)

Figure 8. Thai Internal Working Document – The Official Thai Map (Scale 1:10,000) Courtesy Bora Touch. Notes in blue and green Colors added by Bora Touch for clarity

Figure 9. Thai Internal Working Document – The French-Siamese Commission Map Made in 1907 (Scale: 1:200,000) (Courtesy Bora Touch. Notes in blue by Bora Touch for clarity)

Figure 10. Extract from the Aide Memoire of Cambodia Royal Government 1962 (Scale: 1:6,000) (Courtesy Bora Touch. Note in blue by Bora Touch for Clarity)

The temple of Preah Vihear was originally built under Yasovarman I, a Khmer king who reigned from 889 to 910 A.D. The building started in light material, but its completion in stone was carried on later by his successors. The temple was dedicated to Shiva (God of destroyer).

The setting of Preah Vihear was ideal for a Khmer monarch who dedicated the temple for Shiva because of its spectacular location sitting atop of a high cliff over 500 meters above the lower ground. Aerial views of the Preah Vihear temples are shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Figure 11. Aerial View of Preah Vihear Hanging Over a Cliff On Cambodia Territory (Courtesy: Official Photo by the Royal Government of Cambodia Submitted to UNESCO for Preah VihearWorld Heritage List)

Figure 12. Aerial View of Preah Vihear

THE THAI TWISTED THESIS OF THEIR ORIGIN

There are some Thais in the academic, the press, and the media who fantasize in their justification of Preah Vihear belonging to Thailand by advancing a twisted thesis claiming that Khmer is not the same as Khorm (note: the Thai used to call Khmer as either Khamin or Khorm). They say that Khmer is Khamin, which is different from Khorm. Furthermore, they say that Khorms are the real inhabitants of what is now Thailand and they were the builders of Preah Vihear, Angkor, and all the ancient temples found in Cambodia and Thailand. They are saying that Khmers are not the descendents of the Angkor builders. Therefore, they try to justify by implication that Thai people are the true descendents of the Khorms, the original inhabitants of Thailand and builders of Preah Vihear and Angkor. The Thai people have such a twisted mind. Believing in this twisted thesis is like believing that a bullet firing from a gun can be curved around a corner. The Thais are not only satisfied to steal everything that are precious to Khmers and then claimed them to be their own, such as Preah Ko Preah Keo, Preah Khan Reach, Khmer classical dance and music, Khmer style boxing, and Khmer scripts “Aksor Moul” (the Thai called it sacred scripts instead of Khmer scripts), but now they try to even steal Khmer identity. They want to strip Khmer people bare of any ancestry.

OBSERVATIONS

A few important observations to the central issue of the Preah Vihear temple must be brought up to the attention of the world. The following are two immediate points of interest concerning the affair of the Preah Vihear temples:

The press keeps mentioning that Preah Vihear was an ancient Hindu temple instead of a Khmer temple. Preah Vihear is not a Hindu temple but a Khmer temple built under the reign of Yasovarman I, a Khmer king in the 9th century, dedicated to Shiva, one of the Hindu gods. When the press says that Preah Vihear is a Hindu temple, it deemphasizes Khmer ownership and legitimacy to the temple. In modern time, the war of words is very important. This clarification is very important and it must be emphasized at all time.
Thailand kept insisting on using her own map to claim the disputed area around Preah Vihear instead of the French-Siamese Commissioned Map of 1907, where the International Court of Justice (ICJ) based its judgment on to award Preah Vihear to Cambodia. The map was the product of the treaty signed by Thailand and French (Cambodia was under the French protectorate) in 1907. It is legal and binding. Thailand wants to use its own map that is not binding and not recognized by the International Court of Justice. Cambodia must not give in to the Thai insistence of using her own map to settle the dispute of Preah Vihear and its surrounding area.

CONCLUSION

Cambodia is doing the right thing to seek help from the United Nations (UN). It is not in the interest of Thailand to have the UN intervene in the affair of Preah Vihear, because she knows that Cambodia has more legitimacy and historical claim of Preah Vihear and its surrounding area than Thailand does. The UN will have to consider and abide by the 1962 judgment made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the recent recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that included Preah Vihear in the World Heritage List. If the UN were to side with Cambodia, then they would probably ask Thailand to withdraw from the disputed area.

Thailand is playing hardball because she knows Cambodia is no match with her militarily. Cambodia has no choice but to ask the UN for help. With the UN help Thailand will not dare to encroach further into Cambodia territory. If war were to erupt, Thailand would be condemned by the world and she will lose face. Additionally, the Muslims are now waiting for the right opportunity to stir troubles again in the southern region of Thailand if this latter decides to go to war with Cambodia. Thailand cannot afford to have war with Cambodia. Thailand may win in the short term but she will lose in the long run. Thailand fears the UN because among the five permanent members, Cambodia can count on France, China, and Russia to side with her. As to the US and the UK positions, nothing can be certain but if these two countries interpret the laws and historical facts properly, they should come to the conclusion that Thailand has no claim and basis over Preah Vihear and its surrounding area that she had ceded to Cambodia during the French-Siamese 1907 treaty.

The UN cannot ignore the ICJ judgment that recognized Preah Vihear belonging to Cambodia, because to do otherwise would bring chaos to the international rule of laws. There is no doubt, both based on the court of laws and historical facts, that the Temple of Preah Vihear is a Khmer heritage and belonging to Cambodia.

Presh Vihear Temples

2009-06-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

Presh Vihea temples has list as a world heritage

Khmer soldier at Preah Vihea Temples & People escape from Siem gunfire

King Dragon at Preah Vihea Temples

Preah Vihear Temples on Dong Rek mountain

Temples view sunset

Presh Vihea temples is our Khmer National soul, We're Khmer have right to protect our temples.

Kompong Cham Province View

2009-06-25T04:50:00.000-07:00

Kampong Cham isn't a city chock full of tourist attractions, but it's colonial charm and atmosphere will endear itself to you. There are a few temples to see in the area, including one of the country's mass graves.

Nokor Wat. An Angkorian temple dating from the 11th century, containing a standard assortment of Angkor architecture. Some of the mausoleums are open to tourists and contain piles of bones and skulls from the Khmer Rouge's genocidal reign. Inside one of the buildings is a very elaborate series of wall paintings, depicting torture and executions (of a religious nature), followed by scenes of heaven and the afterlife. This is not always an accessible building, as a Monk has to unlock it for you to enter. He usually does, though your driver may ask you to refrain. To get there by bicycle follow the road to Phnom Penh

for about 1 km and turn left when you see a dusty road going down through a gate (there's also a sign). The visit to this site can easily be combined with a trip to the mountains Pros and Srei.

If you are interested in traditional Cambodian dances, there is a daily performance at 5 p.m. in the Wat Nokor (Nokor Bachey Temple) by the children and teenagers looked after and educated by BSDA, a Non Governmental Oranization (NGO) located at the temple site and managed by the monks. Entrance is free, donations are certainly welcome. No need for reservations.

There is also a French lookout tower on the other side of the river, once used for monitoring river traffic. It's still standing but in a decaying state. You can climb the stairs inside the tower and have a good view on the bridge, the Mekong and the small village next to the tower. The stairs are difficult and dangerous to climb, however.

An abandoned US airstrip that has been used by B52 bombers is a short distance west of town. To get there take the Highway 7 to Phnom Penh for about 3 km. Just before the factory on the left hand side (looks a bit like a prison) there is a dirt road going to the right between street vendors and two red-white striped poles. Follow this road for about 2.5 km. There is not much left to see apart from the pavement of the airstrip and two decaying buildings next to it - a pillbox and the control tower probably. Leaving the airstrip on the left (west) will eventually lead to Mountain Pros and Srey. Going right (east) to the end of the strip and turning right again will lead you back to Kompong Cham.

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Kampong Cham features a few markets, but the best is the one the locals use. It features all sorts of food, ranging from standard mangoes and other fruits, to pig heads and live fish. As with all other food places in the area, use common sense when buying here, as there are health hazards to the unsuspecting Westerner. It's just down the road from the Mekong Crossing restaurant, but stalls only open during daylight hours. Some food and juice stalls stay open until late, i.e. 9 pm.

Cambodia Public Bank (5-7, Ph Angduong, coming from the bridge turn right at the roundabout from where it is about 200 m) exchange money and has an ATM accepting VISA, MasterCard and Maestro. This is the last ATM when heading north until Pakse in Lao.

Canadia Bank, not to be confused with Canada, this bank is wholly Cambodian owned. This particular branch doesn't take baht, and exchanges money at a slightly poorer rate (approximately 4,000 riel to the USD) than you'll get at your guesthouse or on the street. They will cash traveller cheques and offer free advances on MasterCards. Best to avoid this one unless you need to replenish your supply of American cash while you're in town.

Acleda Bank (31-33, Ph Khemarak Phomin) also has an ATM but doesn't yet accept international cards. They can change dollars and Thai baht only but they accept traveller cheques. Western Union services are also available.

Money changers are available throughout the city, particularly in and around the markets - look out for packets of money on display. They will give you a slightly better rate than the banks but you have to ask around for the best deal. Some of them do also change other currencies than dollars such as Thai baht and Vietnamese dong. Occasionally, other western currencies are changed as well but expect a poor rate. It is not possible to change Lao kip.

Internet cafes, there are a couple of internet cafes around town, especially on Ang Duong Street between the market and the bridge over the Mekong. The going rate is 2,500 riel per hour.

Traditional khmer House

2009-06-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Khmer Village

There are many types of houses in Khmer village such as house Peth, house Kantaing, house Raungdoeung, Sala Chan as a small pagoda… etc which are the main model houses of Khmer people, they make their living by farming, making palm sugar, rice storage, carving, weaving, crafting farm, making clay pot, fishing and popular games.

Millionaire House (Phteas Sethei)

Millionaire House, where for the ancient rich man stay, is an old style of Khmer construction that remains from OUDONG period up to now. The hold building of this house is using with very good quality equipment and wood. At here you will see the traditional Khmer style wedding ceremony.

Floating and Fishing Village (Phteas Teok)

In the Southern of Siem Reap Province, there is Chong Khneas Village, Kampong Pluk located along the riverbank of Tonle Sap Lake. They make their living by fishing in normal form with the small boat or work for the farming in the floating field. They believe in Buddhism and before they went for fishing they like to pray for happiness and yielding as much of fish from the guardian spirit.

Phnorng Village

Phnorng people live in the Northeast of Mondulkiri Province where a lot of natural resources. Their houses are look Oval sharp with the roof droop close the land similar to the house in Africa. The principle in their life is growing crops, farming, and hunting. They believe in animism.

Kroeung Village

Kroeung people live in the Northeast of Cambodia in Rattanakiri province where plenty of natural resource. They make their living by hunting, husbandry, farming. They believe in animism. The girl has own right to choose the fiancé by herself.

Cham Village

Cham people live almost everywhere in Cambodia.They make their living by fishing, blacksmithing, the principle religion in Islam (Preah Allah).

Village Healthcare

2009-06-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

Working with the Village Development Committee, we have contracted in past years with a local Cambodian doctor to visit the village routinely and to provide on-site care. Starting in 2007 while our doctor is in Phnom Penh taking special medical courses, we have hired a healthcare manager who works with the Village Development Committees to implement educational workshops in prevention of malaria, bird flu, water-borne diseases, and HIV/AIDS. Workshops also focus on increasing nutritional values of family meals through home-gardening and fishponds.

One of the highlights of 2007 is the introduction of the Preschool Food Supplement Program for malnutrition intervention for the community children who attend the village preschools. The primary goal of this program, overseen and delivered by the healthcare manager and community parents, is to provide a daily vitamin and protein-rich porridge for village children under 7 years.

The healthcare manager is also on-call for emergency situations but urgent care issues requiring hospitalization must go through conventional government programs, as the cost would otherwise be prohibitive.

Our program is always in need of trained physicians and healthcare providers who are willing to volunteer time training the Cambodian physicians enrolled in our programs.

Cambodian Living Life ជីវិតរស់នៅជនជាតិខ្មែរ

រ៉េន ត្រូវ​គេ​សរសើរ​ជា​ទាហាន​ឆ្នើម

នួន ជា សារភាព​ថា ខ្លួន​ពិត​ជា​បាន​បញ្ជា​ឲ្យ​ជម្លៀស​ប្រជាជន​ពី​ទីក្រុង

Marrying product and client through effective marketing

Ieng Thirith hospital-bound

Laos dam looms over fish quota

Cambodia versus Hollywood

Stylelife

Cambodia versus Hollywood

Stylelife

ព្រាប សុវត្ថិ និង សេរី​មន្ត ប៉ះ​គ្នា​នៅ​បាត់ដំបង

Ieng Sary aide testifies at KRT

Ieng Thirith could walk free today

គង់ វិសាល រៀប​ការ​ចោល ពេជ្រ សេរី​រ័ត្ន នៅ​ខែ​មករា

រោងចក្រ​ចម្រាញ់​ប្រេង​ដំបូង​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​សាងសង់​ខែ​មេសា

Geting to Cambodia

Cambodia Transportation

Getting to Cambodia from outside of Mekong countries

Connections between Mekong countries

From Thailand

From Vietnam

From Laos

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa

Cambodia International Airports

Phnom Penh Pochentong International Airport

Siem Reap International Airport

Air Transport

Transportation In Cambodia

Farm

Farmer Profile

Visoth Kim

Country Facts

Agriculture

Traditional Foods

People and Farm

The Princess Golden Voice Singer

Angkor Wat

Cambodia's Water Festival

Khmer Heritage

THE KHMER EMPIRE

Presh Vihear Temples

Kompong Cham Province View

Traditional khmer House

Village Healthcare

រ៉េន ត្រូវគេសរសើរជាទាហានឆ្នើម

នួន ជា សារភាពថា ខ្លួនពិតជាបានបញ្ជាឲ្យជម្លៀសប្រជាជនពីទីក្រុង

ព្រាប សុវត្ថិ និង សេរីមន្ត ប៉ះគ្នានៅបាត់ដំបង

គង់ វិសាល រៀបការចោល ពេជ្រ សេរីរ័ត្ន នៅខែមករា

រោងចក្រចម្រាញ់ប្រេងដំបូងនៅកម្ពុជាចាប់ផ្តើមសាងសង់ខែមេសា