3 Frenchmen given suspended jail term for nude photos at Cambodian heritage site

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court on Saturday gave a six-month suspended jail sentence to three French tourists for taking pornographic photos at the Angkor Archeological Park, a world heritage site.

"After a full-day hearing, the court convicted the three Frenchmen of showing their sex organs and producing pornographic pictures and sentenced each of them to six months in prison, but the whole jail term is suspended," Kirt Sovanareth, chief prosecutor at the Siem Reap Provincial Court, told Xinhua via telephone.
The trio were also fined 250 U.S. dollars, he said.
"They will be deported from Cambodia on Sunday and banned from re-entering Cambodia for four years," he added.
The Frenchmen are identified as Rodolphe Fourgeot, 19; Alexandre Vix, 19; and Vincent Bocquet, 20.
Cambodian authorities arrested the group on Thursday while they were taking their nude photos at Banteay Kdei temple in the complex of the 12th century Angkor Archeological Park.
Angkor Archeological Park, inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1992, is the kingdom's largest tourist destination. It is located in Siem Reap province, some 315 km northwest of the capital of Phnom Penh.
The site received 2.35 million foreign tourists last year, earning a gross revenue of 59.3 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the government.

Editor: Xiang Bo

Cambodia needs 11 bln USD for public investment in 5 years: PM

English.news.cn   2014-09-18 15:45:44

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday that the country needs about 11 billion U.S. dollars for public investment to support the implementation of the government's priorities from 2013 to 2018.
"This resource requirement aims to promote economic development and diversification, poverty reduction as well as disaster management," he said during the launching ceremony of the five- year National Strategic Development Plan.
The ceremony was attended by around 200 people consisting of government officials, economists, researchers, and representatives of private companies, civil society and development partners.
The prime minister said the National Strategic Development Plan would bring about more fruitful outcome to socio-economic development because of lesson learnt and experiences accumulated from the implementation of previous plans.
"This comprehensive plan attests to the firm commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to achieving the vision of the political platform in response to people trust and confidence no matter how big the additional burden is," he said.
"However, I am of the view that the successful implementation of the plan requires the collective effort and high responsibility of relevant ministries and organizations to achieve national priorities, address challenges and grab available opportunity."
Hun Sen said the plan will continue to support and accelerate the implementation of political platform of the government, in particular, the Rectangular Strategy Phase III for growth, employment, equity and effectiveness.
"Moreover, this plan will also back the vigilant implementation of the public finance and monetary policy to ensure consistency in managing a stable and favorable macro-economic condition to promote development in all sectors," he added.

Editor: xuxin

Cambodia supports U.S. strategy against ISIS

English.news.cn   2014-09-18 15:16:51

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Thursday that the country supported the U.S. President Barack Obama's strategy to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
"For our stance on ISIS, previously, we have subsequently condemned the killings of American and British journalists, and we will continue condemning such brutal crimes," he said during a national conference. "Cambodia has no possibility to send forces to directly fight with ISIS group in Iraq, but, mentally and politically, we support all activities that destroy terrorism groups -- not only ISIS, but also al-Qaida and other groups."
The prime minister said Cambodia would do all its best to prevent terrorists from taking Cambodian territory as their shelter or terrorism financing place, and would share information that could be useful in the campaign to fight against terrorism.
"We do not tolerate any terrorism act," he said. "In fact, Cambodia is not the target of terrorism attack, but we should not forget that more than 4 million foreign tourists have come to Cambodia each year and many foreign companies are doing businesses in Cambodia."
ISIS has recently claimed to have established an "Islamic Caliphate" in parts of Syria and Iraq.
The group, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, said their goal is to establish an Islamic state in Iraq and Syria to fight the Shiite- led Iraqi central government and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose top ranks are from the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Editor: xuxin

Cambodian PM's son, superstars take Ice Bucket

English.news.cn   2014-08-23 16:35:15

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's youngest son Hun Many and several superstars took the Ice Bucket challenge on Saturday to help raise fund for the Kuntha Bopha Pediatric Hospitals and other charities, according to video clips posted on their Facebook pages.
It is the first time the challenge is introduced in Cambodia.
"I am happy to take the Ice Bucket challenge, which is held for a humanitarian cause," said Hun Many, who is also a lawmaker and president of the Cambodia's Union of Youth Federation.
"I would like to appeal to the members of the federation and generous people to take the challenge in order to raise money for charities," he said before two men poured a bucket of ice water on his head.
After taking the challenge, Hun Many nominated several young leaders to do it next.
Those nominated included Environment Minister Say Samal, son of the ruling party's secretary general Say Chhum, and lawmaker Sar Sokha, son of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng, as well as other heirs of Cambodian leaders.
The challenge, originated from the United States, requires people to post videos of themselves being doused with cold water and publicly nominate others to do the same within 24 hours.
Kham Puri, a producer of Hang Meas Video Production, who initiated the challenge, said in Cambodia, if nominated people dare to take the challenge within 24 hours, they donate only 10 U. S. dollars to the Kuntha Bopha Hospital Foundation, but if they dare not, the donation will be doubled.
The Ice Bucket challenge campaign has become popular around the world through social networks. Some of the most famous people have been drenching themselves in cold water and posting the videos online.
Other video clips posted on Saturday showed a male-superstar Nop Panharith and a famous female-singer Pich Sophea, both are in the Hang Meas Video Production, taking the challenge with a message encouraging people to join it in order to raise fund for the hospitals and other charities.

Editor: xuxin

Cambodia's parliament leadership reshuffle set for next week: PM

English.news.cn   2014-08-18 13:18:22

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at a food security and nutrition conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 18, 2014. The 123 Cambodian Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling and opposition parties will vote on Tuesday next week to elect their leadership, Prime Minister Hun Sen, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), said on Monday. (Xinhua/Phearum)

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 123 Cambodian Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling and opposition parties will vote on Tuesday next week to elect their leadership, Prime Minister Hun Sen, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), said on Monday.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)'s 55 MPs ended their 10-month long boycott of parliament early this month after Hun Sen and CNRP's President Sam Rainsy reached an agreement to end their differences over last year's election that saw the ruling party won 68 seats.
Under the deal, the CNRP will hold the position of the first vice president of the parliament and chair five of the 10 commissions in the legislative body. Moreover, it will control four of nine seats on the would-be National Election Committee.
"On Tuesday next week, there will be votes for the parliament leadership," Hun Sen said at a food security and nutrition conference.
"Please don't worry, the Cambodian People's Party will honor our promise and vote for the CNRP's candidates in those posts."
The prime minister's guarantee came after some opposition MPs voiced their concerns that the ruling party might break the promise and do not vote for them.
Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the parliament's current president Heng Samrin will remain the president, while the current first vice president Nguon Nhel will relinquish that position to the CNRP and become second vice president.

Editor: Yang Yi

Cambodia, China to jointly establish technology transfer center

English.news.cn | 2014-08-18 17:18:25 | Editor: Yang Yi

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and China on Monday signed an agreement toward establishing a Cambodia- China Technology Transfer Center, aiming to utilize science and technology for socio-economic development, officials said. The deal was inked by Liu Jianhong, deputy director-general of Science and Technology Department of China's Guangxi province and permanent deputy chief of China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center, Cao Yun De, president of Cambodia International Cooperation Organization, and Ting Siny, chairman of Cambodia-ASEAN committee on Science and Technology, under the presence of Cham Prasidh, Cambodian Minister of Industry and Handicraft. Liu said the establishment of the Cambodia-China Technology Transfer Center was made under the cooperation framework in science and technology between China and ASEAN. "It is the first agreement that China signed with ASEAN member states since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center in Sept. 2013," he said. "It is a new chapter of cooperation in science and technology between China and Cambodia." Cham Prasidh expressed his full support for the formation of the center, saying that science and technology are the backbone of national development. "Science and technology can boost national development, create jobs, and support the development of all sectors," he said. Cao Yun De said that the center will be located in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. "I believe that the center will play an important role to strengthen and expand cooperation in science and technology between the two countries," he said.

IFC sells stake in Cambodia's commercial bank to Japanese bank

English.news.cn   2014-08-18 15:09:57

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has sold its 12.25 percent stake in Acleda bank to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in an undisclosed amount after having supported Acleda for over 15 years, said an IFC news statement on Monday.
IFC has partnered with Acleda bank since 1999 when the bank was undergoing a transformation from a nongovernmental organization into a microfinance institution, the statement said, adding that as a founding shareholder, IFC has helped the bank grow over the last 15 years into the largest Cambodian bank.
"We highly appreciate our long-term partnership with IFC and its significant support to our growth for more than a decade," said Dr. In Channy, Chief Executive Officer of Acleda bank. "We look forward to continuing our partnership and opportunities for collaboration in the future as our bank grows."
IFC's financing and technical support has helped Acleda expand its financial services to Laos and Myanmar, and IFC is a shareholder in Acleda Microfinance Institution in Myanmar, the statement said.
"We have successfully supported Acleda bank's transition into a commercial microfinance institution and then a full-service commercial bank," said Adel Meer, IFC's financial institutions group manager for East Asia and the Pacific.
"With its financial strength and expertise, we believe SMBC is a strong strategic partner that can support Acleda's continued long-term growth and contribute to Cambodia's economic development and job creation," he said.
Masayuki Shimura, managing director and head of the Asia Pacific division of SMBC, said that SMBC is truly honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Acleda bank. "The investment is aimed to further enhance the existing collaborative relationship between our two banks and to meet the various needs of customers in Cambodia and Asia," he said.

Editor: Yang Yi