Thursday, August 29, 2013

Cambodia opposition chief: Planned protest not to topple gov't

(Xinhua)    13:17, August 29, 2013
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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Thursday that a mass protest, planned on Sept. 7, has no intention to overthrow the current government of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, but to demand for the poll irregularity probe committee.

"The massive nonviolent protest is not aiming to topple the government at all, but to demand for the establishment of an independent committee to look into alleged poll irregularities," Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said in a press conference at the party's headquarters.

He said it was unclear if the party would hold a mass protest only in Phnom Penh City, or throughout the country.

Rainsy called for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to resume negotiations towards the establishment of a special committee for poll irregularity investigation.

"If talks between the two parties towards the formation of an independent poll probe committee have been resumed, we will cancel our protest plan," he said.

In a letter to Sam Rainsy on Thursday, Pa Socheatvong, governor of Phnom Penh City, said that any protest must comply with the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations and the principle in maintaining public order as stated by laws.

"The Phnom Penh Municipality hopes that Mr. President of the CNRP will have high spirit and real will to cooperate with authorities to maintain social stability and peace, which are the genuine aspirations of the Cambodian people," he said in a letter.

The country held a general election on July 28. Initial election results showed that the ruling CPP of Prime Minister Hun Sen won the election with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, while the CNRP of Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats.

But the CNRP rejected the results, saying that it should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved.

Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee, said there was no need to discuss the formation of any independent committee since the initial election results had been already released and the final results would be issued on Sept. 8.

The opposition party has repeatedly threatened to call mass protests against the poll results.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng wrote a letter to Sam Rainsy on Aug. 8, saying that peaceful demonstrations are the rights of people, but protesters and their leaders must comply with the regulations of the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations.

"In case that a protest has led to violence, destruction to national security, and damage to public or private properties, the protest leaders and offenders must take full responsibilities in front of the law for consequences arising from the protest," he warned.

Soldiers, police and military police with armored vehicles have been deployed around Phnom Penh City since early this month after the opposition's protest warning.

Under the country's constitution, a new parliament will be inaugurated no later than 60 days after the election.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Aug. 2 that a new parliament and a new government would be established as scheduled despite the opposition's boycott.

According to the constitution, he said, a new government would be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the new parliament.

Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for further five years through the election victory.

(Editor:LiangJun、Yao Chun)

Cambodian PM to attend 10th ASEAN-China Expo in Nanning

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will lead a high delegation to attend the 10th ASEAN-China Expo, to be held on Sept. 2-3 in Nanning of China's Guangxi province, said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
During his visit, Hun Sen will hold an official talk with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and meet with Li Jiheng, governor of China's Yunnan province, the statement said.
The annual event of the ASEAN-China Expo is a very important platform to further help promote economic and trade ties between China and the 10 Southeast Asian countries.
The expo was initiated by former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during the 7th ASEAN-China Summit and was firstly held in 2004. It is usually held in Nanning City of China's Guangxi.
The event helps promote trading in goods and services, investment cooperation, culture, and tourism, particularly contributing to strengthening and developing the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.
During the expo, there will be an ASEAN-China Summit, which is a key platform for leaders of China and ASEAN to exchange opinions and cooperation.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.


Key Words :   ASEAN-China    

Cambodia's ruling party ready to resume talks with opposition, but refuses probe

English.news.cn   2013-08-29 16:52:42            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The ruling party said Thursday it was ready to resume talks with the opposition party over the contested election results, but ruled out the possibility of talks on the formation of a special investigation committee into poll irregularities since it was against the Constitution.
"The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is ready to resume negotiations with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in order to find a solution to the remaining issues based on the election results and the spirit of national reconciliation and unification," the ruling CPP said in a statement.
The statement said the CNRP's insistence for the establishment of an independent poll irregularity probe committee was violating the country's Constitution.
"Article 136 in the Constitution stipulates that the Constitutional Council shall have the right to examine and decide on contested cases involving the election of Assembly members and Senate members," the CPP said.
The CPP's statement came after CNRP's President Sam Rainsy on Thursday renewed his calls for talk resumption with the CPP towards the formation of the independent committee, or he would call a massive nonviolent demonstration on September 7 against the election results.
The two parties had recently met for talks on the matter for two times, but reached no agreement.
"If talks between the two parties towards the formation of an independent poll probe committee have been resumed, we will cancel our protest plan," Rainsy told a press conference at the party's headquarters.
The CPP said in the statement that Rainsy's mass protest announcement will affect people's daily lives and is against the will of the people, who expressed their voices through ballot casting on July 28.
"The CPP would like to appeal to the CNRP to see national interests and peoples as priority and should work together to resolve the remaining issues, avoiding using any means that are contrary to the multi-party liberal democratic regime and the rule of law," the statement said.
Pa Socheatvong, governor of Phnom Penh City, said Thursday that any protest must comply with the Law on Peaceful Demonstrations in order to maintain social security and public order.
"The Phnom Penh Municipality hopes that Mr. President of the CNRP will have high spirit and real will to cooperate with authorities to maintain social stability and peace, which are the genuine aspirations of the Cambodian people," he wrote in a letter to Sam Rainsy.
Initial election results showed that the ruling CPP of long- serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won the poll with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, and the CNRP of longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy took the remaining 55 seats.
But the CNRP rejected the results, saying that it should have won 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved.
Currently, the Constitutional Council, which is the country's final arbiter, has been resolving complaints filed by the opposition party against the election results.
Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee, said the final election results would be issued on September 8.
Under the country's Constitution, a new parliament will be inaugurated no later than 60 days after the election.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Aug. 2 that a new parliament and a new government would be established as scheduled despite the opposition's boycott.
According to the Constitution, he said, a new government would be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the new parliament.
Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for further five years through the election victory.
Editor: Fu Peng

Cambodia opposition party trains members for mass protest on Sept. 7

English.news.cn   2013-08-29 18:11:04            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Thursday afternoon provided a training session to its members on how to hold peaceful demonstrations ahead of a mass protest planned on September 7, said a party's statement.
It said the session was held at the party's headquarters on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
"The CNRP in cooperation with a non-governmental organization provided a training session to the party's working groups in order to prepare for a nonviolent and peaceful mass demonstration on September 7," the statement said.
It said the party would hold two protest rehearsals on Sept. 1 and Sept. 5.
CNRP's President Sam Rainsy said Thursday that a mass protest, planned on Sept. 7, has no intention to overthrow the current government of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, but to demand to establish an independent poll irregularity probe committee.
Rainsy also renewed his calls for the ruling Cambodian People' s Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen to resume negotiations towards the establishment of the proposed committee.
"If talks between the two parties towards the formation of an independent poll probe committee have been resumed, we will cancel our protest plan," he told a press conference.
The CPP issued a statement on Thursday, saying that the party was ready to resume talks with the CNRP, but ruled out the possibility of talks on the formation of a special investigation committee into poll irregularities since it was against the Constitution.
Initial official results from the July 28 polls showed that Prime Minister Hun Sen's party won 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, and the CNRP of longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy took the remaining 55 seats.
But the CNRP rejected the results, saying that it should have won 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved.
The National Election Committee is expected to issue the final poll results on Sept. 8.
Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for further five years through the election victory.
Editor: Fu Peng

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Cambodia's inflation stands at 2.9 pct in first half of 2013: central bank


English.news.cn   2013-08-28 16:20:31            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's inflation rate has accelerated to 2.9 percent in the first six months of the year, up from 1.8 percent over the same period last year, according to a report of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Wednesday.
"The rate, below 3 percent, is low and can be controllable," Chea Chanto, NBC's governor, said in the report.
He said Cambodian riel had appreciated about 0.7 percent against U.S. dollar during the first half of this year compared with the same period last year.
The country's gross foreign reserves have continued their steady rise to 4 billion U.S. dollars by June this year, up 13 percent compared with June last year, he said, adding that the amount can ensure four months of prospective imports.
The governor projected that the economy would grow by 7.6 percent in 2013, driven by strong growth of garment exports, agriculture, tourism and construction, and the inflation was expected at a manageable level of 5 percent this year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted in April that Cambodia's economy would grow at a rate of 6.7 percent and inflation at 4.6 percent this year.
Editor: Fu Peng

Cambodia opposition plans mass protest on Sept. 7 against poll results


English.news.cn   2013-08-28 19:05:22            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) planned to hold a "nonviolent mass demonstration" on Sept. 7 against the contested election results in which the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won a majority of vote.
In its statement on Wednesday, the CNRP said the party would hold a press conference on Thursday at its headquarters in Phnom Penh in order to give details of the mass protest plan.
The country held a general election on July 28. Initial election results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party ( CPP) of Hun Sen won the election with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats, while the CNRP of long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats.
But the CNRP rejected the results, saying that it should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if alleged poll irregularities were fairly resolved.
Rainsy told his supporters at the capital's Freedom Park on Monday that he would call nonviolent and peaceful protests throughout the country if an independent committee was not established to look into poll irregularities.
Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee, said there was no need to discuss the formation of any independent committee because the initial election results had been already released and the final results would be issued on Sept. 8.
The opposition party has repeatedly threatened to call mass protests against the poll results.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng wrote a letter to Sam Rainsy on Aug. 8, saying that peaceful demonstrations are the rights of people, but protesters and their leaders must comply with the regulations of the law on peaceful demonstrations.
"In case that a protest has led to violence, destruction to national security, and damage to public or private properties, the protest leaders and offenders must take full responsibilities in front of the law for consequences arising from the protest," he warned.
Soldiers, police and military police with armored vehicles have been deployed around Phnom Penh City since early this month after the opposition's protest warning.
Under the country's constitution, a new parliament will be inaugurated no later than 60 days after the election.
Hun Sen said on Aug. 2 that a new parliament and a new government would be established as scheduled despite the opposition's boycott.
According to the constitution, he said, a new government would be formed by a 50 percent plus one majority, or 63 lawmakers, in the new parliament.
Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power for five more years through the election victory.
Editor: Fu Peng

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cambodia expects double growth in rice exports this year: minister

English.news.cn   2013-08-27 18:39:44            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia was expected to export as much as 400,000 tons of milled rice in 2013 thanks to rising demand on international markets and the country's efforts in developing rice industry, Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun said Tuesday.
"We project that Cambodia can export up to 400,000 tons of milled rice this year, up from about 205,000 tons last year," the minister told an agriculture conference.
The projection was based on the export outcome in the first half of this year, he said, adding that the country had exported about 176,000 tons of milled rice in the first six months of this year.
"With this positive result, we believe that the country will be able to achieve the target of 1-million-ton milled rice exports by 2015," he said.
Cambodian rice has been sold to 49 countries around the world, according to the government's report. Five main buyers among them are Poland, France, Thailand, Malaysia and China.
With more than 80 percent of the population being farmers, Cambodia produced 9.31 million tons of paddy rice last year. Of this amount, besides local consumptions, the country has around 3 million tons of milled rice left over for exports this year.
The Asian Development Bank on Monday lent 55 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia for rice commercialization program.
The program, which will run until 2019, would improve crop productivity, access to credit for paddy producers, rice millers and exporters, access to regional and international rice markets, and enhance national and household food security, the bank said in a statement.
Editor: Shen Qing

Cambodia wants more Malaysian investors for agriculture: PM


English.news.cn   2013-08-27 13:53:10            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that the country wanted more Malaysian investors in its agricultural sector, particularly the rice industry.
Speaking in a meeting with Tun Mohd Khalil bin Yaakob, governor of Malaysian state of Melaka, at the capital's Peace Palace, the premier said that the Cambodian economy was projected to grow by 7. 6 percent this year.
He asked Khalil to help encourage Malaysian investors to Cambodia, especially to make investment in rice mills in order to process Cambodian rice for export.
Khalil promised with the premier to help attract investors to Cambodia. He said his visit to Cambodia was to explore possibilities to further develop tourism sector between the two countries.
Meanwhile, he also hailed Cambodia for rapidly social and economic development under Hun Sen's leadership.
Cambodia and Malaysia, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have developed ties well in politics, economics, trade and tourism.
Malaysia is the third largest investor in Cambodia. According to the Council for the Development of Cambodia, from 1994 to the end of last year, Malaysian investment in Cambodia had reached 2. 62 billion U.S. dollars.
The bilateral trade was valued at 376 million U.S. dollars last year, up 17 percent year on year.
On tourism side, the country has greeted 60,650 Malaysian visitors in the first six months of this year, up 13 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest tourism data.
Editor: Mengjie

Landmine casualties in Cambodia down 36 pct in 7 months


English.news.cn   2013-08-27 12:45:45            
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia reported 74 landmine casualties in the first seven months of this year, down 36 percent from the 115 casualties over the same period last year, the figures of the Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC) said Tuesday.
During the January-July period this year, 12 people were killed and 62 others were injured, while at the same period last year, 25 people were killed and 90 were injured, the figures said.
From 1979 to July this year, about 19,674 people were killed by landmines and 44,603 others injured, the report said.
The latest accident occurred on Aug. 14 in northwestern Preah Vihear province, killing six farmers when their home-made tractor ran onto an old anti-tank mine.
The Southeast Asian nation is one of the world's worst countries suffered from landmines. An estimated 4 to 6 million landmines and other munitions have been left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998.
Heng Ratana, CMAC's director general, said so far, about 3.1 million landmines and unexploded ordnances have been removed and destroyed, and the country needed about 50 million U.S. dollars a year until 2020 to entirely get rid of all types of anti-personnel mines.
Editor: Mengjie