NewsEverydays: National News

Showing posts with label National News. Show all posts

Showing posts with label National News. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2014

Parties Agree To Form Electoral Reform Commission

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer

25 February 2014

PHNOM PENH — Negotiators from the ruling and opposition parties say they have agreed on a commission for electoral reforms, a step toward ending a political deadlock that has been in place since July.

Boys hold flags of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) outside a house at a slum area in Phnom Penh July 23, 2013. Cambodian political parties have begun campaigning for the general election which will be held on July 28. Also seen (top, R) is a flag of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
Officials say that each party will have six representatives on the commission, but no date has been set for a first meeting.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party delegation will be led by Son Chhay, a lawmaker-elect for the party. The Cambodian People’s Party delegation will be led by Prum Sokha, secretary of state for the Ministry of Interior.

Cambodia To Host Open Source Tech Conference

FossAsia, a conference on open source and free software, will be held in the capital Feb. 28 to March 2—a free event open to students, developers and entrepreneurs.

FossAsia, a conference on open source and free software, will be held in the capital Feb. 28 to March 2—a free event open to students, developers and entrepreneurs.

PHNOM PENH — Phnom Penh will host one of Asia’s biggest technology conferences later this month.

FossAsia, a conference on open source and free software, will be held in the capital Feb. 28 to March 2—a free event open to students, developers and entrepreneurs.

Technologies discussed at the conference will include many ideas for developing countries, such as mobile apps for education, 3-D printing technology, and IT solutions for start-ups, said Hong Phuc Dang, a co-organizer of the conference, which began in Vietnam in 2004.

“It’s not only for developers, but for everyone who is interested in technology,” he said. “If you have a laptop or a smart phone you can come to this event. Even you don’t have any of these, you still can come and meet us and learn more about open source.”

Participants will share open source software, which is free and allows users themselves to edit, customize or otherwise improve it.

That kind of software goes a long way in Cambodia, Hong Phuc Dang said. “Look at Cambodia 15 years ago: it was very difficult to find Khmer fonts. What happened is that people from Cambodia gathered and learned to do this, and now we have a lot of Khmer fonts because of the open source community.”

For larger software companies like Microsoft, Cambodia is a small market, one that is not considered important, Mario Behling, another co-organizer, told VOA Khmer. “And with the power of open source, you don’t have to wait for big companies to do things for you.”
Resource:http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodia-to-host-open-source-tech-conference/1858192.html

Prince Ranariddh Planning To Form New Royal Party

Funcinpec’s secretary-general Nhiek Bunh Chhay, left, standing along side with Prince Norodom Ranariddh, file photo.

Funcinpec’s secretary-general Nhiek Bunh Chhay, left, standing along side with Prince Norodom Ranariddh, file photo.

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

25 February 2014

PHNOM PENH — Prince Norodom Ranarridh, once Prime Minister Hun Sen’s biggest political rival, is planning to form a new party.

In an interview at his home in Phnom Penh, the prince told VOA Khmer he decided the country needs a new party because the two current leading parties—the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party—cannot resolve their political differences.

Prince Ranarridh is the son of the former king, Norodom Sihanouk, who played a major political role in Cambodia throughout his lifetime. The prince said he would like to tap his father’s political legacy and breathe new life into the royalists.

“I want to mobilize nationalism and Sihanoukism to form my party and restore the royal family,” he said.

The traditional royalist party, Funcinpec, which was once led by Prince Ranariddh, received no seats in the National Assembly in July’s polls. The prince’s self-named party, which competed in the 2008 elections, failed to make much political headway, as well.

But Prince Ranariddh said Monday he believes a new party is needed to help solve the country’s biggest issues, such as poverty, low wages for laborers and civil servants, corruption and the destruction of natural resources.

Royalists from his party could compete in commune council elections later this year, he said. Support could come former royalists and members of the royal family, and others, he said.

The ruling party and opposition have been mired in talks over election reform, he said, “forgetting about what the people need.”

“Have these parties discussed corruption in society?” he said. “Teachers’ salaries? Salaries for garment workers? Are these issues yet resolved?”

Resource:http://www.voacambodia.com/content/prince-ranarridh-planning-to-form-new-royal-party/1858166.html

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Harvard Graduate Student Optimistic on Cambodia’s Healthcare System

Ly Seav Huong, a doctoral student in biomedical science at Harvard University, told VOA Khmer’s “New Voices” that an increasing number of students studying inside and outside the country will soon bring their expertise to bear on Cambodian healthcare.

Ly Seav Huong, a doctoral student in biomedical science at Harvard University, told VOA Khmer’s “New Voices” that an increasing number of students studying inside and outside the country will soon bring their expertise to bear on Cambodian healthcare.

Sothearith Im, VOA Khmer

22 February 2014

WASHINGTON DC — Cambodia’s healthcare system will improve as more Cambodians graduate from universities overseas to bring their educations back with them, a Harvard medical student says.

Tribunal Orders Health Checks for Two Aging Khmer Rouge Leaders

The Trial Chamber of the UN-backed court ordered physicians to check on Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, with a hearing to be held March 28.

The Trial Chamber of the UN-backed court ordered physicians to check on Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, with a hearing to be held March 28.

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer

22 February 2014

PHNOM PENH — The Khmer Rouge tribunal has ordered another round of health check-ups to determine the fitness of two aging regime leaders to stand trial.

The Trial Chamber of the UN-backed court ordered physicians to check on Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, with a hearing to be held March 28.

The check-up will ensure the two aging men are prepared to stand in the second and final phase of their atrocity crimes trial, where they are facing charges including genocide.

“This is a step to ensure the fitness of the accused and for the facility to prepare for the trial of Case 002/2,” tribunal spokesman Neth Pheaktra said.

Questions of Racism in Beating Death of Vietnamese-Cambodian

WASHINGTON DC — Vietnamese-Cambodians say the killing of an ethnic Vietnamese man in Phnom Penh last week is a reflection of continued racism that has been exacerbated in recent months.

Nguyen Van Chyen, 28, was killed after a traffic accident escalated into an altercation between him and his friends and a group of Cambodians. One suspect was arrested following the attack.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Cambodian-Americans Protest at UN Headquarters

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

04 February 2014

WASHINGTON DC — Hundreds of Cambodian-Americans rallied at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, demanding the release of 23 labor activists still being held following deadly protest crackdowns last month.

Protesters also called for a recall election, following July’s polls that opposition leaders say were marred by fraud.

Cambodian-Americans Consider Boycott of Goods Sourced from Cambodia

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

14 January 2014

WASHINGTON DC — While Cambodia continues to hold garment factory workers arrested in this month’s violent crackdowns, some Cambodian-Americans say they will boycott goods purchased from factories in the country.

Major international labels source goods from Cambodia. At least seven such companies have issued an open letter condemning this month’s attacks on workers and urging a fair minimum wage. But no company has said it will stop sourcing from Cambodia if those conditions aren’t met.

Cambodian-Americans Protest Outside White House

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer

21 January 2014

WASHINGTON DC — More than 500 Cambodian-American protesters gathered outside the White House in Washington on Monday, demanding the release of 23 detained protesters still being held in a remote facility in Cambodia.

The arrests were part of a violent crackdown on protesters earlier this month that left at least five people dead and another 40 injured.

Mekong Villagers Want Laos Dam Postponed

PHNOM PENH — Villagers from fishing communities along the Mekong River on Thursday urged the Cambodian government to negotiate with Laos over postponing a dam project slated to begin later this year.

Conservationists say the Don Sahong Dam could damage downstream fisheries and harm the well-being of the rare Mekong dolphin, a source of eco-tourism revenue for some Cambodian villages along the river.

Questions of Racism in Beating Death of Vietnamese-Cambodian

WASHINGTON DC — Vietnamese-Cambodians say the killing of an ethnic Vietnamese man in Phnom Penh last week is a reflection of continued racism that has been exacerbated in recent months.

Nguyen Van Chyen, 28, was killed after a traffic accident escalated into an altercation between him and his friends and a group of Cambodians. One suspect was arrested following the attack.

Opposition Threatens To Withdraw form Political Negotiations

PHNOM PENH — Opposition officials said Thursday they could pull out of political negotiations once again due to intimidation by the ruling party.

Cambodia National Rescue Party officials say they have faced continued intimidation during meetings with supporters in the provinces, where members of the police and military police exercise a show of force aimed at opposition rallies.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

World Bank To Review Environmental Complaints Against Company

WASHINGTON DC — The World Bank says it will investigate reports from indigenous groups in Cambodia that a company funded by the bank’s International Finance Corporation is involved in deforestation and land grabs.

The bank’s Office of the Compliance Adviser Ombudsman, or CAO, will first examine the credibility of the allegations by the groups against the company, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Emily Horgan, a spokeswoman for the office, told VOA Khmer.

The office will then examine issues to address environmental and social impacts of the IFC, Horgansaid.

Cambodians Becoming Less Likely Tolerate Corruption: Advocate

PHNOM PENH — An anti-corruption advocate says Cambodias no longer regard corruption as an everyday occurrent they must tolerate.

“Cambodian people today have changed their attitude of ignorance to paying attention to corruption because they now understand its impacts more than before,” Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, told “Hello VOA” last week.

Cambodia was listed as the most corrupt country in Southeast Asia last year, according to Transparency International’s annual index, which measures perceived corruption. And a recently released survey by the US-based International Republican Institute found that nearly 50 percent of Cambodians view corruption and nepotism as serious problems facing the country.

FPM - បក្សប្រឆាំងព្រមានបញ្ឈប់ការចរចា ប្រសិនបើបក្សកាន់អំណាចនៅតែបន្តរារាំងវេទិកាសាធារណៈ

(ចេញផ្សាយថ្ងៃទី 20-02-2014, 10:28 am)

រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ៖ មេដឹកនាំគណបក្សប្រឆាំង ព្រមានថា នឹងបញ្ឈប់ការចរចា ប្រសិនបើគណបក្សកាន់អំណាច នៅតែបន្តរារាំងវេទិកាសាធារណៈរបស់ខ្លួន។
ការលើកឡើងបែបនេះក្នុងពេលមេបក្សប្រឆាំងទាំងពីរធ្វើសន្និសីទ កាសែត កាលពីវេលាម៉ោង៩ព្រឹក ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បត្ត៏ ទី២០ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ ២០១៤ ស្តីពីការរារាំងរបស់អាជ្ញាធរ នៅទីស្នាក់ការកណ្តាលគណបក្ស ក្នុងសង្កាត់ចាក់អង្រែលើ ខណ្ឌមានជ័យ រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។

Youth Coalition Call for More Political Participation

PHNOM PENH — A coalition of six youth organizations on Wednesday delivered petitions to the ruling and opposition parties, calling for an increase in the number of young representatives to run in the 2018 municipal and provincial elections.

“This is imperative because youths are the dynamic force behind change, development and transparency at sub-national levels,” Yorng Kim Eng, executive director of People Center for Development and Peace, told VOA Khmer.

Opposition To Maintain Major Demands in Political Talks

Sam Rainsy, front center, the head of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) waves to the crowd before entering Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. Sam Rainsy and his party's Deputy President Kem Sokha appeared for questioning at the court about their possible involvement in inciting violence and social unrest, after four garment workers were brutality shot dead by government armed forces, on Jan. 3, according to a CNRP lawmaker. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Cambodians Becoming Less Likely Tolerate Corruption: Advocate

Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, on “Hello VOA” last week.
PHNOM PENH — An anti-corruption advocate says Cambodias no longer regard corruption as an everyday occurrent they must tolerate.

“Cambodian people today have changed their attitude of ignorance to paying attention to corruption because they now understand its impacts more than before,” Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, told “Hello VOA” last week.

‘Missing Picture’ Draws Large Washington Crowd

Reasey Poch, VOA Khmer

19 February 2014

WASHINGTON DC — Oscar-nominated “The Missing Picture,” a film by Rithy Panh, was screened along with the other four other competitors this past weekend at the National Geographic Museum in Washington.

The one-time screening filled the 400-seat theater.

Among those is the audience was Russell Williams, a professor at American University’s School of Communication and a voting member of the Academy of the Motion Pictures, which awards the Oscars each year.

Political Parties Agree on Way Forward for Political Reform

Heng Reaksmey, Say Mony, VOA Khmer

19 February 2014

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s ruling and opposition parties reopened negotiations on Tuesday, seeking to end a political deadlock that has been in place since July’s national elections.

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