Folk songs of protest

I just came across this group - The Messenger Band. They are a Cambodian folk group. Each member is a former factory worker. As it says on the Womyn's Agenda for Change website, singing is a safer way of advocating for change, especially in a climate that represses protest and where journalists self-censor.

Check out these videos. They are subtitled in English. Listen to the words of young Cambodian women singing about the issues that effect them.

Suffering from Privatisation



Life and land



All their lyrics are available in English here.

Mine action in Cambodia

As part of the continuing advocacy campaign for the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a Ban Bus is travelling around Cambodia to collect signatures for the People’s Treaty to Ban Cluster Munitions and also to raise awareness about the efforts that are underway to ban these indiscriminate weapons. After visiting cluster munitions-affected communities, rehabilitation centers, and deminers in Kampong Cham and Kratie, the Ban Bus will spend a day in Phnom Penh.

Please stop by the Wat Phnom Arts Centre between 10:30 and 12:00 on Thursday 30 October to sign the People’s Treaty and help raise awareness about these weapons which cause unacceptable harm to civilians.

Learn more here

Cultural crimes?

There's plenty of tough talk but the bullets have stopped at least for now. Cambodia claims that Thailand damaged Preah Vihear intentionally.

Cambodia has lodged a complaint with the United Nations accusing Thai troops of damaging the ancient Preah Vihear temple during a border shootout earlier this month, an official said yesterday. Phay Siphan, spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers, said a staircase and a sculpture at the ruins were damaged by rocket fire.

A complaint was filed with the UN cultural body Unesco a few days after the firefight erupted on Oct 15 near Preah Vihear, a World Heritage Site at the centre of the long-running territorial dispute.

''Preah Vihear temple was intentionally damaged by Thai troops, because we found the remnants of grenades ... near the temple and there were no Cambodian soldiers stationed nearby,'' Phay Siphan said.

''The Preah Vihear authority has sent pictures of the damage to Unesco.''

The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denied Thai soldiers had damaged the 11th-century Khmer temple.

Intent? That's difficult to prove. If true it is a crime against humanity. Sounds more like sabre-rattling to me though.

ETA Thailand has its own version

A staircase and a sculpture of the mythical Naga creature were hit by rocket fire at the 11th-century Khmer ruins, he said.

However, Thai ambassador to Paris Thana Duangrat reported to the ministry that there was no record of a Cambodian complaint submitted to Unesco.

"We have evidence proving Cambodia fired the rockets from Preah Vihear Temple at Thai troops," said foreign ministry spokesperson Tharit Charungvat.

The ministry has checked the facts with the Second Army Area, which confirmed that on 15 Oct, Thai soldiers, fired upon by Cambodian troops in the vicinity of Pha Mor I Daeng, used only rifles in their defence, he said.

I wonder how long the truth will take.

Blackout

City wide blackout.

It's really hot here without fans.

Thai-Cambodian conflict

From Global Comment

Two soldiers are dead and six are injured for 4.6 square kilometres of land. Whose land? Well that is the question. Thailand claims it. Cambodia claims it. Neither side is happy with the other’s claim.

Historically, both have owned it. Naturally both claim ownership today. It has been a point of contention for quite a few decades. With the Khmer Rouge and the resultant landmines, the whole area was inaccessible until the early 90s so the argument was moot.

Read it all

The death toll has been revised. Three soldiers are now dead.

Conflict updates

Fighting breaks out on the border

From Reuters

Thai and Cambodian forces along a disputed stretch of border near a 900-year-old Hindu temple exchanged fire for about 10 minutes on Wednesday, a reporter on the Thai side of the border told Reuters.

The reporter, who works for a Thai state media outlet, also said smoke was seen billowing into the air from the Cambodian side of the border near the Preah Vihear temple.

Gunfire reported

The area is in the heart of border tension between Thailand and Cambodia which was flared up after Cambodia's premier Hun Sen threatened to open war if Thai troops were not withdrawn from the area.

It is still unclear who fired first shot but Thai officials said that the shots were fired from the Khmer side.

Both Thai and Cambodian troops were deployed along the border in Si Sa Ket following Hun Sen's threats. The Thai army vowed to retaliate if attacked.

Meanwhile Army Commander in Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda has instructed Thai troops along the border with Cambodia to be on high alert and to retaliate if attacked.

Second Army Region Commander Lt Gen Wibunsak Neeparn said Anupong telephoned to him and ordered Thai troops along the border to be ready if attacked.

"Gen Anupong ordered the Thai troops to retaliate if Cambodian side opened the attacks," Wibunsak said Wednesday.

Wibunsak said he assigned Maj Gen Kanok Netrakawesana, commander of Suranaree Task Force to meet with the Khmer side Thursday in a bid to find ways to ease the tensions.

Thai Air Force also went on high alert, placing the jetfighters on standby.

Meanwhile authorities have warned people to stay away from the border with Cambodia in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district in case fighting should break out.

Villagers have been advised to stay at home, to make merit at their temples, to check their underground shelters and to have belongings packed should they need to evacuate.

Cambodians say Thailand fired first

Cambodian official said on Wednesday Thai soldiers fired first in a brief exchange of gunfire along a disputed stretch of their border. "I can confirm there was fighting between Cambodians and Thais. The Thais fired at us first," Preab Tan, governor of Cambodia's northern Preah Vihear province, told Reuters

Thai nationals told to leave Cambodia

Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat urged Thai nationals in Cambodia to leave as soon as possible Wednesday after a gun-battle between troops along a disputed stretch of their border.

"Thai businessmen who have no need to be in Cambodia now, please rush back to Thailand," Sompong told reporters.

"We have our evacuation plan ready," he added.

More here

It's all over 4.6 square kilometres of land

When you can't afford a divorce, just split the assets!

A Cambodian couple split their assets by dividing their house in two because a lawful divorce is too expensive and lengthy in the Kingdom.

The cause of their separation? The husband felt that the wife should take care of him during his illness and when she refused, they split the house.

The picture is from the Post

From the Phnom Penh Post

Cheach commune chief Vorng Morn said the couple did not separate over anything "big", only the small problem of the husband feeling his wife had not cared for him when he became ill.

"His wife said that if her husband got sick and stayed at home, she was made to pay for his medicine, but if he stayed at his parent's house, she wouldn't have to pay. So they separated," he said.

"We tried to persuade them to think clearly before they did this because they had been married for nearly 40 years," Vorng Morn added. "But they did not listen."
The couple also decided to divide their land into four parts; two for their son and daughter, and two for them.

It's perfectly legal to split the house but it doesn't constitute a divorce.

Tourists with ammo?

This can't be true

As of today all tourists crossing to cambodia have to carry at least 2000 rounds of m16 ammo to be delivered to the thai troops on the cambodian side of the border.

Can it? It sounds ludicrous and heavy.

Elton John is coming to town

From Monsters and critics:

Phnom Penh - Sir Elton John, British superstar and heavyweight activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS, has told a US magazine he is planning a visit to Cambodia.

Sir Elton and partner David Furnish have raised more than 150 million dollars for projects to assist people living with the virus through the Elton John Aids Foundation since it was set up in 1992.

'This year, we look forward to traveling to Cambodia to visit projects in that country,' Kansas City-based Camp Magazine quoted Sir Elton as telling journalist and gay rights activist Mark Segal.

He will be the biggest celebrity to hit town since Ronan Keating!

Military build up at the border again

From KI-Media

Thailand has increased its troop and ammunition supplies along the border of Bantey Meanchey province over the past few days, following a small skirmish and the injury by landmine of two Thai troops in the past week, military and government officials said.

Col. Ven Say, deputy commander of Regiment 51, said the Thais had sent 50 boxes of ammunition to soldiers along the border of Banthey Meanchey.

The increase of troops and ammunition were not a cause for concern, he said, but Cambodian soldiers were vigilant “24 hours” a day in the area.

Meanwhile, Cambodian soldiers at Preah Vihear have begun confiscating cell phone SIM cards from a Thai network used by many people living and working along the border.

Hang Soth, chairman of the Preah Vihear National Authority, said Thursday the SIM cards had been collected since Wednesday in an effort to improve security for Cambodian soldiers deployed nearby.

Right. All in the name of security. That makes total sense in a MAD sort of way. [/sarcasm]

Child sex abuser gets reduced prison sentence

From KI-Media

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court has upheld a child sex abuse conviction against Russian businessman Alexander Trofimov, but reduced his prison sentence from 13 to 6 years, state media said Friday.

The municipal court found Trofimov, 41-year-old executive director of the Koh Puos Investment group, guilty of debauchery in March for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

The Appeal Court heard his case in absentia on Oct. 2 and ruled Thursday that under the country's new anti-human trafficking law, he should receive a lighter sentence, Appeal Court Judge Samreth Sophal was quoted by English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily as saying.

"The new law's punishment is lighter than the old one," he said.

Trifimov is currently being held in pre-trial detention at Sihanoukville municipal prison as he is scheduled to be tried Monday for allegedly sexually abusing 18 other girls.

Disgusting.

So much for punishing child sex offenders. Cambodia is supposed to be tough on these types of criminals.

ETA - The anti trafficking law is the same law used to imprison women when they are caught carrying condoms. Check this out for more information.

Border skirmishes

The border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, which I described here, have escalated. Shots were fired and soldiers were wounded. Both sides claim that the other fired the first shot. Reuters has this:

Thailand accused Cambodia on Sunday of firing the first shots in a border incident in which three soldiers were wounded, saying it was "a brutal and aggressive act" that had violated friendly relations.

In a letter to the Cambodian government, Thailand's foreign ministry demanded Phnom Penh ensure there is no repeat of the incident near the disputed 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

"The shooting by the Cambodian troops against the unarmed Thai paramilitary rangers is regarded as a brutal and aggressive act and is contrary to the spirit of friendly relations between Cambodia and Thailand," the letter said.

Cambodia issued a similar protest on Saturday, accusing Thailand of "intentional armed provocation" and warning it could lead to conflict.

However, Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told Reuters that Phnom Penh had agreed to an investigation into Friday's exchange of fire and Thailand's foreign ministry said the situation at the border was calm.

Two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian soldier were injured in what was the first clash in the disputed territory since the two countries agreed to pull back troops in August after a tense month-long stand-off.

From Xinhua Net

Cambodia protested to Thailand on Saturday about Friday's border shooting incident, which was the first clash between the two countries in the more than two-month-long border dispute.

"On Oct. 3, 2008, at 15:30, a group of Thai soldiers entered Cambodian territory in the area of Phnom Trap and fired gunshots from M.79 at the Cambodian troops stationed at Veal Intry area on Phnom Trap hill side, located approximately 2,000 meters to the west of Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda (in the area of Preah Vihear Temple)," said Cambodia's Foreign Ministry in a letter to the Thaiembassy [sic] which was obtained by Xinhua.

"The shooting resulted in the injury of one Cambodian soldier from Brigade No 43," the letter said, adding that Cambodian troops returned fire in self defense, which was followed by a brief exchange of gunfire between the sides.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia considers the above act by Thai soldiers as a serious armed provocation, contrary to the commitment to exercise utmost restraint made during the Meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries on July 28, 2008 at Siem Reap, Cambodia and on Aug. 18-19, 2008 at Cha-am, Thailand," the letter said.

And CNN

A spokesman for Cambodia's Cabinet, Phay Siphan, said the incident began after Cambodian troops intercepted a trespassing Thai patrol. He said the Thai troops retreated in response to a warning from the Cambodians, but then fired the grenade.

Cambodian troops returned fire with AK-47 assault rifles, with the exchange of fire lasting three to five minutes, he said.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Friday evening that the Thai troops had been patrolling in their own territory when they encountered the Cambodian soldiers.

"The Cambodian troops shot at the Thai troops first, wounding two soldiers. One Cambodian soldier was also wounded after the Thais responded," he said.

Both Thai and Cambodian politicians are adopting aggressive stances. Both claim that the others' soldiers violated sovereign territory.

With Hun Sen back in power after the general election, many thought that that would be the end of the tensions because there would be no further need to pander to the nationalists. Of course with Thailand in political uncertainty, there was no certainty. Now, we'll have to wait to see if war breaks out.

More info here

Global News Blog
Real Cambodia
KI-Media
World Bulletin

Sexism in the Phnom Penh Post

Nice to see that the Phnom Penh Post is jumping on the "domestic violence is funny" bandwagon.

2 October 2008 page 20

The cartoon incorporates sexist language "Don't know why they're always drawn to the one's that beat them". It's supposed to be funny because the character is an anthropomorphous egg but really it's a judgement about women who stay in violent relationships. Ha ha ha eggs get beaten - hilarious. Domestic abuse is not funny. Gender based violence is not funny. How is it that this even needs repeating?

I find it disgusting that the PP Post would publish this cartoon at all but especially in a country with huge amounts of gender based violence and domestic abuse. Hardly a day goes by that I don't read in the paper about the rape, abuse and murder of women. I don't have enough sanity points to do research on that at the moment. If in doubt see posts under sexism, sexual exploitation, violence etc. Not funny PP Post.

And for those of you who think that it's much ado about nothing, I suggest you take the red pill from Liss at Shakesville.

Women's choices shamed

Women are berated for their clothing choices in today's Phnom Penh Post.

But now, many young women are causing cultural controversy by abandoning traditional attire in favour of skimpy ensembles.
Sok Sothun, chief of culture development at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art, said that the sartorial choices of Cambodia's young women are undermining the Kingdom's traditional culture and morality.

Amazing the controversy caused by women wearing short shorts but the is no outcry when men wear nothing but a krama around their waists. Double standards indeed

"Our Khmer culture never had this before. People wore sexy or short clothes at home or to sleep but never in public places," he said. "Some girls go to the pagoda wearing short clothes. So what will happen when they kneel down to pray to the monk? It will not be suitable."

By extension, these women "deserve" to get raped because they are wearing skimpy clothes and men, monks or not cannot be expected to take responsibility for their own actions.

Also why are men not rebuked for the same action? Why refer to grown up human females are girls? Women is the correct term.

"We like wearing sexy clothes but we don't want to destroy Cambodian culture," said Srey Mon, a beautician at a Phnom Penh salon.

Women wearing what they choice to wear does not corrupt culture. I'm sure the Minister does not mean to imply that Cambodian culture is so fragile. As for morality, it is not for governments to legislate in a democracy. Admittedly the Minister says as much

"While we can't ban people from wearing modern clothes because our country is developing, we should do a spot on TV where young people will be able to see people wearing traditional clothes," admitted Sok Sothun.

The government needs to find ways of actively addressing the problem - but not through restrictive legislation, he said.

while implying that he wishes he could ban people for wearing modern clothes and he would do so if not for the pesky development issue.

Kim Vannara 17, student at Baktouk High School, said that she didn't believe wearing sexy clothes would impact on Cambodian tradition.

"We are only wearing modern clothes to fit in with the society around us, and Cambodia needs to go forward as a country instead of looking back to the past," she said.

Yes. A modern society is a gender equal society. Of course, no such animal exists but it is a goal to work towards.

There's nothing like making young women feel ashamed to brighten up the day, eh /sarcasm

NGOs pose terrorist threats?

The PM intends to pass a new law to regulate NGOs

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Friday that the new government will establish a law to manage the non-government organizations in the country.

"We have to know the sources of their fund. We are concerned that their fund could come from terrorist groups," Hun Sen said at the first cabinet meeting.

Terrorist groups could use the non-government organizations or associations as their shelters, he said.

Right. Because building an equitable society and alleviating poverty is the work of terrorists. It already takes mounds og red tape, palm greasing and several months or indeed years to establish an NGO. Many do work under the table because it is so difficult.

NGOs provide services that the Government does not or cannot. NGOs provide services while the powers that be grab land and sell off natural resources.

Taking my time

It's Pchum Ben again. I'm catching up with house cleaning and watching the Daily Show and Colbert Report. The town is deserted and it's pleasant to be here with the streets so empty. It's also a little freaky but I'm used to that now. Tomorrow I may use the opportunity to take some photographs, catch up on my reading and practice my recorder. Since there's nothing to read here, check out other people's writing:

Ranariddh is back from exile after the King of Cambodia pardoned him

Inflation is rising higher than is acknowledged by the powers that be

Wrapping presents in money is criminal waste when 90% of the world's wealth is owned by 10% of the population

Obama won the debate

Save the poor Wall Street traders

China's spaceship returns to Earth

RIP Paul Newman. I love "Cat on a hot tin roof"

Justice denied

Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun have been in prison for 1 700 days for the murder of trade unionist Chea Vichea. Most people believe that they are innocent. They are 1700 days into a 20 year sentence.

Licadho are releasing 1 700 balloons at midday in the hope that it will give the two men hope.

The appeal court upheld the conviction. The supreme court has not responded to the submitted motion.

H/T Cambodia Daily 23/09/2008

Pictures from NYT

There are some pretty pictures in the slideshow accompanying the New York Times article 36 hours in Phnom Penh.

What are you going to do to stand up against poverty in 2008?

Almost nine years ago, 189 governments pledged to end poverty by 2015. It takes time to achieve such a lofty goal but still 50 000 people die every day because of poverty. 35 000 are women.

Lousy maternal care, inequality, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and global gag rules that ignore reality, are some of the reasons why women suffer disproportionately.

It's time to stand up and order our governments to fulfill their promises. Governments are supposed to work for the people. Well it's time for a change. Order your politicians to end poverty now.

The Stand up against poverty 2008 campaign is in one month. What have you planned to do for it?

The campaign is very simple - we all demand our governments to fulfill the promises that they have made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The ground has been set. There are projects in place but there is a lack of political will and/or finances to eradicate poverty. So what are you going to do?

One simple way is to participate in Blog action day. Register and plan a post. Profbwoman has resources and more. All we are asking is for our governments to honour their promises - there's nothing too political about that eh!


Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

There are other activities and ideas so go ahead and stand up against poverty.