Families flee Cambodia flooding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY8oOGzMg5k

Flash floods hit Cambodia's NW province, affecting about 3,000 families

Xinhua | 2012-9-19

About 3,000 families in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province bordering with Thailand have been suffering from floodwaters and local authorities have been advised to be on high alert to respond to the disaster, a senior government official said Wednesday.

"About 700 families who are severely affected by the flooding have been evacuated to higher ground," the first Vice-President of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), Nhim Vanda told Xinhua over telephone.

"They are all safe, there is no report of death so far," he said. "Local authorities and Cambodian Red Cross volunteers are on high alert to rescue people in case of more flooding."

Villagers pray to coconut tree [-Superstition running amok?]

Villagers worship a coconut tree, which they believe to be magic, in Banteay Meanchey province. Photograph: supplied

Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post

Over the past week, hundreds of villagers in Banteay Meanchey’s Thmor Pouk district have made the trek to a tiny yard in Banteay Chhmar commune to worship a coconut tree they believe possesses a magic healing spirit.

The owner of the bizarre 18-trunked coconut palm, Sar Yuk, 75, said he had no idea the three-year-old tree possessed special powers until a fortune-teller insisted the unusual garden feature was the key to healing a long-standing leg injury.

“The fortune-teller told me to offer sacrificial objects [fruit, food, incense and money] to the coconut tree to receive its healing powers,” said Yuk, who has spent the past three years forced to walk with a stick or shuffle across the ground on his buttocks.

Yuk said he listened to the fortune-teller and, after a day of preparing small sacrifices and praying, he was able to walk completely unaided.

Latest tourist attraction has 'bloody' past

Vaeng Vanhorn, 30, the wife of fisherman Heng Meng, dumps freshly caught fish into a bucket near the Trapeang Thma dam in Banteay Meanchey province. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Comrade Im Chaem (Photo:Im Navin, RFI)

Monday, 20 August 2012
May Titthara and Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

The brilliant green rice paddies of Banteay Meanchey’s Phnom Srok district stretch as far as the eye can see this time of year. Locals are thankful for the bounty, but it’s a gratitude tempered by the painful history of its source – the Khmer Rouge-era Trapeang Thma dam.

The construction of the massive dam and its associated canal network transformed the area’s once-volatile agricultural fortunes with the introduction of year-round irrigation. Building it today would cost in the millions, but in the late 1970s, the price was paid in human life.

“The authorities celebrate ceremonies every year, especially during the water festival, to dedicate to the spirits of the victims who died during the construction of that dam,” Heng Meng, 34, said as he arranged his fishing net by the edge of the dam.

Villagers petition Prime Minister over land dispute

Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Kim Yuthana
The Phnom Penh Post

Thirty villagers from Banteay Meanchey province’s O’Chrou district came to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house in the capital yesterday to deliver a petition concerning a decade-long land dispute.

Representative Keat Kith said officials from the Banteay Meanchey provincial hall had grabbed 113 hectares of land from more than 50 families since 2002 and, in turn, sold it off to land merchants without the villagers’ consent.

Keat Kith accused several officials in particular of stealing land, including provincial chief of land management Or Narath and former Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Sar Chamrong.

“The local authorities conspired with local officers, starting with the provincial, then at the district level.

Vietnam tries to push its business to Banteay Meanchey?

VN, Cambodian provinces strengthen relationship

24/04/2012
VNN/VOV/VNA

The southern province of Vinh Long and the province of Banteay Meanchey in Cambodia have signed a cooperative agreement on socio-economic development from now until 2016.

The agreement was reached during a visit to Vinh Long province by Cambodian officials on Apr. 22-23, under which, both provinces will facilitate businesses’ exchange of information on trading activities. It will also help with the trade of agricultural products, develop tourist services, and share expertise in technology and education.

OCEC monitors Chinese funds for water infrastructure construction in Malai district

ORPHAN  CULTURE EDUCATION CENTER (OCEC)

 is monitoring the funds of two million dollars donated "by the Chinese government" on October 2011 for DAM and CANAL Project.

OCEC wishes it can be completed as soon as possible for the sake of the poor people in the area.

http://www.box.com/s/fdf8b67fbae0f2120f3f

[Thai] Govt works to assist four miners held in Cambodia

27/03/2012
Bangkok Post

Government officials are trying to help four miners arrested on illegal entry charges near the Thai-Cambodian border opposite Sa Kaeo province.

The four Thais - mining contractor Saran Panpetch, 42; his wife Suriya, 42; and their workers Bai Sodachan, 24; and his wife Wanwisa, 24 - were arrested by Cambodian troops in Thmor Puak district of Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province opposite Sa Kaeo's Ta Phraya district late on Saturday night.

The four Thais have been charged with illegal entry, Yutthana Nutchanart, chief of Ta Phraya district, said.

Cambodian troops seized two pickups carrying power generating and mining equipment from the Thais.

អភិបាលស្រុ​កថ្មពួក ហៅប្រជាពលរ​ដ្ឋប្រជុំរ​កដំណោះស្រា​យរឿងជម្លោះ​ដីធ្លីជាមួ​យក្រុមហ៊ុន ជាតិអភិវឌ្ឍន៍

នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី០៧ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ អភិបាលស្រុកថ្មពួកលោកប្លែក វារី ក្រុមបឹ្រក្សាស្រុក និង អធិការស្រុកថ្មពួកលោក​ យ៉ត រ៉ាយ បានហៅ តំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ទាំងប្រាំបីភូមិ ប្រមាណ៤០នាក់​ មកចូលរួមប្រជុំនៅស្នាក់ការប៉ូលីសរដ្ឋបាលឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មារស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្ត បន្ទាយ មានជ័យ ដើម្បីស្វែង​យល់ ពីសំណើ របស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ។

នៅក្នុងកិច្ចប្រជុំនោះប្រជាពលរដ្ឋបានលើកសំណើចំនួន៣ចំនុចទៅកាន់អជ្ញាធររួមមានៈ

1. សូមឲ្យអាជ្ញាធរបែកចែកឲ្យដាច់ស្រលះរវាងដីរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនិងដីរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន
2. សូមឲ្យអាជ្ញាធររក្សាដីព្រៃសហគមន៍​ឲ្យនៅដដែលពីព្រោះប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​សព្វថ្ងៃពឹងផ្អែក​លើ​អនុផល​​​ព្រៃឈើ
3. សូមកុំឲ្យក្រុមហ៊ុនជីកព្រំដី(ប្រឡាយ) ដែលប៉ះពាល់ដល់ដីស្រែរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ

តបតាមសំណើទាំង៣ខាងលើ អភិបាលស្រុកថ្មពួក លោក ប្លែក វារីបាននិយាយថាៈ

1. លោកនឹងចាត់ឲ្យអាជ្ញាធរចុះធ្វើអត្តសញ្ញាណកម្មដីក្នុងគោលបំណងបែកចែកឲ្យដាច់​​ស្រលះ​រវាង​​ដីប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ និងដីក្រុមហ៊ុន ហើយប្រសិនបើដីរបស់ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋស្ថិតនៅលើដីរបស់​ក្រុមហ៊ុនអាជ្ញាធរ​នឹងធ្វើការផ្តល់ដីនៅកន្លែងផ្សេងជំនួសវិញ ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងសំណើទី២របស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនោះពុំមានការឆ្លើយតបទេ
2. ពាក់ព័ន្ធនឹងសំណើទី៣វិញលោក​ប្លែក វារីបាននិយាយថា​ការជីកប្រឡាយនេះ​គឺដើម្បី​ងាយ​ស្រួល​​ក្នុងការកំណត់ព្រំដីរបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន

សូមបញ្ជាក់ផងដែរថា ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋចំនួនប្រាំបីភូមិរួមានភូមិធ្លក ភូមិគោកសំរោងខាងកើត ភូមិគោកសំរោងខាងលិចភូមិក្បាលទន្សង ភូមិបន្ទាយឆ្មារខាងលិច ស្ថិតនៅក្នុងឃុំ បន្ទាយឆ្មារ ស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ និងភូមិរំដួលចាស់ ភូមិរំដួលថ្មី​​ភូមិ ប្រាសា​ទ​សំរោង សិ្ថតនៅឃុំអំពិល ស្រុកបន្ទាយអំពិលខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ ដែលពាក់ព័ន្ធ​នឹងដីសម្បទានសេដ្ឋកិច្ចដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាល​បានផ្តល់​ឲ្យទៅ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​ជាតិអភិវឌ្ឍ ចំនួន៦០០០ហិកតា នៅឆ្នំា២០០៩។

ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមសូមទាក់ទង៖

-អ្នកស្រី សាញ់ វណ្ណា សកម្មជនដីធ្លីនៅភូមិធ្លក ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មារស្រុកថ្មពួក​ ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ លេខទូរស័ព្ទ ០៩៧ ៥២១ ២៣៥១
- លោកពៅសុភាព សកម្មជនដីធ្លីនៅភូមិធ្លក ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មារ​ ស្រុកថ្មពួកខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ លេខទូរស័ព្ទ ០៨៨ ៧៧៨ ០០០៣/០៧៨២៣១ ៥៣៣
- លោកប្លែក វារី អភិបាលស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ លេខទូរស័ព្ទ០១២ ៩៣៩ ៥៨៧

ប្រធានភូមិ​ធ្លក ប្រកាសប្រា​ប់ប្រជាពលរ​ដ្ឋឲ្យរួបរួ​មគ្នាប្រឆាំ​ងនឹងក្រុមហ៊ុ​នជាតិអភិវឌ្​ឍន៍ ខូ អិល ធី ឌី = Thlok village chief told villagers to unite to oppose the National Development Co. Ltd.

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋប្រមាណ ២០០​ ទៅ​ ៣០០​នាក់​ រួមមានកុមារនិងមនុស្សចាស់ជរា នៅវេលាម៉ោង ៩:០០ នាទីព្រឹកថ្ងៃស្អែកទី ១៧ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ២០១២នឹងប្រមូលផ្តុំគ្នានៅចំណុចប្រាសាទគោក វត្ត ក្នុងភូមិធ្លក ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មាស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ ដើម្បីធ្វើពិធីសែនព្រេនបន់ស្រន់ ដល់ម្ចាស់ទឹកម្ចាស់ដីនៅទីនោះជួយធ្វើឲ្យខូចគ្រឿងចក្ររបស់ក្រុមហ៊ុន ជាតិអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ ខូ អិល ធី ឌីដែលកំពុងឈូសឆាយរំលោភយកដីរបស់ពួកគាត់ ។ ប្រធានភូមិធ្លក លោក ឡិន ស៊ីណូកាលពី ព្រឹកមិញ ថ្ងៃទី ១៦ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ២០១២ បានប្រកាស ប្រាប់ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ឲ្យរួបរួមគ្នា ឡើង ដើម្បី តវ៉ាប្រឆាំង ទល់នឹង សកម្មភាព ឈូសឆាយ រំលោភ យកដី របស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ពីសំណាក់ ក្រុមហ៊ុននោះ។

ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលនឹងប្រារពពិធីសែនព្រននៅថ្ងៃស្អែកនេះនឹងប្រមូលផ្តុំគ្នា មកពីភូមិចំនួន ប្រាំពីរ គឺភូមិធ្លក ភូមិក្បាលទន្សង ភូមិបន្ទាយឆ្មានិងភូមិគោកសំរោង ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មា ស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ និងមកពីភូមិរំដួលចាស់ភូមិរំដួលថ្មី និងភូមិប្រាសាទរំដួល ឃុំអំពិល ស្រុកបន្ទាយអំពិល ខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ ។​

រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកាលពីឆ្នាំ ២០០៩ បានផ្តល់ដីចំនួន៦០០០ ហិកតា​ ដល់ក្រុមហ៊ុនជាតិអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ ខូ អិល ធី ឌី ដើម្បីធ្វើកសិ-ឧស្សាហកម្មនៅតំបន់នោះប៉ុន្តែប្រជាពលរដ្ឋបានអះអាងថា ក្រុមហ៊ុនជាតិអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ ខូ អិល ធី ឌី បានឈូសឆាយរំលោភយកដីរបស់ពួកគាត់ចំនួន ប្រមាណជាង ៤៦០០ ហិកតា ដែលប៉ះពាល់ដល់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋចំនួន ៧៩៩ គ្រួសារដែលបាន ធ្វើស្រែចំការនៅតំបន់នោះតាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៩៣ ។

ព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមសូមទាក់ទង៖
-លោកឡិន ស៊ីណូ មេភូមិធ្លក ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មា ស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ ទូរស័ព្ទ ០៩៧៤៥០ ២៥៣៩
-លោក ស្ងួន យស អនុប្រធានភូមិធ្លក ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មា ស្រុកថ្មពួកខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ ទូរស័ព្ទ ០៩៧ ៣១៥ ១១៤៨
-អ្នកស្រី សាញ់ វណ្ណា សកម្មជនដីធ្លី ឃុំបន្ទាយឆ្មា ស្រុកថ្មពួកខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ ទូរស័ព្ទ ០៩៧ ៥២១ ២៣៥១
-លោក រៀម សារិន អភិបាលរងខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ ទូរស័ព្ទ ០១២​ ៤១៨ ៤១៨
-លោក ប្លែក វារី អភិបាលស្រុកថ្មពួក ខេត្តបន្ទាយមានជ័យ ទូរស័ព្ទ ០១២ ៩៣៩៥៨៧
-------
Unofficial translation from Khmer

At 9AM on 17 February 2012, about 200 to 300 villagers, including children and the elderly, will gather near Prasat Kauk Wat, Thlok village, Banteay Chhmar commune, Thmor Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, to organize a prayer to the spirits protecting the land to ask them to break down the machinery used by the National Development Co. Ltd. to clear the villagers’ land. On 16 February 2012, Lin Sino, the Thlok village chief, told the villagers to unite to protest against the land clearing operation by the company on land belonging to the villagers.

Villagers from seven villagers – Thlok village, Kbal Tonsoang village, Banteay Chhmar village, Kauk Samrong village (from Banteay Chhmar commune in Thmor Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province), Rumduol Chas village, Rumduol Thmei village, Prasat Rumduol village (from Ampil commune, Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province) – will gather and organize an offering ceremony tomorrow.

In 2009, the government gave out 6,000 hectares of land to the National Development Co. Ltd. for agro-industrial development in that region, however, the villagers claimed that this company cleared and grabbed about 4,600 hectares of their lands. The land-grabbing affects 799 families who were farming there since 1993.

For additional information please contact:

• Lin Sino, Thlok village chief, Banteay Chhmar commune, Thmor Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province. Tel. 097 450 2539
• Sguon Yos, Thlok deputy village chief, Tel. 097 315 1148
• Mrs. Sanh Vanna, land activist, Banteay Chhmar commune, Thmor Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, Tel. 097 521 2351
• Riem Sarin, deputy provincial governor for Banteay Meanchey, Tel. 012 418 418
• Phlek Veary, Thmor Puok district governor, Tel. 012 939 587

A 2-golden-star officer and a murderer?

(Photos: DAP-news)

 

Search at Flying horse general netted one rifle, military equipments; [possible] involvement in murder

12 Feb 2012

By Bun Samnang

DAP news (CPP mouthpiece)

Translated from Khmer by Oss Dey

Banteay Meanchey – After 2-golden-star general Set Monday (or Set Mande?) and his gang was sent to court on 11 Feb 2012, a search at his house found one rifle and numerous military equipments. In addition, it was found that the 2-golden-star general was also involved in a murder.

The search was led by Ms. Sung Chhorvoan, the deputy-prosecutor for the Banteay Meanchey provincial court, by Men Phirum, the deputy-chief and director of the search department of the military police (PM) of Banteay Meanchey province, and by several PM officers.

The search operation confiscated one rifle, 1 bullet magazine, 10 bullet rounds, 2 AK-47 magazines and 3 sacks of military equipments including 46 items.

Currently, the tribunal has decided to detain the 2-golden-star general and his gang at the Banteay Meanchey provincial jail. In addition, the provincial military police division is performing its investigation on the murder of 24-year-old Khieu Phanit, a 3rd year student at the Chamcar Dong University, who was the former boyfriend of the 2-star-general’s girlfriend. Khieu Phanit and the general’s girlfriend were lovers for 4 years. The body of Khieu Phanit was found in a sack thrown under the Kralor bridge in Mongkol Borey district. He was murdered under mysterious circumstances.

Eight die in Cambodia anti-tank mine blast

Friday, February 03, 2012
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Eight Cambodian farmers were killed and one was critically injured on Friday after their truck hit two old anti-tank mines in northwestern Cambodia, police said.

"Seven people died on the spot. One man passed away later in hospital. The driver is in critical condition," Malai district police chief Sao Bun said after the blast on a cassava farm in Banteay Meanchey province.

"Because of heavy rainfall recently, the land became soft and when they drove across the farm they hit two anti-tank mines stacked on top of each other," he told AFP, adding that two other landmines had been found on the grounds in the past four years.

OCEC's Bon Phka Samaki Announcement

http://www.box.com/s/0jhtsmol47zebhkt12m3


http://www.box.com/s/cb508yeif50ajmbn202n

Cambodia finds first case of H5N1 infection in human in 2012

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A 2-year-old boy from northwestern Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey was infected with avian influenza H5N1 virus, Cambodia's Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization announced Friday.

The patient is currently in "critical condition" in Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap province.

The boy became sick on Jan. 3 with fever, cough, runny nose and vomiting, the statement said, adding that he was initially treated by local private practitioners, but his conditions worsened and he was admitted to Angkor Hospital for Children on Jan. 9.

Cambodia's "second Angkor" stirs to life

Tuesday, January 3, 2012
DENIS D. GRAY, Associated Press

BANTEAY CHHMAR, Cambodia (AP) — It's still entwined in mystery and jungle vines, but one of Cambodia's grandest monuments is slowly awakening after eight centuries of isolated slumber, having attracted a crack archaeological team and a trickle of tourists.

"It takes awhile to unfold this temple — and everywhere there are enticements," says John Sanday, the team leader, as he navigates through tangled undergrowth, past dramatic towers and bas-reliefs and into dark chambers of the haunting monastic complex of Banteay Chhmar.

What drove Jayavarman VII, regarded as the greatest king of the Angkorian Empire, to erect this vast Buddhist temple about 105 miles (170 kilometers) from his capital in Angkor and in one of the most desolate and driest places in Cambodia remains one of its many unsolved riddles.

At its height in the 12th century, the empire extended over much of Southeast Asia, its rulers engaging in a building frenzy which produced some of the world's greatest religious monuments.

Called the "second Angkor Wat," Banteay Chhmar approaches it in size, is more frozen in time than the manicured and made-over superstar, and has so far been spared the blights of mass tourism of recent years at Angkor.

Mr.Tep Khunnal's letter to OCEC

http://www.box.com/s/hbb74hslub75tbm7jq87


http://www.box.com/s/9u9x6t5nm977ga1pz9oq


http://www.box.com/s/9692adbcoj6es65319dr


http://www.box.com/s/l173byhfozc1d28yvn6m

OCEC fundraiser for Malai district, Banteay Meanchey province

http://www.box.com/s/ue0ye0fg7helgusobte0


http://www.box.com/s/rm3h9nzf2r696lsi61n2


http://www.box.com/s/y3el7b3go7vrdm2dv7qa

COMFREL Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in O Bey Chhoan, O Chrov, Banteay Meanchey province

Dear all,

COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; O Bey Chhoan commune, O Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province was held on December 13, 2011.

Please see the attached document for details.

FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralization and governance, please feel free to visit our website:

www.comfrel.org

Best regards,

COMFREL


http://www.box.com/s/71mu8dohmtrpmn8k4umu

Villagers fear arrest over land dispute [-Land disputes galore!]

Monday, 19 December 2011
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post

FOUR representatives of villagers locked in a land dispute in Banteay Meanchey fear they have been summonsed to district police headquarters to be arrested, although police said they only want to warn them against protesting violently.

Sanh Vanna, one of the community representatives in Banteay Chhmar commune, said they had received a summons from Thmar Pouk district police chief Yort Ray over their land dispute with Cheat Development Company and would meet with them today.

“I am afraid they might play a trick on us or arrest us when we go to meet them,” she said, adding that the villagers were using more than 4,000 hectares of land that had been awarded to the company.

Cambodia's court sentences ex-police chief 4 years in jail for corruption

Hun Hean (L) and Chhieng Son (R)

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, Cambodia, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on Tuesday convicted the provincial former police chief Hun Hean of taking briberies and sentenced him to 4 years in jail and fined 280,000 U.S. dollars, according to a verdict announced by the presiding judge Im Vannak.

The court also sentenced his accomplices -- the provincial former deputy police chief Chheang Sun to 4 years in jail and fined 10,600 U.S. dollars, and other 2 affiliated former police Hem Sophal, deputy chief of minor crime police office, and Khieu Sara, chief of anti-drug office, were jailed 3 years each and fined 3,200 U.S. dollars and 400 U.S. dollars respectively.

All of them were found guilty of taking briberies in exchange of drug trafficking suspect releases.

Hun Hean and his deputy Chheang Sun were arrested on Jan. 7 and Jan. 10 respectively.