Opposition MP: Japan freezes Neak Loeung bridge funding (on National Road No. 1)

SRP MP Ly Srey Vina

30 December 2009
By Botum Roth
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

An opposition MP indicated that, lately, following the National Assembly (NA) debate on the expropriation law yesterday, Japan decided to freeze its $74 million grant for the construction of a bridge crossing the Mekong river in Neak Loeung, along National Road No. 1.

The reason MP Ly Srey Vina raised this issue was because Cambodia declined to pay compensations to the families who live in the area where the bridge will be built.

Ms. Ly Srey Vina claimed during the NA debate that: “We went all the way to Japan, but Japan refused to release this grant, they told us to resolve the eviction by providing appropriate compensation, then Japan will provide the grant.”

Nevertheless, CPP MP Chheang Vun rejected this claim. He said that the Cambodian delegation to Japan did include SRP MP Ly Srey Vina, “they (the Cambodian delegation) met with the Japanese opposition committee in charge of Foreign Affairs, and the Japanese opposition committee surely does not support the Japanese government [decision].”

However, MP Ly Srey Vina said that the chairman of the Japanese Foreign Affairs committee [from the ruling party] “indicated that Japan will not support the development [project] as long as people are being affected. The Cambodian delegation requested [aid] for the construction on this bridge because it will be very useful, but Japan said that it will not provide any aid that will hurt people in any country.”

The term development should be viewed as progress, however, for the Cambodian people, this term is turned into concerns as developments bring on destruction of their houses, and they cannot receive proper market value compensation for their losses. This issue is a long and contentious case between the victimized people and the government,

However, following the ratification of the controversial expropriation law on 29 December, this law is providing the right to the government to confiscate houses and other properties from the people under the pretense of development and it will also likely cut down the number of future confrontations against the government. On the other hand, the suffering and pain inflicted on the people will likely be increased with the adoption of this law.

Japan Gives $1 Million in Grants

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 December 2008

Japan announced Thursday nearly $1 million in grants to help improve Cambodian agriculture, health and demining operations.

Of that, more than $165,000 would go toward the rehabilitation of reservoirs and irrigation in Kandal and Takeo provinces; more than $87,000 toward the construction of a science laboratory in Prey Veng province’s Regional Teacher Training Center; more than $570,000 for mine clearance in Pailin and Battambang province; and nearly $80,000 for the construction of an emergency ward and medical equipment.

“Please use our assistance effectively, and we ask for transparency and accountability of your activities,” Japanese Ambassador Shinohara Katsuhiro said. “We hope that our assistance is used effectively and contributes to the Cambodian people.”

Japan contributes to non-governmental organizations, local governments and educational and health institutions, Katsuhiro said.

The grants come following the announcement of nearly $1 billion in aid to Cambodia from foreign donors earlier this month.

“This assistance will benefit more than 285,000 people for emergency treatment in Kratie referral hospital, more than 74,000 science students in Prey Veng province, around 1,100 families in Kandal and Takeo provinces, and help more than 2,000 villagers be free from the threat of landmines in northwestern Cambodia,” said Chor Phoeun, president of the Cambodian Medical Services Support Organization.

Chun Peng Long, director of Kandal provincial department of water resources and meteorology, said he would ensure the projects were “properly managed and successfully implemented.”

Japan grants $3 mil for Cambodia's general election

Friday, February 22, 2008
Kyodo

PHNOM PENH — Japan has granted Cambodia just under $3 million for the country's general election to be held July 27, according to the Japanese Embassy's press statement seen Thursday.

The fund will be used by the National Election Committee for ballots, walkie-talkies, an email system, transportation and civic education among others, the statement said.

Hor Namhong plans to attend the Mekong countries meeting in Japan

Tuesday, January 15, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Vice-prime minister Hor Namhong, minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation, plans to attend the Japan-Mekong foreign ministers meeting which will take place in Tokyo on 16-17 January 2008. A communiqué issued by the ministry of Foreign affairs indicated that, besides the meeting above, Hor Namhong plans to hold a bilateral meeting with Masahiko Koumura, the Japanese Foreign minister, and he will sign an exchange letter on Japanese grant amounting to 1.67 billion Yens (~US $15.5 million) for economic reform and for increasing food production in Cambodia. The communiqué also indicated that, during his stay in Tokyo, Hor Namhong and his colleagues will also pay a courtesy visit to Japan Prime minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Community Participation Tapped To Improve Condition In Poor Cambodian Provinces

December 21, 2007
Paul Icamina - AHN News Writer

Tonle Sap, Cambodia (AHN) - Community participation to drive development is the centerpiece of an ambitious project aimed to improve the conditions of one of Cambodia's poorest provinces surrounding Tonle Sap Lake.

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction will provide a $1.5 million grant for the Building Community Capacity for Poverty Reduction Initiatives in the Tonle Sap Basin. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will manage the funding.

"Building the capacity of the communities through the proposed grant will be crucial to accelerate poverty reduction in the Tonle Sap Basin," said Urooj Malik, Director of ADB's Southeast Asia Department.

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and directly benefits 40 percent of Kampong Chhang, Kampong Thom and Pursat provinces that adjoin the lake.

Its waters flow between the lake and the Mekong River. Many of the people in the lowland rural communities that surround Tonle Sap depend on its waters for agriculture.

Despite the richness of the lake, the Tonle Sap region has the highest poverty rate in Cambodia at 38 percent.

Japan to grant over 1 mln USD to Cambodia for health, education [... and to the pocket of gov't officials]

August 02, 2007

Japan has agreed to grant over one million U.S. dollars in equipment and funds to help develop Cambodia's de-mining capability and education and health sectors, local newspapers reported Thursday.

The agreement was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Katsuhiro Shinohara and representatives of six recipient organizations during a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh, the Koh Santepheap newsapaper said.

According to the signed contract of the KUSANONE Grant, Boeung Trabek and Wat Koh Lower Secondary Schools in Phnom Penh will receive 2,355 sets of second-hand school desks and chairs transported from Japan; four primary schools in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo district 1,900; six primary schools in Dangkor district 2,190; and five primary and one lower secondary school in Prey Veng province 2,935, it said.

One consultation ward in Prey Kabas Referral Hospital in Takeo Province will be constructed using funds from the grant while de-mining teams in Battambang and Preah Vihear provinces will receive 732,723 U.S. dollars, the Kampuchea Thmey newspaper said.

Japan has provided KUSANONE Grants, assistance for grassroots human security projects, to Cambodia since 1991. Over the years, Cambodia has received KUSANONE Grants worth more than 36 million U. S. dollars in total to carry out 392 projects, it added.

Source: Xinhua